Foodie Friday: Holiday Parties

From Nine Naughty Novelists Erin Nicholas

It’s all about the KISSING!

There are many wonderful things about this time of year but, for me, one of the best is the tradition of mistletoe… because where there is mistletoe there is kissing!

In honor of this sweet tradition, I thought I’d share a couple of kissing recipes! :)

1. One hot guy
2. One shot (each) of peppermint breath spray
3. One sprig of mistletoe
4. Mix and enjoy!

Or there’s this kind of kissing recipe as well!

THE CHOCOLATE KISS

1 oz crème de cacao, white
1 oz. Frangelico
1 oz. vodka
1 Hershey’s kiss chocolate

Directions

Pour liquid ingredients into shaker filled with ice, shake, strain into Martini glass. Drop in Hershy's kiss and serve. (For added flair, ahead of time dip rims of chilled martini glasses into melted bittersweet chocolate and chill until set.)
And maybe even more festive this time of year:

PEPPERMINT KISSES

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated  ugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 to 8 drops red food coloring
• 36 chocolate kisses

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and extracts. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half; tint one portion red. Divide each into four portions. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Shape each portion into a 9-in. log. Place one red log next to one white log; twist gently to create one swirled roll. Roll gently until roll becomes one log. Repeat with remaining dough.
Cut each log into nine slices; roll each into a ball. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a glass.
Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Press chocolate kisses into the center of warm cookies. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 3 dozen.

JUST A KISS

She’s unforgettable… and that’s exactly what got him into trouble the first time.

As a paramedic in the busiest ER in the city, Kevin Campbell knows there’s no such thing as a typical night—but this one definitely has them all beat.

His dad’s been stabbed with a fork, his mom’s been in a fight, and it’s all because of a younger half-brother he never knew existed. And if that’s not enough, everyone seems to agree that Kevin should take the boy in for the six months during his mom’s rehab. Oh, and the annulment he thought he got fourteen years ago? Never went through.

It’s really too bad he gave up drinking and swearing.

Eve Donnelly is shocked to see Kevin again, but not surprised they’re still married. After all, she was the one who refused to sign the annulment papers. Now that she’s got Kevin back in her life, nothing else matters. Not even her past fourteen less-than-virtuous years. In fact, the truth about her life without Kevin isn’t even worth bringing up. She hopes.

When Eve offers to help Kevin with his younger brother, a sweet, devout preacher’s daughter seems like an answered prayer. Besides, things can’t get more complicated. Can they?

Warning: Contains a bad boy gone good, a good girl who knows all about being bad, and lots of hot, sweet, so-this-is-how-married-couples-do-it sex.

 READ MORE HERE!


From Guest Author Mari Carr

Happy Holidays!

It’s hard to find anything wrong with a season that includes presents, days off from work and basically offers an “eat with wild abandon” get-out-of-jail-free card. My recipe for Party Rolls has become a “special event” staple. Let me put it this way…when I’m going to a party, having friends over for New Years, or there’s a big hockey game on, this is the one thing EVERYONE demands I make. Lucky for me (the world’s worst cook), they’re easy to prepare. I’ll warn you now—there is nothing LOW FAT about these suckers. But it’s the holidays! So go for it.

Oh…and I’d like to give a shout-out to my friend, Ann, who shared the recipe with me many, many moons ago.

PARTY ROLLS

1 pkg. small rolls
1 pkg. sliced boiled ham
1 pkg. Swiss cheese

Cut ham and cheese into squares to fit the size of the rolls. Split the rolls and add the ham and cheese. Place filled rolls in a small baking dish.

Combine:

1 stick melted butter
½ tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1 tbsp. chopped onion
1 tbsp. poppy seeds
1 ½ tbsp. yellow mustard

Pour over rolls. Set aside until moisture is absorbed. Cover and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. And then eat, eat, eat.

December is especially nice for me this year because in addition to spending it with my family and friends, I have a very special story release as well.

Fix you came out this week.

FIX YOU
Second Chances, Book 1

After too many years of secretly loving her best friend, Zoey realizes she’s been shortchanging herself. It’s time to take action. This New Year’s Eve heralds the year she’s going to tell Rob the truth. Even if he is on the road, reaching for musical stardom with his band.

Her plan is derailed when she discovers a lump in her breast—and it’s not “nothing to worry about”. How can she ask Rob to take a chance on love when her future is so uncertain?

READ MORE HERE!