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Two years ago in
late December, I discovered almond paste and went down a cake rabbit hole. My
family celebrates Christmas on New Year’s Day most years, but that year we were
celebrating after January 6, which is Epiphany. Epiphany is the traditional date
the Wise Men visited the Christ Child, and to celebrate the event a special
cake, with a plastic baby or bean hidden in the cake, is served. The Epiphany
cake, often referred to as a King cake or the Three Kings cake, has many forms,
flavors, and even many trinkets hidden in it. It is also a tradition in many
countries, especially those with a Catholic background. 

I’d never heard of a
King cake, except in reference to Louisiana Mardi Gras celebrations. After some
research, I decided to come up with my own version of an Epiphany King cake
using almond paste. It took several tries to create something that showed off
the frangipane I’d made with almond paste. On my first attempt, using a yellow
cake recipe, the frangipane melted into the cake batter and didn’t give me the
definition I wanted.   

So I began
experimenting. I decided I’d make a chocolate spice cake with a frangipane
layer. That worked. I’m calling it Epiphany Frangipane Chocolate Spice Cake. If
you don’t want to make it an Epiphany cake, complete with trinkets, just call
it Frangipane Chocolate Spice Cake. Here’s a tip I learned the hard way – be
sure to make the frangipane first! 

Also, you may want
to consider adding the following: 

·      
1 bean, or
1 plastic small baby figurine, or several small trinkets. Be sure to tell your
guests these items are hidden in the cake!

·      
Chopped
maraschino cherries or chopped candied fruit for decorating the cake. You can add
the chopped candied fruits to the baking pan before you add the batter, scattering
them evenly around the pan, or you can reserve them and scatter them over the
top of the baked cake adhering them to the cake with a bit of confectioner
sugar glaze. 

Preheat oven to 350°
F.  

Combine flour with
spices and cocoa in a large bowl. 

In another bowl,
cream shortening until fluffy. Add 1 cup sugar and mix again, then add 1 cup
flour and spices. Mix and beat until combined, adding vanilla and ¾ cup buttermilk,
¼ cup at a time, as needed to make batter mixable. 

Add remaining flour,
sugar, and buttermilk until combined. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Keep batter
scraped down from sides and bottom on bowl while beating. 

Add eggs and
remaining buttermilk. Beat 2 more minutes on medium. 

In a lightly
buttered, easy-release Bundt pan, gently pour 2 cups of batter into cake pan,
smoothing out until batter is level if necessary. 

Add all ingredients into a mixing bowl. Combine ingredients on medium, then on
high until fully combined. Refrigerate frangipane until cake batter is ready. 

Drop frangipane by
teaspoonfuls onto batter, taking care to center in in batter. Or alternately
you could pipe frangipane onto batter. 

Gently cover frangipane with 1½ cups batter, leveling out
if necessary. 

Add another layer of frangipane in same
manner as before. 

Cover with 1½ cups cake batter. 

Put upper rack in the lower third of oven.
Bake cake for 60-65 minutes or until wooden skewer inserted in cake comes out
clean. You need a long skewer, not just a toothpick to test for doneness. 

Cool pan upright for 5-10 minutes. Invert
onto a wire cooling rack, Cool cake completely on wire rack. 

Note: You will have extra batter and
frangipane with this recipe. To use remaining mixes, make cupcakes. 

Spoon ⅛ cup batter
into a cupcake line. Top with 1 teaspoon frangipane, centering it in batter.

Cover frangipane
with another scant ⅛ cup batter. Bake at 375° F for 35 minutes or until

toothpick inserted
in cupcake comes out clean. 

I hope you’ll enjoy
my cake. While it’s baking check out my romantic comedy with a touch of drama, A Groom for
Mama. There’s cake in this book, too. Wedding cake. 

Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes, she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend.

The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness.

A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom for Mama.

Available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer, she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems.

In addition to writing, she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting, and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter, FB, or her blog.

When the year starts to wind down, I usually do an evaluation of
what I’ve accomplished, and what I’m still working on. Augh. Some of my goals
for 2023 came to fruition, others fell flat, and still others were not in my
control to begin with. Augh, again. I did manage to finish the third
installment of Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series, entitled Sticks and Stones, but fell short of my
deadline for spring. Instead, I completed my manuscript just before our Canadian
Thanksgiving in early October. How fitting, since the novel ends during our
Thanksgiving. Divine timing, it seems, is everything. My goal was to get the
novel ready for my publisher’s 2024 publication roster. Um, no. Fell a little
short. But I got into the 2025 for sure, unless something unforeseen happens
and a space opens up. Such is the complexity of the publishing industry. Sigh.

