These two recipes are great when you're at a family get together. Easy to make up and I've got to say very addictive.
Probably why I make treats during the holidays. So enjoy!
Linda
Cocoa Krispie Treats
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter (chunky is the best!)
6 cups Cocoa Krispies
Heat Karo syrup and sugar in pan until starting to bubble. Stir in peanut butter until mixture is smooth. Fold in Cocoa Krispies and stir until well blended. Put in 9x13 pan and chill slightly. Cut into squares. These always go very fast!!
Peanut Butter Squares
1 cup margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter (I prefer chunky) 12 oz pkg milk choc chips
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
Melt margarine, add peanut butter, powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs.
Press into 9x13 pan. Melt chocolate chips and spread on top. Chill and cut into small square pieces. Store in refrigerator.
Very much like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
At the Movies
“We’re too far away,” Fluff complained. “Let’s go down front.”
“No way. Up top is the best.” Puff hopped up and down on the seat back.
“If you two don’t calm down Jazz and Nick will never bring us again,” Irma shushed the bunny slippers.
“So these are moving pictures? How fascinating.” Phinneas, Irma’s ghostly beau circa 1851, peered nearsightedly at the large screen where random questions rolled across the white surface. “What’s a matrix?”
“This is the last time I spend a week with you guys,” Horace grumbled, slouching in the seat. “I can go to the movies up on the mountain, ya know. Why can’t we hit some clubs?”
“You know very well why. It’s not Halloween,” Irma reminded him.
“It’s about time,” Fluff shouted, watching Jazz and Nick, laden down with snacks, ascending the steps. “Did you remember my red licorice?”
“Popcorn?” Puff demanded. “And there better not be butter on it.”
"Popcorn is always better with butter on it," Fluff said. "Mine does have butter, right?"
"And cheese sprinkles on mine?" Horace chimed in, scrambling over Irma and Phinneas. 'What about my chocolate covered raisins? Milk Duds and peanut M&Ms?”
“Just settle down and you’ll all get your food,” Jazz told them, handing out the treats while Nick settled large drink cups in the holders.
Fluff and Puff exchanged telling glances when four women plopped down in front of them and started chattering away while texting.
Puff's nose curled up in a bunny snarl. "Wow, this virus is really nasty." He shook himself all over, rearing back and letting loose a sneeze that sent spray everywhere.
At the same time Fluff started coughing so hard he levitated off the seat.
The women looked over their shoulders with horror, glared at them then Jazz and Nick and quickly retreated.
Jazz leaned over. "If you ever do that again, I will teleport you home so fast your heads will reach the house before your bodies do," she threatened.
"You should thank us," Fluff insisted. "They would have talked all through the movie anyway."
“And probably talked on their cells too. I really wanted to see the new Pixar film,” Puff groused. 'Why couldn't we see that?"
“No way! Horror only,” Fluff chimed in. "Did you see the poster for the new zombie film? Awesome!"
“There was a lovely romantic comedy advertised on the billboard outside,” Irma added her two cents.
Jazz looked at Nick who was sprawled in the end seat.
“Do you realize how much I paid out there?” he asked grimly. “I could have bought a car for what I had to shell out to that pimply faced kid? Why did we have to bring them?”
Jazz settled in the chair next to him, her hand taking his as she passed the cardboard tray filled with boxes of candy down the line. “Because you’re a good vampire,” she cooed, kissing him on the cheek. “And you made the mistake of asking me to go to the movies in front of the others.”
“We still could have left them home.” He relented a bit when she kissed him again. “We’re in the secluded top row, but we’ve got them too. Any reason why we couldn’t stick them elsewhere?”
“One excellent one. This is the only theater in that area that hasn’t banned F&P.” She tossed a piece of popcorn into the air and caught it with her mouth. “We’re at a movie marathon that will put them to sleep in minutes.” She murmured. “Then we can make out.”
Nick perked up at the idea. He ignored the creatures squabbling over treats, Irma’s complaints that Jazz still hadn’t fixed it so she could eat solid food, and Horace’s mutters he hoped no one he knew saw him here.
“What movie did you choose?” he asked, realizing he hadn’t bothered to look when Jazz offered to get the tickets. As the lights dimmed and the opening credits started rolling he realized his witch’s ardor might have more to do with the dark-haired man that would show up on the screen soon than Nick’s vampire charm.
“Johnny Depp again!” Fluff howled, spitting bits of popcorn everywhere. “You didn’t say we were going to see all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies?”
Horace looked a lot happier now. “All right! Keria Knightley is hot.”
Nick slumped further down in the seat even as Jazz laid her head on his shoulder.
“Forget it,” he muttered. “No pirate and damsel in distress for you. No shiver me timbers.”
