Steamy #Romance + a #Haunting #Mystery for the #4thofJuly = Fireworks! #FourthofJuly #Books #FridayReads Cape Cod #ghosts + #Recipe

A dangerous ghost & an ex-boyfriend
await psychic Claire Linden in
Cape Cod's GULL HARBOR...

Who's ready for the Fourth of July celebrations?  Here on Cape Cod, the summer season officially kicks off this weekend, and things get a bit hectic!  As usual, we have a house full of guests, and plans for the beach, cookouts, and fireworks.  And while on the beach, I'll be doing my favorite thing - reading!  If you need a great page-turning beach read for the holiday, try GULL HARBOR - a spooky ghost mystery mixed with steamy second-chance romance, set here on Cape Cod's National Seashore.  A #1 Amazon and #1 B&N Bestseller with plenty of heat-filled scenes to balance out the ones that will send a chill up your spine!

To get into the "spirit" of the weekend (haha, see what I did there?), I'm posting both one of my favorite recipes for contributions to cook-outs, and a short excerpt from Gull Harbor - part of a scene where Max and Claire stop fighting their attraction and enjoy a picnic on the beach. Max still can't share his reasons for abandoning her so long ago, but psychic medium Claire is dealing with a very disturbing haunting, and she finds herself leaning on her former boyfriend for support.  And Max still feels the need to take care of her, even after all these years - so he's brought lunch for her from the local tavern he owns.  This scene sets up their date for the 4th of July - and there are plenty of fireworks on that night - overhead and between the two former lovers!  

A little teaser from later that night...🎇💖

           “A picnic on the beach is perfect.  It’s better than dinner and a movie.”

            He held out his glass, touching it to hers.  “To our first date.”  His eyebrows pulled together behind his sunglasses.  “That sounds strange, given our history.”

            She smiled as she sipped.  “We were never what you’d call traditional, anyway.”

            “How’s this for traditional—let me take you to see the fireworks on Wednesday night.  I know you’ll be at Dan’s cook-out for dinner, but I think I’ll be okay to leave the tavern by 7:30 or so.  Can I come and steal you away?”  He leaned back on one elbow and flashed her a lazy grin.  “There’s a great spot to watch them from over by the lake.  It’s very secluded; none of the tourists even know how to find the trail to get there.”

            A flood of heat that had little to do with the warm July sun surged through her.  How was it that this man aroused her so?  She could feel the sexual tension between them, thick and heady.  “I’d love that,” she said softly, dipping her head down to hide her flushed cheeks.  

Want to keep reading?  Or, you can listen now as well--Gull Harbor is an audio book too!  Links below:
Amazon -- Kindle, Print, Audible

iTunes -- e-book

iTunes -- audiobook
B&N -- Nook

And, as promised:

Recipe ~ Linguine with Tomatoes and Basil

1 lb Brie cheese, rind removed, torn into small pieces
4 vine-ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 cup fresh basil, torn into strips
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ pounds linguine
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine cheese, tomatoes, basil, EVOO, and garlic in a large bowl.  Cook pasta according to directions, drain and immediately add to bowl, tossing to allow cheese to begin melting.  Add salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Happy Reading and Happy 4th!

Holiday #Recipe ~ Rosemary Nut Mix #homemade #gifts #HappyHolidays #amblogging #food

I am not a crafty person.  I’m creative, in terms of dreaming up plot twists and developing characters, but the closest I usually get to designing gorgeous gifts or beautiful centerpieces is adding pictures I love with instructions I probably can’t follow to my Pinterest boards.  I’m in awe of people who have that kind of talent.

But I can follow simple recipes—emphasis on simple—and a few years ago, my sister-in-law, who always hosts Christmas with a dazzling display of gourmet foods and stunning decorations, served a nut mix that I just couldn’t get enough of.  And hey, it’s nuts—a good-for-you food, packed with protein, omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.  Even with the seasonings, it’s a healthy choice compared to most baked treats.

So I asked her for the recipe, and now around the holidays, I make huge batches to share with friends and family.  It’s both spicy and sweet, and—warning—highly addictive.  I buy cute jars with chalkboard labels to package them in and add little tags with a personal note.  If you’d like to give it a try, please find the recipe below!

2 ½ cups of assorted unsalted nuts.  I use cashews, almonds, walnuts, and pecans.

2 T fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped

½ t cayenne pepper.  Use less or leave out if you’re averse to spicy.

2 t dark brown sugar

2 t sea salt

1 T unsalted butter, melted

Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  Mix the remaining ingredients.  Toss the nuts with the mixture in a large bowl.  Enjoy!