That said, I feel very blessed to have a publisher like Mirror World Publishing, who
literally has their authors’ backs, and are so supportive and understanding.
Another goal I did manage to get launched was compiling a writing resource
ebook called Tips,
Tools & Tricks for the Tenacious Writer, and offering it for free
on my website as a downloadable PDF. It was actually ten years in the making,
as I took helpful articles from my blog to share my publishing journey with
wannabe writers or authors who might just glean some useful material from it. I
managed to get the freebie up last March, so a win-win for me! *Pats back
vigorously*

A smaller goal was to try to get my books into the local libraries
of the Southern Ontario region I live in. Talk about red tape and politics. Triple
augh! I contacted the right people in the right positions, explained that I
wanted my books to share shelf space with the numerous books they had on hand,
and of course told them I was a local author. I was informed that their budgets
would only allow so many books to be purchased (most likely famous authors or
bestsellers), but that I could drop off my books at the closest libraries in my
location. So I did. I chose the first books in my two young adult series, The
Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and Lost
and Found from Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls. I wrote a cover
letter and packaged my book babies up, and sent them on their way. I also
mentioned in the letter that if they decided against purchasing my books, then
please accept these titles as a donation. Sigh. Never even got a thank you or a
charitable slip for tax purposes. *Shakes fist vehemently*

My HUGE goal (this one is NOT in my control) was to acquire a
literary agent to handle foreign and subsidiary rights for both my young adult
series. Yeah, I know it’s a pipe dream, but I truly believe in myself as a
writer, and do want to bring more light into the world through my books. I
began this endeavor in November 2022, crafting a query tailored to my goals,
and researched prospective literary agents. Shoot me now. I really hate Query
Tracker because the format is geared to one manuscript. So, I got creative, cut
and pasted my query and sent it along. I did hit pay dirt in July with a UK
agent who requested my PDFs! My elation was short-lived, as she explained that
her heart had to be all in, and she didn’t feel she was the right fit for
representation. Hey, I wouldn’t have expected anything else. That said, I know
that the query letter I wrote did its job, and captured the eye of an agent. At
least now I know there’s a chance of landing the perfect agent for me.
*Crossing fingers and toes*

Of course, I had many other
mini goals throughout 2023, as I continued to chip away and plod through my
author life. How about you? If you’re an author, did you reach many of your
goals? If you’re a reader, did you realize what an author’s life entails? Would
love to read your comments. Wishing you, and your loved ones, a safe and happy holiday season. Cheers!

Sapphyria’s Book Promotions presents the 1-Week Virtual Book Tour for Deluge by Mike Dubisch and Carolyn Watson-Dubisch – YA Graphic Novel (December 11-15, 2023)

About Deluge:

About the Book:

12 year old Laura was just a normal girl from Seattle when her mother decided to move to a mysterious town in the midwest. The moment they arrive in their new home hundreds of frogs rain from the sky. Her quirky new neighbor has a house full of knick knacks and odd tiny creatures beckoning from the shadows, and there’s a terrible curse on the town that makes every summer storm a life threatening event. Welcome to the town of Deluge.

Book Details:

Genres: YA Graphic Novel

Page Count: 50

Add to Goodreads: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202409014-deluge

Purchase from Amazon: 

https://amzn.to/3uNW4dH

Follow the Book Tour:

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/12/book-tour-schedule-deluge-by-mike.html

Mike and Carolyn Dubisch began collaborating artistically at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. They married soon after graduating and began working together. Their first major project was designing rides on the Turn of the Century Carousel that was displayed in Grand Central Station in New York, The L.A. Auto Show in California, Also in Washington D.C., and New Orleans. Their comic book adaptation of the Japanese fable Urishima Taro, initially created for a fundraiser for the tsunami victims in Japan, was licensed by FOX in 2013.

Mike Dubisch is well known for his fantasy art and comics, including art for Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons and Aliens vs Predator. Carolyn Watson-Dubisch is a multiple award winning author and illustrator of 18 children’s books, working with multiple publishers and authors. Her work has appeared in Highlights for Children Magazine, Hopscotch Magazine and she designed and illustrated a regular feature in Whimsy Magazine for 5 years. Their most ambitious project, the all-ages graphic novel series “The People That Melt in The Rain”, is the product of over 10 years of development.

Social Media Links:

This year seems to have zipped by much too fast. Our family is already
hinting for me to cook their favorite dishes for Christmas dinner. One wants a ham
with gravy from drippings. Another is pleading for green bean casserole, while
another wants fresh asparagus spears and dinner rolls. Me, I have a sweet tooth
and am looking forward to a home baked apple pie, of course ala mode, for
dessert. 😊 One thing the entire family is
looking forward to is my special dressing. Here’s the recipe for you.

