by Beth Andrews
I just finished updating my website and one of my favorite pages to work on is my Chit Chat page. I love reading fun info about other authors and wanted a page where readers could get to know a little bit more about me so every month I share what music I'm listening to, what books I'm reading, things I'm currently loving, what I'm watching, what I'm looking forward to and which of the many, many recipes I've collected over the years I'm currently craving.
Here are a few of this month's choices:
...Listening to:
Fallen by Sarah McLaughlin
Dig by Incubus (both of these songs go well with the proposal I'm working on *g*)
...Reading:
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Story by Robert McKee (yes, I picked this one up after Victoria's blog with us!)
...Loving:
My new pedometer. It keeps me moving *g*
My new cover! Love the purple and the vines in the background!
...Watching:
Eureka. A quirky, fun show on the Syfy channel.
Top Chef All Stars.
...Looking Forward To:
Grass. Green grass without even one fleck of snow.
Birthday cake. Lots of family birthdays this month *g*
...Craving:
My son's favorite Pan Sugar Cookies.
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
Topping - 1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon
Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour. Spread in rimmed cookie sheet and sprinkle top with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
So, let's Chit Chat! Tell me what you're currently:
Listening to
Reading
Loving
Watching
Looking forward to
Craving
57 comments:
Oooh, what fun. Here are my answers...
Listening to:
Grenade - Bruno Mars
Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Buble
Reading:
Here Comes the Groom - Karina Bliss
Bad Boy - Peter Robinson
Loving:
The cooler weather of autumn
Writing the start of a brand new story
Watching:
Grand Designs (a UK show)
My sleeping children
Looking forward to:
My parents' return from holidays in NZ
The RWAus conference in August
Craving:
A hug from my husband
Choc-peanut Biscuits (or cookies in USA)
1 cup of peanut butter
1 egg
1 cup self-raising flour
1 cup chocolate bits
Cream peanut butter and egg, stir in flour, then chocolate. Spoon onto baking tray and bake on a moderately low oven (160'C, no idea what that is in 'F, sorry). Delicious!
Hi, Beth! Thank you for a fun post, and thanks for sharing some personal insights and delicious-sounding recipe. Best wishes for a very happy and successful 2011 : )
Listening to: Tony Bennett & some other classics
Reading: all over the map--categories, historicals, paranormals--having so much fun
Loving: now that things are thawing out, seeing my cats enjoying the morning sun on my front porch
Watching: the second season of "Justified"--finally
Looking forward to: more, more, more books
Craving: a great cup of coffee, extra-sharp cheese & savory crackers, and bodacious brownies
CREME DE MENTHE BROWNIES:
Brownie Layer:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup flour
1 16-oz can of chocolate syrup
Mint Layer:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons Creme De Menthe Liqueur
Top Chocolate Layer:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
For the brownies:
Preheat the oven to 350 F, and grease a 9x13" baking pan. Set aside. Cream the sugar and butter together, then add the vanilla. Add the beaten eggs, 1 cup of flour, and the chocolate syrup. Mix the batter well, and spread into the prepared pan. Bake for around 30 minutes, but check early. Allow the batter to cool completely while you make the next layers.
For the Mint Layer:
Mix the butter with the powdered sugar and the Creme De Menthe. Spread it over the cooled brownie layer.
For the Top Chocolate Layer:
Melt the chocolate chips together with the butter, either in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove. Pour the chocolate layer over the Creme De Menthe layer. Transfer the pan into the refrigerator and allow to cool and set before you cut and serve.
IRISH CREME BROWNIES:
1 (9x13 in size) fudge brownie mix
1/2 cup Irish Cream Liqueur
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons milk
2 tablespoons Irish cream liqueur
1 teaspoon brewed coffee
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
toppings: chocolate sprinkles or curls, chopped nuts, toffee bits
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. Stir together the brownie mix, the 1/2 cup Irish cream liqueur, vegetable oil, and eggs. Spread in the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges have started to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven to cool completely on a wire rack.
Place the milk, 2 tablespoons Irish cream liqueur, and coffee in a small, microwave safe bowl. Microwave on High until the mixture boils. Set aside to cool completely. Beat the butter and confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer in a bowl until smooth. Add the vanilla extract and the cooled Irish cream mixture, and beat well. Spread evenly over the cooled brownies. Sprinkle evenly with the toppings of choice.
Beth, what a fun post! I'm listening to Tab Benoit from Hurricane on the Bayou. I'm loving the recipes being shared here and I'm craving egg salad sandwiches and chocolate-covered ginger!
What a fun thing to do on your website, Beth! All I know is I'm desperately looking forward to spring, but since we're expected to get another 5 inches of snow here on Tues/Wed, I have a feeling it'll be a while!
