Delivering Love Today #Free Valentine's Day Story Feb 13-15

Kelly Anderson never wanted to be delivering love on Valentine’s Day, but she doesn’t want to let down her uncle who’d been kind enough to give her a job at his florist. She puts on her best smile and heads out in the delivery van that’s filled flowers and balloons. Reminders that love is everywhere except in her disenchanted life.

On a lonesome country road, she’s stopped by Jared Marsden, a handsome cowboy who needs her help, or more precisely, her van. He offers his help in exchange for hers. Is he more than he seems? Will this twist of fate bring a valentine into Kelly’s life, or will it bring her a horde of angry customers and an end to her job?

"Delivering Love Today" is a short rom/com story. It's a fun, fast read. Great for whenever you have to wait somewhere.

Get your free copy from Feb 13-15 on Amazon
Click: Delivering Love Today

Hot Cocoa: Fun Facts and Recipe

Hot cocoa or hot chocolate as we say in the South dates back the ancient Mayans and Aztecs. It was nothing like the hot cocoa we have today. Milk was not used and it was served cold with a blend of wine and chili peppers. EWWW!

Chocolate was brought to Europe in the 1500's and in the 1600's chocolate houses, much like coffee houses, were found throughout England. The most fashionable chocolate house was White's, which opened in 1693. Later, like many chocolate houses, White's became a gentlemens' club and still exists today.

Besides being enjoyed as a drink by the aristocracy (cocoa was very expensive), it was used to treat various stomach disorders, liver disease and fevers. In France, chocolate was used to "fight fits of anger and bad moods". I think it is still used for that by women everywhere!

Cocoa progressed through the decades and some of the historic names associated with hot cocoa are present today. In 1842, John Cadbury is selling 16 types of drinking cocoa. 1879 milk chocolate is invented in Switzerland using powdered milk invented by Nestle. In 1926, Hershey introduces Hershey syrup, 1935 Carnation comes up with instant hot cocoa and in the 1950's Swiss Miss produces packets of hot cocoa for airline passengers.

Hot cocoa has become a well-loved comfort food. What is better on a cold winter night than a cup of hot cocoa? And, this is definitely the week to enjoy it as the deep freeze continues. Here are my recommendations:

Instant chocolate mix:

I give Land of Lakes five stars! It is the best instant hot cocoa mix that I have used. Great rich chocolate taste. It is an expensive brand, compared to Nestle or Swiss Miss. But the flavor, which doesn't taste instant at all, is worth it.

A simple delicious recipe for making hot cocoa yourself and cheaply, too:

1/3 cup dry milk
1 tsp cocoa
1 tsp sugar
Add 1 cup of hot water. Stir and enjoy!
you can also mix with cold water and heat in microwave)
This hot cocoa will have a creamy milk taste, more chocolaty and less sweet than the store-bought mixes.

Regardless of how you prepare it, I hope you enjoy a hot cup tonight!

Favorite Easy-to-Grow #Houseplants: Jade Plant

I love easy-to-grow houseplants and the jade plant fits in that category. It's a pretty succulent that blooms in the winter after the plant has had a few years of growth. You can start a jade plant in well-drained soil. You need to keep the soil practically dry. For a jade plant, just a little water ever now and then will do, as it likes dry soil and also sunlight. You need to put in a sunny location where it can get hours of direct sunlight. Besides dry soil, a jade plant prefers dry air so it does good indoors during the winter. If the leaves start dropping off, that means you are overwatering it.

Feel-Good Friday Quote

#EasyHomeCooking Peanut Butter Krisp #Recipe

Yummy Peanut Butter Krisp

2 cups of Rice Krispies
1 cup of Peanut Butter
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of Karo

Bring sugar and Karo to a boil in heavy saucepan. Remove from heat and add peanut butter. Stir until peanut butter dissolves and then add Rice Krispies. Press into a greased sheet pan. Then cut into squares.

#ChristmasCooking Simple Delicious Rolls #HolidayRecipes

Simple Delicious Rolls

2 cups of self-rising flour
2 sticks of butter, soft
1 cup of sour cream

Heat oven to 350
Spray mini muffin pans with cooking spray.

Blend flour and butter until combined. Add sour cream and stir until ingredients are mixed well.
Spoon into the mini muffin tins and bake until lightly brown.

#EasyRecipes Quick Chicken Casserole

If you need an easy casserole to throw together, try this one!

Chicken Casserole
Heat oven to 375

4-6  medium chicken breasts
Potatoes
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 package dry onion soup mix

Place the chicken breasts in a casserole dish. Slice potatoes and place on top of chicken. Pour the mushroom soup over potatoes and chicken and then sprinkle with the onion soup mix. Bake at 375 for 50 minutes.

Curl Up with a Good Book