From My Kitchen ~ Shrimp Creole Recipe

By now, most of you know that I love to cook.  I also love the flavors of the Caribbean.  Today’s recipe is Shrimp Creole Cuban style.  This shrimp dish has Haitian and French influences too.  I serve it with white rice and my favorite vegetables.  When I made it last, I added fried plantains, another family favorite.  It is a quick and delicious dish to make.  Your family will love it!

shrimp

Shrimp Creole (Cuban style)

Ingredients 

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped onion (I prefer yellow onions)

2 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

a pinch of red pepper flakes (or more if you like it hot)

1 tablespoon freshly chopped flat leaf parsley

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 1/2 pounds medium raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/2 pound scallops

1/4 cup white wine

Directions

1.  In a large saute pan, melt the butter and the olive oil over low heat.

2.  Add the celery, onion, garlic, tomato, pepper flakes, parsley, sugar, salt and black pepper.

3.  Cover and raise the heat to medium low, simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the onion and the celery are tender.

4.  Add the scallops and stir, cover. Cook for about 2 minutes

5.  Add the shrimp, stir and cover.  Cook for about 3 more minutes.    (Shrimp cooks fast)

6.  Add the wine and stir until the liquid comes back to a simmer.

7.  Serve over white rice and with your favorite vegetable sides.

Enjoy!

¡Buen Provecho!

~Susi

Throwback Thursday- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

For today’s Throwback Thursday Post I decided to showcase another one of my favorite books I grew up with.  Not only was this one of my favorites, but my own children have enjoyed reading it countless times.  This is one of those books that I keep on my bookshelf at home and in my classroom.  Roald Dahl is another one of my favorite authors.

My children and I gave this book 5 stars!

And…the book is better than the movie!

Did you read this book as a child?  What are your favorites?

charlie and the chocolate factory

The mysterious Willy Wonka makes the most amazing and almost magical chocolate candies in the world. No one has been allowed inside his factory for years, then Mr. Wonka invites five lucky children to visit his marvelous factory. Five Golden Tickets are hidden inside five random candy that could be anywhere in the world.

Discover the secrets of Wily Wonka’s factory from Oopma-Loompas to Snozzberries, from Everlasting Gobstoppers to the best way in the world to mix chocolate. You will be amazed, astounded and entertained by Mr. Willy Wonka and his wonderful chocolate factory.

Giveaway – Win a copy of Interview with a Master by Jason Luke

This is one giveaway you don’t want to miss!

Here is your chance to win one of 2 e-book copies of Interview with a Master by Jason Luke.

I reviewed this book last week.  You will love it!  It is an interview like no other!

interview with a master

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post.

This contest will run through Saturday evening.

The two winners will be chosen by randomizer.org and notified via email.

No purchase necessary to enter.

Good Luck!

~Susi

About the Author: Jason Luke

Jason Luke enjoyed several years involved in the BDSM lifestyle – but he is quick to point out that his experiences don’t qualify him as an expert, any more than knowing how to drive a car makes him a qualified mechanic. ‘Interview with a Master’ is a novel about how one man became a Master. The book is a work of fiction, but Jason has drawn heavily on encounters from his own real life. He won’t say which parts of the book are fictionalised, and which parts are auto-biographical.

Erotic BDSM fiction written by a man from a man’s point of view.

You can find Jason Luke on Twitter @JasonLukeAuthor and on Facebook.

Interview with a Master is now available in 9 countries! 
Here they are …
• Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Germany http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Austria http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon France http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Italy http://www.amazon.it/ /dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Spain http://www.amazon.es/dp/B00IB32RZY

Review – A Taste of Erotica by A.M. Harding

Are you looking for a steamy, sexy read?  Check out A.M. Harding‘s stories in A Taste of Erotica.
atasteoferotica

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have sex in a public place or to be taken to the brink of orgasm and held there, balanced on the edge of climax then you need A Taste of Erotica.

This book is a collection of seven short erotic stories, written with the express aim of stimulating the reader’s imagination and arousing both body and mind. Each story immerses you in a different scenario and leads you to explore a new thrill.

