Friday Recipe: Garden Zucchini Enchiladas

Granted, my garden is gone and I had to buy these ingredients at the grocery store. But I did try for organic, despite the absolutely ridiculous price hike that using less on means. These were really messy to make, so be forewarned! And no, it didn't take me 25 minutes to prep them. HA! Closer to an hour, and that was without distractions.

As always, I copied and pasted this from AllRecipes.com. A great many people post a wide variety of delicious recipies that I enjoy so wish to share myself-this is only one of them.

Prep Time:   Cook Time:   Ready In:
25 Min          25 Min           50 Min

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups diced zucchini
• 1/4 cup canned diced green chiles (used less than that but that was for my taste alone)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (Uused whole wheat instead-if I'm going healthy it should be all round!)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup canned diced green chiles
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion and garlic in the oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in zucchini, 1/4 cup diced chiles, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove zucchini mixture from skillet and reserve.
2. Melt butter in the skillet over medium low heat. Stir in flour, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon chili powder, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour in milk; whisk until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup of diced chiles and 1 cup of Monterey Jack cheese.
3. Stir 1/2 cup of cheese sauce into the zucchini mixture. Spoon 1/3 cup squash mixture down the center of each tortilla; roll up. Place filled tortillas in prepared baking dish, pour remaining cheese sauce over. Cover and bake in preheated oven until hot, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese and the chopped tomatoes.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 662 | Total Fat: 30.8g | Cholesterol: 58mg

Friday Recipe: Grilled Lamb with Brown Sugar Glaze

Strangely, this was listed on All Recipe (where I get the majority of the things I cook) under Football tailgating. I don't know how you'd tailgate lamb with this glaze, I'd think it too messy to transport but what do I know?

And it was delicious. Probably higher in calories than lamb with mint sauce but I didn't really care.

Prep Time:    Cook Time:  Ready In:
15 Min           10 Min          1 Hr 25 Min

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons dried tarragon
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 lamb chops

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar, ginger, tarragon, cinnamon, pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Rub lamb chops with the seasonings, and place on a plate. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Preheat grill for high heat.
3. Brush grill grate lightly with oil, and arrange lamb chops on grill. Cook 5 minutes on each side, or to desired doneness.

Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving  Calories: 241 | Total Fat: 13.1g | Cholesterol: 56mg

What to talk about

Last week I read a post by Bob Mayer (a man who seems to have his plate overly full but still manages to find time to share with the rest of us). In his article, he offered several tips on writing, reading, and other related things.

If you're interested, his blog is full of great stuff. But one of the things he mentioned was: 99.5% of indie/self-published authors will be gone in two years.  Other will take their place.  And be gone in two years.

Huh. Really? Does this mean I have only one more year before I'm gone? Nope. I'm going to be in that 0.5% that lasts longer and have a plan to do so. To be fair, I never expected to be a bestseller able to retire with my first book. Or first 20 for that matter. Best seller lists don't exactly like what I write and I'm okay with that.

I'll continue to write what I enjoy, making sure each story is well researched, tightly written, and thoroughly edited.

Reading now: We Are Not Alone The Writer's Guide to Social Media eBook

Titles reduex

Risqué had been retitled Games of Pleasure and is now retitled Risqué. When your publisher likes Risqué better, you go with it. I suppose you could fight it, but if I'm going to argue a point with my publisher, it's not going to be about a title. Nope.

Risqué: A Regency Ménage Tale...more than 1/2 finished (I do love that counter at the top of the page!) and going smoothly. There's one sticking point that's driving me crazy but I think I may have figured it out. Emotional ressonance between 3 characters rather than 2.

Now I've seen menanges where it's not a three-way love match but mine are, and in this story I've noticed a little skimping between the two male characters.

My goal this week is to flesh out (no pun intended) the emotional relationship between Kane and Brent before moving forward into the black moment and ultimate resolution.

Blog Hop Day 10

Today's the final day of the hop. This has just proven what I've suspected all along-finding readers who will enjoy your stories is just as difficult as finding new authors. I hope you've all enjoyed your time here and won't be strangers, and I promise to keep you updated, entertained, and informed.

Granted, my information may be as simple as: Did you hear about that British study where people actually said they'd rather give up having a flushing toilet than Facebook? I mean seriously, people! Let's think about this for a moment (and I won't even go into the whole bit about other countries where it's impossible to find enough clean water to drink let alone bathe or flush a toilet with!)Here's the full list--what order would you put this in? I won't go through all of them but I can damn well tell you that a washing machine, vacuum cleaner, flushing toilet, fresh water, shower, fresh veggies, a/c, lightbulbs, and okay I admit it, chocolate, would come before ANY Facebook, email, google, internet connection or what have you. I do like the sunshine as #1.

