Today's Homecooking Post is a bit of a departure. Because of the Easter Holiday I went in search of something really special to bake to take to my mother's for our Easter celebration.
Here's a bit of what I wrote on the Homecooking Blog...
I'm not much of a cook. Most of my sisters are. At holidays, we do a smorgasboard. Everybody brings a dish or two. I typically take a salad and a dessert. But imagine...Here I am, sort of unable to cook and my food competes with women who are pros! My mother makes homemade rolls that melt in your mouth and bakes a ham (and sometimes a turkey) for sandwiches. My brother Brian typically makes a huge roast beef (that also melts in your mouth) to be served on my mother's rolls, with delicious gravy.
My sister Helen makes a pasta salad that would make you weep and thank your maker. Tammy is a cake and cookie baker who always comes up with something to die for. My sister Laura is the potato casserol expert. Now, add another six or eight women who all come with an extraordinary dish or two and you understand my dilemma.
Believe me, it's not easy. I've tried bringing Kentucky Fried Chicken and Dunkin Donuts (two of my personal favorite foods) and even they can't compete.
So, I'm always scouring for a recipe that will be good enough to serve alongside my sisters (and brothers!). When I found these cookie bars, I knew I had to try them. And they were a HUGE success. My niece Amy even thought sister Tammy had made them. That's about as good as a compliment gets when it comes to cookies at one of our holidays.
The cookie bars were easy to make and tasted wonderful. So I thank Gretchen Wanek for being so smart and for sharing her recipe and encourage you to go to Pillsbury.com. I've found several wonderful recipes there!
...
It's not easy being the only uncook in a family of really great cooks. But it keeps me on my toes. I not only search for great recipes; but also I'm not afraid to experiment for you. So for those of you who love new/simple recipes, don't miss the homecooking blog. I only started it a few weeks ago, so at this point we only have 3 recipes up. But imagine what this thing will be like in a few months!
Easter was great. Except that the bottoms of my dinner rolls were a tad doughy and so was my cherry pie. Sigh. I typically make holiday dinner for my husband and children and my husband's parents, all of whom are too polite to say, "Wow, what the heck happened to these soggy rolls!"
I also bought too much candy. I like to have enough on hand for company and for my kids who don't normally eat a lot of candy. We get them a solid chocolate bunny from Gardeners Candies (fabulous candy! This is also the factory I toured as research for my November release...THE MAGIC OF A FAMILY CHRISTMAS...which takes place at a candy factory). But I also have lots of other candy "on hand". Now it's Tuesday and all that candy is beginning to tempt me beyond reason. Is there a law that says you cannot toss perfectly good candy in the trash? If I freeze it, will it sabotage my diet?
I don't know. But I do know that I went mother-of-the-bride dress hunting with my sister yesterday and I got my eyes opened about how hard it is to find one of these dresses. Diana is lucky! She has a great figure and looked wonderful in everything she tried on. As it stands now, with my extra twenty pounds (er...thirty) I'd have about two choices and both of those wouldn't be pretty!
So maybe it was no coincidence that I went mother-of-the-bride dress shopping the same week I'd have a basket full of candy...Hum.
susan
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Gardening!
This weekend, my husband and I traveled to Gettysburg. His sister and her husband now live there. So a few times a year we visit. Mostly because we like to play golf. On Sunday it was a balmy sixty-five. Monday we returned home to cold rain and the possibility of snow.
Somehow that doesn't seem fair!
Aside from basking in the sun, we noticed all the blooming things on my sister-in-law's side of the state. I got very excited because this means it is time for me to buy my tomato plants.
Anyone who knows me knows I love all things tomato. I especially love fresh tomatoes. So a few years ago I began experimenting with growing my own. The first year I gave all my tomatoes names and then couldn't eat them when they finally ripened. Who could eat a Fred or George? Especially since they were sad looking tomatoes -- thin and lopsided -- who didn't deserve ... well, to be chopped up and put into a salad.
Last year, I put only one tomato plant in each pot. (These are huge pots I have on my back deck...they double as decorations.) Anyway, with only one tomato plant to a pot, my plants grew quickly. Tomatoes immediately sprouted. Unfortuntely, they weren't red. They were ... gold. I don't know why, but this particular tomato lover was not interested in a tomato the color of squash.
So this year, I have to be more careful. There will still be only one plant per pot, but this year I'll check the tomato type. I'm looking for big red tomatoes.
If anybody has the name of a brand, I'd appreciate it!
I'd actually like to eat one of the tomatoes I grow.
