Thursday, April 21, 2011

GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN

It's Here!


GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN

By Michael Lee West

Available here on Amazon.



I've been eager to read Michael Lee West's latest book,

so I was tickled pink when Michael Lee sent a copy of

GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN

to arrive on my doorstep April 12.

Any character who turns to
Easter Peeps to calm her nerves has to be interesting.



I've read all of Michael Lee's books, and her characters jump off the pages of her novels right into my heart. Michael Lee said, "A few summers ago, I began searching for the perfect recipe for Red Velvet Cake. I measured, baked, and consumed until I couldn't fit into my clothes and my fingers were permanently stained by food coloring. But the recipe eluded me.....I was just about to start a novel about wacky Tennessee sisters, and normally I like to stay home and eat Twizzlers while thinking about my characters-to-be. But off we went to Charleston."



"That night , tucked into my rented bed by the sea, a character named Teeny Templeton wandered into my dreams. She was a sassy, brown-eyed blonde with a penchant for throwing fruit at wayward boyfriends.......I thought Teeny would tell me a story about her quirky aunts or offer a Red Velvet recipe that somehow incorporated peaches, but she had other plans. Her boyfriend had turned up dead and all fingers pointed at Teeny. Plus, the body count was rising."



"I brought Teeny home, then I made her aunt's Red Velvet cake. I cut a huge slice, then opened a notebook and wrote Gone With a Handsomer Man on the first page. I held on for dear life while she whirled through adventures and unusual recipes."



RED VELVET CAKE

If you haven't heard by now, Teeny Templeton
cooks her way through "love, death, and Red Velvet cakes."

You are going to want to read this book, and you just
might find yourself cooking a Red Velvet Cake of your own.



I'm a child of the 50s.
Red Velvet Cake was a favorite in my youth.
The recipe I'm sharing is from my mother.


Red Velvet Cake
Cream 1/2 cup Crisco, 1 1/2 cup sugar; add 2 eggs.
sift 3 times: 2 cups flour, 1 T. cocoa, 1/2 t. salt.
Add alternately with 1 cup buttermilk, 2 oz. red food coloring.
Beat well. Fold in 1 t. soda dissolved in 1 T. vinegar.
Bake in two layers at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Frosting
1 cup milk, 1/4 cup flour, dash of salt --- cook over low
flame to a pudding stage. Set off to cool. Cream 1/2 cup Crisco,
1 stick Oleo, 1 cup sugar, and 1 t. vanilla. Add to the pudding
mixture; beat well until smooth. Spread on cake.
Sprinkle fresh coconut over cake.
Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve.


All direct quotes are from the author, Michael Lee West. You can find a copy of her complete statement on her web site here.



"Celebrating Fictional Food in
Gone With A Handsomer Man"

April 22 & April 29

Click the link below to join others
celebrating the release of Michael Lee's newest novel.


Michael Lee is offering Special Give Aways
to Celebrate at the following blogs.

Don't miss out on the fun!




Also linking to



Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

21 comments:

  1. I am reading it Sarah, and it's wonderful...Christine

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  2. I have to find this book! it sounds wonderful. Thank you for a great post and the recipe. My son is getting married this summer and is having a red velvet cake! :-)

    XO,
    Jane

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  3. I love your post and all of the fun pics Sarah! Wouldn't mind a cupcake right now either:@)

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  4. Great post, Sarah...love your photos! The close-ups had me almost licking my fingers. LOL

    Wishing you a Joyeuse Pacques!
    fondly,
    Rett

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  5. I remember my third grade teacher having us all over to her house at the end of the year, and she served homemade red velvet cake. I thought it was the most elegant, delicious cake ever! Ah, memories! Now I must get a copy of the book!

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  6. Happy Easter to you!Very cute cupcakes:)

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  7. I have to tell you, I LOVE your posts. They mix just the right amount of humor with gorgeous photographs. Your posts are such a joy to read and I can't wait to get my copy of Michael Lee's new book, GWAHM!!
    Susan

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  8. I love seeing the difference in our Red Velvet recipes...I'm sure yours are delicious (I remember when we made so many things with Crisco). This was fun wasn't it?

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  9. I'm doing a post for her next week with red velvet cake too! I'll have to pull out my old red velvet cake recipe and compare.

    - The Tablescaper

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  10. So pretty!

    Here's my Pink creation, hope you can visit and comment. Thank you!

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  11. This was such fun--your words, humor, and photography! I love the peeps and Twizzlers (and Teeny does too)! Teeny aspires to make your cupcakes--oh, they look delicious!Have a blessed Easter. XX00

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  12. Will have to read! Save me a cupcake please!!
    Happy weekend!
    xo Cathy

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  13. Sarah, I've got to get the book, I had no idea its available....already. Your post is to cute, and so clever. Love the Easter Peeps. Going to make the Red Velvet Cake too, my son loves it. Its so nice Michael West left you such a sweet comment......can't wait to read this book. Love this post.
    Easter Blessings

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  14. I posted Red Velvet Cake too. I had to be introduced to it through my husband's family. It is so fantastic! I love Cheesecake Factory's new Red Velvet Cheesecake which combines the best of both worlds.

    (I admit I had to skim through to the end to see what happens before I posted - naughty me!)

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  15. Love your red velvet cupcakes! Thank you for sharing...xooxoxo Tami

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  16. I will try to make that Red Velvet Cake. I used to have a recipe for that; but the paper just broke all up into tiny little scraps. Thank you for the receipe.
    Joyce M

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  17. I've never read a book by this author. I need to check her out. The title is certainly an eye catcher! I hope you have a great Easter weekend.

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  18. I've never heard of this author either, but I definitely want to go check it out! I think a trip to the bookstore is in order! I love red velvet cake...maybe a little too much. Thank you so much for sharing your mothers recipe with us. I can't wait to try it out. There is nothing and I mean NOTHING like a cake baked from scratch! Have wonderful weekend!! Happy Pink Saturday!
    -April

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  19. Beautiful cupcakes!! Gonna get that book!! Enjoyed your blog!

    Lori

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  20. Hi Sarah~ What fun! I love all your little touches with the peeps & your family recipe for Red Velvet Cake! Your cupcakes look delish!

    We are back from out-of-town for a birthday & Easter celebration. I wanted to thank you for the shout out with your adorable Easter table! I hope the Easter Bunny was good to you :-)

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Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.