Happy Thanksgiving!!

By Kate

It’s Thanksgiving Day here in the USA and many of us are looking forward to celebrating the day by cooking, watching football, and eating too much.

Oh, and we also give thanks for that which we've been blessed. ;-)


Now, as some of you may know, I am officially known as the worst cook in the world. No, really. I burn things. All the time. Our smoke alarm gets a real workout whenever I step into the kitchen.

And yet, for my family, I took a chance and cooked several side dishes for the holiday. So what do I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I didn’t burn anything! Hallelujah!!

Yeah, it was a shock for me, too. :-)

Okay, now let’s talk about what I’m really thankful for this time of year. I’m especially thankful for my dear family and for so many wonderful friends here in the Lair and elsewhere. I’m thankful that I’m able to write books for a living and I’m doubly thankful for all the fabulous readers, booksellers and librarians I’ve met all over the country. Thank you!!

So now, just for fun … here's a snack to enjoy at a holiday party or a small gathering with friends. It’s an old family recipe and so simple to make, even I can do it—without burning anything!

Be careful with these – they’re addictive! They only take 5 minutes to mix, then 20 minutes baking time.

Kate's Crazy Mixed-Up Nuts

¼ cup butter
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp each: seasoned salt, celery salt and garlic powder
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp. each cayenne pepper and pepper
1 c. shelled walnuts
1 cup pecan halves
1 cup whole almonds, lightly toasted

Preheat oven to 325 F. Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Simmer over low heat for several minutes for flavors to blend. Stir in nuts and transfer to a shallow baking pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes 3 cups. (Great with cocktails. And they can also be tossed on salads.)

Wishing everyone in the States a very Happy Thanksgiving! And to our friends in other parts of the world, a very Happy Thursday!!

I’m enjoying a cool, sunny day here in Palm Desert, California. Where are you today? How’s the weather? And what are you thankful for today? For sharing with us on Thanksgiving, I’ve got a signed copy of THE LIES THAT BIND and some fun promo goodies for one random commenter!

The Swedish Chef

by Beth

No, I don't mean the famous Muppets' character with his bushy eyebrows and mustache and bork, bork, bork - although he is one of my favorite characters *g*. The chef I'm referring to is my own mother.

Okay, so maybe my mom was born in America but her grandparents hailed from Sweden, resulting in her not only getting to lead the procession on Saint Lucia's day when she was a young girl (complete with a wreath of lit candles on her head, no less) but her heritage also helped shape the meals and traditions she passed down to her own family. No, we never celebrated St. Lucia's day when I was growing up, but we did have three dishes I consider very much a part of my mom's heritage. I also consider them very...unique...if only because I've never met another person who has ever heard of them, let alone eaten them :-)

Korv. We only had Korv (otherwise known as Swedish Christmas sausage) at the holidays. As a matter of fact, my mom still cooks and serves Korv for Thanksgiving. It's a sausage made of beef, pork, potatoes and spices. My mother boils it then browns it in the oven. We've never eaten it on a bun (although I'm sure you could) but just plain. Actually, though it's a mild sausage, I don't eat it at all *g* But my husband likes it.

Lutefisk. Now this...delicacy...(and believe me, I use that term loosely *g*) is one my husband does not like. To be honest, I can't think of anyone who does like it except my dad. My husband first tried it when we all traveled over to my mom's hometown for lutefisk dinner at my uncle's restaurant. I told him not to eat it but as this was early in our marriage, he wanted to impress his in-laws and ignored my advice.

Let's just say he regretted it *g*

Lutefisk is dried cod prepared with lye. Basically, the fish is soaked in water for a few days then the saturated fish is soaked in a mixture of water and lye which gives it a jelly-like consistency. Then, to make it edible again, it's soaked in water a few more days before it's cooked. My mom always made lutefisk in a white gravy served over mashed potatoes. But believe me, there isn't enough gravy in the world to make it any less nasty. She stopped making it years ago. A fact for which we're all thankful for ;-)

Pepparkakor cookies. Yes! Finally, a recipe I do like *g* These cookies are still a staple at my mom's at Christmas time. My son loves them even more than I do. They're sort of like gingersnaps but my mom's are darker, rolled paper thin then cut into shapes. I don't have the recipe at the moment but I'll see if I can find it to post. They're labor intensive because of how thin you have to roll the dough but if you like a crisp, sweet, ginger/molasses-like cookie, the effort will be worth it!