A jar of these would make a great gift, maybe even paired with a book!  Reading is a proven stress-reliever, and we can all use that during the busy holiday season.  It’s easy to gift an e-book to someone via email, and it often costs less than the price of a card!  My latest novel is The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, a ghost mystery/romantic suspense that recently won the RONE Award at InD’Tale Magazine for Best Paranormal 2019!  This title was also named Best Romantic Suspense of 2018 by N.N. Light’s Book Heaven Reviews, one of the Top 3 Best Books of 2019 at Read Free.ly, and a Top 40 Pick of the Best Paranormal Romances of all time at Reedsy.  If you--or readers on your list--enjoy some spooky suspense mixed with romance, please check out the blurb below!  (This title along with others also available as an audio book!)

A dangerous ghost brings them together...
but will they survive long enough to find happiness?

After tragedy strikes, Callie Sinclair is left with a gift she never wanted—the ability to communicate with ghosts. But when a desperate widow begs for her help, she reluctantly agrees to investigate the strange occurrences at Hillwood Farm. She quickly realizes she’s dealing with a dangerous presence beyond anything she’s ever experienced, and something else becomes equally clear—the only other living person in the house, Mrs. Turner’s handsome grandson, thinks she’s a scam artist. While she’d prefer to just ignore him, her heart beats a little faster every time he’s nearby.

Luke Turner doesn’t believe in spirits. He’s moved back to restore the family farm, but living on the property serves a dual purpose—he can watch out for his grandmother. He’s not happy about the sudden appearance of a self-described psychic, or his inexplicable attraction to her. His initial suspicions crumble as evidence points to an actual haunting, but he’s still determined not to fall for Callie—the past has taught him it’s best to avoid relationships.

As Callie is drawn deeper into the mystery, she becomes the target of a vengeful spirit, and Luke can no longer fight his feelings for her. Unable to resist their desire, passion ignites…even as the paranormal activity escalates to a final deadly confrontation.

Steamy + Haunting Read + a #Recipe for #4thofJuly! #FourthofJuly Cape Cod #IndependenceDay

Cape Cod National Seashore

Who's ready for the Fourth of July celebrations?  Here on Cape Cod, the summer season officially kicks off this weekend, and things get a bit hectic!  As usual, we have a house full of guests, and plans for the beach, cookouts, and fireworks.  And while on the beach, I'll be doing my favorite thing - reading!  If you need a great page-turning beach read for the holiday, try GULL HARBOR - a spooky ghost mystery mixed with steamy second-chance romance, set here on Cape Cod's National Seashore.  A #1 Amazon and B&N Bestseller with plenty of heat-filled scenes to balance out the ones that will send a chill up your spine!

A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await Claire in Cape Cod's Gull Harbor...

To get into the "spirit" of the weekend (haha, see what I did there?), I'm posting both one of my favorite recipes for contributions to cook-outs, and a short excerpt from Gull Harbor - part of a scene where Max and Claire stop fighting their attraction and enjoy a picnic on the beach. Max still can't share his reasons for abandoning her so long ago, but psychic medium Claire is dealing with a very disturbing haunting, and she finds herself leaning on her former boyfriend for support.  And Max still feels the need to take care of her, even after all these years - so he's brought lunch for her from the local tavern he owns.  This scene sets up their date for the 4th of July - and there are plenty of fireworks on that night - overhead and between the two former lovers!  

           “A picnic on the beach is perfect.  It’s better than dinner and a movie.”

            He held out his glass, touching it to hers.  “To our first date.”  His eyebrows pulled together behind his sunglasses.  “That sounds strange, given our history.”

            She smiled as she sipped.  “We were never what you’d call traditional, anyway.”

            “How’s this for traditional—let me take you to see the fireworks on Wednesday night.  I know you’ll be at Dan’s cook-out for dinner, but I think I’ll be okay to leave the tavern by 7:30 or so.  Can I come and steal you away?”  He leaned back on one elbow and flashed her a lazy grin.  “There’s a great spot to watch them from over by the lake.  It’s very secluded; none of the tourists even know how to find the trail to get there.”

            A flood of heat that had little to do with the warm July sun surged through her.  How was it that this man aroused her so?  She could feel the sexual tension between them, thick and heady.  “I’d love that,” she said softly, dipping her head down to hide her flushed cheeks.  

A little teaser from later that night...

