Wingman Warrior Recipes

Like any author, I spend a great deal of time at the post office mailing manuscripts to my agent, my editor as well as sending off information to fans and booksellers. I’ve been blessed with a wonderfully friendly, small local post office which makes those postal errands all the more fun. Given my frequent visits, it wasn’t long before the workers there began asking questions about my stories – and became new fans of romance! Postal worker Gracie B. even began compiling a list of recipes that remind her of each of my releases. (And wow, can this lady ever cook!) Hope you enjoy these as much as I have!

Gracie attends my book signing at the Wright-Patterson AFB Base Exchange

WEDDING AT WHITE SANDS (Silhouette Intimate Moments 6/02) – RITA finalist!
Caramel Peanut Butter Chip Brownies
Because Allie loves chocolate, and the caramel and peanut butter chips give a sandy, beachie look!

-You can use any brownie mix, but use 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter – melted – instead of 1/2 cup oil
-Follow package directions for rest of brownie mix

NOW THAT THE BROWNIE MIX IS READY:
-Take 1/3 brownie mix and spread into bottom of 9 X 12 pan (pan sprayed lightly with Pam.)
-Bake for 6 minutes at 350 degrees
-Remove from oven
-Sprinkle bag of peanut butter chips over brownie mix in pan
- Oh yeah, and while the bottom layer of brownie mix was baking, you should melt 14 oz bag of unwrapped caramels. (40 caramels if you buy them in bulk.) Add 1/3 cup of evaporated milk in sauce pan over low heat. Stir frequently.
-When this mixture is melted, pour over peanut butter chips and bottom layer of brownies.
-Spoon rest of brownie mixture over top of chips and caramel layer.
-Finish baking for 25-30 minutes.
-Check doneness with cake tester until brownie mix does not show.
-Cool. Cut. Enjoy! PS Did I mention to add lots of T.L.C.?

(Note from Cathy: Yum! Yum! Yum! These make the perfect picnic treat.

GRAYSON’S SURRENDER (Silhouette Intimate Moments 9/04)
Chocolate Chip Cookies
In honor of the cookies Julia makes for the crew!

1 stick butter or margarine (1/2 cup)
1/2 stick Crisco butter flavor (1/2 cup)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cup flour
2 cups chocolate chips (one 12 ounce pkg.)
1 cup nuts (any kind you want, or none at all)
Lots of T.L.C.
-Cream margarine and Crisco
-Add sugars one at a time, cream together
-Add eggs, one at a time, cream well
-Add baking soda and vanilla
-Mix in flour
-Add nuts (if wanted) then chocolate chips
-Chill dough
-Form into 1 inch balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet
-Bake in a 375 oven for 8-10 minutes until golden
-Be careful not to over bake.
-Then enjoy

(Note from Cathy: Gracie was so surprised when she read UNDER SIEGE and discovered the REAL recipe for Julia’s chocolate chip cookies that Julia had been secreting away! BTW, Julia and I have the same recipe. <g>)

TAKING COVER (Silhouette Intimate Moments 11/04) – RITA winner!
Apple Cinnamon Bars
Because Tanner tasted cinnamon on Kathleen’s lips from the apple cider when they kissed at Christmas time.

3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup diced & peeled apples
1/2 bag cinnamon chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. One 9 inch square pan. 25-30 minutes until cake tester comes out clean.

Mix – vegetable shortening, sugar and eggs.
Add – dry stuff
Fold in – apples and cinnamon chips
Spread – into 9 inch greased pan
Sprinkle – with cinnamon/sugar
Bake – then drizzle with icing
ICING: About 1/2 cup powdered sugar. 1 Tablespoon water. Mix with a whisk, and add more water if needed to make it thin enough to drizzle. Oh yeah – Don’t forget the T.L.C.! Then enjoy!

(Note from Cathy: These are awesome! My family downed a pan of these in one sitting!)

UNDER SIEGE (Silhouette Intimate Moments 1/03)
Marshmallow Fudge Brownies
It’s a yummy reminder of Julia’s attempt to make marshmallow fudge with Ivy for Zach in chapter 4.

-You can use any brownie mix, but use 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter – melted – instead of 1/2 cup oil
-Follow package directions for rest of brownie mix

Or if making brownies from scratch:
1 cup butter or margarine
4 – 1 ounce bars unsweetened chocolate, melted – OR 12 Tablespoons cocoa & 4 Tablespoons oil
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour
-Melt butter. Add cocoa & oil. Mix well.
-Add sugar. Mix.
-Put in eggs one at a time, mixing with a whisk.
-Add vanilla
-Stir in flour
NOW THAT BROWNIE MIX IS READY:
-Stir in chocolate chips and mini-marshmallows.
-Spread in 9 X 12 lightly greased pan. (Use Pam Spray)
-Bake for approx 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
-Cool, cut, and enjoy!

(Note from Cathy: It’s chocolate! Need I say more?!)

THE CINDERELLA MISSION (Silhouette Intimate Moments 2/03)
Rocky Road Fudge
It’s not Kelly’s favorite Rocky Road ice cream, but it travels better.