Have you heard of (or tasted) any of the items I've listed? Cooked them yourself? What are some of the recipes handed down in your family?

Recipe Roundup, Bandita Style

I love recipes. A smidge of this, a dash of that, and little care and voila - a delicious result. Especially when the smidges and dashes are mixed together by Banditas (and Bandita Buddies, of course). For fun, Auntie Cindy came up with this idea and we thought we'd share a few Bandita Recipes. Not for a decadent chocolate dessert or a rich stew, but even - much more likely to be found in the lair - a tart margarita. Nope, these are the Perfect Hunk Recipes. We all have our own idea of the perfect hunk, right?

Aunty Cindy's, for example:
Take Indiana Jones' fedora, whip, and derring-do
Add a pinch of Will Turner/Orlando Bloom's intensity
Mix with Wolverine/Hugh Jackman's physique
A dash of James Bond/Pierce Brosnan's mischievous sparkling eyes
Blend well, pour into a Regency waistcoat and savor the results.

Oh my, doesn't he sound tasty?

Posh shared this recipe:
Take Thomas Crowne/Pierce Brosnan's sly genius
Add Rick O'Connell/Brendan Fraser's to-die-for physique
Add a dash - just a little - of Will Ferrell's zany humor
Mix with Kurt Russell's macho good looks
And finish off with a sprinkling of John Cusack's vulnerability
Voila!

*wiping drool off chin* Voila, indeed!!

Mmm, getting hungry yet?

Nancy offered this:
Hugh Jackman's height (we tall females like that), build, and non-Wolverine hair Pierce Brosnan's eyes Viggo Mortenson's swordsmanship Gregory Peck's voice in Patrick Stewart's accent Daniel Craig's hard edge leavened with Richard Dean Anderson's humor (not a movie hero, but I'm warping him in (no pun intended - that's the other STAR thing) since Stargate was a movie). And doesn't Craig have dimples? I'd like there to be dimples.

Ooooooohhhhh, dimples. What's yummier?!?!?!

Donna's recipe is quite specific!
Troy/Eric Bama physique
Patrick Swayze ability to dance
American Gigolo/Richard Gere eyes
Jude Law lips
Alan Rickman intensity
Hugh Jackman accent
combine, shaken - not stirred Then serve. Do not under any circumstances cook I like my man raw

I can see her point, can't you?

Madame had this recipe to share:
Richard Armitage's intensity Daniel Craig's toughness Matthew McConaghey's easy charm (when the occasion warrants) Stephen Fry's wit (OK, my guy has multiple personality disorder. What can I say?) Looks like Clive Owen

Mouthwateringly delicious, if you ask me!! I'd take two helpings.

Beth shared her favorite recipe: Take Ryan Reynolds' physique Add Bradley Cooper's sexy grin Mix with Shia LaBeouf's unique charm, A smidge of Seth Rogan's humor And a dollop of Hugh Jackman's accent and singing ability. Stir gently, pour into a movie theater seat and enjoy!

*sigh* Now doesn't that sound wonderful?!?!


And my recipe?
Start with Johnny Depp, with his humor, smile and personality
Sprinkle lightly with Legolas’ serene mysticism
Add a large dash of Hugh Jackman’s delicious physique
A hint of Jon Bon Jovi’s rocker voice An extra large spoonful of Captain Jack's naughtiness
And a smattering of Rick Castle’s boyish charm
Stir him all up and serve him to me on a very large platter, with a side of chocolate sauce!!

How about you? What would YOUR perfect hunk recipe be?

Debut Delight - Beth Andrew's NOT WITHOUT HER FAMILY chitchat

by Tawny Weber

Many people may or may not realize that the awesome Beth Andrews is my coveted Critique Partner (as in I will share her, but get first dibs... just don't tell Vrai Anna) and I'm overjoyed to see her fabulous debut, NOT WITHOUT HER FAMILY on store shelves now! For fun and pleasure (my fun in tormenting her, your pleasure in reading the results) I talked Beth into answering a few questions for today's blog... and here we go: (btw: I tried to find a different picture of Beth and I to share, but most are blackmail material and probably should be kept off the net... for now)

So Beth, you wrote one hot hero in your debut, NOT WITHOUT HER FAMILY. He's the ultimate sexy good boy. Wanna share a little about what your inspiration was for Jack Martin?

