Hello Blog Babes…it’s a new week and we have new stuff to dish about. Mainly? Dancing With The Stars announced their newest line up last night and, uh….it’s…interesting. Yeah, interesting. That’s one word to describe it. Another would be whack-a-doo. Just sayin.

Now, I know, every season I say something similar, but they’ve gone out of their way to really up the whackadoo factor this time. Don’t believe me? Here’s the list….then you tell me what you think.

Under the random but kinda interesting sports figures, we have Hope Solo, of the women’s soccer team. This was one selection I thought was pretty cool. She’s awesome with her feet as goal tender, wonder how she’ll do on the dance floor.

Under the controversial, “seriously?” sports figure heading, we have LA Laker, sometime rapper, and occasional brawler, the always outspoken Ron Artest. Because he needs another platform to talk. Sigh.

In the “I didn’t know they had a brother” column, we have Kardashian brother, Rob. Honestly, where has this kid been? I’ve never heard of him. Of course, I try really, really hard to never hear about anything about the Kardashian clan, so it’s not surprising, but given the media coverage of everything Kardashian, it still seems surprising. Not that I blame him for hiding.

And I’ll just say it, but as much as I admire Chastity-now-Chaz Bono for doing whatever he/she had to do to make peace with life and her/himself…I grew up watching Sonny & Cher, and it’s just weird for me to watch little Chas as big Chaz. Just me? Okay. But it’s just kinda squicky for me. (I know, I know, don’t send me letters!) I applaud him, I do. I just don’t want to watch little Chastity on my favorite show as a guy. It’s a sentimental thing, not a political statement.

On the other hand, the idea that I get to watch Queer Eye For the Straight Guy’s Carson Kressley trip the light fantastic fills me with joy and happiness. Could possibly be the most entertaining contestant evah. Dahling.

In the random pretty girl column we get George Clooney’s ex, actress Elisabetta Canalis and Hill’s girl, Kristin Cavallari. I’ve never seen either of them on screen before, so no investment from me there. Meh.

Over in the Making a Comeback column, we have Chynna Phillips of WIlson Phillips fame. I kinda always liked her, so this one made me smile. Plus she was great in Bridesmaids.

But way over in the Desperate to Make a Comeback Column, we also have Ricki Lake. I used to like her fresh, in your face kind of attitude, but then she kind of got a little super-inflated-ego thing going on, and… I’m not really sure she didn’t set fire to her own house, you know? So….another “really?” for me.

But if we really want to talk Bringing-the-Crazy, we can’t overlook the inclusion of Courtney Cox’s very outspoken ex…David Arquette. Train wreck on the dance floor anyone? I don’t know if the man can dance, but shouldn’t he still be working on getting his life and act together away from the spotlight? He seemed one step away from a Full Charlie (Sheen) to me. Okay, half-step. Not sure he should be quick-stepping in front of millions…

Then there’s Guy I Don’t Know…JR Martinez. Soap actor, and since I don’t watch any, not surprising I haven’t heard of him. But I’m interested in finding out. He seems….compelling.

But then they dropped the bomb on me. I put up with Jerry Springer and actually ended up liking the guy. On the show. Which made me want to at least give a chance to the inevitable follow up controversial political or television figure. And I didn’t like any of them. At all. So the chances of me rooting for Nancy Grace on this program? Pretty much nil. I know, did you just choke on your breakfast cereal like I did? Nancy. Grace. For that alone I may have to skip this season. I put up with the Palin offspring, the uber ridiculous Kate without her 8, and the downright gross Tom DeLay. Please, show, can’t you go one season without relying on this kind of thing?

So….there you have it. Excited? Yeah, me neither. Sigh. We find out today who the dance pros are and who is paired with whom. Maybe if Maks gets Nancy I’ll watch just for the smackdown potential… Otherwise, not really jazzed. I took one look at this list and thought…thank goodness Survivor and Amazing Race are back soon!

What about you? What do you think? Enter this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest by sending an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “DWTS? I just want to read a new book!” in the subject line. Winner gets a free book from my website bookshelf. I’ll draw a name from the entries and announce it hear Friday. Don’t forget to check the Friday blog to see if you’re the winner!

Then hop back on over here and DISH! Are you watching DWTS this season? What fall reality show are you excited to see again? For me…it’s not this one!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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….in the kitchen! To bake cupcakes with. Why….what did you think I meant??