Jazz kept on smiling as she stole a piece of licorice. “We’ll see.”
copyright 2010 Linda Wisdom
“No way. Up top is the best.” Puff hopped up and down on the seat back.
“If you two don’t calm down Jazz and Nick will never bring us again,” Irma shushed the bunny slippers.
“So these are moving pictures? How fascinating.” Phinneas, Irma’s ghostly beau circa 1851, peered nearsightedly at the large screen where random questions rolled across the white surface. “What’s a matrix?”
“This is the last time I spend a week with you guys,” Horace grumbled, slouching in the seat. “I can go to the movies up on the mountain, ya know. Why can’t we hit some clubs?”
“You know very well why. It’s not Halloween,” Irma reminded him.
“It’s about time,” Fluff shouted, watching Jazz and Nick, laden down with snacks, ascending the steps. “Did you remember my red licorice?”
“Popcorn?” Puff demanded. “And there better not be butter on it.”
"Popcorn is always better with butter on it," Fluff said. "Mine does have butter, right?"
"And cheese sprinkles on mine?" Horace chimed in, scrambling over Irma and Phinneas. 'What about my chocolate covered raisins? Milk Duds and peanut M&Ms?”
“Just settle down and you’ll all get your food,” Jazz told them, handing out the treats while Nick settled large drink cups in the holders.
Fluff and Puff exchanged telling glances when four women plopped down in front of them and started chattering away while texting.
Puff's nose curled up in a bunny snarl. "Wow, this virus is really nasty." He shook himself all over, rearing back and letting loose a sneeze that sent spray everywhere.
At the same time Fluff started coughing so hard he levitated off the seat.
The women looked over their shoulders with horror, glared at them then Jazz and Nick and quickly retreated.
Jazz leaned over. "If you ever do that again, I will teleport you home so fast your heads will reach the house before your bodies do," she threatened.
"You should thank us," Fluff insisted. "They would have talked all through the movie anyway."
“And probably talked on their cells too. I really wanted to see the new Pixar film,” Puff groused. 'Why couldn't we see that?"
“No way! Horror only,” Fluff chimed in. "Did you see the poster for the new zombie film? Awesome!"
“There was a lovely romantic comedy advertised on the billboard outside,” Irma added her two cents.
Jazz looked at Nick who was sprawled in the end seat.
“Do you realize how much I paid out there?” he asked grimly. “I could have bought a car for what I had to shell out to that pimply faced kid? Why did we have to bring them?”
Jazz settled in the chair next to him, her hand taking his as she passed the cardboard tray filled with boxes of candy down the line. “Because you’re a good vampire,” she cooed, kissing him on the cheek. “And you made the mistake of asking me to go to the movies in front of the others.”
“We still could have left them home.” He relented a bit when she kissed him again. “We’re in the secluded top row, but we’ve got them too. Any reason why we couldn’t stick them elsewhere?”
“One excellent one. This is the only theater in that area that hasn’t banned F&P.” She tossed a piece of popcorn into the air and caught it with her mouth. “We’re at a movie marathon that will put them to sleep in minutes.” She murmured. “Then we can make out.”
Nick perked up at the idea. He ignored the creatures squabbling over treats, Irma’s complaints that Jazz still hadn’t fixed it so she could eat solid food, and Horace’s mutters he hoped no one he knew saw him here.
“What movie did you choose?” he asked, realizing he hadn’t bothered to look when Jazz offered to get the tickets. As the lights dimmed and the opening credits started rolling he realized his witch’s ardor might have more to do with the dark-haired man that would show up on the screen soon than Nick’s vampire charm.
“Johnny Depp again!” Fluff howled, spitting bits of popcorn everywhere. “You didn’t say we were going to see all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies?”
Horace looked a lot happier now. “All right! Keria Knightley is hot.”
Nick slumped further down in the seat even as Jazz laid her head on his shoulder.
“Forget it,” he muttered. “No pirate and damsel in distress for you. No shiver me timbers.”
Jazz kept on smiling as she stole a piece of licorice. “We’ll see.”
copyright 2010 Linda Wisdom
Friday, June 25, 2010
Behind The Book -- The Countess and the Cowboy
Cowboys and Indians Never Fought Like This
When Letitia DeMarco won the deed to her ex’s Montana ranch, she didn’t know it came with a negative cash flow – and Tyler Barnes, a foreman with a sate-size chip on his shoulder. Before she could unpack her boots, they locked spurs and the ranch became the wildest honky-tonk in town.
Letitia was sultry, high society and Italian in every way but heritage. Tyler was the soul of Montana’s wide-open spaces. He had been born and bred on a ranch, his easy chair was a horse’s back. When they locked horns, it was winner take all. And come high noon, there would be only one winner in this showdown.
It was a given that Jack’s sister would have a book of her own. The Countess and the Cowboy was released in March, 1993.
