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Easy and Healthy Spring Recipe

3/29/2015

Spring is the perfect time to try new recipes. If your busy and always on the go, these easy Spinach and Artichoke quiche cups will be perfect for you. They are light and delicious and go perfect with your morning cup of coffee or tea. This a great way to start your day or perhaps another story.

Spinach and Artichoke Quiche Cups

Prep: 10 mins Cook: 20 mins Total: 30 mins

Ingredients:

·       1 (14.5-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

·       1 package frozen spinach, drained

·       5 eggs, whisked

·       3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

·       2/3 cup milk (any kind)

·       1/2 cup chopped white onion

·       1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

·       2 cloves garlic, minced

·       1/4 teaspoon salt

·       1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 12 baking cups by either spraying them liberally with cooking spray, or lining them with paper liners.

Stir all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until combined. Portion the mixture into the 12 prepared baking cups so that they are all nearly full.

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the eggs are set and a toothpick inserted in the middle of the quiche comes out clean. Serve immediately.

I have author, Camille Faye, on my blog today, sharing with us her book, Voodoo Butterfly.

Voodoo Butterfly

When twenty-five-year-old Sophie Nouveau inherits her grandmother's voodoo shop, she knows nothing about voodoo. Or her family's history of Mind Changers who have the power to change evil people good. To complicate matters, someone doesn't want Sophie in New Orleans and sends a series of death threats to scare her away from her new enchanted life.

Tipped off by her grandmother's ghost, Sophie realizes her mind changing spell has been missing one magic ingredient: true love. If Sophie cannot experience transformative love, she cannot make her spell work, and she will be powerless to fight back when confronted by the one who wants her dead.

If you’re interested in buying this book, you can buy a copy here:
http://www.amazon.com/Voodoo-Butterfly-Book-ebook/dp/B00OQR0N5K/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Click on the below link for your chance to win some fun prizes:
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/153622a63/

Also, check out the host page to take a look at Soul Mate Publishing's other great authors:
http://cynthiagail.com/spring-for-love-blog-hop/

Camille Faye Bio

Camille Faye lives in Missouri, loves on her family, and writes during the baby’s naptime. She grew up in a haunted house, which sparked her fascination with the paranormal. The Northwest Houston RWA named her novel, Voodoo Butterfly, a 2013 Lone Star Contest finalist. Read an excerpt at www.camillefaye.com.

When I asked Amanda one this she loved about spring she answered, “Flowers! My grandma scattered daffodils in her front lawn and, when I was a kid, I used to think it was so magical to see them pop out."

You can stay connected with Camille with any of the below social media networks:

Camille's Website: www.camillefaye.com

Camille's website blog: http://www.thelitladies.com/

Camille's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camillefaye

Camille's Twitter: https://twitter.com/camillefaye

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1575594-camille

Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/Camille-Faye/e/B00OU01J74/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

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Spring is in the Air

3/28/2015

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Can you feel it? Winter is slowly on it’s way out. Temperatures are rising and winters clothes are disappearing as spring is trying to find its way. Now is a perfect time to take walks outside and enjoy the sun on your skin.

One of my favorite spring past times is to walk through the ravine as the river awakens, the bulrushes and cattails grow and you can hear the flow of the water. You get to see all of the animals; the ducks, the deer, the birds and even the coyotes come out of hibernation. Everyone’s garden starts to come back to life as I look forward to seeing those first tulips, daffodils and hyacinths poke through the ground. Now this is when you truly know spring is in the air.

What is your favorite spring past time?

On another note – I am very excited to have Annette Bower on my blog with me today sharing with us her newest book, Moving On.

Moving On
Anna Jenkins, a mysterious woman arrives in the resort town of Regina Beach as the heir to a cottage, even though there isn’t an obvious family connection. The residents of the town know everyone’s business and they are very keen on discovering Anna’s secrets. Anna meets Nick Donnelly with a secret of his own. As a soldier, the injuries he sustained in an IED explosion were greater than most people realize.

During his rehabilitation, Nick and Anna become friends. Nick begins to dream of a life on the land with a family of his own. When Anna discovers that Nick plans to return to active duty, she puts the brakes on loving a man who might die because of his career. Nick must convince Anna they have a future to live for.

