Cinnamon Twists

Yeast batter breads can be tricky to work with. The secret here is to generously flour the board and your hands while working with them. And don't worry too much if they look funky. Taste is what really counts.

Cinnamon Twists

1 1/4 c. hot tap water
2 T. powdered milk
1/3 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. yeast
1 1/2 t. salt
2 eggs
5 c. flour

Filling:
1/2 c. melted butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. cinnamon

Mix water, powdered milk, butter, sugar, and yeast in large bowl. Let sit for 3-5 minutes, until yeast starts to bubble. Add in salt, eggs, and flour. Beat by hand just until mixed. Don't knead. It should be a sticky, goody mess. Cover it and set it aside to rise until double, about 1 hour.
On a generously floured board, roll out the dough into a large rectangle. Spread the dough gently with the melted butter, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Fold the top long edge in about 1/3 of the way. Fold the bottom long edge up to cover it. Cut into strips. Twist each strip one and half times. Set on a greased cookie sheet to rise. Repeat with all the strips.
Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes, until doubled.
Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes.

If you search online for cinnamon twists, you'll get the idea of what these are supposed to look like.

One-Egg Cake

In case you're running low, this is a basic cake recipe that can handle substitutions.

One-Egg Cake 

2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/3 c. shortening or butter
1 c. milk
1 t. vanilla
1 egg

Dump everything into the mixer bowl. Beat on low for 30 seconds to combine, then scrape down the sides. Beat on high for 2 minutes.

Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.

Prune Cake, aka Anti-Constipation Cake

This is a very tasty cake with an ulterior motive - it's great at keeping things moving. Don't make it if you're running low on tp, though.

Prune Cake

3/4 c. oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon OR 2 t. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. sour cream OR plain yogurt
1 t. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 c. chopped prunes, as small as you can get them, scissors work the best

Syrup:
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. sour cream
1/4 c. milk
1 t. corn syrup OR maple syrup (NOT pancake syrup) OR honey
1 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla OR rum flavoring

Beat oil, eggs, and sugar in a big bowl. Add in baking soda, salt, spices, milk, sour cream, and vanilla. Stir well. Add in flour and prunes and stir to combine.
Grease and flour a bundt pan. Do this well or the cake will stick! Pour the batter into the pan. Bake at 325°F for 55-65 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
While it's baking, make the syrup. Mix all syrup ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture barely starts to boil. Remove from heat and set aside.
Once the cake comes out of the oven, leave it in the pan. Jab it with a toothpick, then pour half of the syrup over the top. Let it sit and soak in for at least an hour. Then repeat with the other half of the syrup. Let sit for another hour.
Place a large plate over the top of the bundt pan. Flip it over and let it sit until the cake slides out onto the plate.
Store cake in the refrigerator. And remember that a little of this cake goes a long way.

Sugar Cookies

This is the best recipe I have ever used for sugar cookies. Once you add the flour, handle it as little as possible for the most tender cookies.

Sugar Cookies

1 c. butter, softened NOT melted
2 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 t. almond extract OPTIONAL
3 eggs
1/2 t. salt
4 c. flour

Cream butter and sugar until very light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Add vanilla, almond extract, eggs, and salt. Beat well, another 2-3 minutes.

Very gently and by hand, stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Roll out and cut out shapes. Thicker dough results in softer cookies, thinner dough will make crispier cookies.  Place on greased cookie sheet.
OR scoop out by tablespoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass into sugar, then use to flatten the dough balls.

Bake at 400°F for 6-10 minutes, depending on thickness and how done you like your cookies.

Thursday Recipe - Hot Caramel Sauce

I needed caramel dipping sauce without corn syrup because of allergies. I played around with things and came up with this one. It tastes delicious, but it will eventually crystallize.

Use it for dipping apple slices or pretzels or other fun things. Or pour it over cake or ice cream.

Hot Caramel Sauce

1/2 c. powdered milk
2/3 c. hot water
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 T. butter
1/2 t. salt

Mix powdered milk and hot water. Stir vigorously until milk is completely dissolved.

Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cook over medium heat, stirring the whole time, just until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes.

Serve warm.

Monday Spotlight - Claire Buss has a new book coming!

The Gaia Solution, book 3 of The Gaia Collection

AVAILABLE ON KINDLE PREORDER – mybook.to/gaiasolution

Releases 8^th November 2019 in paperback & ebook

The Blurb:

Kira, Jed and their friends have fled New Corporation and joined the Resistance, but their relief is short-lived as they discover how decimated the human race has become and learn of an environmental crisis that threatens to destroy their existence. Kira and Jed must travel up the mountain to the New Corporation stronghold, City 50, to bargain for sanctuary while Martha and Dina risk everything to return to City 42 and save those who are left. With the last of her reserves Gaia, the fading spirit of the Earth uses her remaining influence to guide Kira and her friends but ultimately, it’s up to humanity to make the right choice.

