#COOKING WITH CLORIS--GUEST AUTHOR BETTY GORDON

After careers as a dance instructor, sculptor, and legal assistant, Betty Gordon followed her dream to write books that would entertain and challenge readers. Learn more about Betty and her books at her website.

I greet the Christmas holiday season with the same delight as the young and the young at heart. I enjoy everything about these festive days: shopping, decorating, cooking, looking at neighboring Christmas lights, and visiting with family and friends.

Christmas is truly magical for me and filled with childhood memories: putting cookies and milk out for Santa, quietly sneaking into the living room by the Christmas tree to catch a glimpse of the jolly old man in the red suit, and baking cookies with my mother and grandmother, which inspired “The Magic Apron.”

I was also motivated to write this short story collection because of a love for the elderly who are lonely and need simple contacts from their loved ones (“The Phone Call”), a fondness for clowns who bring smiles and laughter (“Santa’s Clown”), a love of history and the mysteries of what is possible in this life and beyond (“Christmas Past: A Forgotten Bride”), the mysteries of a pirate ship and the mystical union of two lovers (“Eternity”).

Holiday Meatball Appetizer

8 oz. can pineapple tidbits (drained)

1 jar (5 oz) pineapple preserves

1 small jar honey dijon mustard

1 cup dark brown sugar (packed tight)

1 tsp. curry (optional)

1 pkg. frozen Italian meatballs

Place first five ingredients in small saucepan and bring to boil.

Place meatballs in slow cooker. Pour the boiled mixture on top of meatballs. Cook 4 hours on High, stirring only twice.

The Magic of Christmas

This is a collection of five stories—suspense, fantasy, paranormal, and romance—which offer surprising twists and turns, embracing discoveries, hopes, and love. The include:

"The Phone Call"—One day and one minute in the life of Agnes Riley. Chicago winters can be cold and lonely for those in their twilight years. Case in point, ninety-one year old Agnes Riley.

"The Magic Apron"—A remarkable granny, a magic apron, and a tiny fairy guide a family toward forgiveness and unite them with love.

"Santa’s Clown"—Samantha covers her face with paint, wears a seductive sequined costume, pokes fun at sadness and creates laughter, but not everyone enjoys her antics in this tale that celebrates understanding and acceptance.

"Christmas Past, A Forgotten Bride"—A Christmas tradition and a young woman’s search for spirits lead to a story filled with fear, love lost, and mystical discoveries.

"Eternity"—Hurricane devastation, the Gulf of Mexico, a pirate ship, and a magical meeting between a handsome man and beautiful woman bring this story to life in an unexpected way.

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paperback 

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS--SWEET 'N SOUR MEATBALLS #RECIPE

We’re continuing our pineapple theme from yesterday with this easy slow cooker recipe for Sweet ‘n Sour Meatballs. Anastasia loves dinners that cook themselves, and this recipe is about as easy as they get. Just defrost the meatballs and pineapple in the refrigerator overnight, and throw everything into the slow cooker first thing in the morning before heading to work. Serve over egg noodles, cous cous, or rice.

Sweet ‘n Sour Meatballs

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

2 lbs. frozen, pre-cooked turkey meatballs, defrosted

2 cups frozen pineapple, defrosted

6 carrots, peeled and halved

1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup all fruit peach spread

1 can (14.5 - 16 oz.) diced tomatoes

1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

Place meatballs, pineapple, dried cranberries, and carrots in a slow cooker. Add tomatoes. Mix together jam, broth, and barbecue sauce. Pour over meat and vegetables. Cook on low 8-10 hrs.

COOKING WITH CLORIS - GUEST AUTHOR AND CHEF FOR A DAY, AMY GAMET

Cloris took the day off to work at the polls (have you voted yet?) So we have author Amy Gamet stepping in with her favorite meatball recipe. Amy is a former middle school math teacher turned writer and stay-at-home mom because as she says, “I enjoy writing much more than I ever loved the Pythagorean Theorem.” Read more about her and her books at her website where you can find excerpts. -- AP

I recently posted to my Facebook status, “If I need to decide what to feed my family for dinner *one more time*, my head might explode. Suggestions?”  I got lots of “likes” from my mom friends, and two suggestions to try an online meal planner.

I did a little looking into the sites they recommended.  My initial scoffing, “Why would anyone use one of these things?” turned into awe and wonder when I read that you select your weekly dinners from fifteen options, and it even prints out a grocery list.  I signed up.

A week into my membership, I can already tell you it’s highly unlikely I will be a member for long.  I keep accidentally eating ingredients that I didn’t realize I needed for some recipe I have no recollection of selecting.  My middle child is begging for macaroni and cheese, claiming she doesn’t like dinner long before I’ve even finished flambéing it.  We needed so many fresh ingredients for the week, that I had to set up two fruit bowls on the counter, encouraging a raucous fruit-fly party that rivaled the joy I experienced from not having to write a grocery list.

I don’t think I need a meal planner, I just need a few more “go-to” meals.  Maybe that’s what you need, too.  And so I give you the best meatball recipe I have, the *only* recipe that anyone ever asks me for.  I’m not going to take offense to that, because life is too short to pretend everything I make is wonderful.  But these meatballs—oh, these meatballs!!—are to die for.  (Adapted from a recipe by Rao’s Restaurant in New York City.)

Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 – 2 ½ lb. ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste (I go heavy on both, about 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper)

½ cup dried parsley (or 1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped)

2 eggs

1 cup bread crumbs

1 ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

1 ½ cup water

I make this in a stand mixer, though you can do it by hand.  Don’t worry about over-mixing, just combine thoroughly.  They will be moist and wonderful!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Heavily grease a rimmed cookie sheet with ¼ cup of olive oil.  Combine ground beef, garlic, sat and pepper.  Mix well.  Add remaining ingredients and mix again.  Form into two inch balls and place on cookie sheet.  Bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through.

Love’s Greatest Gift: a Christmas Novella

When Meghan O'Connor's daughter Fiona needs a bone marrow transplant, Meghan is forced to return to her hometown and estranged family in search of a donor.  Fiona's father is the last person Meghan expects to find in Largo, looking sexier than ever and mad as all hell. 

Liam Wheaton hates Meghan for leaving him eight years ago and taking their daughter away.  Accused of arson, he’s back in Largo to clear his good name, if the son of the town drunk ever had such a thing.

In the days before Christmas, two families will be reunited and a passionate love rekindled, in this story about the lengths we go to for love and the power of forgiveness.

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Thanks for stepping in today, Amy. The meatball recipe is definitely on my list to try. And readers, please don't forget to do your civic duty today by voting for the candidate of your choice. -- AP 

COOKING WITH CLORIS--SWEET 'N SOUR TURKEY MEATBALLS

I love dinners that cook themselves. Cloris has one today that’s about as easy as it gets. Just defrost the meatballs and pineapple in the fridge overnight. -- AP

SWEET ‘N SOUR TURKEY MEATBALLS
(serves 4)
Ingredients:
2 lbs. frozen, pre-cooked turkey meatballs, defrosted
2 cups frozen pineapple, defrosted
8 carrots, peeled and halved
1 cup cranberry jam
1 can (14.5 - 16 oz.) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup beef broth
1/4 cup barbecue sauce

Place meatballs, pineapple, and carrots in a slow cooker. Add tomatoes. Mix together jam, broth, and barbecue sauce. Pour over meat and vegetables. Cook on low 8-10 hrs.

Serves 4.
Serve this over cous cous, minute brown rice, or bow tie noodles and you’ve got dinner. Readers, what’s for dinner at your house tonight? -- AP