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!
Tweet It
The cookies sound great, gonna still for Christmas party. Not so sure about the Glogg. Thanks for the awesome giveaway. Love finding new to me authors. Will have to check her out.
Some people actually water down the Glogg with juice or something similar. But we prefer it full strength–it gets COLD in Minnesota!
Thanks again for having me, Cynthia. As a major fan of yours, I’m especially thrilled to be here! I can’t wait to read ANGELS IN CHAINS!
I am SO trying the glogg. I bet it helps make family gatherings much more tolerable! Thanks for the recipes!!
Good point–family gatherings can be great, but sometimes they need a little something!
Yeah! New author to try out:) I unwind by reading a good book:)
Thanks for checking me out (I mean checking my book out, lol). I appreciate it!
Spritz cookies are fabulous! I posted earlier that I make Jello spritz cookies. Mmm!
I’m gonna’ have to pass on the Glogg, no vodka for me. 😉
How do I unwind? I wait for the kiddos to be tucked in to bed, grab a book & a glass of wine & settle in on the sofa.
I’ve never heard of Jello spritz cookies, which is surprising since Minnesotans have a major love for Jello (it goes well with the hotdishes inevitably served at Lutheran Church basement dinners)! I’ll have to check them out.
I’m going to have to try the glogg minus the almonds (don’t like them ;)).
As for unwinding – I don’t. It’s said I’ve never relaxed a day in my life. I had a massage therapist tell me that my shoulders are earrings :).
Thank you.
Sorry about your tenseness, but the shoulder comment is great! The glogg might help remedy that.
After singing in choir at Midnight Mass, my husband and I snuggle with champagne, light snack, and the cookies I bake for weeks before Christmas!
I love Christmas cookies, too (as my choice of recipes indicates). Norwegians traditionally make SEVEN different kinds every Christmas. I actually used to do that, but had to make them all on the same day to minimize the amount of cookie dough I could consume!
I have never heard of Glogg but I will try it. I will often make some spiked apple cider during the winter. I mix apple cider with brandy and warm (on the stove or in the crock pot) with cinnamon sticks and some whole cloves. Make sure when serving to avoid the cloves (or strain those out first).
I love warm apple cider and it makes the whole house smell terrific. I’ve used cinnamon and cloves in it, but never brandy. I’ll have to try that!
I’ve been looking for a good cookie recipe for my cookie press. The Spritz cookies sound yummy. The Glogg sounds interesting. Will have to give it a try, as well. Thanks for the giveaway. Enjoy your holidays!
Same to you, Julie! And thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it!
Hi Diana!
I make Spritz cookies every holiday with my children! I love the addition of the almond extract to the recipe, I find it gives the cookies a special little zip! I made a huge batch for my son’s Christmas party at school last year and I had soo many parents and staff ask me for the recipe! I make Spritz cookies instead of Sugar cookies because I don’t have the patience to roll out the dough and keep the cookies at the the same thickness.
Your books sounds like a wonderful read, I’ll have to be sure to check it out!
Julie K
kornhsl@yahoo.com
I agree with the sugar cookie comment. Once you figure out how to use the cookie press, spritz cookies are way easier! My mom a uses this recipe to make candy cane cookies (she dyes half the dough red)since she doesn’t like the peppermint filling that’s in most candy can cookie recipes.
Thanks for the recipes and I will definitely try the Glogg. As for how I unwind-a good book and a glass of wine. Works every time! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve never heard of Glogg either…but it’s even fun to say! Probably more fun after tossing back a few!
How fun!
Nancy
You’re probably right! Thanks so much for stopping by–I really appreciate it.
Amazing recipe! I think I need just the vodka straight up to get through the holidays lol. Love the blurb for you book and will have to check it out.
Thanks for checking me out (I mean checking out my book, lol). And I can appreciate the vodka comment! I love the holidays, but they can really get overwhelming sometimes (which is no doubt why glogg was invented in the first place!)
