Happy Holidays Egg Nog Cake By Kelli Wilkins

Happy Holidays Egg Nog Cake

This easy (and delicious) egg nog cake is made from a boxed cake mix.

Ingredients:

1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix (with pudding in the mix)

¹⁄₄ cup vegetable oil, (adjust according to package directions, if necessary)

2 eggs, (adjust according to package directions)

1 ¹⁄₂ cups eggnog, (substitute for water and adjust according to package directions)

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (add more to taste if you want a stronger flavor)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven and oil/grease your cake pan, so the cake doesn’t stick. (A Bundt pan works best for this recipe – or you could make cupcakes!)

Prepare cake mix according to the directions on the box – substituting the egg nog for the water. Add ground nutmeg to the mix and blend well.

Bake cake according to the package directions. Let cake cool before adding frosting or other toppings.

Topping Suggestions:

You can top the cake with vanilla frosting, thawed whipped topping, or make an egg nog glaze. (I used frosting for my cake.)

Egg Nog Glaze Ingredients:

2 cups powdered sugar   

2 tablespoons butter, softened

3 tablespoons eggnog

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ to 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, if desired

In a medium bowl, combine ingredients, adding enough egg nog for desired consistency. Drizzle over the cake and let set. If the glaze is too runny, add more powdered sugar.

Enjoy!!

As 2019 draws to a close, I’d like to share news about my new non-fiction guide to romance, 

Romance Every Weekend: 104 Fun Ways to Express Your Love.

Whether you’re just starting out dating, in a committed relationship, newlyweds, or you’ve been married for twenty years, Romance Every Weekend will show you how you can strengthen the bond between you and your loved one and deepen your relationship.

Romance shouldn’t be reserved for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or an anniversary. Why should people wait for a special occasion to show someone they love that they care? Love can (and should) be expressed every chance you get.

Romance Every Weekend features 104 fun and easy ways you can express your love to that special someone in your life. Perfect for men or women, it focuses on tender, everyday gestures that let your partner know how much you love him or her.

Some suggestions include:

* Today, tell your sweetheart: “I knew I loved you when…” Sharing your feelings and expressing

your love verbally has a deeper meaning than giving a gift or sending a card.

* Break out of your comfort zone. It’s time to try something new with your mate. Sign up for a class being offered today, in person, in your local area. It can be anything: cooking, Pilates, yoga, swimming, dancing, painting… Take the first class you find and run with it. (Whatever happens, remember, you’re in it together.)

* Watch the sun set together. No talking. But you can certainly hold hands. 

If you're looking for ways to keep your romance fresh, this is the book for you!

Romance Every Weekend makes a great holiday gift for you – or for your sweetie! Why not order it now and set a New Year’s resolution to try all 104 suggestions in 2020? (You may even come up with a few of your own!)

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08124HBMS

All other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3npVVP

Visit my website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com to learn about all of my books.

Enjoy the holiday season, and best wishes for a great 2020!

Kelli A. Wilkins

Crockpot White Chicken Chili

We had this chili at Papa and Nana night after the kids carved their pumpkins. It turned out better than I thought.

Crock-pot White Chicken Chili

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 yellow onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 can chicken broth [12 oz]
1 can cream of chicken [12 oz]
2 cans great northern beans drained and rinsed [15 oz]
2 cans diced green chiles [4 oz]
4 chopped roasted chiles (Spicier - Optional)
1 can whole kernel corn drained [15 oz]
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper (Spicier - 1 tsp)
1 tsp cumin (Spicier - 1 1/2 tsp)
3/4 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp chili powder (Spicier - 1 tsp)
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (Spicier - 1/2 tsp)
small handful fresh cilantro chopped
8 oz reduced fat cream cheese softened
1/4 cup half and half

TOPPINGS (Suggested)
sliced jalapenos
sliced avocados
dollop of sour cream
minced fresh cilantro
chopped green onions
tortilla strips - These are hard to find.
shredded three cheese mix

Directions:|

1 |   Add chicken breasts to bottom of slow cooker, top with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
2 |   Top with diced onion, minced garlic, great northern beans, green chilis, corn, chicken broth, cream of chicken, and cilantro.  Stir.
3 |   Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
4 |   Remove chicken to large mixing bowl, shred, then return to slow cooker.
5 |   Add cream cheese and half and half, stir, then cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes, or until chili is creamy and slightly thickened.
6 |   Stir well and serve with desired toppings.

