FAVORITE SCONE RECIPE

This comes to you courtesy of my Nana, born in Galway, who emigrated to the U.S. in time to give birth to her numerous, tumultuous brood.  The recipe was her answer to feeding a crowd and/or lacking time to cut out numerous individual scones.  It can be baked in a cast iron skillet--that's how she did hers--but I have made a deep dish pie plate do just as well.  Don't forget to grease and flour it!  I've eaten many scones, but never found a recipe I liked better than this one.  

4 c. flour; 5 tsp. baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 2 eggs; 1 3/4 to 2 c. milk; 1/2 box raisins; 4 tbsp. butter; 1/2 c. sugar

Sift dry ingredients together.  Add sugar.  Cut butter into dry ingredients.  Beat 2 eggs slightly.  Add 1/2 milk to eggs.  Soak raisins in water about 10 minutes.   Drain.  Add to flour mixture gradually.  Then add egg mix and 1 - 1 1/2 more cups of milk.  Bake in greased and floured pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

 

The Dress, a comedy of oddities, is finally available on Kindle & in paperback! 

Take an odd girl, mix her with a loving mother and lots of wacky neighbors, throw in an invitation to the prom, and watch the miracles fly. 

 
"A delightful coming-of-age story about a very odd girl with special talents. Funny, heartwarming, and full of characters you will love!" 

"What a fun quick read! I loved all the quirky characters and laughed out loud several times!! Definitely recommend it!"

BTW, the Kindle book is ONLY $.99 RIGHT NOW!

https://www.amazon.com/Dress-Minnette.../dp/B0CVV5DNN7 - Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Dress-Minnette-Meador/dp/B0CVTV7KMP - Paperback

BOOK REVIEW: HAND OF THE GODS

 The first review is in for my historical fantasy romance, Hand of the Gods, and it's a good one.  Here's a snippet for you.

"At its core, “Hand of the Gods” is a captivating tale of love tested against the backdrop of political intrigue and supernatural forces. With its dynamic characters and gripping plot twists, this novel will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment of The Sahra Chronicles. Newman’s masterful storytelling invites readers to lose themselves in a world where destiny is written in the stars, and the gods hold sway over mortal affairs."

You can see the review in full and enter a drawing for an Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift certificate today at https://ginaraemitchell.com/hand-of-the-gods

BLOG TOUR: HAND OF THE GODS

 

From February 5 - 9, Goddess Fish Tours will host a blog tour for my historical fantasy romance, Hand of the Gods.  Book 2 of The Sahra Chronicles, this volume returns the reader to an ancient land lightly touched by fantasy and to characters from Book 1, Light of the Gods.  Two favorites from Book 1 are Arman Garimandi, an Omani cavalry officer, and Sange, now his wife.  Arman has a convoluted heritage and past, but Sange is pure Arak nomad--young, unsophisticated, and unquestioningly in love with her husband.  But Arman has secrets.

Join the blog tour in progress and don't forget to enter the drawing for an Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift certificate, and read on!  Here is where you can find Hand of the Gods:

February 5: https://guatemalapaula.blogspot.com/
February 5: https://ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com/

February 6: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com - spotlight

February 6: https://www.longandshortreviews.com/
February 7: https://kitnkabookle.com/blog/
February 7: https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/
February 8: https://ginaraemitchell.com/ - review
February 8: https://www.literaryau.com/
February 9: https://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/

A BLESSED IMBOLC

 
Imbolc is a traditional Irish fire festival, frequently associated with Saint Brigid's Day, marking the beginning of spring.  It is typically celebrated on February 1st within Irish Paganism.  But it's so much a part of Irish tradition and culture that many people who do not identify as Pagan still celebrate some aspects, such as tying a scarf to the branch of a tree on the eve of the holiday.  Kept throughout the year, it is said to confer blessings upon your house.

The term Imbolc is often associated with "washing" or spring cleaning.  Not a bad idea for those of us who like to freshen up the house!   It is sometimes also interpreted as "ewe's milk," which may relate to the fact that spring is lambing season.  Pastures all over Ireland are dotted with new babies every spring--a very welcome sight indeed.

Irish tradition embraces four festivals:  Imbolc, marking the start of spring; Beltaine, celebrating the beginning of summer; Lunasa, which is the start of harvest season; and Samhain, announcing the onset of winter.  Many people associate Samhain with the better-known Halloween, whose roots are in the celebration of Samhain.

Saint Brigid, or Brighid the Goddess, is also interwoven with Imbolc, both literally and symbolically in the form of the traditional Brigid's Cross.  Fashioned of straw and hung over the hearth or perhaps in the doorway to the kitchen, it invites protection of "hearth and home" and is found in many Irish homes. 

A blessed Imbolc to all who observe.

  

IT'S MOVIE TIME

 I'm happy to share this new video for my historical fantasy romance, Hand of the Gods.  Available now as an ebook and soon in print, it's a tale of love and secrets in an ancient land touched by fantasy.   https://youtu.be/cqS_YyWzvZc

Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQQL1SHP

                    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144515969 

                    https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1497018 

                   

NEW RELEASE: HAND OF THE GODS

Those who survived the Battle of Grandfather Mountain are said to be in the Hand of the Gods.  Book 2 of my historical fantasy romance series, The Sahra Chronicles, follows them in Hand of the Gods.

No one is more in need of their help than Sange, young sister of nomad clan chieftain Javrik.  She is drawn to Arman Garimandi, the heroic Omani cavalry commander who saved her people during the siege, and shocks her family by marrying him despite her brother's warning that one day he will break her heart.

Undeterred, she follows Arman to two forts where he is assigned duty.  In the first, danger she never anticipated comes in the form of another woman.  But in the second, she finds herself an unwitting pawn--possibly even a prisoner--in a struggle between two powerful nations.

Ancient worlds warfare combined with a timeless love story, you can find it here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQQL1SHP