For the Family

by Susan Rae

There was a time in America when Sundays were for going to Grandma’s for dinner and spending time with cousins, uncles, etc. Now those Sunday dinners are getting harder to come by. For the DeLucas, whose grown siblings include three Chicago cops, a paramedic, and an engineer, most with children of their own, finding time for those get-togethers is equally challenging. When they do get together, Mama DeLuca often does the bulk of the cooking, but it is up to the siblings to bring the dessert or a side dish or two.

In TRUE blue, book three in the series, it’s Joey’s turn to bring the dessert. That’s not a problem as the perfect dessert, apple strudel, is supplied by the baker Steven Johannsen when Joey and Meghan visit him to gain more information on the twenty-four year old murder of Meghan’s father, Chicago Detective Sean McConnell.

The apple strudel sounded so good when I wrote it, that I decided I had to try my hand at baking some myself. I searched the internet and studied apple strudel recipes. After much intense research (hey, I’m a writer, I overthink everything!) I borrowed a little from Emeril Lagasse’s traditional Apfelstrudel, Paula Deen’s strudel recipe, and a couple of other recipes to come up with my own which is both easy and delicious. My recipe uses less sugar than most, lemon juice, and dried bread crumbs to keep the juices from bubbling out as the strudel bakes. Try this one at home served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at your next family dinner. I guarantee, no one will be disappointed!

Susan Rae’s Apple Strudel: A DeLuca Family Special
(serves 14)

1 pkg. frozen puffed pastry sheets (2 per pkg.)
1 ½ lbs. Granny Smith apples (3 to 4 large), cored and thinly sliced.
½ lemon, juiced
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup dried raisins
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
2/3 cup dried bread crumbs
2 tbsp, firm butter, cut into pieces
¼ cup melted butter
1 egg
1 tbsp. water

Remove frozen pastry dough from package. Lay on wire rack to thaw for appx. 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine the apples, lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon. Stir with spoon until apples are evenly coated. Add 1/3 cup breadcrumbs and stir until coated again. Add the raisins and butter pieces and gently stir again.

Lightly coat a board with flour. Unfold one sheet of dough. Roll lightly with a rolling pin. With a pastry brush, brush dough with ½ of the melted butter. Sprinkle with half of the remaining bread crumbs. Arrange ½ of the apple filling into a log on the dough about two inches from the edge of the dough nearest you. Roll the two inch section up over the apple filling, then continue to gently roll the log to the end of the dough. Turn log with seam side up (this helps prevent the juices from oozing out when baked).

Wet fingers and run along edge and pinch. Press ends together and turn under. Using a spatula, gently slide under roll lengthwise and lift onto baking sheet. Slit the top of roll with a knife every two inches or so for venting.

Repeat for second roll.

Whisk egg and water together. Using pastry brush again, brush tops of rolls with egg wash.

Bake for 35 minutes. Remove pan from oven and cool. Cut into 1½ slices, serve warm with your favorite vanilla ice cream, and enjoy!

Note: If you only need one roll, after the second one cools completely, wrap in aluminum foil and freeze. Reheat frozen roll in a 375° F oven for approximately thirty minutes.

Until next time,
Happy Reading,
Susan Rae

And now a short intro to TRUE blue and the DeLuca family.

Sometimes we must revisit the past to embrace our future.

Twenty-four years ago, the murder of a Chicago police officer changed Joey DeLuca’s life. He lost his best friend and first love, Meghan McConnell, when her mother whisked her out of town. Now, on the eve of another officer’s death, Meghan is back and about to step into his life again.

There is very little gray in Joey's line of work as a Lt. Detective--it is either black or white, right or wrong. But Meghan’s insistence on finding answers to her father's murder threatens those beliefs and throws his marriage to CPD Detective Andi, his career, and the entire DeLuca family in jeopardy when new revelations come to light.

Can Joey save his marriage, solve the murder, and keep his family together all at the same time?

To read an excerpt from TRUE blue or purchase please click a vendor's name.
Musa Publishing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

To read excerpt from other books by Susan Rae please click here.

Susan Rae loves writing romantic suspense because it allows her to combine a steamy love story with a gritty suspense tale—in her opinion, the best of both worlds. When she is not writing, you might find Susan smacking a golf ball around the course while working out a pesky plot point; or traveling around the country with her husband and empty nest puppies, Ginger and Nikute, seeking out new settings for her novels.

