Recipe Review: Chicken & Bacon Roll Ups

8 lasagna pasta, cooked and drained.

1 pound bacon, diced, cooked and drained, reserve 1/3 cup for topping

1 small red or yellow onion

6 cloves of garlic, crushed (I used pre-packaged minced garlic)

2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

2 cups (16 ou.) Alfredo cream sauce

Filling

1 cup ricotta cheese

½ cup sour cream

6 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup parmesan

1 tablespoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons onion powder

salt and pepper (to taste, your preference)

Topping

Reserved Bacon

1/2 cup parmesan

1/2 cup mozarella (I was out, so I peeled a single string cheese to cut cals)

Add 8 pieces of lasagna pasta to a large pot of boiling water. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than the directions on the package. It will finish cooking in the oven. Drain pasta in strainer and lay pasta onto paper towels to dry off excess water.

Shred chicken breasts. Set aside.

Cut and fry bacon. Add diced onions and crushed garlic 3 minutes prior to baking being finished. Drain bacon mixture onto a plate with paper towels. (It will catch the excess fat.)

In a medium size bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan and seasonings. Divide and spread the filling onto the cooked pasta evenly--a generous 4 tablespoons or so seemed enough. Add the shredded chicken onto each pasta. Sprinkle the bacon mixture on top of the chicken and cheese mixture. 

Assembly

Spread ½ cup of cream sauce on the bottom of a medium baking dish. Roll the pasta and put seam side facing down into the sauce that is in the baking dish. Cover the roll ups with the rest of the cream sauce. Top with reserved bacon, mozzarella and parmesan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes. Let it rest after taken out of oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

Original recipe here, with great step-by-step pictures! http://www.lovewithrecipe.com/recipe/479.html

Slow Cooker Tropical Chicken

Review: I used one pound of chicken and had leftover red onion mixture. I used this to spread on top of a london broil to marinate overnight (no pineapple, no coconut, just the red onion mixture). This steak was DEE-licious! If you reserve some of the red onion mix to top the steak in the last few minutes of grilling, it makes for great fajitas!

1 Red Onion, Chopped Roughly

1 bunch Fresh Cilantro, Leaves Only

½ cups Lime Juice

2 cloves Garlic

1 teaspoon Chili Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Pepper

1 teaspoon Paprika

½ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper

Thai Kitchen Light Coconut Milk, about half the can, more is fine.

1 can (about 20 Oz. Size) Crushed Pineapple In 100% Juice

6 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

Combine all ingredients except the pineapple, coconut milk, and chicken in a food processor and process until chunky. Pour half of the mixture into a crockpot (I really like to use the crockpot liners—cleanup is so simple), nestle the chicken breasts into it in one layer, and pour the remainder on top. Top with the pineapple with the juice and coconut milk.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours. When it’s done, you should be able to just stir the pot and the chicken will shred automatically. Serve hot over rice, a baked sweet potato, or riced cauliflower!

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/slow-cooker-cilantro-lime-pineapple-chicken/

Just Me and the Tiger

by Nancy Jill Thames

"Romeo"

Writing cozies for you, dear readers, is such a pleasure for me. Together, we can journey to fabulous resorts, amazing restaurants and experience exciting adventures tracking down the killers! Now, some of you may wonder where our inspiration comes from. For me, inspiration comes from my neighbor's Yorkie, Romeo - cutest little dog you ever saw! And from the white tiger that sits on the floor of my office.

 





The tiger was a birthday gift from a friend for my 18 year-old daughter at the time. After she left for college, there wasn't room to take him along, so I keep him in my office as a reminder of her. Not only do I think of her when I look at him, I'm also reminded to keep my writing a little on the fantasy side of life. In my books, the killer is always caught, personal issues are resolved and hopefully, I've taken the reader into the lovely world of Jillian Bradley and her Yorkie, Teddy.