My Review

Erotica is not for everyone.  I enjoy reading it when it is well written.  That said, A.M. Harding has done a brilliant job of writing stories to make you squirm and writhe. Coincidentally, out of the seven stories, my favorite is Writhe for Me.  All seven stories in this collection will stimulate your mind.  Let the power of A.M. Harding’s words paint those pictures in your mind.

“She looked at the balls, wondering where to put them. She didn’t have a bag with her and her dress had no pockets.  There was only one place they could go.  She knew then that she’d be writhing all the way home but that didn’t feel like a problem and she smiled.”

I gave this steamy collection 5 sizzling stars!

Meet the Author – A.M. Harding

I am a happily married Dad to two amazing daughters. An engineer by trade I’m a self confessed geek and coffee addict.As a voracious reader I have been devouring books since I first learnt to read. At the age of 12 I discovered real Science Fiction in the form of Dune by Frank Herbert and rapidly followed this with everything written by Heinlein, Asimov and more before moving on to the horror, fantasy and other genres.For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be an author. This marks the start of my writing career.

Follow A.M. Harding on Twitter

Website:  http://deepthought69.blogspot.co.uk/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7740475.A_M_Harding

What’s on my Kindle? Coming Soon.

Wow, I have been reading such wonderful reads these past weeks.  I don’t know which book to review first.

Here are the books I have just finished.  Reviews coming soon so stayed tuned.  By the way, they are all wonderful so go ahead and get them right away.

Just finished…

A Taste of Erotica by A.M. Harding

atasteoferotica

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have sex in a public place or to be taken to the brink of orgasm and held there, balanced on the edge of climax then you need A Taste of Erotica.

This book is a collection of seven short erotic stories, written with the express aim of stimulating the reader’s imagination and arousing both body and mind. Each story immerses you in a different scenario and leads you to explore a new thrill.

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

The Plan by Qwen Salsbury

Leave a comment to enter giveaway!

Day of Employment: 359

11:05 a.m.

Location: Cubicles outside Canon’s office.
Co-workers: Betting on how long Canon’s new PA will last.
Me: No doubts. Ms. Gum-smacker won’t last the day. I need to place my bet.
Manolo Blahnik’s New Fall Shoes: Mine. As soon as Madeline hands over my winnings.

Emma Baker has never spoken a word to Alaric Canon, nor has he to her. But she’s studied him every day across the office tundra for almost a year. Canon is hard and fierce, terrifying and beautiful. He’s also the most stern, unforgiving person Emma has ever seen. Emma’s co-workers run a betting pool for Personal Assistant terminations. There’s a separate pot for the day one leaves without crying. Not likely…Canon made a former Navy SEAL cry.

He has high standards and low tolerance. Everyone knows it. Everyone stays away. Everyone who can, that is. Except Emma. She can’t look away. Alaric Canon is the single most attractive man she’s ever seen. Bar none.

Canon has never noticed her. Not once in almost a year. She’s not even a blip on his radar. But she will be. His radar will be blipless no more.

It is a goal. Emma has a plan.

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

This next book has left quite an impression.  I can’t get this story out of my mind.

Clipped Wings by Helena Hunting

clipped wings

An emotional love story that follows the touch-and-go relationship of Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.

As Hayden and Tenley navigate their newfound but slightly unstable relationship, they want to trust each other, but Hayden is hiding a dark and shameful past that he doesn’t ever want Tenley to find out about. And Tenley has secrets of her own that could make Hayden run away forever. When Tenley asks Hayden to put a beautifully elaborate tattoo across her back, the two form what they thought was an unshakeable bond. But when Tenley’s past shows up on her doorstep, will Hayden stand by her side…or run?

I hope you enjoy these books as much as me.

~Susi

Guest Review by Yoyo – The Ever Trilogy by Jasinda Wilder

I’m excited to share this guest review today written by Yoyo, another avid reader.  I too love it when I can read all of the books in a series right away.  This trilogy is on my TBR list.  Thanks for sharing your review.  If you haven’t met Yoyo, you can find her on Twitter @yoyostweets.

