Guest blogging on two sites today. Long and Short Erotic Romance and Simply Kayla’s Book Reviews! Come on over and post a comment for your chance to win a free copy of Stud!

To celebrate Mardi Gras, here’s a sinfully delicious recipe from our own Diva Donna!

You want something special and easy for breakfast for your sexy beast on Fat Tuesday? This is it.
Belle Oaks Inn Pecan Orange Bread!

Pecan Orange Bread

Ingredients
- 1 can(s) pillsbury grands 8 ct. buttermilk biscuits

1. Spray a large bundt pan liberally with non-stick spray. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Pour sugar into small bowl. Zest both oranges and add to sugar. Mix to combine. Reserve oranges to juice for glaze.
3. Melt butter. Pour a small amount of butter into the bundt pan and spread 1/2 the pecans in the bottom.

5. Pour remaining butter over the biscuits and sprinkle remaining pecans on top.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, or until biscuits are puffed and golden.
7. Remove from oven and turn bread out from bundt pan onto desired serving platter.
8. Mix confectioner’s sugar with the juice from the oranges to create a glaze. You may add a dash of orange extract if desired to intensify the orange flavor. Use as much juice as needed to create a glaze consistency you like. Drizzle glaze over bread while still warm.
9. Best when served warm, but can also be served at room temperature. Reheat in microwave for 30 seconds if desired.

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln is credited with using the first emoticon? (a smiley face)

He is also the tallest president (6’4″) and had the largest shoe size of any president (14).

I guess from that we can extrapolate that he might have been a WWW candidate.

Not sure I want to go there…

 
Here are some nice moons to take your mind off that.

And if those don’t make you faint, Ana, here are some more that Donna sent me.

Good news! They found Suzie’s purse and the other girl’s wallet near where her purse was found. Guess we should’ve gotten out and looked when we were there instead of just driving by. No sign of Suzie’s wallet or glasses, but at least we can assume they didn’t keep her ID.

Enjoy your holiday!

LOL! The sheets match his eyes!

And I’m sure that’s the first thing you noticed!

Looks almost apologetic, doesn’t he?

Hey, Alicia! You’re the winner! Will send out a signed copy of Stud to you soon!

Leaving Gatlinburg today. :(
While we’re on the road, hop on over to Night Owl Romance Blogspot for your chance to win a free copy of Stud!
But before you go, WRITE YOUR OWN CAPTION!!!!

Thursday in Gatlinburg!
Yesterday we took a drive down the road the purse thieves took, looking for Suzie’s purse, but since this is what was alongside the road most of the time, I have a feeling it will never be found.

We did explore parts of the mountains we’d never seen before. This is the campground at Cade’s Cove, which is probably quite nice when it isn’t raining.

We had lunch at the Riverstone Restaurant in Townsend. Great food, cute waiter named Shay who took our picture for us. Sorry, no picture of him, so you’ll have to settle for my description. Tall, skinny, dark curly hair, plaid shirt, nice Tennessee accent, and a good sense of humor–which is important to have when you’re dealing with this bunch.

On the way back to Gatlinburg, we stopped at several gift shops, including this woodcarving place where Willy met some new friends. He wanted to bring her home, but she was too big for him and too pricey for me.

And the same goes for this bunch.

Added to the fact that none of them would’ve fit in the car. How do people ever get these things home?????

I’m being interviewed today on My Book Addiction and More! Come on over for your chance to win a free copy of Stud!

Thought for the day

Don’t you wish they’d interview football players this way?????

Now for further thoughts…. A lovely hike through the mountains was spoiled by a couple of punks who broke out windows and stole Suzie’s purse out of Terri’s car.

About the best part of the experience was the park ranger. Young. Cute. Very nice. Sorry there aren’t any pictures, but there will be a story about him someday….

In the meantime here are a few pictures taken along the way. 

Clearly this is the one sign we should’ve heeded….

Willy didn’t pay attention to this one…

And fell on his dick.

After I figured out how to work the timer on my camera, I took this one.

And this is Laurel Falls!

Now see if you can spot Willy!

Then we hiked back down the hill and found broken glass by Terri’s car. And then I noticed the window was broken out. Suzie’s purse was missing, along with a purse taken from another car. Fortunately, she had her phone and got her credit cards cancelled. I rode back with the park ranger, pumped him for information, and a story will, I’m sure, eventually follow. I think I’ll call it Fiasco at the Falls….

The auto glass guys are supposed to come and fix the window in the morning.
After a nap, we went to Crawdaddy’s for dinner and karaoke. Great hamburgers and a fun waiter. Terri and I sang Hotel California and Goodbye Earl, then I sang Desperado by myself.

We got a waving lighter on the first song, a girl told me we were real cute on the second, and I got a whistle on Desperado. Then we came home. All in all, an interesting day…

Today’s whopper before the Yah Yahs tickled him…..

And after…..

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! To celebrate, here’s another treat from our own Diva Donna! Might have to make this one while we’re in Gatlinburg!

Ingredients

35 nilla wafers, crushed

1/4 c margarine, melted (1/2 stick)

1 pkg philadelphia cream cheese, softened (8 oz.)

1/2 c powdered sugar

1 tub cool whip, thawed, divided (8 oz)

3 bananas (Peeled)

3 c milk cold

2 pkg jell-o vanilla flavor instant pudding (4-serving

size each)

1/2 square of baker’s semi-sweet baking chocolate,

grated or I use a few minature choc. chips sprinkled on top

Directions

1. COMBINE wafer crumbs and margarine; press firmly onto bottom of 9×13-inch dish. Refrigerate while preparing filling. **I have to double the crust ingredients to get it to cover the bottom of a 9X13 pan

2. MIX cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in 1-1/2 cups of the whipped topping; spread carefully onto crust. Set aside. Slice bananas and arrange over cream cheese mixture.

