Tempting Tuesdays ~ Better Than Sex Cake

After creating three outstanding meals in the crock pot, I wanted to find a decadent dessert to round out the month. I found all that and more at Tablespoon.com. This is hands down the BEST cake I've ever made. Over my lifetime I have made thousands of cakes, so this is saying something. If you have a crock pot and these simple ingredients, you can make it too.

Ingredients

1 (15 1/4 ounce) box of Chocolate cake mix
1 1/4 cups water
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla or vanilla paste
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) jar carmel ice cream topping (reserve some for garnish)
1 cup chocolate covered toffee bits (reserve some for garnish)
1 can spray whipped cream

Grease or spray crock pot throughly. I used my old standby concoction of 2 tablespoons of each: flour, vegetable oil, and Crisco.

With mixer, combine cake mix, oil, water, eggs, vanilla, and 1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk. Pour into crock pot.

Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours. I started checking mine at the 2 hour mark and ended up taking it out at 2 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, combine the rest of the sweetened condensed milk and carmel sauce.

Take the cake out of the crock pot. It doesn't look too pretty, but don't let that hold you back. Poke holes in the cake with a long skewer, but not all the way through.

While still warm, pour sauce over cake and top with toffee bits. Sauce will absorb into the cake as it cools. Once cool, cut into squares, top with whipped cream, carmel and toffee bit.

Enjoy the best cake you've ever tasted!

Sneak Peek Sunday - April Emerson

Coming December 4th from The Writer's Coffee Shop....

Out of the Dark by April Emerson

You can view the book trailer here.

Excerpt: 

He pulls a grape from the bunch, and his gaze is glued to mine. “Come here.” I walk toward him. My will to do anything else is nonexistent. I stand just a breath away. “Close your eyes,” he says. My heart rate increases and beads of sweat begin to drip down my back—possibly from the sun, but most likely from Stefan—as I obey. “Open your mouth.” He commands me, and with my eyes closed, his voice sounds so haunting, so suave. Again, I do as he says. The flesh of the fruit is pressed against my lips, and he runs it around my mouth but doesn’t place it inside. Then, he removes it. “Lick your lips.” I do as he says. The flavor is sharp and tart, but there’s a lingering sweetness. I say nothing, but with eyes closed, I await further instructions and am not disappointed. This time his voice is even closer, and I feel his hand on my hip. “Open again.” I part my lips, and the small fruit is placed inside. I let it roll around my tongue before puncturing its flesh, and the sweet, tart flavor overwhelms my taste buds. It’s heaven. As I chew and swallow the fruit, I’m aware of his hand on my body, and though my eyes are closed, I can feel his gaze all over me. His grip tightens momentarily, and he slides his hands up my back and into my hair. “Open your eyes.” As soon as I do, he tugs my head back and touches his lips to mine, sharing in the sweet flavor of the grape. His kiss is slow at first, then our tongues touch, and I taste only him. I slide my arms around his shoulders and pull him into me. I want him to know that I want this. I want him. My neck sways to the side as he forces my mouth open further, and he lets out a moan. It’s a guttural sound filled with desire. His hand slides down my back, over the curve of my ass . . . He stops. “Please,” I beg, but he shakes his head. “I’m finding it very difficult to remain a gentleman around you.” I raise my eyebrow. “So, don’t.”

Saturday Snapshots: 9-27-14

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Young Victorian Woman

Photo Credit: 

http://www.flowers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Young-Victorian-Woman-with-Flowers.jpg

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

Need a simple, home cooked meal that the whole family will love? Then this recipe is for you. I found this as part of a weekly meal plan from Girls in White Dresses Blog. You can even spice it up with different seasonings or adding veggies if you like.

Ingredients

2 uncooked, thawed, and diced chicken breasts
1 bag tater tots
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
salt, pepper, and other seasonings as desired

Line the bottom of your crock pot with half of the bag of tater tots.

Add 1 cup of cheese then cover with diced chicken and seasonings.

Cover with remaining tater tots and cheese then add milk.

Cook on low for 4 hours and enjoy!

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Slow Cooker French Dip Sammies

Fall is creeping up on us and I wanted to pull out the slow cooker to fix up a tasty meal. I found this great game day recipe on Shugary Sweets to tempt you with this week.


Ingredients

5 pound Beef Rump Roast
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black ground pepper
2 Tbsp beef bouillon granules
2 Tbsp minced onion
1 1/2 cup beef stock
12 oz beer

Place roast in slow cooker.

Season with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, beef bouillon, and minced onion.

Add broth and beer, cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Take meat out and slice or shred it.

Strain au jus of clumps or fat or small pieces of meat. Serve on french bread with cheddar cheese and a side of au jus. Dip and enjoy!

Saturday Snapshots - 9/13/14

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Autumn

Photo Credit: http://carol-hannah.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/orange-fall.jpg

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

September 10, 2014

The 40-Year Old Author

 

I don't know when it happened, exactly. Sometime between graduating high school, slinging pizzas at Pizza Hut, graduating college, getting my teaching job, getting married, going back to college to get my Masters, teaching some more, and becoming an author...suddenly, I've blinked, and I've turned the big 4-0. 

