Authors in Bloom Blog Hop

Authors in Bloom Blog Hop

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Welcome to my Author Blog Site!  I am so pleased to have you participating in the contest and visiting all 63 of our sites between April 10th (6:00 am EST) and April 19th (11:59 pm EST).

HOW the AUTHORS in BLOOM BLOG HOP WORKS:

You have 10 days to visit each of the author blog sites that will be listed/linked at the end of each of our contest blogs, for your convenience. When you visit each site, you’ll be able to pick up gardening tips (from the talented green thumbs) and/or recipes (from the foodies).  As well, if you leave a comment at each site, you have opportunities to win give-aways and you’ll be entered in the Grand Prize Draw for a Kindle Fire or Nook (winner’s choice) and a $25. gift card for eBooksPlease don’t forget to leave a contact email in your comments so that the Rafflecopter can choose the Grand Prize winner and  individual authors can contact give-away winners.  We will want to mail your prize/s out to you ASAP.

Of course, after perusing my humorous blogs that serve as samples and tips for writing powerful blogs, you may even wish to subscribe to my blog: http://twocandobooks.wordpress.com. I’d love that!

One thing to note about my give-away prizes, the winter cactus in the photos is NOT included.  It was the only plant that I had in bloom when preparing for the contest, so I put it in the picture.  The prizes include: Garden Goddess Pruning Shears, Gripping Garden Gloves, and my first two books of the Frenchie Series: Frenchie’s Best Friend- Follow the Blog and Frenchie X2- Follow the Blog. Check out my website for more information about my books and author visits: http://www.twocandobooks.com        Image

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You KNOW you want these… make sure you leave a comment with your contact email (and maybe even subscribe to my blog-YES!)  And never hesitate to forward my site to any Middle Grade reader, parent, or grandparent, or simply anyone who is “gaga” over their pets for some fun, humorous reads!

And now, don’t forget to copy these recipes. They are so, so tasty!

IT’S ALL ABOUT LEMON!

Our favorite SPAGHETTI (Chatelaine, Jan., 2012)

LEMONY SPAGHETTI with SHRIMP & BASIL   (PREP: 30 min.)

250 g                          spaghetti (I use whole wheat)

3 tbsp                         extra-virgin olive oil

454 g. pkg.                 frozen peeled black tiger shrimp, thawed

1                                   garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp                         fresh lemon juice

2 tbsp                         diced preserved lemon peel (I use fresh lemons)

1 tbsp                         brine from preserved lemons

1/2 cup                      chopped basil

1/4 cup                      grated parmesan

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water, following package directions but omitting salt, until al dente, 6-8 min.

Heat a large frying pan over medium-high. Add oil, then shrimp and garlic. Stir-fry until shrimp turns pink, 4-6 min. Remove from heat. Drain pasta and add to shrimp. Stir in lemon juice, preserved peel, brine, basil and parmesan cheese.

Serves 4 / per serving 475 calories

Serving Tip: omit shrimp and serve this pasta as a side dish with roast pork.

 

LEMON GARLIC BARBECUE CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS (Thrifty Foods Fresh Magazine)

(I make these in a roasting pan in the oven on wet, wintery days.)

 Prep: 10 min., plus marinating time

Cooking Time: about 35 min.

Makes 6 (2 drumstick) servings

  • 1/3 cup olive oil, plus some for the grill
  • 1 Tbsp. finely grated lemon zest
  • 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 2 to 3 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 12 chicken drumsticks
  • Salt to taste
  • olive oil for the grill Parsley sprigs and grilled or fresh lemon slices for garnish

Combine the first 9 ingredients in a bowl large enough to hold the chicken. Add the chicken and turn to coat.  Cover, refrigerate, and marinate the chicken for 4 hours, or overnight, turning occasionally.

Preheat your barbecue to medium-high. Remove chicken from marinade and set on a plate. Use paper towel to blot away marinade from any overly wet pieces of chicken. Season the chicken with salt. (I use pepper instead.)

When hot, lightly oil the grill. Grill the chicken 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until the exterior is nicely colored. Move the chicken to one side of the barbecue. Turn the heat off on that side of the barbecue; leave the other side at medium-high. Close the lid and cook, turning the drumsticks from time to time, for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through.

Set cooled chicken on a serving platter or board. Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon slices, if desired, and serve.

