Lyn Cote Asks: Need to Add More Flavor to your Meat Dishes?

 Now this blog is not for vegans so BE WARNED! But I am a meat-eater and living in the Midwest, most of us are. A few years ago, I stumbled onto a great 

BEEF MARINADE. 

For a 2-3 lb beef roast or chuck steak:

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil 

1 tablespoon ketchup 

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/2 teaspoon oregano 

1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper

Mix together and pour over meat. You can marinade the meat overnight in this OR just pour it over the meat and pop it in the oven to roast. I did that last night. 

I always got compliments when I use this marinade.

And I thought what if I used it for other meats? So I experimented and came up with the

PORK MARINADE

1 tablespoon olive oil

 2 teaspoon soy sauce 

2 teaspoons ketchup 

1 teaspoon mustard 

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper

I added mustard because somehow the sweetness of pork calls for it.

But I wasn't done!

CHICKEN MARINADE

2 tablespoons olive oil 

1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce 

1 teaspoon ketchup 

1 teaspoon mustard 

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper

I switched to teriyaki sauce because it is lighter and "fits" chicken.

I hope you try these. They have served me well!

If you'd like to download my free short story collection, "Two Seasons of Romance" and subscribe to my monthly newsletter, click here. (One of these stories was published in Woman's World magazine.

A good for you bone broth soup by Kristin Wallace

Eating healthy isn't always easy. (I don't succeed much of the time.) However, I did find a soup recipe that is really delicious and super healthy. It uses something called bone broth, and it's very easy to make. If you're trying to cleanse your system, lose some weight, or you're following the Keto diet, it's also good for that.

Easy Bone Broth Soup

Ingredients:

Chicken bone broth (you can make your own but I buy the boxed kind you can get in the soup aisle. I usually get Swanson brand)

Cauliflower rice (you can make your own using fresh cauliflower and a food processor or buy a frozen package)

Cup of diced carrots 

Can of peas (drained)

Can of Cannellini beans (drained)

1/2 cup of parsley

Teaspoon of thyme

Olive oil

Directions:

In a large pot, sautee the carrots and cauliflower rice with a little bit of olive oil. You can also add diced onion if you like it. Cook on medium-high heat for about 8 minutes or until the carrots get softer. 

Pour in the whole box of chicken bone broth

Add the peas, Cannellini beans, parsley & thyme. Stir and bring to a boil. 

Lower to a simmer. Cover the soup and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

You are DONE!

If you want more protein, you can add cooked chicken, either chunks or shredded. I use the prepared rotisserie chicken you can get from the deli section of the store. 

See...wasn't that easy? And it's so good! 

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational romance and women’s fiction filled with Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith. She is the author of the three best selling series, Shellwater Key Tales, Palm Cove Tales, and Covington Falls Chronicles. 

Chicken Noodle Soup For Your Taste Buds by Kristin Wallace

Everyone has been talking about food lately, with many of my fellow #SweetRomance authors sharing recipes. Yesterday was #NationalDoughnutDay. Is it a coincidence that a gourmet doughnut shop just opened within walking distance of my place? They make all these amazing flavors like the chocolate on chocolate with chocolate mousse filling pictured here. Plus, they had white chocolate, dulce de leche, cookies & cream, and key lime pie, among others. Is it a conspiracy to get me to eat more doughnuts? Maybe! 

 

However, I also want to show that I’m trying to eat healthier. Tonight I cooked homemade chicken noodle soup. It’s not my recipe. In fact, I stole it from my parents…who got it off the back of the chicken bouillon jar. It is DELICIOUS and so EASY to make!

Here’s the recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup. 

Start with chicken bullion. I like the “Better Than Bullion” brand for this recipe. It’s not a powder or cubes like some brands. It has more of a thick paste consistency so it’s creamier. 

Ingredients:

·       6 Tablespoons of chicken bouillon 

·       Half of a rotisserie chicken diced into small pieces (Note: You can use whatever chicken you want, but it does need to be cooked. Rotisserie chicken is easy as you can buy it cooked at the store. You can use more than half of the chicken, it just depends on how much you like)

·       8-10 cups (2 ½ quarts) of water

·       A package of frozen vegetables (I use 2 small bags, 1-corn and 1-mixed as I like a lot of corn and most frozen varieties either don’t have corn or only a very little. Use whatever veggies you like though.)

·       Egg noodles (This recipe says to use 6 ounces but I say screw that! The noodles are the best part! Use as much as you want!)

