Recipes 'n Reads: Cookbooks with Old Recipes to Bring Back the Past, Tips on Writing Your Life Story #recipesandreads,#booksale, #RecipesnReads

 Hello and Welcome to the Focused on Story Blog! 

This is my "home" on the web--J.Q. Rose

Recipes 'n Reads Series

Today marks our 12th month of the Recipes 'n Reads series. 

What amazing recipes and books shared by my guest authors!

A BIG thank you to all of you!

2023

August—donalee Moulton

September—L.Diane Wolfe

October—Susan Bernhardt

November—Marsha West

December—Margaret Hanna 

 2024

January—Sherry Ellis

February—Karla Stover

March--Rosemary Morris

April--Helen Henderson

May—Joan Soggie

June—Diane Bator

July--JQ Rose (me)

* * * *

It's my pleasure to wind up the series this week with a little nostalgia.

Cookbooks with Old Recipes to Bring Back the Past

Atlanta Woman's Club Cookbook
1973-1974

I discovered this old cookbook in my mother's collection. The Atlanta Woman's Club Cookbook, filled with tasty recipes, was a fundraiser for the club and a tip of the hat to the many great cooks we had in my hometown, Atlanta, Illinois. I like collecting cookbooks, just like my mom. She had a shelf full of cookbooks and a bunch of recipes written on paper, recipe cards, and the back of napkins stuffed in her "Penguin Ice Bucket." I love reading through them. I don't think of myself as a fantastic cook or baker, but I can imagine how a recipe would be so tasty if someone else prepared it! 

As you may know, I am an evangelist for encouraging everyone to write their life story. What sparks memories any more than remembering the smell of food? How about grandma's yeast bread baking in the oven, mom's roast beef cooking in the Dutch oven for Sunday dinner? What "smell" brings you back to those good old days? Or perhaps, not such a good memory of a smell e.g. when a skunk sprayed our dog Cinnamon! I am wrinkling up my nose remembering that stinky dog and trying to get the smell out of her long-haired coat.

List of club officers

Take a peek at the page above and notice the list of officers. The only one using her first name is a widow. Otherwise, each woman is listed with her husband's name. Definitely a sign of the times.

The members of the Atlanta Woman's Club contributed their favorite recipes to be published within the pages.  You can be sure there are a lot of delicious dishes within these pages. But, can you prepare them like they did without your microwave, electric can opener, air fryer, instant pot and so many gadgets we take for granted these days?

A Book of Favorite Recipes

Maybe this blog post will inspire you to review your life and record or write about a family member who was a good cook or a lousy one.

Your Words, Your Life Story: 
A Journal for Sharing Memories

Start with that story and then continue with another memory in your life experience. One memory will lead to another. Keep going. Your kids and future generations will cherish learning about you. 

If you need some inspiration and tips on writing your
stories, check out  the first book in the Life Storytellers Series, Your Words, Your Life Story: A Guide to Sharing Memories

CLICK TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK AT AMAZON   

Click to download the e/Book from your favorite online bookseller 

Thank you for joining us for the Recipes 'n Reads series. I was privileged to share the recipes with you and delighted to introduce you to new authors or to re-visit authors you love to read.

I'll wrap up the series with this little recipe, Happiness Cake, which I discovered in another recipe book. We all need to stir this one up during these difficult times. 

Happiness Cake Recipe 

4 C. Faith in God

1 C. Kind Deeds

1 C. Consideration for Others

2 C. Sacrifices

3 C. Forgiveness

2 C. Well Beaten Faults

Mix thoroughly. Add tears of Joy Love, and Kindly services. Fold in 4 cups of Prayers and Faith. Blend with Human Kindness and serve with a Smile anytime. With Love, God

Enjoy some feel-good reads this summer.
Order my cozy mysteries, paranormal novels, memoir on sale through July 31.
Click here to download a copy at Smashwords for $1.49 each

UPDATE: Because I am online here on the blog, on Facebook, and Substack, I will no longer publish the Rose Courier newsletter. Those places give you enough opportunities to keep you up-to-date with me. And as my mom would say, "I don't want to wear out my welcome." Click the links below to visit me online.

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What smell brings back a memory for you? Please leave a comment below. 

Recipes 'n Reads:Author Marsha R. West's Yummy Pot Roast Recipe and Mystery Novel, COMPROMISE, AND JQ's New Release!

 

Recipes 'n Reads Series
Guest author Marsha R. West

What a great blog post today! Two important features:

***My guest is mystery author and friend, Marsha R. West.

***I am announcing my new release, Your Life with Jesus: How to Spark Memories and Write Your Spiritual Memoir is now available in eBook and paperback! Find out all the details after Marsha shares an mmmm--good recipe and her romantic suspense novel, COMPROMISE, below.

Your Life with Jesus: How to Spark Memories and Write Your Spiritual Memoir
J.Q. Rose

****

Series by mystery author Marsha R. West

Let's welcome mystery author Marsha R. West to the Recipe and Reads series which is scheduled every third Wednesday of the month. Marsha shares her favorite recipe and the reasons why she chose this particular one. And Marsha has brought along one of her mysteries, COMPROMISE, with twists and turns that will keep you reading! If you enjoy stories with mature protagonists, then you will be delighted with Marsha's stories.

Welcome Marsha! Thanks for sharing your recipe and book with us today. Your dish is one of my favorites! Please, tell us all about them!