Want to keep reading?  Or, you can listen now as well--Gull Harbor is an audio book too!  Links below:
Amazon -- Kindle, Print, Audible

iTunes -- e-book

iTunes -- audiobook
B&N -- Nook

And, as promised:

Recipe ~ Linguine with Tomatoes and Basil

1 lb Brie cheese, rind removed, torn into small pieces
4 vine-ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 cup fresh basil, torn into strips
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ pounds linguine
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine cheese, tomatoes, basil, EVOO, and garlic in a large bowl.  Cook pasta according to directions, drain and immediately add to bowl, tossing to allow cheese to begin melting.  Add salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Happy Reading and Happy 4th!

A #Free #Book of "Hacks" for the Holidays! #Recipes #Christmas #Lifehacks

Every year, my publisher offers a free recipe book, as a gift to our readers, filled with contributions from the authors of The Wild Rose Press.  We vote on different themes each year, and we've offered Garden Gourmet collections featuring easy meals and snacks, international recipes, cookies and cocktails, and healthy recipes in the past...these books are still available, for free, on our website!  This year, we did something a little different...our "recipes" for Garden Gourmet 2017 are actually "hacks" - shortcuts or tricks to make tasks more simple, whether they involve cooking, cleaning, or just life in general.

So grab you free ebook here: A Holiday of Hacks, and discover some new ways to save time and effort!  You can easily check out on our website via Amazon, and we offer downloads for Kindle (mobi), Nook (epub), and for your laptop (pdf).

Here are the previous years' recipe books as well...Enjoy!  Happy Holidays!


2016 Holiday Garden Gourmet ~ Comfort Foods

2015 Holiday Garden Gourmet ~ Cookies and Cocktails

2014 Holiday Garden Gourmet ~ Quick and Easy

2013 Holiday Garden Gourmet ~ International

Also, if you're looking for simple recipes for goodies that can serve as edible gifts, check out my go-to: Rosemary Nut Mix.  

#Free Holiday #Recipe Book from the Authors of #TWRP

Every December, my publisher's marketing director takes on an additional challenge - putting together the annual holiday recipe book, a gift for our readers.  The authors vote on a theme, and then contribute recipes within the various categories.  This year's theme is comfort food, and we'd love to share our tried and tested favorites with you!  The electronic version is free, all you need is an account at our online store, which is easy to create if you don't have one yet.  Our categories are listed below, along with the link to get your free recipe book - I hope you enjoy the 2016 Holiday Garden Gourmet!

Click here to download your free recipe book!

Categories:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Soups & Stews

Breads, Biscuits, & Muffins

Salads & Sides

Desserts

Cookies & Bars

#Free Cookies + Cocktails #Recipe Book! Holiday #Baking #TWRP

Every December, my publisher puts out a free gift--the annual "Holiday Garden Gourmet" Recipe Book.  In the fall, our marketing directer puts out the call for ideas for themes, and the authors of The Wild Rose Press vote.  This year, we came up with "Cookies and Cocktails"--the perfect combo for celebrating with family and friends this season (not to mention a few of my favorite things!).

Free Download!

The authors offer up with original recipes, often passed down through the family, and contribute to the book, which is then offered on our website as a free pdf download.  You can find it right here: Cookies and Cocktails.

While you're there, you can check out the offerings from previous years in our Free Reads section, as they are still available for download.  Last year's theme was quick and easy meals.  I've contributed every year since my first book came out, in 2012.  This year, I share my family's Holiday Rum Punch recipe.  Christmas brunch didn't feel complete without it, and my siblings even gave me a beautiful glass punch bowl as a wedding gift so I could continue the tradition.

A dangerous ghost & an ex-boyfriend await psychic medium
Claire Linden in Cape Cod's GULL HARBOR

And don't forget that reading is a healthy way to reduce stress, which seems to go hand-in-hand with the holidays.  My novels are a page-turning mix of haunting suspense and steamy romance, so consider downloading the #1 Kindle Bestseller GULL HARBOR for when you have a little downtime!  My other titles include SILVER LAKE and the Young Adult paranormal romance DIVINE FALL, with the new HAUNTED SOULS on the way.  Happy Holidays!

A good book and a glass of wine - bliss!

Friday #Fitness - 7 Day Detox Challenge #nutrition #health

While I usually cover topics pertaining to my writing career on this blog, occasionally on Fridays I dedicate a post to fitness, my other passion.  I've been a group exercise instructor and personal trainer for 25 years, and along with that comes an interest in eating healthy in order to fuel my body.  But of course, eating healthy isn't always fun--it isn't even always possible--and I allow my cravings to get the better of me more than I care to admit.  So when the head trainer at our gym suggested a (voluntary) 7-day "detox" for employees and members interested in cleansing their system after summer indulgences, I decided to join in.  Misery loves company, after all, and at least this way I would have the support of a group!

