GIVEAWAY! (Who doesn't love the chance to win something free?)

Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology is scheduled for release on November 21st. It's already available for pre-order from Beaten Track Publishing, and in honor of the company's very FIRST anthology, they're having a Book Shower!

What's a Book Shower, you may ask. It's like a Bridal Shower, or a Baby Shower; but for a book. We're announcing the arrival of this glorious event with a raffle for 1 digital copy of the anthology to be awarded when complete and 10 copies of a compilation of excerpts from some of the stories in the anthology.

Don't miss out on this FIRST from Beaten Track Publishing!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It ISN'T Duchesne Orange, but...

I'm hoping this might satisfy your curiosity for the moment. It is a delightful detour I made in finding the perfect recipe for Duchesne Orange.

1 c whole milk
1/4 c Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips
1/4 tsp. Watkins Orange Extract

Heat milk in top pan of a double boiler on low - medium-low heat. Do not bring to boil or overheat. Add white chocolate chips, stir in until melted completely. Add orange extract, stir well. Let heat to desired temperature without boiling or simmering, stirring continuously to avoid burning. Makes two 5 oz servings or 1 10 oz serving. If desired top with whipped cream (French Vanilla flavor recommended).

Bon Breuvage! (Enjoy your beverage)

Finally!!!

Chapter 8 of Snowboards & Tuxes is LIVE!

It's been a looooooooong time coming, I know. For that I apologize (again), but I hope you enjoy it.

News Most Excellent!

There will be a NEW Snowboards & Tuxes chapter up by Sunday! (If all goes as planned, it may go up as early as tonight...)

I know it has been a REALLY, REALLY long time since I posted a new chapter; and for that I apologize. I can only write with what time I have and I don't have much with a full time job, a toddler, and a house to keep. Also, Corbin and Ewan were...reluctant to come to terms with their issues so that we could move on... *glares at the boys* I swear, neither one must have ever learned conflict resolution in Head Start or preschool. SMDH!

The Adventure Resumes

Today I am once again experimenting with cocoa recipes for Duchesne Orange. I'm getting closer. I can feel it in my mouth! (Hush your laughing, I'm talking about my tastebuds here.)

As I'm sure you noticed in my first blog post about this, my chocolate selection runs the gamut from the everyday milk chocolate, sweetness at its most perfect state, to pure cacao, chocolate with no additives - not even sugar - to blunt/dampen the flavor.

Well, the milk chocolate was superb. The semi-sweet chips that I tried today were decadent, and I have a feeling that the pure cacao will be absolutely DIVINE!

Oh, dark chocolate, how I do love thee. Let me count the ways...

Adventures on Hold

So, I have had to put a hold on my search for the perfect recipe for Duchesne Orange, because you see I still have to write the story. I'm about an hour away from submitting the manuscript, so I'll make this short.

I've noticed that when I'm on a good writing spree, there's a certain food combination I eat at least once a day but up to three times. I will one day serve it as a menu item and it shall be called "The Ava Penn Special."

Large Eggs, 1-2 depending on appetite
Oscar Meyer's Bacon Hot Dog
Hash Brown Patty
Hoagie, Tortilla or your choice of grain
Cheese (I prefer American for this, but feel free to experiment. Cheddar, Monterrey Jack, Colby...)

Either grill, bake/broil, or fry the hot dog according to your personal taste. Cook eggs according to taste (scramble, over medium, etc.). Fry or bake hash brown patty. Proceed to either combine items whole inside/on top of tortilla, hoagie, etc. or cut all items into pieces, mix thoroughly and roll in a tortilla.

A perfectly protein- and carbohydrate-rich meal for extended satisfaction of hunger and energy production for maximum word output (barring external interruptions of course). I do admit this might be better suited to a pre-/post-workout meal, but brain power requires sustenance too!