In food, as in fiction, sometimes you just need something that's quick and comforting.  This Parmesan polenta absolutely fits the bill.  It's a favorite comfort food in our house.

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Parmesan Polenta

Ingredients:

• 1 cup yellow corn meal (I like coarse ground by Bob’s Red Mill--if you use this cook time will be a little bit longer--the coarser the grind, the longer the cook time)
• 4 cups of chicken stock (you can use water, but I prefer the stock for more flavor)
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Bring the salt and stock to a boil.
2. Whisking constantly, add the polenta.
3. Reduce heat to medium and continue to whisk constantly (careful!  It can pop on you!) for about five minutes.
4. Continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes or until it reaches desired thickness.
5. Remove from heat and add the cheese and butter, stirring until well incorporated.
6. Serve.

Isabelle Lawson loves her job.  Driven, dedicated, there’s no room in her high-pressure life to look for love outside the pages of the books she edits.  Can a fun-loving, handsome stranger change her mind?

A novelette of approximately 10k words.

“Meet cute” is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time.  Meet Cute Romance is a series of romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.

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http://kaitnolan.com

My family goes crazy for these wholesome, moist muffins. The crumbly topping gives them a burst of sweetness. When I make these, they're gone almost instantly.

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Pumpkin Muffins

Makes about 10 average-sized muffins

Combine the following ingredients in a large bowl:

§ 1/2 cup white sugar

§ 1/3 cup grapeseed oil (or other light oil, eg: sunflower, canola)

§ 1 cup pure pumpkin puree

§ 2 eggs

In a separate bowl, combine the following ingredients:

§ 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour

§ 1 tsp baking soda

§ 1/2 tsp baking powder

§ 1/2 tsp nutmeg

§ 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Add the dry mix to the creamed mixture, beating either by hand or on the low setting of a hand blender. Don't over-mix.

Divide among muffin cups (either lined with paper or greased).

Crumbly Topping (optional, but recommended!)

In a small bowl, combine the following ingredients:

§ 1 tsp cinnamon

§ 2 tbsp brown sugar

§ 1 tsp soft butter

§ 1 tsp flour

Sprinkle over the muffin batter before baking.

Bake at 350 F, on an upper rack, for *about* 20 minutes. (Not all ovens cook at the same rate, so adjust cooking time accordingly.)

Allow to cool and enjoy.  :)

~Karla

Nia has one rule—don’t date neighbors. Simple, except the guy next door is single, handsome, and not inclined to close his blinds while naked. When her car dies, Conn takes “being neighborly” to a new level by offering a ride to her long-distance destination. Nia has resisted his looks and charm for months. Surely she can handle a few hours in his truck…

For months, Conn has blatantly put himself on display, hoping his pretty blonde neighbor would tire of secretly watching and come knock on his door for a cup of sugar—or more. No such luck—until an unusual opportunity arises. After a six-hour drive turns into a sweet-and-sexy weekend, Conn wants more than neighborly status with Nia. To get it, he must convince her to break the rule protecting her heart—by putting his on the line.

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Website: www.karladoyle.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Karla_Doyle

Dak, a fierce warrior and the hero of Breeder, has a sweet tooth. He’d probably love Apricot Breakfast Cookies, my family’s favorite. The secret recipe (sh!) comes from the Eddie Bauer Legendary Recipe Collection (submitted by Sandy Fleming).

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Apricot Breakfast Cookies

1 cup flour

¾ cup sugar

½ tsp. baking soda

½ cup butter

1 egg

2 cups corn flakes

¾ cup cut-up apricots

Blend together flour, sugar and baking soda. Add butter and egg, then mix. Add cornflakes and apricots. Place in tablespoon sizes on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 13 to 15 minutes. Makes approximately 2 dozen cookies. (I usually get 3 dozen).

 

To secure his legacy, Commander Dak, a ruling Alpha of planet Parseon, purchases Omra, a breeder slave. He intends to impregnate her, produce a son, and hand her off to his anointed beta partner. As Dak and Omra discover a sexual bliss banned by law, he begins to question the traditions and ways of his people, causing him to jeopardize his command and endanger the life of the woman he has come to love.

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http://www.carabristol.com

In my April release, Desiring Lady Caro, my characters travel from Venice to Paris. While making their way through the Austrian mountain, they sampled a local dish. Kasnocken is the Austrian version of macaroni and cheese. To be perfectly authentic, Bergkäse must be used, however if you can’t find it, Emmentaler is a good substitute. You can also buy the spaetzle (noodles) if you like.