Thank you for all the excitement and compliments over the cover & copy for the first Cupcake Club Romance, SUGAR RUSH!  (What?  You missed it?  Well, scroll down to last Monday’s post and check it out already!)  I can’t wait for it to finally get here, (December 27th…I may have mentioned that…:) but in the meantime, we’ve got cupcakes to make!

This week I’m back in the kitchen (okay, so I’m always in the kitchen, hush!) And our latest cupcake recipe comes from one of the bakers who entered our Original Cupcake Recipe contest this summer, Sarah Ratchford-Jenkins.  (You might remember we shared her amazing Hot Tea Cupcakes last month!)  Well, she’s baaaaaaack!  This time with Rootbeer Float Cupcakes!  I know!  And let me tell you, mmmm, they’re fantastic!  Not only was it a flavor profile that I’ve ever had in a cake, it also gave me the chance to work with a few new (to me) cupcake ingredients.  I mean, how often is it you use rootbeer, Cool Whip, and pudding in the same recipe?  (If you answered, What?  All the time!  I want your recipes!  )

So, armed with some A&W Rootbeer, rootbeer concentrate (because the soda alone doesn’t give it the rootbeer flavor boost it needs to hold up during baking — you can find it in the spice section of your grocery store), a box of instant vanilla pudding, a bag of marshmallows, a tub of Cool Whip, and the baking standards of flour, butter, sugar…I strapped myself into my trusty cupcake apron (cutest. apron. ever.) and got busy!

(For those of you who have followed me, you know that’s not my photo…because no way would my piping look that good! Mine always has that kind of drunken, one-eyed sailor look to it. But that’s totally what mine looked like, just more…upright with the frosting. I just forgot to take a picture!! I was too busy mmmmm-ing as I was taste testing…)

Here’s the recipe, straight from Sarah’s Kitchen:

Part One
• 1 cup root beer soda
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup powdered cocoa
• 22 large marshmallows

Part two
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (or if you can find it root beer flavoring extract)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs, beaten

Root Beer Float Cupcake Recipe Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.  These cupcakes work best with the silver metallic liners.
Part one
In a small saucepan mix root beer, butter, vegetable oil and cocoa.  Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and add marshmallows. Take care not to burn the liquid.  Place lid on saucepan and leave until marshmallows begin to melt.  Stir well.
Part two
Mix flour, sugar, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.  Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix well.
Combine Part One and Part Two in the mixing bowl.  Spoon cupcake batter into cupcake pan liners until they are 1/2 to 2/3 full.
Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Put the cupcakes in the fridge until cold before using the following icing (these are way better cold anyway)!

Icing
I used a simple Cool Whip icing!!!  It’s easy and a family favorite.  You absolutely must keep them in the fridge until serving them.  You may fall in love with this….sooo…make a triple batch for triple the yummy on the cupcakes!
1 container of cool whip
1 package of vanilla instant pudding mix

Mix cool whip and pudding mix together well….allow to set for 20 minutes in the fridge.  Ice cupcakes generously!!!
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And generously I did!!   Super fun to make.  Tickles your nose and your tummy!  I hope you enjoy them, too!

Okay, time to give away a free book to this week’sFree Stuff Friday winner! Thank you all for entering (and entering, and entering….your enthusiasm is contagious!)  This week’s lucky winner of a free book from my Big Time Author website bookshelf is?  Janette A!!  Congratulations, Janette and thanks for entering!  Send me an address and a few title ideas from my website bookshelf (in case I’m out of your first choice) and I’ll get your prize out to you!  

And no pouting if you didn’t win…you get another chance next week! You can double your chances of winning by checking out the Cakes by the Cup blog and enter there for a second chance to win!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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I hope everyone had a delightful weekend. The rain has stopped here, and the sun is out…and it’s not eleventy-billion degree humidity for a change! I was thinking about changing my address to Surface of the Sun, Virginia. Thank goodness I won’t have the added expense of getting all those new address labels printed up…. Now, if only fall would get here!

Sure, sure, I’m looking forward to hiking all my regular trails and watching the leaves change….and yes, I can’t wait to smell that crisp fall air, feel that cool fall breeze on my face. But mostly I want it to be fall because I want my tv shows back, dangit! I know, priorities, right? So glad I have mine in check.

