Thursday 27 December 2012

Sometimes It Happens... is in the Top Ten!


As we begin the count down for the New Year, I see some people are already sharing their year. Book Reviewer, Carol Wright has already revealed her top ten reads for 2012 and to my surprise and delight, B.R.A.G. award winner, Sometimes It Happens... is there!

Thank you so much Carol, I am honoured to be in your top ten of 2012.

You can see all the books that made Carol's top ten by visiting her amazing Book Blog site.
http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/my-year-in-books-top-reads-for-2012.html?spref=fb

And, you can also watch the exotic, Sometimes It Happens... trailer here!

Thursday 20 December 2012

A Chat on Radio Tias!


Today I was invited to chat on Radio Tias about my three books with presenters, Jerry Lefever and Sarah English. The other two guests where Mike & Julie Cliffe-Jones from Lanzarote Information.

It was great fun and Jerry certainly made the hour long live show very entertaining and I could be invited back!

Sarah also brought in some delicious mince pies she made earlier from her English Cakes Lanzarote business... scrummy!

Thanks Jerry and Sarah for inviting me!

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Christmas Bake Off with Joanna Lambert


As part of my Christmas Bake Off, today author, Joanna Lambert shares her delicious white chocolate and raspberry tart. This is to die for…..




White Chocolate and Raspberry Tart

Hands-on time 35 minutes, plus chilling. Cooking time 30 minutes

Serves 12

150g(5oz) Plain Flour

Pinch of salt

65g (2.5 oz) cold, unsalted butter, diced

100g (3.5 oz) ground hazelnuts

25g (1 oz) sugar

1 large egg, beaten

250g tub Mascarpone

200g (7 oz) good quality white chocolate, such as Green & Black’s

150ml carton double cream

400g fresh raspberries

Golden icing sugar to dust


1. Sift flour and salt into the bowl of a food processor. Add butter and whiz until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add hazelnuts, sugar and just enough egg to bring the mixture together – use the pulse button to help you. Shape the pastry into a disc, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.

2. Roll out pastry; press into base and sides of a 20.5cm (8 in) fluted tart tin. Prick base all over. Line with baking parchment and top with baking beans. Chill until firm. Pre-heat oven to 190°C (170°C fan) mark 5.

3. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes. Removed beans and parchment; bake for a further 5 – 10 minutes until pastry is dry and slightly sandy to touch. Cool tin on wire rack.

4. Melt the mascarpone and chocolate together in a heatproof bowl set over gently simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl does not touch the water. Don’t stir, otherwise the mixture will thicken into a sticky mess.

5. Remove bowl from pan and set aside to cool completely. Lightly whip the cream, then fold into the chocolate mixture. Spoon into the pastry case; chill.

6. Top with raspberries; dust with icing sugar before serving.


Per serving: 408 calories, 33g fat (11g saturate), 30g carbohydrates (14g total sugars)

Enjoy!

Here are Joanna Lambert's links


Writer of Modern Romantic Sagas
website: http://www.ladywriter.moonfruit.com
blog: jolambertwriter.wordpress.com
twitter: @jolambertwriter
Facebook.com/audreyhawkins

As always thank you for stopping by and here is my Christmas video Merry Christmas


 

Wednesday 12 December 2012

My Christmas Bake Off with Anne's Swiss & Olive Spread!



As part of my Christmas Bake Off, today the wonderfully talented Janet Beasley shares one of the delicious recipes from her Maycly cook book.



More Than Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.

Ann's Swiss & Olive Spread


6 oz finely shredded Swiss cheese

1/2 c chopped pimentos-stuffed green olives

1/3 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise (depends on how moist you prefer your spread)

1 tsp prepared mustard

1 tsp olive brine

1/4 tsp dry mustard

1 loaf of party rye or pumpernickel bread


Mix all ingredients together and serve with party bread.

Refrigerate leftovers

Click on the recipe title for more scrummy recipes!
Sounds scummy…. Do enjoy!


Thanks for stopping by and here is my little Christmas thank you for all your support this years.



Saturday 8 December 2012

Christmas Wonderland!

I'm slowly getting in the festive mood and I hope you are too. Today I want to share my Christmas Wonderland Video Trailer with you as a way of saying a HUGE thank you for all you amazing support.


Thursday 6 December 2012

Christmas Bake Off with Rum Truffles


As part of the run up to Christmas, I’m having a Christmas Bake Off and sharing with you some fabulous recipes sent in by friends.

So get you aprons on, here is the first recipe Rum Truffles, sent in by Gilli Allan



Rum Truffles

4 oz (113 grams) dark chocolate

1 oz (28grams) fine dry cake crumbs (I use a sponge flan base which I put in the oven for half an hour before I crumb)

3-4 oz (85 - 113 grams) sieved icing sugar

1 oz (28 grams) ground almonds

1 oz (28 grams) unsalted butter

Few drops almond essence

Dark (Navy) rum to taste - aprox 3 tablespoons. ( Any alcohol can be used. I sometimes use brandy instead)

NB. I do a batch of these every Christmas but I often do double this quantity and then have enough to give some away as gifts.

Break up chocolate, cut butter into small squares and melt together in a pudding basin you’ve placed in a pan of boiling water. Stir together until melted.

Remove basin and gradually add cake crumbs, ground almonds and almond flavouring and rum, stirring together. Then gradually add the icing sugar and continue stirring until mixture is stiff and well blended.

Put into fridge for half an hour. Remove and mould into balls. (This sometimes has to be done in batches as the mixture gets too warm and sticky ) Then liberally coat with icing sugar or cocoa powder or those little chocolate squiggly things.

Thanks Gilli for this fabulous recipe!

Stop by again for more delicious mouth watering delights!

Saturday 1 December 2012

Snowballing in Lanzarote!


Okay so you think I'm kidding, well only just, but we do have snow!

Lanzarote is not well know for snow or cold. The island is famous for sunny beach days all year round, but this year we have a new attraction , The Snowglobe. It took my eye when I headed into the Biosfera in Puerto Del Carmen and I just had to take a peek.

Here it is and anyone who wants to get that special festive feeling can step inside and play snowballing!



If you live in Lanzarote or are just visiting you can enjoy the magic of snow without freezing, and you can still wear your beach gear. Now how cool is that!




Away from the magic of The Snowglobe, I've been busy editing my new book, The Summer of Sixty Five which is due out in 2013. It's going slowly as I've a lot of changes to make, but I am sure it is all for the best. Importantly, I am still enjoying the story and the company of the amazing characters that bring it to life. Like most characters they like to take over and take the lead part!

As I can hear the characters calling, I'd best be away and as always, thank you for stopping by and I hope if you can you'll visit our wonderful Snowglobe.

Until next time, sending sunny smiles and let's catch up again soon.