Happy holidays and thanks for stopping by. I asked the question this time:

If you could get anything in the world you wanted for Christmas, what would it be?

Well, there are all the really important wishes, like peace on earth and that cancer would be eliminated and no one would ever be hungry. If I could right all the wrongs or stop the bullies, that would be excellent.

There are the silly wishes, like my house would never get dirty or my dog would stop shedding mass quantities of hair.

And there are the writer wishes. I wish that the stories I tell would inspire, would help someone through a tough time, would take someone away into another place, another time. I would like to believe that my books have a positive impact and make the world a tiny bit better. If “Hannah’s War” could give one woman the courage to run from an abusive relationship, if “Emma’s Dance” could give someone the strength to fight for love, if any of my other novels could give someone hope for happiness and true love, that would be awesome.

Oh, I write because I love it, I have to, but it would be great to believe that it makes a difference.

Merry, Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Now, let’s hop over and see what the fantastic Tracey Gee wants….

http://www.oldenoughanduglyenough.com/…

For the US Thanksgiving we’re doing a recipe swap. Give us your best, most favorite yummy. Share the love!

Welcome to out blog hop and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I would love to say the following was passed down through the generations in my family, but the truth is, I don’t remember anyone in my family who could cook. So, I’m not sure where this came from. But, somehow, it found its way onto the menus when we contributed to the Thanksgiving feast. And I think it’s pretty good! And even if you don’t like it, there’s enough alcohol in it so you might not care.

Special (Tipsy) Cranberry Sauce

1 large package (6oz) Strawberry or Raspberry Jello

2 cans whole berry cranberry sauce

1 can pineapple chunks, drained – reserve juice

Cup of walnuts (optional)

1 cup (or a little more) of dry sherry

Make Jello by adding 2 cups boiling water, stirring well, then instead of adding 2 cups cold water, add juice from the canned pineapple and enough sherry to make two cups. Mix into jello. Then add cranberry sauce, pineapple chunks and, if desired, walnuts. Mix well. Put in refrigerator and allow to set (several hours). Enjoy.

Let’s hop over and check out the fabulous A.S. Fenichel’s favorite recipe.

http://asfenichel.com/blog

‘Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all….. About our writing of course! Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box. 

Thanksgiving is Thursday and this is when we take the time to actually count our blessings. We should really do it every day, but time gets away from us and things pile up and we forget—I forget—just how lucky I am. So, here are some things I am thankful for…

I am thankful for the time to write and so grateful to those who take the time to read my work. I am blessed to have sold three books this year and so happy that I haven’t run out of ideas for more.

I am so lucky in my friends. The support from my fellow authors at Romance Weekly and the writers in my local chapter surround me with a world of support in a lonely profession. Awesome! And my non-writer friends give me love and inspire confidence every day.

I am happy to be healthy and strong and to have enough food to eat when so many aren’t so lucky. I am thankful that I am warm in the winter and cool in the summer and that I have enough to share. These things we sometimes take for granted and shouldn’t.

I am blessed with my husband, my knight in shining armor, who said ‘don’t give up’ when I wanted to and for caring about me and understanding the importance of my work.

I am grateful for my little dog who reminds there is such a thing as unconditional love.

And finally, I am thankful for my life…it isn’t perfect, but it’s mine and I am fulfilled in it.

Thank you, God, for all my blessings and forgive me for not saying thank you more often.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now, let’s see what the talented Ronnie Allen (who just sold her second book) is thankful for. Let’s hop on over.

http://ronnieallennovel.com/blog

‘Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all….. About our writing of course! Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box. 

It’s almost Thanksgiving and we are supposed to post our favorite holiday dish. I would guess that most of us have family recipes which were passed down. I actually have one. The funny thing about this is my mother and my grandmother only had kitchens because they came with the house. So, I have no idea who started this recipe. Anyway, here goes….

Cranberry side dish

1 regular size box of red jello (cherry, strawberry, raspberry)

1 Cup of boiling water

1 Cup of dry sherry

1 Can of chunk pineapple, drained

1 Can of whole berry cranberry sauce

1 Cup of walnuts or pecans (optional)

Mix jello with boiling water and stir until dissolved. Substitute 1 cup sherry for the cup of cold water and stir until mixed. Add pineapple and can of whole berry cranberry sauce. Stir. Add nuts (if desired). Refrigerate and allow to set (about three hours). Even if you don’t like it, there’s enough alcohol to make it better.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I can’t wait to see what the talented Carrie Elks has for us. Let’s hop on over and see.

Carrie Elks http://carrieelks.com/blog/

‘Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all….. About our writing of course! Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box.

I will sit down to write at 6 in the morning and the next thing I know, it’s 2pm. And there is still laundry and errands and …

Well, writers have to eat, too. And so do their families. When it’s my turn to cook (oh, wait, I think it’s always my turn), I need quick and easy.

One of my favorite go to meals is sautéed Tilapia with zucchini plus potatoes. Fast and healthy.

Sautéed Tilapia with zucchini plus potatoes:

4 fillets

Mrs. Dash’s seasoning (I use the original, but any will work)

I Tbs. olive oil

1 pat butter

½ cup of white wine

1 large or 2-3 small zucchini, sliced

1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)

½ – 1 lb. small potatoes

Pepper

Melt the butter over medium heat in a frying pan and add the olive oil. Add the fish and sprinkle with Mrs. Dash. Let cook a minute or two. Turn and sprinkle with more Mrs. Dash. Add zucchini (and mushrooms if desired), white wine and cover. Cook until fish is done (5-6 minutes).

Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a microwave safe dish.  Add 1 inch water. Sprinkle with pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for approximately 8 minutes. Check for doneness and cook another 2-3 minutes if necessary.

Serves 4

There! A super healthy, delicious, low-calorie dinner in 15 minutes.

If you don’t want to overboard on the low calorie, healthy part, there’s always chocolate for dessert.

I am sure Gemma has something wonderful for us. Let’s go see. I am getting hungry!

Gemma Brocato http://www.gemmabrocato.com/blog