Monday, December 24, 2012

Guest Post w/ Duffy Brown + giveaway (open CAN/US)!


OOoo yall it's almost Christmas!!! And we've got even MORE authors and giveaways for yall!

Today we've got Miss Reagan visiting us from down in Savannah, GA. She's the heroine of Duffy Brown's new book, Iced Chiffon, and she's gonna tell us all about doing Christmas...Savannah style!

There's a fabulous giveaway down at the bottom for some awesome tote bags too!

~~*~~*~~

Reagan's messy divorce has left her with nothing but a run-down Victorian and a bunch of designer clothes. Strapped for cash, Reagan makes use of the two things she has left, turning the first floor of her home into a consignment shop and filling it with the remnants of her rich-wife wardrobe.

Thans to his cunning lawyer, Walker Boone, her ex got everything else, including the Lexus--not to mention a young blonde cupcake. When Reagan finds the blonde dead in the Lexus, she's determined to beat Boone to finding the murderer. As it turns out, the gossip fiends flooding Reagan's shop can give her a lot more than just their unwanted clothes--they have information more precious than a vintage Louis Vuitton...

Get Your Copy: Amazon   B&N   BookDepository



Tales from Savannah, where guys are gentlemen, gals are belles, food is king and those of us from the Consignment Shop mysteries all hope to high-heaven someone doesn’t wind up dead before we open presents.


Reagan Summerside here and I’m gearing up for my favorite holiday…Christmas Savannah style.

It all starts with a lovely fresh-cut tree and a beautifully set table. KiKi uses the good china, crystal and best linens.  There’s turkey and dressing for sure, ham and red-eye gravy and AnnieFritz and her sister Elsie who live next door bring the best pecan pie you ever put in your mouth. It’s so good I’m going to share the recipe with you right here.



9” unbaked pie crust
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 eggs slightly beaten
1/3 cut butter melted
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup pecan halves (or walnuts)

Heat oven to 350. Combine corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, salt, vanilla and mix well. 

Pour into crust, sprinkle with nuts and bake for 50 min till knife comes out clean. Cool. Add whipped cream or a scoop of Leopold’s vanilla ice cream. J

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without mamma’s cornbread stuffing and this year I’m trying my hand at making the cranberry salad. I stole the recipe right out of Paula Deen’s kitchen.

     1/2 orange
     2 cups water
     1 tart apple
     3 cups cranberries
     1 1/4 cups sugar
     1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
     1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Squeeze the orange and set the juice aside. Cut the rind into pieces. Boil the rind and water for 10 minutes, then drain. Dice the apple add the cranberries along with the orange juice, orange rind, sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Boil, then simmer till the sauce thickens, the apple is tender and the cranberries have burst.

Uncle Putter who always has his nine-iron handy in case a golf ball drops from the sky and he has to save the planet by sinking a shot, says the blessing and then we each take a turn telling what we are most thankful for. This year I started the Prissy Fox consignment shop, found my new four-legged BFF, Bruce Willis under my front porch and discovered my ex’s finance wrapped up in plastic and dead as Lincoln. I’d say that’s a lot to be thankful for.

After dinner friends drop by. That no-good, low-rent lawyer Walker Boone will come visiting and mooch leftovers, that’s just his style.

It’s going to be a mighty fine Christmas here in Savannah, I’m sure. So what are your plans for Christmas or Hanukah? Do you have any favorite foods you’re looking forward to? A fav recipe you’d like to share that’s been passed down in your family?

~Merry Christmas from the Consignment Shop mystery regulars.



Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She has two cats, Spooky and Dr. Watson, and conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own for Berkley Prime Crime. Iced Chiffon, out October, 2012, is the first book in the Consignment: Murder series. Duffy writes romance as Dianne Castell and is a USA Today bestselling author.




Oooo today Ms Duffy is giving away TWO Iced Chiffon tote bags. I've got one and it's fabulous. 
I use the thing all the time :) This one's open to CAN/US only.

[With travels and spotty internet Duffy might not be able to come by but feel free to leave her some love. I'm sure she'd really enjoy that when she does get a chance to pop in :) ]

If anyone is interested in SWAG let me know!
Duffy will send some out and I've got some I can send to yall INT folks too!


Just answer Reagan's questions and fill out that Rafflecopter!

So what are your plans for Christmas? Did you do something for Hanukah? Do you have any favorite foods you’re looking forward to? A fav recipe you’d like to share that’s been passed down in your family?
a Rafflecopter giveaway

27 comments:

  1. As I read this I found myself back in Michigan where our family has a cottage and in Newaygo there is a little shop in an old Victorian that I absolutely fell in love with.

    We're gathering at my dad's (who sounds like Uncle Putter :) ) Christmas day for lunch and gifts. Turkey and stuffing are a must for me.

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  2. Ooh that looks so good. I'd totally write that down, but I'd probably end up messing it all up *le sigh* lol

    loved the post and Iced Chiffon sounds like a great read ^_^ Reagan, that's different. I like it :)

    Ana♥

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    Replies
    1. and I totally didn't answer the question lol.. my bad... hmm I'm mostly looking forward to spending time with the family :) we have no plans really, just hang out and chit chat. Maybe pull out the guitar and start singing. As for food... dessert? duh! lol. xD

      Ana♥

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  3. i'm looking forward the time with my family and i hope the hapiness when they open the presents i choose for them

    ^^ no family receipe but the traditional meal ^^ ( i can't wait for the "bûche de noel" in ice cream^^

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  4. We go to my husband's Grandmother's house on Christmas Day. She makes Heavenly Hash every year and it's so good! I'm not quite sure what all is in it because she won't tell me lol But I do have something my side of the family makes every year :-)

    ~~***Caramel Apple-Brownie Cheesecake***~~

    INGREDIENTS:

    3/4 cup chopped pecans
    2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
    1/2 cup granulated sugar
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    4 large eggs, divided
    1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
    1/2 cup butter, melted
    1 cup all-purpose flour
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    1 teaspoon baking powder
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1 1/2 cups peeled and diced Granny Smith apples

    DIRECTIONS:

    1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Sprinkle pecans over bottom of a greased and floured shiny 9-inch springform pan.
    2. Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until blended and smooth. Add 3 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
    3. Whisk together brown sugar, melted butter, and remaining egg in a large bowl until blended.
    4. Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to brown sugar mixture, and stir until blended. Stir in apples. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Carefully spoon cream cheese mixture over batter.
    5. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until set. Remove from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. (Do not remove sides of pan.) Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 2 hours). Transfer to a serving plate.
    6. Meanwhile, prepare Caramel Apple Topping and Caramel Sauce. Reserve 1 cup Caramel Sauce for another use. Spoon topping over cheesecake; drizzle with 1/2 cup Caramel Sauce.


    Caramel Apple Topping :

    1/4 cup butter
    1/2 cup sugar
    1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    5 large Granny Smith apples (about 2 1/2 lb.), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
    Preparation

    Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add sugar and lemon juice, and cook, stirring constantly with a long-handled wooden spoon, 5 to 6 minutes or until mixture turns a light golden brown. Add apple wedges. Cook, stirring often, 15 to 18 more minutes or until apples are tender and caramelized. Remove from heat; cool 20 minutes.

    Caramel Sauce:

    1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
    1/2 cup butter
    1/4 cup whipping cream
    1/4 cup honey
    Preparation

    Bring brown sugar, butter, whipping cream, and honey to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly; boil, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool 15 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 week. To reheat, microwave at HIGH 10 to 15 seconds or just until warm; stir until smooth.

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  5. Awesome recipes. I love Pecan Pie ;) It's a holiday splurge.
    We stay home on Christmas Day. We don't travel and I don't cook either. I cook the day before and we eat leftovers and finger foods Christmas Day. We also play games and watch our fave holiday movies.

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  6. The recipes was greats, make me hungry and i wanna eat pie!!
    We stay home on Christmas Day, no family receipe :)
    Merry Christmas !!

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  7. Seems like great recipes to try. My family does Bracoile for Christmas...
    Happy Holidays

    BeckeyWhiteATgmailDOTcom

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  8. We read Twas the Night Before Christmas ever Christmas Eve and celebrate with a big meal the next day with the family.
    modularmates(at)comcast(dot)net

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  9. I am spending Christmas with my Mom and Dad, usually watch a movie and have soup on Christmas Eve, then presents Christmas Day and watch more movies. Very relaxing. Here is a simple yet yummy recipe...
    One container of Cool Whip, one box Strawberry Jello, and on bog or container(I think it is 10oz, it isn't very big) of Sliced Strawberries frozen.
    Thaw Strawberries, and Cool Whip, then combine all three ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate for an hour-ish....ta-da thats it :)
    We make this every holiday, and my mom makes it specially for me, knowing I love it so much! Love your blog! Merry Christmas

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  10. ~ Sigh~. I so want to visit Savannah, it's on our things to do list for 2013! My stomach was growling just reading your post!! The book looks like so much fun, and I so enjoy wandering through consignment shops.
    This year our daughter is trying our one of her new recipe's called a Terramiso ( I know I'm not spelling it right) cake. Filled with lots of yummy stuff and calories!!! we'll worry about the calories on Dec. 26th....

    Thank you Herding Cats and Burning Soup ( love the blog) and Duffy for the giveaway. Would love to win!
    Happy Holidays !!!!

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  11. Since it's just the four of us in my family this year, we're not doing that much. Christmas Eve we'll have snacks. Christmas dinner we will cook Christmas dinner of ham, potato salad, (plain potatoes for me since I don't like potato salad), vegetables and rolls. We have cupcakes, coconut cake (for my Dad), punkin cheesecake (for my sister and my mom), and cookies for dessert.

    Can't wait to read this book.

    Thanks for the giveaway,

    Elizabeth Gray
    elizabethgr@sbcglobal.net

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  12. Spending Christmas with family. It's the best time ever. Sharing, talking, celebrating and laughing. Just hangin' out. This is priceless.

    luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com

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  13. The 3 of us and the furbabies are celebrating at home. I am really looking forward to having turkey and stuffing on Christmas day. Love your book cover. It sounds like an awesome story. Merry Christmas.
    Sue B

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  14. Thanks for the recipes... Looking forward to spending time with the immediate family... not so much the rest of the clan... :(

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  15. Christmas is a low key affair in my family and for that I'm grateful. My mom makes a turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and we watch movies all day.

    Adria
    Breath of Life Reviews

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  16. Mostly, I'm looking forward to turkey, cornbread dressing and gravy!

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  17. thanks for the recipe. this christmas we are just going to spend time together with the family. i cant wait to see everyone!

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  18. I did my Christmas gift exchange and early dinner with my son and his girlfriend yesterday so they could spend the night and this morning with her family, and then my son has to work this afternoon. The food I look forward to every Thanksgiving and Christmas (and my birthday too), is pumpkin pie. I'm the only one who likes it in my house, so I always have it all to myself, yay! :D

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  19. I had my boyfriends mom and brother over last night for christmas dinner. Girfts were exchanged.!

    Antane

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  20. That pie looks quite tasty! YUMMY!

    -Amanda P
    Where the Night Kind Roam

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  21. Plans for Christmas is just to spend the day with my family. I don't think there's any food I'm looking forward to. Since I'm writing this after Christmas... I'm just happy all the food I made turned out to actually be good.

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  22. spent Christmas with family - now I'll just enjoy having my pretty tree up for a while.

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  23. Spent christmas with my family and it was my little nieces/god-daughters first christmas, she got spoiled rotten. It was fun. I didn't get to make my cake though, which was sad my brother in law was sad about it ehhe

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  24. International entry, =) love your recipe. My holidays was quiet when i didn´t work or traveled to eat at my moms on xmas eve, or my hubbys mom on xmas day.
    I prefer staying at home, relaxing in the sofa with a glas of red (or two)
    I´d love some swag! =) Can´t wait for my chance to read.

    Happy New Year!
    //Linda

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  25. Hi, Everyone! Sorry I've been MIA but I was with family in Fla and the internet connection was horrid. But I'm back now to all these wonderful recipes! You all made my day. Thanks tons.

    Also, I picked two winners for the Iced Chiffon totes... May and Barbara E.
    Email Duffy Brown@DuffyBrown.com. Anyone wanting a packet of Iced Chiffon goodies email me and I'll send them along.

    Wishing you all a wonderful 2013 and thanks for chatting. Nothing more fun than talking books and food.

    ReplyDelete

I always enjoy hearing what YOU think so come on and leave a comment. Everyone's welcome :) And feel free to leave comments on old posts. I'll check in on you there too :)

Bloggers don't forget to leave your links!
~Anna

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