Then I saw the instructions:  (side note:*I am not a doctor--check with one before a cleanse*)


• No alcohol
• No added sugar of any kind (includes anything that ends in “ose”, agave ,honey, maple syrup, artificial sweeteners such as stevia and truvia)
• No dairy (includes whey protein)
• No grains or gluten (includes bread, rice, wheat, oats or gluten free snack foods)
• No canola oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or grapeseed oil
• No legumes (any beans or peanuts or peanut butter)
* Only healthy fats, nuts and seeds, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil

* Try and eat foods that are antibiotic-free, organic, wild caught, and grass-fed
* Fruit is allowed
* A gallon of water a day

I admit, I balked a bit.  It's so restrictive!  But we all told ourselves we could do anything for 7 days, and I'm proud to say that today is Day 5, and aside from breaking down and pouring some skim milk in my coffee, I've stayed strong.  It was especially hard on Tuesday, when we found out my son's mysterious fever was in fact mononucleosis, and he would not be able to play soccer for weeks, which was a huge blow for him.  I was so upset I could not fall asleep, and the little voice in my head suggested I go get a glass of wine.  But I resisted, and while I will admit the first few days of this detox made me feel horrible (apparently that's a normal response as the body cleanses itself), I do feel much better now.  And once I get to Day 7, I know I'll add things back with a greater attention to ingredients and nutritional value.

So what did I eat?  Here are some of the things I've relied on to get through this:      

I made an egg bake to eat all week for breakfast: - greased a casserole pan with coconut oil, mixed eggs, onions, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes and baked until firm.  Would have been better with cheese but all in all it was not bad.

To have a snack ready to heat up, I made a casserole of roasted veggies: eggplants, sweet potatoes, red onions, and butternut squash, tosssed with olive oil and rosemary.  Quite delicious!

I had bags of salad ready to go, which I garnished with black olives, chicken strips, and sesame seeds or almond slivers.  Olive oil and balsamic dressing.

Since mayo was not allowed, I mixed drained tuna with avocado.  Really good, if you can get past the green color!

I made plain ground turkey and mixed it with fresh salsa, with carrot sticks and cucumbers dipped in fresh guacamole as a side.

Stir-fry became a staple, and I did lots of chicken, peapods, peppers, and mushrooms in sesame oil.

For snacks, I did almond butter on apple slices, deli turkey wrapped around dill pickles, assorted nuts, and fresh fruit smoothies.  And lots and lots of water, per the guide!

I'm glad I've stuck with it in order to give my body a chance to get rid of the toxins it absorbed over a very busy and fun summer!  But I'll admit I'm looking forward to that first glass of wine...at least it's a natural product, right?  Two days to go!

Homemade #Christmas Gifts - Rosemary Nut Mix #Recipe

I am not a crafty person.  I'm creative, in terms of dreaming up intricate plots and developing characters, but the closest I get to designing gorgeous gifts or beautiful centerpieces is adding pictures I love with instructions I know I can't follow to my Pinterest boards.  I'm in awe of people who have that kind of talent.

But I *can* follow simple recipes, and last year my sister-in-law, who always hosts Christmas with a dazzling display of gourmet food and stunning displays, served a nut mix that I just couldn't get enough of.  And hey, it's nuts--a good for you food, packed with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.  Even with the seasoning, it's a better choice than baked goods filled with refined flour and sugar.

So this year, I asked her for the recipe, and I made huge batches to send to friends and family.  It's both spicy and sweet, and--warning--highly addictive.  I bought cute jars with chalkboard labels to package them in, and I sent them out to the people I won't be able to see over the holidays.  Here's her recipe, in case you want to try it:

Love these cute
chalkboard jars!

2 1/2 cups of assorted unsalted nuts - I used cashews, almonds, walnuts, and pecans

2 T fresh coarsely chopped rosemary - luckily, I have a rosemary plant on my patio!

1/2 t cayenne pepper - use less or leave out if you're adverse to spicy

2 t dark brown sugar

2 t sea salt

1 T melted (unsalted) butter

Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  Mix the remaining ingredients.  Toss the nuts with the mixture in a large bowl.

