Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Recipe of The Week: Beefy Tortellini Skillet

Do you want something quick, easy and good for supper, but you don't have a lot of time, this is the recipe for you.

The recipe comes from Taste Of Home


Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
1 cup water
1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
1 package (19 ounces) frozen cheese tortellini
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Italian cheese blend
Directions

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat 5-6 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking into crumbles; drain. Stir in steak seasoning. Add water and bouillon; bring to a boil. Stir in tortellini; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 3-4 minutes or until tortellini are tender. Remove from heat; sprinkle with cheese. Let stand, covered, until cheese is melted. Yield: 4 servings.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Receipe: Porcupine Balls

Porcupine Balls are one of my favorite comfort foods.

I spent all day trying to find a recipe that tasted as good as my mum's but was a little simpler. I've tried so many recipes for this dish. I'e liked many of them, but none of them came out the way my mom made them until I found this one.

Ingredients

1 1/4 ground beef
1/4 cup rice uncooked (I highly recommend using River Rice)
1 egg slightly beaten
1/2 T parsley
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper
2 cans of tomato soup divided
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce

Directions

1 Combine ground beef, rice, egg, parsley, onion, salt, pepper and 1/4 cup of tomato soup. Mix well.
2. Shape mixture into large balls my recipe made 10 -12 meatballs or 20 small ones
3. Mix remaining soup, water and Worchestershire in a small bowl and pour over meatballs.
5. Bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat and simmer 40 minutes or until meatballs are cooed and rice is soft, stirring often. If you use the cheaper rice, it will take longer.

Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite veggie

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Goddess Fish Promotions Book Review: Once Upon A Scandal



Once Upon A Scandal
by Julie LeMense

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BLURB:

Caught up in a scandal of her father's making, Lady Jane Fitzsimmons is now an outcast in the society that once prized her refinement. So when Lord Benjamin Marworth offers to help redeem her good name, she leaps at the chance.

Too bad his plan requires her very public demise.

Marworth, society's darling, is actually a spy for the crown, and important war communiques have been stolen. If Jane can carry off her disguise as the mysterious Madame Lillianne Fauchon, with close ties to Napoleon, she just might tempt the thief out of hiding.

If only Marworth didn't find her so tempting himself...

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Excerpt:

“Suffice it to say that in the wrong hands, the missing dispatches could change the course of the war. But I think you may be uniquely qualified to help find them.”

Jane pondered Lord Marworth’s statement for a long moment, replaying the words, hoping she’d misunderstood. But only one conclusion was logical. A dark one. “You are obviously having a bit of fun at my expense, although I fail to see the humor in it.”

“I’m quite serious, Miss Fitzsimmons.” He was staring at her intently now. “It is absolutely vital they be found.”

“And you are ... what?” she mocked. “Some sort of agent for the crown, I suppose? Sent here to enlist me for service?”

“You could say that.”

A burst of anger, hot and devastating, surged through her. “It is one thing, Lord Marworth, to amuse yourself by imagining international intrigue,” she said, her voice rising. “But it is quite another to involve someone else in your fantasy. I’m afraid I haven’t the time for it. If you will excuse me … ”

She stood, intent on rushing from the room.

“This is no fantasy.”

She spun to face him. “You’ll forgive me, of course, for not believing you. Given your busy schedule of idle amusements and seductions, it’s hard to imagine you’ve the time for anything substantive. Like saving the country from Napoleon. That sort of thing.”

“Appearances are not always what they seem, Miss Fitzsimmons … ”


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Review:  I haven't read a regency in awhile. They were the genre that got me started on romance.

This book reminds me why I loved this genre. The historical detail is wonderful and I'm always the type that ends up googling things to check on accuracy. Why? Because I love history, and I like to see it done right, and that happened here.

Jane and Benjamin have a fantastic romance. There's always a few villains that are out there to wreck the romance and well that's done here, but in a wonderful way.

This is a great regency, I can't wait to go back and read Julie's first book!

Rating: 5 stars



AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A Georgetown University graduate with a degree in English Literature, I’ve loved the Regency romance genre since my first deliciously bad Barbara Cartland novel. These days, I prefer the complex characterizations and plotting of Julie Anne Long, Sherry Thomas, Meredith Duran, Courtney Milan, and Sarah MacLean. A member of the Romance Writers Association of America, I am currently working on my next novel, as the ghosts who live in my haunted, gilded-age home try to sneak their way into my stories.

Link to amazon author page:
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Julie LeMense will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host. Additionally, Goddess Fish Productions will be awarding a $5 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn host.

RAFFLECOPTER CODE:


Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Goddess Fish Promotions Book Review: Center Of Gravity



Center of Gravity
by Laura McNeill

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BLURB:

Her whole life, Ava Carson has been sure of one thing: she doesn’t measure up to her mother’s expectations. So when Mitchell Carson sweeps into her life with his adorable son, the ready-made family seems like a dream come true.

