Happy New Year From Seekerville

Happy New Year From all of us  in Seekerville!  

That includes the 13 Seekers and the hundreds of Village People 

that populate Seekerville  every single day of the last 365 days.

The next 27 hours is a progressive post.

 Seekerville will be rockin' for 27 straight hours. We'll start with the Writing Year in Review and My One Word.

Each and every hour through 12 midnight PST, Wednesday, January 1st, we'll introduce a hostess or hostesses. That hour your hostess or hostesses will chat, tell you about the hour's prize and serve up a yummy treat. Many of the treats provided tonight will have recipes that will be available at the end of our party. So check back Wednesday, New Year's Day on our http://www.seekerville.net/  page for the downloadable pdf.



To be entered in an hourly drawing, simply comment. You do not need to be present to win.  Once your name goes in the official drawing jar it stays there until either your name is drawn or the party is over. We keep drawing until all 27 hours are over. Giveaway winners are announced at the top of the hour in the comments. So for this hour we announce the winner at 1 a.m. EST. If you don't want to be entered in the drawing and are just here to PARTY! say so in the comments. We'll still respect you in the morning. If you receive a prize that you already have, then share it with someone you love!


A complete list of winners will be available on Wednesday, January 1st  here. And we will be posting the winners there hourly as well so you don't have to slog through the comments.  It is your responsibility to contact us if you are a winner at this email address: seekers@seekerville.net. Complete giveaway rules are available here.

  

Seekerville received their first ever Writer's Digest mention on the list of 101 Best Websites for Writers in 2013! Thank you, Villagers. Additionally, this was the year we hit ONE MILLION PAGE VIEWS and celebrated our SIXTH BIRTHDAY!

 

 The Seeker authors debuted 21 new books and/or novella's in 2013. We've also had the honor of watching many Seeker friends sale off Unpublished Island to the mainland. We're celebrating the following Villagers with first sales in 2013 and those who debuted their first indie release!!

Congratulations!

Helen Gray
Mindy Obenhaus

Jamie Adams

Bridgett Henson

Danica Favorite

Anita Mae Draper

Carrie Fancett Pagels

L.A. Sartor

Kristy Cambron

Susan Anne Mason

Tanya Wright 
Dawn Crandall
Terri Weldon

  

Congratulations to those who obtained representation this year as well. 

Jodie Wolfe
Christina Rich

And congratulations to the ACFW Agent of the Year: Natasha Kern


More cheers for those (published and unpublished) who entered contests, finaled and/or won this year. We had RITA, CAROL, GENESIS and GOLDEN HEART finalists and winners in our ranks. 


And those who received requests for partial or full manuscripts. WAY TO GO!!!

We'd love to hear the terrific writing news from your 2013 Writing Year in Review. Let us celebrate with you!! If we missed your name above, holler and we will add you!

Seekerville has been enjoying the My One Word concept as introduced on the My One Word site for several years. And there's a book as well!

"The concept of My One Word is simple. Lose the long list of resolutions---all your sweeping promises to change---and do something about one thing this year instead of nothing about everything. Choose just one word that represents what you most hope God will do in you, and focus on it for an entire year. This single act will force clarity and concentrate your efforts. As you focus on your word over an extended period of time, you position yourself for God to form your character at a deep, sustainable level. Growth and change will result." 


We'll be giving away a Kindle version copy of My One Word the book, during this hour of the party, and we challenge you to PICK YOUR ONE WORD and share it with us! We'll compile them all to save for you.

Trick question: did you remember your My One Word from 2013?  If not last year's list is available here. 

or http://www.seekerville.net/generator/assets/MyOneWord2013.pdf

 Time to get this party started!

 Your host this hour is Tina Radcliffe! 

       Tina Radcliffe is from Western New York, and she's lived in Massachusetts, Alabama, Germany, Oklahoma, and Colorado. She now lives in a cave in Phoenix, Arizona and comes out for coffee and writing supplies. A former Specialist 4th Class in the U.S . Army, Tina has been an oncology certified registered nurse, a library cataloger, a pharmacy clerk and now she writes full-time in the aforementioned cave. She writes romantic comedy and short romantic fiction as Tina Russo, and at her last count, she has sold ten short stories to Woman's World magazine.


Hi, Seekerville! In addition to the Kindle copy of My One Word that is up for grabs this hour, I have one of my handmade Americana muslin Angels to giveaway!


Here she is! With lace wings and bead boots, every inch of her is handmade, even the body!  (For those of you sleeping now, I will be giving away another one on New Year's Eve PST tomorrow night (that's 3 am. EST)

 I'm also serving up chocolate SCRATCH brownies (heart shaped)! Those are in honor of, Dr. Elizabeth Rogers, the heroine in my September release for Love Inspired, working title Stranded in Paradise!   (recipe available in the am pdf)

Just comment this hour and tell Seekerville about your My One Word or your year in review to be entered in the drawing. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Your 1 am EST hostess:

Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Beacon Contest and a 2013 RT Reviewer’s Choice Award. A House Full of Hope was a Romance Writers of America 2013 RITA® Nominee. Her most recent from Love Inspired, Georgia Sweethearts was an April 2013 release. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com, @MissyTippens on Twitter and
http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.

Hello, everyone! Missy Tippens, here. I'm so excited to be here with you for the next hour as we start our New Year's celebration! So sit back, and let's have a good time thinking of all we've accomplished and all we have to look forward to. What's one thing you're most excited about for 2014?


And, here's a little snack food while we chat! Tostito Scoops are in a big bowl, and there's a plate of celery sticks as well!


Mexican Salad (but I call it dip since I love it with chips!)

1 can black beans drained and rinsed
1 can Mexi-corn
1 cup grape tomatoes quartered
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup Hidden Valley Spicy Ranch Dressing
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro

Recipe will also be available in pdf in am.


The giveaway for this hour is a $15 Amazon Gift Card!! Happy New Year!!

 ~~~~

Your host this hour  (2 a.m. EST, is Captain Jack Sparrow, who needs no introduction.

These days when not pirating, the good captain is the caretaker for our Unpublished Island . This year Jack installed a media room! (scroll down to #26)

As always, Jack brings with him a round of the Chicken Dance and RUM BALLS made fresh on the island.

 The recipe will be loaded to the recipe pdf.

Welcome to "Jack's Hour." Anything goes. 

What happens on the island, stays on the island

 

Jack is sweet on Seekers, so he's giving away a copy of ANY Seekerville Christmas book available for Kindle, this hour.  (But he can be bribed. Share a Jack Sparrow quote to make him sweet on you!)

 "If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it." Jack Sparrow

~~~

I'm baaack!