My desk is where I write plots, create characters and their back stories and work on my outlines. The computer chair swivels, making it easy to move back and forth from writing to checking important details like Facebook, Twitter, blogs and sales. When I've finished the outline, I move to write each chapter, sitting in a recliner by the front window. Occasionally, throughout the day, my husband comes in and sits with me whenever he needs a break. He works at home, too, and has his office directly in back of mine. We share a wall. Isn't that romantic?

The recliner is where I edit and create blog posts for "Queen of Afternoon Tea" Celebrity Author Interviews, Cozy Mystery Author, Nancy Jill Thames blog, and Cozy Mystery Magazine blog, like I'm writing right now.

 

 

 So there you have it! Thanks for joining me in my office. The only thing that would make it better is if you were really paying me a visit and I could offer you a nice cup of tea! Well, I suppose the next best thing would be to read my books and enjoy the life and times of Jillian Bradley. I'll be thinking of you!

See you next week on Cozy Mystery Magazine! Don't forget to visit the Cozy Kitchen and try some of the yummy recipes posted this week.

~Nancy Jill

Nancy Jill Thames is the author of the Jillian Bradley Mysteries - stories often set in exclusive hotels and resorts, based on real life travel adventures with her husband of 44 years. Her mysteries incorporate her love of afternoon tea, which has earned her the title of “Queen of Afternoon Tea.” She holds a music degree from UT Austin and lives in Leander, Texas where she is a member of the Leander Writers Guild. She has won awards for her blogs, a pie contest for her Chocolate Chip Cream Pie, and has been on the Author Watch Bestseller List numerous times. Nancy Jill is busy working on book 6 Waiting for Santa, a murder mystery taking place on Christmas Eve near Jillian Bradley’s home in Clover Hills.

To check out her books, Murder in Half Moon Bay, The Ghost Orchid Murder, From the Clutches of Evil, The Mark of Eden, and Pacific Beach, please visit the Cozy Book Store and her blogs: 

Cozy Mystery Author, Nancy Jill Thames

"Queen of Afternoon Tea" Celebrity Author Interviews

BOOK REVIEW TIME! C.L.RAGSDALE

by Nancy Jill Thames

Available on Amazon.com

What a fun read for only $.99! C.L. Ragsdale is a wonderful story teller pulling you in immediately with the lore of Lake Morona's resident ghost. The tension is well developed between Irene and Troy, infused with witty dialogue. I also liked the story itself and the way it unfolded - giving clues to the mystery here and there to keep my interest through the whole book. When it ended, it left me wanting more adventures of the Reboot Team. I immediately ordered book 1 on my Kindle. Cute series! 

C. L. RAGSDALE

Mystery writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Mystery Series. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories with just a bit of whopper in them. She has a degree in Theatre Arts which greatly influenced her writing style. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. She loves to embroider and knit and is a big fan of the old Scooby Doo cartoons.

Current E-Books

THE REBOOT FILES:  The Mystery of Hurtleberry House, The Island of Living Trees, The Harbinger of Retribution, and The Wrong Ghost.

www.shortmysteriesandtalltales.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Ragsdale219184744858421

A FREE GIFT FOR YOU!

NANCY JILL THAMES, AUTHOR

If you don't have Book 2 yet, please be my guest to receive a free copy

(a $2.99-$11.99 Value) this weekend! A story of murder, love and devotion.

"THE GHOST ORCHID MURDER" 

by Nancy Jill Thames

It's been eight years since gardening columnist Jillian Bradley helped solve a string of murders in Half Moon Bay. But when a friend and colleague in Scottsdale, Arizona finds a young technical assistant dead on the floor of his private office, Jillian doesn't hesitate to answer his plea for help in the investigation. After all, a $2 million research grant depends on it.

    Together with Detective Jack Noble and Jillian's clue sniffing dog, Teddy, the three set out to track the killer who leaves a porcelain orchid over the wound as the only clue. Even though it means personal sacrifice for Jillian, she is determined to uncover the truth. A faith-based novel.