1. Sunshine
2. Internet connection
3. Clean drinking water
4. Fridge
5. Facebook
6. NHS 
7. Cooker
8. Email
9. Flushing toilet
10. Mobile phone / smartphone
11. Tea and Coffee
12. Washing machine
13. Shower
14. Central heating
15. Painkillers 
16. Fresh vegetables 
17. Vacuum Cleaner
18. Kettle
19. Sofa 
20. Shoes
21. Fresh fruit
22. Google
23. Car 
24. Hair straighteners
25. Public transport
26. Laptop
27. Chocolate
28. DVD Player
29. Wristwatch
30. Make-up
31. Flat screen TV
32. Wedding ring
33. Tumble dryer
34. Bottled water
35. Ebay
36. Bicycle
37. Ipod
38. Air conditioning 
39. Disposable nappies
40. Light bulbs 
41. Spell-check
42. Sat Nav 
43. Push-up bra
44. Nintendo Wii 
45. iPad
46. Gym Membership
47. Season ticket to your football club 
48. Freezer
49. Xbox
50. Twitter

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 9

Winner Day 8: Nikki!

This hop is winding down and I have to say it's been interesting: exciting, informative, and challenging. I've followed new blogs, have had new readers follow mine, have learned more about people's TV preferences and discovered I'm not so strange in my watching habits as I often think.

I've also discovered that what I enjoy most about blogging is the interaction. Not me talking about me but talking to others about writing, reading, tv, websites, food, whatever.

What do you like to see on a blog? What gets you commenting?


You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 8: Titles

Titles. They're the life blood of a story. Do you click on the link if the title sounds ridiculous? Of course not (unless it's morbid curiosity). The title is the first thing to catch your eye (well I suppose the cover, too, but covers can be misleading!)

It should be evocative of the story and yet catchy enough to keep your interest to turn the book over (figuratively speaking) or scroll down to read the back-of-the-book blurb.

Imagine Gone With the Wind titled Scarlett...oh wait, bad example. As anyone who read Scarlett would know. Let's not go there. OK, how about Pride & Prejudice? Would it have lasted if it was titled Miss Elizabeth Bennett's Prejudice? Um, no.

I started my latest story knowing the plot but thinking it would go in a different direction. Risqué made a lot of sense when a Regency heroine puts her reputation on the line for sexual pleasure and that abiding romantic love.

However, that's not how the story went. My intentions were there, but the characters, Alexandria, Kane, and Brent, had other ideas and hijacked the story to their own ends. It's now titled Games of Pleasure, with rake verses rake in a game for the highest stakes-love.
You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 7: Excerpt from Killer Valentine

Winner Day 6: Jessica!

First I want to take today and thank all those who responded to the 9/11 attacks. You're far more important than the so-called dignitaries invited to the 10th anniversary. Personally I think you should have been invited before any one of the politicians. Second, I want to thank our armed forces personnel for serving and protecting my country. Regardless of what you think of the war, you should think of and thank the service men and women who fight it.

Now then, onto the excerpts! Today it's from my novella, Killer Valentine. This is part of the Never Too Many Valentines anthology. an FBI team hunts a serial killer in Colorado when all they'd rather be doing is enjoying each other for Valentine's Day.

My plan for this threesome is to continue their story in two more full-lengths. But with my historical ménage series, that probably won't happen soon. Pity, because I really love the characters and enjoyed writing them. But then darkness and obsession are great things to read and write.

He could have lost them.

That was the only thought that occupied his mind on the drive up to the cabin. The only thought as he had raced up the side of that hill. He’d never before felt such need: to have these two nearby, to keep them in his constant control.

He didn’t like his orders disobeyed, it was a simple fact of his life he’d grown used to. He’d run enough teams to expect complete professional compliance with his directives. Demanded it from his people.

With Tony and Sophie, it went beyond compliance.

Oh, Jareth knew perfectly well they were more than capable agents; they could handle just about anything they came across. Neither of them would have been assigned to his team if they hadn’t been that capable and more.

The door slammed closed, Tony probably, and Jareth turned. But the anger, the fear, he’d felt when he heard the gunshots refused to leave him.

“Upstairs, now!” he ordered tersely. “Strip. Do not touch each other.”

Tony offered him a knowing smirk, but Sophie. … His firebrand southern belle, raised one perfect eyebrow, her dark eyes sparking with defiant passion.

Jareth knew she was wet, knew she had been since the ride back from the mountainside with their prisoner when Tony couldn’t keep his hands off her. She’d been a good girl then, stifling her moans even when Tony had unbuttoned her jeans to feel her smooth pussy.

Shaking his head once, Jareth glared at them.