Directions:

·       Dissolve the bouillon in the water in a large pot

·       Add the chicken (diced), frozen vegetables, and egg noodles

·       Bring to a full boil

·       Lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the egg noodles are soft.

·      ENJOY!

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and sweet contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. Her latest book, SECOND CHANCE HERO (Palm Cove Tales), is available now.

   AMAZON  /  APPLE BOOKS  /  B&N   /   KOBO 

Lyn Cote here with a Crockpot Stuffing Recipe!

 

This is the view from my front porch.

Now onto FOOD!

  In my husband's opinion a Thanksgiving dinner can NOT have too much dressing or stuffing! So I stuff the bird and then fill the crockpot with more! Here is the recipe I've used for several years not. HOWEVER, I don't use the parsley, mushrooms or marjoram. So make your changes and additions and enjoy! Here's the link to the full recipe.

  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13571/slow-cooker-stuffing/?internalSource=hn_carousel%2002_Slow%20Cooker%20Stuffing&referringId=17290&referringContentType=recipe%20hub&referringPosition=carousel%2002

Don't forget my ebook Winter's Secret is free on all retailers. Here's the link:--Lyn

Press ⌘-c to copy

bit.ly/2yd1E--Lyn   

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe by Donna Fasano

 Here’s an easy side dish that’s delicious and good for you! It’s low-fat, low-calorie, and tastes SO incredible…you can’t ask for more than that. Use fresh Brussels sprouts for this recipe, not frozen.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

1 ½ pounds of fresh Brussels sprouts
1 teaspoon course salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
a misting of olive oil

Wash and prepare Brussels sprouts; trim off ends, pull off any yellowed or damaged outer leaves, and cut larger sprouts in half. Mist sprouts lightly with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and arrange in a single layer on a roasting pan. Roast in a 400º F (204º C) oven for 20-30 minutes or until sprouts are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Shake pan occasionally so sprouts brown evenly. Perfect for the vegans and vegetarians in your life.

~ ~ ~

Donna Fasano is a USA TODAY Bestselling author. Visit her on the web at her blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

The Magic of Scotland by Helen Scott Taylor

I love travelling vicariously through books and some of my favorite reads are those set in romantic places where the setting is brought to life so vibrantly it is nearly a character in the story.

I am one fourth Scottish and Scotland is a place I love to read about, especially the Highlands. (Can't beat men in kilts ☺)There is so much history there with the castles standing watch over the lochs and cloud-topped mountains. I've been researching this area for my latest Army Doctor's books and learned a lot about Scottish Mountain Rescue. These brave souls are all unpaid volunteers who have expertise in mountain climbing and winter sports. They often risk their lives to save others—true heroes.

I love visiting historic manor houses and castles. Luckily for me we have plenty of these dotted all over the UK. Many in England are owned and managed by the National Trust, but in Scotland I discovered that often the manor houses and castles are still owned by the aristocracy. They do something that I haven't come across in England (apart from Buckingham Palace), they live in the historic properties, but still open them to the public.

The last time I visited Scotland, a few years ago, my husband and I visited Floors Castle in the Scottish Borders, home to the Duke of Roxburghe. It was a strange experience walking around the castle and noticing the personal possessions of the family scattered around. One could easily imagine walking around the corner and bumping into the duke—great inspiration for a story!

Even the traditional Scottish faire sounds wonderful. Here's a recipe that particularly took my fancy.

Chicken in the Heather

Ingredients:
One whole chicken, minus giblets
Just under half a cup of light cooking oil
Half a cup of clear heather honey
Salt and pepper (freshly ground black pepper if you have it)
3 ounces of French mustard
Half teaspoon curry powder
One clove chopped garlic

Method:
Place the chicken in an oven-proof dish. Mix all the other ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Cover the dish and cook in a pre-heated oven at 375F/190C/Gas Mark 4 for an hour. Baste the chicken thoroughly with the juices and sauce and return to the oven for another half hour uncovered to brown. Serve with boiled or creamed potatoes and fresh vegetables.

~ * ~

 

Helen Scott Taylor won the American Title IV contest in 2008. Her winning book was published in 2009 to critical acclaim, and was a Booklist top ten romance for 2009. Since then, she has published other novels, novellas, and short stories in both the UK and USA. Helen's latest book is set in Scotland! The Army Doctor's New Year's Baby is #4 in her series. Helen lives in South West England near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast. As well as her wonderful, long-suffering husband, she shares her home with a Westie a Shih Tzu and a burmilla cat. Find Helen on FaceBook and Twitter, or visit her website.