Thank you so much for inviting me to stop by, J. Q. As it turns out cooking and eating play big parts in my books. But for today’s post, I chose the crock pot roast, potatoes and carrots that Kathy, the daughter of my heroine in COMPROMISE, makes when she invites her mother Jessica to her home. Kathy has an ulterior motive. Because of the “accidents” that have happened to Jessica, Kathy, her husband, and her sister want to convince Jessica to stop protesting the use of Worley Construction, the company Jessica holds responsible for her husband’s death five years ago. Comfort food like pot roast can go a long way to soften up a person.

Now this is actually a meal I prepared in a crock pot for many Sundays when our daughters were young. We’d come back into the house after church and oh, my, the yummy smells. Then we moved away from eating so much beef. Hope you will try this recipe and you’ll give COMPROMISE a try, too. It’s my Hallmarkish type book with a murder on page two!

The recipe below is from Cooking Professionally, an online site where I find lots of recipes. Originally, I made the roast the way my mother told me—a little of this, a little of that. Taste and add what’s needed. My mother was a great cook. I thought you might need something a little more specific. LOL I did use this recipe just a week ago when we had a cold front come in. The roast was fall-apart-tender. Enjoy! Thanks again, JQ.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup low-sodium beef broth

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 pound small potatoes, scrubbed and halved

• 3 carrots, peeled and cut crosswise into 2" pieces (I use baby carrots)

• 1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1/2" wedges’

• 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced• 4 cloves garlic (I used tsp of chopped garlic)

• 1 sprig rosemary (I use dried)

• 1 (3.5 pounds) beef chuck roast

• Kosher salt to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1

In the bottom of a slow cooker, whisk together broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and cornstarch. Add potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, and rosemary.

Step 2

Season beef with salt and pepper, then nestle into vegetables. (I put the roast in the bottom and the veggies on top.) Cover and cook on high until roast is fork-tender, 5 hours (or 8 hours on low). (I did 5 ½ hours on high.)

Step 3

Thinly slice roast and arrange on top of vegetables on a platter. Skim fat from extra juices in slow cooker and drizzle over top. Serve warm.

****

COMPROMISE
Marsha R. West
Romantic Suspense

Back of the Book

Widowed, shopkeeper, and transplanted Texan Jessica Allen fights to protect the green in the New Hampshire town of Tidbury, settled by her late husband’s family. New Hampshire of the beautiful fall leaves, picturesque Christmases, and sometimes brutal winters. She’s angry to learn developers plan to use Worley Construction, a company she holds responsible for her husband’s death. When a member of the board of selectmen is murdered, family and friends encourage Jessica to run for the seat. Will threats force her to compromise her principles?
Developer Jeff Hudson wants to build a retirement center on the Tidbury Green. Despite Jessica’s opposition, he believes he can convince her of the need for the center and that its place on the green will leave plenty of room for all of the town’s activities. But has he partnered with an unsafe builder? How much money will he lose if he breaks the contract to please Jessica? Her position on the board of selectmen may cause a conflict of interest and force them apart. Will more people have to die to save the green?

Will Jessica be forced to compromise to find her second chance at love?

Thanks for being my guest, Marsha. I will definitely cook this. Sounds so tasty and tender. I already know I loved COMPROMISE! 

Click here to download the eBook or to order the paperback edition of COMPROMISE 

About Marsha R. West

A retired elementary school principal, a former school board member, and theatre arts teacher, Marsha R. West writes Romance, Suspense, and Second Chances. Experience Required.

Author Marsha R. West

The theme of her ten books is second chances, including a 4-part series titled The Second Chances Series. She believes in Happily Ever Afters. Her husband picked up a plaque for her on one of their several trips to Maine that states her philosophy exactly. Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end. The Heroines and Heroes in her books are in their 40s and 50s with their parents and children often playing supporting roles.

She has her own weekly blog and monthly newsletter. Her e-books can be found on Books to Read—which lets you choose your format— AMAZON, B & N, KOBO, iTunes, and other sites. Print books are also at Draft 2 Digital, Indie Lector Stores, and Amazon. 

Sign up for her Newsletter by clicking the link here NEWSLETTER MRW Press LLC (list-manage.com) 

Connect with Marsha online:

Author website to find all of her books with links and her blog

Email:  marsha@marsharwest.com 

Facebook 

Twitter  @Marsharwest

Pinterest 

Instagram 

Goodreads

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I am thrilled to announce my eBook, Your Life with Jesus: How to Spark Memories and Write Your Spiritual Memoir, is now published! The paperback will be available soon.

So, you're probably wondering what this book is about and how it can help you. Read on.

SNIPPETS FROM EARLY REVIEWS:

“Topic aimed at women from a Christian perspective.”

“Content engages the reader to recognize the power of her own stories.”

Your Life with Jesus
J.Q. Rose

“Biblical references with prompts are excellent.”

****

The purpose of this Christian-based book, Your Life with Jesus, is to spark memories of your life experiences so you can use them when writing your spiritual memoir. This book guides you in penning your sacred story and invites you to journey into a deeper faith experience.

Part One of the book includes information on ways to ignite your memories and tips on writing stories readers will want to read. Part Two suggests forty topics for journaling. Each topic, designed to awaken your life experiences, is accompanied by a verse from the Bible and a writing prompt. Not every topic will resonate with you. Select the ones that stir you.

This book will open your heart to know God is speaking to you as you pray, plan, remember, and compose your stories.

Take the time now to create your spiritual memoir. Download your copy so you can preserve those special memories of Your Life with Jesus. 

Click here to download the eBook at amazon.com

Click here to download the eBook from major digital booksellers. The paperback edition will be available soon!

Thank you!!

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