Today is my son's birthday. I won't tell you his age; he'd kill me. He doesn't really like me talking about him too much online. LOL But suffice to say I'm happy to be getting dinner out tonight.
I'm thinking I'll get a big salad. Probably all that talk of tomatoes!
Only about eight weeks until MAID IN MONTANA is released. It's a great beach read!
susan
Somehow that doesn't seem fair!
Aside from basking in the sun, we noticed all the blooming things on my sister-in-law's side of the state. I got very excited because this means it is time for me to buy my tomato plants.
Anyone who knows me knows I love all things tomato. I especially love fresh tomatoes. So a few years ago I began experimenting with growing my own. The first year I gave all my tomatoes names and then couldn't eat them when they finally ripened. Who could eat a Fred or George? Especially since they were sad looking tomatoes -- thin and lopsided -- who didn't deserve ... well, to be chopped up and put into a salad.
Last year, I put only one tomato plant in each pot. (These are huge pots I have on my back deck...they double as decorations.) Anyway, with only one tomato plant to a pot, my plants grew quickly. Tomatoes immediately sprouted. Unfortuntely, they weren't red. They were ... gold. I don't know why, but this particular tomato lover was not interested in a tomato the color of squash.
So this year, I have to be more careful. There will still be only one plant per pot, but this year I'll check the tomato type. I'm looking for big red tomatoes.
If anybody has the name of a brand, I'd appreciate it!
I'd actually like to eat one of the tomatoes I grow.
Today is my son's birthday. I won't tell you his age; he'd kill me. He doesn't really like me talking about him too much online. LOL But suffice to say I'm happy to be getting dinner out tonight.
I'm thinking I'll get a big salad. Probably all that talk of tomatoes!
Only about eight weeks until MAID IN MONTANA is released. It's a great beach read!
susan
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Book In A Month
My editor doesn't often ask me to write quickly. She's been very good about giving me plenty of time to work on all my projects. But in order to accomplish all of our goals this year, I found myself needing to write a book in a month.
At first, I panicked. I was out of practice with writing quickly. But once I chilled out I set weekly page goals for both drafting and editing and suddenly I had a finished product in my hands.
I'd like to take credit for that. I'd LOVE to say being organized saved the day, but the truth was these two characters ran away with this story.
Liz and Cain had been married before. Three weeks after they eloped, Cain's brother had been killed when someone hit the car Cain was driving. He not only lost his brother; he had a boatload of guilt to deal with. Liz tried to hang in with him, but when she miscarried their baby she needed support he couldn't give.
Fast forward three years and Liz suddenly finds herself working as his MAID! In his grief, he threw himself into work and became incredibly successful. She's fairly successful herself. She owns the maid service his personal assistant hired for him, but Cain doesn't know that. Sparks fly when he admits he feels sorry for her! LOL
And I'm not just talking about angry sparks. These two had sexual chemistry like nothing I'd seen before.
It was an absolute joy to write the book. Which is one of the best things a writer gets to say!
susan
At first, I panicked. I was out of practice with writing quickly. But once I chilled out I set weekly page goals for both drafting and editing and suddenly I had a finished product in my hands.
I'd like to take credit for that. I'd LOVE to say being organized saved the day, but the truth was these two characters ran away with this story.
Liz and Cain had been married before. Three weeks after they eloped, Cain's brother had been killed when someone hit the car Cain was driving. He not only lost his brother; he had a boatload of guilt to deal with. Liz tried to hang in with him, but when she miscarried their baby she needed support he couldn't give.
Fast forward three years and Liz suddenly finds herself working as his MAID! In his grief, he threw himself into work and became incredibly successful. She's fairly successful herself. She owns the maid service his personal assistant hired for him, but Cain doesn't know that. Sparks fly when he admits he feels sorry for her! LOL
And I'm not just talking about angry sparks. These two had sexual chemistry like nothing I'd seen before.
It was an absolute joy to write the book. Which is one of the best things a writer gets to say!
susan
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Back from Pasic!
I just returned from the Pasic (published authors special interest chapter of RWA) which was held in New York City!
Who doesn't love a trip to New York City?
