Monday, September 9, 2013

Spotlight on Susan Mallery


With more than 25 million books sold worldwide, New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery is known for creating characters who feel as real as the folks next door, and for putting them into emotional, often funny situations readers recognize from their own lives. Susan’s books have made Booklist’s Top 10 Romances list in four out of five consecutive years. RT Book Reviews says, “When it comes to heartfelt contemporary romance, Mallery is in a class by herself.” Susan grew up in southern California and currently lives in Seattle with her husband and the most delightfully spoiled little dog who ever lived.






Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold Cookbook:
A Love Story Told Through 150 Recipes
By Susan Mallery
Harlequin
August 27, 2013


Fans of Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold series appreciate both her heartwarming small-town romances and her love of good food, which can frequently be found at the heart of her stories. It was a delight to discover that the author had decided to combine her two loves into one book that combines an all-new "coming home" Fool's Gold love story with mouth-watering, "you too can make these" recipes for all four seasons.  

Seventeen years ago, when Ana Raquel was in the second grade, she'd been chosen to be Cinderella in the school play.  Greg had been picked to play Prince Charming and, in the end, he'd gotten all the applause.  In junior high, they'd both run for student council president. Greg had won, leaving her with the runner-up vice-president position.  In high school, she'd been nominated for homecoming queen and he'd been nominated for homecoming king.  

You can probably guess who won and who didn't.
All of which she could live, except for what happened the night of their senior prom.

Sometimes that annoying boy who was a thorn in your side grows up to be the sexy man you want by your side. When Ana Raquel Hopkins moves home to Fool's Gold, the last person she wants to see is Greg Clary.  Her nemesis since second grade, Greg has always been one step ahead of her when it comes to snagging the spotlight and it appears that hasn't changed.  An accomplished chef, Ana Raquel has plans to take Fool's Gold by storm with her street food only to discover Greg already has everybody in town raving about the fabulous food at his new restaurant. As if that isn't bad enough, when she approaches the town mayor with her brilliant idea of publishing a cookbook of Fool's Gold recipes, the mayor tells her Greg has already brought the same idea to her and then suggests the two chefs write the book together!  Determined to keep her distance personally while collaborating professionally, it doesn't take long before Greg's actions cause Ana Raquel's opinion of him to undergo a shift.  Could it be that the man the boy has grown into is someone she'd like to spend time with?  And, even more inconceivable, what if he had always been a nice guy and she had misjudged him all these years?  


Readers are invited to join Greg and Ana Raquel on their journey as they explore their feelings

for one another while perfecting 150 recipes that make the most of nature's seasonal bounty. From Spring's savory vegetarian "Greek Salad Sandwich" and party-perfect "Bubbly Feta and Sweet Pepper Dip with Pita Crisps" and Summer's "Caprese Pasta Salad with Balsamic Chicken," "Buttery Tilapia with Dijon Dill Green Beans" and "Life-Changing Guacamole" to Fall's "Triple Berry Cooler," "Heirloom Tomato and Goat Cheese Quiche" and "Carrot Cake Muffins" plus Winter's "Seared Pecan Salmon with Warm Lentils," "Sweet Potato Biscuits," and "Coconut Vanilla Snowball Cupcakes," (All recipes I plan to make very soon!) there's something for every season and every taste. The recipes, designed to take advantage of fresh seasonal ingredients, are easy to understand and execute and are accompanied by beautiful photos that have me eager to visit my local Farmer's Market then start cooking!


With a heartwarming love story woven among tasty, easy to make recipes for every occasion and every season, this is a must-have collection for cooks and romance lovers alike.   




Do you enjoy cooking?  Do you have a favorite cooking season?  Since we're moving into Fall here and into Spring in the Southern Hemisphere, tell me your favorite dishes to make (or eat) during those seasons.  Do you (like me) frequent your local Farmer's Market for your fruits and veggies?  Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?

Two lucky readers who leave a comment on today's spotlight blog will be randomly chosen to each receive a copy of Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold Cookbook.  (U.S. and Canadian addresses only)

38 comments:

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  2. I love Susan Mallery's books! I have been a Fools gold cheerleader for 2 years now! She is a wonderful person and I got to meet her 2 years a go at a local book store. If you haven't read her books you are missing out. Thanks for having her her at The Romance Dish. My favorite holiday recipe is Buttermilk Pie. Some people say yuck because of the buttermilk, but you would never know its in it.