Tina Radcliffe is your hostess again this hour. I know. Again. Everyone fought me for this hour, but I triumphed.

 If you missed my bio, well it hasn't changed since midnight.

I am an eccentrically creative Italian type person, who battles the bulge and writes books and loves God and family and lots of others too. That sums it up. 

Can you sum yourself up in one sentence??

Because there are no calories at 3 am EST, I bring you Tiramisu! Recipe available in pdf.

 This hour's giveaway is a $10 Amazon Gift Card!  

 ~~~

Time for a double dose of Ruth Logan Herne. Ruthy is your hostess from for the 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. EST slots!

Ruth Logan Herne (http://ruthloganherne.com) is a multi-published author who pokes her head out of her rabbit hole just long enough to see if the snow has stopped.... if not, she ducks back in, and continues to write sweet, heart-stirring romance for her wonderful readers! A native of upstate New York, she's married to a guy who thinks little kids are funny and cute, which is a good thing because their old farm house if full of them! With over a half-million books in print, Ruthy is looking forward to whatever 2014 holds with love... and prayer!

WELCOME to the OVERNIGHT SHIFT~ Ruthy will  be sharing recipes for Tres Leches Cake (a recipe she designed for "The Lawman's Holiday Wish", her 2013 Christmas book!) and her new variation of Stuffed Mushrooms, just in time for your upcoming Superbowl in New York City party! (Ruthy is saying NOTHING about the wisdom... or lack thereof...of having a Superbowl in New York City in February... in an open stadium. Nope. She's not saying a WORD...)

Recipes available in the pdf

Ruth Logan Herne will be giving away TWO $20 gift cards, one per hour....Check the comments at 5 and 6 for winners.

~~~~~

6 am EST and we brought the ENTIRE Writers Alley Blog to SEEKERVILLE!!

Welcome to  

Amy Leigh Simpson
Angie Dicken
Ashley Clark
Casey Herringshaw
Julia Reffner
Karen Schravemade
Krista Phillips
Mary Vee
Pepper Basham
Sherrinda Ketchersid


 This morning the Alley Cats are manning the breakfast buffet and making German Pancake Puffs served with your choice of regular syrup, strawberry syrup, or chocolate syrup.

 Their prize this hour for one lucky winner is a 3 Contemporary Romance set from Janice Thompson, Becky Wade, and Melissa Tagg as well as a $10 Amazon gift card  Commenting with your mouth full IS ALLOWED!!

Good morning, Seekervillians!! We're so glad to visit our 'mother' blog (so to speak) and celebrate the New Year here on Seekerville. The AlleyCats have a lot of wonderful pals on Seekerville and we're always happy to find new ones for the new year.

 Your 7a.m. EST hostess is Glynna Kaye!

Glynna Kaye treasures memories of growing up in small Midwestern towns—Iowa, Missouri and Illinois—and vacations spent in another rural community with the Texan side of the family.  She traces her love of storytelling to the many times a houseful of great-aunts and -uncles gathered with her grandma to share hours of what they called “windjammers”—candid, heartwarming, poignant and often humorous tales of their youth and young adulthood. Glynna lives in Arizona now and, when she’s not writing, she enjoys photography and the great outdoors. Her sixth Love Inspired, “A Canyon Springs Courtship,” released in September 2013 and “Pine Country Cowboy” debuts in March-April 2014. Visit her at glynnakaye.com/ .

  


Glynna's giveaway this hour is a copy of “The Power of Point of View: Make Your Story Come to Life” by Alicia Rasley

The recipe I’m sharing today is a great one for New Year’s Day morning—just prepare the eggs-cheese-veggies-sausage mix and refrigerate the day before, then in the morning all you have to do is crack open a can of biscuits and go from there! (It may need to bake a little longer if you refrigerate the mix overnight – or give it a quick zap in the microwave before putting it on the biscuits and baking.)  I don’t have a jpg of this yummy breakfast bake, so here’s an early morning shot from my recent vacation at the magnificent North Rim of the Grand Canyon!

COUNTRY BREAKFAST BAKE

•    12 oz pkg bulk pork sausage (I use Jimmy Dean’s)
•    ½  cup onion, chopped
•    ½  cup red bell pepper, chopped
•    ½  cup green bell pepper, chopped
•    10  large eggs
•    8 oz (2 cups) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
•    12 oz. can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (10)

1.    Preheat oven to 375 F.
2.    In skillet, brown sausage, onion, & peppers.  Drain well.
3.    Beat eggs in large bowl.  Stir in cheese and sausage mixture.
4.    Spray 13 x 9 baking dish with PAM.
5.    Arrange and press biscuits into bottom of dish.
6.    Pour sausage mixture over biscuit crust.
7.    Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes or until egg mixture is set and crust is deep golden brown.  Cool 5 minutes before serving. 




Good morning, early birds!

Unbelievably, we’re winding down 2013 and 2014 stretches out before us. I love a fresh start, don’t you? One of my favorite things to do on New Year’s Eve is to slip out on the porch sometime early in the evening to briefly reflect on the past twelve months, thank God for his many blessings, and share with Him my hopes and dreams for the coming year—to rededicate my life and my writing to Him.

I’m excited to have completed two new books this past year, so I’ll have two coming out in 2014. And I’m working on my next book proposal for submission to my agent and editor, as well. I’ve dreamed of being a published writer since I was in my early teens, so I have much to be thankful for!

Having read Ann Voskamp’s “One Thousand Gifts,” my “One Word” for 2014 is going to be “Eucharisteo” – meaning “to give thanks – to express thanksgiving of joy Godward.” I want to focus with a grateful heart on the many good things God has so generously given me.

