Southern Comfort Food ~ Chili Con Carne

Welcome back to Southern Comfort Food, my weekly post with a recipe that will taste like home and warm your soul.

 

We have had some seriously cold weather–including about 6 inches of snow at my house last Thursday. Whenever it gets cold, I want to counteract it with my mother’s chili recipe. Hearty, meaty, just enough spice for a kick to warm your cockles–any anything else that’s cold. You can cook it on the stove if you want to watch it for 4 hours. I usually cook mine in the crock pot.

I also have a couple of variations. If you want a lower fat version, substitute ground turkey for ground beef.

If you want a vegetarian version, eliminate the ground beef and increase eggplant to one large.

CHILI CON CARNE

1 to 1 1/2 lbs ground beef

2 onions, sliced

1 large can dark kidney beans

1 small can light kidney beans

1 can black beans

1 medium eggplant, diced (optional, but I think it makes the chili richer)

1 large or two small cans diced tomatoes

1 can tomatoes and green chilies

1 TBS chili powder (or to taste if you like it spicier)

salt and pepper to taste

Brown the ground beef or turkey with the onions and chili powder, salt and pepper until the meat is fully cooked. Drain. Spoon into the crock pot. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. Set on High for two hours (to get it cooking good). Reduce to low and cook additional four to six hours.

Enjoy with cornbread, bread, sour cream, cheese. Any topping you can think of, this is a great meal.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I wish you a delicious 2018!

Come back next week for another recipe full of down-home southern comfort. 🙂

 

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Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 01/07/18 To Woo A Wicked Widow ~ A Gentleman’s Service

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This week, I’m returning to my upcoming release To Woo A Wicked Widow, due out in 80 days! So I’ll be sharing quite a few snippets from this Regency romance until then.

 

 I’m continuing the scene, at a ball, where Charlotte meets Nash, the Earl of Wrotham. As meet cutes go, it’s pretty cute. 🙂 We are in Nash’s POV Charlotte has tripped, fallen into his arms, and he responded with “The pleasure is certainly all mine, my lady.” If you want to catch up to this point, click here.

(Creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules.)

Not the most appropriate response, perhaps, but a heartfelt one surely.

Lady Cavendish gasped and raised her head, her green eyes flashing.

“Are you all right, Charlotte?” Lady John asked, stepping forward, her lips puckered as if trying to hide a smile.

“Yes, I am fine, Jane. I stepped on the hem of my gown is all.” She cut her eyes at Nash and her lips thinned to a line. “Thank you, my lord, for coming to my rescue.”

Nash smiled. Even angry, the woman was a vision to behold. “Not a’tall, my lady; glad to have been of service.”

 

BLURB for To Woo A Wicked Widow:

The war years are behind them. 
The future is before them.
And one by one, the widows of Lyttlefield Park are getting restless . . .
 
Lady Charlotte Cavendish is still the spirited girl who tried to elope in the name of love. That dream was thwarted by her father who trapped her into a loveless, passionless marriage. But now widowed, Charlotte is free to reenter the giddy world of the ton—and pursue her desires. For hardly your typical widow, she remains innocent to the pleasures of the flesh. Yet her life is finally her own, and she intends to keep it that way . . .

Nash, the twelfth Earl of Wrotham, is beguiled by Charlotte at first sight—and the feeling is mutual. When he receives her intriguing invitation to a house party, the marriage-minded lord plans to further their acquaintance. But even he cannot sway her aversion to matrimony, and only with great restraint does he resist her most tempting offer. For unbeknownst to Charlotte, the misadventures of the past are revisiting them both, and bedding her could cost him everything—or give him everything he ever wanted . . .

Available for pre-order at Amazon. 

I still have about 10 ARC copies of To Woo A Wicked Widow. If you’d like to review the book before its release, please contact me at 1jennajaxon@gmail.com. I’d love to share it with you!

Books in The Handful of Hearts series:

 

 

 

 

 

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here.  There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

 

 

Posted in Historical Romance, On Regency Romance, On Weekend Writing Warriors, Promotion, The Widow's Club, To Woo A Wicked Widow, To Woo A Wicked Widow, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments

Southern Comfort Food ~ Auntie Macaroni

Welcome back to Southern Comfort Food, my weekly post with a recipe that will taste like home and warm your soul.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are into the New Year now and I know a lot of you are experiencing the Arctic blast that seems to be everywhere, even here in Virginia (11 degrees this morning that rose to a warm 27 by mid-day. Brrr!).

To help counteract that cool breeze, I thought I’d share some real life comfort food: my Aunt Mary’s killer macaroni and cheese recipe. My girls call it Auntie Macaroni, although the cheese is oooey-gooey good! So good it can be used as the main course or a very hearty side dish.