3. POUR milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. Spoon over bananas. Spread with remaining whipped topping; sprinkle with chocolate (optional. **I haven’t put the chocolate on yet….I like to put a layer of Nilla Wafers on top or just leave the cool whip as the topping

4. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator (if there are any : )

5. When ready to serve cut into squares and put chocolate grated or chips on top. (optional)

Donna supplied a unpeeled Banana. Be sure to peel off that skin tight shirt before eating.

Monday in Gatlinburg!

First of all, this is where we’re staying. If any gorgeous hunks have nothing better to do, drop by and see us like yesterdays’ Monday Moon did.

After breakfast, we walked down to the 5D Shoot ‘em Up and rode the mechanical boat/horse while blasting away at the pirates and outlaws. Fun stuff!

Then we did a bit of shopping. While we sampled the jerky, Willy was excited to finally find a potty that was just his size!

After all that shopping, Willy and I had to rest for a while. 

We met for lunch at Bubba Gump’s, We sat in the same booth as we did the last time, but didn’t get the same waiter. Shane was there,  though, and remembered us quite well! Our new waiter, Vasyl (vass-EEL) was very cute, although he does tend to make faces when he’s photographed. He has the most fabulous accent I’ve ever heard in my life–he sounded like exotic chocolate. 

The food was great, and we ate way too much. I told Terri not to order the appetizer sampler!

As you can see, we probably drank too much too!

Then it was back to shopping. Willy stopped to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a new friend. 

After buying some really heavy stuff at The Pepper Palace and having a lengthy and slightly strange discussion with the guy who worked there, I trudged back up the hill to the hotel and got caught up on my blogging. Along the way, Willy and I stopped to take pictures of the frozen fountain. 

Then it was back to the room to rest up before going out for dinner. But we wound up ordering pizza. Shopping is hard on a bunch of old women!

Guest blogging today on Star-Crossed Romance with a little Valentine’s treat from Lucy and Tarq!

Lunch on the road to Gatlinburg at Frisch’s restaurant. Terri and I are doing our best to camouflage our double chins. Doesn’t work when you’re laughing that hard. Strange sunlight patterns on me, too…

 Willy gets his first public photo op…

Suzie and Angela looking happy to be on vacation!

Driving into Gatlinburg with snow on the mountains!
 

We went to the Lumberjack Feud for a very tasty dinner and a fun show!
They had horses…. Well, okay, so there was only one…

Dogs….

Hunky Lumberjacks…..

And our adorable waiter, Caleb…

Then we watched the Grammys! WTG Adele!

I’ll be up early to hit the road to Gatlinburg with the hospital gang today! And don’t worry, Willy is with me!

Looks like he’s got his willy too!

Now that is one hot hunk!

Enjoy your Saturday!
I’ll be in Indy today for the INRWA meeting.

Really. I’m not kidding this time…

Susan! You’re the winner of a signed copy of STUD!!!

Email me with your snail mail address, and I’ll get that out to you ASAP.

cheryl.brooks52@yahoo.com

It’s time again to play Write Your Own Caption! After you’ve made me laugh enough to win a free copy of Stud, come on over to Sizzling Hot Book Reviews for another chance to win!

Guest blogging today on Fresh Fiction!

After you’re finished playing Pop Goes the Weasel, come on over!

I scribbled this recipe down on a note pad I keep in my wallet when I was sitting in a doctor’s office flipping through magazines a while back. Just ran across it again when I tore out a bunch of old notes and threw them away. I tried this a few nights ago, and it was pretty darn good. Budley loved it! I served it with brown rice and a salad. Sorry, didn’t think to take a picture, but I think you’ll enjoy the one I chose anyway.

Today is Stud’s OFFICIAL release day, which means that all of those copies pre-ordered from Amazon should either arrive or be shipped today. I’m guest blogging today on Love Romance Passion. Come on over and post a comment for your chance to win a free copy of Stud!

Lime Dijon Chicken

1 whole chicken, rinsed and patted dry

Sauce
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 tsp ground black pepper
zest and juice of 1 lime

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Salt chicken generously and coat with sauce. Bake uncovered 1 1/2 hours, or until chicken is as tender as you like, basting occasionally as the sauce collects in the bottom of the pan. The sauce is great mixed with the rice, too!

He looks sort of basted, doesn’t he?

I scribbled this recipe down on a note pad I keep in my wallet when I was sitting in a doctor’s office flipping through magazines a while back. Just ran across it again when I tore out a bunch of old notes and threw them away. I tried this a few nights ago, and it was pretty darn good. Budley loved it! I served it with brown rice and a salad. Sorry, didn’t think to take a picture, but I think you’ll enjoy the one I chose anyway.

Today is Stud’s OFFICIAL release day, which means that all of those copies pre-ordered from Amazon should either arrive or be shipped today. I’m guest blogging today on Love Romance Passion. Come on over and post a comment for your chance to win a free copy of Stud!

Lime Dijon Chicken

1 whole chicken, rinsed and patted dry

Sauce
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 tsp ground black pepper
zest and juice of 1 lime

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Salt chicken generously and coat with sauce. Bake uncovered 1 1/2 hours, or until chicken is as tender as you like, basting occasionally as the sauce collects in the bottom of the pan. The sauce is great mixed with the rice, too!

He looks sort of basted, doesn’t he?

No stops on the blog tour today, so I’m taking a bit of a breather. Here are some lovely moons for your Monday enjoyment!