Remember to visit all the authors at the links below.  You’ll be amazed at the wonderful give-aways, recipes and gardening tips to be found.  And who knows, you may just find your next favorite author, as well.

HAPPY BLOG HOPPING EVERYONE!

Visit each author on the list for the Authors in Bloom Hop! And don’t forget to leave a comment and you email contact on each site to qualify for the Grand Prize Raffle and individual author give-aways!

1. Dianne Venetta (INTL)
2. Rose Anderson
3. Margay Leah Justice
4. Catherine Chant
5. Amber Kallyn
6. PJ Sharon
7. Kaira Rouda
8. Darcy Flynn
9. Katharina Gerlach
10. Amy Saunders
11. DarcyholicDiversions/Barbara Tiller Cole
12. Sheila Seabrook
13. Mina Khan
14. Caron Rider
15. Lakisha Spletzer
16. Christie Palmer
17. Karl Fields
18. Beverly Nault
19. Shelley Workinger
20. Samantha March
21. Cat Lavoie
22. Anita Hughes
23. Karen Baney
24. Susan McBride
25. Sarah Pekkanen
26. Courtney Vail – Gotta Have YA
27. Confessions of a Call Center Gal
28. Candy Ann Little
29. Lynette Sofras
30. Boys on the Brink
31. Dee S White (INTL)
32. Patti Callahan Henry
33. Elizabeth Allen
34. Maria Geraci
35. Linda Andrews
36. Louisa Mack (INTL)
37. Mary L. Laudien
38. Jencey Gortney
39. Ninette Swann
40. Edie Ramer
41. Kate Copsey
42. Kate Austin
43. Best-Selling author Jennifer Conner
44. Anna Patterson
45. Bestselling Author Danica Winters
46. Sharon Kleve’s Romantic Ramblings
47. Jennie Bentley
48. Leanne Tyler
49. Stacy Juba’s One Stop Reading
50. Gemma Juliana
51. Kara Ashley Dey
52. Dey for Love
53. Sara Walter Ellwood
54. Jennifer Lowery
55. Summer Kinard
56. Tracy Solheim
57. Alexa Grace
58. Teena Stewart
59. Cynthia Vespia – Author of Thrills and Chills
60. Caroline Doherty de Novoa – Dancing with Statues
61. J.D. Faver
62. Laina Turner – Being Fabulous is a Skill
63. A Cozy Readers Corner

 

 

22 Responses »

    • Thanks for joining the Author in Bloom Blog Hop Rhonda! You should find some wonderful gardening tips on some of the other sites, knowing what a “green thumb” person you are!

  1. Ohh I wish my stomach could handle garlic…I love it! These both look like winning recipes for our household. Thanks for sharing and for your great giveaway 🙂
    oddball2003 at hotmail dot com

    • Sorry to hear that the recipes don’t work for you; I couldn’t live without garlic in my diet! Good luck Sarah with the give-away raffles and Grand Prize draw. Thanks for visiting my blog site, come back again!

    • I guarantee your son will enjoy the lemon shrimp spaghetti recipe! Did you check out my Middle Grade novels while you visited my blog site? He may enjoy these humorous reads, as well! (The third in the Frenchie series is going through it final edit and revision.) Good luck with the give-away raffles and the Grand Prize Draw. So glad you dropped by my site.

  2. Spring is bloom and I love the flowers that come along with it. The warm weather, the happy people, the blossoming of roses and sunflowers. Sunflowers have to be my favorite flowers. They are so happy reaching towards the sky. Their petals are like eyelids opening wide to look upon the great blue sky above. My mother makes the best cheesy cauliflower soup that I adore in the springtime. It’s thick and creamy and I could easily eat gallons of it!
    Anyway, thanks for the giveaway!

    mestith at gmail dot com

    • Meghan, I couldn’t agree more with you about the sunflowers. We’re landscaping our yard right now and have a bed of sunflowers planned… hopefully the deer won’t like them! Thanks for visiting my blog site and good luck with the give-away raffles and Grand Prize Draw. Come back anytime. I’d love the cauliflower soup recipe!

  3. Great post! Your plant is beautiful! And thanks for the awesome recipe! Adding it to my book! 🙂 Thanks for sharing and being apart of this fantastic hop! 🙂
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

    • Thanks for taking part in the Authors in Bloom BLog Hop! I’m so glad that you liked the recipes and want to wish you luck in the give-aways and the Grand Prize. Come back and visit my blog anytime; you’d be so welcome!

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