2 cups chocolate chips (1 – 12 ounce package.)
2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (I use the fat free kind. Hey, it tastes good with a lot less calories!)
2 cups dry roasted peanuts (I use lightly salted.)
2 cups mini-marshmallows
Again, add lots of T.L.C.
-In heavy sauce pan melt butter, chocolate chips, & sweetened condensed milk over low heat.
-Remove from hear and stir in peanuts and mini-marshmallows.
-Spread in wax paper lined 9-12 pan.
-Chill well in fridge for a couple of hours.
-Lift waxed paper out of pan and peel off candy.
-Cut into whatever size squares you want and share with a friend!

(Note from Cathy: These are so good I had to get the kids to help me eat them so I wouldn’t eat them all at once.

PRIVATE MANEUVERS (Silhouette Intimate Moments 6/03)
Snicker Doodles
Because on pg. 18, Max likens Darcy’s hair to “cinnamon, maybe?
Like the stuff a neighbor lady of his used to sprinkle on golden brown cookies warm from the oven.”

Start with lots of TLC
Mix together:
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar

Add:
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix together. Chill dough thoroughly. Roll into walnut sized balls, then roll them in 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 400 degree oven.

Note from Cathy: When Gracie gave me the package with these, she added all sorts of fun PRIVATE MANEUVERS goodies such as – sunflower seeds (because Darcy eats lots of them,) mini Snickers Bars (in honor of Crusty, who Darcy refers to as Capt. Snickers Bar,) tiny tropical drink umbrellas (in honor of the Guam setting.) As you can all likely tell by now, Gracie B. is a real treasure!

STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT (Silhouette Intimate Moments 11/03) – RITA finalist!
Thanksgiving PBJs
(Because Danny loves peanut butter – and because of the special strawberry preserves in the book!)

Ingredients:
strawberry preserves
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups Biscuit baking mix (like Bisquick)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
granulated sugar (for coating dough balls)
Lots of T.L.C.

Directions:
In large bowl, mix sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter until smooth. Add vanilla. Then add sugar and biscuit mix. Beat until thoroughly mixed. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and coat with sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Make an indentation on top of the ball. Place cookie sheet into fridge for dough to chill for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile in small microwave safe bowl, put about 1 cup of preserves. Microwave on high about 20 seconds. Stir until smooth. (As Danny says on page 214 – “wonders of the microwave.” <g>) Take the cookie sheet from the fridge and fill each indentation with generous amount of strawberry preserves. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8-10 minutes before transferring them to paper towels for cooling. The preserves are bubbly hot from the oven. Be careful not to get burned. And if you have any warm strawberry preserves left in the bowl, you can spoon them back into the jar with the rest of the preserves, or….. better yet….. be creative and share them with a friend!

ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME (Silhouette Special Release 3/04):
Cereal and Marshmallow bars!
What can you do with Major Jack “Cobra” Korba’s favorite Froot Loops?
Well, here’s a simple idea.

6 cups cereal
3 Tablespoons of butter or margarine
1 – 10 ounce package of miniature marshmallows
and lots of TLC

(Faster to make in the microwave.)
-In large microwavable blow, melt butter/margarine and marshmallows. Microwave about 1 1/2 minutes on high. Then stir and microwave for another 1 1/2 minutes.
- Quickly add cereal and stir to coat.
-Have ready a 13X9 pan that has been lined with wax paper and sprayed with Pam. Spread cereal mix evenly into pan.
-Cool, take out of pan and peel back wax paper, cut and enjoy.

JOINT FORCES (Silhouette Intimate Moments 5/04)
“Sinfully-Sweet Chocolate and Nut Bars”
(full of nutty- protein, just what pregnant Rena would like)

crust:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
1/4 cup packed brown sugar

topping:
3 large eggs
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1/2 cup chopped cashews
1/2 cup chopped pistachios ( or you can use any combination of nuts or chips to equal 1 1/2 cups- be creative!)
1 cup heath toffee bits – don’t forget lots of T.L.C.!

preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 13 by 9 inch pan with PAM

***Crust- Beat flour, butter, and brown sugar together in small bowl until crumbly ( I use the regular mixing arm it my mixer). Just be careful you don’t over-mix, or you’ll end up with a ball of dough( instead of a crumbly mix). But if you do end up with dough( I have- oh well) just go with it! Press the mixture into the sprayed pan, and bake for 12-15 minutes. until lightly browned.

*** For the topping- With a whisk, in a medium sized bowl, beat eggs, corn syrup, granulated sugar, butter, and vanilla, until well mixed. Stir in chocolate-chips, nuts, and heath bits. pour over crust, and spread it out evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until set. Cool completely or wire rack. cut into bars and enjoy!

Here’s a fun picture I received from a “Wingmen Warrior” fan that relates to STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT.
I’ll be adding even more “Wingmen Warrior” info from fans to this page in the future!
Wingmen fan Amelia sent me this photo taken on her recent cruise

because the handsome cruise ship worker pictured with her reminded her of Crusty! (I agree!)
Many thanks to Amelia’s wonderful husband for snapping the photo.