happy new year! here's to 2014

Hope 2014 is a STELLAR year!! Enjoy today because tomorrow all those resolutions and goals kick in!!!!

perfect winter chili

It's been really cold in Nor Cal this week (for here), perfect time of year to make a big pot of chili. The basis of the recipe is from epicurious.com and a restaurant in Hawaii but I changed it so much that I'm calling it mine. :) This is great for a few nights of family dinners or if you are having a crowd for dinner.  

Perfect Winter Chili

1 lb ground beef - browned

1 lb ground pork - browned

1 29 oz can of diced tomatoes

2 cans tomato paste

1 onion chopped

3 cloves garlic crushed

1 1/2 TB cumin

1 1/2 TB chili powder (or more to taste)

1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Dash of Cayenne pepper (or more to taste)

1 1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 cups of beef broth

After browning the meat in a pan, throw all ingredients in a crock pot and let it cook for hours. You can also add 2 cups chopped bell peppers but I do this infrequently. About an hour before you are ready to serve, add to crock pot:

2 cans of beans (drained), black, pinto or kidney 

More broth (if needed)

Serve with grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips. I usually make a salad to go along with the chili.

The best part of this meal is it takes very little time to prepare, about 20 minutes, and then you let it simmer in the crock pot for hours while you get a myriad of holiday tasks accomplished or curl up with a good book. It's even better on day two. Yum!!

Lisa

ps. I have been trying to switch to a Primal diet (similar to Paleo) and finding dinners that do not incorporate bread, pasta, or rice has been an ongoing challenge. This has some dairy which is technically not allowed but not as forbidden as gluten :) 

Night Owl Review of Archangel Rafe

I'm horribly behind on everything after 'the lost month' which is what I've dubbed November. I had the cold from hell that just would not die.

Anyway, I received an absolutely lovely review of Archangel Rafe from Night Owl Reviews and I wanted to post a link here.

http://www.nightowlreviews.com/V5/Reviews/Bookgirl-reviews-Archangel-Rafe-by-Lisa-Hughey

Honestly, every time a reader comments on how much they can relate to Angelina, I want to fist pump in triumph. In an earlier post I wrote about how the publisher I initially wrote this book for wanted me to change Angelina into a twenty-something heroine. I did and they rejected the story again, and then I ultimately ended up changing her back to her original thirty something mom, ex-wife, daughter, sister, grand-daughter with a million responsibilities and no time for herself.

I am currently working on the next Archangel book, with a tentative release date in February. I'll keep you posted when I have an update.

Happy Holidays to everyone!!

Lisa

Christmas Anthology Cover Reveal!

Some friends and I got together and wrote a Christmas Anthology. A group of short stories all around a central theme. Our theme was Christmas in the fictional town of Snow Creek. We had a blast. We have maps, and common characters who pop up in more than one story, and an annual Fezziwig Ball at the Mitten Inn.

And today we got our cover! Isn't it pretty??

Christmas, the most magical season, is almost upon the small mountain town of Snow Creek. For seven couples, holiday wishes mean more than just gifts or parties. Can Snow Creek pull off its annual holiday miracle of bringing love to town? 

Snow Creek, where love begins on Main Street and ends happily ever after....

The book will be released on October 20, 2013. The list price is $3.99 but for the first two weeks we are offering the ebook for $ 0.99

As they say in my hometown, buy early and often. ;) (Kidding!) But for real, this is a wonderful collection of heartwarming Christmas stories. I hope you enjoy!

Lisa