Hi, Beth,
What a fun post, and a great idea for your web page!
My two new musical favorites are Mumford and Sons and the Zac Brown Band.
I'm really craving spring. We had a couple of days of 50's, and now it's back to ugly.
I'm thinking of making some hazelnut shortbread cookies.
Listening to traFFIC
Reading Sing you Home by Jodi Picoult
Loving mint milkshakes
Watching Army Wives
Looking forward to spring
Craving homemade brownies
Listening to a recorded voice message for a phone call I'm making while I also read these blogs.
Reading A Silken Thread by Brenda Jackson
Loving my family, my husband and sons
Watching TV with no sound so I've no clue what's really happening
Looking forward to so many things in 2011--finishing a novel or two, losing weight, spending time with family I haven't seen in a while...
Craving a couple of those blackberry jam-filled cookies I made yesterday, but they (or at least the raw dough) are probably the reason my tummy has been aching all day!
I agree with everyone, a fun post. Reading 3 books at once, mystery, super romance and self help. What a combo. My cravings are always for cookies and ice cream so will be sure to try yours, thanks for adding it. Also looking forward to spring, reading outside with my coffee is one of my passions!
Listening to: Raise Your Glass by Pink
Reading: I just finished A Marine for Christmas, which was my first Beth Andrews book. It won't be my last - I really enjoyed it! I just started Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh. I'm finally working my way through her Psy-Changling series and enjoying it.
Loving: daffodils & tulips poking up, a day without sick kids (crossing my fingers no one comes home sick from school today!)
Watching: Big Bang Theory!
Looking forward to: A day to myself
Craving: chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmmm.
Hi, Anita Joy! My daughters both love Grenade *g* Bruno Mars certainly is making a name for himself!
I, too, love the start of a new story. There's just something so exciting about getting to know the characters and putting all those scenes/ideas in our head down on paper (or on the computer screen *g*)
Thanks for sharing the recipe! Those cookies sound great and so easy to make!
Virginia, thank you so much for the recipes! I love, love, love chocolate and mint so I'm definitely going to be giving the first ones a go *g* And I've promised myself a mint Oreo blizzard from Dairy Queen when I finish my proposal :-)
I have the first season of Justified in my Netflix queue and I can not wait to watch it! I've heard fabulous things about the series.
Hi, Beth.
Listening to: Forget You
by C Lo Green
Can't get it out of my head since Gwyneth Paltrow profromed it on Glee.
Rogenna
Great idea, Beth!
Listening to my husband singing downstairs
Reading a Harlequin romance, Nikki Logan's Their Newborn Gift. She has a similar theme to my current story, and I'm reading hers for a second time to analyse why hers worked so well and mine isn't there yet!
Loving the wonderful sunny Spring day we enjoyed today.
Watching the sunset outside my bedroom window.
Looking forward to warmer weather.
Craving another of my special home made high protein/sugar free chocolate bombs- all these cookie and brownie recipes have made me hungry but I'm not blowing my diet!
Rogenna - I watched the sign language video for F**k You by C Lo Green, and now I can't hear Forget You without subbing the lyrics in! Ack!
Beth, fun idea.
I'm listening to the voice in my head telling me to get my revisions done, and the message keeps repeating. Imagine that. I am with those looking forward to spring--and by then my revisions will be finished.
Fun topic!
I'm not listening to anything right now. I can't write with music on. But The Goo-Goo Dolls are in the CD player.
Reading Hope Ramsey's Welcome to Last Chance.
Loving the green grass outside my window and the upcoming writer's conference this weekend.
Watching American Idol, Glee and Castle.
Craving anything with carbs. I've been cutting them out in effort to get healthy. Um, bread = good.
Okay, Mary, I'm doing revisions too. Guess your voice just popped over into my head. Better get after it.
Reading: no titles/no names - just finished my RITA reading (not our category of course)
Good Luck to all the Supers out there!
Listening to: Nothing at the moment, but I love Jason Mraz, Regina Spektor, any number of other current artists and lots of oldies but goodies!
Reading: Recently finished Kristan Higgins "All I Ever Wanted". It was sooooo good!
Looking forward to: Longer days and going out without having to grab a jacket!
Watching: Big Bang Theory, Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Good Wife, Rules of Engagement, Criminal Minds. Love them!
Loving: that the rain has stopped (for now)
Craving: Hmmmm. Had to think about this one for a moment. Milk Duds (I'm so easily pleased!)
Hi, Mary! Now I'm craving an egg salad sandwich *g* And chocolate covered ginger sounds good, too :-)
Thanks, Helen. It's a fun page to update.