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Ingredients (serves 2):
9 oz (250g) flour
5 eggs + 1 egg yolk
a good pinch of salt
2-3 tbsp water (if necessary)
2 tbsp butter
5 - 7 oz (150-200g) Bergkäse cheese, grated

To prepare the onions:
3 oz (75g) butter
2 mid-sized onions cut in rings

Combine the flour, eggs and a good-sized pinch of salt. In another mixing bowl, whisk eggs and milk together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the egg-milk mixture. Gradually draw in the flour from the sides and combine well; the dough should be smooth and thick. Let the dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile heat the butter in a frying pan over low to medium heat, add onions, and let them slowly gain a golden brown color. Don't let them get too dark, as they tend to become bitter. Drain on a paper towel and then set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water briefly to a boil, add a pinch of salt and then reduce heat. The water should simmer throughout the whole process. You can either cut and shape the spaetzle by hand or use a spaetzle maker or a colander which makes things easier. Cook the spaetzle for about 2-3 minutes until they float back to the surface, then remove them. Dump the spaetzle into a colander and give it a quick rinse with cool water.

When done, drain the water, melt 1-2 tbsp of butter and return the spaetzle to the pot. Shake the pot a few times to evenly distribute the butter, then add the grated cheese and mix well.

Now simply add the browned onions and chopped chives on top and serve.

Guten Appetit!

Ella Quinn’s bachelors are clever, charismatic—and determined to remain single. Yet one by one, they find that fate—and certain irresistible women—cast doubt on even the best laid plans…

Haunted by her past, Lady Caroline Martindale fled England for the solace of her godmother’s palazzo in Venice. But if Caro was hoping to escape the charms of marriage-minded men, she’s come to the wrong place. And she’ll resort to extreme measures to spurn the advances of a dangerously determined Venetian marquis…

Though most of his friends have married off, Gervais, Earl of Huntley, remains bent on eluding the parson’s mousetrap. But his convictions begin to falter when he arrives in Venice and meets his match in the alluring Lady Caro. What began as a hastily concocted lie to save her from the marquis may become a chance for them both to relinquish their fear—and embrace what they can no longer deny…

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www.ellaquinnauthor.com

The Dom in my latest release, The Stylist, His Dom, and Their Dancer, is a gourmet chef at an upscale restaurant. And I’d probably get spanked for submitting this recipe but it’s one my whole family enjoys, picky kids included. There’s lots of room for variation so it’s easy to tailor it to your own family.

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2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
1 lb. Ground beef
half a small onion, finely chopped (the finer the better if your picky kid doesn’t like onions)
1 tsp Garlic Salt
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 tbsp prepared mustard (Dijon is nice, but again it depends on your family’s tastes)
½ cup grated cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease a muffin tin.
2. Separate the dough for the rolls. Form them into a rough bowl shape and press one into each muffin cup. You’ll likely have four rolls leftover because the muffin tin has 12 spaces and each can has 8 rolls. I bake them on the side.
3. In a frying pan, brown the ground beef and drain (unless you’re lazy like me in which case use extra lean ground beef and you don’t have to).
4. Sprinkle garlic salt over beef and add onions to pan. Continue frying until onions are tender.
5. Reduce heat to low. Add the mushroom soup and stir it into the beef. Heat through.
6. Add mustard and mix well.
7. Spoon a bit of the beef into each muffin cup (I find an ice cream scoop is the perfect size).
8. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over top of each “cupcake.”
9. Bake for 15 minutes, until cheese is nice and melty and the crescent rolls are golden brown (what you can see of them anyway).
Makes 12 cupcakes.
Stylist and salon owner Remy Alexander got a second chance at love when he found Seamus O’Connell, but the more time he spends with his daughter’s dance teacher, the more he wonders if there is room for another in his marriage.

As a result of a troubled past, Shay needs order and control in everything, from his work as a chef, to the bedroom he shares with his submissive husband. Remy’s idea to have a ménage relationship upsets the delicate balance Shay has created for himself, but he can’t deny his desire for the sexy dance instructor.

Nicole Collins is a good Catholic girl who pours all her energy into her work as a dance teacher. When she falls for Remy and Shay, they teach her about passion, submission, and love, but incur the wrath of her own father. Can Nicole find a way to hang on to everyone she loves, or will one relationship cost her the other?

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Author Website

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Just because the holidays are long gone, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some decadent rum balls. After all, we need some rum to warm us up on these cold nights, don’t we?

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Ingredients:

* Vegetable oil, cooking spray

* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

* 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

* 3 large eggs

* 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

* 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

* 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark rum

* Coarse sanding sugar, for rolling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside. Melt butter and chocolate in a small heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

2. Whisk together eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in chocolate mixture, then fold in flour. Pour batter into prepared baking sheet. Spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake until top is shiny and a cake tester inserted into center comes out with some crumbs attached, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

3. Break up brownie into small pieces; transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With machine on low speed, pour in rum, and mix until crumbs start to come together to form a ball.

