Sunday, May 31, 2015

Cream Puff Cake Sundae #Recipe by Karen Rose Smith




I've been making this dessert for years because it's a favorite and friends ask for it (particularly their kids) again and again.  It's especially good for picnics but delicious any time of year. With a homemade puff pastry base, peanut butter, cream cheese pudding and chocolate fudge topping, how can you go wrong?  I hope your family enjoys it too.

CREAM PUFF CAKE SUNDAE

1 cup water
1 stick margarine (1/2 cup)
1 cup flour
4 eggs

Bring the water and margarine to a low boil. Stir in the flour until it forms a ball. Remove from the heat.

COOL SLIGHTLY--about 10 minutes. If you don't let this mixture cool, your eggs will scramble in the dough!

Stir in the eggs one at a time after the batter mixture is slightly cool.

Slightly grease a 9 x 13 inch cake pan and spread the batter over it.
Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes, then at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

COOL COMPLETELY.


FILLING
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (melted in microwave--I do it 30 seconds at 1100 watts)

 After base pastry is baked and COOLED, then dribble melted peanut butter over it and refrigerate while you make the rest of the filling.


2 (3.4 oz. boxes) vanilla instant pudding
3 cups whole milk  (If you use whole milk, the dessert shouldn't get watery if you serve it the next day.)
1 (8 oz.) package softened cream cheese
8 oz. Cool Whip
Hot fudge topping--I use Smuckers. (1/4-1/2 cup melted in microwave for 20-30 seconds--1100 watts--so it's easy to dribble.)

In a large mixer bowl, combine the pudding mix and milk until thickened.  Add the softened cream cheese until smooth. (If the cream cheese isn't soft enough, you might get little lumps. But it's still good!) Spread this over the COOLED puff pastry with the peanut butter layer. Top it all with 8 oz. of Cool Whip and refrigerate.  Melt hot fudge topping and drizzle it over the Cool Whip before serving! Feeds a bunch. 





USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


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©2015 Karen Rose Smith



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Thursday, May 28, 2015

#Feline Friday--Karen Rose Smith's #Cats This Week 5/29



This was a sleepy holiday week with the Smith felines.  It seems they are getting into the practice of passing the hazy days of summer in their favorite resting spots.  Miss Paddington, always curious to explore a new space, claimed the largest variety of spots throughout the house, usually close to Zoie or Halo.

London capturing some afternoon sun on the
back of the living room recliner.

Zoie Joy chooses her favorite
spot--next to my pillow on the bed--
for her a morning nap.
Zoie surveys the bedroom for Paddington and Halo
 before settling in for her afternoon nap.




Paddington keeps my desk chair warm.

Paddy watches birds and butterflies on the patio. 


Paddy rests under a "blanket tent" in my office.
Paddy's new "favorite" spot--under
the towel rack in the bathroom.

Halo's special resting spot is at the foot of the bed.
It's even better when Paddy joins her for a mid-day nap.

Zoie, Paddy and Halo confer on their
resting spots for the day.

Arthur observes Sunny in the
shade of the lilacs.

Sunnybud has breakfast on the patio before finding
a shady spot from the warm afternoon sun. 

Oops!  That's not a feline, but all four-legged
creatures are welcome on the Smith property,
 even if they nibble on my zinnias!

A rose from the Smith garden for all cat lovers
who provide much appreciated care for their
furry friends--whether indoors or outside. 

Until next week...

Karen
******************
In my Caprice De Luca Home Staging mystery series, my sleuth Caprice takes in stray cats and dogs and finds them forever loving homes!












GILT BY ASSOCIATION on Amazon

GILT BY ASSOCIATION on Barnes and Noble


********************



Karen's Search For Love Series Website






USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


***************





©2015 Karen Rose Smith

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Saturday, May 23, 2015

Remember when? Memorial Day Remembrances by Karen Rose Smith



My father-in-law
My father
Memorial Day is just that--a day full of memories. It's a holiday that brings back pictures I don't often let surface. For my first few years, my parents and I lived in my grandfather's house with him and my aunt. In the living room  on a side table sat the induction photos of my dad and his brothers who were in the service. My uncle Johnny died in World War II. I remember studying those photos, not only when I lived there, but after my parents built a house next door and I ran in and out of my grandfather's house often. The sanctity of keeping those pictures on that table is something I will never forget. These photos of my dad and my father-in-law hang on the wall in our house now.