They are starting up with all the sneak peek promos and telling us how in just a few weeks, all our favorite characters will return with new and daring adventures. It’s like being five years old and having mom tell you that Christmas will be here before I know it. It was NEVER here before I knew it. It took FOREVER for Santa to show up. And that’s how I feel now.

So…what are the shows you’re waiting on most? For me…Castle, Good Wife, Grey’s, Big Bang Theory…and the reality staples of Amazing Race, Survivor, and Dancing with the Stars. (Please, let them get actual stars I’ve heard of before this time!) And then there’s all those new shows they’re taunting us with! I want to see The New Girl, Person of Interest, Once Upon a Time (because…duh!), amongst others. What new shows have you programmed into the DVR?

Well, in doing my part to help this Last Days of Summer business get itself over with more quickly, I’ll distract you with this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest! To enter, just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Summer, schlummer, send me a book!” in the subject line. Winner gets a book from my website bookshelf. And, if you want to double your chances, head on over to my Cakes by the Cup blog and enter there as well! Winner announced here on Friday, and over there on Thursday. I know, I give and I give. I’m a giver!

So, get those entries in, then pop back over here and DISH!! What’s on your Fall DVR?, Blog Babes??

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Thank you all for the hearty welcome back, Blog Babes! I’m happy to be back.

I am also happily back on my morning hikes. Check out the deer sighting I had this past week. He’s a baby buck with two little prongs for horns. But I think all his spots converged to make one big spot!!

I’ve also been enjoying sunset owl hikes, but haven’t as yet been able to get a decent picture of any of them. It’s absolutely fascinating to hear them hoot and screech. The screech owls sound like baby pterodactyls. If I hadn’t watched them sit right there and screech in front of me, I’d have never guessed that was an owl making that sound. (And no, I didn’t really think it was a pterodactyl either….but it SO could have been! If they weren’t, you know…extinct.) I am always amazed to watch the owls fly so silently through such tightly packed woods with that crazy wide wing span they have. How do they not hit any branches? I will never figure that out. Good thing I’m not an owl! I’d be the Klutzy One. (I can hear my owl buddies now: “Hey, guys? Yeah, never hunt with Donna…she hits all the branches. You’ll starve.”) But, even though the owls prove elusive to film, the sunsets over the river do not….

I’m also glad you all enjoyed the super rich & delish Fudge Brownie cupcake recipe. Tune in next week when we’ll be making Root Beer Float Cupcakes! I know! (Thanks to Cupcake Contest entrant Sarah Ratchford-Jenkins for that recipe!)

But righthisverysecond I think we should giveaway a free book! Lots and lots of entries in the Free Stuff Friday Contest this week, but just one Big Winner. And that lucky Blog Babe is? Sherie L!!!! Congratulations, Sherie!! Just drop me an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with a few title selections from my website bookshelf (in case I’m out of your first choice) and a mailing address and I’ll get your prize in the mail.

Speaking of prizes in the mail, according to my records, all prizes have been sent out. So if you’re a Winning Blog Babe who is still book-less, please also email me so I can fix that!

I hope you all have a great weekend! Stay cool….and read something hot.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Hello Readers and Erstwhile Cupcake Bakers! It’s great to be back in the Cupcake Test Kitchen!

Today’s recipe:

Chocolate Fudge Brownie Cupcakes
Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 squares unsweetened chocolate chopped
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs lightly beaten
2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
2 cups pecans chopped (optional) (I opted out on these. I was in the mood for 100% gooey chocolate goodness. No crunch.)

Instructions:

step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line standard muffin pan with baking cups.

step 2
In medium bowl, combine flour and salt. In small heavy saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt butter and chocolate; stir until blended. In large bowl, combine chocolate mixture with sugar; mix well. Whisk in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture; mix until blended. If desired, stir in nuts. Distribute brownie mixture evenly into baking cups.

step 3
Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. (Note: mine baked quickly at 16-18 minutes. Your baking mileage may vary.) Cool cupcakes in pan on cooling rack for 5-8 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely.

The Chocolate Fudge Frosting recipe for today comes from a different site. In my quest to find the Perfect Fudge Frosting, I am still on the hunt. But this one comes pretty close! This one is from the Joy Of Baking website. This link also shows their version of a Cupcake Brownie recipe if you want to compare/contrast, but if you want fudgy, take the Wilton version.)