Preheat oven 350° F. 

Soak craisins, or raisins,
in warm water to soften for fifteen minutes. 

Melt butter in a frying
pan. Sauté celery and onion until opaque, about 7 minutes.

Drain craisins. Combine
all ingredients in a medium size bowl, then season with salt and pepper.  Pour chicken stock to moisten ingredients and
mix lightly.

Grease an oven safe pan
them scoop in mixture.

Bake 25 – 30
minutes.

Merry Christmas,

Emma

Here’s a peek at my Christmas collection. I hope you enjoy it.

Winter storms
swirling snow and unexpected guests on the eve of Christmas, the pungent
fragrance of fresh pine boughs, springs of mistletoe hung with red ribbons, and
a stolen kiss underneath the kissing ball comprise scenes of Christmas in the
country. Ice skating anyone? Have a cup of wassail and toast your toes in front
of a warm fire while you enjoy four short stories of sweet Regency Christmas
romances. 

Amazon Link

Emma Lane is a gifted author who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma, and spice as Sunny Lane. 

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own. 

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma’s new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma’s face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest.

About It Hurts Every Time:

“Death is not the end, sir,

No, sir, not the end of the line,

Just remember what I say to you;

It hurts, baby,

It hurts every time.”

Pluto Garcia is a lieutenant in the Community Militia of Morrisette, a post-communist city-state where a miracle drug has advanced enough to allow the dying a second chance at life by launching them into the nearest available universe in which they are still alive.

In his latest incarnation, Pluto is tasked with investigating the death of Krishna Klein, a brilliant but troubled philanthropist who has been found with a bullet in his head following a week-long bender. With the aid of his assigned partner, Esther Dupont, Pluto uncovers a techno-fascistic plot to plunge the flawed Utopia of Morrissette into authoritarian control once and for all.

Follow the Book Tour:

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2023/11/book-tour-schedule-it-hurts-every-time.html

The other day I wanted a quick easy meal, so I peeked into the pantry to see what I had on hand. I found cans of chicken, green chiles, corn, black beans and cream of chicken soup, and some tortillas, so I set out to create something. Here’s what I came up with. We liked it, and I hope you will too.

Quick Oven Quesadilla

Preheat oven to 350° F

In a skillet over medium high heat brown the tortillas on both sides.

While tortillas are browning, mix chicken, corn, beans, chilies, olives, soup, cheddar cheese and water. Heat the mix in a large saucepan stirring until well mixed and beginning to bubble.

Lightly spray the bottom of a cake pan or baking sheet. Lay one tortilla in the pan, top with about ¼ cup mix (for a large tortilla, less for smaller tortillas) onto top of browned tortilla, spreading mix almost to the edge. Top with ¼ cup of finely shredded Mexican cheese. Repeat with other tortilla and 3/4 cup mix. Save left over mix for another day’s use, or you can double the tortillas and make a bigger meal the first time.

Bake about 10-15 minutes or until cheese on top has melted and you can see filling bubbling. (I’ve also baked this for a shorter time at a higher temp when was in a hurry.) Turn off oven and switch to the high broil setting on the oven and broil until cheese on top begins to brown.

Remove from oven. Cut and serve with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, guacamole, salsa or other Mexican side toppings.

If you want to make several stacks at a time lay the base tortillas on a baking sheet and assemble as many as your ingredients allow. Number will depend on the size of your tortillas.

If you only make one stack, or 2 smaller individual servings, the first time you can use the remainder of the filling for a second quesadilla meal or as filling for enchiladas. It will make about 4-6 enchiladas depending on the size of your tortilla. Warm your ingredients before assembling the stacks or enchiladas to cut down on heating time in oven. Make a cheese sauce, or other Mexican sauce to cover the enchiladas and top with shredded cheese. Heat in a 350° oven until cheese has melted and is beginning to brown.

While your dinner is cooking, check out Catherine’s multi-award-winning Inspirational Romantic Suspense The Nun and the Narc. Partially set in Mexico, the heroine, Sister Margaret Mary, an adventurous novice, dines on some unusual marketplace snacks. 

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicably attracted to him, he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them by making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion, and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

Multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. A former freelance writer, she has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit (under her real name) in the Christian and secular market. Now she writes sweet and inspirational romance. Her debut inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing, has garnered multiple contests finals and wins.

Catherine loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, watching movies, and the theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.

Learn more about Catherine Castle on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out Catherine’s Amazon author page and her Goodreads page. You can also find Catherine on Stitches Thru Time and the SMP authors blog site. thors blog site.