Today we’re going to chat about something that’s really dear to our hearts: our fur babies! You might now I have a lovely cat named Slate so I lean toward being a dog lover but I also love taking my sister’s rescued greyhounds out for walks. Plus, I love my grand fur baby Lily and corgis, too! What about you? Are you Team Cat or Team Dog? And if you’ve got a fur baby at home, please share a photo! P.S. – If you love puppers, check out Decoy Training, the first book in the K-9s on Patrol series. All the books are standalone and even better, it’s FREE if you have Kindle Unlimited. You can download it at https://amzn.to/3tMnwIP.
Last days 25% of Pre-orders
Just a couple of days left in the B&N 25% off sale on pre-orders. Use Pre-order code PREORDER25 to get 25% off new books like my new Sabotage Operation and Escape the Everglades! You can pre-order at https://bit.ly/3u483nC. Sale ends January 29! FYI – You can sign up to become a rewards member for free to get the discount!
OMG January is flying by!
OMG January is flying by and it’s almost time for my next newsletter! My VIP Newsletter subscribers will be able to enter to win a copy of Brickell Avenue Ambush and I’ll pick 10 lucky winners to get a copy of this book. It’s not too late to sign up for the newsletter to receive all the latest information on what’s happening with me, new releases, free e-books, and giveaways. When you sign up, you’ll also be able to download a free copy of South Beach Love! Don’t miss out and sign up at https://bit.ly/CaridadsNewsletter.
Fitness Friday Fitbit Goals
It’s been almost a month since the start of the New Year and all those resolutions. One of mine was to walk more miles in 2024 than I did in 2023! According to Fitbit, I walked over 2000 miles and so I set a goal of 2500 for 2024. Unfortunately, I’ve had a rocky start due to travel and a cold that’s kept me out of the gym. Did I mention the cold and rain that have made walking outdoors impossible? Anyway, hoping to get back on track and work toward that goal. How about you? Did you make any resolutions? Have you made any progress on them?
Beautiful Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
One of my favorite stops when we’re doing a road trip down South is Charleston, SC. It’s such a beautiful city with so much to see in the city and in the outskirts as well. During our stop in Charleston this year we visited the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. You know I love my gardens and this was a truly beautiful place. Besides the gorgeous South Carolina Low Country, there were amazing plantings of camellias. There was also a Japanese-influenced garden as well as a collection of azaleas. Unfortunately, it was the wrong season for azaleas but there were several camellias in bloom. Some of the wetland areas had once been for growing rice, which had been the plantation’s main crop and unfortunately, worked by slaves. An exhibit about the plantation’s slave past and laborers was also part of our tour. The hero in Darkness Calls, Southern vampire Ryder Latimer, had once owned a rice plantation but freed his people and instead devoted his life to being a physician. You can find out more about Darkness Calls at https://amzn.to/3S8mOhc.
What is your fav doggo?
One of the most fun things about Decoy Training and my upcoming South Beach Security K-9 books was exploring all the different breeds of dogs in order to write the stories. While these romantic suspense books feature German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, bloodhounds, pit bulls, Labrador Retrievers and mutts with special talents, my all time fav doggo is the corgi. Hubby would prefer to have a beagle like the dog he had as a child. What about you? What’s your fav breed of dog? P.S. – To find out more about the SBS K-9 books, please visit https://amzn.to/3MGpsJ7.
Arroz Con Pollo-Scrumptious and Easy
Yesterday I mentioned that Escape the Everglades was a slow burn kind of book because the hero, ex-marine Carlos Ruiz, is a single dad. I can totally picture Carlos cooking up a big batch of chicken and rice because it’s easy to make, keeps well if you’re running late, and also makes for great leftovers. Did I mention it’s not all that expensive to make as well? So, today I’m sharing my recipe for chicken and rice. I’ve found that the easiest way to make this dish is in the oven, although you start it on the stove. If you have Corning Ware, Le Creuset or some other stove to oven cookware, even better. Who wants to spend time cleaning pots? If you want to find out more about Escape the Everglades, please visit https://amzn.to/3HqJHaN.
Ingredients
One fryer chicken, cut into pieces (Alternatively, 4 thighs and 2 breasts cut in half)
Olive oil
2 small cans tomato sauce
1 cup chopped red & green peppers
1 cup chopped onions
2 cloves garlic minced
2 cups white rice
2 cups water
1 cup white wine
1 tsp BIJOL (this is a coloring agent you can find in the Latin cooking section of your market)
1 Spanish chorizo (also in the Latin section)
2 bay leaves
1 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 350.
In your pot, put in a little olive oil and brown the chicken. Remove chicken from the pot and set to the side.
In the same pot, add the red and green peppers and sauté for about 5 minutes. Then add the chorizo and the onions. Sauté for another 5 and add the garlic for just a minute. Then add the tomato sauce, bay leaves, oregano and wine.
Simmer for about 15 minutes to get rid of the raw tomato taste. Add salt and pepper to taste. Then add the 2 cups water and also, the Bijol. Give it a stir and add the rice. Stir again to mix and then add the chicken pieces. Arrange the chicken pieces so they are spread throughout the pot.
If you don’t have stove to oven cookware, make it in a regular pan and then move it a large enough rectangular aluminum foil pan.
Place the mixture in the oven and cover tightly. Cook for about 30 to 45 minutes until all the water is absorbed.
To serve, fluff the rice and top with canned sweet peas and some sliced roasted red peppers.
If you can’t imagine eating peas straight out of the can, you can add frozen peas to the mixture in the oven during the last ten minutes of cooking. I’ve actually started using only the frozen peas. They hold up better and keep their color better.
