Dear Reader,

Thank you for visiting my website.  To say this year has been full of surprises would be an understatement.  The only kind of surprises I like are presents, and parties, and even those I’m not too sure about.

As we face another month of uncertainty, I hope I can provide you with some distraction, and entertainment.  This month we celebrate the release of Truth and Justice, a new novel in the Sisterhood Series. Don’t you just wish we could take injustice into our own hands?  Oh, wait.  I think we cover some of that in the series!  And if any of you have read books in that series you will know what I am talking about.  I said this last month.  Sometimes the system fails us.  Now you have a new opportunity to live vicariously through my characters as they take down some unsavory people.  I am tickled pink to announce it is on The New York Times Best Seller List.

My new fur-baby, Ms. Boo is getting on just fine.  Harvey, my dog thinks she belongs to him.  Winnie, the cat wishes Ms. Boo would disappear. Now Winnie has another cat to tangle with, Momma cat.   Ms. Boo’s mother was rescued and you can take one guess where she’s living now.  Yes, my house.  As of now we’re calling her Tessie.  Looks like Winnie is going to have to get used to two interlopers.  Funny what different personalities our pets have.  I always considered myself as a “dog person.”  Now I’m becoming pet bilingual.

The summer was steamy and my vegetable garden gave up on me.  Even though it’s early September we still have some hot weather ahead, especially if you’re in the South.  I don’t know about you, but when the temperature is about to burst the thermometer, I don’t feel too much like cooking.  But there is one thing that I can’t resist and it’s easy to make.  Grilled cheese sandwiches.  Here are a couple of my favorites.  BTW, did you know you can substitute mayonnaise (the real stuff) instead of butter?  I recently discovered that many diners use it in place of butter.

Grilled Swiss Cheese, Bacon & Tomato – I like it on Rye Bread.
Make sure the bacon is cooked first.
*Slather up two slices of bread with either butter or mayo.  Place slathered side down on medium heat in frying pan.
Place 2-3 slices of swiss cheese on each slice of bread.  When cheese starts to melt top with bacon and a slice of tomato.  Let melt for another minute.  Carefully flip one of the slices over and place on top of the other – cheese meets cheese.  Yummy.

If you want a little tang:
Sourdough Bread
Provolone
Cheddar
*Same routine as above substituting cheeses

Even more tang:
Your choice of bread
Monterey Jack
Jalapeno Peppers – as much heat as you can stand
*Same routine as above substituting cheese and adding peppers

For something fresh and easy try a Caprisi Salad or Sandwich.
Get fresh mozzarella, I mean fresh, not the stuff hermetically sealed.  If you can.
Fresh Beefsteak Tomato
Fresh Basil
Make ¼ inch slices of the cheese and tomatoes.
Lay them out like a fan alternating cheese, tomato, basil leaves.
You can make a sandwich out of this, or serve it with bread on the side.
Drizzle a little balsamic vinegar.  It looks refreshing and tastes delicious.
Note:  Never refrigerate fresh mozzarella.  It makes it hard.  You can keep it in a cool place for up to a week. Cheese never lasts that long in my house.

So here we are in September and Halloween decorations are up.  I actually saw boxes of holiday ornaments being offloaded at a big box store.  As much as I would like to put this challenging year behind me, I don’t want to rush it either.  I guess it’s a good distraction.  I know everyone needs a few.

Speaking of distractions,  there will be a couple of my favorite Christmas novels and novellas coming out in October, The Brightest Star is a new novel, and the Spirit of the Season will be out again in November, followed by Mistletoe Magic.   Now for some really big news:  A Christmas Homecoming from A Season to Celebrate will be a Hallmark Movie this Christmas!   I am thrilled to pieces!  This has always been a dream of mine. So hang on to your dreams.  Sometimes they really come true!  Stay tuned for more details!

This month’s contest is for an autographed copy of a book of my choice. I promise I won’t disappoint you.

Stay well, healthy, and strong!

All the best,
Fern Michaels