Available on Amazon.com  SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2012

The Terrific Trio

Please allow me to introduce to you the Terrific Trio from my Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series. On the left we have Trixie Montgomery. What's that you ask? How much of me has gone into Trixe? Well, it seems Trixie is a divorced, middle-aged woman who has started a new career as a writer for a historic magazine. It just so happens that I've written for the historic magazine "Georgia Backroads" for ten years. So yes, there is some of me in Trixie, but she also has her own personality. She's been through a rough divorce when her husband tells her he has discovered his soul mate on the internet. When he goes to meet her karma bites him in the bum and he finds out that his blonde bombshell is a 300 woman who takes men for all she can get. However, he still wants out of their long time marriage so she moves back to the small town of Vans Valley to live in her mother's garage apartment. This is when she starts working for "Georgia by the Way" and gets her assignments that lead her to dead bodies and crimes to be solved.

In the middle is none else than Trixie's best friend, Dee Dee Lamont. Dee Dee is a bonafide cat lover and runs an antique shop in Vans Valley called Antique's Galore. She usually accompanies Trixie on her research trips and goes antiquing while Trixie works. In the first book of the series "Death in Dahlonega" Dee Dee is a magnet for trouble. She stumbles upon a dead body while snooping around after a bathroom trip for her overly frequent visits to the potty. Dee Dee is loosely based on the combination of two of my friends. I will say a couple of the incidents in "Death in Dahlonega" really happened. They are just too funny to make up. Dee Dee has gone through the sudden death of her husband so she is able to help Trixie heal from her divorce. This friendship has become a win-win situation.

On the right is Belle, aka Nana, Trixie's great-aunt. When Betty Jo's, Trixie's mother, parents died at a young age she went to live with Nana who raised her like a mother. She is more like Trixie's grandmother. Now Nana is an enigma and for those of you who aren't quite sure what that means this is the definition I came up with:  One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable. Yep, that's Nana. She is what some would call a "character." At times she seems to be addle-minded and doing such things as wearing Victoria Secret gowns, flirting with younger men, and forgetting where she was going or what she was going to do. Then at other times she is as sharp as a tack. Trixie thinks some of her behavior is a ruse to get away with her quirky behavior. Betty Jo has the patience of Job when it comes to Nana, but Trixie tries to help out when she can. And it seems Nana is determined to help Trixie, and that is how she comes to be a player in crime-solving trio with Trixie and Dee Dee.

You can read more about these fun-loving, quirky characters in the Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series. The first book, "Death in Dahlonega" has been out since Oct. 2011 and I hope the next installment "Murder in Marietta" will be out by the first of the year. You can contact me for a signed copy, or it is available at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I hope you've had fun learning a little more about my characters. Next time I might just show you how to breathe life into a character!

                                              

Deborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photographs at Floyd Medical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards. Her debut cozy mystery "Death in Dahlonega", a winner in the ACFW Category Five Writer's Contest, is now available.
She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Deborah has been nomiated for Georgia Author of the Year 2012. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction. You can also catch her at
Sleuths and Suspects, where she reviews mysteries. She also contributes to the Cozy Mystery Magazine every other Tuesday.

You Are Not Alone! by Nancy Jill Thames

Flying home from Scottsdale last night I was reading an article in some publication (either The Wall Street Journal or the Southwest magazine in the pouch in front of me) that stated 28% of all adults (in America?) live alone these days. That's something like 3.3 million people it said! I wrote a post on my author blog recently about solitude doing a body good and this article backed up that message. To a point.

NANCY JILL THAMES

     Now if you're a workaholic like me, you may think your work keeps you company, right? Truth is we were created to interact with others. The article said even though solitude is something we all need at times, loneliness is a precursor to suicide. That's a bummer. Doesn't have to be that way. People still need friends and that's why we're here - to bring you stories of mystery, adventure, a little humor here and there and most of all characters who are yes, figments of our imagination, but those figures often embody ourselves. So what you get is community with people just like you. And we're real friends! Debbie Malone, Sandra Moore, Cindy Ragsdale, Traci Hilton, Linda Kozar and myself.
      If you're reading this post, you're probably a reader already. But as some of you have commented, you're new to the cozy genre. Well, this is where cozies are different. Our stories are usually based on everyday people solving mysteries - people who could be your next door neighbor - people who want to be in your lives. My old friends are Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot and Jessica Fletcher, but I'm making new friends reading new authors all the time.
     So if you live alone (or know someone who does), remember our books are here to give you friendship and fellowship. Who are some of your favorite characters? What kinds of settings do they live in? Do you think of them as friends or acquaintances?