What is your “One Word” for 2014? What are your hopes and dreams for your writing? 

~~~

The 8 am EST hostess is Debby Giusti!

Debby Giusti is a medical technologist who loves working with test tubes and petri dishes almost as much as she loves to write.  Growing up as an Army Brat, Debby met and married her husband--then a Captain in the Army--at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  Together they traveled the world, raised three wonderful Army Brats of their own and have now settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where Debby spins tales of suspense that touch the heart and soul.  

Debby’s work has won numerous awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award for Inspirational Suspense, the National Readers’ Choice Award, the Golden Quill, the Beacon, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Write Touch. In addition, Debby is two time Award of Merit Recipient for the HOLT Medallion.  Her thirteenth book, THE AGENT’S SECRET PAST, will be released in March 2014 and is part of her Military Investigations Series published by Love Inspired Books.  In addition to full-length fiction, Debby has written magazine articles for Southern Lady, Woman’s World, Our Sunday Visitor, Army and Family, and served for over twelve years on the editorial advisory board of ADVANCE for Administrators of the Laboratory.

www.debbygiusti.com

Good morning, Seekerville, and Happy New Year’s Eve!

Today I’m feeling especially grateful for God’s blessings over the past year! Most of all, I’m grateful for you and this wonderful blog community. You’ve touched my life in so many ways for which I’m…well, grateful!

Can you see a theme developing? Can you guess My One Word?

Of course, it’s grateful! Which ties in with thankful and joyous and rejoicing and blessed and happy and fulfilled and Seekerville…a place to call home…a place where gratitude grows.

Thank you for being part of my life and a very important part of 2013.

To celebrate, I’ve asked my nearby Panera’s Bread to provide lots of morning baked goodies for our eating pleasure. Also an assortment of coffees and creamers. Enjoy!

Share that which fills you with gratitude and include your One Word to be entered in this hour’s drawing, open to all those with USA mailing addresses. The prize includes a God is Always With You Promise Journal, a Believe notepad, Seekerville pen and bookmark, The Writer’s Prayer and a copy of my latest release, THE SOLDIER’S SISTER.

Welcome to our 9 am. EST hostess, KAV! 

A peek into the world of our friend and Villager, KAV!

Kav is an avid reader -- some might say fanatical about Christian fiction. She has a review/giveaway blog http://www.bestreads-kav.blogspot.ca/ and loves to talk books with anyone who will listen. She is also a closet romantic suspense writer and appreciates all that Seekerville has done to help her hone her writing skills.

Kav is giving away a copy of two Seeker's January releases Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman and A Match Made in Heaven by Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings and Carol Cox to one lucky commenter. Offer open internationally. ebook or 'real' book.  

 Dig in! Time for Cranberry Oatmeal bars 

Recipe:

Cranberry Sauce
2 cups  cranberries
¾ cups water
1/4 cups sugar
Boil ingredients together until cranberries pop and the mixture thickens. Let cool.
Batter
¾ margarine or butter
2  eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup  sugar
1 ¼ cups flour
1 ¼ cups oats
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350. Cream marg/butter, eggs, vanilla and sugar together. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Mix dry and wet ingredients well. Spread most of the batter into a well greased 9x9 pan. (batter will be sticky). Spoon cranberry sauce on top. Finish with spoonfuls of batter plopped on top. Bake for 35-40 mins.

Also available in pdf.

Now let's chat!!!

 ~~~

10 am EST brings the The CRITIQUE GROUP Hostesses Piper Huguley, Elaine Manders, and Natalie Monk,

Bio's first!

Piper G Huguley is the author of Migrations of the Heart, a five-book series of inspirational historical romances set in the early 20th century featuring African American characters.  Book four in the series, A Champion’s Heart, was a Golden Heart finalist in 2013.  Book one in the series recently won RCRWA’s The Golden Rose contest.  She lives in Atlanta with her husband and son.


 

 Elaine Manders is a small town country woman who never gave up make-believe. She began writing historical romance in 1992 and has six novels and one novella completed with three ready to be queried. A member of RWA and ACFW, she critiques with Piper and Natalie and belongs to another critique/beta reader group. She contributes to the stitchesthrutime blog and plans to start a new blog in January at https://elainemanders.wordpress.com about budget matters. First topic is healthcare. She’s on twitter at https://twitter.com/ehmanders and facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elaine.manders.35 

Natalie Monk writes inspirational historical romance spiced with southern humor and small-town oddities. She is a member of ACFW, a 2013 Lone Star winner and 2013 First Impressions finalist.

A country girl from the time she could shimmy under a string of barbed wire, Natalie makes her home in North Mississippi. She proudly wears the label of “preacher’s kid,” and is a homeschool graduate, piano teacher, part-time portrait photographer, and certified wedding-planner. She loves sweet tea, girl talk (usually about books), porch swings, and watching old movies with her family



From Natlie: Hey, ya’ll! Welcome to Seekerville’s 2013 NYE bash! My CPs, Elaine and Piper, and I are all southern girls who write historical romance. So come on in, take your shoes off, and sit a spell. I’ve brought cranberry oatmeal cookies! Elaine brought Double Divinity and Piper brought a Seeker favorite Petite Caramel rolls made with crescent rolls!

Double Divinity by Elaine Manders

2 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoons salt

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Combine sugar, syrup, water and salt in double boiler or heavy pot. Cook at medium heat, stirring until mixture boils. Stop stirring and do not stir mixture again. Beat egg whites until a small amount dropped in cold water forms a firm ball. (240 degrees). Pour half the mixture over the egg whites, beating constantly; return other half of mixture to heat and cook until a small amount dropped in water cracks and turns brittle. (275 degrees). Pour remaining mixture in egg whites beating until hard to handle; add vanilla and nuts and drop by teaspoon on waxed paper.

All three recipes will be included in the pdf available in the am.

