Mary J. McCoy-Dressel ~ Contemporary Romance

Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel ~ Contemporary Romance
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  • Tag: dessert

    • Good Food and Memories of Long Ago #MFRWauthor

      Posted at 8:03 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 8, 2017

      It’ll soon be time to tell 2017 farewell, OR maybe to kick it in the behind and say, “Good riddance.” We aren’t there yet, though, so here we go with another #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Challenge theme in this blog hop.

       

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance author

      Week 49: A Favorite Recipe

      Today I’m choosing this recipe because it evokes happy memories.

      Pineapple Sheet Cake

      The Pineapple Sheet Cake doesn’t have the texture of a regular cake. It’s more on the springy side. It’s made in a 15x10x1 inch pan—a cookie sheet type of pan. My boys never liked cream cheese, but they did like this recipe.

      I looked online for a picture of the cake because I didn’t want to make one when I’m the only one here to eat it. Luckily, I found the recipe for “Pineapple Sheet Cake” at Taste of Home. However, my cooking time says 40 minutes where the online version says 35 minutes. Oh, and the online recipe calls for undrained pineapple where mine calls for drained. I don’t know if I wrote my recipe wrong, but I’m sure I followed what I had written. The comments on the recipe page are interesting. The page has some Test Kitchen Tips you might want to look at if you decide to make this cake. 🙂

      Due to nut allergies, make sure everyone is aware of nuts in this product. I suppose the sprinkled nuts on top would be a giveaway. 0_o

      Pineapple Sheet Cake Photo by and from Taste of Home.

      This picture above looks like my homemade version. Perfect! Here you go:

      Cake:
      2 cups flour
      2 cups sugar
      2 tsp. baking soda
      2 eggs
      1- 20 oz. can drained (undrained?) crushed pineapple.
      1 cup chopped nuts

      In a large bowl combine cake ingredients. Beat until smooth. Pour into a greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Cook 40 minutes. Check at 35 minutes as the online recipe says. It’s hard to tell when this cake is done because it is so springy. Pressing on it to test for the springiness, is usually how I checked for doneness.

      Frosting:

      1- 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
      ½ cup butter, softened.
      1 tsp. vanilla
      2 cups powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
      ½ cup chopped nuts to sprinkle over the top.

      Combine ingredients until smooth. Spread over cooled cake and sprinkle nuts over the top. Enjoy.

      YUM. My family enjoyed this recipe for many years. ❤


      Not to bore you, but here’s a little backstory:

      I’ve had this recipe for so long, I don’t remember who gave it to me. I used to make this on occasion for my family, but often, I’d make it ahead and take it to our cabin in Pennsylvania when I knew my husband’s family would be there.

      In the beginning, we all stayed in the small cabin on nineteen acres of land in the Allegheny National Forest. When they got older, the kids slept upstairs in sleeping bags on the floor. The upstairs was not much more than a half-finished attic with pull down stairs. If Grandpa was there, he slept in his bed up there. One couple slept in the tiny bedroom in twin beds downstairs. A single family member slept on the pull-out sofa bed in the living room, and another couple slept in their camper. What fun we had back then!

      @ snehitdesign at DespositPhoto

      The picture above is what U.S. Route 62 looks like on the way. It isn’t fun in the winter or in the fog. The last time I visited the area was around 2006.

      Meaty Macaroni Bake was another recipe my sister-in-law and I would make, which went a long way for three hard-working men, four growing boys, and one niece. My apologies for digressing, but I imagine many of our favorite recipes have a story or two, to go along with them.

      After many years, and as all the kids grew older, my husband and I bought our own place on a couple acres a short walk away. We enjoyed having our own space, and two bedrooms. My ex-husband still has it along with the other nineteen acres with his brothers. No, the log house below is not what we had.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel

      Book three, Christmas at Love House: A Bittersweet Interlude, takes place in this area with a log house like I would’ve loved. Hence, Love House. Love House got it’s name in book two. I’m not trying to promote this book to y’all. I’m only stating a fact that the area was the perfect place for this story.


       


       

      This is a Blog Hop, and there are other authors participating. I can’t wait to check out their favorite recipes. Come along?

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Western Romance,Many of us at Marketing for Romance Writers wanted this challenge to continue next year. I had a hard time thinking of topics myself, but a handful of other authors had a long list of ideas. I did suggest that we use one topic in particular over again. We’ll have to see if it gets added. 😉

      Thanks for joining us today. Happy Cooking.

       

      Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge | 27 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, Allegheny Mountains, Allegheny National Forest, blog hop, dessert, family, food, Good Food and Memories of Long Ago, Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge, mary j mccoy dressel, pineapple sheet cake, recipe, western romance
    • Alone on Valentine’s Day?

      Posted at 3:28 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 12, 2012

      valentines day 4

      This year when I thought about a blog for Valentine’s Day, I decided to gear it toward being alone. For whatever reason it is, I hope you find something here you can enjoy or take away with you. Maybe a special quote, or a pleasant thought.

      In the meantime, I’ll still be writing romance and putting a hero and a heroine together with some infamous plot. I still believe in the “swept off your feet” kind of love. And, I believe everyone is entitled to a fairy tale romance at least once in their life.