Yes, that easy!  Enjoy :)

And remember - reading is the ultimate stress-reliever, so if you need a good book (at a great price) to help de-stress during the holiday rush, try my new Young Adult Paranormal Romance for 99 cents - relive first love and lose yourself in supernatural secrets and suspense!

DIVINE FALL KINDLE

DIVINE FALL NOOK

#Free #Recipe Book from the Authors of #TWRP

Every year, my awesome publisher, The Wild Rose Press, puts a call out to all our authors for contributions to the free holiday cookbook.  This year, our theme is "Quick and Easy"--something that's useful not just during the hectic holiday season, but pretty much every day of the year.

The book is broken down into Crockpot, No Bake, One Pot, Five or less Ingredients, and Thirty Minutes or less Preparation.  And, it's FREE!

To download, follow the link below to The 2014 Holiday Garden Gourmet and click the red Add ToYour Cart, create an account if you don't have one at TWRP (takes just seconds and no spam), and then hit download.  It comes in an Adobe file that can go on your Kindle or just right onto your laptop, which is what I did.  I'm looking through the recipes now, trying to decide what to try first!




Link to THE 2014 QUICK AND EASY HOLIDAY GARDEN GOURMET



And if you need some new reads, take advantage of the blanket 40% off our entire site!  That puts my debut novel, SILVER LAKE, at the bargain price of $1.79, and it can easily be put onto a Kindle, iPad, or Nook.  There's something for everyone in this romance/ghost story: A haunted lake house, a rekindled first love, a reunion of friends, and secrets from the past.  Can Jason protect Rain from a desperate spirit determined to expose the truth?

Happy Holidays from all of us at The Wild Rose Press!

Shaving Time Off Those Annoying "Must-Do" Tasks

What would I do
without coffee?

Everyone is busier than ever these days.  We’re connected 24/7 to our devices, so we rarely have an opportunity to be blissfully unaware of our obligations.  Plus, we’re all trying to balance busy schedules with family and/or free time, while not letting any of the balls we’re juggling drop.  Personally, I’m trying to manage a family that includes two teenage boys who take challenging classes and participate in multiple sports, plus my husband’s frequent business travels and the needs of our rescue pets.  Then there are my jobs: I teach fitness classes every morning, teach a writing class in the evenings, and somehow find time to write romance novels for a New York publisher.

It’s a lot to balance, and I’m always looking for ways to save time.  I’ve become very efficient through the years—doing two things at once is my specialty!  So I was inspired by the Dollar Shave Club’s "Shave Time/Shave Money" motto to come up with a post dedicated to the ways I shave time off of the stuff I have to do to make time for the things I want to do.

For me, trips to the grocery store are the biggest time suck.  My boys eat a ton, and I always seem to forget something.  That’s where the Dollar Shave Club comes in, because razors are not something on my radar when I’m shopping for lunches and dinners for everyone.  But three out of four of us in this family shave--with the fourth to likely start soon--so it’s a literal pain when new blades are needed and the package is empty.  I’ve linked the website—you can get new razors monthly, or every other month, for as low as $1.00…one less thing to think of!

But, the grocery store is inevitable, and I really try to minimize the amount of time I spend there.  I write my list beforehand, organizing the order in terms of the layout of the store aisles.  I also keep a recipe box of coupons filed in the same order.  That way I can quickly pull out what I need to save money!  I also check the store’s website for the weekly sale items and try to plan meals around those offers.

Making dinners is another task I try to approach with as much efficiency as possible.  I purchase value packs of meat whenever possible and prepare several meals at once.  For example, I’ll cut up chicken breasts into smaller pieces, store them in a ziplock bag, and add a marinade.  I freeze that for a future date, and as it defrosts, it marinates.  Then I do one of my quick go-to meals for that night…one of my family’s favorites involves just putting sliced chicken breasts in a baking dish, smothering with bar-b-que sauce (I use Stubb’s – all natural and no corn syrup), and baking.  Easy!  I can throw some foil wrapped potatoes into the oven a little earlier as well to have everything ready at once.

The crockpot is also my friend.  Another favorite involves putting chicken breasts in along with a jar of salsa in the morning.  By evening, you have Mexican shredded chicken to use in tacos or on nachos.  You can see some of my time-saving (and fairly healthy!) recipes on my Pinterest board.

For makeup and skin care items, I look for items that do double duty.  For example, my foundation is a tinted, mattifying moisturizer that contains sunscreen.  I get coverage, sun protection, and shine control all in one.  I brush on loose mineral power that minimizes lines and absorbs excess oil, sweep some bronzer or blush over cheekbones and eyes, and add lip balm that contains both shimmer color and SPF.  Ready to go in less than 5 minutes!  For my husband, I get the Dr.Carver’s Post Shave, as it serves as an aftershave, a moisturizer, and contains antioxidants to fight aging.  Some of my favorite products are on my Health and Beauty Pinterest board.

