Jello Eggs for Easter

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Happy Easter to all that celebrate.  And, to those that don’t but like jello, here’s a fun dessert idea.

This is my daughter’s absolute favorite dessert.  I only make it on Easter; not only because of the shape but because it takes 6 hours to make.  It’s easy, but timely.  Setting aside 6 consecutive hours at home isn’t easy.

Besides finding the time, you need to have the appropriate molds.  I bought mine years ago.   Here’s what one looks like (I have 4):

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If you can’t find a place to purchase these molds, you can make your own.  All you need is an a left over egg carton and basic plastic egg containers.  The full directions for making the molds can be found at this website

http://robbygurlscreations.blogspot.com/2012/04/diy-easter-egg-jello-molds.html

When I make these I like to go for the full rainbow effect.  I start buy purchasing small boxes of instant jello: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.  Depending on store availability, I vary the actual flavors.

Step 1 – prepare molds by coating with cooking spray or vegetable oil

Step 2 – close molds completely

Step 3 – Prepare Jello Flavor: boil 2/3 cup of water and mix with one flavor of jello, whisk for 2 full minutes.  Carefully pour liquid jello into the molds.  One small box is sufficient for 24 egg molds.  (If doing the full rainbow)

Step 4 – Chill for exactly 1 hour

Step 5 – Remove molds from fridge and repeat Step 3 and Step 4 again for each flavor of jello

Step 6 – Chill the full molds for 3 hours.  Remove from refrigerator, and carefully separate the mold halves.  ENJOY

*Keep any leftovers in the refrigerator

It’s just about time to add my next layer of jello.  Gotta Run.

HAPPY BAKING!

 

 

 

 

 

J.E. Warren – Lines We Forget

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This is a nice simple love story set in England.  There isn’t anything sensationally dramatic.  Boy sees girl and is intrigued.  Girl likes boy.  They date. They break apart because of challenging life event and a bit of immaturity.  They reunite.

What makes this book special is its authenticity.  The characters are young and struggling to make money.  Unlike too many romance novels that are centered around billionaires.  The characters are flawed with uncertainty.  Many romance novels assume that once the couple falls for one another that it is a 100% done deal.  Finally, the dialog is categorically English, which not only amuses me as an American but sets the tone well.

Most of all, being serenaded in the street is the epitome of romantic.

Screen Shot 2015-12-05 at 10.18.58 AM to J.E. Warren!

 

Rachel Dunning – Debt

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First, I gotta say – I lOVE THIS COVER!!  Why?  Finally, the cover model actually represents how the character is depicted in the book … his build, his tattoos, his eyes (both color and attitude), and even his approximate weight.

Logan is the perfect underdog that makes a reader want great things to happen in his favor.  He grew up in the worst of areas and works hard to help pay for his sister’s school.  Despite his physically tough exterior, Logan actually is sensitive on the inside.  Logan’s personality is what makes this book uniquely enjoyable and not just another run of the mill, grunge fighter romance.

Kyla is also fantastic.  She’s a walking contradiction by dressing one way but behaving in an opposite manner.  Unlike Logan, she may have come from money.  But she also had a lot of messed of family drama.  The best part of Kyla is her insightfulness

One of my favorite lines:

“You know you’re hot, you know you have it all.  You probably f*** like something out of True Blood … But you’re lost.  You hate it.  You screw and you feel empty inside.  The only pleasure you get is the one coming from your c*ck, and that’s short-lived.  You’re looking for a longer org*sm, but that isn’t it.  You’re sick of women, you’re sick of the sex, you need something deeper, more meaningful, but you’re sh*t-scared to commit to it for reasons I haven’t quite figured out yet.”

Screen Shot 2015-12-05 at 10.18.58 AM to Rachel Dunning! 

 

John A. Heldt – The Mine

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This is a time traveler romance story that takes the reader back to spring 1941 in Portland, Oreagon.

The setting was wonderfully described.  I felt like I was back in time with the characters.  The attitudes and concerns painted a graphic picture in my head of the people during the 40’s.  Even more so, the historical, sports, and technological references were fantastic.

A little lost and weary, Joel Smith helps a man in need, which starts the beginning of an amazing friendship and leads him to find the love of his life.

The romance in this book is remarkably passionate, despite the fact that it isn’t sexualized like contemporary romance books.  There is something very real about a relationship where any feelings of lust are expected to go unrequited.  The tension between Grace and Joel is extraordinary and I enjoyed how the views of the side characters impacted the relationship.  Both Grace and Joel struggle with accepting and how to address their relationship.

The Mine

Screen Shot 2015-12-05 at 10.18.58 AM to John Heldt!