For more information on Susan Rae and her novels and writing life, please visit her website. Stay connected on Facebook, Susan's Author Page, and Twitter.

British Traditions

from Susan Lodge

Christmas is but a short time away and no British home will be without fruit cake. Many people prepare this holiday treat months in advance, but in our hurried world not too many of us have that luxury. Here is a quick and easy recipe I hope you enjoy. Top the finished cake with a little brandy a day or so before you sprinkle on the icing sugar. Your guests will love it.

No Fuss Fruit Cake
120g/4oz plain flour
120g/4oz self-raising flour
225ml/8 oz Water
1 tsp. mixed spice
1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
2 beaten eggs
120g/4oz margarine
170g/6oz sugar
400g/14oz mixed dried fruit or any combination of sultanas, currants, raisins, glace cherries, mixed peel. Whatever you have handy!

Preheat oven to 350 F/ 180 C/ Gas Mark 4.

Line a 7 inch (18cm) square or 8 inch (20cm) round cake tin with 2 layers of greaseproof paper.

Combine margarine, water, sugar, dried fruit, bicarbonate of soda, and mixed spice in a saucepan over moderate heat. Bring to the boil and simmer for one minute.

Pour into mixing bowl and cool thoroughly. It is important to let the mixture cool before adding the eggs.

Add sifted flour and eggs and mix well.

Pour into prepared tin and bake for one to one and a quarter hours. You may need to put a sheet of greaseproof or brown paper over the tin to prevent top browning too much. Cake is ready when an inserted skewer or toothpick comes out clean.

Leave to cool.

Dust with sifted icing sugar (Confectioner’s Sugar) and ENJOY.

While the cake is baking, how about a romantic contemporary by Susan Lodge to fill in the time?

What is it about men in breeches? Shona finds out her dream man turns out to be not at all what she expected.

When a man in tight buff breeches examines her with his quizzing glass and calls her Miss Bennet, Shona fears the Regency themed ball is going to be as awful as she predicted. But then she is introduced to the gorgeous Nick who ticks every box for her perfect man.

As Shona looks forward to her first date with Nick, her happiness is marred by some disturbing observations around her flat. She doesn’t usually leave her blind rolled down that far, and she never keeps her bunny slippers tidily by the bed. And what is the man in the buff breeches doing lurking on the street outside?

As both men pursue her, Shona finds one makes her body quiver with desire, the other itch with annoyance. Then the men finally confront each other, and her life turns into a nightmare. Can her judgment regarding the male species really be so seriously flawed?

To read an excerpt from The Man in the Buff Breeches, please click HERE.
To read excerpts from the other books by Susan Lodge, please click HERE.

Susan Lodge’s first publication was a story for a UK national woman’s magazine. Heady with this breakthrough, she went on to write her first novel Only a Hero Will Do. She loves writing contemporary and historical romance, usually with a large dose of humour. After working in several cities including London and Bristol, she moved down to the Hampshire coast to raise her family.

Once asked the most important piece of advice she had been given in pursuit of publication, Susan answered -
The only difference between the unpublished writer and the published writer is the fact that the published writer didn't give up.

Catch up with Susan on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Patriotism Down Under

by Vonnie Hughes

G'day all!

With Anzac Day a scant nine days away, people all over Australia and New Zealand are remembering our war heroes by wearing red poppies and baking our traditional biscuits. The tradition began in World War I. Wives and lovers wanted to provide a bit of home to their soldiers and nurses, but they needed a food that wouldn't perish on the long journey. These biscuits were created and have been a symbol of Anzac Day ever since.

Here is a recipe that is easy and flavorful. I hope you try them.

ANZAC BISCUITS (COOKIES)
1 cup plain flour not self-raising
1 cup rolled oats
¾ cup sugar
½ cup dessicated (shredded) coconut
2 tbsp. golden syrup (light molasses)
1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda (raising agent)
125 grams of butter (4.4 ozs)
½ teaspoon salt
2 tbsp. boiling water.


Preheat oven to 160C or 325°F (140C or 285°F for a fan-forced oven).

Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper (parchment paper).

Sift flour into a large bowl. Stir in the oats, coconut, sugar and salt.

Combine butter and golden syrup and stir over medium heat until melted.

Stir the bicarbonate of soda in the boiling water and add to the mixture. It will bubble.

Quickly pour the liquid over the flour mixture and combine.

