Hello and Welcome!
Thank you for joining me today. The website has a whole lot of information about my books, but right now I want to get personal. Each month I hope to share some insight as to what inspires me, and what I am up to when I’m not writing.
Hello everyone!
It’s November! Time flies when you’re having fun…and even if you’re not. It just doesn’t seem fair! All we can do is to do our best, even if we’re weary. I hope Halloween brought you more treats than tricks and now we are heading toward Thanksgiving. We need to focus on those two words: Thanks and Giving, especially with the holidays looming. Many people have suffered a lot over the past year and a half, but as long as you can get out of bed and put your pants on you’re ahead of the game! I don’t mean to be flippant—just something to think about.
Most of you know I am a news junkie. Recently I saw an interview with a psychologist talking about all the anger people are feeling, and, unfortunately, acting out in ways that are horrifying. And most of it is displaced, like yelling at the clerk in the grocery store because the line is too long. Do you really think they planned it that way? I don’t think so. I know I talked about this in my last letter but it’s a chronic problem and it’s up to each of us to try to stem the tide. All of us can do a little each day. I don’t want to get preachy here, but I implore each of you to try a random act of kindness. Open the door for someone. Give a total stranger a compliment “Oh, I like your shoes!” It will make their day, and as a result, it will also make yours. I know life is very frustrating right now, but if everyone makes a small effort to be nice to one another, I truly believe we can become more civil and kind, which will truly shift the energy in a more positive direction.
I say this now because as we approach the holidays people are going to be even more frustrated with lack of goods and services. So, before you blow a gasket ask yourself, “Do I really need that thing?” (I’m not talking about necessities, like toilet paper.) Or if your children are becoming too demanding, reel them in. They will only learn if you teach them. As Crosby, Stills & Nash said, “Teach your children well.”
Now I shall step off my soapbox and talk about our contests for November. We will be giving away (5) special links for an audio-book download version of SANTA CRUISE. One Grand Prize winner will receive a Christmas stocking filled with my favorite holiday books.
Have a wonderful THANKSGIVING!
Fern
Now on to the turkey and the fixings. Left overs? Turkey meatloaf!
Depending on how much you have, chop 2-3 cups of turkey in a food processor…don’t pulverize it, just chop it. Add left over stuffing and a little melted butter—2-3 tablespoons. Form into a loaf pan and cover with foil. Bake on 325 for about 20-minutes until heated through. As soon as it comes out of the oven spread cranberry sauce on top. Voila!
If you are having house-guests you’ll want to have this handy and easy finger picking offering:
Ham & Cheese Sliders
- 12 Hawaiian style rolls – split in half (top and bottom)
- ¾ pound deli ham thinly sliced
- ½ pound Swiss cheese
- 6 tbsp melted butter
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ tsp dried minced onion
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbs chopped parsley
- Cooking spray
Preheat oven to 350.
Coat sheet pan with spray.
Place bottom of rolls on the pan.
Layer ham first and then cheese.
Place top of rolls over the cheese.
In a small bowl whisk the butter, mustard, dried onion, Worcestershire sauce.
Drizzle mixture over rolls.
Cover sandwiches with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
Uncover and bake 3-5 more minutes until tops are lightly browned.
And of course Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without Patricia Dorph’ s apple-pie recipe.
Apple Pie
Pastry for two 9 inch pastry pans:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2/3 cups butter
- 2-3 tbs cold water
- Sift flour and salt together
- Add butter and cut it through with pastry blender until mixture is in pieces, pea size
- Add cold water a few drops at time until moistened enough to hold together in a ball
- Wrap in plastic and chill in fridge for 15-30 minutes
- Take more than half for the under crust and roll out and fit into 9” pie pan
Filling:
- 5 cups, cored, peeled and thinly sliced Granny Green and Mackintosh
- Mix together and add to apples
- 3/4 cups brown sugar
- 2 tbs flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tbs butter
- Place into pie pan
- Roll out top dough for crust and place on top
- Make 4 slashes in top crust
Bake 450 degrees for 15 mins. Turn heat down to 350 degrees and bake for 20 to 35 mins. Remove when golden brown.
Serve with whipped cream or ice cream. Enjoy!
If you’re like me, technology can be a little confusing. Okay, a lot confusing, so here’s a little more info to help you navigate.
We put all my books from 2020 on the 2020 page and all the upcoming releases on the 2021 page.
The SERIES TAB explains each series and the books in the series. There’s a tab about me, Mary Kuczkir—yep that’s my real name; recipes, and my furry friends.
Thank you! Enjoy!
