Showing posts with label thankgsiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thankgsiving. Show all posts

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Sharing holiday cheer by Barbara Edwards


When I think about the Holidays, I think about all the family and friends who have shared Thanksgiving with me. I used that feeling in writing Journey of the Magi, my holiday romance, and am sharing an excerpt and the blurb.

Journey of the Magi:
Widow Noel Martin never breaks promises, and she promised her kids they’d have Christmas at her childhood home in Connecticut. But driving across country takes money. Noel is broke when a snowstorm blows them into a tiny Minnesota café owned by a man who can change her mind. She accepts his offer of a job. Despite her attraction to him, she makes it clear she is only temporary help.
Dan Longstreet isn’t adopting any more strays, but he needs a waitress. Dan works so hard to make his café a success, he doesn't have time for love. Though Noel’s slender blonde beauty stuns him and her two adorable children tug at his heart, he denies how they threaten to change his life.
When tragedy strikes, their new-found love is the first victim. Noel can't stay and Dan can't leave. Will their journey be the gift that reunites them? http://amzn.com/B00ES5DZEQ

Excerpt:
Thanksgiving dawned with the bang and clatter of roasting pans. Noel followed the sound of Dan swearing downstairs. It was barely five and both children slept through the racket.
“I thought you were closed today,” she said. The dawn light glinted highlights off his dark hair. Her lips twitched as his heavy brows snapped together.
“We are. I’m cooking turkey for a few friends. It’s kind of a tradition.” She mouth dropped open when he lined up six turkeys on the counter and proceeded to fill each one with a different stuffing. Her teeth clicked when she closed her jaw.  
“You must have been up for hours,” she said. “That looks like enough for a crowd.”
Her heart swelled with admiration for his sharing. She wanted to grab him in a big hug. Her grandparents had invited friends over, too. It was a tradition she planned to continue.
“I’m not sure how many. It’s gotten bigger.” He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “People need friends. Everyone brings a dish, so it’s pot-luck.”
“What can I do to help?” She asked as she tied an apron decorated with dancing elves over her sweater and jeans.
“Not much, unless you can bake a pie?” His lifted brows and wide brown eyes reminded her of his hopeful stray standing over the empty dish.
“I do a killer crust,” she exclaimed, mimicking rolling out a pie crust. Dan wasn’t the only one who appreciated the chance to contribute.
“Got everything for apple, pumpkin or mince,” Dan said before he laughed and waved at the cooler. “Take your pick.”
“Hey. My Grandma taught me how to make those. We have time to do them all.” Available at: http://amzn.com/B00ES5DZEQ
HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Recipe for a Happy Thanksgiving

This month is about recipes, so I decided to give you one that's not for food, but for fun instead.

Recipe for a Happy Thanksgiving

Ingredients:

-Turkey in any form. Yes, even microwavable turkey bacon is acceptable for those of you with limited culinary skills. Just be sure to get the good bread for that sorry BLT.
-Sweet potatoes. Mashed, baked, fries. You decide.
-Cranberry sauce. Homemade, whole berries from a can, or that wiggly jelly stuff that you can slice into disks that will inevitably slide all over your plate.
-Stuffing. My mother-in-law makes the best. I can loan her out to you for a price.
-Squash. The more veggies the better!
-Turnips. See above "more veggies" comment. Plus, how often do you eat turnips? Don't neglect them.
-Green beans. Get your brother to bring these. It's what he can handle. You know it's true.
-Wine. Depending on how well your family members get along, you can adjust the quantities as needed.
-Beer. You need something for the folks playing football in the backyard.
-Desserts. People often ask me if it should be cake, pie, cookies, or candy. To this, I reply with a boisterous, "YES."
-Hot cider, tea, coffee, hot chocolate. Put these items out as a signal to your guests that they should expect to be kicked out soon.

Steps:
1. Gather suggested ingredients in a location where you can fit all this food and people have room to sit back and make groaning noises after eating too much.
2. Gather friends and family members to consume ingredients.
3. Get people hungry with a loosely organized game of football. Keep an eye on Uncle Harry who sweats like a pig even when he's not moving.
4. Guzzle beer after game. Guzzle two if you were on the losing team.
5. Arm people with plates and forks and start passing around the grub. Ooo and ahh over all the food and how good everything is.
6. Sit back in chair and pat stomach like you're full even though you fully intend to continue eating.
7. Repeat step 5-6 at least three more times.
8. Pass out on the couch while Planes, Trains, and Automobiles plays on the TV.
9. Wake up with a craving for something sweet. Forget about diet and dive head first into the dessert table. Don't come up for air until you're good and sugared.
10. Pass out on the couch again.
11. Play a game with the kids. Hide and seek works well. No one says you actually have to "seek." Depending on how smart your kids are, this could be a very quiet time in the day.
12. Swear you'll wear sweatpants next Thanksgiving.
13. BE THANKFUL!

If you celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you a fun and safe one. If you survive the day, spend the night with a good book. Find one here.

Gobbles and pumpkin pies,
Chris