More about The Gaia Collection series

The Gaia Collection is Claire's hopeful dystopian trilogy set 200 years in the future after much of the planet and the human race have been decimated during The Event, when the world went to war with high-energy radiation weapons. In The Gaia Effect, Kira and Jed Jenkins – a young couple who were recently allocated a child – together with their closest friends, discover Corporation have been deliberately lying to them and forcing them to remain sterile. With help from Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, the group of friends begin to fight back against Corporation eventually winning and taking over the governance of City 42.

In The Gaia Project, Corporation fight back under a new, more terrifying organization called New Corp and Kira, Jed and their friends end up fleeing for their lives trying to find a safe place to live. They travel to City 36 and City 9 in vain and must go further afield.

In the final book, The Gaia Solution, the main characters have ended up with the Resistance and not only do they have to deal with surviving against New Corp but an extinction environmental event is looming on the horizon and they’re running out of time to save what’s left of the human race.

Book Buy Links

The Gaia Effect

The Gaia Project

The Gaia Solution

About the Author

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet based in the UK. She wanted to be Lois Lane when she grew up but work experience at her local paper was eye-opening. Instead, Claire went on to work in a variety of admin roles for over a decade but never felt quite at home. An avid reader, baker and Pinterest addict Claire won second place in the Barking and Dagenham Pen to Print writing competition in 2015 with her debut novel, The Gaia Effect, setting her writing career in motion. She continues to write passionately and is hopelessly addicted to cake.

Social Media Links

Facebook: www.facebook.com/busswriter

FB Group: www.facebook.com/groups/BussBookStop

Twitter: www.twitter.com/grasshopper2407

Website: www.cbvisions.weebly.com

Blog: https://www.butidontlikesalad.blogspot.co.uk

Pets in Space 4

Helping boost the signal  for the Science Fiction Romance Brigade.

Science Fiction Romance Helping Our Service Veterans

Pets in Space® 4 is Back!!

Who doesn't love a pet?! Now put that pet in space and watch the universe light up with joy! 

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $7,100 in the past three years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. Once again, 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space® 4 will go to Hero-Dogs.org.

Each of the 13 authors in Pets in Space® 4 have given me an exclusive peek at what inspired them to support hero-dogs and write a science romance story for this year's Pets in Space® 4.

S.E. Smith - MADAS' FALLING STAR

Many of my family members all belonged to the military in one form or another over the years, serving with pride. When Pauline Baird Jones and Veronica Scott first approached me and asked if I would be interested in participating in an anthology that benefitted https://HeroDogs.org, I researched them and knew this was one way I could help support not only veterans, but first responders as well. Life is about giving. In a world that sometimes feels like we have forgotten, it only takes one act of kindness to help us remember that what we give is the legacy that we leave behind.

Anna Hackett - DARK GUARD

My father was part of the Army Reserve in Australia and he instilled in me a deep respect for the brave men and women who serve in the military. I have so many memories of attending dawn services on ANZAC Day – a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to commemorate all those who served protecting our countries. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and during the first world war, the ANZAC forces landed at Gallipoli on the 25^th of April at dawn, and met with fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. To this day, Australians still hold services at dawn on that day in remembrance of all the heroes who have served.

I feel truly blessed that my fictional heroes can in some small way contribute to supporting our real-life heroes.

Tiffany Roberts - ENTWINED FATES

This year, our pet is a shape changing robot named Cypher who is the backbone of the love story between our main characters, and he was integral in the evolution of their relationship, providing much-needed support and affection when our characters needed it the most.

That support that is so often provided by the animals we bond with is integral to this anthology series and the charity it supports—Hero Dogs. What’s better than giving back to the people who put their lives on the line to keep us safe every day? Not only does it provide veterans and first responders with dedicated service animals, it allows those dogs to make bonds with their new owners that can run as deep as the romances we write about.

Veronica Scott - STAR CRUISE: IDOL’S CURSE

Pauline B. Jones and I loved the idea of putting together a fun set of stories including pets and scifi romance but we very much wanted to have a higher purpose as our guiding principle for why we were doing the anthology. We wanted to find a charity to support that had a strong connection to serving military veterans. We decided on Hero-Dogs, Inc., a small nonprofit doing great work providing service dogs to veterans (and first responders)

Pauline Baird Jones - CYBORG'S REVENGE

When Veronica Scott and I conceived the idea for our Pets in Space anthologies, one of the first things we talked about was supporting a charity that benefited our military and first responders—those who run toward danger when others are running away. And we hoped for some kind of pet tie-in. 

It was total serendipity when we found Hero Dogs. This will be our fourth year as proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org. Pets in Space ® authors have donated over $7,100 in the past three years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. 

Laurie A. Green - SPYDOG

In addition to my family ties, I’m also about as military as you can get without actually ever having served in the armed forces. My career for over two decades was as a military budget director, working side-by-side with officers and enlisted personnel, many of whom were deployed multiple times. During that time, I saw many soldiers leave for overseas deployments and attended many a yellow ribbon ceremony when they finally—and safely—returned home. Not all came back the same as when they left. I know how much these men and women sacrificed to serve their country, and I love that Pets in Space® 4 will allow me to give something back to our veterans.