First, thanks for thinking Jack's sexy - I find him quite sexy myself! Actually, I started with Kelsey, my heroine. She's a reformed troublemaker--or at least, that's what she'd like people to believe *g* So I knew I wanted a hero who would give her a run for her money, who would really force her to grow and evolve into the person she's meant to be, the person she's been hiding behind her sarcastic wit and tough girl persona. And I came up with Jack *g* He's a by-the-book police chief to her rebellious bad girl. I wanted him to be controlled and just a real steady arrow. Someone who knows what they want, knows right from wrong but wasn't so rigid that he couldn't bend once in a while without breaking. The more I wrote, the more Jack evolved and that's where his sexiness sort of...leaked through into the story :-)

Hmmm... Jack leaked? Really? Okay, this image is killing me!

LOL - That's what you get for letting me answer questions after 9 pm -- Leaking heroes ;-)

And Kelsey - OMG I love her! She's such a total smart-alek, yet so vulnerable. How did you manage to balance those distinctive traits so well?

It was tough. I've written several snarky heroines and to be honest, it took me a few tries before I was able to soften Kelsey enough to make her empathetic without having her lose her edge. I realized if Kelsey said something harsh or smart-aleky (I think I just made up a word *g*) then I needed to show WHY she was acting that way. Out of fear? Insecurity? Anger? Defensiveness? Also, I had to make sure she didn't come across as mean or nasty (another tough trick) but mostly, I had to make sure she wasn't ALWAYS the wise-guy. She has moments, especially around Jack's daughter, where she lets her guard down and her vulnerabilities show.

This is so hard to get across, too. I remember how many times we... I mean, you reworked Kelsey to bring those vulnerabilities to the surface. And as the writer (and CP, ahem), I know you KNEW the reasons behind her smart-alekiness (to take off with your word *g*) but bringing those reasons out for readers to see. What was it that made you aware that Kelsey needed a little softening? I know it wasn't CP input since I adored her rough edges *g*.

Hey, don't try to get out of it - you were with me every step of the way with this story *g* And I adored Kelsey's rough edges too which was why it was so hard to see that she needed softening a bit. Luckily, I had an editor explain to me that she came across as a bit...harsh and if I took her rough edges too far, she'd become unlikable. My current editor helped me see that sometimes taking out a single sentence can make all the difference. So even though I thought Kelsey was hilarious and witty, taking out some of her zingers and one-liners really made all the difference in how she comes across. I've definitely learned to take the adage Less Is More to heart with my writing :-)

Great adage and what a solid writing tip for us all! Now, I have to ask: Jack’s daughter Emma almost steals the story. You have a way of writing kids that keeps them real, but still makes them adorable (not saying real and adorable aren't synonymous with kids, but... well, hmmm.) Did you worry about her taking over?

LOL - Emma was so much fun to write! And yes, sometimes real kids aren't so adorable (as we know since we have real kids *g*) I didn't worry about her taking over until it was pointed out to me that she needed to be...toned down a bit. But really, to me, kids do have a way of stealing the spotlight in real life - especially one like Emma. They're just very hard to ignore :-)

So true! And she did have a hottie for a daddy. How hard was it to create a flipped stereotype - single father hero with a fear of kids heroine?

Creating the flipped stereotype was very easy for me because I knew Kelsey so well that I knew the idea of being around kids would freak her out. (Again, what better way to torture her than to pair her with a single father? I'm so mean to my characters *g*) With her background, she knew nothing about kids, nothing about being a mother so adding Emma into the mix also added another conflict to keeping Jack and Kelsey apart.

So lets talk about this mean thing. I keep hearing rumor that you're intimidating and mean (and not just to your characters). Do you really think it through like that - here is my character and here are her deepest fears... now lets find the absolute worst person for her --in her mind-- and bring them together?

Hey, who says I'm mean? Besides my kids, that is *ggg* And yes, you nailed it perfectly - that's exactly how I think it through. For example, in Not Without Her Family, Kelsey's brother Dillon and Jack's sister Allie are friends. Now, I think some people would like to see Dillon and Allie get together but the fact is, there's no reason for them to have a story. They have no conflict, no chemistry except that they're friends, he's a sexy bad boy and she's a gorgeous good girl. But that's it. So, for Dillon's story, I paired him up with the worst woman in town for him. Honestly, I torture the poor guy (and believe me, he was already tortured enough before I started his story *g*) but the end result, his happily ever after, is so worth it. At least, I hope it's worth it!

Ahem... methinks it’s you who keeps claiming to be mean, but I'm usually laughing so I might be mistaken.