      Forget love – I’d rather fall in chocolate!  ~Attributed to Sandra J. Dykes

      You probably wonder why a romance writer would write about singles on such a romantic day. I’ve had my share of special Valentine’s and tons of memories. If you’re alone on this day of romance and lovers, I hope you’re at peace, too.

      Pie…it fills the cracks of the heart.  Go away, pain.  ~Kevin James, Mall Cop

       

      DINNER FOR ONE

      Do something simple. How about Pasta with an assortment of stir-fried veggies! dinner for oneToss in some chicken or shrimp and you have everything you need. If you’re watching your weight, this should fit right in your plan. Treat yourself to your favorite wine. Throw in a slice of garlic bread, after all you don’t have to worry about garlic breath when you’re alone.

      Don’t want to cook? Think of “Stouffer’s Meals for One” in the freezer section at your grocer’s. Toss up a quick salad and there you go! Men, (or ladies) you can check out Bachelor Meals at The Art of Manliness.

      Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.  ~Voltaire

      Valentine’s Day is on Sunday this year. If you want to stay home and watch a movie, toss on your jammies, or grab your Snuggie then check out TV shows you’ve missed on On Demand, Netflix , etc., or a couple of those shows you have stored on your DVR.

      TV

      For the girls (or guys), I’m sure you can find a movie channel hosting romantic comedies, my favorite. Or you can go to all the locals like NBC, etc. and watch a TV show. You don’t have to be alone tonight when you can be with your favorite actors. Or, maybe you’re a sports fan like I am–bull riding being at the top of my list.

      Guys, (or gals), you might like FX, HBO, Discovery, National Geographic, or the History Channel. I like the History Channel. Or, watch your favorite spectator sport.

      The newest Bond movie recently came out. Who can go wrong with Daniel Craig as 007? Ok, so it’s been a while. Just watch it!

      For you race fans, Nascar is only weeks away so if you’re sitting at home and a race fan, go ahead and look at the Daytona 500 website to take a look at the speed week schedule. Vroom, vroom! I used to play a free Nascar Fantasy Racing Game. It’s all kinds of fun. Remember, I said free. Check it out at Collective Racing.

      Will you be jealous if I tell you I have met many NASCAR, ARCA, and ASA drivers? I really did.

      There isn’t a single professional sports season now that doesn’t go on at least a month too long.  Baseball starts in football weather, and football in baseball weather, and basketball overlaps them both.  ~James Reston

      Put some popcorn in the air popper or microwave, but first check out the dessert recipe I included a couple paragraphs down. Yum-ilicious


      Don’t feel like watching TV? This is a good time to pull out your favorite book or eReader. Hint, hint, I write romance. Yes, men read them. Cuddle up with soothing music, and escape. Or, you can play one of my favorite apps like Angry Birds or Bejeweled. Warning: Highly addictive.

      If you want to get out of the house instead of being by yourself tonight:

      • Get a massage; hot stone massages are awesome.
      • Take a walk, but stay away from places where you’re likely to run into couples holding hands and hugging and kissing. Tonight’s not the night you’ll want to see that. Please be safe out alone. If you’re in this freezing weather zone like I am, you might want to light the fireplace instead.
      • Hit Starbucks with your laptop! Go to the bookstore; chances are couples won’t be hanging out, but other singles might. Bundle Up! While you’re there pick up a blank journal and start your first entry tonight. One day you can look back and recall all your memories.
      • If none of the other things appeal to you, take a hot bubble bath, (Yes, you guys, too. You know you love it.) and light some candles. Just relax. Afterward smother your skin in your favorite lotion or oil. All warm and cozy now? Time for dessert.

      Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart.  ~Author Unknown

      DESSERT

      This sounds so delicious. Of course, you might not want this if you’re all relaxed and dessertready for bed–because of the caffeine, or use decaf. Better yet, just have Kahula and Baileys. Mmm, nodding.

      Mochachino

      1 part Kahlua Mocha
      1 part coffee
      1 part hot chocolate

      Or try a champagne based cocktail. Trust me, my Italian heroine would drink this.  Italian Classic Bellini.

       


       

      In Addition: Interview with the Legendary C.J. Hollenbach

      As some of you know, in the past I had interviewed CJ Hollenbach, romance cover model and Fantasy Hunk. His interview still gets hits on my blog, so if you want to read it for yourself, you can click HERE. Trust me, he’s a real down to earth person.

      MOST IMPORTANTLY, since today is a day of love, why not love your own person and body. No one knows you as well as you do, so look deep inside and show yourself some love.  image Be healthy and take care of you.

      He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.  ~Raymond Hull

       

      Enjoy your Valentine’s Day no matter what you do.

      Love,

       

      This blog post has been modified more than once from an earlier version.


       

      I would love to hear what you’ll do on this day made for lovers. Me, I might make a special pasta dish with veggies. I’ll probably be writing with music in the background. Or, I will be watching Netflix, but I believe my evening will be like any other evening. You know, leading a hunky cowboy and feisty heroine to the end of their story.

      #AmWriting #Romance #ValentinesDay #Weekend

      Posted in #AmWriting | 10 Comments | Tagged #AuthorLife, #WritersLife, bull rider, C J Hollenbach, cowboys, dessert, dinner, Full length romance novel, Howdy Ma'am bk #1, love always wins, mary j mccoy dressel, massage, movie, NASCAR, romantic read, swag, valentine's day
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