by Amanda Tru
Roast Beef with Roasted Vegetables
Gloria cooks a roast beef for Christmas dinner. In the book, she uses a roasting pan like the one that I have. However, you can also cook this in the oven.
THE ROAST:
1 each 4-lbs chuck roast
8 white potatoes or 1 1/2 lbs bite-sized potatoes
2 large onions
8 large carrots
16 oz whole white mushrooms
2 cups water
2 TBS flour
THE GRAVY:
2 cups water
1/4 cup flour
2 TBS olive oil or beef bacon grease
2 tsp salt (Kosher or sea salt is best)
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 275°F (135°C)
Peel the carrots. Slice into bite-sized pieces.
Carefully wash the potatoes. If large potatoes, slice into bite-sized pieces.
Wipe off the mushrooms.
Cut the onions into quarters.
THE ROAST:
Sprinkle the roast on both sides with the salt and pepper. Rub 1 TBS flour onto each side.
In a large skillet, heat the oil. Add the roast. Cook until brown on each side.
Put the onions and mushrooms into the bottom of a roasting pan or large baking pan. Set the seared roast on top. Arrange the potatoes and carrots around the sides of the roast, and if desired, on top. Pour the water into the pan.
Roast for about 1 hour per pound of meat. You are seeking a very tender, able to cut with a butter knife finished product.
Remove the roast and vegetables from the pan. Cover with foil. Let rest for about 5 minutes.
THE GRAVY:
Pour the juices from the pan into a skillet and bring to a boil over high heat.
Shake the remaining water and flour together until smooth. Whisk into the juices in the pan. Bring back to a boil. Boil and stir for about 2 minutes.
The gravy should thicken as it boils. Add salt or pepper if you need to (you shouldn’t need to).
Riced Potatoes
If you don’t have a potato ricer, you can use a vegetable masher or a mixer. I prefer the texture using a ricer.
5 lbs. White potatoes
2 tsp salt, divided (Kosher or sea salt is best)
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup half-and-half (or milk or heavy cream)
Peel the potatoes. Quarter them.
In a large pan, cover the peeled and quartered potatoes with about an inch of water. Add 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil. Boil until fork tender (about 8-10 minutes).
Drain. Sieve through a ricer, or mash with a masher, or beat with a beater. Add the butter, remaining salt, pepper, and cream. Stir until smooth.
Green Beans
In the book, Gloria cooks green beans she’s home canned. This recipe is made with fresh green beans.
1 1/4 lbs fresh green beans
2 TBS butter
2 TBS olive oil
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp salt (Kosher or sea salt is best)
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
Trim the beans.
Use a garlic press for the clove of garlic or finely mince with a sharp knife.
In a large pot, bring about 8 cups water to boil. Add the green beans. Boil until crisp-tender, less than 5 minutes. Remove from water.
In a skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until butter melts. Add the almonds. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon so that the oils remain.
Add the garlic to the pan. Cook about 30 seconds, stirring to prevent burning. Add the green beans. Cook about 5 minutes.
Transfer to a platter and top with the almonds.
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Red velvet is the perfect holiday dessert. It’s festive, delicious, contains chocolate, and is topped with cream cheese. It’s almost perfection!
THE CAKE:
1 1/4 cup unbleached flour
1 cup unbleached cake flour
3 TBS cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (Kosher or sea salt is best)
1 cup buttermilk
1 TBS white vinegar
1 oz red food coloring
1 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
THE FROSTING:
1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 1/4 cups powdered sugar (1 pound)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to either 325°F (160°C)
Line 2 cupcake pans with liners OR grease and flour 2 cupcakes pans (to make 24 cupcakes)
THE CAKE:
In a bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
In a measuring cup, mix together the buttermilk, vinegar, and food coloring.
In a mixing bowl, using a mixer set to medium speed, beat together the sugar and the butter until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time until thoroughly mixed.
Add one-third of the dry ingredients and beat until smooth. Add one third of the wet ingredients and beat until smooth. Repeat, ending with the last of the wet ingredients.
Fill each cupcake liner until 2/3 full.
Bake at 325°F (160°C) 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.
When cool, top with cream cheese frosting.
THE FROSTING:
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter on high heat until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in the vanilla.