Roll heaped tablespoons of the mixture into small balls and place at 5cm (about 2 inches) intervals on the baking trays. Press the balls down with a fork to flatten.

Bake for about 18-20 minutes until golden brown.

Note that these are not puffed up cookies but more a flat biscuit type of cookie.

Vonnie Hughes is a New Zealander living in Australia. She loves animals and jogging. Vonnie writes Regencies and romantic suspense novels along with short stories.

Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads.

Scrumptious Lemon Almond Macaroons

Romantic suspense author Susan Rae is here to share an awesome cookie recipe and an easy sweet contest. Take it away Susan!

Hi Everyone,

These scrumptious macaroons are perfect for curling up with your coffee and your e-reader. And, because they don’t have any flour in them, I believe they are gluten-free. I admit I cannot take credit for the recipe. I found the original recipe in The American Profile magazine when I was looking for something tasty for my son who was on an almond kick. I’ve tweaked it a bit for my own use because I enjoy one big cookie versus two small. I love the fact that they are super easy and quick to make with only four ingredients.

P.S. If you’d like to win a coffee mug like the one in the picture celebrating the release of my new novel, ICE blue, and a free download of heartbeats or freefall, please click HERE to go to my website and enter the contest which runs through Friday, April 12th.

Scrumptious Lemon Almond Macaroons
2- 2/3 cups blanched almonds (about 12 ounces)
1- 1/2 cups sugar
3 large egg whites
3 heaping teaspoons freshly grated lemon rind

Position rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 350°F.

Line two baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper, allowing it to extend slightly over the sides of the baking sheet.

In food processor, grind almonds with sugar until mixture forms even crumbs. Add egg white and lemon rind and process until smooth. If you have a smaller processor, do this step in batches.

Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto prepared backing sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. (I use a 1 ½” diameter cookie dough scoop which is about one heaping tablespoon.)

With moistened fingers, press slightly to flatten each macaroon until they are about ½ inch high.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes until very lightly but evenly browned. The centers should still be soft. Remove from oven.

Lift one end of paper and pour about 2 tablespoons of water under it, onto baking sheet. The water will boil in contact with the baking sheet. Lift the other end of the paper and pour about 2 tablespoons of water under it also. Tilt pan so the water spreads under all the cookies. When the water stops boiling, remove macaroons carefully from paper. Transfer to rack and cool. Store in an airtight container.

Makes 24

Mmmm, now kick back with your coffee and a macaroon or two and enjoy some sizzling suspense.

When lives are on the line, sometimes the wrong thing is the right thing to do.

BLURB:
Born into a Chicago cop family, while her brothers get their rush from catching bad guys, paramedic Angela DeLuca gets hers from saving lives. A tough beauty with a heart perhaps too big, Angela champions the underdog because, as the youngest of six siblings, she often felt like one.
ICE Special Agent Troy Deavers became a cop to prove he wasn’t like his father—a southern politician who brought his family down with greed and corruption. Troy doesn’t suffer victims well. At first intrigued by Angela’s passion, he soon fears that the fire in Angela’s heart will be her undoing.

What happens when Troy falls in love with the lovely but infuriating Angela, the Chicago paramedic who insists on protecting a young witness and her unborn baby—a witness who could break his case wide open?

You met the DeLuca family in heartbeats, now come to know them even better in ICE blue.

To read an excerpt of ICE blue, please click HERE.

To purchase a copy of ICE blue, please click a vendor's link.

Musa Publishing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Author of contemporary romantic suspense/mystery novels, Susan Rae loves writing romantic suspense because it allows her to combine a sexy, passionate love story with a gritty suspense tale--in her opinion, the best of both worlds. When she is not writing, you might find her on the golf course working on her handicap or traveling around the country with her husband and empty nest puppies, Ginger and Nikute, seeking out settings for her novels.

freefall, Susan's second novel, takes place in Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine Forest and beautiful Door County. ICE blue returns to the busy streets of Chicago and the shores of Lake Michigan to continue the story of the DeLuca family which began in her award winning first novel, heartbeats. She is currently working on the third book in the DeLuca series, TRUE blue, due out in 2014, where it seems her characters must take a trip to Montana's majestic Glacier National Park--a fact which pleases Susan immensely.

To read more about Susan Rae and her books, please visit her website.

I'll be back Monday with a new release from Marci Boudreaux. Until then...

Happy Eating!

Sloane