For our large family I doubled the recipe and had a crockpot with spicier quantities. 

Guest Kelli A. Wilkins has a yummy Autumn Cake recipe!

We loved what Kelli shared last Halloween, and this looks just as good. In fact Amazing!

Easy Autumn Apple Cake

By Kelli A. Wilkins

This easy-to-make apple cake has lots of flavor and is the perfect snack for the fall season.

Ingredients:

1 package Yellow cake mix

1 (21 oz.) can of apple pie filling

3 eggs

1 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cloves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease the cake pan. (For this recipe, I prefer to use a Bundt cake pan.)

Prepare the cake mix according to the box directions. Add spices and stir well. Pour cake mix into the pan, then add the apple pie filling to the batter. (Note: Apples will sink.)

Bake according to box directions (approximately 34-36 min.) Check cake to make sure it doesn’t overcook. Let cool and remove from the cake pan. Apples will usually be on the top of the cake (almost like a pineapple upside down cake).

Substitutions:

If you like your cake extra spicy, add more nutmeg or cloves. You can also substitute the spices listed with 2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice.

Want to use fresh apples? Substitute the apple pie filling with 2 large apples, peeled and sliced ½ to ¼ inch thick.

Options:

This moist and flavorful cake needs no frosting. You can add a dollop of whipped cream on the side or top of the cake when serving, or serve with vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

To celebrate the Halloween season, I’m sharing a look at my horror novella, Dead ‘Til Dawn.

Dead ‘Til Dawn

Disturbing the dead doesn’t prove you’re brave – it proves you’re stupid.

After touring Gettysburg battlefield, Jessica, Tim, and Steve decide to sneak out to the Devil’s Den for some late-night fun. Jessica’s friend Kathy objects, and warns them about trespassing where they’re not wanted.

Undaunted by ghost stories and fueled by his own arrogance, Tim races toward the Devil’s Den. When the group drives through mysterious battlefield fog, they find themselves surrounded by Civil War soldiers looking for a little fun of their own.

Kathy leaves the others to fend for themselves and flees to Little Round Top. Although she’s rescued by a kindhearted Union solider named Charlie, she refuses to believe that what she’s experiencing is real. As the nighttime battle rages on, Charlie introduces Kathy to other weary soldiers, and she quickly realizes she’s trapped in the land of the dead until dawn.

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Til-Dawn-Civil-Horror-ebook/dp/B015LHI08A

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4X9aLb

Read the true paranormal adventure that inspired Dead ‘Til Dawn in this blog:

https://www.kelliwilkins.com/post/dead-til-dawn-a-paranormal-adventure-in-gettysburg

Visit my website: www.KelliWilkins.com to catch up on all of my writings.

Happy Halloween!

Kelli A. Wilkins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 19

romance novels, 5 non-fiction books, and 2 online writing courses. Her romances span many genres and heat levels, and she’s also been known to scare readers with her horror stories.

She released Extraterrestrial Encounters, a collection of 18 sci-fi stories, in August 2019. If you like horror fiction, don’t miss her disturbing novella, Nightmare in the North.

Her latest historical romance, The Viking’s Witch, was released in June 2019. This full-length novel takes place in Celtic Scotland and blends a sensual romance with paranormal elements. 

In March 2019, Kelli published Dangerous Indenture, a historical mystery romance set in Colonial Pennsylvania. She released the second half of her flash fiction series, Cupid’s Schemes, in early 2019. These two volumes of lighthearted mini-romances are perfect reads for a quick lunchtime escape or an after-work indulgence.

Kelli released her latest Teachable mini-course, Fiction Basics: Finding Ideas in February 2019. She authored Fiction Writing for Beginners through Teachable in 2018. These courses are perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to write. Visit: https://kelliwilkins.teachable.com/ for more details.

Not just an author, Kelli is also an amateur photographer. Visit her pages on Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/kelli+wilkins and iStock https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/kelliwilkins to view her photos.

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor.

Visit her website http://www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more about all of her writings.

That sounds yummy Kelli, thank you for sharing!

It's that time! Soup time.

It's my favorite time of year. Autumn and football!

My friend generously gave me some fresh vegetables from her garden and I took the opportunity to make a flavorful and easy autumn soup.