Thanks for the cookies receipes! 🙂 Sounds great!
Love eating and reading for unwinding!
Those are two of my favorite ways to unwind, too. Happy Holidays!
Those are two of my favorites as well. Happy Holidays!
The Glogg sounds really good, might have to start a new tradition in our household. The cookies sound really good too.
Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate it.
I like to sit by the fire reading my kindle with a nice glass of wine. I wouldn’t mind changing that wine for a try of that glogg. I will have to try it.
p.winmill@hotmail.com
As a big wine fan, I have to warn you not to use your expensive wine in it. It still tastes great when it’s made with cheap wine!
I love cookies the Spritz recipe sounds good and maybe a glass of Glogg to wash them down…:)
I’ve never had them together, but that just might work! I’ll have to try it this Christmas.
Of course my favorite way to unwind is with a book! Maybe now I’ll add a cup of glogg to go with it. It’s great meeting new authors and finding out about new books from old favorites. Congrats Diana on an intriguing book – I’ll have to pick it up.
Thanks so much for the congrats! It’s my debut novel and my Golden Heart winner, so I’m especially thrilled to have it published. And not only was my book published, but I also get to participate in the release day party for one of my favorite authors! WOW.
Thank you for sharing Diana! I look forward to checking you out………..errrr….. your book that is! 🙂 As for the recipe, it sounds YUMMY!!!! I will definitely give it a try. When I want to relax I lock myself into the bathroom and take a nice long bubble bath, read and drink a glass of wine. Oh how I love the silence!! Happy Holidays and Happy Writing!
I’m big on bubble baths, too (so I was especially excited when DANGEROUS AFFAIRS got a FIVE BATHTUB RATING on the Kiss and Thrill blog)! The only thing I don’t like about my Kindle is that I’m reluctant to take it into the bathtub with me–I sent my husband’s camera through the washing machine a couple weeks ago, so dropping a Kindle into the bathwater is a logical next step. LOL But I guess that’s what magazines are for!
New author with a book that sounds good 🙂
Add cookies and alcohol and it’ll make my holiday!
Thanks! Have a wonderful holiday season. And happy eating, drinking, and reading!
I love Spritz cookies but haven’t made them in a long time – this year mom and I are determined to do more holiday baking (we didn’t do much last year) – the Glogg sounds really yummy and I’ll have to give it a try – I’ve read Dangerous Affairs and it’s good:) Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks so much for reading DANGEROUS AFFAIRS. I’m so glad you liked it!
And I hope you also like the new recipes. Have a wonderful holiday season!
I unwind by pouring myself a icy cold diet coke or iced tea and sitting down to watch cable shows on dvd or reading a light, fun book with my cats beside me. I just watched season 5 of Eureka this past week and really enjoyed it. Fun with lots of laughs and a little sadness because it was the last season.
May try the spritz cookies, I must have grown up in the only household in the US where we didn’t make them. I always gobble them when I’m at a party.
I think so many people make spritz cookies because even the littlest kids can help by sprinkling sugar and it doesn’t make TOO much of a mess! I’m a diet coke addict, and I always need at least one while watching TV. Unfortunately I’m allergic to cats, but I’ve always had TV-loving dogs!
I’m big on bubble baths, too (so I was especially excited when DANGEROUS AFFAIRS got a FIVE BATHTUB RATING on the Kiss and Thrill blog)! The only thing I don’t like about my Kindle is that I’m reluctant to take it into the bathtub with me–I sent my husband’s camera through the washing machine a couple weeks ago, so dropping a Kindle into the bathwater is a logical next step. LOL But I guess that’s what magazines are for!
thank you a lot for this giveaway!, i love the blurb of your book!
not sure about trying this recipe^^ as for how iunwin: a good cup af tea or even better….my cat giving me a massage ( head to toes) when i’m lying down…nothing it’s better to make your forget stress , troubles etc but the cat needs to decide that by himself so no guaranty just the most efficace ( and so far when i need him he comes whithout i ask)
isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com
I unwind by grabbing a good book and losing myself in another world 🙂
And I love the sound of the grogg. I might have to try that.