4. Shape into 1-inch balls, and roll in sanding sugar to coat. Transfer to a baking sheet; refrigerate, uncovered, until cold, about 2 hours. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Something else to warm you up is my brand new book, “Summer Job, Summer Love”

Bronwyn needs a summer job and thinks being a life guard would be fun. In class she’s surprised to find there are twelve men and only three women. She’s even more surprised when Ross and Jake monopolize her attention and want to date her. But this is only a summer romance. It can’t possibly last longer than the ten life guard lessons. Can it?

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http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

http://berengariabrown.com/

Valentine’s Day is coming. So here’s a sweet and sexy treat to make get your honey in the mood!

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CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRY SHOT CUPS

· The largest, biggest, reddest strawberries you can find.

· Wash ’em, slice off the pointy tip evenly to form a base so they can stand on their own. Hull ’em using a paring knife or grapefruit knife, without breaking the walls.

· Pat ’em dry and dip them in your favorite melted chocolate—dark or milk, it’s lover’s choice.

· Set them on wax paper and freeze.

· Before serving, thaw enough to bite into without a trip to the dentist.

· Combine the booze of your choice (try Smirnoff Fluffed marshmallow vodka or a vanilla vodka mixed with Godiva liqueur and chocolate syrup).

· Optional: Whipped cream topping. (Isn’t it always?)

Dagney Night, a sought-after succubus, is no stranger to blazing hot sex. But as Valentine’s Day approaches, she longs for something more. When oddly erotic paintings arrive for display at her art gallery, arousing everyone who views them, she wonders about the mysterious artist who created the works.

Maxwell Raines, a fire-sex demon, lives a life of solitude and seclusion behind the walls of his compound at Sleepy Hollow, channeling his lustful impulses into his art—until his muse deserts him and his temperature rises past the danger point. He needs sex. Now.

When Madame Evangeline arranges a torrid Valentine’s 1Night Stand for them, will the flames of their encounter be too hot to handle?

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Tarynkincaid.com

Here’s the basic recipe that can be turned into a number of different things. After covering the hard way, now skip down—below the “creamy goodness recipe” and let’s get these suckers done the easy way, okay?

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Creamy Goodness Recipe

2 tbs butter

Ingredients

5 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 cups milk

2 teaspoons salt

For the finish you’ll need: Four peeled, cut, and boiled potatoes. Drain them and then add to your sauce and serve. Yum.

Now for the crib notes version of this recipe. Hey don’t judge me. I cook a big meal EVERY SINGLE day so I need some cheats. Here’s a biggie. Heheheh.

Fake Creamy Garlic Goodness Recipe

Two tbs of butter

1 can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom with roasted garlic soup

½ can of milk (if you’re skinny or having company splurge and use half and half – makes it richer) but seeing as how I’m a tad short for my weight so those extra calories are a no-no, I usually use 2% milk and it works great.

Heat it up. There’s no need to thicken it as you’re using less liquid so the soup base stays thick.

Then all you need to do is salt and pepper to taste. Here again, I will tell you that I use chicken bouillon to season, but you’re welcome to use whatever you want. Only don’t use beef bouillon because I got cocky once when the MIL was coming to dine and…well let’s just say, to this day she thinks I can’t cook. Wow, now that I think about it? That worked out well for me as she never stops by at mealtime. Maybe I should try inviting her over for breakfast and slipping some sugar in her scrambled eggs. *thinking as I twirl my handlebar mustache* Oh, right, I better finish the instructions before I start plotting. After your sauce is heated just pour over your cooked potatoes and you’re done.

Additional tips: If you don’t have time to peel and boil potatoes? Cook them with skin on in the microwave and then scoop out potato when done. Add to sauce and you’ve got creamy garlic mashed potatoes.

Don’t have potatoes, but want something on the plate that looks like ‘em? Use cauliflower instead of potatoes. Works and tastes great.

Enjoy!

She knows he’s dangerous for a woman like her.

He knows she’s perfect for a man like him.

From their first meeting, David Hollan is intrigued because Lacy Pembrook is subconsciously hiding someone. Herself. And David wants to know why. He’s patient at first. Willing to give her space, but when she breaks the rules they’ve set between them, he’s ready to hold her accountable. One way or another, he’s going to find the piece of her that’s yet to be uncovered. And when he does? He intends to own it.

Given an ultimatum after she gets caught coloring outsides the lines of their “trial” relationship, Lacy decides to fall in with David’s plans. She’ll cancel her trip and spend her vacation time at his house making up for her transgression. No sweat, right? Wrong. What she doesn’t count on is him going full-out Dom on her. She quickly learns why they call him the quiet one. He’s dead sexy, watchful and stern at the best of times, and now that he has her all to himself, each of those things are magnified tenfold.

By the time Lacy realizes that he’s completely subjugated her—by way of an emotional striptease—it’s too late. She’s bared her soul to him, so when he requests her surrender she has no choice but to give it to him. Or does she?

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www.AuthorRileyMurphy.com