Just out of the oven

 

AUNTIE MACARONI

1 32 oz box of macaroni elbows

1 to 1 1/2 blocks of Extra Sharp Cracker Barrel cheese (the red wrapper)

1 stick butter

2 cans whole tomatoes*

2-3 Tbs sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook box of macaroni according to package directions. Drain. Spray a 9×9 baking dish with cooking spray (sides and bottom). Layer macaroni until the bottom is well covered. There will be at least 3 layers.

Slice stick of butter into 1/4″ slices. Layer 1/3 of the slices over macaroni. It does not have to cover completely.

Slice brick of Cracker Barrel cheese into 1/4″ slices. Layer 1/3 of the slices over butter. (Also does not have to cover completely.)

Dump tomatoes into a colander to drain. Then break open the tomatoes until they lay flat. Using paper towels, squeeze out as much excess liquid from them as possible. Once the tomatoes are as dry,  add sugar and stir well. Layer sweetened tomatoes over cheese.

Repeat layers (macaroni, butter, cheese, tomatoes) until no ingredients remain. Cover the top of the baking dish with aluminium foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Remove and enjoy!

*In a pinch, if I don’t have whole tomatoes, I use diced. Just be sure to pat out all the moisture, then sprinkle them instead of laying them flat.

As you can see, I used Rotini instead of elbow macaroni and you can use whatever shape you prefer. This is fabulous for any meal of the day, especially in this chilly weather. I’m about to dig in!

YUM!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I wish you a delicious 2018!

Come back next week for another recipe full of down-home southern comfort. 🙂

 

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Happy New Year 2018!

 

Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy New Year in 2018!

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Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 12/31/17 Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe ~ A Cur

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Happy New Year’s Eve!

This week I’m sharing my final snippet from my Regency Christmas romance, Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe. After this week I’ll switch to another Regency romance, To Woo A Wicked Widow, to bring in the New Year!

 

I’m continuing the scene from last wtime where Alec has taken Jenny aside after he witnessed her and Somersby under the mistletoe out in the woods. She tells him her feelings for Lord Somersby are none of his business. But Alec is worried about her and informs her, “If I need to marry you to keep you from making a wretched mistake, I’ll do it.”

(Very creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules.)

He still strained toward her, his eyes fixed on her mouth.

She shoved harder against him and demanded, “Who is a ‘wretched mistake,’ Lord Somersby?”

“Yes,” he breathed a sigh and stepped back, regret in every line of his body. “The man’s a cur, Jenny, and no fit husband for you; he’s not at all what he seems.”

“And how do you know that?” she asked, her breath coming in great, painful gulps. How dare he slight Lord Somersby? Alec must be jealous of her regard for him.

“I knew him at Oxford. He was a year ahead of me, but I knew of him”—Alec’s frown darkened his whole face—“and I know that he ruined a man’s life on a damned wager.”

 

BLURB for Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe:

Jenny Crowley has been duped! At her eighteenth birthday celebration her parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a Christmas house party, complete with many eligible young bachelors, Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps fall in love.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny no more than she does, but when his family’s dire financial status is revealed, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a dreadful mistake. Struggling with new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe is available exclusively at Amazon for .99!

Once more, Happy New Year!  See you next year!

 

 

 

Books in The Handful of Hearts series:

 

 

 

 

 

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here.  There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

 

 

Posted in A Handful of Hearts, A Kiss Beneath the Mistletoe, Historical Romance, On Regency Romance, On Weekend Writing Warriors, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

Merry Christmas!

I’ve been busy with spreading Christmas Cheer this past week and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone

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Southern Comfort Food ~ Rum Balls

Welcome back to Southern Comfort Food, my weekly post with a recipe that will taste like home and warm your soul.

Now we’re into the Christmas holiday season, I’ll be posting Christmas recipes, my mouth watering all the way!

Today’s recipe is another favorite for the holidays–or any time you want a party: rum or bourbon balls. I used to make these quite frequently when I was in college. They were a hit at parties!

 

RUM BALLS

 

2 1/2 cups of Vanilla Wafer crumbles

2 Tbs cocoa

1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

1 cup pecans, finely chopped

2 Tbs white corn syrup

1/4 cup rum or bourbon

In a large bowl combine vanilla wafers, cocoa, 1 cup of the sugar, and the pecans. Mix well. Add the corn syrup and rum/bourbon. Mix well.

Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in remaining sugar. Store in airtight container and age for 2-3 days for best flavor.

For variation, you can roll the balls in cocoa powder or any number of toppings like sprinkles, chocolate jimmies, or colored sugar crystals.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy your holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Come back next week for another recipe full of down-home southern comfort. 🙂

 

Posted in Cooking and Recipes, Southern Comfort Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 12/17/17 Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe ~ A Wretched Mistake

weekend_writing_warriors_header3

This week I’m sharing another snippet from my Regency Christmas romance, Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe.

