Magda and Javi, the main characters of The Rain in Spain, spend a magical evening wandering Sevilla. My own trip to Sevilla left me with a love of Spanish tapas, and tortilla in particular.

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Spanish Tortilla Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 3/4lb medium potatoes

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

scant 1/2c. extra virgin olive oil

6 eggs

1) Thinly slice the potatoes. Heat 5 TBS of the oil in a frying pan and cook the potatoes, turning frequently, for 10 minutes. Add the onions and seasoning (salt & pepper, I just wing it), and continue to cook gently for a further 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

2) Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a large bowl with a little more salt & pepper. Tip the potatoes and onions into the eggs and mix gently. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.

3) Wipe out the pan and heat the remaining oil in it. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and spread it out in an even layer. Cover and cook over very gentle heat for 20 minutes, until the eggs are just set. Serve cut into wedges.

Tortilla are often made with a bunch of extra ingredients thrown in: chopped bell peppers (red or yellow), peas, corn, grated cheese. The recipe I use (which comes from a cookbook called Cooking With Just Four Ingredients) suggests Cheddar or Gruyère, but I use Manchego because it's my favorite Spanish cheese and tastes delicious. I don't have amounts for extra ingredients, but I think I use about a cup of grated Manchego. If anything, I probably throw in a little extra, because cheese!

You can eat tortilla as soon as it's done cooking, but it's also served cold, straight from the fridge. Serve with a leafy salad and crusty bread for an easy meal.

"The Rain in Spain" is a short story in the SUMMER RAIN charity anthology for RAINN.

Travel write Magda and scientist Javi are cranky with the heat--and each other--on the streets of Sevilla. They've been married for a year, after a whirlwind courtship, and Magda is questioning whether or not she made a mistake. She's not sure if her need to explore the world can ever mesh with Javi's more regimented life.

As they stroll the cobblestone streets of one of Spain's most romantic cities, Magda tries to show her husband just what it is she loves so much about her job that keeps her far from home for son long. By the time the sun rise, they'll know if there is a way forward for them together . . . or not.

All proceeds from the volume will be donated to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org), the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States.

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http://amyjocousins.com/

My recipe is for ‘Bendy Eggs’. In A Perfect Distraction, Maggie doesn’t like to cook, but she often makes ‘Bendy Eggs’ as a special breakfast treat for her daughter, Emily. Naturally, Maggie ends up making it for Jake too. :)

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‘Bendy Eggs’ are a poor man’s version of Eggs Benedict (my favourite!):

2 eggs

4 strips of bacon

1 English muffin

Cream cheese

1. Toast the English muffin and spread a generous helping of cream cheese on each half.

2. Cook the bacon strips and lay two on each half.

3. Fry or poach the eggs, then place on top of the bacon on each half

4. Voila - Bendy Eggs!

A Perfect Distraction

A face-off—head vs. heart

For Jake Badoletti, this year is all about his career. He has a rare second chance to make the most of being a pro hockey player, so no parties, no scandals. Too bad he's met a woman who could sideline those plans. Maggie Goodman is not his usual type—right down to being a single mom. Still, the sizzling connection with this gorgeous brunette can't be ignored.

With a little juggling and a lot of focus, Jake manages to have the game and Maggie. Then his performance on the ice suffers and a scandal erupts. Now he can't afford the distraction of Maggie…even if she is perfect for him.

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www.annasugden.com

This recipe is in honor of my novel that is set in Spain. When my hubby and I visited, we fell in love with the country and the food. What a romantic place!

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(Spanish Omelet)

Ingredients:

6-7 medium potatoes, peeled

1 whole yellow onion

5-6 large eggs

2-3 cups of olive oil for pan frying

Salt to taste

Diced ham, chorizo, red or green peppers, or tomatoes can also be added.

Slice the potatoes into 1/8” slices. Chop onions into 1/4” pieces. Mix potatoes, onion and salt. In a large non-stick pan heat the olive oil on medium-high. When the oil is ready for frying, spread the potatoes and onions evenly over the surface. Cook until potatoes are done then remove mixture from the oil with a slotted spoon. Whisk eggs in a large bowl and add the potato-onion mixture. Pour 1-2 tbsp. of olive oil into a non-stick frying pan. Heat on medium. Stir the potato-onion-egg mixture once more and pour into heated oil. Spread evenly. When the eggs have cooked around the edges, carefully lift one side of the omelet and peek. When the bottom is brown, put a plate on top of the pan and flip the omelet over onto the plate and slide back into the pan to cook for 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit for 2 minutes. Slide the omelet onto a plate and cut into 1 1/2” squares.

Serve with a sliced baguette.

Enjoy!

Seeing dead people is bad enough. Loving him could make her one of them.

When the mother of all panic attacks prompts Erin Carter’s boss to pass her over for promotion, her mind doesn’t just crack. It explodes like an egg in a microwave, shattering her career along with the company car she crashes into the office building.

The death grip she’s kept on her sanity slipping, she takes a friend’s advice and flees to Spain. There she finds comfort in the healing arms of surgeon Santiago Botello—until a fifteenth-century ghost warns her that being with Santiago is dangerous, possibly even lethal.

Santiago has his hands full protecting his sister from a dark curse and his family from a very modern-day psychotic killer. The last thing he needs added to his plate is a neurotic American. Yet something about Erin tugs at his heart so hard he wants to wrap her in his arms and never let go. No matter the risk.

Erin’s attraction to Santiago makes her the killer’s next target. Survival means she must face her greatest fear, solve an ancient murder mystery—and hang on tight to the one man she’s fallen crazy in love with.

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www.kimberleytroutte.com