Sweet Failure - #PotatoPancakes

 In Jessica Peterson's book Southern Charmer, the hero quickly gains the attention of his neighbor by feeding her breakfast. (Being shirtless while cooking certainly helps.)  Elijah Jackson inspired me to cooks some special breakfasts for my honey. In the book, Eli uses simple ingredients and old fashioned recipes.

Flyboy has certainly enjoyed my recent cooking habits. Especially on Fridays when I don't have to go into the office and our youngest is in school. *wink, wink*

Anyways...I've mastered cheesy grits and any dish made with eggs and fresh veggies. My gram would be proud. I thought I'd venture to a new recipe. Sweet Potato Pancakes.

The picture looks yummy.

I chose a recipe from a favorite cookbook, Taste of Home Ultimate Skillet Cookbook. 

Get the cookbook HERE

Shredded apples and sweet potato are added to the flour and egg mixture. 

A little weird shaped but still a pretty sight in a well-loved cast iron pan.

I admit it was a a lot of work and I certainly don't have the right technique for making hashbrowns or potato pancakes. They tasted yummy and Flyboy enjoyed them. Even the teenager gobbled down cold leftovers.

The first few...several... ah...most were a bit well done.

The Power of Touch

 I don't know if it's the weather or the season or just simply romance, but Flyboy and I have been enjoying our time together; simply BEING together. We aren't empty nesters and having a teen boy flitting about doesn't allow for much romance. However, a little PDA is fun to do with the purpose of "grossing out" the boy.

We sneak in a little romance via simple non-sexual touches. 

A simple touch is reassuring and uplifting. Even if it is a fleeting moment, it feels like someone else understand and relates to us and most importantly connects with us. Think for a moment... have you ever felt like hugging your honey or just cuddling for a few minutes for no reason at all? 

Non sexual touches are a sign of love and trust. They reduce anxiety and reduce depression. While sexual touches keep a relationship fresh and exciting, non sexual touches help keep the relationship strong, healthy and happy. 

Be sure to touch someone you love today.

Quiet Sunday Blogging

Time to enjoy a lovely autumn afternoon. It's Flyboy's last day home before he leaves for Alaska. He's puttering around the backyard, building a bonfire, sipping a beverage from a local brewery. After all, what else do you do on a beautiful fall day. 

I lounge on the deck working on posts for my blog sipping tea. Detox tea. I enjoyed a bit too much Head Games Spiced Apple Wine from St. Julian Winery last night. 

New this year! Delicious wine that is only found at retail stores. 

The food and fragrance of fall is intoxicating. This time of year is colorful in Michigan. Looking around it can be seen in trees, pumpkin filled fields, and on our table. Last night we ate some venison steaks with roasted fall root veggies. Yum!

When Flyboy returns in two weeks, the colors outside will have changed but will continue on the table for sure!

A Little Humor - Wine Not

Leading Ladies & Fellas

When I was a teenager way back around 1980, my mom belonged to the Harlequin Readers Service and she would receive a box of romance books every month.  She would pour over those books with a hunger only another book lover would understand. Sometimes I'd sneak a book and hide in the basement to discover the adventures that lie within the pages.

Mom’s favorites depicted historical with brawny manly men such as cowboys and damsels in distress or rich educated hunks such as doctors with an established woman in search of a man accepting of her liberation.

As I grew as a reader then became a writer, I came to appreciate the variety of characters behind well written romance stories. Personally, I don’t care for the wimpy gal who can’t tie her shoe without help. However, a gal does have the right to be doted on by a loving man…as long as she tends to her own footwear, unless he’s taking off said footwear to give her peds some undivided attention.  After all, who doesn’t love a good foot massage?

Anyways…..back to my original trail of thought.

Creating characters is actually pretty fun. (That is until they take over a writer’s mind and keep thus writer up all night until a scene or story is finished.) Let’s take the overly confident guy who helps a meek gal find her inner sensuality and eventually turns the table on him. He becomes empty and she is the only one who can fill him. This is much like my characters in Crow Magic. The hero in this story is the first of several Native American shifters I create; this one is a Crow shaman.

Let me tease you with a couple characters…. 

how about a dominating hot cop and a submissive lawyer? Sounds hot! In Handcuffs & Silk, the rough, tough female cop learns a bit about herself when she has a one night stand with a hot male big-city lawyer who’s a bit submissive and passive. 

The hero in Eagle Dance is a huge man with wild hair who is a big softie inside. He is looking for a woman to appreciate the simple things with him. He's the second Native American shifter, a sexy eagle and retired Marine. His leading lady is chasing a ghost but slows down for pizza and a hot shower scene. 

I’m a sucker for a good romance story with well built characters. 

(Not referring to muscular build…well maybe. Duh!) Nonetheless, 

I believe heroes can have weakness and leading ladies can be strong. They are certainly fun to create!

What kinds of characters in leading roles do you prefer?