 

I’m continuing the scene from last week where Alec has taken Jenny aside after he witnessed her and Somersby under the mistletoe out in the woods. She tells him her feelings for Lord Somersby are none of his business, to which Alec replied, “Considering we are betrothed, I think it’s very much my business.”

(Very creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules.)

He leaned toward her, placing his hands on the wall on either side of her head.

His looming presence addled her senses, leaving her breathless and scattering her thoughts like a whirlwind did autumn leaves. He was so close if he moved one more inch their lips might meet. What would it feel like to have Alec’s lips on her skin, her hair, her lips? The breath she’d been holding escaped and she sank back against the wall, her head bumping the rough stones as she raised her face to his. She stood transfixed, his mouth becoming her whole world as they moved closer.

Alarm bells sounded in her mind as he closed the tiny gap between them; she shot her hand to his chest and pushed with all her might, trying to propel him away from her. “You promised we would not marry,” she said as her whole body shook with the effort of fending him off. Especially difficult as deep down, a small but insistent part of her longed to feel the touch of his lips.

“If I need to marry you to keep you from making a wretched mistake, I’ll do it.”

BLURB for Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe:

Jenny Crowley has been duped! At her eighteenth birthday celebration her parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a Christmas house party, complete with many eligible young bachelors, Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps fall in love.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny no more than she does, but when his family’s dire financial status is revealed, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a dreadful mistake. Struggling with new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe is available exclusively at Amazon for .99!

I will be out of town next weekend, so I won’t be visiting you all. Therefore, let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and I will see you on New Year’s Eve!

Books in The Handful of Hearts series:

 

 

 

 

 

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here.  There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

 

 

Posted in A Handful of Hearts, A Kiss Beneath the Mistletoe, Historical Romance, On Regency Romance, On Weekend Writing Warriors, Promotion, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Winners of Jenna Jaxon’s 12 Books of Christmas 2017

We have WINNERS!

Thank You to all those who came by on Tuesday, commented on the blog and entered the drawing. We loved having you!

And as I said, we have the winners of all the prizes offered listed below.

Drum roll, please.

Our Grand Prize Winner is

hannahsbaublesandsuch

Congratulations, Hannah! I’ll be contacting you about your information shortly.

And below are all the individual prize winners with the author whose book they will receive. Congratulations to you as well, ladies. We hope you all enjoy your Christmas reads.

Charlene Whitehead and Nicole Laverdure

Jenna Jaxon’s Seduction at the Christmas Court

Jaimee, Kimi Court, and FLCHEN1

Jenna Jaxon’s Only A Mistress Will Do

Kathy Davis

Ella Quinn’s Miss Featherton’s Christmas Prince

and a German Christmas ornament

Kara Leigh

Daryl Devore’s Love in the Key of C

Charlotteoshay

Donna Hatch’s A Winter’s Knight

Debra Griffin

Melissa Keir’s A Christmas Accident

Cathy MacRae

Beppie Harrison’s A Chance at Christmas

Kathy Davis, FLCHEN1, and Star Shamek

Joyce DiPastina’s A Candlelight Courting

Bewitching Brews

Mary Morgan’s A Magical Highland Solstice

Thanks again to everyone–authors and commenters–for a wonderful day. May your Christmas be merry and bright and filled with Christmas books!

Happy Holidays!

Posted in 12 Books of Christmas, 12 Books of Christmas, Holiday Posts, Promotion, Winners | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Southern Comfort Food ~ Wassail

Welcome back to Southern Comfort Food, my weekly post with a recipe that will taste like home and warm your soul.

Now we’re into the Christmas holiday season, I’ll be posting Christmas recipes, my mouth watering all the way!

Today’s recipe is the wonderful old English tradition of wassail. I can hear the carol now:

Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a-wand’ring
So fair to be seen.
Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail, too,
And God bless you, and send you
A Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.

We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door,
But we are neighbors’ children
Whom you have seen before
Love and joy come to you,
And a Happy Christmas, too,
And God bless you, and send you
A Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.

Wassail is an Old English word for a toast, similar to “Good Health.” And the recipe I have for it is delicious!

WASSAIL

1 quart apple juice

1 quart cranberry juice

2 sticks of cinnemon

6 whole allspice

6 whole cloves

2 sliced oranges

Empty all ingredients into large pot. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Turn to low and simmer of one hour.  Serve hot!

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Come back next week for another recipe full of down-home southern comfort. 🙂

 

Posted in Cooking and Recipes, Southern Comfort Food | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments