What Is Your Favorite Food?

Today"s topic:  What is your favorite food or meal? 

My favorite food?  I think favorite foods change as a one matures and evolves from life experience.

As a child I recall visiting my grandparents in Plainview, Texas.  The scent of sulfur from a match and the whoosh of the gas burner lighting, heralded the fragrance of biscuits, sausage, and fried eggs, over easy. A neighbor's clambake in Charleston, SC, when I had to stand on tippy-toes to see over the edge the table, provided my first experience salty-Atlantic smell of steamed clams and oysters.

As a teenager living in Florida, fresh-caught seafood, coleslaw and freshly squeezed lime was the food I enjoyed.  I also discovered a revulsion for both turtle soup and grits.   

As an adult, coffee at Cafe DuMonde, stands out as one of my favorite encounters with food.  

The breeze from the delta, the cool morning, a soft sunrise, and fresh benigns dusted liberally with powdered sugar, still makes me smile.  I believe food is always tied into social activities or memories of a special experience--this is what makes us include the food in family gatherings.

Turkey, of course is the celebrated food this time of year.  Often the leftovers are served as grandmother sandwiches, soup, turkey ala King, the possibilities are seemingly endless. While the remaining teaspoon or two of leftover jellied cranberry sauce is swirled in cream cheese as a frosting atop chocolate brownies.  

What is my favorite food?  The food that is so scrumptious that I am forever hooked?

That is a very tough question. SoCal offers avocado, vegan, and array of designer foods.  However, bowing to Texan days-- chili is one of my favorites. Served as an entree, topping a baked potato, or Baja-style on a garden salad with onions and cheddar cheese, I have a recipe especially for the crockpot (this is different from the Not-for-Sissies version featured in Lynx). And since I am a fan of (non-alcoholic) eggnog, I discovered an easy eggnog point cake recipe--both of which I will share.

Easy Eggnogg Pound Cake

1 (18.25 or 18.50 ounce) pkg. yellow cake mix

1 (4-serving size) pkg. instant vanilla pudding and pie filling mix

3/4 cup Boren EggNog

3/4 cup vegtable oil

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon round nutmeg

Powdered sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In large bowl, combine, cake mix, pudding mix, Eggnogg and oil; beat on low speed until moistened. Add eggs and nutmeg; beat at medium-high speed 4 minutes. Pour into greased and floured 10-inch Bundt pan.

Bake 40 - 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Store leftovers covered at room temperature.

Homestyle Chili

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (lowfat)

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 cup chopped green pepper

2 cloves of garlic, minced

3 cans (about 15 ounces each) dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained.

2 cans  (15 ounces each) tomato sauce

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

2 to 3 teaspoon chili powder

1 to 2 teaspoons dry hot mustard

3/4 dried basil leaves 

1/2 teaspoon black pepper 

1 to 2 dried hot chili peppers

Cook and stir ground beef, onion, bell pepper and gRlic in large skillet until meat is browned and onion tender, drain.

Add beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes with juice, chili powder, mustard, basil, black pepper, and chili pepper.  Mix well.

Spoon into crockpot, cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Or 4 - t hours on high.  Remove chili pepper before serving.

Remember all of my novels and novellas include my personal recipes.

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/
http://mizging.blogspot.com/
http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

I am Blogging at Gems in the Attic Today!

http://gemsintheattic.blogspot.com/2016/04/precious-gems-and-me-by-connie-vines.html?m=1

I am blogging about my first sale and Mr. Romance 1994--cover model John DeSalvo.

Vintage Perfumes: The Fragrances That Defined Each Decade by Connie Vines

Welcome to this week's Sunday Snippets!

Since my next BWL release is an anthology I'd thought I'd touch on a subject that is near and dear to my heroine, Persia Richmond.  A perfumer and perfumery owner of a shop in the French Quarter of New Orleans,   

And, I must confess, is a snippet of my past.  Having been a fragrance consultant at an exclusive fragrance perfumery, I too, share Persia's love of fragrances, art glass, and the art of perfuming.

Nothing can transport you back in time like a fragrance. They say that your sense of smell is the most powerful and evocative sense, and it’s true: Emeraude reminds me of my mother, Quorum my husband, and Halston Z-14 reminds me of my teens and guys who bathed in a cologne—rather than indulging in a spritz or two.

“A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” – Coco Chanel  

This may have been a dramatic overstatement, however, when I was in the business of selling perfume, quotes such as these, gave women confidence when she entered a room! And Chanel No. 5 is one of the most popular fragrances of all time, a bottle of it is sold every 30 seconds (this includes me :-), too).  

Coco Chanel also stated that women should wear perfume wherever they hoped to be kissed. Wise words indeed – please note that this does not mean ‘layered’ in perfume, as perfume counter girls armed with spray bottles will advise you.  No one should be able to smell your perfume unless they’re that little bit closer than is polite, then it should be something delicious and intoxicating.

Whilst researching which perfumes were popular over the decades I was surprised how many of these I’ve actually owned. Over the years, I’ve tried Anais Anais, Shalimar, Opium, Poison, Red, and Patou 1000 before I finally settled on Chanel No. 5. Of course, I selected one of the most expensive perfumes on the market, but I guess there is a good reason why it’s been a bestseller since it was launched in 1921!  

Vintage Perfumes: The Fragrances that Defined Each Decade

It’s surprising how many of these perfumes are still best sellers even now, but then why would they go out of fashion?

Popular Perfumes in the 1920s.

Chanel No. 5, launched in 1921, was an immediate success even though it was the preserve of the rich at this time.  Famously worn by Marilyn Monroe, the square bottle design was rumored to been inspired by the design of a whiskey decanter.

Guerlain’s Shalimar launched first in 1925. It is one of the most popular fragrances of all time and was said to be inspired by Mumtaz Mahal, the women for whom the Taj Mahal was built. The perfume was named after the Gardens of Shalimar in Lahore, Pakistan, which were also built for her.

Popular Perfumes in the 1930s.

Tabu by Dana Fragrances which were popular in the 1930s included Tabu by Dana (a sexy evening perfume), which was launched in 1932 and Je Reviens by House of Worth, both of which remain available today.

In 1934 Elizabeth Arden developed Blue Grass.

Perhaps the most notable perfume of the 1930s was Joy by Jean Patou, voted Scent of the 20th Century at the Fragrance Foundation FiFi awards in 2000. It was created in 1929 (the year of the Wall Street Crash) and even though it was marketed as ‘the world’s most expensive perfume’, it was a huge hit. It is also considered to be one of the greatest floral fragrances of all time.

Popular Perfumes in the 1940s.

L'Air du Temps by Nina Ricci (in a pretty glass bottle with a bottle stopper fashioned as two doves). After the war lighter and fresher perfumes became more popular, one of which was the still-popular Miss Dior by Christian Dior in 1947.

Popular Perfumes in the 1950s.

Femme de Rochas was a rich, sultry perfume aimed at the femme fatale created in 1944.

Arpege by Lanvin is a floral romantic perfume, created in 1927,  but became particularly popular during the 1950s.

Max Factor’s Hypnotique and Primitif (as advertised by Jean Patchett above) were popular and an affordable perfume for the masses compared to the fragrances by the big fashion houses.

Soir de Paris by Bourjois was a popular fragrance amongst teenagers during the 1950s. It was discontinued in 1969, but relaunched in 1992.

Popular Perfumes in the 1960s.

Oh! de London by Tuvache, YSL Rive Gauche was a popular 1960s scent Hubert  de Givenchy created L’Interdit for Audrey Hepburn and she wore the perfume for many years before it was released to the public in 1957. She featured in the adverts for L’Interdit throughout the 1960s.

Tuvache’s Oh! de London is a bright sparkling scent which perfectly captured the mood of the swinging sixties.

Guerlain introduced the heady oriental scent Chamade in 1969.

Popular Perfumes in the 1970s.

Charlie by Revlon and Diorella by Christian Dior, a perfume for the independent woman who has everything, were both very popular.

Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, launched in 1977, and was a heady, rich oriental evening perfume.

Christian Dior released the classic perfume Diorella, which combines citrus and musky notes.

Anais Anais by Cacharel, launched in 1978 and was an immediate hit (my brother gave this to me as a Christmas Gift).

 Did I list one of your favorite perfumes?

Or, perhaps a fragrance you’ve never dared to try?

Perfuming is an art.  Indulge your senses, enjoy the fragrance—it’s mystical, it’s magical, is the new you:-).

Happy Reading,

Connie

Please stop by and visit my fellow BWL authors and friends' websites.

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/

http://mizging.blogspot.com/

http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

Easter baskets, Chocolate Bunnies and Peeps #Sunday Snippets

Sunday Snippets

Yes it is that time again.  Every Easter, along with pastel rompers and spring we find Peeps with their jaunty colors and baby animal shapes, on every retailer's shelf.

Call it nostalgia.

Call it whatever you like. 

I am no fan of the surgery marshmallow treat.  I will go so far as to say, these are nasty, tasteless, sponge-like marshmallow creatures. Perhaps it's the sugary coating around the marshmallow--the combination of crunch and solidly sponge, like biting into a chick shaped slime.

Marshmallow flavor? Not any marshmallow of which I'm acquainted.  It's gooey and sticky.  Like biting into one of those soft pencil erasers.

The colors resemble neon spray paint.  Everyone raves about these candies and acts as if there coul be a shortage.

Please, this is not a Cadbury Cream Egg ( also, not a personal favorite); or Girl Scout Cookies.  This is punishment candy.  Have you ever tried to squish a Peeps?  It snaps right back into chick form.

I was reading an article today about Peeps in England--apparently the candies are really had to find. Stop looking is what I was tempted to post, but I refrained.

What the unsuspecting Brits have yet to learn is Peeps do not dissolve in water and when micro-waved, the grow in size.  This is weird-science.  Enjoy your tea time with cucumber sandwiches and cakes.  And, walk--no, run past the Peeps!

Happy Easter Everyone.

Connie

Ginger Simpson http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Tricia McGil. Http://Triciamg.blogspot.com

Juliet Waldron http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/

"All Great Writers Begin with a Good Leather Binder and a Respectable Title." by Connie Vines #Sunday Snippets

"All great writers begin with a good leather binder and a respectable title," Johnny Deppp (speaking as J.M. Berrie) said to Peter in the film "Finding Neverland".

When I teach workshops, or am a guest speaker at local literary events, I am often asked, "Have you ever met a real-life character?

Living in SoCal, and due to the nature of my work, I do come in contact with actors, writers, public speakers, and others involved in the entertainment industry.  However, the person who was 'bigger than life' was not someone involved in the entertainment industry.  This person is someone who provided inspiration for the Lynx Maddox, the hero in the first book in my Rodeo Romance Series.

I often 'freelance' when I am working on a novel for better insight into a character, to learn a particular skill or obtain inside knowledge (slang, general impressions, etc.) that only someone living that life-style would know.  Sometimes all it takes is a conversation with the owner of a small town Nebraska cafe.  I might be invited into her kitchen where a family recipe is divulged, or local gossip is shared.  Another time, I'll serve on committee and strike up conversation with a person whose humanitarian work takes her to Romania.

In this particular case, I was attending school and working as a part-time 'appointment only' fragrance consultant in a exclusive perfumery.

Enter: one cowboy. 