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    1. Kim, I've never tried Buttermilk Pie. Off to look up a recipe and see what's in it.

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  3. In the Fall it gets chilly here in Wisconsin, so I like to cook heavier, warmer meals like pork stew with a lot of onions, potatoes, carrots and peppers. I also make chicken pot pie with homemade crust. I love apple pie and yeast apple cake with streusels. Love farmer markets in the summer and the fall. Sweet corn! Blueberries, strawberries...Zucchini bread, On the stove top tomatoes, onions and zucchini heated together. Squash- oven baked with a little brown sugar.

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    1. Wiping the drool from my keyboard...

      I'd like to come spend Fall at your house, Laurie! I bought an acorn squash at the store this weekend; my first of the season. I love fall veggies...and fruits!

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  4. I love the Thanksgiving meal and this year it is on my daughter's bday. I love making all the trimmings esp homemade red cabbage, spinach casserole and apple pie.

    During the summer I love to make fruit desserts, esp rhubarb pie and other variations using rhubard.

    In the winter like to use the crockpot and make pot roast.

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    1. How do you cook your red cabbage, Pat? I'd like to give that a try.

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    2. It is easy; how can I contact you with the recipe?

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    3. Red Cabbage: (My aunt's recipe)
      1 head of red cabbage
      2 strips of bacon cooked crisp

      1 onion, grated or chop in very small pieces - I prefer to grate it - it melts and you dont have piece of onion to munch on

      salt and pepper to taste
      2 tbs cider vinegar
      1 apple, peeled and cut up in small chunks
      1 tbs sugar

      Slice or grate cabbage. Hold aside.
      Fry the bacon in pot. In same pan add the rest of the ingredients and saute on top of stove on med heat; keep stirring til tender. It takes a while to soften. I finish it up in the microwave.

      Taste as you are going along - if too sour, add a bit more sugar; if too sweet, add more vinegar. Add more salt as needed to taste.

      I like to make it the day ahead as flavors set in.

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  5. I am a longtime collector of cookbooks and recipes...and would LOVE to win this cookbook since I also enjoy reading Susan's books! My favorite time of the year is Fall...and my favorite meal is Thanksgiving. For football season, I love to make a big pot of chili and put out toppings (I add grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream).

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    1. Hi kayjax! I'm really looking forward to some cooler temps. Chili will be one of the first things I make!

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  6. I love the Fall and the food that goes with it. I love homemade chicken noodle soup and crockpot meals. I love baking and trying different things. Here's one to try and it's really good.


    Sugar Honey Baked Apples


    INGREDIENTS

    8 large baking apples
    1 cup Honey Graham Crackers (finely crushed)
    3/4 cup sugar
    1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
    1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
    1 tablespoon lemon juice
    1 can (12 oz.) ginger ale

    DIRECTIONS

    1. Partially core apples, leaving bottoms intact to hold stuffing. Peel strip from top of each apple.

    2. In small bowl toss together graham crumbs, sugar, nuts, butter or butter and lemon juice. Spoon into centers of apples. In shallow baking dish arrange apples, cut sides up.

    3. Pour ginger ale around apples. Bake at 350°F for 50 to 65 minutes or until apples are tender, spooning liquid over apples occasionally.

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    1. Oh, man, that sounds wonderful! Thanks for the recipe, Kimmy. I can't wait to try it!

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    2. Oh wow! Forgot my email addy!
      kac_030@yahoo.com

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    3. Kimmy, thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I can't wait to make it. :)
      Carol L

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  7. I want to make the pumpkin whoopie pies. The romance that is woven through is great, just wished it was a little longer

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    1. Those Pumpkin Whoopie Pies caught my attention too! I'm thinking of starting at the beginning of the book and making them all!

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  8. Oh, I must try that baked apple recipe. September is always apple month at our house as family and friends share the bounty from their visits to North Georgia's apple orchards. From apple butter on a rare breakfast biscuit to chicken salad with apples, celery, and raisins for lunch to pork tenderloin with sauteed apples for dinner to a slice of apple cake for a snack, I'll be using apples in my kitchen over these next weeks.

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    1. Me too, Janga. The Farmer's Market is filled with all sorts of delicious local apple varieties. I do love my apples!