Both recipes sound great! So does the book!
Unwind of course reading. But I also really enjoy the wrapping of Christmas presents making them super pretty. After doing this for years it relaxes me.
I wish I could hire you to wrap mine! I have no artistic ability, so my presents are always of the boring wrap-then-slop-on-bow variety. And wrapping presents actually stresses me out–probably because I wait until the last minute!
To be honest I would probably do it too
I have made spritz cookies each holiday season since I was a little girl making them with my mother. Glog sounds great and similar to something my grandmother used to make. Since she was direct from Sweden, we always had a traditional Swedish Christmas at her house starting on Christmas Eve.
I know the Swedes also celebrate Santa Lucia day, which I first learned about from a friend whose parents are both from Sweden. My friend actually tried to recruit my blond daughter to play Santa Lucia in a celebration, but my Norwegian-born husband said no!
Great recipes. I unwind by reading or watching movies.
So do I. And I have to admit that in addition to the classic Christmas movies, I’m a sucker for some of the original Christmas movies shown on the Hallmark and Lifetime movie channels!
You are a new-to-me author that I’ll have to put on my Kindle. I’m of Swedish decent and Spritz cookies were a Christmas staple in our house while I was growing up. I unwind by listening to a marathon of easy-listening Rod Stewart tunes.
Thanks–this is actually my debut novel (and my Golden Heart winner) so I’m especially excited that it’s been published. I’m also a big Rod Stewart fan and you’re right; listening to him would be a terrific way to relax!
for me to unwind is by either reading a book and/or watching tv or a movie
Me, too! Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it!
Thank you for sharing the recipes. I unwind by baking. It calm me. If that fails then reading a good book and listening to Christmas music in the background always does the trick.
(For some reason this didn’t show up as a response to your comment–I apologize if you’ve already seen it).
Background Christmas music makes everything better, doesn’t it? It even makes exercising more tolerable–I actually have a holiday play list on my ipod!
Oh I think the glogg recipe sounds really yummy, the cookies too. I like to unwind with a nice glass of red wine and a good book.
Happy Holidays!
Sounds good to me! And I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
Background Christmas music makes everything better, doesn’t it? It even makes exercising more tolerable–I actually have a holiday play list on my ipod!
My husband gets store bought eggnog then adds his own spices plus a healthy splash of Captain Morgan’s Spiced rum. So yummy! I usually hate to see January roll around because that means no more after work eggnog.
Plus credit card bills and New Years Resolutions to lose the weight I gained over the holidays, in my case!
Enjoy your eggnog and the holidays.
I need a cookie press. I see alot on the market and had one before but it broke. Any suggestions on a great brand. —Rachel
Mine is a Sawa 200 Deluxe, which is a Swedish brand. It’s probably 20 years old so I don’t know if they even make them any more. I know my mother and grandmother both told me that the only rule is that a cookie press has to be made of metal (not plastic). However, I have no idea what the basis for that rule is!
I read. that’s how i rewind! And i like to listen to music and drink shirley temples
Sounds good! Have a wonderful holiday season.
My favorite way to unwind is to order a mushroom, Italian sausage, and pepperoni pizza, a paperback romance, and cuddle under my blanket to the sounds of British comedy in the background. If this is not an option, tequila also helps. I’ve been drinking a lot of tequila lately. 😉
I like tequila, although I usually only drink it in the summer. The pizza, blanket and British comedy part sounds great year round though.
Norwegian cookies are the best, I always grab a few when I’m shopping around at Epcot. I’ll have to try that Glogg recipe too, I love hot spiced wine.
As for unwinding; usually a night out with friends, sans kids, is always nice every now and then. But for the every day, a good book and a glass of chilled rose wine always does the trick. 🙂
Kids are great (and make the holidays even more fun), but you definitely need adult time (as well as time away from husbands, for that matter)!