Hey, it's not my fault you're not the least bit intimidated by me. I'd think my angry face would scare you right out of your socks :-)

LOL – you keep saying that and I just keep laughing. Maybe you should get a whip or something?

So, okay, back to it... I think, IMHO, your characters are the strength of your writing. They are so multi-dimensional and real that they jump off the pages. And yet you can distill them -their essence, lets say - down to a simple archetype description. How DO you do that?

Oh, thank you! That's wonderful to hear because I consider myself a very character driven writer. I start with an idea of who my character is and once that character has really gelled in my mind, I go through and figure out their archetype. I then use what I've learned to amp up their internal conflict and to give myself an idea as to how they might handle certain situations.

Can you expand on archetypes a little? Tell us more about the concept?

Uh...no? *g*

Kidding. Boy, you're really making me work, huh? Well, I'm far from an archetype expert but from what I've learned, an archetype is a person's personality, their characteristics. It's a way to get to the heart of a character. I use The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines by Tami Cowden, Caro LaFever and Sue Viders and I'm currently reading a book you recommended, 45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt. Both books give the archetype, the archetype's virtues and flaws as well as examples of each archetype. Once I've decided which archetype my character is (although sometimes they're a combination) I use the virtues and flaws to help decide on what their internal conflict will be and how they'll react to any given situation. I use it to get a good feel for my characters but honestly, once I start writing and get to know the characters as people, I let their individual personality take over instead of their archetype.

Clear as mud, eh? ;-)

LOL – Isn’t it fun trying to explain your writing process? Thank you for humoring me and answering all these questions... even if you did make a few threats along the way.
So, because Beth rocks, we're gonna celebrate her debut by me giving away her book *g*


In Not Without Her Family, there's a scene where Kelsey uses her favorite stand-by cookie recipe to help Jack and Emma out of a jam. What's your favorite go-to recipe, the one that never fails to impress at family picnics or neighborhood potlucks? Whether it's your mother's chocolate bundt cake, your own secret recipe crab dip or a tray of cookies from your local grocery store's bakery, we want to know! Share and Beth will choose one name to win a copy of NOT WITHOUT HER FAMILY!!

Embrace Your Inner Grinch

posted by Aunty Cindy

What a week we've had in the Lair! After having no less than THREE great guest bloggers, today you have to come back to reality with a post from me.

Louder, I can't hear you... BAH HUMBUG!
That's more like it. Excuse me while I turn the blog Grinchy green. I know, I know, Hanukkah only started 2 days ago, Christmas is still a couple of weeks away and Kwanzaa one day after that, but ENOUGH ALREADY! Please join me while I embrace my inner Grinch.

I've heard enough Christmas carols. Ever notice how certain songs get played TO DEATH over certain holiday seasons? Like about a dozen years ago when the Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer craze hit? I swear I heard that song at least once every hour from the day after Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve, and if I NEVER hear it again, it will be too soon. I mean, come on, what little charm the ditty had was lost halfway through the second hearing. And honestly, is a song about matricide amusing?

I think not.

Then there was Feliz Navidad. Maybe this was just in California when we were trying to get back to our Hispanic roots or something, but a few years ago every time I turned around I was treated to Feliz Navidad, which is cute and catchy... Up until about the nineteenth time. After that I was ready to stomp on Jose Feliciano's dark glasses and give him a swift kick in the culo.

This year, they are out to ruin what used to be one of my favorites, the Carol of the Bells, thanks to that uber-annoying TV commercial.

MAKE IT STOP!

NOW!

And while I'm in full Grinch mode, let's make a deal with the presents. I'll give you nothing but cash or gift cards and YOU do the same for me.

I used to think giving money was a TOTAL COP OUT. This stems from the year my son was three and the week before Christmas, I got a card and a check from my Mother-In-Law saying, "Sorry, I didn't have time to shop. YOU do it for me." WTF?!?!?! I had a part-time retail job and a toddler! (she had neither) I was already DONE with my shopping. But have you tried to explain to a three year old why he has no presents from Grandma and Grandpa? So out to the Mall I went, snarling all the way!

This no giving cash for presents lasted until my Lovely Child was in his late teens and I bought him a boom box for Christmas. After he tore through the ribbons and wrapping paper, he curled back his lip and snarled, "This isn't what I wanted." Guess what his present has been every year since? Right, a cute little check with Merry Xmas written on the notation line in the corner. If I'm feeling extra festive, I write it with red ink.