If desired, top each cupcake with chopped up walnuts or pecans.
Discussion questions for Blizzard in the Bluegrass:
The Bible says that God works together for good all things for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
1. Jeff’s faith in God grew exponentially in the wake of his wife and daughter’s death. He was already going to church. What do you think about his thoughts regarding his faith being a result of their death versus something that was going to happen because he’d started going to church with them?
2. Gloria feels like her son’s diagnosis only increased her faith. Do you know someone who struggles with faith because of a child’s medical diagnosis? How can you reach out to that person?
Noah’s autism makes him see the world in black and white, which affects his perspective of God.
3. Do you think allowing him to study an ancient culture impeded his ability to believe in the one-true God?
4. What do you think of Gloria’s pushing his conversation about God just being a cultural deity to a time when he is older? Do you think she should have discussed it further with him at the time?
When Noah is rescued, he claims Jesus saved him and reminded him that he knew what to do.
5. Do you think that Jesus inserts Himself into the world today to perform miracles?
6. Do you believe that Noah actually encountered another being, or do you think he had some sort of hypothermia-induced hallucination?
7. Noah claims that Jesus told him that the reason he was so interested in Vikings was so that he would know what to do in the event of this specific storm. What do you think the likelihood of God giving that much of a specific direction to us is?
8. Jeff believes that his certainty in how to act with Noah’s emergent medical needs was due to his wondering “what if” for the last few years after his daughter’s death from exposure. Do you think this is also a result of God’s direction in his life, so that he would be certain to know what to do, or do you think he just fell back on training and would have known what to do without the experience from Katrina’s death?
Gloria’s ex-husband abandoned her and Noah the day after his autism diagnosis.
9. The Bi
ble tells us that God hates divorce, but Jesus excused divorce when adultery occurs. Do you think that Gloria and her ex-husband were divorced in God’s eyes, or do you think she was committing adultery by having a relationship with Jeff?
10. Despite her ex-husband’s objections, Gloria went to church even while married to him. Do you think she sinned by not obeying her husband over attending church, or does that not apply when disobedience happens in obeying God?
Find the latest information and connect with Hallee
on her website: www.halleebridgeman.com
With over half a million sales and more than 30 books in print, Hallee is a best-selling Christian author who writes romance and action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real world problems. Her work has been described as everything from refreshingly realistic to heart-stopping exciting and edgy.
An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee finally settled in central Kentucky with her family so she could enjoy the beautiful changing of the seasons. She enjoys the roller-coaster ride thrills that life with a National Guard husband, a daughter away at college, and two middle school aged sons delivers.
A prolific writer, when she’s not penning novels, you will find her in the kitchen, which she considers the “heart of the home.” Her passion for cooking spurred her to launch a whole food, real food “Parody” cookbook series. In addition to nutritious, biblically grounded recipes, readers will find that each cookbook also confronts some controversial aspect of secular pop culture.
She is the Director of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference (KCWC), a Gold member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), a past American Christian Writers (ACW) member, and Secretary of the board for Novelists, Inc. (NINC). A long-time member of the Published Author Network (PAN) and past president of the Faith, Hope, & Love chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA), she discontinued her RWA membership in 2019.
Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her. She prays her work here on earth is a blessing to you and would love to hear from you. You can reach Hallee via the Contact Link on her website or send an email to [email protected].
Sign up for Hallee’s monthly newsletter! When you sign up, you will get a link to download Hallee’s romantic suspense novella, On The Ropes. In addition, every newsletter recipient is automatically entered into a monthly giveaway! The real prize is never missing updates about upcoming releases, book signings, appearances, or other events.