Today the CPs are giving away a one of their favorite Mary Connealy books, “The Husband Tree.” 

~~~

Our 11 am EST hostesses are Anita Mae Draper and Debra Marvin! Welcome!

Debra E. Marvin tries not to run too far from real life but the imagination born out of being an only child has a powerful draw. Besides, the voices in her head tend to agree with all the sensible things she says. Debra likes to write, weed and wander and is blessed to have the best family and friends in the world. She has decided she needs to live closer to her grandchildren. She’s thankful each day that God is in control, that He chooses to bless us despite ourselves and that He has a sense of humor. Her work has semi-finaled in the Genesis, and finaled in the TARA, Great Expectations, Heart of the Rockies, Maggie, Fab Five, Daphne DuMaurier and the overall winner in the CWOW Rattler. Debra writes historical romance and has a difficult time coming back to the present day, so don't shout. You might startle her.

Anita Mae Draper is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and lives on the prairie of southeast Saskatchewan, Canada with her hubby of 30 plus years and the youngest of their 4 kids. She writes cowboy stories set in the Old West, and Edwardian stories set in the East.  Anita Mae's short story, "Riding on a Christmas Wish" is published in A Christmas Cup of Cheer, Guideposts Books, October 2013.  Anita Mae is represented by Mary Keeley of Books & Such Literary Agency. You can find Anita at  the following links:

Website

Pinterest  with Riding on a Christmas Wish board

Twitter

Facebook Author Page

Inkwell Inspirations Group Blog 

Anita Mae brought along a lovely plate of Holiday Jewel Triangles. A sweet treat on a shortbread base from the Eagle Brand people for you to munch on this hour.

 And Debra is sharing Plum Pudding!!! (Instructions here)

Recipes will be available in the pdf

 Debra is giving away a $15 Amazon e gift card.

 Anita Mae is giving away one set of A Cup of Christmas Cheer which is a 2-book set (Volume 1 and 2) recently released from Guideposts Books and now in its second printing. Volume 1 contains Anita Mae's first published story, Riding on a Christmas Wish.


One lucky winner!!


Anita Mae here, and I'm excited to partner Debra once again to bring in the New Year Seeker-style.  I've included metric and Imperial measurements in my recipe so everyone can enjoy it regardless of location.

From Debra: Thanks for the chance to hostess with my buddy Anita, at my favorite New Year’s Eve ‘hang out’, I’m planning on being a published author by the next one. I know you all join me in thanking the Seekers for all the pushes and pulls they’ve given us to keep us moving forward!  Have an amazing 2014, everyone!

~~~~~~~~

Welcome to our 12 noon EST hostesses, Audra Harders and Leslie Ann Sartor!

 Audra Harders writes "rugged stories with heart" featuring cowboys who haven't a clue about relationships rescued by ladies who think they have all the answers. In real life, she's married to her own patient hero, has  two teenagers about the leave the nest, and is surrounded by everything conducive to writing about farming, ranching and cowboys at her day job in the county Extension office. She began writing right after her son was born and sold her first book to Steeple Hill Love Inspired mere months before that same son graduated from high school. Surviving those years in between remind her God does have her plan for her life...and that He has a tremendous sense of humor. You can visit her at her website and her blog. Don't be shy! 

 Rocky Mountain Hero is available now in digital format. Look for Second Chance Ranch, the sequel to RMH - Zac and Jen's story - early 2014.



Leslie Ann Sartor (aka L.A. Sartor) began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at Leslie’s insistence, wrote them down and Leslie illustrated them.  As an adult she writes suspense and action adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she's had a contracted adaptation!  She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date.  Leslie loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.  She has a blog: My Story, My Way ~ an Indie Adventure. She is also one of the Five Scribes.  Check out her website, www.lesliesartor.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook

We are delighted to be your hostesses this hour! This year has brought so many unexpected blessings and joy into our lives, we can’t wait to hear about yours. Has something totally unexpected happened to you this year? Share with us, or share anything else you’d like. And of course, tell us your One Word. Leslie and I are open for all conversations!

Our giveaways this hour are two (2) Amazon $10 gift certificates.

Since it’s brunch time here in Colorado, I’ve included a yummy casserole for our snack.

Spiced Apple Breakfast Casserole

2 spray(s) cooking spray   
   12 slice(s) reduced-calorie whole wheat bread, cubed   
   5 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and thinly sliced   
 1/4 cup(s) water   
 1/4 cup(s) unpacked light brown sugar, divided   
 2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided   
   3 cup(s) fat free egg substitute   
   1/2 cup(s) fat free skim milk   
 1 tsp vanilla extract   
 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste   
 1 pinch ground nutmeg, or to taste   
 1/4 cup(s) maple syrup   

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8- X 10-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

Place bread cubes on a cookie sheet; toast in oven for 10 minutes.

While bread toasts, coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; add apples and sauté until slightly softened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add water, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon; cook on high, stirring frequently, until apple slices are softened and starting to brown.

In a large bowl, whisk together egg substitute, milk, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, remaining teaspoon cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt and nutmeg. Add toasted bread cubes and sautéed apples to egg mixture; stir well to coat and then pour into prepared casserole dish.

Bake casserole, covered with aluminum foil, for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook until eggs are set and top begins to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes more. Slice into 8 pieces and serve drizzled with syrup.

