Happy National Blueberry Muffin Day!

blueberrymuffinsBlueberry muffins make a delicious and simple change of pace for breakfast and afternoon snacks. They can be made in large batches and stored in air-tight containers or frozen for future use.

The following recipe is a family favorite and can be easily whipped up in less than an hour.

Enjoy!




Ingredients

½ cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
4 cups flour
2 cups milk
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups blueberries
Grated peel and juice of one orange

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Grease muffin tins with butter or margarine.
3. Mix oil, sugar, eggs, orange peel and juice with the electric mixer.
4. Gradually add milk, flour and baking powder.
5. Add blueberries.
6. Stir using a wooden spoon, not the mixer.
7. Drop mixture into tins.
8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Yield: 24 muffins

*Photographed by Christina Guidoccio.

Happy National Zucchini Bread Day!

zucchinibreadZucchini bread first appeared during the hippie movement of the 1960s. The hippies experimented with different fruits and vegetables and came up with healthier versions of sugar-laden cakes and other desserts. Their first invention was banana bread. Soon after, zucchini and carrot breads were added.

You will not find zucchini in your garden during the month of April, but you can buy it at a grocery store. Small and medium-sized zucchini are the most flavorful.

Celebrate National Zucchini Bread Day with this delicious, easy-to-prepare recipe.

Ingredients

3 cups grated zucchini
¾ cup vegetable oil
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup chopped raisins
1 grated orange
5 eggs
2 cups sugar
3½ cups Robin Hood flour
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Sift flour and all dry ingredients.
3. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to combine all other ingredients.
4. Add sifted ingredients and mix well.
5. Grease a 9″x13″ rectangular pan and a loaf pan.
6. Pour mixture into both pans.
7. Bake for 45 minutes.

Yield: 25-30 servings

Happy National Banana Bread Day!

bananabreadpix

Banana bread is one of my favorite comfort foods. It is so versatile and can be eaten at almost anytime of day. When I’m running late, I have yogurt and a slice of banana bread for lunch. It’s also a good snack idea when those hunger pangs hit in mid afternoon.

Try this quick, easy-to-prepare recipe:

Ingredients

1¾ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
2¼ tsp double acting baking powder
½ tsp salt
1/3 cup margarine
2/3 cup sugar
¾ tsp grated lemon rind
2 eggs, beaten
1¼ cups ripe banana pulp

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Resift flour, baking powder, and salt together.
• In a separate bowl, blend the margarine, sugar and lemon rind until creamy. Beat in the eggs and banana pulp.
• Add the sifted ingredients in 3 parts to the sugar mixture.
• Beat the batter until smooth.
• Place the batter in a greased bread pan.
• Bake the bread for about one hour or until done.
• Cool before slicing.

We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips

I’m excited to be part of this extraordinary venture organized by USA Today Bestselling Author Lois Winston.

You can pre-order the eBook for 99 cents and receive your copy on October 30. A portion of proceeds will be donated to No Kid Hungry.

recipesloiswinston

Description

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.

Buy Links

Amazon Canada | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Australia

Cool Treats for Non-Foodies on a Budget

coffeebananaThis coming week, we will be experiencing the dog days of summer in southern Ontario. As the Humidex soars beyond 30 and even approaches 40, I find myself spending more time in air-conditioned comfort and less time preparing meals.

Not such a bad thing for a non-foodie, but I do have to eat. With one book released in June (A Season for Killing Blondes) and another to be released in August (The Coming of Arabella), I need to maintain optimum energy levels.

And to satisfy my Frugalista nature, I also wish to do it on a budget.

Here are some of my favorite go-to foods while I’m in the editing and promotion caves.

Continue reading on the Story Reading Ape’s blog.