Friday, December 8, 2023

CHRISTMAS BOOKS: I Need Christmas by Carol Ann Kauffman


After a depressing year of sadness, loneliness, and self-doubt, successful civil engineer and former All-American basketball star Elizabeth (Betsy) Curry returns home to Oakville, Ohio, for the Christmas holidays a depressed and broken women. Reeling from her bitter divorce from the handsome, charming, but morally decrepate Tommy DeMalio, her college sweetheart and first big love, who left her after two years of what she thought was a good marriage for a stripper he met at an office bachelor party for her co-worker, Betsy feels lost and empty. Not exactly anticipating the happy holiday with her family and their multitude of joyful Christmas customs and long-time storybook-like traditions, she knows she needs them in order to heal. 

Once comfortable at home and feeling somewhat better about herself, Tommy shows up and claims he wants a reconciliation, throwing her back into the self-destructive cycle of doubt, hostility, and suspision she is trying so hard to escape.
She discovers her father has set her up with his protégé at work, the tall, handsome, athletic red-haired Patrick, who, try as hard as she can, she can’t find a single thing she doesn’t like about him.

So, what’s the problem? Betsy feels it’s too soon for her to love again. How can she love anyone again when she doesn’t like herself or what she’s become since the break-up. Also, she fears she will hurt the sweet, gentle Patrick.

Will the love, joy, and goodwill of the holiday season coupled with the many long-time holiday customs and Curry family traditions help Betsy to find herself again? Will she be strong enough to lift herself out of her self-induced prison so that she can take another chance on love? 





Amazon Buy Link:

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

CHRISTMAS MOVIES: The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

 




This was the best Christmas movie and sequel I have ever seen!  The first one was the better of the two and Kurt Russell is the coolest Santa ever. If you haven’t seen this one, add it to your Christmas Traditions and Activities List.  

Monday, December 4, 2023

CHRISTMAS RECIPES: From Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life

 

 


Good Morning Gentle Readers,

I have a few quick and easy recipes from Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life that I have made for the holidays.

Angel Pie was a favorite of my family.  It is also very easy and quickly disappears on the buffet table.  Cut the pieces small.























These Cream Cheese Danish  are absolutely delicious and are a staple for Christmas morning.  My advice:  Double the recipe.  Make them the night before.  Chill in the refrigerator overnight.  They cut into neat pieces much better when they're chilled.  And they taste even better than the day you bake them.

SPINACH-CREAM CHEESE FOLDOVERS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 pkg. chopped frozen spinach, cooked, well drained

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, cubed

1 tsp. minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Put into microwavable bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Then mix well.

2 tubes of crescent rolls 

8 slices of part-skim mozzarella cheese

Grease cookie sheet.  Unroll crescent rolls into 4 rectangles per can, 8 altogether.  Put mozzarella slice on each dough rectangle.  Put one big spoonful of spinach-cheese mixture on each rectangle and fold over.  Pinch the edges on all sides.

Beat 1 egg and egg-wash the tops of the spinach fold-overs.  Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees, until the tops are golden brown.






Dear Gentle Readers,

These are so easy and so good! Most of the time I make them for parties, but it works as dinner, too. Try them. I think you'll like them.

Hugs,

Carol

 

These Spinach Cream Cheese Foldovers are one of my family's favorites.  They are great for an early morning around the Christmas tree while the children are opening their presents.


Link to Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life for more family recipes:
http://www.amazon.com/Echo-Heartbreak-Recipe-Carol-Kauffman-ebook/dp/B00ES2H0BS/ref=la_B0076OMJY8_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417641010&sr=1-3

Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life is a short story written in the for of a letter from a seriously ill mother to her unborn daughter.  She tells her about the incidents surrounding her birth, gives her advice on everything from clothes to housekeeping to love life, and she leaves her the family's favorite recipes.

I will be giving  few digital copies of Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life away in my Christmas Giveaway.  If you would like to be eligible to win one, email me at carolannkauffman@gmail. com with your name and email address before Christmas Day.

Have a great day!
Hugs,
Carol


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Sunday, December 3, 2023

SCHEDULE: December 4-8, 2023


 Monday, December 4 - CHRISTMAS RECIPES:
Recipes from Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life
Tuesday , December 5 - CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COCKTAILS:
Cranberry Prosecco Punch
Wednesday, December 6 - CHRISTMAS MOVIES:
The Christmas Chronicles I and II
Thursday, December 7 - CHRISTMAS BOOKS:
A Murder for Christmas 
by P.C. James
Friday, December 8 - CHRISTMAS BOOKS:
I Need Christmas
by Carol Ann Kauffman