Sophie Quinn – Mr. Prime Minister

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This was an absolutely refreshing twist on a story where a wealthy, powerful man falls for a plain simple woman.  If you are tired of those types of stories, you should consider reading this book.  The story line in this book is truly fabulous!

The dialogue in the book is great, too.  Each character has a unique voice and personality.  The supporting cast adds a lot of humor and sincerity to the book.  Perhaps, it is just because I’m an American, but I love reading the English jargon.

The book captures the essence of romance:

“You should pick someone not pretty, not funny, not rich or talented, not someone who loves you when you’re successful and beautiful, funny and upbeat.  You should pick someone that respects you now, at your worst, at your lowest, because if he does, then you know you’ll have a partner for life, no matter what happens.”

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Screen Shot 2015-12-05 at 10.18.58 AM to Sophie Quinn!

 

 

MJ Fields and Chelsea Camaron – Jagger

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Just like a boxer needs to stay on their toes during fight, this book keeps the reader on his/her toes.  I like all the twists to the story.  This is one of those books that gets better page by page.  One of the best Epilogues that I have read.

The theme that you need to focus on the good things in life resonates throughout the book.  It’s presented in meaningful and very alluring ways.  It never comes across as an annoying cliche, where the author seems to be preaching to the readers.

The main characters are compelling and well suited for one another.  They both come from abusive pasts, but neither wants to be defined by their history, but rather their triumph in spite of it.

Jagger makes for a a great bad-boy romantic hero.  He is hot but flawed.  He is a champion in the underground fighting arena, but there is a darkness in his need to fight.  On the other hand, he is fully committed to fostering a relationship with Tatiana and has a plan in place to ensure her happiness.  At the forefront he wants to comfort her in her time of need and protect her from further abuse.  Not until then, does he intend to claim her.

Jagger

Despite being abused by her father, Tatiana isn’t just a damsel in distress.  She is intelligent, resilient, and strong.  She is also able to stand up to Jagger when necessary.

My favorite scene (not going to give away too much) was absolutely hysterically funny.  You would expect that the scene would be sappy and romantic.  Instead, it was like sitting through a roast for the characters where you can feel the surrounding characters’ love and respect.

Just as Tatiana fell in love with the Caldwell family, so did I.  While this is a stand alone book, I think I would have preferred to have read this series from the beginning.

Jagger: A Caldwell Brothers Novel 

Available for Pre-Order, Release on April 12, 2016

http://www.amazon.com/Jagger-Caldwell-Brothers-Chelsea-Camaron-ebook/dp/B012KJXGYA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457536388&sr=8-1&keywords=Jagger

Screen Shot 2015-12-05 at 10.18.58 AM to MJ Fields and Cheslsea Camaron!

 

What’s your opinion: Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies or Cookie Dough? (gluten free recipe included)

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cookie dough cookie dough

OR

warm cookies warm cookies

VOTE HERE… 

This debate in my house started on my birthday.  I made cookie dough for my birthday.  On that same day, my son baked standard chocolate chip cookies for his Latin class.  This resulted in a household debate:

I.  Which is better gluten free cookie dough or standard chocolate chip cookie dough?

The house was split, but this was more of a factor of what types of chips were used and the fact that I added pecans to gluten free dough.

II.  Which is better cookie dough or warm chocolate chip cookies?

Again, the house was split.

It’s my birthday – I’ll eat what I want to.

A birthday is definitely a day to indulge in life’s guilty pleasures!

Who says you have to have a cake for a birthday.  This year, I abandoned tradition and made myself something that I was simply craving.  It’s not that I don’t like cake.  In years past, I’ve made my flour-less chocolate cake with cinnamon whipped cream.  About six months ago,  I even found a fantastic gluten free carrot cake recipe, but I wasn’t in the mood.  This year, I wanted COOKIE DOUGH!

I love cookie dough!  It’s not pretty looking, but it is pretty delicious.  I had absolutely no intentions of baking any of this dough.  Thus, I was able to leave out the eggs and baking soda.  Also, I used almond flour that has a great taste but doesn’t bake very well.

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GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH

Here’s my recipe (not meant to be baked in oven):

Ingredients:

1/2 c butter

1/2 c light brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c almond flour

1/2 c rice flour

1 c chocolate chips (I used a mix of milk chocolate and peanut butter chips)

1/2 c chopped pecans.

Directions:

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Blend in vanilla, milk, and salt.   Slowly add and mix-in both flours.  Mix until fully incorporated.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts..

Enjoy immediately or chill in the fridge.  The chilled dough can be rolled into balls for snacking purposes and kept in refrigerator or freezer.  Cookie dough doesn’t last long in my house – there’s no need to freeze it.