Author Guest Post & Book Tour Stop: Nina Bocci #MeetMeOnLoveLane

This is a guest post from author Nina Bocci and a TLC Book Tours stop.

The kitchen is a happy place for me, it always has been. Spending hours with my mom making homemade pasta, ravioli for the holidays and hundreds of classic cookies for Christmas and I’m thrilled to be passing these traditions onto my son as well. So, when I was drafting out the Hopeless Romantics series, it was crucial for it to be a solid part of each book.

Mini Meatloaf | Recipes from Raine’s Roost aka Jillian’s Kitchen | Interview + Giveaway!

You’re in for a treat today. I’m excited to host another blog stop for author, L.G. O’Connor. I’ve featured several of her books over the years both from her paranormal angel romance series, The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles, and her romantic women’s fiction series, Caught Up in Love. Even though her books aren’t ordinarily “foodie reads,” her heroes seem to know their way around a kitchen and you can tell she appreciates a good meal. So imagine my surprise when she told me her latest release was a recipe compilation from Raine MacDonald, the sexy hero in Caught Up in RAINE! (To see my review of the book and the Chicken Marsala recipe inspired by CUIR from last April, click HERE.)

Kinship of Clover (book tour guest post) | #KinshipofClover

This is a guest post from Ellen Meeropol, author of Kinship of Clover, and a Poetic Book Tours stop.

All roads lead to the kitchen, but when you’re writing a novel you may have no idea where the story will take you and your taste buds. You hope that the path will take you someplace new, someplace delicious.

That’s what happened to me with Kinship of Clover. I started with Jeremy, a college student who studies botany because he loves plants. In particular, he loves drawing plants. Jeremy grew up in an oddball cult; his family grew tea and most of their food in their backyard and greenhouse. So it didn’t surprise me when Jeremy became obsessed with disappearing plant species. What was surprising was that his imagination went into overdrive and he saw and felt endangered plants growing into his body.

For the Love of Butter Chicken

photo credit: Simi Jois

Words have always had a profound effect on me. Not just the ones that cut and tear, also the ones that build and inspire. For as long as I can remember, people have been asking me the question "why are you crying?". It used to embarrass me, as if I was doing something wrong. I'd apologize and say that I was an emotional person, until I realized that was nothing to apologize for. I am me.

A couple of years ago, in a room full of at least 100 people at a blogging conference, I found myself brought to tears (of the inspiring sort) listening to Monica Bhide's presentation. It wound up being my favorite portion of the entire conference, and I was so happy to have the chance to meet Monica and chat with her briefly later that day.

Refreshing Apple Shrub Syrup

It's heating up outside, and this apple shrub syrup, or drinking vinegar, infused with mint and fennel is a refreshing way to beat that heat. To enjoy, combine 1 part shrub syrup with 3 to 4 parts sparkling water and serve over ice. Shrub syrups are also a fun and creative way to bring a signature cocktail to life—it is wedding season, after all!

A way of preserving fruit after the harvest in Colonial times, sweet and tangy drinking vinegars are a fantastic way to enjoy the pure spirit of your favorite fruit any time of the year. Fresh herbs and whole spices will add another layer of flavor to your syrups, as will experimenting with different types of vinegar.

On Food, Sin & Satisfaction | The Lightening Round Author Guest Post #TLCBookTour

Please help me welcome author Bruce Stuart, with his guest post as part of a TLC Book Tours stop for his new book, The Lightening Round.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to talk about a topic so near and dear to my heart — and of course my stomach — food.  You really cannot write a novel about weight loss and romance without spending quite a bit of time on how food influences each character’s life.

Apple Bacon Stuffing

This past October, I once again had the chance to take part in a fun and informative blogger event hosted by Michigan Apples. This time we met in the fabulous Grand Rapids Downtown Market and cooked up an apple-lovers storm in one of their kitchens. I partnered up with the fabulous Lori of Foxes Love Lemons, and together we made a Michigan Apple and Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Pork Jowl Garnish and Cider-Glazed Chicken with an Apple Raisin Stuffing.

Poultry Roasting Chart = Less Holiday Cooking Stress!

It seems like Halloween just ended and people are already beginning to plan out the rest of the season. For those celebrating Thanksgiving, sometimes planning and decor start pretty early.

Should we cook more food this year since many folks brought plus ones last year? Shall we cut back on the beer since the wine was such a hit? And for many families Turkey is a given so the question is "how big of a bird do we need?"

Sweet Tea Peach Popsicles (with or without Peach Bourbon)

I originally shared this recipe in a post that I wrote for Mrs. Happy Homemaker just after she unexpectedly lost the love of her life. The popsicles are made from ingredients that reminded me of the time I had just spent with Crystal two months before...along with her husband Michael.

That being said, these popsicles are a refreshing frozen summer treat - with a Southern twist that anybody can enjoy, but if you have a few moments, I hope you'll drop my original post at Mrs. Happy Homemaker to read about the inspiration behind these Sweet Tea Peach Popsicles!