It's an odd feeling. I don't feel forty.  People say I don't look forty. And yet, when I subtract 1974 from 2014, that's the number I get.

Instead of feeling depressed about that number, I find that it's given me a sort of strength. I've spent the last forty years being a people-pleaser. A peacemaker. Doing things I felt like I "should" do instead of doing what I really wanted. Or what I needed. Worrying about what people thought of me to the point that it made me physically sick. But lately, I've noticed this particular phrase coming from my mouth quite a bit: 

"I'm almost forty years old, and I don't have to do that if I don't want to."

And it's awesome.

Breaking Bad is one of my favorite shows EVER (I'm so glad I waited until the series ended to binge watch it on Netflix). By the end of the series, Walter White is pretty terrible, but he said something that really resonated with me. Walt told his brother-in-law that he had spent his entire life being afraid of everything, but as soon as he was diagnosed with cancer, suddenly, he wasn't so afraid anymore. I remember thinking how sad his life must have been . . . that being told he had inoperable cancer was the one thing that made him feel at peace for the first time in his life. Granted, Walt took that peaceful, easy feeling and used it as an excuse to become a drug kingpin and murderer, but I found it interesting how such a grim diagnosis could give him such a sense of calm.

(Not that I'm comparing cancer to turning forty, but you know what I mean.)

I'd hate to think that it took something potentially life threatening to give me that confidence and sense of peace. And I would hate if, someday, when I'm breathing my last breath, someone asks me if I regret anything, and my answer is "Yes. I regret that I worried so much about stupid things that didn't matter."

So I'm hoping to use my forties as a time to smile more and worry less. To have confidence in myself and to accept that sometimes, good enough is good enough. To not put so much pressure on myself to make everybody happy. And to remember this:

Written by A2A Author and Contributor, Sydney Logan. Learn more about Sydney and her work at www.sydneylogan.com

 

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

T.M. Franklin on Netgalley

Author T.M. Franklin's books are available on Netgalley for a limited time! Don't miss this opportunity to check out the MORE trilogy for yourself!

MORE: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/19899
The Guardians: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/33310
TWELVE: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/51354

Jeanne McDonald has a new Preorder Available

Preorder Branded: A Bad Boys Anthology on Amazon today! http://www.amazon.com/Branded-Boys-Anthology-Jo-Matthews-ebook/dp/B00MYAL7QU

Sherri Hayes Book Sale

Author Sherri Hayes has books on sale on all sites for some seriously low prices! Take a look! Her newest work, Crossing the Line, is also available for preorder on Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, and TWCS!

 

Win a Signed Paperback

Author Sydney Logan is giving away two signed paperbacks of Soldier On! Register on her website for your chance to win! http://www.sydneylogan.com/2014/08/soldier-on-signed-paperback-giveaway.html

Wednesday's Weird Word

Abnormus

 Misshapen

Thank you for reading this edition of Author to Author's The Wednesday Word! Visit us again in two weeks for more news, savings, and giveaways to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word! Have a wonderful day!

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos

It has been a while since I've made any type of Mexican food so I went hunting for an easy recipe. I found this recipe on Creme De La Crumb and I'm so glad I did. This was so easy and incredibly tasty. It works as a meal if you use the larger tortillas or as an appetizer if you use smaller ones. For this recipe shown, I used 6 burrito size flour tortillas.

Ingredients

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• salt + pepper
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• ⅓ cup water
• ½ cup shredded colby or Mexican blend cheese
• 12 6 inch or 6 burrito size corn or flour tortillas
• optional: cilantro, salsa, sour cream, or other toppings as desired

Add chicken, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper, cream cheese and water to crock pot. Cover and cook 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. I started this right after lunch and did it on high and it was ready for dinner.

Once cooked, shred chicken with two forks and stir. Cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken mixture in the center of the tortilla. (For smaller tortillas, use about 1/4 of a cup.) Top with shredded cheese and roll tight. 

Place on greased baking tray and cook for 5-10 minutes. Check periodically to make sure you don't burn the taquitos.

Serve with desired toppings and enjoy!

Saturday Snapshots - 9-6-14

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Music

Credit: M. B. Feeney

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Braided Calzone

This recipe was inspired by a picture I found on my Facebook feed. No recipe was attached so I just shot from the hip and tried it out. It worked out better than I ever could imagine. So easy and delicious.

Ingredients

1 can pizza dough
1/2 to 1 cup pizza sauce
1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheese (I used an Italian Blend)
Pepperoni and any other filling of your choice
1 egg for egg wash

Roll out pizza dough on baking tray or pizza stone. Use kitchen scissors to snip sides to make your braid pieces.

Spread sauce down the middle of the dough.

Add pepperoni or any other meat or veggies that you would like.

Sprinkle cheese on top.

Carefully place strips over the center to cover the filling by alternating the sides one by one.

Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with any seasoning you choose. I added a little garlic salt on this one.

Cook in 375 degree oven for 20 to 22 minutes. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn.

Enjoy piping hot!