And since Letitia was high maintenance with the couture wardrobe and equally high maintenance cat, I decided to throw her into an entirely alien atmosphere by her gaining a Montana ranch.
Could she navigate the rough territory in her stilettos? Could she manage to walk among dirt and dust without it getting on her white skirt or shoes?
We’re talking Letitia disdains dirt. And Tyler is just the kind of cowboy whose boots you want to find under your bed. They butt heads a lot, but isn’t that the best part of a romance?
The fun part is Letitia performs her own magic on the ranch and at the end you even get a peek at what Holly and Jack are up to.
Linda
When Letitia DeMarco won the deed to her ex’s Montana ranch, she didn’t know it came with a negative cash flow – and Tyler Barnes, a foreman with a sate-size chip on his shoulder. Before she could unpack her boots, they locked spurs and the ranch became the wildest honky-tonk in town.
Letitia was sultry, high society and Italian in every way but heritage. Tyler was the soul of Montana’s wide-open spaces. He had been born and bred on a ranch, his easy chair was a horse’s back. When they locked horns, it was winner take all. And come high noon, there would be only one winner in this showdown.
It was a given that Jack’s sister would have a book of her own. The Countess and the Cowboy was released in March, 1993.
And since Letitia was high maintenance with the couture wardrobe and equally high maintenance cat, I decided to throw her into an entirely alien atmosphere by her gaining a Montana ranch.
Could she navigate the rough territory in her stilettos? Could she manage to walk among dirt and dust without it getting on her white skirt or shoes?
We’re talking Letitia disdains dirt. And Tyler is just the kind of cowboy whose boots you want to find under your bed. They butt heads a lot, but isn’t that the best part of a romance?
The fun part is Letitia performs her own magic on the ranch and at the end you even get a peek at what Holly and Jack are up to.
Linda
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Better Than Sex Brownies
There's days we need chocolate! Will kill for it.
Trust me, these brownies will fulfill that need. I tend to use chocolate flavored coffee to give it extra punch.
Enjoy!
Texas Brownies
2 cup. flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup strong brewed coffee or water
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
FROSTING
1/2 cup margarine
2 tbsp. cocoa
1/4 cup milk
3 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Combine flour and sugar.
In heavy pan, combine butter, shortening, coffee or water and cocoa. Stir and heat to boiling.
Pour boiling mixture over the flour and sugar in the large bowl. Add the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla.
Mix well using wooden spoon or high speed on mixer.
Pour into well buttered 17x1/2x11 jelly roll pan.
Bake at 400 for 20 min. or until brownies done in center.
While brownies bake, prepare the frosting. In pan, combine butter, cocoa and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
Mix in powdered sugar and add vanilla; stir til smooth.
pour warm frosting over brownies as soon as you take them out of oven.
If you want thicker frosting, halve again, or double, the ingredients
Trust me, these brownies will fulfill that need. I tend to use chocolate flavored coffee to give it extra punch.
Enjoy!
Texas Brownies
2 cup. flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup strong brewed coffee or water
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
FROSTING
1/2 cup margarine
2 tbsp. cocoa
1/4 cup milk
3 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Combine flour and sugar.
In heavy pan, combine butter, shortening, coffee or water and cocoa. Stir and heat to boiling.
Pour boiling mixture over the flour and sugar in the large bowl. Add the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla.
Mix well using wooden spoon or high speed on mixer.
Pour into well buttered 17x1/2x11 jelly roll pan.
Bake at 400 for 20 min. or until brownies done in center.
While brownies bake, prepare the frosting. In pan, combine butter, cocoa and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
Mix in powdered sugar and add vanilla; stir til smooth.
pour warm frosting over brownies as soon as you take them out of oven.
If you want thicker frosting, halve again, or double, the ingredients
Monday, June 21, 2010
Behind The Book -- Under His Spell
Creature of the Night
One summer solstice, luminous black-clad Jack Montgomery materialized out of the mist in a meadow. He claimed a vacant Victorian lair for his haunt. Then, with all the smooth moves of Dracula, he swiftly began to lure sweet Holly Bennett …
Holly didn’t know her kids had cast an ancient spell for a dad. She only knew she was wooed with candlelight, dreamy nights and the fathomless depths of those witchy dark eyes.
She hardly cared who Jack really was … not after she tasted his love elixir and reveled in the abracadabra of his secret touch. She just hoped – as All Hallows’ Eve drew near – that this magic man would never disappear.
Under His Spell is the perfect title for this Harlequin American Romance, which was released in October 1992.
I originally wrote more magic into the book, but my editor suggested changes. The funny thing about this was that my agent at the time didn’t think my editor would take it. I’d given her a few paranormal synopses and this was one of them.
