10 Days
of Giveaways - Gardening Tips – Recipes - and more!
Plus
a GRAND PRIZE* you’ll be digging to win!
What will
be given away? Everything from books to swag, promotional products
and more! The grand prize is a Kindle or Nook (a $200 value)
and a $25 gift card worth of ebooks!!! (Winner’s choice which ereader and
ebook retailer gift card.) A second prize of $25 ereader gift
card will also be given, available to INTL residents (VOID where
prohibited by law). Authors will note US or INTL for their giveaway
eligibility. Where US or INTL is not specifically noted, US eligibility
will apply. The grand prize is available for US entrants only.
Dianne will also be
hosting a Facebook Party for the entire 10
days, including more garden tips, recipes, fun facts, etc. at
http://www.facebook.com/DianneVenetta (Click open in a new tab in your browser if direct click
doesn't work. Feel free to join in.
GRAND PRIZE: We are giving away a
Kindle Fire or Nook (winner’s choice) along with a $25 gift card for the same.
We are also giving away a 2nd prize of $25 gift card. To be eligible, you must
visit, comment and leave your email address on each of the stops on this blog
hop. The link list is posted BELOW for your convenience. Winners will be posted
on both the first Dianne Venetta and last A Cozy Reader’s Corner, websites on April 19, 2014.
LOFOL PRIZE: By leaving a comment
here on my blog along with your e-mail contact, I’ll pick one winner for a copy
of my book The Newspaper Code, a cozy
mystery in which deadheading the Petunias has a whole new meaning. The prize is
an eBook copy of your choice to anyone, or a pBook (only to those residents in
the lower forty-eight United States for the pBook, please).
If you subscribe to my blog network (on the right side), and
like my Facebook Author Page, you’ll be eligible for multiple entries into the GRAND
PRIZE…and if you happen to be the thousandth person to like my Facebook Author Page,
you’ll get to pick a book of mine as a gift – eBook or pBook (only lower
forty-eight US residents for the pBook mailed to you, though, please).
Who doesn’t like tulips! I have
always liked them, but since my youngest son married a cute Dutch girl who
adores tulips, I’ve discovered a whole new appreciation. Here are some of mine.
In order to keep the blooms large
and lush each spring, I use this tip: As soon as the petals fall off, I nip off
the seed head. This allows the bulb to keep all the energy that normally would
go to growing those seeds. Try it! You’ll end up with a bunch of headless
stems, but…well, it’s only a little different from bulbous seed heads, right?
Remember, leave a comment with your e-mail connection, and share a tip of your own if you’d like, to be entered in
my drawing for a copy of The Newspaper Code,
as well as to entered in the Authors in Bloom GRAND PRIZE.
I polled a few friends on Facebook for their tips:
Here’s a fav recipe of mine, using
lots of garden veggies.
Wisconsin Cheddar Chowder
A nice hearty soup with garden vegetables, ham and cheese.
Serve as a meal or a first course.
For six-ten servings – very easily adjustable according to desired amount.
Tip: Have all the ingredients ready before you begin cooking.
2 very large or 4 medium carrots, peeled and shredded
4 baking-size potatoes, peeled and shredded
1 1/2 cups either fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets
1 onion, chopped fine
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 gallon milk or more
1 cup chopped cooked ham, if desired
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup or more flour, depending on desired thickness of soup
Salt, pepper, other herbs as taste such as: caraway, rosemary, savory,
parsley, chives, celery seed, parsely; can also add mushrooms, parsnips,
rutabaga, peppers, cauliflower or adjust any of the above vegetables
Roux:
In a dutch oven or largest size sauce pan over medium heat melt 1/3 cup
butter or margarine, 1/4 cup flour, 1 T. salt and 1/2 tsp white pepper.
As the mixture thickens, very gradually add a little milk to make a sauce.
Gradually add, alternating, cheese and milk, slowly, so that a smooth sauce
forms. Stir constantly—do not let the mixture stick or boil. When all the
cheese is added and there’s about three cups of sauce, begin adding prepared
vegetables and ham.
When all the ingredients are incorporated, add as much remaining milk as
needed to cover the vegetables.
Turn heat down to very low, cover and cook up to an hour or until vegetables
are soft. Stir often – do not boil or the milk and cheese tend to curdle. Whisk
if this happens.
Adjust seasonings before serving. Good with a hearty rye bread and a
salad.
*This soup doesn’t keep very well in the refrigerator as the potatoes tend to turn
dark if not completely covered with sauce.
About The Newspaper Code:
Judy Wingate’s NOT-BFF,
Olivia Hargrove of the Robertsville Reporter, discovers a Civil War-era secret
newspaper code that may lead to a seven million dollar windfall.
Not long after Judy and
Hart’s baby is born, Judy and Ardyth are embroiled in another murder. This time
it’s 99-year-old Esme Espe, the queen of the Petunia Society, Robertsville’s
Garden Club. Dead-heading petunias has become a serious undertaking in Robertsville.
Esme’s gruesome murder
by garden claw soon catches the attention of the Robertsville Reporter’s chief
editor and nosy correspondent, Olivia Hargrove. Clueless Olivia decides to
befriend Judy and burrows into her life. Judy still holds a grudge but in order
to learn more about Olivia’s secret project with the dead Esme, Judy
reluctantly agrees to spend time with Olivia who is in desperate need of
advice…and a makeover.
Circled letters of a
Civil War era newspaper vex Olivia, and when she learns Esme found an historic
discrepancy in the town treasury, she and Judy must solve the riddle in the
newspaper and race for the treasure before the murderer gets to it first.
Judy’s best suspect is
the new guy in town. But how can she tell Olivia her boyfriend might be a
murderer?
Available at your
favorite online retailer or for order from your favorite book seller.