And I'm totally with you on waiting for spring. We got another 3 or so inches yesterday with more to come later this week. My husband is seriously sick of clearing the driveway :-)
My two new musical favorites are Mumford and Sons and the Zac Brown Band.
Margaret, I love Mumford and Sons and the few songs I've heard from the Zac Brown Band have been great! My son is planning on attending the Bonnaroo music festival this summer and I'm envious only because Mumford and Sons will be playing there *g*
And I love shortbread but have never made it. I'll have to give it a try this weekend :-)
Hey, JCP! Is that Jodi Picoult's latest release? I almost picked it up for my daughter. She's a huge Picoult fan *g*
Yes! Mint milkshakes! Yum *g* I told my niece the best part about March for me are the Shamrock shakes at McDonalds ;-)
Hi Beth! Fun post!
Listening to- Secrets by One Republic and Play by Rascal Flatts
Reading-Take My Breath Away by Cara Summers and next is probably Water For Elephants
Loving- Finishing editing my book and the weather finally starting to warm up some
Watching- Vampire Diaries and NCIS, I also can't get enough of the Mentalist
Looking forward to-Finishing my book and sending it out and my Mom coming to visit next month
Craving- Homemade Cuban food my Mom makes and sugar cookies
Have a wonderful day!!!
This is a fun post!
Listening to--All Things Considered on NPR
Reading--Two Against the Odds by Joan Kilby and Mr. Bishop and the Actress by Janet Mullany
Loving--Making bread using my huge new mixer I got for my birthday last month
Watching--Heroes, 1st season
Looking forward to--Spring!
Craving--Snickers mini ice cream bars
Hey, Patricia! Do you often leave the TV on? I like to have background noise when I'm cooking or doing chores but not while I'm writing. Even with the sound muted I'm afraid I'd be too distracted *g*
Gloria, I often read three books at once, too! Usually a romance, young adult and nonfiction.
I highly recommend the cookies. They're so easy and I always have all the ingredients. My son used to request them when he had a group of friends over and they'd eat the entire pan in one sitting *g*
Listening to some twang.
Reading: A Marine for Christmas - thanks Beth!
Loving: A warm windy day
Watching out for trouble.
Looking forward to Spring break
Craving toffee
Carin, I'm so glad you enjoyed A Marine For Christmas! Thank you so much!
Raise Your Glass is such a fun song! Makes me want to dance *g* And I'm with you on the chocolate chip cookies. We have some Hershey kisses I was considering chopping up and adding to cookies. Yum!
Rogenna, I haven't watched Glee but the video for Forget You is too cute *g*
Autumn, I'm envious of your sunny day! It's still too snowy and cold here for me *g*
Best of luck with your story! And good for you for sticking with your diet. I allow myself dessert after Sunday dinner so I'll be saving these recipes for the weekends :-)
I'm listening to the voice in my head telling me to get my revisions done, and the message keeps repeating. Imagine that. I am with those looking forward to spring--and by then my revisions will be finished.
LOL, Mary! I've had revisions like that *g* Best of luck with yours!
Liz, The Goo Goo Dolls is my daughter's favorite band! I have a few of their songs on rotation on my iPod for when I write *g*
Have fun at the writer's conference! I love carbs. I've cut back on them, too but did indulge in half a bagel yesterday. Yum!
Good Luck to all the Supers out there!
I second that, Rogenna! I sent in my last score. Hard to believe finalists will be announced in less than three weeks.
Listening to... the chatting in the lunchroom
Reading... Breathe by Donna Alward
Watching... My computer screen
Loving... that the Volcano is slowing down!
looking forward to going back home
Craving... cheeze pizza :)
JV, I love Kristan Higgins' books! I've been thinking of re-reading the ones I have before her next one comes out *g*
We love Criminal Minds, too! My daughters are into crime/police dramas :-)
alinaduffer, I have Vampire Diaries in my Netflix queue. I think after Justified, that'll be my next TV show to catch up on.
Hope you have a wonderful visit with your mom and congrats on almost being finished with your book!
Jan, my mom buys Snickers ice cream bars and my kids go crazy for them! I don't buy them because I like that there are certain things they know they can get at grandma's that are treats to them *g*
Hope you enjoy the book, Laura! Oh, toffee sounds so good! Now I'm craving all sorts of things *g*
Loving... that the Volcano is slowing down!
I'm loving that for you all as well, Snookie!
Listening to ~ birds fighting outside my window
Reading ~ Return to the Black Hills by Debra Salonen
Loving ~ the peace and quiet (well except for the birds)
Watching ~ Wheel of Fortune
Looking forward to ~ visiting my friend who lives six hours away
Craving ~ chocolate covered cherries (or any chocolate for that matter)
Beth--Thank you for generating some great brownie recipes! Can't wait to try them.
