Friday, March 8, 2013

Just Desserts Blog Hop




There is nothing like the temptation of a decadent dessert and a hot romantic suspense novel. Well, I have the perfect combination for you. Blue Horizon is “packed from the beginning with intense action, emotion and great characters” and this sweetheart cheesecake promises to melt in your mouth. Although my husband didn’t create this to die for dessert, he did bake the cheesecake in the picture below. He is the chef in my family, and I get a kick out of watching him cook clad in his Henry VIII armor apron.

                              


                This amazing dessert is the creation of Luverene Dove
                         Strawberry Cheesecake
       Prep Time: 1 Hour
      Cook Time: 45 Minutes
 Ready In: 1 Hour 45 Min
Servings: 12
       


                            Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen
sweetened strawberries, thawed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese,
softened
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed
milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 eggs
1 tablespoon water

                              
Directions:
1. Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 9-in. springform pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. In a blender or food processor, combine strawberries and cornstarch; cover and process until smooth. Pour into a saucepan; bring to a boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes. Set aside 1/3 cup strawberry sauce; cool. Cover and refrigerate remaining sauce for serving. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in milk. Add lemon juice; mix well. Add eggs, beat on low just until combined. Pour half of the cream cheese mixture over crust. Drop half of the reserved strawberry mixture by 1/2 teaspoonfuls onto cream cheese layer. Carefully spoon remaining cream cheese mixture over sauce. Drop remaining strawberry sauce by 1/2 teaspoonfuls on top. With a knife, cut through top layer only to swirl strawberry sauce. Bake at 300 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove side of pan. Thin chilled strawberry sauce with water if desired; serve with cheesecake. Store in the refrigerator



Safeguarding 'Blue Horizon' isn’t just a mission. Beckham Connors has orders to rescue Elena from her captors, or if necessary—kill her. Whatever happens, she cannot be left alive on Iranian soil.



           A little dessert excerpt from Blue Horizon.
 
Beckham walked into the illuminated room. He glanced down at the figure that peacefully slept before him. Elena’s slender body sprawled across the bed, her legs tangled in the blanket. Her silky hair fell across her cheek. With parted lips Elena produced a soft purr, which was the sexiest damn snore he’d ever heard. Beckham could feel the scowl on his face and knew this infatuation had to end now. She was a job and meant nothing to him. His assignment was to get her out or take her out. And when the time came, he would have to do the latter if necessary.
When he finished this job, he would find himself a woman and get this lust out of his system. Beckham didn’t ever have attachments—not ever! As soon as the sheets cooled after sex he was gone, no affectionate words or tender moments afterward. He didn’t cuddle. He knew he left behind a trail of women who, if they ever saw him crossing the street, would slam the accelerator to the floor and make him a hood ornament.
Frustrated, he walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. He poured himself a whiskey, thankful for that little pleasure. Glass in hand, he moved to the front window and glanced out.
Deep in his musings, Beckham almost missed the slight movement in the kitchen. He spun in that direction and frowned. Elena opened cupboards, drawers and then looked in the dented refrigerator.
Their gazes locked.
“How long are we going to be here?”
He didn’t answer immediately. He wondered how much he should tell her. “We’re leaving as soon as the sun sets.”
A little grin shot across her face that made Beckham feel uneasy. What was she up to?
She turned back to the cupboards and began to take out item after item. Then she rummaged through the refrigerator. Turning toward the oven on the two-burner stove, Elena cranked the temperature gauge and began examining the items on the counter.
“Goat’s milk,” she muttered.
He took the few steps that separated them. “What are you doing?” he questioned with more sharpness than required.
She pulled out a large bowl. “Baking cookies.”
Beckham knew he must be going insane, there was no way this woman just said she was baking cookies. “What?” Beckham clamped his mouth shut once he realized it had been hanging open.
Elena flashed him a grin. “I have had a really crappy week, and I love to bake.”
Well, hell, why hadn’t he thought of that? Betty Crocker, the mercenary’s best friend. Maybe if she made the bad guys a yummy batch of cookies, they would let her go. Who needs an Uzi machine gun when you can make a mean macaroon?


