Let them Eat… Chocolate Icebox Cake

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Ann Roth

I got this recipe from my mother and although I always loved it, I haven’t made it in years. Recently, I pulled out the recipe. I’m glad I did!

Enjoy!

Until next time,

Ann

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Finishing Up

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Ann Roth

I am hard at work, finishing edits on a recently completed novel. Wahoo!!!!

Until next time,

Ann

If You Want to Write… Read

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Ann Roth

The other day, I came across a quote by Jeff Goins (http://goinswriter.com/good-writers-read/) that mirrors my own belief: Nothing inspires a writer like reading someone else’s words.

If you want to be a decent writer, ya gotta read. Read anything and everything, and not just in your chosen genre. The more you read, the more you learn about the craft of writing. Grammar, sentence structure, story development, description, and so on.

Obviously, reading alone won’t get you there. Writing is a craft. Like any skill, becoming a good writer takes hard work and practice. Classes and workshops help, as well as finding like-minded people and forming a critique group. Most important, plant your behind in the chair and do the really hard stuff: the actual writing.

Writing isn’t for sissies, and don’t I know it. I’ve been writing for years, including seven long years as an unpublished author. Eventually persistence and my willingness to grow paid off. To date I have published over 25 novels (for a list, visit www.annroth.net).

You’d think that by now, writing would come easy for me. And in many ways, it does. But as I get better at crafting stories, some things only become more challenging. My growing skills push me to dig deeper into a character’s psyche, an often painful and difficult process.

Why put myself through this? Because my character demands it. Usually the payoff is worth the effort. Unmasking hidden depths and richness that I had no idea existed leaves me awed and excited to share the treasures with you.

Until next time,

Ann

Tra Lala, Tra Lala

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Ann Roth

Tonight I’m headed for the Seattle Opera, to see Tosca, one of my all-time favorite operas.

I wasn’t always an opera lover, although my mother was. She studied voice in college, but didn’t have a strong enough voice to make it as a singer. Saturdays, she listened to the Metropolitan Opera on the radio. Sometimes she cajoled me into listening, too. But I never appreciated it.

As an adult, I attended a few operas with my husband, who was equally non-wowed. Then, a good 15 years ago, I found out that one of my writing friends was crazy for opera. At her urging, my husband and I joined her and a few other friends for monthly “opera night.” An evening we now look eagerly forward to. We take turns hosting these nights, which include a DVD of an opera and the synopsis which is read before each act, plus a main course provided by the host, with the appetizers, drinks, salad and dessert contributed by the other members of the group.

During the performance, we often pause the action in order to get seconds on food and drink, laugh, answer questions, discuss the intricacies of the story and plot, learn about the composer or the conductor, and so on.

I have become a true opera fan. The beautiful music, exquisite voices! Between the melodrama, hatred, true love, passion, loyalty, betrayal, murder, heroism, tears and laughter, what’s not to love? It’s all the stuff of drama, fiction and reality. The stuff of life.

Until next time,

Ann

Best. Listener. Ever.

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Ann Roth

“Are you talking to me or yourself?” my husband has been known to ask. That way, he knows whether to listen or not. Smart man.

The thing is, I talk to myself a lot. When I’m in the process of making a decision. When I think through a plot idea for a book or cook or search for a recipe in one of my many recipe boxes. When I decide what to wear to an event or pack for a trip. Occasionally, even when I read. Because, face it, I really pay attention to myself. 🙂

Sure, there are times I grab a pen and notebook (or scrap of paper–whatever I can find), and scribble my thoughts on paper instead. That works, too.

I don’t know where or how the habit of talking to myself started. I’ve tried to stop it, but sooner or later, it always creeps back.

I try not to do it in public. I don’t want people thinking I’m nuts or something. 🙂 But from time to time, it does happen. If someone is within hearing or seeing distance, I make a joke about talking to myself because know I’m truly listening. People usually smile. Some admit that they to it, too.

I’m pretty sure there lots of folks out there who do the same thing. Why else would the comic above be so popular?

Until next time,

Ann

Hello, Monday

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Ann Roth

I like Mondays. New week, new beginnings! Even if I am in the middle of revising my current rough draft. It’s part a new series I’m writing, and I’m loving it.

More later– I’m eager to get back to work!!