Another vivid memory is cutting irises and peonies with my mom and arranging them in Mason jars to take to the cemetery. My dad had a Country Squire station wagon and we would load up the back of it with the flowers. My aunt and grandmother accompanied us. The cemetery then was in an out-of-the-way location and I remember all the memorial stones were quite elaborate--from angels to five-foot-high tablets with inscriptions. After we arranged the flowers at each grave of a loved one who passed, we would say a prayer. Sacred times and sacred memories.

My mother and her brother Dom
Memorial Day also brings back memories of family get-togethers around the dining room table or in the backyard, weather permitting. The holiday was a family time. This Memorial Day we will be hosting my BFF and her daughter and enjoying talk, laughs and cat stories with them.

Memories can be bittersweet but also filled with rich, deep meaning that's like a shield around my heart, reminding me always what's important, what's lasting and what matters most--the love of family and appreciation of the values I hold dear.

*******************

The house where my sleuth's parents live in the Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery series is modeled after the house where I lived with my grandfather and aunt. Caprice's house is modeled after the house my parents built next door. I relive childhood memories every time I delve into the mystery manuscripts. It's a great way to savor memories and hold them close.

*******************




USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


***************





©2015 Karen Rose Smith

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Friday, May 22, 2015

#FelineFriday--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith, 5/22




Most weeks are pretty uneventful with the cats, just filled with the usual antics.  Especially with Miss Paddington (Paddy) around who is ten months old now, Halo, Zoie, London and Paddy are usually active somewhere. (Until a few hours in the afternoon when they all take a nap.)  Can you tell Paddy and Mom Halo are two sides of the same Tortie coin?
However this week, the outside stray, Sunnybud, came to us with a wound on the top of his his 
head. To me it looked as if a bird had gone after him.  Sunnybud is still feral to a certain extent, although he lets me pet him.  He's a sweetie until he's spooked and then he bolts.  He's also independent and hates to be confined.  We tried it this winter and he freaked, practically climbing the basement walls.  So after a wet and cold night, we were totally surprised to find him in our open sunroom off the basement.  I used antiseptic--that's really a dental wash for cats and dogs--the first day because he wouldn't let me near the area on his forehead. I dripped it from my fingers. After a call to the vet, I used triple antibiotic ointment on it after that.  Now, about five days later, it's healing, though he has a new hairdo because of the ointment gelling in his fur!


Once in a while, Sunnybud stays for a petting session but most days he eats and leaves to go on his travels.  He's definitely unique.


Zoie was her usual sweet self this week.  She's my cuddle buddy and is usually nearby when she's not playing with Paddy. They run and chase and paw at each other but they're friends. 


Paddy likes high places!  She can watch the world from the top of the refrigerator.  Or scamper after Zoie when she spots her.  Paddy is an independent tortie and cuddles mostly with her mom rather than us.  However, she likes to be petted and is a sweetie, too.


Our oldest cat, London, who is fourteen likes to play with the laser light.  She sleeps a lot and acts as if she doesn't want Paddy to bother her.  But often I'll find her sleeping in the vicinity of Halo and Paddy in the afternoon. London has always liked sunshine!




Arthur visits us sporadically.  He's definitely an alpha and thinks he can control the property when he's here.  But he eats, rolls around a little, then goes on his way.









Sweet Halo
Until next week...

Karen
In my Caprice De Luca Home Staging mystery series, my sleuth Caprice takes in stray cats and dogs and finds them forever loving homes!












GILT BY ASSOCIATION on Amazon

GILT BY ASSOCIATION on Barnes and Noble


********************



Karen's Search For Love Series Website






USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


***************





©2015 Karen Rose Smith

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