I don’t get to unwind with 5 kids at home but I can sort of unwind by baking with lots of kiddos sticky fingers digging in the dough. I’m going to try these cookies.
OMG-five kids! I can’t imagine how you do it–I had enough trouble handling one! On the other hand, Christmas is even better with kids. Have a wonderful holiday season, and happy baking.
Hiya Diana and Cynthia!
Loving the party 🙂 I will defo have to give the Glogg a try when I’m next at my godkids house! Whoop Whoop! Glogg party! LOL
Kind Regards,
Michelle
Scotland
michellelouisepratley@yahoo.co.uk
What a great idea! I think we’ll have to schedule a glogg party for this weekend! It’s never too soon to start celebrating Christmas.
The Glogg would certainly help me unwind.lol. Reading also helps me unwind.
Thanks for sharing the recipes.
Dangerous Affairs sounds really good.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by! I appreciate it.
Lol, I only heard/tried Glögg in the form of a Glögg-scented shower gel which became my favourite holiday bath product, so thank you for the recipe, I’ll definitely try it! I like to unwind with taking a bubble bath and reading, or watching comedy series like Modern Family or The Big Bang Theory 😀
Thank you for the great giveaway!
I have never heard of Glogg-scented shower gel. I’ll have to try to find it because I’d love to get some for myself (and give it to a few friends who I know would also appreciate it!)
My unwinding is playing on Facebook..>LOL Yes I am an addict and with no kids what else is there to do?? LOL I love to play on the lap top and veg out to the tv… Yes that is my unwinding..
I refused to get into Facebook for a long time because I knew I’d spend too much time on it. I finally got into it, though, and surprise–I do spend far too much time on it! But I love it-it’s so much fun, and I’ve connected with so many old friends through it.
I need to try the Glogg recipe! Sounds awesome! Your book sounds good as well – I wil plan to go check out your website to learn more about you and your books. Thanks for blogging here and offering a giveaway. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I really appreciate it!
That Glogg recipe sounds yummy! Thanks for the giveaway!
Never heard of Glogg before. But then I really don’t do much holiday baking. People have ruined the holiday for me enough that I never want it to happen.
Ooops forgot to mention how I unwind… I read, do a little crafts, listen to music (sometimes crafts and music) cuddle with my pack (I have wiener dogs. Their antics can make one forget their woes)
Aren’t dogs the best? We had a Wheaton terrier who unfortunately died a couple months ago (she was almost sixteen, which is REALLY old for a Wheaton, but it was still hard). However, now that we’ve replaced the carpet and redone the floors (she was a little hard on them her last six months) I think it’s time to get a puppy! Maybe that will be my Christmas present to myself.
Awww Diana! Let’s see my oldest doggie is four (turned in September). His name is Warlock (black and red toy) and then there is three year old Cynder (auburn medium hair minature), their daughter who turned two close to Halloween (she looks like her daddy) and my big boy that will turn one after my youngest son’s birthday. He’s a brown, white, black (speckled) piebald. Actually my picture.
But they make excellent christmas presents. Simi’s litter mates people bought them for Christmas presents.
Glogg and spritz cookies sound like a perfect way to unwind. As for me, I usually fire up the ole laptop and jump into a book off my TBR list OR go see the newest movie at the theater.
I love to see movies in theaters, too. It’s just not the same watching movies on TV (and not solely because I’m addicted to movie theater popcorn, no matter how unhealthy it is). Part of the reason I love the Thanksgiving/Christmas season is all those holiday movie releases!
Nothing I like better than enjoying a cup of coffee and a good book in my comfy chair…that’s my chair, get out!
Although I am not feeling the love for the Glogg, I am trying to get a coquito recipe out of some friends of mine, but people are stingy with old family recipes. 🙁
I’ve never had coquito, but I just googled it and it sounds great. I’ll have to try one this holiday season. Good luck getting the sacred famiy recipe!