29. July 2009 by admin.

The thinking behind ‘Rescuing Romance’ is to give credit where credit is due to the heroes of the romance industry. Whether fictional or real, we all need heroes.

My real life heroes consist of my husband and two sons. We have been through a lot together and I believe Rich and I raised them to the best of our ability. There were tough times but we worked through them…together.

With the boys grown and out on their own, I am dedicating this blog to all the heroes. Watch this space for information, book reviews, author interviews, firehouse recipes, and much more.

Nancy Lee

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26. July 2009 by admin.

1 ounce butter

1 Teaspoon dried thyme

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 pounds chopped sirloin (or quality hamburger)

¼ cup chopped parsley

2 Tablespoons flour

2 unbaked pie shellS

pinch each of nutmeg, salt, and pepper

1 egg, beaten

2 1/2 cup beef bouillon or broth

         Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter in saucepan. Add onion and sauté over medium heat until soft. Add beef, pressing down with fork until browned. Drain. Sprinkle flour over beef and stir. Continue cook 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Gradually add broth and stir.

         Return pan to heat. Stir until it boils and thickens. Add thyme, Worcestershire, parsley, salt, and pepper, and nutmeg. Cover the pan and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.

         Spoon the filling into one pie shells, heaping it into the middle. Brush around edge with some of the beaten egg. Cover with second pie shell, upside down. Press edges together and cut a hole in the center. Brush with remaining egg.Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Nancy Badger 

Posted in Recipes | 2 Comments »

22. July 2009 by admin.

Human beings have an inalienable right to invent themselves.

-Germaine Greer, feminist author & activist

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21. July 2009 by admin.

1 cup flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ stick butter

1 cup milk

2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Melt the butter in a 9 inch baking dish in the microwave or hot oven. Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a whisk or fork just until blended. Pour the batter into the center of the casserole dish containing the melted butter. Bake thirty or forty minutes until brown, puffed at the edges, and firm in the middle. Eat immediately. Enjoy!

Nancy Badger

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12. July 2009 by admin.

“There comes a time in every woman’s life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne.”

–Bette Davis, actor

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10. July 2009 by admin.

2 or more chicken breasts, cubed

1 to 2 Tablespoons soy sauce

¾ cup flour

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

½ to ¾ cup water

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

Heat 2 cups oil to 365 degrees or use an electric deep fryer. Toss the chicken cubes in the soy sauce. Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Dip the pieces in the batter then drop 6 to 8 pieces in the hot oil. Turn. Cook until both sides are brown. Strain onto paper towels and keep warm under foil as you cook.Serve with fresh soy sauce, sweet & sour sauce, or other available products. Enjoy!

Nancy Badger   

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8. July 2009 by admin.

A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it’s better than no inspiration at all.

Rita Mae Brown- writer and educator

Posted in Quotes | 3 Comments »

6. July 2009 by admin.

         Heroes abound in this book by Rhonda Nelson, published in 2009 by Harlequin Blaze and part of their ‘Uniformly Hot’ series. Levi MacPherson’s tour of duty in Iraq has been made interesting with anonymous letters from someone back home. She writes as if she knows him well…especially when she describes what she would like to do with him and his various, dreamy body parts. Her sensuous dreams and the images she relates with only her words steam up his tent. 

         With no idea of the author, he pictures Natalie Rowland from his home town in order to give the anonymous words form. A family tragedy earns him a brief visit home, which is about the same time Natalie realizes her assistant accidently stamped one of her outgoing letters with her return address!        

        Tension and heat blaze between these two. He wants her to be the author yet she is concerned how he will react when he discovers her secret.         

         Secondary characters add depth and a serious note while family interactions and small town life builds layers within the plot. Intimate moments steam up the pages. Did I mention the hot cover?

        The hero aspect comes through loud and clear and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I passed it on to my husband and let’s just say…he approved.

Nancy Badger

Posted in My Favorite Books | 3 Comments »

5. July 2009 by admin.

1 ½ sticks of butter, softened  

1 ½ cups flour

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ teaspoon salt1 cup sugar       

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest

2 Tablespoons poppy seed

3 eggs

GLAZE: 1 cup confectioner’s sugar & 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

         Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter, cream cheese, sugar, and lemon zest. Beat in eggs. Mix together flour, salt, baking powder, and seeds. Stir into the butter mixture. Pour the batter into a lined and greased 8 inch square pan.    

          Bake about 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.Drizzle glaze mixture over cooled cake. Enjoy!

Nancy Badger

Posted in Recipes | 3 Comments »

1. July 2009 by admin.

“It makes no difference how many peaks you reach if there was no pleasure in the climb.”

–Oprah Winfrey, TV personality, actor

Posted in Quotes | 2 Comments »