The Ever Trilogy by Jasinda Wilder

evers 1

Synopsis

Ever,

These letters are often all that get me through week to week. Even if it’s just random stuff, nothing important, they’re important to me. Gramps is great, and I love working on the ranch. But…I’m lonely. I feel disconnected, like I’m no one, like I don’t belong anywhere. Like I’m just here until something else happens. I don’t even know what I want with my future. But your letters, they make me feel connected to something, to someone. I had a crush on you, when we first met. I thought you were beautiful. So beautiful. It was hard to think of anything else. Then camp ended and we never got together, and now all I have of you is these letters. S**t. I just told you I have a crush on you. HAD. Had a crush. Not sure what is anymore. A letter-crush? A literary love? That’s stupid. Sorry. I just have this rule with myself that I never throw away what I write and I always send it, so hopefully this doesn’t weird you out too much. I had a dream about you too. Same kind of thing. Us, in the darkness, together. Just us. And it was like you said, a memory turned into a dream, but a memory of something that’s never happened, but in the dream it felt so real, and it was more, I don’t even know, more RIGHT than anything I’ve ever felt, in life or in dreams. I wonder what it means that we both had the same dream about each other. Maybe nothing, maybe everything. You tell me.

Cade
~ ~ ~ ~

Cade,

We’re pen pals. Maybe that’s all we’ll ever be. I don’t know. If we met IRL (in real life, in case you’re not familiar with the term) what would happen? And just FYI, the term you used, a literary love? It was beautiful. So beautiful. That term means something, between us now. We are literary loves. Lovers? I do love you, in some strange way. Knowing about you, in these letters, knowing your hurt and your joys, it means something so important to me, that I just can’t describe. I need your art, and your letters, and your literary love. If we never have anything else between us, I need this. I do. Maybe this letter will only complicate things, but like you I have a rule that I never erase or throw away what I’ve written and I always send it, no matter what I write in the letter.

Your literary love,

Ever

evers 2

Synopsis

Ever,

I don’t know who I am anymore. I’m a castaway. Lost. Drowning. I love you. That’s the only true thing I know, and it’s all I have to hold on to. I love you. I’ll love you forever. Until the day I die, and I’ll love you in whatever world comes after this one. I love you so much, Ever. I miss you. Dear Jesus, I miss you. Come back to me.

For forever, and after forever,
Caden

evers 3

Synopsis

Ever and Cade,

Sorry I vanished like I did. I’m not sure I can even explain things. I don’t know when I’ll be back. IF I’ll be back. I’m not sure of anything, except that I love you, Ever. You’re my twin, my best friend, and leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I know you don’t understand. Maybe you never will. I hope you don’t, honestly. It would be easier that way. That’s cowardly, I’m sure.

Cade, take care of her. Love her, the way she deserves. The way you always have, for forever and always.

If I could ask you anything, it’s that you remember me as I was, and forget me as I am.

I’m sorry, and goodbye, and I love you.

Eden

Yoyo’s Review

Over the past year, I have enjoyed several books by Jasinda Wilder, a husband and wife team, so when I heard about their upcoming series, The Ever Trilogy, I quickly added it to my to-read list.  As the release date for the third book approached, I bumped the series up to the top of my reading list and I was not disappointed.

The first book, Forever and Always, introduces us to Caden.  Cade, a talented artist, has a happy childhood but things start to fall apart.  As a teenager, he suffers the kind of loss that no one should experience and the only thing that keeps him going are letters from his pen pal, Ever, whom he refers to as his literary love. They share their deepest secrets with each other and form a close bond even though they are not physically located near one another.  Ever has a twin sister named Eden.  The twins have experienced their own share of pain and while Eden loves Ever she is envious of her sister’s accomplishments.

After Forever, the second book, continues with the story of Caden and Ever.  They both go through many trials and temptations but one thing that never wavers is their love for each other.

The third book, Saving Forever, gives us more insight into Eden’s plight.  We watch her grow from a jealous, self-pitying sister into a mature young woman, capable of making selfless decisions.