Recipe will be available in pdf

~~~~

Your 1 pm EST hostess is Hallee Bridgeman.

Hallee Bridgeman lives with her husband and their three children in small town Kentucky. When she’s not writing Christian romance novels, she blogs about all things cooking and homemaking at Hallee the Homemaker.

Hallee started writing when her oldest child and only daughter was a baby, but a busy professional career and being the wife of a deployed soldier had her shelve her books for another time. Two more children, a cross country move, and God’s perfect timing brought the books off of the shelf to be dusted off and presented to you now.

 Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit. She prays her books are a blessing to you and would love to hear back from you. You can reach Hallee at hallee@bridgemanfamily.com

  We've brought and amazing treat that debuted in the Yankee Belle Cafe to serve during Hallee's visit. Danish!!! Cream Cheese Danish!

Recipe instructions in the pdf.

Today Hallee is giving away a surprise Godiva package and two of her inspirational suspense ebooks!

Join us in welcoming Hallee!! Pass the food!

2 pm EST. Time flies when you are eating and talking and having fun! Welcome Myra Johnson and Pam Hillman, your hostesses this hour.


 Pam Hillman was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove the Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of! Claiming Mariah is her second novel. www.pamhillman.com

Myra Johnson is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance and women's fiction-emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She is a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award finalist, most recently for her novel A Horseman’s Hope. Her novel Autumn Rains won the Romance Writers of America 2005 Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript and was a 2010 Carol Award finalist. Myra has seven novels and an anthology in print and is now at work on a historical romance series for Abingdon Press. When the Clouds Roll By releases September 2013.

 Married since 1972, Myra and her husband are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, and are also grandparents of four rambunctious grandsons and two precious granddaughters. Although Myra is a native Texan, she and her husband now reside in North Carolina and share their home with a very spoiled lapdog. Myra writes full-time and is currently serving as president of Carolina Christian Writers, the Charlotte-area chapter of ACFW.You can find her o the web at www.myrajohnson.com

Pam is giving away a print copy of Claiming Mariah or an ebook copy of Claiming Mariah or Stealing Jake. Winner's choice.

Myra is giving away a print OR e-book of When the Clouds Roll By.

Time for coffee, tea, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. We have Pam's Apparently Not So Authentic Mrs. Field's Cookies (homemade) along with the story behind the cookies.

 
In the late 80's a recipe circulated through the mail that claimed to contain the secret recipe for Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookies In the late 80's a recipe circulated through the mail that claimed to contain the secret recipe for Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookies along with a story that the recipe was purchased from one of the cookie stores for $250. However the recipe was a fake and the story that accompanied it was adapted from an urban legend attached to recipes for cookies from Neiman Marcus and Waldorf-Astoria for red velvet cake.

In response to the chain letter, a sign attributed to Debbi Fields was posted in Mrs. Fields stores:
Mrs. Fields recipe has never been sold. There is a rumor circulating that the Mrs. Fields Cookie recipe was sold to a woman at a cost of $250. A chocolate-chip cookie recipe was attached to the story. I would like to tell all my customers that this story is not true, this is not my recipe and I have not sold the recipe to anyone. Mrs. Fields recipe is a delicious trade secret.

The author of the chain letter remains a mystery.-Wikipedia.

 In the meantime...eat up!!

Recipe available in the pdf.

-----

It's 3 pm EST and we lived to tell about in Seekerville. Welcome Jan Drexler!

 Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband of more than thirty years, their four adult children, two active dogs, and Maggie, the cat who thinks she’s a dog. If she isn’t sitting at her computer ruining – I mean living – the lives of her characters, she’s probably hiking in the Hills or the Badlands, enjoying the spectacular scenery.

Jan’s debut novel, The Prodigal Son Returns, was published by Love Inspired in May 2013, and her second novel, A Mother for His Children, was the winner of the 2013 TARA Contest, Inspirational Category. It will be published by Love Inspired in August 2014.


Find her here:
Website: www.JanDrexler.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JanDrexlerAuthor?ref=hl
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JanDrexler
And on Mondays at the Yankee-Belle Café

 Welcome to the mid-afternoon hour of this fabulous New Year’s Eve blast! Seekerville is really rocking today, isn’t it?

Here in the Black Hills we’re enjoying some Cranberry Tea and Brie en Croute for our afternoon treat, so sashay on over to the buffet for a bite.

Meanwhile, we’ll be talking about our favorite New Year’s memories during this hour – either New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. 

I’ll start: When I was growing up, it was always difficult to get my dad’s family together for Christmas. With both my dad and uncle being pastors, getting away for Christmas was difficult, to say the least. So we had our family Christmas on New Year’s Day. For years, it was a day for gifts, playing with cousins, and catching up with aunts and uncles. It’s still a family day for me, as the six of us usually spend the day just relaxing together. We might play a game like Settlers of Catan, or get out a jigsaw puzzle.


Now it’s your turn – what’s your favorite New Year’s memory? Leave a comment to be included in the drawing for this hour’s prize package: A copy of my debut novel, The Prodigal Son Returns, a voucher for my August release, A Mother for His Children, and a fun selection of stationery items!

Brie en Croute

Puff pastry (found in your grocer’s freezer case)
One round of Brie, either 1 pound or ½ pound, depending on how many people you’re serving
Flaked parsley
One egg beaten with one tablespoon water

Thaw the puff pastry at room temperature for 30 minutes. Unfold one of the pastry sheets, and place on a lightly floured surface. Cut off the corners to make a circle, and roll out until it’s about twice as big around as your cheese.
Sprinkle parsley in the center of your circle, and then lay your cheese on top of the parsley. Fold the edges of the pastry into the center of the cheese, pressing to seal. Turn the pastry/cheese bundle over and place on a cookie sheet lined with baking parchment. Brush with egg wash. If you wish, you can cut decorative shapes out of the remaining pastry and stick onto the round, and brush with the egg wash again.
Bake for 20 minutes at 400°, or until golden brown. Cut open the top, and serve with crackers.

You can find the Cranberry Tea recipe here. 

 

Recipe available in pdf

 

 ~~~~

 Welcome to our 4pm EST hostess, Julie Lessman

Award-winning author of “The Daughters of Boston” and “Winds of Change” series, Julie Lessman was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards. She has also garnered 17 RWA awards and made Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction. Her book A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at www.julielessman.com.

Today Julie is giving away to one winner, their choice of any of her books, including her latest release, Dare to Love Again!

Holiday Slush: (Yield approximately 50 drinks – can make and freeze for when company comes, just need to have Sprite on hand)

-1 1.5-liter bottle grape juice.

1 12-oz. can of frozen orange juice, prepared

1 48-oz. can of pineapple juice

2 pkgs. pre-sweetened cherry Kool-Aid

A few drops red food coloring (optional)

1 liter Sprite or Seven-Up

Stir and freeze overnight. Scoop or scrape into small glass halfway, then add Sprite and stir. Add additional slush until drink is thick and slushy (where a stirrer could almost stand up straight).

Julie, here, and WELCOME to my hour of chatting and chugging the most delicious Christmas slushes you will EVER taste!! 

So, hit the remote on the fireplace, turn on the twinkle lights, and grab a slush, because we are going to talk goals for the new year!

 
~~~~

Sandra Leesmith writes romance designed to warm the heart and make you smile. Sandra loves to hike, read, bicycle and write. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two dogs, a Labrador retriever and a toy poodle. During the hot summers she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome where she enjoys the outdoors and finds wonderful ideas for her next writing project

Happy New Year Seekerville!!.  Isn't this a grand party? I'm loving it. I'm so thankful to end this year and start the next with so many wonderful friends. And did you see all those accomplishments? If not, go back and check them out.  Congratulations to all who sailed off their unpubbed island. Congrats to those who signed with agents.  And just plain ole love and hugs to everyone.  Can you tell I'm in the party mood?  One of the things I love most about having books is to give them away. All of you are winners because LOVE'S REFUGE is free on Kindle today and tomorrow.  And Rachel and I just finished producing the audio version.  It will be available by the end of January.  This is all so exciting.  

The orange bread is a family recipe. My grandmother used to make it for us for the holidays. We have orange trees in our back yard so this is the perfect bread for me to make. You need the peel to make the bread and then you cut up the fruit and have a bowl of yummy fruit to go with it.  I always add shredded coconut and walnut pieces to the fruit.  That just makes it special.

Another party food I like is the snow crab on cream cheese.  This is something I keep on hand for impromptu parties.  My pickleball friends love any excuse for snack hour, so I always have a can of snow crab on hand and a box of crackers.  

Okay, I'm ready to party.