Autumn Soup - 4 servings (250 calories)

3 - Costco Chicken sausage sliced
3 - medium tomatoes cut into pieces
1/4 cup onions chopped
1 Jalapeno chopped
8 green onions chopped
2 cloves Garlic chopped
1 cup Yellow Squash
1/2 cup Northern white beans
4 Baby Dutch yellow potatoes cubed
32 oz Chicken broth (low sodium)
2 bay leaves
Salt, Pepper, crushed chili flakes to taste.
2 teas. Chili Powder (optional)
1 teas. Oregano
1 teas. basil

In a medium size sauce pan add all ingredients except beans and broth. Brown the meat and when the veggies are starting to get tender add the broth. Bring to bowl and then turn to medium low and cook for 30 minutes then simmer for an hour. Add beans and simmer another 30 minutes to an hour.

Remove bay leaves and serve with warm rolls.

Farewell Visit of N. N. Light

Healthy Appetizers to serve at your next party by N. N. Light

Want to wow your guests while still offering healthy food? Mr. N is a retired fine dining chef so I asked him to write up a few appetizers. These are what he came up with. Enjoy!

Prosciutto Wrapped Leaves

Wash and dry a nice mixture of California greens.  Have about one pound of 3/8” thick prosciutto.  Trim fat.  Lay out each piece of meat separately, place about 3-4 leaves in center of each, about a half an inch up from edge.  Wrap into a cone shape and stand in a deep muffin or ice cube trays.  Serve cold.

Chicken Tiki Mini Kabobs

Take your one-inch pieces of chicken breast, marinate minimum one hour in fridge in yogurt and madras sauce mixture.  Skewer two pieces per skewer and bake on tray at 350F for 15 minutes or until done.  You can also grill these but watch for flare ups. Serve warm.

Mini Sliders

Use the mini burger and bun standard store bought.  Butter each side of bun with guacamole and top each with a thin slice of pineapple.  Cook each slider until well-done about one minute per side on a hot grill.  Serve with pineapple salsa on the side.

Pineapple salsa:  Quick and simple – mix in one bowl one can diced pineapple, one can mandarin oranges, one diced tomato, one diced red pepper, one half diced red onion, a little cilantro, several dashes of hot sauce as per personal liking, juice of one lime. Serve leftover salsa with chips for another fun app.

Baby Scallop on a Mesclun Green

Get two dozen pre-cleaned scallops. Marinate with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and Italian herbs.  Roast at 350F for ten minutes.  Place one scallop on leaf and serve room temperature on either a platter or individually on small plates, two per plate.

Title: N. N. Light's Book of Daily Inspiration

Author: N. N. Light

Genre: Inspirational, Motivational, Self-Improvement, Personal Growth

Book Blurb:

"Spread the Light and inspire others to do the same." -- N. N. Light

In 2013, we wrote a mission statement and started a blog. We wanted to test a theory. Could one person (or in our case, one couple) use uplifting words to create change?

The answer is a resounding yes! People from all over the world responded to our short inspirational thoughts of the day, and our following grew. What started out as a few people promoting kindness and goodwill turned into a movement. In every city, there are Light-Bearers making a difference and we want you to join us.

Everyone needs inspiration. It doesn’t matter what spiritual belief you hold dear, you have the Light inside you. Kindness, compassion, empathy, encouragement are all attributes of the Light. In this book, you’ll find a ninety second inspirational thought for each day of the year. You’ll be inspiring people to spread the Light daily with our collection of inspirational thoughts. From giving of yourself to simply smiling, these are easy concepts for anyone to apply!

Excerpt:

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it. – Edith Wharton

Are you spreading the Light in your corner of the world?

I live in an old neighborhood in my town. The houses and buildings are established with trees towering over the streets. I love it!

As someone who walks every day, I run into a lot of elderly people. Many of them smile and are friendly. I stop and chat with them for a moment or two.

Why?

It makes their day and it's my way of spreading the Light. It doesn't take any effort on my part and their faces light up.

Want to make someone's day? Stop what you're doing for one second and say hello. Acknowledging another person and wishing them a good day is a great way of spreading the Light inside you.

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it. 

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/nnlightinspiration

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/N-Lights-Book-Daily-Inspiration-ebook/dp/B076XT4YF5

Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/N-Lights-Book-Daily-Inspiration-ebook/dp/B076XT4YF5

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/N-Lights-Book-Daily-Inspiration-ebook/dp/B076XT4YF5

​Walmart https://www.walmart.com/ip/N-N-Light-s-Book-of-Daily-Inspiration-eBook/437204099

 Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35519629-n-n-light-s-book-of-daily-inspiration

Author Biography:

N. N. Light is the award-winning husband-wife writing team, commonly known as Mr. N and Mrs. N.

Mrs. N. has been creating stories ever since she was little. Her grandfather remembers when she was two years old, she would stand at the top of the stairs and tell him a story filled with emotion (and in a language foreign to him) with her hands on her hips. Let’s just say she was a born storyteller.

