This week the Marketing for Romance Writers (#MFRW) 52-week Blog Challenge topic is The Best Dish I Cook. Although my hubby loves to cook and does the brunt of the cooking, I’m not completely absolved from whipping up grub for the family a few times a week. I’ll share my not-so-secret-method of gettin’ er done when the writing is waiting. Plus I have a special holiday gift for you.

Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That

Is pretty much my attitude when it comes to cooking.

• If I see a long list of ingredients—I’m out.
• There’s a ton of dishes involved—that I’ll have to clean up—Nope.
• Measurements which need converted and other math-ey stuff—heck no.
• Ingredient list that requires me to run to the story—no way Jose.

Put it all in a #crockpot and let it cook—you had me at crockpot. #MFRW #recipes
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The Early Bird Loves the Crockpot

My energy level peaks in the morning and the supply dwindles from there for the rest of the day. Thus, I try to get all the chores that require concentration and thought early on, since by the end of the day even basic tasks feel overwhelming. Therefore, a crockpot recipe is my favorite thing ever. Plus, you get the bonus of smelling it cooking all day if you’re home slaving over words.

But, unfortunately, I’m not someone who can craft my own recipe. I might toss in an extra ingredient here and there, or tweak the recipe after I’ve made it a few times, but I don’t have ‘original’ crockpot recipes to share. (No worries—I’ve got your recipes at the bottom).

But I’m good at directing you to some of my favorite places to score a quick crockpot recipe if you don’t want to Google it.

If I’m not flipping through the binders of recipes I’ve printed (gotta love a binder!) Or the crockpot recipe books I have (yes I still have actual books!) Then I Google for a recipe or go to Allrecipes and check out—you got it—the reviews. (Which is why authors always have reviews at the top of their Christmas list.

Got Recipes? Here’s a Treat For You

I’m not the only writer who’s trying to cut corners on cooking and cleaning to escape into the writing cave. Check out my extras page to see the We’d Rather be Writing book which features a multitude of recipes and timesaving tips— I contributed a tip.

Plus, there are several free books with all kinds of recipes courtesy of my publisher and The Wild Rose Press authors for your free holiday gift.

This year, the recipes focus on baking—yes! So I’m sharing Ruthie’s Kuka recipe. You remember, Aunt Ruthie from Destiny Calling and Not A Chance, right? Then you know she knows how to make things delicious like this coffee cake. If you’re already subscribed to my newsletter, you would’ve found out about this free recipe book sooner to get started on your baking early.

Fill Your Belly with More Recipes

Get your fill of recipes with the other authors on the blog hop as they share The Best Dish I Cook.

But before you go, don’t forget to check out this months contest where you can enter to try to win a gift for yourself. Scroll down for all the details.

Enter Here for your chance to win a gift for yourself this holiday.

The post You’re Gonna Have to Look for The Best Dish I Cook appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

The book entitled We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips is already up for pre-order for only 99 cents with its release date set for October 30.  The paperback version will be available after the release date (Christmas gifts, anyone?)

I can’t wait to get my hands on this book myself because if there’s one thing I never have enough of it’s time! I’m excited to check out the time-saving tips and get some new, quick recipes.

Read on for all the book details and please consider purchasing or gifting it as part of the proceeds will go to No Kid Hungry .

We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips
Editor: Lois Winston
Release Date: October 30
Pre-order link: Amazon

Have you ever wished you could find more time to do the things you want to do, rather than just doing the things you have to do?

Most authors juggle day jobs and family responsibilities along with their writing. Because they need to find time to write, they look for ways to save time in other aspects of their lives.

Cooking often takes up a huge chunk of time. In We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips you’ll find easy, nutritious recipes for meat, poultry, pasta, soup, stew, chili, and vegetarian meals. All of the recipes require a minimum of prep time, freeing you up to read, exercise, garden, craft, write, spend more time with family, or whatever.

Within the pages of We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips you’ll be introduced to authors who write a wide range of fiction—everything from mystery to romance to speculative fiction to books for children, young adults, and new adults—and some who write nonfiction. Some of the authors write sweet; others write steamy. Some write cozy; others write tense thrillers.

Some are debut authors with only one published book; others are multi-published and have had long publishing careers. Some are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors who may or may not be familiar to you, but being a bestselling author doesn’t mean they still don’t have to juggle their day job along with their writing.

The authors who contributed to this book are a rather creative and resourceful bunch when it comes to carving out time from their busy lives. So in addition to timesaving recipes, within the pages of this book you’ll find timesaving and organizational tips for other aspects of your life. And if you happen to be a writer, you’ll also find a plethora of great ideas to help you organize your writing life.

Authors who contributed to this book include:

Lisa Alber, Reggi Allder, Judy Alter, Krista Ames, Rose Anderson, Cori Lynn Arnold, Judy Baker, Beverley Bateman, Donnell Ann Bell, Paula Gail Benson, Kris Bock, Maureen Bonatch, Ava Bradley, Susan Breen, Lida Bushloper, Michelle Markey Butler, Ashlyn Chase, Judy Copek, Maya Corrigan, Mariposa Cruz, Melinda Curtis, Lesley A. Diehl, Conda V. Douglas, Nancy Eady, Helena Fairfax, Jennifer Faye, Flo Fitzpatrick, Kit Frazier, Shelley Freydont, Mariana Gabrielle, Rosie Genova, Marni Graff, Joanne Guidoccio, Margaret S. Hamilton, L.C. Hayden, Linda Gordon Hengerer, Heather Hiestand, R.Franklin James, Kathryn Jane, M.M. Jaye, Elizabeth John, Stacy Juba, Gemma Juliana, Carol Goodman Kaufman, Melissa Keir, Kay Kendall, A.R. Kennedy, Lynn Kinnaman, Marie Laval, B.V. Lawson, Claudia Lefeve, Alice Loweecey, Cynthia Luhrs, Sandra Masters, Lisa Q. Mathews, J.M. Maurer, Sandra McGregor, Kathy McIntosh, Claire A. Murray, Ann Myers, Tara Neale, Stacey Joy Netzel, Jayne Ormerod, Alice Orr, Laurel Peterson, Irene Peterson, Pepper Phillips, Caridad Pineiro, Kathryn Quick, Renée Reynolds, Josie Riviera, Elizabeth Rose, C.A. Rowland, Cindy Sample, Sharleen Scott, Terry Shames, Susan C. Shea, Judy Penz Sheluk, Joanna Campbell Slan, Karen Rose Smith, Lynette Sofras, Kaye Spencer, Skye Taylor, Lourdes Venard, Lea Wait, Regan Walker, Lois Winston, and Aubrey Wynne.

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