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.

If I’m sharing my secret snack here, it won’t be a secret anymore, but what I’m sharing most people wouldn’t consider a snack and it’s not all that secret.

P.S. Be sure to scroll to the bottom if you want a great sale to snack on!

Defining a Snack

A snack could mean different things to different people. In fact, when my twins were small, they loved to snack. Pretty much

all day long (no idea where they got that from—stashes fruit.) They loved food and there was not much that they wouldn’t eat, which made it easy on us as parents.

When I’d come home from the grocery store they’d rush to gather all the groceries and make a snack tower on the floor. I have no idea where they got the idea that cans and bottles and bags could make a fantastic tower of snacks—but it pleased them immensely.

So putting the groceries away took a little longer than usual since I had to wait until the snack tower was complete and they got bored.

My Favorite Snack

There are many food I like to eat, but there are a few things that I go for when I need just a little bit of something, or maybe a taste of something sweet. One is peanut butter and the other is marshmallow crème. They can be eaten together or individually and neither require a plate, only silverware and —no double dipping!

I usually cut up a banana with the peanut butter so I kept a jar of peanut butter at work. That became a recipe for disaster (and a belly full of too much peanut butter) when I realized the banana was merely a vehicle to get to the peanut butter and I’d just end up having a spoon (too many spoons!) of peanut butter.

A few months ago, one of my girls pulled out the tub (getting the larger size is not a good idea to start with—learn from my mistakes!) of marshmallow crème and said, “What’s this?” The look on her face told me that she knew what it was but what she didn’t understand was why I kept buying it and none of the recipes for fudge on the container ever materialized, not even so much as a fluffer-nutter sandwich.

I don’t just have a sweet tooth, I have a whole mouth full of them. #snack #MFRW
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That’s because it’s too darn good on its own. I’m not even that big of a fan of marshmallows, but there is just something about melted marshmallow on a spoon for a quick bit of sweetness. (P.S. check a mirror after your snack, it’s not so secret when you’re walking around with marshmallow lining your lips. Don’t say that you weren’t warned.)

Still Hungry?

Hop around to the other author blogs to find some other great ideas for more snacks!

Need a book to read with that snack? If you haven’t picked up your copy of EVIL SPEAKS SOFTLY grab it now while it’s on sale for .99 cents for a limited time!

A perfect read to ease into what I love to call paranormal season where we get to have fun with the things we imagine go bump in the night.

What’s Your Favorite Snack?

The post My Not So Secret Not Really Snack appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.