You can pick up your copy of Moving On here:
http://www.amazon.com/Moving-Annette-Bower-ebook/dp/B00O2HZ4LW/

Click on the below link to enter to win great prizes:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/153622a63/

Also, check out the host page to take a look at Soul Mate Publishing's other great authors:
http://cynthiagail.com/spring-for-love-blog-hop/

Annette Bower Bio
Annette Bower writes about women’s roles in families, in communities and women’s emotions at the beginning and end of love in her home office in Regina, SK. Her short stories are published in magazines and anthologies in Canada, United States, and United Kingdom.

Her romance novels, Woman of Substance and Moving On are published by Soul Mate Publishing.

When I asked Annette what her favorite thing about spring was, she replied with, “I can kick off my winter boots and walk the four miles from my home around Wascana Lake and back, every day.“

If you would like to stay connected with Annette, you can keep connected with the below link:

Annette's website: http://www.annettebower.com/

Annette's website blog: http://annettebower.com/blog/

Annette's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MovingOnAPrairieRomance?ref=hl

Annette's Twitter: https://twitter.com/BowerAnnette

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23397675-moving-on

Amazon Author Central: amazon.com/author/annettebower

Annette's Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abower0549/

If you like Annette's book, feel free to check out her other book, Woman of Substance here: http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Substance-Annette-Bower-ebook/dp/B00AN9TE8W/

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Easter is Around the Corner

3/27/2015

3 Comments

With spring comes Easter and what better way to celebrate the holiday by making these beautiful, fun and festive deviled eggs. Whether you are entertaining or just enjoying the holiday with your family, these colored eggs are sure to impress everyone! Do you have any favorite Easter recipes you would like to share?

Devilled Eggs:
Step by Step Directions to get the perfect, Colored Devilled Eggs or check out the full recipe here:
http://www.foodjimoto.com/2011/04/easter-eggs.html

Ingredients:

10 hard boiled eggs (makes 20 devilled eggs)

About 1/2 cup mayonnaise

Directions:

Put the eggs in a pot and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil, turn down the heat to low and cover for 15 minutes.

After the 15 minutes, remove the eggs from the pot and cool the eggs under running cold water.

Once the eggs are cooled, peel the eggs and then cut them in half. (It's okay if some of them tear a little, the filling will camouflage that. Or just eat that one. )

Put the yolks in a separate bowl.

Next, you’ll need food coloring. Make the colors just as you would for Easter egg dye. (A teaspoonful of cider vinegar in each glass helps and you can use about 3 drops of food coloring in each glass.)

Take the eggs out when they're a pretty pastel color and drain them on a paper towel.

Now mash the yolks with a fork and when they're uniformly crumbly, add about a 1/2 cup mayonnaise. You can add more or less, make it as creamy as you like.

When it's nice and creamy, you can add any extras of your liking--mustard, minced chives, freshly ground pepper, bacon bits, etc.

Finally – It’s time to fill the eggs! You can just fill the eggs by hand with a teaspoon

Garnish with a little bit of paprika.

For the first day of our blog hop, I would like to introduce to you, author, Anne B. Cole and her most recent book, Souls Entwined.

Souls Entwined
A tree crashes upon two strangers. Time stands still. A cursed family heirloom catapults eighteen-year-old Gretta Dobbs back in time with Sam Daggett, who reluctantly agrees to help despite an instant infatuation with her. Their souls entwine within the bodies of young lovers on a Greek island in 1829, where they collect information on the mysteries behind Gretta's ring all while avoiding revenge-seeking pirates. Can Gretta and Sam find the secrets needed to save her from an afterlife in purgatory? Or will they become trapped in the past, continuing the evil cycle of the ring's curse?

