A Valentine Treat from author @DarylWoodGerber

HAPPY ALMOST VALENTINE'S DAY

From Daryl aka Avery:

I have a sweetheart giveaway below, but first...

So...I was going to give you a recipe from FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE because, in the first month after release, I usually treat you to a specialty or two straight from the book, and I will do that next week, but this week, I had to tell you about a mini-disaster.

You know how authors are often doing something promotional nowadays? We make bookmarks, we write blogs, we interact on social media. We give trinkets like mugs and kitchen jar openers and spatulas as "swag."

Well, the group from Mystery Lovers Kitchen annually make recipe cards that we give out as "swag" packets at Malice Domestic Mystery Conference in April. I am in charge of putting all those cards together. We make 250 packets of about 12 recipe cards (each with a cover from our current book titles). For the last 5 years, Krista has lovingly attended to the duty. This year, I said I would take charge. So everyone sent me their cards. They're beautiful.  The recipes look delicious! 

I set out the stacks on my coffee table, and while watching a new Madam Secretary, I set them in order, one after the other. I collected them in stacks and placed them in a box, ready for the next step--ribbons--which I'm eagerly awaiting.

Well, here's the mini-disaster. This weekend, I decided to make the recipe on my card. I'd made it before, of course, but it was easiest to grab a card and follow instructions rather than search for the recipe on my computer. It's a recipe from GRILLING THE SUBJECT. 

Jenna's Mom's Chocolate Pudding. 

Yes, you're going to get a sneak preview and it's PERFECT for Valentine's Day.

Why was it a mini-disaster? Because when I read the recipe card, lo and behold, the directions were WRONG. A mess. I obviously did not proof-read!  I've been a little addled lately. 

So...

I have to make a whole new set of them because I refuse to put out a card that is a mess. My other card for FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE was perfect, so at least I wasn't a total disaster when it came to concentration. 

But, yes, you guessed it, I get to bring out the box of 250 sets of cards, set them all on my coffee table, turn on Downton Abbey (this time), and pull out 250 GRILLING THE SUBJECT recipe cards and replace with "new" GRILLING THE SUBJECT recipe cards.  By the way, that was a costly mistake. You can bet I will be proof-reading with a much keener eye in the future!  Until I don't, of course, because I am mistake-prone lately.

Did I mention I had a freak accident a few weeks ago?  Tune in for that story!  LOL

Here's the RIGHT recipe for Jenna's Mom's Chocolate Pudding. It is SUPER EASY. Luckily it turned out so well that it has been assuaging my feelings of total and utter stupidity.  

Jenna’s Mom’s Easy Chocolate Pudding

[4 servings]

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/4 cups milk

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped cream

In a medium saucepan (no heat yet), stir together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt. Now stir in the milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.

Pour into individual dessert dishes. Note!  To keep a skin from forming on the top, press some plastic wrap on the surface of the pudding!  Refrigerate at least 2 hours.  When ready, remove the plastic wrap, and top each with whipped topping, if desired.

NEWSLETTER

By the way, do you get my newsletter? Are you part of the fan club? There are fun puzzles, special pictures, tidbits, and giveaways. I will not inundate you with emails. You will only get updates when I have something to share...like late next month!  In March! Are you on pins and needles? Sign up today so you don't miss out in the future.

TODAY'S VALENTINE GIVEAWAY!

Leave your name and email so I can contact you if you WIN and tell me something sweet or funny that has happened to you!  I'll be giving away a SAVOR THE MYSTERY MUG. Winner will be picked Friday, the 12th.

PS  Can you see what's wrong with my recipe? 

Check directions. First paragraph.

Nice array, right?

Savor the mystery and say cheese!

Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames

Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous!

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Plus check out our website with lots of trailers, excerpts, plus a fan club with puzzles and giveaways!

GRILLING THE SUBJECT, the 5th Cookbook Nook Mystery, can be pre-ordered. Click here to order.

FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, 
the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery.

Click to order.