Friday, 4 October 2013

Conjuring a great Breakfast and Book Combo by Sara Daniel...

Scones are a specialty of The Scot's Mansion in my novel Mr. Forever. Olivia Wells makes plain scones and several flavors of the day, and serves them with jam and hot tea. All her guests rave about them. Then Dr. Caleb Paden shows up. He insists that scones are dry and heavy and not to his liking at all.

Well, if he thinks that, he certainly hasn't tried her scones. Ethan Paden knows exactly what his brother is missing out on. The moment he bites into one of Olivia's scones, he is enraptured. He dubs her a "scone sorceress" and asks to marry her on the spot.

I can't guarantee instant marriage proposals and a sorceress-level following, but these scones are sure to inspire devotion from all who try them. And hey, if you've been waiting for years for a marriage proposal that hasn't come yet, they're certainly worth a shot.

The Scone Sorceress's Almond-Poppy Seed Scones

1 cup flour
3 tbsp. sugar
1 ½ tsp. poppy seeds
1 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
¼ cup unsalted butter
3 tbsp. sour cream
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tbsp. milk
Powdered sugar
Sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Chill butter and cut into pieces. Combine dry ingredients in bowl. Add butter pieces. Use pastry cutter to mix butter and dry ingredients, until mixture is coarse.

In a small bowl, combine sour cream, egg, almond extract and milk. Pour into dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula.

Finish mixing by kneading the dough with your hands. Pat into a 5-inch circle.

Set circle on cookie sheet and use a pizza cutter to cut into 8 triangle wedges. Spread pieces apart.

Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Dip warm scones into powdered sugar and sprinkle with sliced almonds.

Enjoy! (optional but highly recommended) Serve to the person you love. Watch them kneel in front of you. Savor their vow of love and devotion. Accept proposal. Live happily ever after.

The discovery of a secret baby threatens Caleb's professional reputation. Falling for the woman who loves this baby would ruin him.

Marriage therapist Caleb Paden has just found out he has a son from a one-night stand, making a mockery of his core belief of stable relationships--"friendship above all physical encounters." On his way to take the child for a paternity test, a snowstorm leaves him stranded with single mom Olivia Wells, who blames his advice for breaking up her marriage. Caleb finds himself fighting the urge for the most basic of physical encounters. Olivia would like nothing more than to destroy the career he spent a lifetime building, but her maternal instincts draw her to help Caleb bond with his child. Soon, she finds herself falling for both of them. Nowhere in any of his advice does Caleb have an answer for how to make a relationship work if he loses his heart to love.

To read an excerpt from Mr. Forever please click a vendor's name: Musa Publishing Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks iTunes

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12 comments:

  1. Love Me. Forever! Thanks for the recipe, Sara. Sunday is Studs birthday. These will be PERFECT!

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    1. Oh, yay! Scones for Studs! Has a nice ring to it! Wish him a happy birthday for me!

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    2. Happy birthday, Studs! Sounds like you'll get the birthday present, Sloane, after you bring him to his knees. *wink*

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  2. Nom nom nom...We should all join up and cook for each other. Really.

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    1. Now you're cooking, Marci! Cheers!

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    2. For sure, Marci. We'll be waddling like penguins with all that good food, especially if Sloane cooks for us. But man, would we have a good time!

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  3. Very yum, Sara.

    Mr Forever is sure waiting to be read. Can't wait. :)

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    1. Thanks Eleni. Mr. Forever is a man with some issues. Luckily, he's found just the woman to straighten him out (and cook those delicious scones, LOL!).

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  4. Thanks for letting me share my scones on your blog, Sharon. I now have that taste in my mouth and just might have to make them again!

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    1. Anytime, Sara! Call me over and I'll help you get rid of them! Grin. Cheers!

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  5. Love the premise of Mr. Forever. Quite like the scones, too.

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  6. Can't wait to make the scones. (Rummaging in the pantry now. Damn need sour cream) Anyway... I love the cover for Mr. Forever and Caleb's just awesome (and as yummy as your scones).

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