C.H.'s Recipe Share & New Release Welcome Back to Apple Grove

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One of the recipes mentioned in Welcome Back to Apple Grove, the 3rd book in my Sweet Small Town USA Series is Firehouse Chili. The recipe appears in the front of the book. The fun part...former FDNY firefighter Patrick Garahan is the one doing the cooking for his new firehouse in Ohio.

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Firehouse Chili ~ feeds 5 or 6 hungry men in your life

(or 2 men with leftovers)...Easy Peasy!

Ingredients:

3.5  to 4 pounds of freshly ground chop meat 80/20% (the more fat, the more flavor)

2 to 3 large containers of your favorite chunky medium salsa

splash of vegetable oil 

Toppings:

Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or Monterrey Jack)

Green and/or Black Olives
Sour Cream

In a large Dutch Oven, brown the chop meat in the splash of vegetable oil. Stirring until done. Add the 2 to 3 large containers of salsa and stir to combine. Cover an bring to a boil, then simmer, checking often to prevent sticking, for 30 to 45 minutes. 

Scoop into bowls, topping with shredded cheddar, olives and a large dollop of sour cream. To encourage my guys to eat the dreaded 'green things,' I serve the chili with a tossed salad and another favorite: Honey Cornbread (or corn muffins). I use the recipe right off the Indian Head Cornmeal bag ;) *Note: since my darling hubby has diabetes, I cut the sugar and the honey quantities in half. Still tastes yummy.

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So excited to be releasing the Sweet Version of book 3 in my Small Town USA Series. I loved writing about Patrick and Grace. If you've read my Small Town Cowboy Series, you've already met Patrick's brothers in book 3, Jesse ;).

I'll be releasing Sweet Versions of my Small Town Cowboys sometime during the year. More on that later.

Here's a snippet from Chapter 11 in Welcome Back to Apple Grove:

“ ’Bout time you got here, Garahan,” Dan said as he pulled into the Mulcahy’s driveway.

“Where’s your car, Dan and how’d you beat me here?”

“Meg dropped me off. I had a change of clothes in the car. She and the kids had an errand to run. We took the shortcut.” His friend nodded toward the cooler sitting on the picnic table. “Would you mind asking Grace for the ice I stowed in their freezer yesterday?”

“Be right back.” The sight of Grace barefoot and humming to herself caught his attention the moment he opened the door. She had her back to him and was stirring a big pot and swiveling her hips to whatever tune played in her head.

Sucker punched. That’s what he would later remember. The sight of Grace Mulcahy just then felt like that time his older brother had sucker punched him over Jenny Rosenkrantz.

“Hey, Dan,” Grace called out mid-stir. “Would you mind handing me the lid I left on the table? I just want to give this sauce a little more love before I—”

Grace looked over her shoulder and smiled. A slow, lovely smile that started with her eyes, softened her features, and added another blow to his midsection when her dimples deepened. He was a goner.

He grabbed the lid and handed it to her. “Smells amazing.”

“Mmm,” she murmured, stirring in random patterns. “It’s Mrs. McCormack’s recipe—no wait, maybe it’s Katie’s grandmother’s—” Grace broke off and laughed at herself. “Sleep deprived, can’t remember, but you’ll love it. Packed with garlic and spices, the red sauce will have you singing for your supper.”

Before she slid the lid in place, she opened the drawer next to the stove and pulled out a tablespoon. Dipping it in the sauce, she blew over the surface and touched it to her bottom lip to check the temperature. Patrick’s simmering libido shot sparks of awareness and desire to places better left alone. Damn.

She held the spoon out to him. “Taste it. It’s not too hot.”

He shifted to box her in against the countertop. Her sharply indrawn breath was music to his ears. He snagged the spoon and licked it clean, all the while staring at her mouth. Her ragged sigh had him leaning close, capturing her lips and savoring the combination of herbs, spices, garlic, and Grace. His head spun from the delectable delicacy he sampled.

Craving another taste, he nibbled on the fullness of her bottom lip before soothing the spot with the tip of his tongue and gorging himself with another mind-blowing kiss. She was warm, willing, and ripe for the picking. He needed air. With a swift kiss to the end of her nose, he drew in a deep breath and rested his forehead against hers.

“Hi.”

She sighed. “Hi yourself.”

Giveaway! C.H. is giving away a signed copy 2 copies of Welcome Back to Apple Grove -- print or e-book, Book 3 in her Sweet Small Town USA Series. 

Leave a comment to enter ;)

Happy Reading!
C.H.