 ~~~

Terri Denise Weldon claims her regular life is really pretty mundane. She refrains from saying dull! Terri shares a home with her sister, Cynthia, in Oklahoma. They’re the best of friends and enjoy many of the same things. She has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.  Terri enjoys gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes (a habit she needs to break). She volunteers as the librarian at her church – she actually gets to shop for books and spend someone else’s money. Plus, she gets to introduce people to Christian fiction. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA. 


 

Her debut novella, Mistletoe Magic, released November 2013 from White Rose Publishing. 

She is currently writing a suspense series. 

 








This hour Terri is giving away a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card so be sure and leave a comment.
Happy New Year’s Eve, Seekerville! 

 I’m Terri Denise Weldon and I’ll be your hostess for the next hour. It is 5 pm CST – just seven more hours until we welcome in the New Year in my time zone!

With all the great food we’ve had today I can’t decide if I’m stuffed or hungry. Hungry won out! So this hour I’m serving up Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos. Jeremy Johnson, one of the guys in my local ACFW Chapter, brought these to our Fall Party and everyone loved them. I know you will too, so here is the recipe:

1 Package cream cheese
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
15 - 20 Jalapenos
2lbs of Bacon
 
Cut each jalapeno in half and scoop out the seeds and any white flesh from the seeded area. (Recommend using gloves whiles doing this)
 
Rinse each half in cool water and set to dry cut side down on a paper towel while you mix the filling.
 
FILLING: Mix together cream cheese, shredded cheese, and salt and pepper. (Mixture will be thick. You want equal parts cream cheese to shredded cheese)
 
Spoon mixture into jalapenos halves and make sure the top isn't overflowing.
 
Wrap each half in a slice of bacon (If the bacon seems to long, trim it to a smaller length before wrapping)
 
 Sprinkle it with your favorite grill / BBQ seasoning (You can omit this if you like)
 
 Place jalapenos on a baking sheet with a rack so that the drippings can fall. Bake at 350 for 45 to 60 min. or until golden brown.
 
 NOTE: Thin bacon is best for this recipe b/c it does wrap better.

Really we need to thank his wife, because I’ll tell you a little secret, she made them – not him.


recipe in pdf

~~~

For the 7pm EST hour we bring you another critique partner duo!! Sherida Stewart and Donna (Lostie) Phillips. Welcome!

Sherida Stewart discovered the way to Seekerville through the Faith, Hope and Love Chapter of RWA® about a year ago. After raising two sons and retiring from teaching kindergarten and preschool, she now lives in New Mexico where she finds some time for writing, focusing on Inspirational Romance and short stories, but also travel writing with her husband at Quiet Travels. 

Sherida had a short story published in New Mexico Magazine. You can find her at TUESDAY TEA where she invites you to have a cup of tea and chat about writing and books. Her blog has featured books by Seekerville friends.




Donna Phillips felt her dream of writing could actually come true when she discovered Inspirational Fiction and Seekerville.  While always having a short story in one degree of completion or another, she is also honing her skills to write historical and contemporary fiction. Donna is a lifelong Mississippian and lives with her husband, two sons, and three ridiculously silly dogs.

 

 

Donna and Sherida are grateful for the writing encouragement found in Seekerville. During the summer, they were matched as critique partners through Seekerville—a perfect match! To celebrate critique partnerships, their giveaway for the 7:00 pm hour will be a romantic short story critique (up to 1000 words) or a first chapter critique (up to 20 pages) from Tina Radcliffe's website, My Critique Partner, (USA and/or international) or for our reader friends a bag of tea from The New Mexico Tea Company (USA residents only).

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars (no bake)

1 ½ C graham cracker crumbs
1 lb (3 ½ C) powdered sugar
1 ½ C creamy peanut butter plus 2 tsp
1 C (2 sticks) real butter, melted
1 12 oz bag chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or dark)

In a large bowl, combine gram cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and 1 ½ C peanut butter and mix until combined. Press into a 9 x 13 pan.
Melt chocolate chips and remaining peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals, stirring after each one, until melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over the peanut butter mixture and spread evenly. Place pan in the fridge just until the chocolate is set and then cut into bars. Can be stored in the fridge or at room temperature.

 NEW YEAR’S EVE “FIRE-CRACKERS”
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
Dashes of paprika, ground black pepper, red chili powder or cayenne

Cream the grated cheese and butter in a food processor until well mixed, scraping the bowl as necessary. Add the flour, salt and cayenne pepper, then pulse until a ball of dough forms. Stir the chopped pecans in by hand. Form the dough into two logs, roughly 9 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap and chill. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice the logs into ¼ inch slices and place on cookie sheets. Depending on how much “fire” you want, dust the tops of the crackers with your choice of paprika, ground black pepper, red chili powder or cayenne pepper. Bake about 10 minutes or until very lightly browned around the edges. Let cool slightly before removing from the cookie sheet. Makes about 36 crackers.

recipes in pdf


Happy New Year and welcome to our 8pm hostess, Christina Rich.

When she was younger, Christina tried to dig herself to China, loved Three Billy Goats Gruff, and had an obsession with maps. She gave up her dig to China but still jumps at the chance to travel even if it's just down the road. She loves watching modern takes of fairytales and mythologies on the big screen and still has a huge obsession with maps. The older the better.When she was younger, Christina tried to dig herself to China, loved Three Billy Goats Gruff, and had an obsession with maps. She gave up her dig to China but still jumps at the chance to travel even if it's just down the road. She loves watching modern takes of fairytales and mythologies on the big screen and still has a huge obsession with maps. The older the better.

Born and raised in Kansas, where she currently lives with her husband and children, Christina loves to read stories with happily ever afters, research,  take photos, knit scarves, dig into her ancestry, fish, visit the ocean, write stories with happily ever afters and talk about her family and Jesus.

2014 Will see the March release of Christina's debut Love Inspired Historical, The Guardian's Promise. Soon that box of books from Harlequin will be at her door with her author copies. One commenter today gets to share the fun! Christina will be giving away an IOU for this book.


Time for snackies!

Cranberry Glazed Meatballs (http://gfreelife.com/2010/11/crockpot-cranberry-glazed-meatball-appetizer/)

2 (12 ounce) bottles chile sauce
4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
18 ounces Smuckers Coastal Valley Peach Apricot Preserve
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 eggs, beaten
1 large onion, grated
salt to taste
Whisk together the chili sauce, vinegar and jelly.
Pour into slow cooker and simmer over low heat until warm.
Combine ground beef, egg, onion and salt. Mix well and form into 1 inch balls. Add to sauce and simmer on low heat for 2-4 hours.
Keep warm in the crockpot.

recipe in pdf

Cue the Mission Impossible Theme, Mommies by Day, authors by night and way too early day. Ships that pass in the night. Our 9 pm hostesses, Melissa Jagears and Naomi Rawlings. Welcome.

 Melissa Jagears celebrates midnight every night, not just on New Year’s Eve, by writing historical romance novels after her brood of three kiddos and hubby go to sleep, often sending her crit partner, Naomi, her next chapter an hour before she wakes so she can tell her how horrible it is first thing in the ridiculous wee hours of the morning.



So she’s excited to spend her the evening with you ringing in the New Year while typing ridiculously long Seekerville comments to avoid working on her story like she does most every weeknight. 

She’ll be giving away a copy of her debut novel, A Bride for Keeps. And if you don’t win it, you can always console yourself with reading her free novella, Love by the Letter. 

And she’s bringing her favorite potato soup recipe, she cried when she lost it, but found it again on the internet. All hail the awesomeness of the internet!

Naomi Rawlings never celebrates midnight, not even on New Year’s Eve. She chooses to write her historical romance novels early in the morning, going to bed well before midnight every evening and getting up at 5:30. Her early hours mean she and her crit partner Melissa miss seeing each other online by an hour or two every night.

 

 

Naomi’s excited to be hosting the Seekerville New Year’s Eve party with Melissa, and then planning to go to bed as soon as her hosting duties are done so that she can greet January 1, 2014 by writing first thing in the morning and then by celebrating the release of her second novel, The Wyoming Heir. She’ll be giving away a copy of that very book tonight, two full hours before its official release. 

 She’ll also be bringing her favorite quick dessert recipes, paleo cinnamon bun in a mug—for the daring bakers among us, and chocolate chip cookie in a mug—for the more conventional.   

