Diana Miller is here to tempt you…and give one lucky commenter a $25 GC prize! Back to Blog
Update: The winner of the $25 Amazon.com gift card is Minna! Congratulations, Minna!
Did Katie’s post make you hungry? It’s got me craving all kinds of holiday treats. I’m afraid those cravings are about to get worse! Our next fabulous guest has another treat for you (and she’s also offering up a $25.com Amazon gift card–awesome!). Please welcome Diana Miller to the blog!
I’m thrilled to be participating in the launch party for Cynthia’s newest soon-to-be bestseller. Thanks so much for having me! I’ll be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to a commentator.
I doubt my heroine Abby Langford’s dysfunctional parents made any special foods for Christmas when she was growing up. However, Abby’s now moved back to her home state of Minnesota, where a large percentage of the residents are of Scandinavian descent and take pride in dozens of traditional Christmas foods and beverages. As a Minnesotan who’s three-quarters Norwegian and married to a Norwegian native, I’d like to suggest a couple recipes Abby should try:
SPRITZ COOKIES
Supermom Abby would enjoy making these with her daughter Maddie, who could be in charge of decorating and, at age nine, may be old enough handle the cookie press herself.
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Colored sugar and decorating candies
Directions
In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Gradually add salt and then flour to creamed mixture; mix well.
Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar and/or decorating candies as desired.
Bake at 375° for 6-8 minutes or until set (do not brown). Let cool for two minutes on pan, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
GLOGG
I’m sure my hero Josh would enjoy unwinding with Abby and a cup of glogg, a hot spiced wine.
It also might help Abby relieve some of the stress from that nightmare she keeps having! This particular version comes from a Danish friend.
Ingredients
2 bottles (750 ml) red wine –(inexpensive is fine; Malene uses Vendange Cabernet)
5 ounces vodka, aquavit, or brandy
1 cinnamon stick
10 cloves
1 tsp cardamom whole seeds or seedpods
½ cup sugar
Blanched sliced almonds
Raisins (can be seeped in port, whiskey, or cognac overnight)
Directions
Pour vodka (or other alcohol) over broken up cinnamon stick, cloves, & cardamom.
Cover and let sit at room temperature for 2 days. Strain, discarding the spices.
Combine red wine with spiced vodka, sugar, raisins, and almonds. Heat over low heat. Be careful not to boil since then the alcohol burns off!
Season to taste with port, Drambuie, Grand Marnier, or more sugar (be careful not to sweeten too much). Serve hot.
***
Oh, Diana, you had me at the pouring vodka part. 😉 But what about the folks reading this post–how do you unwind? I am definitely going to try Glogg this holiday season! Be sure to comment for your chance to win Diana’s $25 Amazon.com gift card!
And, since Diana was awesome enough to come and share her recipes and her cool Amazon prize, let’s talk about her book (one that I have on my Kindle). Here’s the blurb for DANGEROUS AFFAIRS:
When soap opera star Abby Langford leaves Los Angeles for her Minnesota hometown, she’s hoping to give her nine-year-old daughter the peaceful childhood she never knew. But instead of tranquility, Abby finds an old knife hidden between the walls of her new house. Then the nightmares start: a blood-soaked victim and a killer’s arm slicing through the air, again and again.
Abby wonders if she’s having the nervous breakdown the tabloids claim she already had, especially when sexy, skeptical police chief Josh Kincaid questions her story. When menacing hate mail arrives, Josh’s professional concern for Abby soon evolves into an intense attraction, and the feeling is mutual. And now Josh wonders if her psychic visions are of crimes past—or a premonition of terrors to come.
To survive, Abby and Josh must uncover the truth and stop a killer . . . before Abby’s worst nightmares come true.
***
DANGEROUS AFFAIRS – BUY LINKS
Thanks for coming by, Diana!
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love that recipe and am definitely going to try it. Booksounds interesting and am adding to my wish list.
The recipes sound great! And to unwind I guess I like to tune out, by doing stuff such as watching mindless tv and taking really long, hot showers.
I’m now pressed with Hot Tottis. They are great for unwinding at the end of a hectic day. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love Spritz cookies, though I have not had them in a long time. 🙂
Glogg sounds interesting. I should try it sometime.
Love the blurb! Thank you for sharing.
I love to read and watch movies/TV shoes as a way to relax.
I also enjoy lounging at the beach, and since I live in Fl, this is usually an option. 😀
Thank you also for the giveaway.
Thanks for sharing the recipes, I will definitely try them out!
Glogg sounds delish and I will definitely be trying that recipe out! Thanks!
Eat and sleep
The recipes sound really good, thanks for sharing! As for how I unwind, I usually just relax with a tv show or a book 🙂
i usually unwind by reading my favorite romance 🙂
I love collecting recipes and can’t wait to try the ones you share here. My favorite way to unwind is to have something hot to sip while listening to music and reading a good book.
I like to have a cup of mint cocoa…and maybe a cookie or two…while I read!
Hi Diana!
I saw/read through the recipe for glogg and my eyes were like this O_O
😀 We definitely need that for the holidays here. I approve.
I think making sure there aren’t too many plans or fancy meals is key to relaxing.
I always have a cup of green tea and listen to my favorite music , it helps 😀
thanks for the giveaway, ladies 🙂
I remember having glogg at a Christmas party long ago. Now this I see this recipe, maybe I’ll make it this year! 🙂
I relax with a good book and my kitty boys on the couch. Never had Glogg but it sounds yummy. Love the name. 🙂
I unwind in a bubble bath with a book.
I unwind with a day of reading and my daughter waiting to fulfill my every wish. Which usually means she refills my hot chocolate and fixes my snacks for me…LOL
That sound wonderful and I am going to have to try it out. Thanks for the recipe! Oh, the book sounds great too 😉
I unwind by dancing to really loud music.