#COOKING WITH CLORIS--GUEST AUTHOR LYNETTE SOFRAS AND MINI CHEESE & SPINACH TRIANGLES

A former teacher, Lynette Sofras gave up her career in education a few years ago in order to focus on her writing and thus fulfil her childhood dream. She writes contemporary women's fiction, usually involving romance, and often with suspense or a supernatural twist. Lynette currently lives in an early Victorian cottage (the inspiration for Cocktails and Lies) in a picturesque Surrey village. Learn more about Lynette and her books at her website. 

In my latest story, Cocktails and Lies, Hannah comes across some old letters to her grandmother written before World War II. She later discovers that her grandmother harboured a life-long fascination with the 1920s and 30s—the art deco period, collecting objects d’art and wearing fashions adapted from that era well into the forties and fifties. Hannah imagines her at elegant parties sipping cocktails, laughing and carefree. It was, after all, according to Noël Coward, The Age of Cocktails and Laughter.

These delicious little cheese savories would go down well at any cocktail party and are easy and fun to make.

Mini Cheese and Spinach Triangles

This recipe makes between 30 and 40, depending on the size. Quantities and varieties of cheese can be altered to suit availability or your own tastes. The spinach is also optional.

Ingredients:

8 oz. (220 grams) package of ready-made phyllo (filo) dough

8-10 oz. (250-300 grams) carton cottage cheese

approx. 1 lb. (400 grams) feta cheese, crumbled

1 T. grated Parmesan

2 T. grated strong cheddar

4 oz. (100 grams) frozen leaf spinach, defrosted and squeezed to remove as much liquid as possible and finely chopped

3 eggs

1/4 cup cream with 1 tablespoon sifted flour added and well mixed

Grated black pepper

Combine all the cheeses, add the cream and flour mixture and combine well. Sprinkle in the leaf spinach and a good grating of black pepper. Add one beaten egg and mix again.

Cut the sheets of filo pastry into long, equal strips (width approx. 8 cm), brushing each with beaten egg. Place a spoonful of filling on the shorter end and fold over diagonally to form a triangle. Fold the triangle over straight and then diagonally once again. Continue folding over and over, keeping the triangular shape with the filling completely enclosed. Trim or tuck any excess neatly over the finished triangle. The egg wash will help it stick to itself.

Place pies on baking sheets, brush with egg and bake for approximately 10 minutes or until golden in colour, in a moderate oven (325-350°F, 175°C)

Cocktails and Lies

When Hannah’s house is burgled, she gains as much as she loses: she meets Jan, her reserved Dutch neighbour and successful antiques dealer, and Callum, the detective in charge of the case, then finds some hidden letters to her dead grandmother that take her on an emotional journey of discovery.

As Hannah juggles the attentions of the two men now firmly in her life, she works to uncover the secrets of the past, only to find these encroach on the present in unexpected ways.

And then there are the two men in her life, both vying for her attention, both hiding things from her and each other. What does Callum really know about Jan? What is Jan hiding from everyone? And what did her grandmother—whose house it once was—hide from the world?

As if Hannah doesn’t have enough mysteries to solve, her best friend Rachel enlists her help in solving her marital crisis, while her pleasure-seeking mother seems intent on finding her a husband.

With so many skeletons rattling the door of Hannah’s house, can she unravel these mysterious threads and reveal the truth, changing her life forever?

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Fun fact: The song mentioned in the story is ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’ written by Noël Coward and Philip Braham. It was recorded by several famous artists over the years, but the version recorded by Suede in 1998 is a personal favourite. You can see on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8s7WFwVlKE.

LIVING ON A SHOESTRING WITH GUEST AUTHOR LYNETTE SOFRAS

A former English teacher, Lynette Sofras gave up a high level career in education to focus on her writing a few years ago, thus fulfilling her lifelong dream. She mainly writes women fiction, often with suspense and/or a supernatural twist. When not producing novels, she works as an editor and writing tutor at 24houranswers.com. Learn more about Lynette and her books at her website and blog.

It's said that most Americans will experience poverty at some point in their lives, particularly inner city or rural dwellers. What seems almost ludicrous to me is that as the world advances in so many ways, poverty is steadily increasing. In the UK, the dramatic rise in the number of people using food banks is testament to the fact that poverty is no longer a third world issue.