~~~

A former microbiologist, church educator and pastor, Julie Hilton Steele discovered romance eight years ago when an unexpected loss led her to look for books with guaranteed HEAs. She glommed every type of romance and discovered  the inspirational genre. As a former writer of devotional non-fiction for Upper Room magazines, Julie is navigating the transition to fictional works set in WWII Washington DC, the city of her birth.  The medical side of history and the inspirational side of romance are her passions.
 
Julie can be found on the following : Facebook     Julie Hilton Steele – Writer 

Group Blog  Yankee-Belle Café – food, fun and inspirational fiction writers


Twitter    @SisSteele       

  
               
Mary Curry is a teacher, mother, wife and writer.  And a lifelong reader. That passion for reading transformed over time into a compulsion to create stories of her own. She’s been writing  and contesting for many years and along the way has garnered a few writing credits including being a three time Golden Heart finalist and the 2011 Genesis winner for Contemporary Romance. She has recently won Duel on the Delta, Touched by Love, and the Laurie.

Mary can be found on Facebook:  M.M.Curry

Twitter:  @maryc2010

Her own blog is under construction and will be relaunching soon. Stay tuned.

Happy New Year's Eve, Seekers and Villagers!

Julie and Mary here to welcome you to the Seekerville countdown to 2014.  We're ready to share some food and drinks and great conversation as we bid farewell to the old and get ready to bring on the new.

Anyone hungry? Mary has a family tradition of shrimp on New Year's Eve, so she's sharing a recipe for shrimp with lemon garlic sauce. And if you need some greens to go along, how about a chilled kale pomegranate salad?

Julie's got the sweet stuff. She's sharing a wheat-free gingerbread s'mores recipe.
We've also got Eggnog, sparkling cider and coffee for those folks who are desperate to stay awake until midnight.

We've got things to give away too!  




Back in November, when Mary posted about Wired for Story, lots of people wanted a copy so she's offering another copy tonight. Julie's tossing in an Amazon gift card so you can start the new year off with - what else? - a good book!

Julie's Gluten-free Ginger Cookies and S'mores

Mary and Julie have brought three lovely dishes. All recipes will be in the pdf available in the am.

Mary's Lemon Garlic Shrimp

 Chilled Kale Pomegranate Salad
Recently I've fallen in love with pomegranates. For this recipe, I simply saute fresh kale with a bit of oil and then chill. When ready to serve, I sprinkle generously with fresh pomegranate seeds which just happen to be in season right now.



The time is nigh' for the appearance of our 11 pm EST hostess. Please welcome, Helen three-book-contract Gray!

 

Helen Gray and Julie Lessman.

Helen Gray lives in the Missouri Ozarks. She began writing years ago when her children were small and she worked full-time. Some writing skills were taught in her high school business education classes.  (No fiction. Creative writing is frowned on in accounting.) Her debut book, Ozark Sweetheart,  is scheduled to release March 4, from Heartsong Presents. Sequels will follow in June and September.



Helen is waiting on the author copies to arrive for her debut release from Harlequin Heartsong Presents. Book 1, Ozark Sweetheart releases in March, followed by Ozark Reunion in June.

One lucky commenter will receive an IOU for Ozark Sweetheart!!



BUTTERSCOTCH CAKE

Add 2 eggs and 4 butterscotch pudding cups (3.25 oz.) to a yellow cake mix.
Mix for 2 minutes.
Top with:
1 pkg. butterscotch chips, 1 3 oz. Pkg. of sliced almonds, & 3 tbsp. sugar
Pour into a greased and floured cake pan.
Bake 35 minutes at 350.
 In our pdf

 A big round of applause for our Helen who makes coffee for Seekerville and then writes!!

Welcome your hostess...VIRGINIA!!