Taking the hint, Tony took Sophie’s arms and propelled her upstairs. “Do it, Sophie,” Tony said in a hard compelling voice. “Just give in to his commands. Accept it.”

Sophie wisely chose to remain silent.

Jareth watched them climb the stairs and disappear into the bedroom. It was a losing battle with his own Dom. Never before had he felt so commanding, so dominant over another. In his work, yes. But never with a lover. Everything with them was different.

Reigning in his temper, Jareth opened the door and waited while the rest of his team entered. He barely glanced inside, he didn’t care what the decor looked like, only that the bed was adequate, the shower large enough for two if not three, and the kitchen well stocked, as he had requested.

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)

My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 6: Excerpt Seduction of a Proper Lady

Winner Day 5 :Renee Rearden

Excerpts. They're the teaser of the blog world. Sure, you can read the blurb, but it's the excerpt that really gets into the story. Today's excerpt is from Seduction of a Proper Lady: A Regency Ménage Tale. I call this series my Regency Ménage series, even though the only connection between stories is the Regency era and the fact they're all ménages.

A loosely connected series! I really enjoyed this story, it's fun. By taking a typical Regency trope: guy must marry and of course the girl must and has very little choice in who (heaven forbid they not marry or *gasp* marry for love!) and twist it.

Not only is Braedon already in love with and sleeping with a man, but the both of them seduce the young lady. And let's face it, seduction is fun!

Turning for bed, she noticed an object on the floor directly before her. Frowning, Laurel lifted the candelabra and crouched beside the bed. It was a book. Normal sized and bound in fine, brushed leather, the cover held no title or author. Climbing into bed, she set the candelabra on the night table and settled against her pillows.

She could only think her maid or one of the other servants had dropped it, though why they’d be reading in her rooms, if they could even read, Laurel couldn’t say.

Curiosity had Laurel opening the unnamed book and reading the first page from The Curiosity of Miss Laverly

 Last night he came to her again. I heard him boldly walk into her room and could not resist another peak. I hurried from my room, slipping into the passage between wings so as not to be heard. splayed wide, feet braced on the wall. One hand pinched my nipples, tugging hard, and the pleasure ripped through me.

Already he was there, his muscled, naked body pinning hers to the bed, hands rough on her breasts. In the brightly lighted room I could see him pinch her nipples and found my own fingers rough on the hard points of my own nipples, nails scraping them in pleasure. He bit down on her breasts and she screamed, shuddering beneath him.

I knelt on the cold stone floor and watched through the peephole drilled in the door years ago. My body was tight with arousal, aching to be taken just as he did her. His hands hard on her thighs, mouth taking and taking as she screamed her release over and over. She bit and clawed at his back as he entered her.

My own fingers entered my core, one, two, quickly moving in and out in my wet pussy. I wanted more, I wanted a man’s hard cock filling me, wanted to feel the pressure of his body against mine.

For now, this had to be enough. Faster I moved my fingers, in and out, pleasuring myself as my ass hit the hard stone. I widened my legs, the cold of the floor a sharp contrast with the heat of my need. Deeper I thrust my fingers, deeper, harder, thum nail against my nub, scraping that harder, too.

Pleasure shot through me, a blinding light of it, and I knew I cried out despite my best attempts not to let the couple know I was here. Still I moved my fingers in me, unable to stop even as my body shuddered in release.

I don’t know how long I stayed there, utterly spent on the stone floor. Eventually I rose on unsteady legs and made my way, satiated and naked, back to my room. In the morning I’d see them at breakfast, and none of us would admit I watched them in bed, pleasuring myself while they pleasured each other.

Laurel snapped the book closed.

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 5: Excerpt Wickedly Wanton

Winner Day 4:  Ruth! Congrats :)

Normally I do a recipe on Fridays. Not because my recipe arsenal is all that impressive or because I love to cook. It's not and I don't. But I do like food. Food is important and delicious. I share because I care-who wants to eat the same thing every night? It's boring.

Today, instead of food, I'll talk excerpt. Being an adult-rated blog, this is most definitely an adult-rated excerpt. You are hereby warned.

This is my first full-length story. As any writer will tell you, writing a full-length involves a lot more than writing a short story. Now I've heard people say they can't write less than 90,000 words and I believe them, but I don't have that problem.

There are things I love and don't love about this story. It's my first, so there's that. And with firsts, I've discovered there are always things to change about the story. Would I change things in Wickedly Wanton? Yes. Will I? Nope. Moving onto to other stories, and knowing my writing keeps improving with each other. (At least I do so hope so!)

From my first full-length,a m/f/f menage, Wickedly Wanton: Regency Ménage Tale

Her shift lay on the floor, torn beyond repair. With a shrug, Sabine walked back to the bed, oddly comfortable with her nudeness, and found Faith’s shift.