Chocolate Fudge Frosting
4 ounces (120 grams) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup (150 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups (160 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Step 1:
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Step 2
In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add the sugar and beat until it is light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the chocolate and beat on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until frosting is smooth and glossy (about 2 -3 minutes).

This recipe makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes, whereas the cupcake recipe made, on avg, 20 cupcakes. Depending on how much frosting you want per cupcake, you may want to double this recipe!

Bon apetit! I hope you enjoy these. A decadent dessert cupcake for minimal fuss! Let me know what you think if you give these a whirl!

Over on my Cakes by the Cup Blog, I am having a book giveaway with this week’s Cupcake Blog Candy. Just drop me an email with “Fudge Cupcakes AND a Free Book? I’m in!” in the subject line. I’ll draw a name and post the winner over there along with next week’s cupcake recipe. No, seriously!

Until then, happy reading….and baking!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Thanks to everyone for the notes and queries during my unplanned absence…what do you mean you didn’t notice??

All is good and life has returned to its normal chaotic (but manageable!) state. And I’m even more excited about that, because I can FINALLY share with you the cover art and back copy for the first Cupcake Club Romance…SUGAR RUSH!!!

This is going to be an exciting fall and holiday season!! Coming in October (release is actually end of September!) comes the final installment in my Hot Scot trilogy, which began last year with SOME LIKE IT SCOT, and continued with OFF KILTER earlier this year. We wrap things up with Shay’s story, in the Christmas anthology, UNWRAPPED. October also marks the re-release of last year’s Christmas anthology, THE NAUGHTY LIST, in the smaller, mass market paperback size.

And then, as if that Just Wasn’t Enough….come December 27th, when you have all those Christmas stocking Amazon and Barnes & Noble gift certificates burning a hole in your pocket, SUGAR RUSH hits the stands!! And even that isn’t all. (I know! I’ve been busy!!) Coming right on the heels of the first one, at the end of January, is the next in the Cupcake Club Romance series, SWEET STUFF! (Cover art sneak peek coming soon!)

AND (yes, more, it’s crazy!) I am very thrilled to announce, for those of you who loved my previous Scottish series, that started with BAD BOYS IN KILTS, with three stories about the divine and delectable Chisholm brothers, and followed with a full length story for Dylan Chisholm in THE GREAT SCOT (and one of the best covers in the business ever!)…as you know, GREAT SCOT has long been available in both the trade and mass market format. Well, Kensington is finally re-releasing BAD BOYS IN KILTS in mass market the end of January….with a brand new cover and WOWZA is all I gotta say! Tune in as the week progresses, and that will get sneak peeked here as well.

(See what happens when you let me go away for a few weeks??)

So….with a great fanfare and confetti from the skies…..and a few sprinkles on top….here is the cover for SUGAR RUSH, followed by the back cover copy!! I hope you adore it as much as I do. I’ve been DYING to get this!!! And they definitely didn’t disappoint! (Kris Noble, the cover art goddess…you are a rock star!!)

Devil’s Food…Angel Cake…Red Velvet…Praline Crunch…Lemon Chiffon…

How’s a woman to choose?

Luckily, the members of the Cupcake Club are about to taste it all…

When baker extraordinaire Leilani Trusdale left the bustle of New York City for Georgia’s sleepy Sugarberry Island, she didn’t expect her past to follow. Yet suddenly, her former boss, Baxter Dunne, aka Chef Hot Cakes, the man who taught her everything pastry, wants to film his hit cooking show in her tiny cupcakery. The same Chef Hot Cakes whose molten chocolate brown eyes made Lani’s mouth water and her cheeks blush the color of raspberry filling–stirring all kinds of kitchen gossip, much of which Lani wished was true…

Lani’s friends are convinced that this time around, Baxter is the missing ingredient in her recipe for happiness. But convincing Lani will be a job for Baxter himself. And he’ll need more than black velvet frosting to sweeten the deal…

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

Isn’t that the most yummylicous cover?? Trust me, wait until you meet Baxter Dunne. Whole new meaning to yummmmm.

Thank you for sharing in my excitement!! And to keep that feeling going, let’s giveaway some free stuff! Free Stuff Friday is back this week. All you have to do is send me an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “She’s back! Now send me a book!” in the subject line. I’ll draw a name from the pile and announce it here Friday. Winner gets a free book from my website bookshelf!!

Tune in Wednesday for more sneak peeks and the next cupcake recipe!! It’s great to be back.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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