I was quite emotional reading this trilogy and often found myself close to tears.  While there were situations that bothered me, I understood why they occurred. The descriptive writing made me feel like I was in the mind of the characters experiencing their pain and their joy.  The story is about triumph despite adversity and although there was much sadness, there were also many happy moments.

I gave this series 4.5 stars!

Favorite quotes:

“Trick with women is to not try and figure them out. You won’t. Just accept ’em as they are, and try to go with the flow.” – Forever and Always

“If you love someone enough, you give them as many chances as they need to get it right.” – After Forever

“Sometimes, all you can do is push through. Make mistakes and accept them.” – Saving Forever

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

You can find Jasinda Wilder on Twitter @JasindaWilder

Check out her website too:  http://www.jasindawilder.com

Throwback Thursday Read- Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.

It is Throwback Thursday so I thought about the books that I read as a child.  I was fortunate to have a librarian living across the street when growing up.  She would always bring me the latest books for me to read.  I still recall reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys Series among so many other fantastic books.  It is because of this librarian, Lorraine, that I developed the love of literature.

One of my favorite books, which I must have read over 100 times with my friends was Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume.  Judy Blume has always been one of my favorite authors of children’s books.  Even today, she is still a favorite in my own classroom.  As an educator, Judy Blume books are all over my classroom and are read on a daily basis.

So, I am curious. What books take you back to your childhood?  It’s Throwback Thursday.  Share your favorites in the comments.

~Susi

304917

Synopsis

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” No one ever told Margaret Simon that eleven-going-on- twelve would be such a hard age. When her family moves to New Jersey, she has to adjust to life in the suburbs, a different school, and a whole new group of friends. Margaret knows she needs someone to talk to about growing up-and it’s not long before she’s found a solution.

“Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret. I can’t wait until two o’clock God. That’s when our dance starts. Do you think I’ll get Philip Leroy for a partner? It’s not so much that I like him as a person God, but as a boy he’s very handsome. And I’d love to dance with him… just once or twice. Thank you God.

Giveaway- The Plan by Qwen Salsbury

Have you read The Plan by Qwen Salsbury?

The Plan has quickly made its way to the #1 spot on the Erotica Best Seller list.

Here is your chance to win 1 E-book copy of this book.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you are entered to win.  Easy right?  Go comment now.

This contest ends on Saturday, February 22, 2014.

Winner will be chosen by randomizer.org

No purchase necessary to participate in giveway.

Good Luck!

~Susi

Leave a comment to enter giveaway!

Leave a comment to enter giveaway!

Synopsis:

Day of Employment: 359

11:05 a.m.

Location: Cubicles outside Canon’s office.
Co-workers: Betting on how long Canon’s new PA will last.
Me: No doubts. Ms. Gum-smacker won’t last the day. I need to place my bet.
Manolo Blahnik’s New Fall Shoes: Mine. As soon as Madeline hands over my winnings.

Emma Baker has never spoken a word to Alaric Canon, nor has he to her. But she’s studied him every day across the office tundra for almost a year. Canon is hard and fierce, terrifying and beautiful. He’s also the most stern, unforgiving person Emma has ever seen. Emma’s co-workers run a betting pool for Personal Assistant terminations. There’s a separate pot for the day one leaves without crying. Not likely…Canon made a former Navy SEAL cry.

He has high standards and low tolerance. Everyone knows it. Everyone stays away. Everyone who can, that is. Except Emma. She can’t look away. Alaric Canon is the single most attractive man she’s ever seen. Bar none.

Canon has never noticed her. Not once in almost a year. She’s not even a blip on his radar. But she will be. His radar will be blipless no more.

It is a goal. Emma has a plan.

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

About the Author:

Qwen Salsbury was born in Kansas and somehow keeps ending up back there.  Raised on her grandparent’s five acre homestead within the city limits, her imagination was honed during long days of quiet play and spartan access to a TV signal.  Now mother to handsome boys, she strives to ensure they appreciate potential adventures found within the pages of a book, an honest day’s work, and what ingenuity may yield from mundane objects like a string and a cup.  The boys prefer a PS3.