The Pasic conference itself was wonderful. There's nothing like spending three days with a room full of industry professionals. I loved sharing stories of both the good times and bad! I met some wonderful, wonderful authors, had some fabulous dinners and talked until all hours. Something I haven't done in ... well, about a decade! LOL
I came home to a sulking cat. My poor Sophia felt abandoned. My husband tried feeding her tuna this afternoon to lift her spirits as she awaited me, but nothing made her happy. I was home at least an hour, had distributed the T-shirts and purses I'd bought for my daughter and two sons, before she would even let me pet her. She seems fine now, but she'll be sleeping in my suitcase for the next few weeks. I think it's her way of saying...if you're going again, I'm going with you! LOL
My next trip is to the fabulous Pennwriters Conference in May. This conference is held in Pittsburgh at a hotel near the airport, which, of course, is just off a major highway, so it's very easy to find.
My workshops are STORY, THEME AND IDEA, a fun, hands-on workshop at which attendees will learn how to craft a simple one-paragraph pitch, and my most popular workshop CAN THIS MANUSCRIPT BE SAVED. CAN THIS MANUSCRIPT BE SAVED condenses everything I've learned in the past 20 or so years into a very concise one-hour workshop, complete with handouts and three "published author" tricks for editing without ruining the parts of your manuscript that are good as they are!
Look for another recipe this week on the HOME COOKING section of the site!
susan
Who doesn't love a trip to New York City?
The Pasic conference itself was wonderful. There's nothing like spending three days with a room full of industry professionals. I loved sharing stories of both the good times and bad! I met some wonderful, wonderful authors, had some fabulous dinners and talked until all hours. Something I haven't done in ... well, about a decade! LOL
I came home to a sulking cat. My poor Sophia felt abandoned. My husband tried feeding her tuna this afternoon to lift her spirits as she awaited me, but nothing made her happy. I was home at least an hour, had distributed the T-shirts and purses I'd bought for my daughter and two sons, before she would even let me pet her. She seems fine now, but she'll be sleeping in my suitcase for the next few weeks. I think it's her way of saying...if you're going again, I'm going with you! LOL
My next trip is to the fabulous Pennwriters Conference in May. This conference is held in Pittsburgh at a hotel near the airport, which, of course, is just off a major highway, so it's very easy to find.
My workshops are STORY, THEME AND IDEA, a fun, hands-on workshop at which attendees will learn how to craft a simple one-paragraph pitch, and my most popular workshop CAN THIS MANUSCRIPT BE SAVED. CAN THIS MANUSCRIPT BE SAVED condenses everything I've learned in the past 20 or so years into a very concise one-hour workshop, complete with handouts and three "published author" tricks for editing without ruining the parts of your manuscript that are good as they are!
Look for another recipe this week on the HOME COOKING section of the site!
susan
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Dear Readers
My web designer and I are trying something new without my website. We've shifted the Dear Reader letter to my blog.
In all seriousness, forcing me to update the Dear Reader letter on my own is a way to force me to update my blog! LOL Plus, it's a way to keep the Dear Reader letter current and let you know what I'm up to.
This is going to be a great year for me. I have a fairly full schedule of online workshops until October or so (when I Christmas shop in earnest). In a few weeks I will attend my first ever Pasic conference. I'll be at the Pennwriters conference in May and, of course, my two favorite conferences, Nationals in July and New Jersey in October.
I'll be shopping for some new clothes which always thrills me. Not the shopping. The clothes. I'm not much of a shopper, but oh my sweet day I do love the look and feel of a brand new dress or suit. And don't even get me started on new shoes. One of my friends used to call me Conference Barbie. I'm not blonde. I'm not all that cute. And I'll never have a waistline so small it goes against some laws of physics. But you better believe my purse and shoes will match, my underwear will be color coordinated and my finger and toe nails will match my outfit!
But the really great news of the year is that I signed another contract with Harlequin Romance and I'm already working on the first of three books we have planned for 2010! I'm thrilled to be doing two connected books and, if all goes well in deadline world, a Christmas book.
I have a June release, MAID IN MONTANA, that I'm absolutely over the moon about. If you like stories about wounded heroes and genuine heroines determined to work their way out of trouble, this book will touch your heart and make you laugh out loud.
Also, be on the lookout for a new addition to this site called Home Cooking! Last year my family put together a cookbook containing the recipes of my mom and the seven sisters, three sisters-in-law, several nieces, and a few aunts of my immediately family. I'll be posting recipes from this cookbook.
You'll get recipes for such wonderful treats as peroghis, haluski, painted sugar cookies, sesame noodles, and even macaroni salad.
My mother has been praised as one of the best cooks in our region and some of my sisters are definitely following in her footsteps. I hope to have that page up within a few weeks, so get your measuring cups and spatuals ready!
And check back for regular Monday morning posts....
Until next week
susan meier
In all seriousness, forcing me to update the Dear Reader letter on my own is a way to force me to update my blog! LOL Plus, it's a way to keep the Dear Reader letter current and let you know what I'm up to.
