We are kicking off our Holiday Fun with a new to us author Beverly Jenkins. Beverly’s new book Night Hawk comes out this week and I have to say that I really liked it. It reminded me of classic Johanna Lindsey and Catherine Hart historical western romances. If you liked those romances then you will really like this one as well.
Being the oldest of seven children my family holidays are always filled with laughter, memories, and tables piled high with great food. One of the gastronomical highlights for Christmas is my Mississippi Mud. I got the recipe from my hubby’s side of the family and now, no Christmas is complete without it. It’s a dense brownie like caked covered with a thin layer of marshmallows and topped with a thick layer of the most awesome chocolate icing know to humankind. It’s quick and easy and should be made the day before it’s served.
Mississippi Mud Cake
2 C sugar 1 ½ c. flour
1/3 c cocoa 1 c. margarine or butter
¼ t. salt 4 eggs
½ pkg. 10 oz. marshmallows – the little ones
1 c nuts – chopped
1 t. vanilla.
Icing
1 - 1 lb. box confectioners’ sugar 1/3 c. milk
1 t. vanilla 1/3 c. cocoa.
1 c. chopped nuts 1 c. margarine – melted
Cake – Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Sift together flour, cocoa and salt. Add dry ingredients to butter, sugar and egg mixture. Mix well. Add nuts and vanilla.
Pour into 13×9 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 mins. Remove from oven and cover surface of still hot cake with one layer of marshmallows ( you won’t need the whole 10oz bag). Place cake back into the 350 degree oven and bake another 10 mins, or until the marshmallows melt and become lightly tanned in color.
Icing
Sift sugar and cocoa and mix with melted margarine. Add milk, vanilla. Mix well and add nuts. Spread over cooled cake. Cover and let sit overnight so that cake will firm up. Store left over pieces in fridge.
***The lovely Beverly Jenkins is giving away a copy of her book Midnight to one lucky commenter. All you have to do is tell us either a favorite holiday treat or what you love most about heroes from the Wild West. Contest open to US and Canada only.***
Outlaw. Preacher. Night Hawk. He’s had many names, but he can’t escape the past.
Since Ian Vance’s beloved wife was murdered years ago, the hardened bounty hunter knows he’ll never feel love or tenderness again, so he’s made it his mission to ensure others get their justice. But when he’s charged with delivering a sharp-eyed beauty to the law, Ian can’t help but feel he may still have something left to lose.
Orphaned at twelve, Maggie Freeman has always found her way out of trouble. But now there’s a vigilante mob at her back who would like nothing more than to see her hang for a crime she didn’t commit. Maggie may have to accept help for the first time in her life . . . even if it’s from the one man standing between her and freedom.
As the past closes in, the sassy prisoner and toughened lawman may just find a passion between them that could bring blinding happiness . . . if they’ll let it.