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  9. Susan Mallery is an auto buy for me.. If her name is on the book it goes on my tbr bookshelf..
    I am not a great cook, but it is time for my Pumpkin Bread recipe to come out of the recipe box. Everyone seems to like it, no one says no when I give them a loaf.. Then their is my quiches, they are good too.. So far I have not given anyone food poisoning or anything near death..lol

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  10. This cookbook is wonderful and very special. For Fall I prepare eggplant and roasted veggies with chicken. For summer orzo and veggies. I enjoy frequenting Farmer's Markets.

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  11. I enjoying cooking and learning about new recipes which are enticing and great. I cook more in the fall and winter and make stews with wonderful fresh vegetables from the farmers market. I use apples a great deal - applesauce and apple cake are both favorites. Thanks for this great giveaway which would be a treasure.

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  12. Oh, I love it when the summer vegetables are available. I grow tomatoes and green onions mostly since I don't have a lot of room but I do get fresh zucchini and corn and whatever I can get my hands on. I make all kinds of dishes but my favorite is a tomato and mayonnaise sandwich or just popping the cherry tomatoes in my mouth lol.

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  13. I pretty much cook about every day. The fall I am looking forward to a big pot of chili. Summer when the tomatoes are fresh from the garden I love bacon and tomatoe sandwiches and a good toco salad with the fresh tomatoes. Thanks for the great giveaway would love to have this cook book.

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  14. I can't cook... I love baking though... Love making cookies because I love the smell! :)

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  15. Worlds worst cook? This girl!! lol I think my attention span is so short that recipes start to whirl and I end up with disastrous results (just ask my sister!! ha). I do make a mean jell-o dessert though :P

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  16. Ys, I love cooking. My fave season for cooking, however, is when it's cold outside (Fall/Winter/Early Spring) 'cause cooking gets my kitchen and me all hot and bothered. :-) My hubby and I live alone now, all six children grown and independent, and we love to eat homemade soups, stews and baked casseroles. And Susan's books are on my keeper shelves. I would really like this newest book of hers because of the recipes as well as the love story! What a combo! jdh2690@gmail.com

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  17. This is wonderful!! I'm so happy to see this book of receipes.. Fall is for me because we tailgate and I have the opportunity to cook things I normally don't [because I get tired of eating it and or freezing it & forgetting I have it].

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  18. I have an easy beef stew recipe. Cube London broil, flour it lightly & brown lightly in oil in a large pot. If there is excess oil, scrape it out. Add 2 8oz cans of tomato sauce & 2 cans of water, mini carrots & mini potatoes, washed & cut in quarters. Add dried basal, some garlic & onions (fresh or flakes are fine). Cook on low heat covered for about hr & 1/2, stirring occasionally. You can serve it with biscuits.

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  19. I love the fall when the weather starts to cool down. That's perfect soup weather and I love all kinds!

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  20. I love to cook in the Fall when there is a crisp coolness to the air. There is a bounty of fall produce at the market. I make a squash soup that we enjoy. It has butternut squash, smoked sausage, tomatoes, etc. in it. It is delicious secreted with homemade bread or biscuits.

    This sounds like the perfect book for me. I'll read and cook my way through it. I hope the release is going we'll.

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  21. I like to make eggplant parm with a side of pasta and a nice tossed salad.
    Natalie's Mama

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  22. I like to cook something hearty as the weather turns to the fall season. Comfort foods like scalloped potatoes and a huge pot of chili with green peppers, tomatoes, onions and ground chicken/turkey. YUM! And I'm definitely looking forward to cooking up some of the recipes from Susan's book! :)

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  23. I cook almost every day and some days I enjoy it and some days I am less than enthusiastic. I do enjoy finding new recipes and trying them out so that we don't always eat the same thing.

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  24. I also cook every day and always enjoy making new dishes; I especially love seeing the photos of the finished product. Thanks for the giveaway and I do enjoy Susan's books very much.

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  25. Forgot to mention recipe I enjoy making - chicken parmesan - I make the cutlets very thin and a yummy marinara sauce.

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  26. I do enjoy cooking...not so much the daily meal preparation, though. I like to try different things. There are a couple of recipes in Susan's books featuring pumpkin that I'm sure would be big hits with some of my family members. Thanks for the post and giveaway.

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  27. NOt a real "Betty Crocker " here but do like to cook when its cooler and then freeze it I like to make lasagne with spinach and lots of meat and 4 different cheeses and I make about 5 pans when I do and we can enjoy it anytime... Love your books!

    Donna

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