A FRIDAY FUNNY

Since last Friday was Earth Day, Easter funnies kind of got pushed aside this year.  (You can tell which holiday takes priority for me, huh? :garden )

But I will try to make up for that this week by sharing some creative ideas for using all of those leftover Easter eggs…

FREE BOOK FRIDAY

With only one short month left before the release of HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR (June 7th!!!) I thought it would be fun to start giving away food books!  Because, as I’ve mentioned before, this story revolves around Vanessa Mason’s small town bakery, The Sweet Spot.

Am I trying to make you hungry by talking about that so much? Certainly! For both the goodies mentioned in the story & the book itself. :eats

So here is our first food- & HIDDEN HEIR-related Free Book Friday giveaway:

Clever Cereal Crafts—perfect for someone with young children who likes to keep them busy on a rainy day. :whistledev

To enter the giveaway for this book, simply leave a comment to today’s post that includes the code FBF—for “Free Book Friday,” of course—to let me know you’re interested in the drawing. (U.S. residents only for the prize, please, but everyone is welcome to chat.)

Winner will be announced during our Happy Sunday post on…well, you know, Sunday. Winner is responsible for contacting me with her mailing information—i.e. I will not be contacting you—so be sure to check back in or you might not even know you won! :crying (If prize isn’t claimed within 14 days, another name may be drawn or item may be tossed back into the goody bag to be re-used for a future giveaway.)

With Easter now behind us, I’m guessing we could all go for a really good recipe to use up all those yummy carrots the Easter Bunny left behind.  Right?  Well, have I got one for you!

Madame Mommy Dearest’s Carrot Cake

(Cake Instructions)
Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups oil
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 – 3 cups shredded carrots
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup toasted coconut
1/2 cup golden raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.
Grease and flour two 9-inch, three 8-inch, or one 12-cup tube pan. Line the bottoms of the circular pans with circles of parchment paper.
In large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.
Add eggs, oil, & vanilla; beat until combined.
Stir in carrots, pineapple, nuts, coconut, & raisins.
Pour batter into prepared pan(s).
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. (Run knife around circular cakes to loosen.)
Invert cake(s) onto wire rack and allow to cool completely.

(Frosting Instructions)
Ingredients:

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon orange juice (or vanilla)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in bowl.
Beat at medium speed until well blended.
Frost cooled cake. Sprinkle with finely chopped nuts &/or toasted coconut.

(Note: You can also turn this recipe into “Hummingbird Cake” by substituting the carrots with bananas.  )

These delicious recipes are of course all leading up to the fabulous release of my June Harlequin Desire HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR.  I hope you’re as excited about Marc & Vanessa’s story as I am, & have maybe—hopefully?—already pre-ordered your copy. :cupcake

I want to know if you’re trying any of these for yourself, too!  Let me know if you’ve tested one—or all!—of these recipes & what you think of them. :gingerbread

And there are more to come!  But remember, I saved the very best (in my not-so-humble opinion, anyway  :eyelashes ) Sweet Spot recipe to put in the actual book.  So you’ll have to buy HIDDEN HEIR to get your hands on that one. :mwah

If you’d like to collect even more great recipes, or maybe share a few of your own, be sure to sign up for my HappyBookers YahooGroup. We’re doing a bit of a recipe swap over there, as well, in preparation for the release of HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR. :flip