When times are tight, there are numerous ways you can cut back on expenses to save money for essentials. You don't have to starve or live in misery, thanks to food banks and the supermarket price wars. Buying budget brands doesn't always mean sacrificing quality and essential nutrition. In the UK, stores like Lidl and Aldi are forcing competition and the big name supermarkets are having to downprice accordingly. If you don't want to switch loyalties, try switching brands for a month to see how much you can save. Search for offers and money-off vouchers in free magazines or the Internet. Visit markets, boot/garage sales and auction houses to hunt down cheaper alternatives.

Foregoing expensive forms of entertainment for a short while can also help you save pennies. Cut out fancy restaurants and get experimental in the kitchen. Visit museums and libraries and broaden your mind for free or simply get healthy with a walk in the park and perhaps a picnic lunch.

While I've never known real deprivation, I did go through a period of financial hardship when I was bringing up a young child with virtually no support from the father, while putting myself through university and beyond to ensure I could provide for us both in the future. It is perhaps hardly surprising, therefore, that money issues infiltrate some of my novels. In my latest romantic suspense, The Nightclub, two half-sisters, fleeing a pretty dreadful past, find themselves living hand to mouth and surviving only with great difficulty. Money is so tight, they have to live in a squalid flat, shop at charity shops or scavenge for market bargains, and re-use teabags to save pennies. But they have each other, determination and ambition.

The Nightclub

Trying to make a living for her teenage sister and herself, naïve Laura Hamilton accepts a job offer as a hostess at an infamous London nightclub. As she struggles to survive in a world of sex, drugs and corruption, she certainly doesn't expect to find her own knight in shining armour in the club's owner, Julian. But will he really save her from a future as a fallen woman? And is he involved in the criminal organisation that threatens not only her sister's life, but will change her own fate forever?

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HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE--GUEST AUTHOR LYNETTE SOFRAS

A former English teacher, Lynette Sofras gave up a high level career in education to focus on her writing a few years ago, thus fulfilling her lifelong dream. She mainly writes women fiction, often with suspense and/or a supernatural twist. Learn more about her and her books at her website and blog.

Increased life expectancy is something we ought to be able to celebrate, but with advancing years come many challenges and problems. Health issues apart, perhaps the most significant challenge facing many elderly people is that of loneliness. With the fragmentation of society, loss of partners or other family members, many old people lead isolated and often miserable existences, rarely seeing a friendly face from one day to the next. But what a difference a cheerful smile and a few kind words can make to the vulnerable in our society.

According to recent studies, within the next 30 years, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is set to more than double, reaching 88.5 million. This means that future generations will need to be prepared to care for a larger populace of elderly loved ones with ever-increasing needs.

There are many practical ways we can help and perhaps the most important is to ensure they eat healthily and of the foods they particularly enjoy, as well as having ready supplies of goods that meet their essential needs and allow them some independence and dignity.

My second contemporary romance, Shopping for Love was inspired by a lonely, elderly neighbour for whom I became a friend and carer. I used to take her to do her banking and weekly shopping, but when she moved into sheltered accommodation, she lost her confidence and became too unsteady on her feet to venture out, so asked me to take care of everything for her. On one occasion, while shopping for her, a rather delightful elderly gentleman struck up a brief conversation over the baffling choice and variety of tomatoes in the supermarket. And from little acorns (or should I say tomato seeds?) my novel was born.

Primary school teacher Emma does a weekly shop for her elderly neighbour Joan, while computer scientist Greg performs the same task for his aging grandfather. Needless to say the two meet while buying tomatoes and soon fall in love.

Shopping for Love

Love can find you in the strangest places - but it's never for sale!

They meet - of all places - buying tomatoes in the supermarket and there’s no denying the attraction is mutual. But Greg, a software developer, is still raw from his painful divorce and Emma, his children’s teacher, is recovering from her own heartache. Then the reappearance of Emma's career-obsessed ex-boyfriend and Greg's spiteful ex-wife threatens to kill their new love before it has even begun.

Is Emma’s love strong enough to survive Greg’s demanding past and the threats to both their careers? What will be the cost of falling in love in a world where everything comes with a high price tag?

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