I also spend A LOT of my time acting as a chauffeur for my kids.  When they are actually in the car with me, I use the time to get conversations going.  But of course that’s only possible for one direction—otherwise it’s just me in the car, headed to pick them up, or driving back home after dropping them off.  Since I absolutely love to read, I decided to use that time to find another way to enjoy books.  My to-be-read list is enormous, so any book on the list that’s available as an audio download comes with me in the car.  That means I’m reading one book at home and listening to one book in the car, but as I said, I’m used to doing several things at once.  Often I’m reading up to three books at the same time.  Studies have shown that reading is one of the best stress-reducers there is—what busy mom doesn’t need that?

My favorite reading spot...can't
you just feel the stress melting away?

 

 

My goal has always been to write books that people can get lost in…engaging reads that provide suspense, mystery, and romance to keep the pages turning.  Writing is my passion, but it also takes a lot of time to write a quality novel.  Using the tips above help allow me to keep everything running smoothly so I can do what I love.  What are your tips to save time?  Feel free to share below in the comments section – I’m always looking for new ideas!

Friday #Fitness 7 - White Foods and #Nutrition

I have two very disparate jobs: I write paranormal romance novels, and I teach fitness classes.  I'm passionate about both, though, and I try to highlight a fitness or health topic at least once a month for my Friday Fitness feature.  And part of a healthy lifestyle is good nutrition.  Now, I'm not above diet sodas, dark chocolate, and pinot grigio.  But I do try to educate myself and make good choices as much as possible.

Most everyone knows processed white foods are not great choices.  By "white foods," then, I'm referring to processed and refined grains and sugar.  Obviously, cauliflower is a different story.

I grew up on pasty white bread sandwiches.  And we always had white pasta and rice as well.  So I wondered, when, exactly, did the food industry decide to strip all the nutrients from grains?  And why?

Well, not surprisingly, it comes down to convenience and profit.  Seeds and husks are difficult to chew and digest.  Early humans crushed or ground the seeds to make it easier - the result was essentially a coarse whole grain flour.  But, crushing the germ releases oils, which cause rapid spoilage.

So in the late 1800s, people began using machines to remove the germ and the bran, and consequently, the nutrients and fiber.  Even "whole grain" flour is not immune - the approved definition of this term is sketchy.  It's been processed, generally, and restored to the same ratio of elements you'd find in its original state.

Aside from the lack of nutritional value, refined and processed white foods lead to overeating.  Why?  Well, they taste good, for one thing.  And they are easy to chew and digest, which means it is easy to eat too much before your body realizes you're full.  A lack of fiber means you're less full.  Your body absorbs the food quickly, blood sugar spikes, and hunger returns a few hours later. 

We need carbs - they're essential for energy.  But there are tons of good carbs to choose from!  Fruits, veggies, nuts, legumes, brown rice, etc.  As a general rule, I try to go for the foods that are closest to their original form.  That way, when I indulge in a treat, I know I'm not throwing myself completely off-track. 

In a strange twist, my two passions came together when my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, chose "Healthy Recipes" as a theme for our 2012 annual recipe book.  Each December, authors of TWRP contribute their favorite recipes, based on the year's theme.  Our marketing department then compiles them into a pdf file, which is offered FREE on our website.  If you'd like to download the Healthy Recipe collection, all you need to do is register (also free) and download A Healthy Garden Gourmet.  You can pick up some other (more recent, still free) recipe books as well while you're there!  

Another great resource for healthy cooking inspiration is Pinterest!  Here's my recipe board if you're looking for ideas.  Happy Friday!

Sale and Freebies at The Wild Rose Press!

If you've been cooking, cleaning, and shopping, or by chance dealing with family drama, you deserve a treat for YOURSELF!  All digital titles at The Wild Rose Press are on sale this weekend, including Silver Lake, my paranormal romance:  http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_139&products_id=4973

Lose yourself in a ghost story/love story with an irresistible hero and a suspenseful, spooky mystery.  In addition, The Wild Rose Press has put together a collection of healthy recipes which can be downloaded for FREE - our holiday gift to you:   http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=5080 A Healthy Holiday Garden Gourmet has all kinds of good-for-you meals submitted by the authors of The Wild Rose Press.

Enjoy!