They’re blissfully happy and loves all things chocolate, books, music, movies, art, sports, trains, history, cooking and baking. Their mantra is to spread the Light.

Most of the time you can find them on Twitter or getting new ideas on how to spread the Light on Pinterest. They’re a proud member of ASMSG and Independent Author Network.

In addition to being authors, they’re also book promoters/reviewers, social media marketers/influencers and the owners of N. N. Light Author Promotions. They both love books, have ever since they were young. Matching up books and readers is something that gives them great pleasure.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/

Newsletter: http://ow.ly/jWec308TabL  

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/nnlight   

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NNP_W_Light

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-n-light

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n_n_light/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nnlight  

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/n-n-light/90/1a7/902  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/nnlight  

Independent Author Network: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/n-n-light.html  

Thank you so much for being my guest on The After Work Cook. I has been a privilege and delight having you each month. 

Quick Custard Cake by Kelli Wilkins

Quick Custard Cake

This is a great no-bake recipe. It’s cool, light, and everyone loves it.

Ingredients:

1 prepared angel food cake (10 inches)

1 package (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix
1 ½ cups cold milk
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling

Directions:

Tear the angel food cake into bite-sized pieces. Arrange in a 13 inch x 9 inch x 2 inch pan. In a mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix, milk, and sour cream. Beat until thickened (about 2 minutes). Spread over cake, then spoon pie filling on

top.

Chill until serving time.

Options:

This simple recipe can be modified in a variety of ways. If you want to make it extra “custardy” use a larger packet of pudding mix. Want more fruit? Use a bigger can of pie filling. 

You can also change up the flavors and substitute vanilla pudding for lemon, or use strawberry or blueberry pie filling instead of cherry.

Enjoy!

Here’s a look my latest historical romance, The Viking’s Witch. This full-length novel is set in Celtic Scotland and blends a sensual love story with adventure and paranormal elements.

The Viking’s Witch

About to be burned at the stake by her fellow villagers, Odaria does what any betrayed witch facing certain death would do. She calls down a curse. Within seconds, rampaging Norsemen raid the village, capturing everyone except her.

But her reprieve is short-lived, and Odaria lands in the clutches of the Norse leader Rothgar. Can she remain true to herself and fight her growing attraction to this domineering man, or will she fall under his influence and be used for his ambitions?

After Rothgar witnesses Odaria’s powers firsthand, he strikes a bargain with her. The raven-haired beauty will use her magical abilities to help him with his quest in exchange for safe passage off the isle. But can this cunning woman be trusted, or is she using him to exact vengeance on her village?

Together they must fight bloodthirsty villagers, battle a mutinous band of Norsemen, find a missing Norse ship, and learn to trust each other…before time runs out.

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/%20ebook/dp/B07T15MHSW

Link to all other platforms:  https://books2read.com/u/4EQe0o

Read more about the book (and all my writings) on my new site: www.kelliwilkins.com

Happy Reading,

Kelli

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories,

19 romance novels, 5 non-fiction books, and 2 online writing courses. Her romances span many genres and heat levels, and she’s also been known to scare readers with her horror stories.

Her latest historical romance, The Viking’s Witch, was released in June 2019. This full-length novel takes place in Celtic Scotland and blends a sensual romance with paranormal elements. 

In March 2019, Kelli published Dangerous Indenture, a historical mystery romance set in Colonial Pennsylvania. She released the second half of her flash fiction series, Cupid’s Schemes, in early 2019. These two volumes of lighthearted mini-romances are perfect reads for a quick lunchtime escape or an after-work indulgence.

Kelli released her latest Teachable mini-course, Fiction Basics: Finding Ideas in February 2019. She authored Fiction Writing for Beginners through Teachable in 2018. These courses are perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to write. Visit: https://kelliwilkins.teachable.com/ for more details.

If you like horror fiction, don’t miss, Nightmare in the North. Look for Extraterrestrial Encounters, a sci-fi anthology, coming soon!

Not just an author, Kelli is also an amateur photographer. Visit her pages on Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/kelli+wilkins and iStock https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/kelliwilkins to view her photos.

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor.

Visit her website www.KelliWilkins.com or blog http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/ to learn more about all of her writings.