Virginia writes under the names of Mary Jane Hathaway and Virginia Carmichael. She was born near the Rocky Mountains and although she has traveled around the world, the wilds of Colorado run in her veins. A big fan of the wide open sky and all four seasons, she believes in embracing the small moments of everyday life. A home schooling mom of six young children who rarely wear shoes, she is madly in love with a man who has never read 'Pride and Prejudice'..She holds degrees in Religious Studies and Theoretical Linguistics, and has a Jane Austen quote on the back of her van. She lives with her habanero-eating husband, Crusberto, who is her polar opposite in all things except faith. They've learned to speak in short-hand code and look forward to the day they can actually finish a sentence. In the meantime, Virginia thanks God for the laughter and abundance of hugs that fill her day as she plots her next book. She can be reached on facebook at 'Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits' or her regular author page of Virginia Carmichael. 


Today Virginia is giving away a copy of her latest release from Harlequin Love Inspired,  'Season of Hope'  and a 'Jane Austen is my imaginary friend' bumper sticker.

Serving best very best non-alcoholic champagne and spiced cider (2 gallons of fresh pressed cider and 2 tsp whole cloves, 3 tsp cinnamon, simmered 1 hour).

Cheers!!

"Welcome the New Year with Virginia Carmichael! We've got spiced cider, fresh home made doughnuts, and non- alcoholic  champagne. My word for this year is FAITH. Let's review the great and wonderful things that happened this year and step out in FAITH as we discuss our plans for 2015!"






And for fun ...here it is...The ending scene from When Harry Met Sally!!!

 ~~~~

 YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING!!! AND YET YOU'RE STILL HERE!!


THE MARY CONNEALY & FRIEND WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR CST HOUR

 Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys.

She will spend the next hour being witty, counting heavily on everyone in Seekerville being exhausted, bloated and (fingers crossed) asleep. 


HOPE YOU HAD A HAPPY NEW YEARS DAY!!!!!!!!!!







During this hour I will be giving away to one lucky commenter (Hey! 'lucky' is the spin I want to put on this sucker, if you disagreed, well, let's don't start the New Year out on a sour note, okay???) a signed copy of A Match Made in Texas. They can be from anyway on the planet.

And now I'm supposed to feed you. They are MAKING ME FEED YOU. I don't know if anyone has noticed but I have always been opposed to cyber food. For some outrageous reason I seem to gain weight even on cyber food. Which is so not fair. But I am also an overly-obedient, non-confrontational, people pleaser. So I brought one of my favorite appetizers, a food group that can never ever ever be wrong…..because it contains BACON. 


My very own version of Rumaki.

Real rumaki, so I'm told, has chicken or duck liver in it, but  NO DUCKS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS RECIPE. (pigs however were NOT SO LUCKY)
Very simple, very fast, very yummy rumaki.

RUMAKI
 
Teriyaki sauce
1 lb of raw bacon strips cut in half
3 cans whole water chestnuts
Toothpicks.

Wrap water chestnuts in half strip of bacon, stab tiny ball with toothpick in horrid act of violence that would kill a vampire, if the water chestnut was a vampire's heart of course….but I digress. 

Pour teriyaki sauce over tiny 'vampire heart' creations. Soak for exactly 12 hours…or ten minutes if you're hungry and didn't plan ahead and only care about the bacon anyway.
Microwave for one minute or ten minutes or however long…based on how many you put in the microwave at a time

They are luscious. 

I recommend doing this when you are home alone. If there are people around, they are bound to want some and sharing is a drag. 

Plus they'll expect you to make more….and then you'll need a SECOND pound of bacon and 3 more cans of chestnuts.


 Round Two for those Colorado Girls!!  Happy New Year MST!!

Welcome to Audra Harders and Leslie Ann Sartor!!

Audra Harders writes "rugged stories with heart" featuring cowboys who haven't a clue about relationships rescued by ladies who think they have all the answers. In real life, she's married to her own patient hero, has  two teenagers about the leave the nest, and is surrounded by everything conducive to writing about farming, ranching and cowboys at her day job in the county Extension office. She began writing right after her son was born and sold her first book to Steeple Hill Love Inspired mere months before that same son graduated from high school. Surviving those years in between remind her God does have her plan for her life...and that He has a tremendous sense of humor. You can visit her at her website and her blog. Don't be shy! 

 Rocky Mountain Hero is available now in digital format. Look for Second Chance Ranch, the sequel to RMH - Zac and Jen's story - early 2014.


 

Leslie Ann Sartor (aka L.A. Sartor) began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at Leslie’s insistence, wrote them down and Leslie illustrated them.  As an adult she writes suspense and action adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she's had a contracted adaptation!  She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date.  Leslie loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.  She has a blog: My Story, My Way ~ an Indie Adventure. She is also one of the Five Scribes.  Check out her website, www.lesliesartor.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook



 
 
We are delighted to be your hostesses this hour! Let's chat about the NEW YEAR!!!

 This hour's prize is two $10 Amazon gift cards!!! So chat loud!

 

 Now let's have pie!!!

 Wilda MacLauchlan's Pecan Pie

Wilda won a blue ribbon at the New Mexico State Fair with this recipe.
I've made it  a dozen times and my English mother-in-law swore by it.

3 eggs, lightly  beaten with fork or whisk
¾ c. dark corn syrup
¾ c. sugar
¼ tsp. salt
2 ½ tsp. vanilla
1 c. pecan halves
3 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine
1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell

Combine eggs and corn syrup. Mix well (I use a whisk.) Add sugar and mix thoroughly. Stir in salt and vanilla.

Let stand about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, spread pecans evenly on bottom of pie shell.  Stir melted butter into syrup mixture and pour over pecans.  Be sure all pecans rise to top.
 
Bake at 375˚for 40 – 45 minutes or until center is firm. To keep crust from browning too much, put foil strips or pie crust shield around the edge of the crust.

This my friends, is the end....

This is Tina Radcliffe, ushering the PST New Year!!

I'll be cleaning up the room and putting out fresh bagels and fruit and juice for the morning crew. So please continue to comment!




Our last prize of the day is an Americana Angel, hand crafted by me!

The winner will be picked in the morning!


Do check the prize list here and email us if you are a winner. We will be answering those emails later today or tomorrow. 

If you would like a pdf download of the recipes mentioned in this progressive post, go to www.seekerville.net.


And the January Calendar is UP on the web page!
We'll be sifting through the comments and providing a list of MY ONE WORDS for 2014 in the Weekend Edition,so go ahead and continue to share yours on the blog through New Year's Day!

From myself and all of Seekerville and our Wonderful Villagers.


We wish you a Happy and Blessed 2014~