Her friend was still asleep—arms thrown wide, naked legs open slightly, the remnants of chocolate, heavy cream, and strawberries on her skin. Licking her lips at the memory of Faith’s juices and strawberry, Sabine slipped the shift over her head. Taking a moment, she studied Faith.

Until that day by the stream, she had never thought of her friend as anything other than that. Certainly not a lover. And certainly not a woman who wanted her. Though she was sore, Sabine felt herself growing wet at the memories of Faith’s lips on her, tasting her most intimate secrets.

Lord Severn had ordered Faith to do things—kneel before Sabine, kiss her—but had not touched her. No, even as he watched Sabine kiss Faith’s chocolate-and-cream-covered breasts, he had reserved that solely for her.

Leaving Faith to her sleep, Sabine silently exited the room. She wanted to know where Lord Severn was, when he had slipped from the bed, and why.

Wandering the hall, she took her time examining the paintings. Several were clearly of ancestors; the men had the same long nose and penetrating deep brown eyes as Aiden Merryck, Marquess of Severn. The women, hmm, no she couldn’t detect any resemblance to the Merryck women’s soft features and laughing eyes.

Maybe around the lips—they all had full, sensual lips. While Severn’s lips weren’t full, they were sensual. And oh, how he knew to use them!

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 4

Winner Day 3: Robin D!

Keeping it fresh. When  you blog everyday it's hard to think of things to talk about. I could talk about politics...um no. World news is on the depressing side anymore. I could talk about my favorite TV shows, but they're few and far between. (Hawaii Five-O, NCIS, Dancing With the Stars when I can fast forward through commercials)

Let's talk about that--what are your favorite shows? And does anyone know what new ones are popping up this fall? I'm usually up on that in the slim hope there will be one I'm intersted in.

And here's the big question: When turning on the TV for background noise only, what do you turn on? A specific channel? Or a show you have on the DVR?

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 3

Winner from Day 2: Jessica! What's your choice of stories?

I find myself enjoying this blog hop. Meeting fun new people and having fun myself. So what shall we talk about today?

Short or long? Mind in the gutter already? Perfect. But I mean stories. Do you prefer shorts or full-lengths? Lots of details or just enough to know your time period?

I like both-shorts are a great way to find a new author or for a quick read while you stalk your next book. I also like detail--not overly long literary paragraphs, mind you, just a tad more than skimming over details. I like to know what the house looks like, the time frame, the outside world.

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 2

Winner from Day 1: Nay Nay/Renee! Email me for your choice in stories.

What grabs your attention first? Title or cover? Do you buy a book based soley on the blurb or do you read the excerpt/chapter 1?

Me, the title has to be enticing, the cover, not so much. I've been burned by shiny covers before and no longer buy based only on that and the blurb. I do read the blurbs, but also the first page or two of chapter one.

Been burned by that, too--the blurb promises X and I get Y and Z instead. Which is why I try to keep my blurbs as honest as possible.

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

Blog Hop Day 1

One winner per day! Did that get your attention? Want to follow along during the 10 Days of Giveaways? Find each blog stop here.

I've never done a blog hop, have no idea what I'm getting myself into but, hey, I'm game!

You're part: follow my blog and comment on each post to enter the daily drawing for a free download of one of my stories. (You must do both to enter, but following once is perfectly acceptable.)
My part: Post short fun little blogs for you to comment on and give away one free download, winner's choice, of any of my stories.

Historical, futuristic, or contemporary? Sexy menage or hot and heavy couple? Favorite time period?

Friday Recipe: Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Sauce

Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Sauce. I think grilling makes anything taste better!

Prep Time:  Cook Time:  Ready In:
10 Min          20 Min          30 Min

Ingredients

• 3 pounds salmon
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• Old Bay Seasoning TM to taste

Directions

1. Preheat grill for high heat.
2. Lightly grease one side of a large sheet of aluminum foil. Place salmon on the greased side of foil. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, and mix in cilantro and jalapeno. When cilantro is wilted, drizzle butter mixture over the salmon.
3. Place foil with salmon on the grill. Season with Old Bay. Cook 15 minutes, or until fish is easily flaked with a fork.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 370 | Total Fat: 21.6g | Cholesterol: 126mg

Branching out?

I write menages (as anyone who has even once been by this blog knows!) but recently wondered about writing an equally hot couple story. I like my historical menage series, like the taboo of them as everyone has to hide it from society. But an equally hot couple story-m/f I mean, might work.

Of course there's also the m/m and f/f stories, because they were also forbidden historically. Not only shunned, but homosexual men could be hanged. It was dangerous expressing your sexuality, but the rewards were worth it.

Things to ponder.