Check out Anne's book trailer below:

If you would like to purchase Anne's book, Souls Entwined, you can do so here:
http://tinyurl.com/n73rur5

Click on the below to enter and win great prizes:
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/153622a63/

Also, check out the host page to take a look at Soul Mate Publishing's other great authors:
http://cynthiagail.com/spring-for-love-blog-hop/

Anne B. Cole Bio

Souls Entwined is Anne B. Cole’s debut release combining sweet romantic suspense, time travel, and paranormal elements in a novel attractive to a wide range of readers. In addition to writing, Anne teaches preschool and is raising three very active teenagers with her husband of twenty-two years. With an Education degree from Penn State University, Anne began her teaching in elementary schools. A move to Indiana and becoming a mom of three kids in three and a half years sparked her interest in teaching preschool where she has been for the last eleven years. Anne began writing in 2010 when she realized she didn't have a book to read during her kids’ swim meet. With over ten hours of sitting in the stands, she decided to make the best of it and flipped over the heat sheet. Ideas for a book were jotted down and the outline of Souls Entwined was born. Anne's writing hobby turned into an addiction! The Souls Trilogy continues July 2015 with Souls Estranged. Anne is currently writing the final book in the trilogy, Souls Endure with a tentative release date of 2016.

When I asked Anne what her favorite thing about spring was she responded with, “Spring is my favorite time of the year because I love watching daffodils, tulips, and irises burst from the ground and color my flower beds.”

If you would like to connect with Anne, you can do so with any of her social links below:

Anne's Website:  www.annebcole.com
Anne's Website Blog: www.annebcole.com/blog
Anne's Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-B-Cole/576718832392205
Anne's Twitter:   https://twitter.com/AnneBCole
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22157266-souls-entwined
Amazon Author Central:  http://www.amazon.com/Anne-B.-Cole/e/B00K0Z8RDC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

3 Comments

The Shoebox

3/22/2015

0 Comments

The art of getting a book published is not easy and is complicated. Writing is also just as complicated. I believe it takes years for someone to develop a writing style, a formula that works with readers. A writer must read as much as they write. However there are some writers who rarely read which I believe is a disaster waiting to happen. Reading books helps you form your own style and what you like and don't like when writing a book.

Now I want to talk about the shoebox.
Years ago before the Internet, publishing a book was a lot harder. You had a typewriter with a paper carbon copy underneath for a duplicate copy. And when you made a spelling mistake—it was a calamity. Going back later to change your wording or idea was also a nuisance. But the writers survived and their books got published. An American writer though had it easier since most publishers and agents resided in the States. A writer in those days would take a shoe box to put their manuscripts inside and mail it to the publisher or agent. (I'm bypassing the slush pile for another day). You'd take the box to the post office, wait in line and pray it would arrive safely. As a Canadian it was much more difficult. The publisher and agents would no longer accept coupons from the Canadian post office since Canadians were not allowed to buy American stamps at the post office. And I agree this was a real hassle for the publishing industry in the States. They did not have the time nor manpower to deal with coupons from the Canadian post office. So I would drive to Buffalo to buy US stamps or purchase them in Florida when I was on holiday. Soon it became too expensive to mail the manuscripts or even the first three chapters.
For a time my hopes were dashed to find a publisher or agent.

Alas, the arrival of the Internet brought new hope to all writers!
My generation grew up without the Internet. Some writers, my age and older though took to it right away.
I however did not. It wasn't until I left my job to work on my writing that I knew sending chapters,
letters and manuscripts by the Internet was the way to go. My paper manuscripts, my hopes and dreams no longer had to be shredded and put into a someone else's garbage can because I didn't have the stamps for the publishers or agents to send the rejected manuscript back to me.
Now all they have to do is press delete while I have my own copy to send anew. No more shoe boxes and lining up at the post office.

Young writers have it easier now. They can send their manuscripts a click away to as many publishers and agents as they want to. And every publisher, agent, author, and fellow writers are there on the Internet for advice and guidance. They can help you with tax guidelines and rules only a click away. Some authors will gave you examples of what you need and you only have to ask. And when writers become discouraged they can self publish.
So my advice is to write away because you no longer have to worry about keeping shoeboxes hidden away somewhere inside your closest.

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Author

Residing in Toronto, ON. I love to write, travel with my husband, worry about my kids, and befriend the dogs in my neighborhood. I have a passion for all things romance and fiction - and I am excited for my new book release. Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Easy and Healthy Spring Recipe

Spring is in the Air

Easter is Around the Corner

The Shoebox

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