I really hope my friends have taken the hint, especially the one who gave me the knife block a few years back. I know, I know, what is so bad about one of those huge blocks of wood bristling with about a dozen different sized knives? Probably nothing except for two small details: 1.I DO NOT COOK (and yes, the friend knew this fact) so why would I need a dozen or more knives? 2. She bought me THE EXACT SAME knife block the Christmas before!

So please, do we have a deal on the presents issue? PLEASE?

Finally, there's the whole Holiday Goodies extravaganza...
Wait a minute, I actually LIKE that! Well, except for the I do not cook part. Notice I didn't say I don't know how to cook, because contrary to popular rumor, I do. And just to prove it, I'll include my super simple recipe for cream cheese cookies.

But first... GET GRINCHY WITH AUNTY! Tell me what bugs you most about the holidays. One commenter will win a cool Hawaiian Christmas Ornament, a nifty Bon Voyage purse calendar, and some Alaska Post It notes.

Aunty's Easy Cream Cheese Cookies

1 boxed cake mix (Devil's Food, of course! But Lemon is also very good.)
1 8 oz. brick of cream cheese (go with the light version if you are trying to pretend you're eating healthy)
1 stick of margarine (ditto with the above)
1 egg

Soften the cream cheese and margarine slightly (try NOT to nuke it into goo)
and mix them together
Stir in the egg (sans the shell please!)
Pour in the cake mix about a half cup at a time and keep stirring until the whole thing is mixed together.
Stick the bowl in the fridge for about an hour so that the cream cheese/margarine firms back up (this may take longer if you nuked it too much)
Drop rounded tablespoons full on a non-stick cookie sheet (or three, and try not to consume too much of the dough before you bake it, quality control notwithstanding)
Bake at 350 for about ten minutes (or until the edges look done)

ENJOY! And HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Holiday Gift to You!

by Suzanne Welsh

This year the Bandits are celebrating our first holiday season as a blog group. We talked in private how we could celebrate with you, our guests and readers. We decided to share some of our favorite traditions or foods with you. So starting today and ending with Boxing Day, December 26th, we'll have some of those favorite recipes for you to try, some great memories and stories to share with you, as well as some fabulous guests.

Every year after Thanksgiving I begin baking for the Christmas season. It's a tradition with my family that Mom is baking a new cookie or treat almost daily. Last year I'd injured my shoulder moving a patient and my husband realized that the stirring motion needed to make cookie dough was now impeded. So he bought me a new Kitchen Aid stand mixer..."so the kids can have their Christmas Cookies." Yeah right. Anyway, he saved the holiday season.

Here's the list that fluctuates depending on my mood and schedule:

Chocolate Mint Cookies

Buckeye Candy

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Coconut Jam Thumbprints

Mexican Wedding Cakes (for hubby)

M and M Cookies made with green and red M and Ms

Peanut Butter Blossoms with Hershey Kisses

White Chocolate and Cranberry cookies

Raspberry Filled Pastries

Oatmeal Scotchies

and Cookie Cutter Sugar cookies my daughter ices with butter cream frosting.

The following recipe is one I actually make twice over the holidays. It's my kids' favorite, as well as several of their friends. The first batch always disappears quickly. My gift to all of you!

CHOCOLATE MINT COOKIES

I received this recipe while working at THE Ohio State University’s L&D unit. It became an instant hit with my family and a staple of every Christmas celebration from that time on.

Ingredients:
¾ cup butter
1 ½ cups firmly packed Dark Brown Sugar
2 TBS. Water
1 package semi sweet chocolate chips
2 large eggs
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 ¼ tsp. Baking soda
½ tsp. Salt
Green chocolate mint wafers, (Andes). About 1 pound.

Directions:

Heat butter, sugar and water in a large heavy saucepan over low heat until butter is melted. Add chocolate chips, stirring until partially melted. Remove from heat and continue stirring until chocolate is completely melted. Pour into a large mixer bowl and let stand about 10 minutes until slightly cool.

With mixer at medium speed, beat eggs in one at a time. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients, beating just until blended. Refrigerate at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with foil. Roll tsp of dough into balls, place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake 12-13 minutes. Cookies will appear soft. DO NOT COOK ANY LONGER.

Remove from oven and immediately place mint on each hot cookie. Let soften, then swirl mint over cookies to frost. (You can use the tip of a spoon or a toothpick.) Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU!

So is there a favorite food you have to have for the holidays or your celebration won't be the same?