Listening to: The furnace. It's cold here.
Reading: Here Comes the Groom by Karina Bliss
Loving: That I'm home instead of at school.
Watching: The cat, who is never supposed to be on the kitchen table willfully sitting on the table and staring at me, daring me to do something about it. We always have these difficult moments after she's been left home alone! for eight whole hours.
Looking forward to: Getting my proposals sent in!
Craving: A Justified marathon.
Fun, fun post.
Ellen too, I can't wait to hear the birds outside my window again! It seems like forever since I've even seen a bird *g*
Have a great visit with your friend!
Looking forward to: Getting my proposals sent in!
Me too, Jeannie!
It's cold here as well. I am so ready for spring but then again, I'm not looking forward to the snow making a mess when it melts!
Cute, cute, cute. This is fun. Made me realize I need to get out more.
Listening to: the wind chimes--it's gusty out there today!
Reading-The Help (for our book club)
Loving - my granddaughter's new hair cut, which I gave her and she loves
Watching- Bones (from a previous season)
Looking forward to: dinner...why or why can't I have brownies? Those recipes sound sooo good.
Craving: a trip to the beach
And, Ellen Too!!! Woo-hoo for the shout out. Hope you like it.
Deb
What a fun Monday post. I'm loving my new computer(much faster). I'm craving more time with grandson. And looking forward to allergy season being over!!!
Saw this post this morning but got called away but loved all the responses.
I'm listening to all the old tunes my husband keeps finding on You Tube ~ I Want to Know What Love Is, Unchained Melody, Nights in White Satin Etc.
Reading ~ all the posts here and an old HR from the early 1990's by Kate Walker. I've been reading quite a few Supers as well.
Loving ~ the sunshine earlier today that lured us out of the house even if it is still freezing cold - 12C
Watching ~ The bits of You Tube I can see over my husband's shoulder.
Looking forward to ~ warmer weather
Craving ~ the feel of dirt on my hands ~ I'll even settle for weeding the garden ~ need spring badly.
Earlier today I was craving the Ossobuco that was sending enticing aromas throughout the house. I can still smell it but I am so full. We also got a good helping of polenta and Swiss Chard as we were both craving greens.
Listening to ACDC
Reading Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
Loving The Sunshine
Watching House
Looking forward to Holidays
Craving A little something sweet.
marypres@gmail.com
Listening to Mumford & Sons
Reading - Who's on Top by Karen Kendall
Loving my family and kitties
Watching - Justified, Castle, Bones, The Good Wife, Detroit 187, Parenthood, Modern Family, American Idol, Survivor and Amazing Race
Looking forward to - the end of selling Girl Scout cookies (3/12) and Spring Break.
Craving - Chocolate
I had to add this:
Watching/Listening: This video from YouTube sent to me by a friend. I'd never heard of Jeanne Robertson before. Apparently, she is a motivational speaker/comedienne, and she is just hysterical. (And it's completely clean.) If you live in the south, appreciate southern humor, or just need a good chuckle, you should view this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNfzKiS-eTU
Reading-The Help (for our book club)
This is on my TBR pile, Deb. I'm looking forward to reading it *g*
I'd vote for brownies for dinner! Or at least, as the first course :-)
Congrats on the new computer, Jackie! Allergy season is the worst - luckily my allergies haven't been as bad the past few years. Maybe all those allergy shots finally worked *g*
I'm listening to all the old tunes my husband keeps finding on You Tube ~ I Want to Know What Love Is, Unchained Melody, Nights in White Satin Etc.
LOL, Kaelee! My husband does this, too! Yesterday we were watching The Scorpions and before that it was The Eagles :-)
Thanks for stopping by, Marybelle! I can't get enough of the sunshine this time of year. I just wish it would melt more snow *g*
Hey, Tammy! I listened to Mumford and Sons today, too. And I really like Detroit 187 *g*
As for Girl Scout cookies, I picked up two boxes to send my son at college. I had to hide them so my daughters didn't eat them all :-)
Listening to
Reading:
When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer
Loving:
My new shoes!
Watching:
Latest episodes of Desperate Housewives (on German telly)
Looking forward to:
spring spring spring!!
Craving:
Right now? Icecream!!
Good luck with your latest book!
Chiming in late, Beth. Great idea for a blog (and a website). Listening to my son practising on his guitar, reading debut author Sue MacKay's The Marriage Miracle, craving the willpower to work on my proposal.
Karina
Belle and Sebastian
Blackmailed Into A Fake Engagement
My Cat
Butterflies
Good News
Anything Chocolate
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