From outward appearances he was of average height, a bit on the lean side (but well toned), dark-haired, green-eyed, early-to-mid thirties; just an average man.  However, there was an unmistakable 'aura' of energy when he entered the room.  His drawl resonated, his expressions were intense (but not threatening): a lifted eyebrow, a smile pulling a the corner of his mouth.  After a couple of minutes, I discovered he wasn't average at all--I'm not talking about wealth, personal fashion sense, or anything tangible--he just claimed all your attention without really doing anything.  I found this completely amazing.  (And no, it wasn't love at first sight! He was shopping for his wife's birthday gift and purchased a designer fragrance and art glass).

I wondered what it would be like to have a hero who's personality was 'a force of nature'.  And, so, Lynx Maddox was born!
.
Connie

Secondary Characters Can Surprise You'. #Round Robin

I,This Month's Topic: Secondary characters have many functions in stories. Have you ever had a secondary character surprise you in some way? How? How about in other author's books that you've read? Do you have a favorite secondary character in either your own work or in books you have read?

Thank you Robin for including me in today's blog hop.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave Sherlock Holmes a full panoply of supporting characters. There was Dr. Watson, the quintessential “sidekick,” to act as a sounding board; Scottish landlady Mrs. Hudson, to cook and clean and fuss over Holmes; Scotland Yard Inspector LeStrade, to provide a foil for Holmes’ intuitive brilliance, as well as access to official investigations; the Baker Street Irregulars, to ferret out information; and Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s politically powerful older brother, to provide financial and strategic support. Like Doyle’s, your cast of supporting characters should reflect what your protagonist needs.

Where as I do not feel the secondary characters in Sherlock's world surprised me-- they were skillfully drawn to print out the flaws and strengths of Holmes.

As for my own secondary characters, they have a life of there own.  I've had an enemy become a fringe in one of my YA novels, and a pet anendearing side-kick in another.

As for a favorite secondary character, I fine the novels I am writing at any particular time, is my favorite. Like a parent, I think everyone one of my characters are special & and equally loved.

Happy reading,

Connie

Please stop by and see what this have to say about secondary characters.
Anne Stenhouse  http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Connie Vines http://connievines.blogspot.com/
Victoria Chatham http://victoriachatham.blogspot.ca/

Helena Fairfax  http://helenafairfax.com/
Marci Baun  http://www.marcibaun.com/
Rachael Kosinski http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Hollie Glover http://www.hollieglover.co.uk
Dr. Bob Rich http://wp.me/p3Xihq-CZ
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/

Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/  

Brede, Rodeo Romance, Book 2—Sunday Snippet #sundaysnip

This Sunday’s Snippet is from my Contemporary Romantic Suspense novel, “Brede”.

“My head hurts,” she whispered. A sharp, throbbing pain embedded itself in the center of her left temple.  She touched her raw fingertips to the tender area, and tried to grasp a fleeting memory. . .of what, she wasn’t certain. 

At that moment, a man leaned over her.  His eyes reminded her of the ocean; soft blue water reflecting through frosted crystal—sad, lonely eyes.

                The warmth from the blankets seeped into her chilled body, but the sound of the pounding rain sent terror crawling through her.  She bolted upright, her heart thumping so card she couldn’t catch her breath.

                “Lie back down,” the man instructed. “You’ve had some sort of accident.”

                Pain lanced through her body and her head.  Beneath the wave of pain, she heard the concern in his deep voice, and pressed an unsteady hand to her forehead.  “Accident?”  Her fear receded, but didn’t go away completely.  An accident explained the sharp, pain embedded in her left temple and radiating down the side of her jaw, but it didn’t explain what she was doing here.  Here?  Where was she? And who was this man standing over her?

To purchase this novel click on my blog links visit:

my website home page:  http://novelsbyconnievines.com

http://www.amazon.com/Brede-Rodeo-Romance-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00DRPHILY

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/brede/id673408077?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Connie%20Vines%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Remember "Brede" is on sale this month.

Happy Reading,

Connie 

Please stop by and read the snippets this month's Blog Hop members posted!

http://mizging.blogspot.com (Ginger Simpson)

http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGill)

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com (Juliet Waldron)