Romance Audiobook Salvation

I’m counting on my audiobooks to save my sanity this week.

My to-do list is long! I’m hosting Thanksgiving.

I invited a friend to join my family. And, a guest means there is a lot more cleaning to do. With two dogs, it’s impossible to keep a place clean all of the time. Did I mention that one of my dogs is part Bernese Mountain Dog? He sheds a LOT.

No worries! I got this under control this year and queued up a good list of audiobooks to keep me sane while cleaning and preparing food for turkey day. Funny enough, I’m not making a turkey. No one in my family besides me eats turkey. I’m cooking ham instead.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Recently, an author known to me came out as transgender. While I have always supported marginalized groups, this year struck a little closer to home.

I was not raised to be open-minded. I came to that decision on my own. Sometimes it takes something specific to open people’s minds. Maybe one day, there will be less negativity against transgender people.

Unlearn Jealousy

A common misconception is that jealousy is a litmus test of whether or not a person cares deeply for someone else.

Compersion is the feeling of seeing your partner happy and content.

Choosing compersion over control seems like a kinder and healthier option.

Liz Ellyn’s Romance Novels with Real Polyamory:
Overruling Judgment MFM
Defending Engagement MFM
Willful Parties MMF

Award Winning Polyamory Romance

Polyamorous romances with all the drama of a traditional love story, loaded with spicy scenes, and topped with a ton of complexity to make it all the more interesting.

Liz Ellyn’s writing blends sizzling romance with an honest portrayal of consent, boundaries, and ongoing negotiation that parallels real-life polyamorous experiences.

Award Winning Romance by Liz Ellyn

Bold Polyamory: Unapologetic Love Stories

Overruling Judgement (MFM)
Defending Engagement (MFM)
Willful Parties (MMF)

Comparing Jealousy: Polyamory vs. Monogamy

One of the most common questions asked about polyamorous relationships is about the issue of jealousy. Don’t polyamorous people get jealous? Yes, they do.

But jealousy also exists in monogamous relationships. In fact, it occurs more often in monogamous relationships than polyamorous ones.

Jealousy is actually more destructive in monogamous relationships than polyamorous ones.

Looking for more love, more drama, and more partners in romance novels? Check out these polyamorous novels:

Polyamorous romance books by Liz Ellyn:
Overruling Judgment
Defending Engagement
Willful Parties

Spicy Dark Romance Reads: October Highlights

It was a dark romance month

The Carver and The Saint by Penelope Sky were both 5-star books

Sara Cate’s The Good Girl Effect was another 5-star because the best part of rules is breaking them

My one thriller of the season … The Housemaid by Freida McFadden was too predictable

Christina Lauren’s Love and Other Words – not my favorite book by them, but I will always read their books

Jagger Cole’s Venomous Gods, if you like prey activities – I suggest this one

Fresh Tracks by Dakota Forest has an age gap with all the spice and no ick

photo taken October 31, 6:15 pm PT

Spooky Ube Pancakes for Halloween

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or substitute with oat flour or cake flour)
  • 2 tablespoons ube powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup milk or coconut milk (warm, to help dissolve ube powder)
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter or neutral oil
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon ube extract (for strong ube flavor and deep purple hue)

Instructions

  1. Bloom the ube powder:
    In a small bowl, whisk ube powder with 2-3 tablespoons of warm milk until it forms a smooth, deep-purple paste. This step intensifies flavor and color.
  2. Mix dry ingredients:
    In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
  3. Combine wet ingredients:
    In another bowl, whisk egg, remaining milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and the ube paste.
    Add ube extract here as well.
  4. Combine and rest:
    Slowly add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring just until no dry flour remains. The batter should be slightly thick. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes for fluffier pancakes.
  5. Cook:
    Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat and lightly grease it. Pour about 1 cup batter per pancake. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until bubbles form and edges set before flipping.

ingredients

  • 8 oz (about 230 g) white chocolate bars, not baking chips
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) heavy whipping cream, divided

Instructions

  1. Melt the chocolate:
    Chop white chocolate into small pieces and place it in a heatproof bowl.
  2. Heat the cream:
    In a small saucepan or microwave, heat ½ cup of the cream until just below boiling (tiny bubbles forming at the edges).
  3. Make a ganache:
    Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then stir slowly from the center outward until smooth and glossy. If any clumps remain, pour through a strainer to remove.
  4. Cool completely:
    Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (touching the surface) and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, until well chilled.
  5. Whip the remaining cream:
    Once the ganache is cold, place it in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining 1 cup of chilled heavy cream.
  6. Whip to soft peaks:
    Using a whisk or electric mixer, whip on low speed and gradually increase to medium-high until soft-stiff peaks form. The mixture will lighten to a creamy ivory shade.
  7. Use or chill:
    Use immediately for frosting or piping. For best stability, chill the finished cream 15-30
    minutes before using. It stays stable up to 5 days in the fridge. foodmeanderings +1