And don't forget the Giveaway Extravaganza going on right now!  

 

A Fast & Fabulous Salmon Recipe Featured Today 
in the Cozy Kitchen

Nancy Jill Thames is the author of "Jillian Bradley Mysteries," a series often set in exclusive hotels and resorts, based on real life travel adventures with her husband of 44 years. Her mysteries incorporate her love of afternoon tea, which has earned her the title of “Queen of Afternoon Tea.” She holds a music degree from UT Austin and lives in Leander, Texas where she is a member of the Leander Writers Guild. Nancy Jill is busy working on book 6 Waiting for Santa, a murder mystery taking place on Christmas Eve near Jillian Bradley’s home in Clover Hills. She has won awards for her blogs, a pie contest for her Chip Chocolate Cream Pie, and has been on the Author Watch Bestseller List numerous times.

To check out her books, Murder in Half Moon Bay, The Ghost Orchid Murder, From the Clutches of Evil, The Mark of Eden, and Pacific Beach, please visit: 
http://www.nancy-jill.blogspot.com

ISN'T BRANDING FOR LIVESTOCK? and recipe for SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE

 by NANCY JILL THAMES

Doesn't matter what you're trying to sell - could be shoes, a service or a book, but you need branding if you're ever going to make it in today's world. Of course there's recognizable brands out there like Coke, AT&T, and GM but there's also you, whoever you are.   

     Took me a while to figure out my brand. Sure I'm a musician, artist and a pretty good cook (check out the recipe at the end), but I finally figured out the best brand for me was to be honest and just be who I am. So, after wrestling with trying to be witty and clever I decided my brand would be "Queen of Afternoon Tea" author of Jillian Bradley Mysteries. My protagonist is my alter ego living a life of gentility and mystery solving. She is branded as a widow and childless, Yorkie and art lover, garden columnist and garden club member. And I mustn't forget that Jillian is a lady who always serves afternoon tea or partakes of it where ever she visits. Even in "Pacific Beach" Jillian has tea and crumpets at The Mad Dogs Cafe with one of the characters in the book.

PACIFIC BEACH

      Take a look at people in your field and see how they brand themselves. Keep threshing your ideas out until you are comfortable with one that fits. Then, just become your brand.
     Now, before you decide what your brand will be it's a good idea to Google your ideas and see if the idea's been used before. Here's a good post on the subject you may want to read called The ABC's of Personal Branding. Above all understand that by branding yourself you will at last understand who you are and what you're trying to accomplish. As a Christian, I realize that's my brand too - one that I'm very grateful for and the reason for my writing. Being cooped up in a house all day doesn't afford many opportunities to share God's love. But people who read my books will get a glimpse of what being a Christian might be like...and who knows? Perhaps they'll even open their hearts to our loving Savior. Have you come up with a brand of your own? 

Thought I'd share a delicious summer recipe from Relish Magazine in the Cozy Kitchen.
Come on in and take a peek!

Grilled Shrimp with Tomato Salad

Sweet shrimp cooked on the grill perfectly complement a tomato salad with citrus vinaigrette.

 

Nancy Jill is busy working on book 6 Waiting for Santa, a murder mystery taking place on Christmas Eve near Jillian Bradley’s home in Clover Hills.

She has won awards for her blogs,  a pie contest for her Chip Chocolate Cream Pie, and has been on the Author Watch Bestseller List numerous times.


To check out her books, Murder in Half Moon Bay, The Ghost Orchid Murder, From the Clutches of Evil, The Mark of Eden, and Pacific Beach, please visit: 
her Web Site.