In the blink of an eye, she’s married, has a new baby, and life is grand.

Or is it?

When her picture-perfect marriage begins unraveling at the seams, Ava convinces herself she can fix it. It's temporary. It’s the stress. It’s Mitchell’s tragic history of loss.

If only Ava could believe her own excuses.

Mitchell is no longer the charming, thoughtful man she married. He grows more controlling by the day, revealing a violent jealous streak. His behavior is recklessly erratic, and the unanswered questions about his past now hint at something far more sinister than Ava can stomach. Before she can fit the pieces together, Mitchell files for divorce and demands full custody of their boys.

Fueled by fierce love for her children and aided by Graham Thomas, a new attorney in town —Ava takes matters into her own hands, digging deep into the past. But will finding the truth be enough to beat Mitchell at his own game?

Center of Gravity weaves a chilling tale, revealing the unfailing and dangerous truth that things—and people—are not always what they seem. 


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Excerpt:
When your children are stolen, the pain swallows you whole. Logic fades, reason retreats. Desperation permeates the tiniest crevices of your mind. Nothing soothes the ache in your wounded soul.

Right in front of me, my sweet, charmed life fell to pieces. Everything destroyed; a hailstorm’s wrath on a field of wildflowers. All I’d known—gone. Foolish me, I’d believed in magic, clung tight to false promises. The lies, spoken from tender lips, haunt me now, follow me, and whisper into my ear like a scorned lover.

What’s left is emptiness.

Give up, a voice urges. Let go.

No! I argue back. My children aren’t gone. Not yet. Precious and delicate, tiny fossils, they exist in glass-boxed isolation. Hidden. Protected.

And so tonight, I run. Blood pulses through my legs, my muscles protest; my lungs scream for more oxygen. Thick storm clouds brew in the distance. The rain falls in blinding sheets. The force of it pricks my skin like needles, but the pain only makes me push harder.

I will rescue them.

Lightning flashes across the wet driveway. The bulk of his truck looms large in the black night. I skid to a stop and catch my breath, pressing a hand to my heaving chest.

They’re here. My children are here.

Thunder booms and crashes, nearer now, the wind whips my hair. A gust tosses tree branches to the ground. Birds cry and flutter to safety. An escaped sandbox bucket spins, clattering on the blacktop.

I grasp the railing and pull myself up the steps. At the top, the door’s shiny-slick with water and humidity. Mother Nature howls and drowns out my knocking.

“Hello! Can you hear me?” With my palm open wide, I slap at the barrier, willing it to open. I will rescue my children. I will rescue them . . . or I will die trying.


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REVIEW: 

There are some books that just make you say WOW! This is definitely one of those books! It is just unbelievable.

This book focuses on a very controlling relationship. I'm hard pressed to decide what genre this book belongs in.  Let's call it a psychological thriller, and then add that it may be one of the most emotionally draining books you'll read this year.

That actually is a very good thing, because it keeps you caring about what happens next. 

At the being it was a little hard to like Ava who is dealing with a husband who controls everything she does, and when they separate he makes the divorce hell too.

Words can't begin to describe how good this book is. This isn't a book about domestic abuse, though the way Mitchell treats Ava is abuse. He's a total SOB and that term is about as nice as you can go to describe him. He even does his best to turn the kids against their mom.

That is the lowest of the low in my book.

If you want to read a book that you will get emotionally invested in. This is definitely it.

Rating: 5 stars

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

After six years behind the anchor desk at two CBS affiliates, Laura moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast to raise her family. Her accolades in broadcasting include awards from the Associated Press, including Best News Anchor and Best Specialized Reporter.

Laura works at Spring Hill College as the school’s web content and social media manager and​ is active in her community—participating in fundraisers for the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House, and Providence Hospital’s Festival of Flowers.

Laura was recently awarded a 2-book deal with Thomas Nelson Publishing, a division of HarperCollins. Her novel, Center of Gravity, set in Mobile, Ala., will be published in July of 2015. Laura is represented by Elizabeth Winick Rubenstein, president of McIntosh and Otis literary agency in New York.​ Her writing awards include those from William Faulkner-Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, Writer’s Digest, RWA, and the Eric Hoffer competition.

She holds a master’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in interactive technology from the University of Alabama. She is a native of Upstate New York and currently resides near the Alabama Gulf Coast with her two children.

Author's Website: http://lauramcneill.com/


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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Laura McNeill will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host. In addition GFP will award one randomly drawn host a $5 Amazon GC.

RAFFLECOPTER: 



Saturday, August 8, 2015

Dear Food Network

Dear Food Network,

I used to love your channel. I loved finding recipes that "NORMAL" people could make. You know before you kicked off Paula Deen and then made your channel all about competitions.