This is going to be a great year for me. I have a fairly full schedule of online workshops until October or so (when I Christmas shop in earnest). In a few weeks I will attend my first ever Pasic conference. I'll be at the Pennwriters conference in May and, of course, my two favorite conferences, Nationals in July and New Jersey in October.
I'll be shopping for some new clothes which always thrills me. Not the shopping. The clothes. I'm not much of a shopper, but oh my sweet day I do love the look and feel of a brand new dress or suit. And don't even get me started on new shoes. One of my friends used to call me Conference Barbie. I'm not blonde. I'm not all that cute. And I'll never have a waistline so small it goes against some laws of physics. But you better believe my purse and shoes will match, my underwear will be color coordinated and my finger and toe nails will match my outfit!
But the really great news of the year is that I signed another contract with Harlequin Romance and I'm already working on the first of three books we have planned for 2010! I'm thrilled to be doing two connected books and, if all goes well in deadline world, a Christmas book.
I have a June release, MAID IN MONTANA, that I'm absolutely over the moon about. If you like stories about wounded heroes and genuine heroines determined to work their way out of trouble, this book will touch your heart and make you laugh out loud.
Also, be on the lookout for a new addition to this site called Home Cooking! Last year my family put together a cookbook containing the recipes of my mom and the seven sisters, three sisters-in-law, several nieces, and a few aunts of my immediately family. I'll be posting recipes from this cookbook.
You'll get recipes for such wonderful treats as peroghis, haluski, painted sugar cookies, sesame noodles, and even macaroni salad.
My mother has been praised as one of the best cooks in our region and some of my sisters are definitely following in her footsteps. I hope to have that page up within a few weeks, so get your measuring cups and spatuals ready!
And check back for regular Monday morning posts....
Until next week
susan meier
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Back From California
I'm back! And let me tell you I loved California. I didn't stay long enough to see everything but I did see the Pacific and a lot of the area. What a wonderful state!
I was also very impressed with the OCC chapter. They were warm and friendly to me, as a speaker, but I also saw a wonderful camaraderie among the members!
Today I received hardcover copies of my June release, MAID IN MONTANA! The cover is beautiful. Copies of the Portugese version of ONE MAN AND A BABY also arrived today.
So, it's been a busy day. And it's going to get even busier. I found another recipe on the Pillsbury website. Southwestern Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Roll-Ups. The recipe seems easy enough. I guess if it isn't, we'll be calling the local fire department!
susan
I was also very impressed with the OCC chapter. They were warm and friendly to me, as a speaker, but I also saw a wonderful camaraderie among the members!
Today I received hardcover copies of my June release, MAID IN MONTANA! The cover is beautiful. Copies of the Portugese version of ONE MAN AND A BABY also arrived today.
So, it's been a busy day. And it's going to get even busier. I found another recipe on the Pillsbury website. Southwestern Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Roll-Ups. The recipe seems easy enough. I guess if it isn't, we'll be calling the local fire department!
susan
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Getting Ready
This Saturday I'll be speaking for the OCC...Orange County California...RWA chapter. It will be the farthest west I've ever been. Actually, it will be the farthest away from home I've ever been.
That in and of itself would make the trip exciting. But I'm also seeing my friend, Deb Mullins, a former New Jersey Girl who moved to California with her husband Jay. So that makes it doubly exciting.
Of course, I have nothing to wear! LOL And my suitcase needed to be replaced. And I ran out of toothpaste. Today is the day that I ran to Walmart to get all those little things and to the mall for the new suitcase.
I've had my travel arrangements for weeks, and I should check on them but I probably won't until the day before I travel. If anything is changed or wrong with my arrangements, I'll be ... well, in trouble. LOL
So I'm looking forward to meeting the people in the OCC chapter in California! It should be a fun weekend!
susan
That in and of itself would make the trip exciting. But I'm also seeing my friend, Deb Mullins, a former New Jersey Girl who moved to California with her husband Jay. So that makes it doubly exciting.
Of course, I have nothing to wear! LOL And my suitcase needed to be replaced. And I ran out of toothpaste. Today is the day that I ran to Walmart to get all those little things and to the mall for the new suitcase.
I've had my travel arrangements for weeks, and I should check on them but I probably won't until the day before I travel. If anything is changed or wrong with my arrangements, I'll be ... well, in trouble. LOL
So I'm looking forward to meeting the people in the OCC chapter in California! It should be a fun weekend!
susan
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