COOKING WITH CLORIS--GUEST CHEF MAYA SAPP

We’re giving Cloris the day off today. Taking her place is Maya Sapp, the sidekick from Codename: Dancer and Pointe of No Return by author Amanda Brice. Welcome, Maya! -- AP

My name is Maya Sapp, and you might remember me from the TV show Teen Celebrity Dance-Off. The reality show came to my performing arts boarding school this fall, and I was paired up with tennis phenom Carson Chen. He may have displayed some fancy footwork at the US Open, but he kinda has two lead feet on the dance floor. But that’s okay.

Only one episode of the show ever aired, but not because it was canceled. Well, not intentionally at least. The producers decided not to continue with it after the set was sabotaged, and my friends Dani, Analisa, and I solved the mystery. Even if you never saw the show, though, you probably heard about it. The perp tried to kill Dani, so it was all over CNN.

That’s ancient history now, even though it did raise all of our profiles. But that’s a good thing, since I want to be in show business when I graduate. So thank you, thank you, to Cloris and Anastasia for inviting me! I’m very excited to share the recipe for my mom’s amazing Ham & Yam Chili.

I grew up in New York, and live in Arizona now, but my mom grew up in Georgia. And like any good Southern girl, she cooks by taste and instinct, so the amounts in the recipe are kinda sketchy. She explained it to me as “you’ll know it when you taste it” when I asked how much to include, which I admit isn’t all that helpful. Mea culpa in advance, but it’s a great way to use up leftover spiral ham after a holiday meal.

Ham & Yam Chili

Ingredients:

1 lb leftover glazed ham, diced into chunks

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into chunks

1 28-oz can diced tomatoes

1 15-oz can black-eyed peas

1 15-oz can dark red kidney beans

1 large onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

¼ cup leftover ham glaze

¼ cup orange juice

½ cup packed brown sugar

Chili seasoning, to taste

Set a slow cooker to low, timed for 4-6 hours. Pour all ingredients into the pot and stir together. Test the seasonings to make sure you get the right amount of sweetness and heat, so start low with the chili seasoning, adding until you arrive at the flavoring you prefer. Let cook for 4-6 hours, and enjoy!

For more characters’ favorite recipes, including Dani’s favorites – Allergen-Free Pad Thai from Codename: Dancer,  Dani’s Mango Madness Smoothie with Raspberry Swirl from Pointe of No Return, and Grandma Rose’s Varenyky (Ukrainian Pierogies) from the upcoming Pas De Death, please check out the FREE cookbook, EAT, READ, LOVE: Romance and Recipes from the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood!

This unique cookbook pairs recipes with excerpts from the romance novels that inspired them, so you can read while you cook. And best of all, it’s free!

Download it today:

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From YA to suspense to historical to contemporary... Join the members of the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood for some "romancing the stove," and delight in romance and recipes from some of today's hottest rising stars, such as Darynda Jones, Hope Ramsay, Jeannie Lin, Laurie Kellogg, Kim Law, Amanda Brice, Liz Talley, and more!
Because there's no place like the kitchen!