But I wanted to write this book and even better the idea crossed my editor’s desk at a time when she decided to come up with calendar books. And what better book for Halloween than a story set in Salem, MA and a heroine who’s a descendant from an accused witch. Not to mention a hero with an air of mystery and known for his horror novels.
Jack and Holly were fun to write. The questions among the town. Was he a vampire. Could he be some other sort of creature.
Plus, there was Jack’s ultra-fashionable sister, Letitia, along with her beloved cat, whose fur perfectly matched her blonde hair. More questions. Could Letitia and the cat be one and the same?
See why it was so much fun?
I’ve got to say that Jack could cross my threshold any time!
One summer solstice, luminous black-clad Jack Montgomery materialized out of the mist in a meadow. He claimed a vacant Victorian lair for his haunt. Then, with all the smooth moves of Dracula, he swiftly began to lure sweet Holly Bennett …
Holly didn’t know her kids had cast an ancient spell for a dad. She only knew she was wooed with candlelight, dreamy nights and the fathomless depths of those witchy dark eyes.
She hardly cared who Jack really was … not after she tasted his love elixir and reveled in the abracadabra of his secret touch. She just hoped – as All Hallows’ Eve drew near – that this magic man would never disappear.
Under His Spell is the perfect title for this Harlequin American Romance, which was released in October 1992.
I originally wrote more magic into the book, but my editor suggested changes. The funny thing about this was that my agent at the time didn’t think my editor would take it. I’d given her a few paranormal synopses and this was one of them.
But I wanted to write this book and even better the idea crossed my editor’s desk at a time when she decided to come up with calendar books. And what better book for Halloween than a story set in Salem, MA and a heroine who’s a descendant from an accused witch. Not to mention a hero with an air of mystery and known for his horror novels.
Jack and Holly were fun to write. The questions among the town. Was he a vampire. Could he be some other sort of creature.
Plus, there was Jack’s ultra-fashionable sister, Letitia, along with her beloved cat, whose fur perfectly matched her blonde hair. More questions. Could Letitia and the cat be one and the same?
See why it was so much fun?
I’ve got to say that Jack could cross my threshold any time!
Linda
Friday, June 18, 2010
Behind The Book -- Free Spirits
Happy Birthday!
Alex Cassidy thought being single and turning thirty was an awful combination. The only thing worse was waking up the morning after her birthday bash with a hangover.
And just when she thought she’d hit rock bottom, she opened her eyes … and screamed. There, at the foot of her bed, looking dapper and doting, were the ghosts of her parents.
Alex thought al ghosts rattled chains and inspired fear. Her ghosts baked brownies and inspired aggravation. Alex thought all ghosts were fleeting apparitions … Her ghosts were here to stay.
At least until they delivered their birthday present ... Mr. Right!
My Harlequin American Romance Free Spirits was published in August,1991 and is one of my absolute favorite books. It was so much fun to write and I have to say I laughed a lot during the creative process.
I got the idea of a woman who celebrates her 30th birthday and wakes up to find her parents returned from the dead and determined to stay with her until she gets married. And the only ones who see them are her and her cat.
In a way, thanks to them cartoonist Alex meets ER doc Michael Duffy and the romance is on, but it’s also crazy no thanks to her parents. Is that a puff of smoke over there or her parents? Will Michael think she needs heavy medication if he catches her talking to air?
And does her mother always have to complain about the dress she was buried in? Or her dad’s constant search for golf games on TV?
I was so glad this book turned out to be popular and was reissued a few times, because there’s nothing like reading a book that makes you laugh.
Linda
Alex Cassidy thought being single and turning thirty was an awful combination. The only thing worse was waking up the morning after her birthday bash with a hangover.
And just when she thought she’d hit rock bottom, she opened her eyes … and screamed. There, at the foot of her bed, looking dapper and doting, were the ghosts of her parents.
Alex thought al ghosts rattled chains and inspired fear. Her ghosts baked brownies and inspired aggravation. Alex thought all ghosts were fleeting apparitions … Her ghosts were here to stay.
At least until they delivered their birthday present ... Mr. Right!
My Harlequin American Romance Free Spirits was published in August,1991 and is one of my absolute favorite books. It was so much fun to write and I have to say I laughed a lot during the creative process.
I got the idea of a woman who celebrates her 30th birthday and wakes up to find her parents returned from the dead and determined to stay with her until she gets married. And the only ones who see them are her and her cat.
In a way, thanks to them cartoonist Alex meets ER doc Michael Duffy and the romance is on, but it’s also crazy no thanks to her parents. Is that a puff of smoke over there or her parents? Will Michael think she needs heavy medication if he catches her talking to air?
And does her mother always have to complain about the dress she was buried in? Or her dad’s constant search for golf games on TV?
I was so glad this book turned out to be popular and was reissued a few times, because there’s nothing like reading a book that makes you laugh.
Linda
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