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Sunday, January 22, 2017

#COOKING WITH CLORIS--GUEST AUTHOR ROXANNE SNOPEK TALKS CHOCOLATE


(Due to a scheduling conflict, Anastasia is yielding her craft spot today to food editor Cloris McWerther, who has invited author Roxanne Snopek to talk about chocolate.)

USA Today bestselling author Roxanne Snopek writes contemporary romance, both steamy and sweet, set in small towns, big cities and secluded islands. There are also dogs. And chocolate. Learn more about Roxanne and her books at her website

Let’s Talk About Chocolate!

When I was invited to write for the Love at the Chocolate Shop series, I was delighted! Romance, set in a gourmet store selling all hand-made chocolate delicacies, against the mountains of small-town Montana… I love it both as a writer AND a reader!

12 books in 12 months, by six authors… and chocolate? So much fun! CJ Carmichael, Melissa McClone, Debra Salonen, Steena Holms, Marin Thomas and myself are now about half-way through our Year of Chocolate. My first story for this series, The Chocolate Cure, released January 4, 2017.

The Chocolate Cure is book #4, but each title can be read individually. In this story, as a creative take on occupational therapy, Maddie makes Mick attend a chocolate-making class with her, the project being Salted Caramel Pecan Treasures.


Because each book features at least one chocolate specialty, we thought we’d create recipe cards to go with the books: the book cover on one side, and the recipe on the other. What do you think?

Salted Caramel Pecan Treasures

Mini-muffin tin plus 24 mini-muffin liners
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup caramels, unwrapped (approx. 45 caramels)
1-1/2 tablespoons evaporated milk (can substitute milk or heavy cream)
24 whole pecans
Coarse pink Himalayan salt
Fill mini-muffin tins with mini-cupcake liners.

Microwave chocolate chips, checking and stirring frequently, until smoothly melted.

Drop 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate into each cupcake liner, reserving 1/4 of chocolate in bowl for later. Using pastry brush, paint the melted chocolate onto the bottom and about 2/3 up sides of liners.

Place chocolate-lined mini-muffin tins in freezer.

Microwave caramels and evaporated milk, checking and stirring frequently, until smoothly melted.

Remove muffin tins from freezer. Place one whole pecan in bottom of each cup.

Pour caramel into chocolate cups until about 2/3 full, covering pecans completely.

Return tins to freezer for about 5 minutes.

Use pastry brush to paint remaining melted chocolate onto chilled cups, completely covering the caramel. Sprinkle with pink Himalayan salt while chocolate is still warm.

Return to freezer for about 30 minutes.

We have many wonderful treats and giveaways for our readers on our Love at the Chocolate Shop Facebook page, including recipe card packages, so please follow along for your chance to win. With a new book releasing each month, there are tons of opportunities!

The Chocolate Cure

No more chocolate! No more meddling! No more men!

New Year’s resolutions are great. Announcing them in a crowded bar, with a chocolate martini in her hand? Not Maddie Cash’s finest moment. It’s time this new realtor got serious about her life and this time, she means it.

But when hospital volunteering lands her at the bedside of bruised and battered Mick Meyer, who has no knowledge of Maddie’s reputation – and no memory of the kiss he begged from her during that long, pain-filled night, her best-laid plans are put in jeopardy. It’s not just his sweet tooth that’s tempting her.

The hunky bush pilot with the concussion has an old family property to unload. Making this sale could be Maddie’s professional salvation. But when Mick turns on the charm, she’s in danger of forgetting all her best intentions... on chocolate... on meddling... and especially on men.

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2 comments:

Angela Adams said...

I can't wait to try these! Thanks for the recipe!!!

Roxanne Snopek said...

Good to meet you, Angela! You'll have fun making these. Thanks for stopping by!