After spending time in corporate America, she returned to school and received a BA in English, Creative Writing and Poetry from Pittsburg State University, the alma mater of Pulitzer Prize winning poet, James Tate.  She worked on a Masters there until going on to receive a juris doctorate from Washburn School of Law.

A seven-time Sigma Tau Delta writing award winner, her fiction and poetry have appeared in literary magazines and have been selected by fiction communities as featured story of the month and year.  Predominantly a writer of romance, her romantic fiction varies from contemporary to historical to fantasy, though often with a humorous slant and poetic undertones.

For reasons she can’t even articulate herself, she decided to start writing fiction again while solo parenting and attending law school (during Constitutional Law class, to be exact.).

Follow Qwen Salsbury on Twitter @QwenSalsbury

Visit her Webpage: http://qwensalsbury.com/

Review- Interview with a Master by Jason Luke

interview with a master

It’s the interview like no other.
It’s the interview of a lifetime.
It’s THE Interview with a Master.
When Jonah Noble reveals details of his life within the world of BDSM, the tale he tells is intensely erotic, profoundly sensual, and brutally honest.
This is His world. His way.
There is only one question the man will not answer…

(BDSM erotica from a man’s POV, written by a man. Contains some explicit language)

My Review

If you haven’t read Interview with a Master by Jason Luke yet, then you need to get this book right away.  This book was not what I expected when I first read the title.  Honestly, I was intrigued by the title and some of the comments I had read on social media about the book.  Well….the book turned out to be an extremely interesting and brilliant read.

First of all, I love books written in the male point of view.  I think the male mind is fascinating.  Sometimes, comments made by men are surprising.  With that said, Jason Luke does a spectacular job of explaining his BDSM experiences from his point of view.  Not only is his book well written, he builds suspense for the reader.  I never wanted his interviews with Leticia to end.  He definitely builds “anticipation” throughout his book.  Additionally, I learned about BDSM. I can see the roles of the master and his sub through different eyes now.

The story was enlightening.  There were several lines that stood out as I read that were my favorite.

“Being taught the skills and thrills of sex by an older woman was one of the best things that could have happened to me, Leticia. I learned so muc h from her, and they were important lessons – lessons I stll remember and apply even today.”

“Leticia, there are no rules – apart from the safe, sane and consentual requirements I have already mentioned.  If those conditions are met, then a BDSM relationship can be as extreme or as borderline-vanilla as the people involved want it to be.”

“I understand what women need to make BDSM work in the bedroom.”

“A Master without a submissive is a guy. Just a guy. He needs someone who wishes to submit to him.”

“It’s not one thing about a woman that makes her sexy in my eyes, it’s a collection of things – an intoxicating fusion of the obvious and the subtle that merge together.”

“Anticipation is more potent than a whip and more compelling than handcuffs. The ability to tease and arouse a woman is a subtle skill few men ever bother to learn.”

“Being a good Master, in my book, is much more than meets the eye, and it’s much more than people outside of the lifestyle seem to really understand.”

Now, the ending was quite surprising.   Since I have learned that there will be another book, I am excited and am looking forward to more of The Master.

I recommend this book. I think readers will experience BDSM through different eyes.

I gave this book 5 stars.

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

About the Author: Jason Luke

Jason Luke enjoyed several years involved in the BDSM lifestyle – but he is quick to point out that his experiences don’t qualify him as an expert, any more than knowing how to drive a car makes him a qualified mechanic. ‘Interview with a Master’ is a novel about how one man became a Master. The book is a work of fiction, but Jason has drawn heavily on encounters from his own real life. He won’t say which parts of the book are fictionalised, and which parts are auto-biographical.

Erotic BDSM fiction written by a man from a man’s point of view.

You can find Jason Luke on Twitter @JasonLukeAuthor and on Facebook.

Interview with a Master is now available in 9 countries! 
Here they are …
• Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Germany http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Austria http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon France http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Italy http://www.amazon.it/ /dp/B00IB32RZY
• Amazon Spain http://www.amazon.es/dp/B00IB32RZY