Writing SpyDog--a novella about a heroic StarDog and her agent-handler on a critical mission--seemed like a total win-win, and a great way to help support a truly wonderful cause, while also allowing me to expand my Inherited Stars Series. Huah!

Donna McDonald - NOTHING REMOTELY FAMILIAR

There are not enough words in the English language for me to describe how important it is that America’s military men and women are given the tools they need to heal from the price they paid while in service to our country. Organizations like Hero-Dogs.org are making a difference to our veterans in a profound way.

Regine Abel - DOOM

Hero Dogs is such an amazing program which I discovered through the Pets in Space Anthology. Anything that helps improve someone's quality of life is amazing. But to do so for those who have sacrificed so much in the defense and protection of others is beyond wonderful and well worth supporting.

While my books are sci-fi, with alien cultures and otherworldly species, my main focus is displaying how strong women can be, physically, mentally, and morally in the face of adversity. Even the most fragile, vulnerable-looking, or even damaged woman can rise when given the opportunity. Sometimes, you only need a nudge or the support of a friend to help you overcome the challenges that life has thrown your way and for your inner strength to shine. To me, that is the best part of the Hero Dogs program. Those veterans are not only getting a helper to assist them in toppling over life's hurdles, but they are also receiving the gift of unconditional love and friendship that only a pet can provide. 

Alexis Glynn Latner - WINTER'S PRINCE

A dear friend of mine with PTSD from a catastrophic car accident has a service dog. Rinnie is a 90-pound German Shepherd who came to my friend as a sick stray on the front steps. Taken to the vet and cured of heartworms, Rinnie turned out to be an undisguised blessing.  Someone with PTSD can be amazingly more at ease with a good dog at their side.

In Winter’s Prince, my unicorn turns out to be a rescue animal. With a free-wheeling interstellar fair ranging across the park where the unicorn lives, on a forested mountain inside a huge space station, Prince, the unicorn, is trained to find lost fair-goers and lead them to safety. 

JC Hay - HEART OF THE SPIDER'S WEB

For a person in need, service animals provide a sense of independence, of self-reliance, that might not otherwise be available. Being able to assist with this in some small way feels like a natural outgrowth of the stories in the TriSystems universe (specially the Rangers, but Barr’s relationship with his lizard-like goanna in this year’s Pets in Space is equally cathartic.) While I’ve never had a service animal, I know first-hand the soothing comfort a companion animal can provide, and how much I rely on that consolation to get through the rough spots. To help someone find an even deeper connection is a perfect charity for me. 

E.D. Walker - THE PRINCESS AND HER BODYGUARD

Growing up, I was instilled with a deep sense of pride for military service, and a healthy respect for the sacrifices our armed forces and their families make. I have several (non-military) friends who have service dogs, and I have seen what a huge difference it has made in their lives to have that kind of assistance available to them. Because I know how amazing the skills of a service dog can be, I am immeasurably proud to contribute in even some small way to helping Hero Dogs continue with their mission to place service dogs with veterans.

Kyndra Hatch - INTERRUPTING STARLIGHT

When Pets in Space® first came out in 2016, I was in love. Combining science fiction romance with furry companions was every bit as good as it sounds. The stories were fantastic! Then combining all of that to help Hero-Dogs.org and I simply had to be a part of it. What Hero-Dogs does for veterans has a special place in my heart. Many of my family members have been or are currently in the military. We see and experience first-hand what military service means, so my husband and I support all veterans and programs to help veterans. An organization that trains service dogs to help veterans is as wonderful as it gets. 

Cassandra Chandler - IMPORT QUARANTINE

My dad was stationed outside of Sicily while he was in the navy. He was lucky enough to serve during a time when the world was more or less getting along. It was still an experience that changed how we all lived. I know he was affected in deeper ways—ways he didn’t share with us. What he did share were the stories. PG versions of his adventures abroad. When I learned about Pets in Space®, the first thing that struck me was that it was an anthology that helps our veterans. The more I learned about Hero Dogs, the more impressed I became. I love animals, and know that working dogs need important jobs to be happy, and helping veterans certainly qualifies for me.

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Grab your copy of Pets in Space® 4 today! https://www.petsinspaceantho.com For a limited time, Pets in Space® 4 brings together today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors to help Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that helps our service veterans and first responders. 

Journey to far off worlds with Anna Hackett’s House of Roan or board Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr for another amazing Interstellar cruise. From S.E. Smith’s Lords of Kassis, Tiffany Roberts’ The Infinite City, to Pauline Baird Jones' Project Enterprise series, plus stories from Laurie A. Green, Donna McDonald, Regine Abel, Alexis Glynn Latner, JC Hay, E.D. Walker, Kyndra Hatch, and Cassandra Chandler, you’ll find the perfect story along with a few unusual pets. 

Thirteen incredible stories by thirteen of today’s bestselling authors. Don’t miss out on this limited time offer for Pets in Space® 4 and help a great charity! https://www.petsinspaceantho.com 

Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Pets in Space® 4 today so together we can continue to assist this worthy charity! https://www.petsinspaceantho.com