Oh and while we're at it...can you keep the lives of your current food network stars out of their shows.  I really don't care about Ree Drummond's family or what Giada's up to in Italy. I want recipes that I can make.

How about a show about making good food in a small kitchen on a budget. Not everyone can afford the fancy ingredients that the likes of Bobby, Giada etc use. A cooking show for real people would be awesome.

Oh and while we're at it. What the hell is up with has been tv stars getting cooking shows these days.

Sincerely,

Someone that would just like some good recipes

Friday, August 7, 2015

Jon Voyage

Words cannot express my great sadness at Jon Stewart's departure from The Daily Show.

But sadness isn't the only emotion that I'm feeling. I'm also feeling anger, that he could leave right before a presidential election, when the clown car of one political party is filling up with crazies, and only Jon could wade through the BS that they spew and make it palatable.

How will we get through this election without him?

Sadly I don't have that much faith in Trevor Noah.

That said, I totally respect his desire to spend more time with his family and even their desire to spend more time with him.

Heck, who wouldn't want to spend more time with Jon?

He's smart, funny and attractive.

Dude!

He's the perfect man.

And in his 16 years on The Daily Show he really made a difference. He got people paying attention to politics and he made it easy to do. The other thing that always impressed me was how well he carried out interviews. Even if he was interviewing people whose views were in line with his, he was always professional and courteous.

So Jon, yes, I'll miss you. I wish you well. But I hope you aren't out of the spotlight for long.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Goddess Fish Promotions Book Review: Victorian Scoundrel



Victorian Scoundrel
by Stephanie Burkhart

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BLURB:

It's 2011 and compressed natural gas has taken over from the coal producing steam machines of the Victorian Age. Alice Windsor, Princess of York, follows her mischief-making cousin, Edmund of Wales, back to 1851 where Prince Albert is hosting Britain's Great Exhibition.

Alice soon finds herself over her head in trouble. Edmund is determined to help Prince Albert build a dirigible and the prime minister appears intent in preventing her from stopping Edmund. Alice knows it's too early for the massive flying machine to take to the air. Complicating matters is the passionate Grayson Kentfield, Earl of Swinton. Alice can't stop her pulse from pounding when she's near him.

Can Alice give her heart to a man from the past while working to stop Edmund from changing history?
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EXCERPT


Tired and thirsty, she finally made it to the courtyard. Edmund was nowhere to be found. She should have expected it, really. No doubt he was in the palace filling their great-grandfather's head with forward-thinking ideas. She crossed her arms, staring at the steps. Several carriages waited nearby. No one in their right mind would let her into the palace looking like she did -- like she had just stepped out of the gutter.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

Alice spun around to find herself face-to-face with two gentlemen who stood near one of the waiting carriages. One gentleman was older, Alice guessed in his fifties, one younger. The older gentleman stared at her like she truly was a guttersnipe, but the younger one -- he was tall, with chiseled cheeks and sensitive hazel eyes. His broad chest filled his suit well and he measured her with a cool, appraising look that hinted at... appreciation. An uncomfortable feeling washed over her. Never had a man's stare made her feel so... warm.

"Well?" asked the older gentleman.

Alice straightened her posture with her usual royal dignity and took off her glasses as she always did when she introduced herself. "I am Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice of York."

The men looked at each other, at her, then back at themselves. She wasn't sure if they were befuddled, confused, or wanted to laugh. Finally, the older gentleman spoke. "Princess Alice is seven years old."

Alice bit the inside of her lip, realizing she had totally forgotten where she was due to the younger gentleman's attention. She slid her glasses back on. "Simply call me Alice -- Alice Windsor."

"And you may call me Prime Minister."



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Review: I read the second book in this series a few years back. It was full of wibbly wobbly timey whimey goodness, so when I got the chance to review the first book in the series, I was thrilled.

This book is a quick steampunk read and a great start to the series. I love Alice and Edmond Windsor. It was great to finally see how the story started.

The story combines all the wonderful things that make steampunk such a great genre, while adding a touch of romance between Edmund and Keira, the prime minister's daughter and Alice and Grayson. 

The mixture of present day and Victorian times makes the book all the more interesting. Something about this series reminds me of the Doctor Who epis set in Victorian England. I expect to see Strax, Vastra and Jenny at any given time. Maybe its just the time frame, or maybe its the time travel element of the story or maybe I still love working Doctor Who into everything I can.

But back to the story, Edmund is making mischief in Victorian times and Alice is trying to make sure he doesn't succeed in messing up the timeline. Burkhart really pays attention to detail in this book in regards to The Great Exhibition and The Crystal Palace.

If you are looking for a great way to get into the steampunk genre, this is a good series to start with and I can assure you the second book is just as good.

Rating: 5 stars

AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD.  She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.  She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee.  She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

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