 


Giveaway Alert!

For this blog hop I will be giving away two prizes: a Starbucks’ gift card and an ebook of Blue Horizon. Just follow or subscribe to my blog and leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win. Name will be randomly drawn on Monday March 11, 2013. Good luck!

Be sure to visit the other SCP authors' blogs for more exciting reads, tempting desserts, and chances to win more prizes!
 



Congratulations to the winners of this weekend’s Just Dessert Blog Hop.

 Tracey Steinbach is the winner of Blue Horizon on eBook, and Eva scored the Starbucks’ gift card. Thanks to everyone who stopped by for the fun!

40 comments:

  1. Love the pics and excerpt! steinbachtracey@yahoo.com

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  2. Oh that cheesecake looks amazing....I have to bookmark this page and try it. My goodness...yum...

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    1. Hi Sarah, the cheesecake is sooo good. You will not be disappointed.

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  3. Delicious cheesecake and a delectable story....perfect combination!

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    1. KJ, you're right. It's the perfect combination. Thanks for commenting.

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  4. OK, the excerpt has me totally hooked - off to Amazon I go, adding to the TBR list on my poor kindle! And I MUST try the cheesecake!

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    1. Veronica, I'm thrilled you're hooked on Blue Horizon and the cheesecake. Enjoy!

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  5. Haven't made a cheesecake in a long, long time. Looks and sounds good. And hey, I could use one of those chef's in armor in my kitchen. Just sayin'.

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    1. Robena, the cheesecake is amazing, but I beg him only to make it a few times a year (he loves to bake), or I'll have to buy bigger pants. The "chef in armor" is the best, but the rule is I can't enter the kitchen or things get crazy. Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. Replies
    1. Melissa, thanks! I'll pass the compliment to my hubby.

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  7. This Wench Writer wants his apron. I love it.

    )))Corset Hug(((

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    Replies
    1. He bought the apron at the Tower of London giftshop. Love the "Corset Hug." Thanks for stopping by.

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  8. The cheesecake looks awesome. And then you toss cookies into the mix? Now I want to bake, lol! Great post, JL!

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  9. Christine, I agree. This blog hop is making me hungry too. Thanks for the comment.

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  10. Adore that apron! What a hoot. Cheesecake is my son's favorite. This one sounds scrumptious.

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  11. Flossie, thanks for commenting.

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  12. He really did a great job decorating the cheesecake

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    1. Lindsay, thanks for stopping by. He really enjoys adding those extra details to his meals. I'll pass along the compliment.

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  13. Love, love, love cheesecake of any kind!

    Eva
    evitap67(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Eva, cheesecake is my weakness as well. Thanks for commenting.

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  14. Great excerpt and cheesecake recipe! Cheesecake is my total weakness!!

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    1. Marie Rose,
      First off love your name. I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt/recipe. Thanks for stopping by.

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  15. Loved both the cheescake recipe and the excerpt.

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  16. Great excerpt! In my upcoming May release, Lapses of Memory (from SCP of course) my hero & heroine are caught in Tehran at the beginning stages of the Iranian revolution. Oh, and love the apron--I had to look twice! Meredith

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  17. Meredith, Thanks for stopping by. Congrats on the new release. Lapses of Memory sounds exciting.

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  18. Yummy dessert - nothing is better than cheesecake, and strawberries give it just the right bite.

    I love that when she's stressed, Elena has to bake. Great characters!

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    1. Beverly,
      Thanks for commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt and the recipe.

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  19. I love cheesecake almost as much as I love chocolate. This looks great!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by. There are so many delicious desserts on this blog hop.

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  20. Thanks for sharing the recipe.. Looks incrediable delicious...

    BeckeyWhiteATgmailDOTcom

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  21. Beckey, thanks for stopping by. Enjoy!

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