Newsletter Sign Up:
halleebridgeman.com/newsletter
Author Site:
www.halleebridgeman.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/authorhalleebridgeman
Twitter:
twitter.com/halleeb
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/author/show/5815249.Hallee_Bridgeman
Homemaking Blog:
www.halleethehomemaker.com
Blogger with Inspy Romance at www.inspyromance.com
by Hallee Bridgeman
Red Blood & Bluegrass Collection:
Book 1: Black Belt, White Dress (in The Wedding Dress Yes)
Book 2: Blizzard in the Bluegrass
The Dixon Brothers Series:
Book 1: Courting Calla (in Out of the Blue Bouquet)
Book 2: Valerie’s Verdict
Book 3: Alexandra’s Appeal (coming soon)
Book 4: Daisy’s Decision (coming soon)
The Jewel Series:
Book 1: Sapphire Ice
Book 2: Greater Than Rubies
Book 3: Emerald Fire
Book 4: Topaz Heat
Book 5: Christmas Diamond
Book 6: Christmas Star Sapphire
Book 7: Jade’s Match
Book 8: Chasing Pearl (in Yesterday’s Mail)
The Song of Suspense Series:
Book 1: A Melody for James
Book 2: An Aria for Nick
Book 3: A Carol for Kent
Book 4: A Harmony for Steve
Hello again Crossroads Reader!
I sincerely hope you relished the adventures of Gloria, Noah, and Jeff. As the mother of an autistic son, I felt that God had challenged me to finally write on the subject and I wrote the entire story with a prayerful heart and a mission in mind. I very much enjoyed writing about Gloria’s parenting Noah, and how she fell in love with Jeff through his love for her and for Noah.
It is now my very sincere honor to introduce the second story in this Crossroads collection, Buried Secrets, by the unequivocally talented Alana Terry. I have worked with Alana multiple times in box sets and I have always loved that her stories and mine often carry similar themes, making her a kindred soul to me. We have spent many hours praying together, working together, and I value her opinion and expertise when it comes to this Christian romantic suspense world in which we both navigate. I was thrilled to learn that she was part of this Crossroads Collection with me and know that you will just love her characters and the story she’s woven around them.
In Buried Secrets, you will meet Cosette who spent the last eight months falling in love with Alaskan trooper, Josh Lawson, through an online dating app. They finally have the chance to meet face to face. When a chance encounter with Josh’s old classmate, Missy, postpones the couple’s rendezvous, Cosette ends up with more questions than answers.
Described with “suspenseful scenes that leave you holding your breath,” Alana Terry’s novels are “hard hitting and realistic,” “full of danger, mystery, and more.” Buried Secrets, is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing… and turning the pages… when you should be sleeping.
Please enjoy this story of learning to trust God in all circumstances and to find the hidden blessings we all experience.
Hallee Bridgeman author of Blizzard in the Bluegrass
a novella by
Copyright Notice
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31
Note: The views of the characters in this novel do not necessarily reflect the views of the author, nor is their behavior necessarily condoned.
The characters in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form (electronic, audio, print, film, etc.) without the author’s written consent.
Scriptures quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2019 Alana Terry
www.alanaterry.com
Each book in this collection is the intellectual property and the copyrighted material of the respective author and/or publisher and is reprinted as a part of this collection (anthology) only once and only by permission of the owners. The publisher makes no claim on, or to, the property of the owners which exceeds that permission. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the authors’ imagination or intended to be used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations, places, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental and beyond the intention of either the authors or the publisher.
Cosette was surprised at how nice it felt to stretch her legs after such a long flight. She’d lost track of time and could only guess how many hours she’d spent in the air. Even if the weather cooperated, it would have taken almost eight hours to get to Anchorage, but with a massive snowstorm billowing over half the United States, she was lucky to have landed here at all.
No, not lucky, as her mother would point out.
Blessed.
The Pacific Northwest, including the en
tire state of Alaska, was covered in snow. Secretly, Cosette didn’t think she’d mind if the extreme weather gave her an extra day or two out here with Josh.
She texted him as soon as their plane touched down in Anchorage, even before the captain turned off the no electronics sign.
Just landed. Can’t wait to see you.
It was hard to believe that any of this was real. Life usually cast Cosette in the twice-a-bridesmaid type of role.
Now the fairy tale was actually happening to her.
Are you sure you should go out there all alone? her mom had asked nearly every time they discussed the trip. Good old Mom. Always worried. Cosette still remembered her mother’s face the day she told her parents she was moving to Los Angeles after high school. It was a far cry from the Iowa town where she’d grown up.
Cosette had hardly been able to wait.
She still remembered the nervous excitement as she loaded up the family Civic. Nervous excitement and, if she were to be totally honest with herself, complete dread. What if she didn’t make it? What if she couldn’t find a job to support her while she sent in hundreds of headshots and hunted for a film agent? What if she never got called back to a single audition?