Until next time,

Ann

No Rest …

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Ann Roth

TGIF!!!!

All set for the weekend?

I’m a writer. I usually work on Saturdays and Sundays. But I do take time off. If I want my creative well so stay full and work properly, relaxing and getting away from the job are must-do’s.

Which is why I have scheduled several weekend play dates–one with my husband and one with a girlfriend.

Don’t forget to do the same.

Until next time, and have a rollicking fun weekend,

Ann

Behind Every Successful Woman…

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Ann Roth

Remember this when you need a pick-me-up. Sure, females face gender gaps, biases against women (sometimes perpetuated by ourselves!), and a whole host of challenges.

This happens even among those who should know better. Recently, I was at a medical facility, where there are lots of talented female physicians (my daughter is one of them). And yet, I heard both a doctor and a nurse refer to a physician they didn’t know as “he”.

“Dr. xxx is a woman,” I gently corrected.

They took it in stride. But I shook my head and wondered when these longtime biases will change. I have no idea, but sooner or later, that change will occur.

In the meantime, don’t let the naysayers get you down. With a positive attitude, hard work, grit and support from our brothers and sisters everywhere, we can soar.

Think about it.

Until next time,

Ann

Until next time,

Ann

Come and Get It!

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Ann Roth

My January release is out now! Available in your favorite brick and mortar or online bookstore, or at www.annroth.net.

Enjoy!

Until next time,

Ann

New (Actually Old) Recipe

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Ann Roth

Mrs. Lawrence’s Scrumptious English Tea Cake

Around Christmas, I was listening to NPR’s Found Recipes program. Love that series! The story I heard intrigued me so much that I headed for the website to download the recipe for Mrs. Lawrence’s English Tea Cake.

I’ll be honest here. As I made it, I had my doubts. Could this unusual recipe possibly be as tasty as the woman in the story claimed it was?

As soon as it was ready, I tested it on my husband and sampled some myself. The unanimous conclusion: delicious!

This cake takes a little time–it contains yeast and needs to rise twice–but otherwise, it’s easy to put together, and well worth the time and effort.

Note: I tinkered with the instructions a bit to make them more clear. Also, italicized notes and information in the parentheses are mine.

Mrs. Lawrence’s English Tea Cake

For the Cake

1/3 cup melted butter, cooled
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 egg, at room temperature
1 yeast cake, or 1 package of dry yeast
1/2 cup water, at 110 to 115 degrees
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup golden raisins
3 tablespoons citron (I had to look up citron: a citron is a large, fragrant citrus fruit known for its aromatic smell and flavorful peel. I also had to ask someone at the grocery store to help me find the stuff-comes in a container and I doubt it ever goes bad.)
3 cups bread flour (I used all-purpose flour and had no problems)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg

For the filling
Note: Double this!!
1/4 pound butter (1 stick), very soft
1 cup powdered sugar
A dash of vanilla

Stir softened butter, powdered sugar and vanilla together until it reaches a spreading consistency. (I waited to make this until the cake was cooling, but you can make any time.) Set aside.

Making the cake:
(Note: You’ll need several bowls or containers for all the mixing and setting aside.)

Following directions on the package, dissolve yeast pack in warm water. Let sit 3 to 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix warm milk, raisins and citron together. Set aside.

Sift together flour, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.

Mix melted butter, sugar, orange peel and egg together in a large bowl. Make sure the butter has cooled so as not to cook the egg. Set aside.

Now it’s time to mix these things together! Add yeast mixture to sugar-butter mixture and stir to blend. Stir in flour mixture, a little at a time, until all is added. (No kneading required at this point.) Let dough rise until doubled in bulk, about 1-2 hours.

Knead the dough with additional flour (up to 1/2 cup) for about 10 minutes. Dough will be very elastic and light. Divide in half and form two balls. Press dough into two 8-inch round pans and let rise again for 1 to 2 hours. (I only had 9″-round cake pans, which were too big, but they worked well enough. The end result isn’t as pretty as it could have been, but I like how it looks! See photo above.)

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Cool thoroughly, split each cake in half (I used a large, serrated knife and some patience) and spread with filling mixture. Store in the fridge in a plastic bag to keep it fresh. Before serving, wrap loaves in foil and reheat at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Mrs. Lawrence’s granddaughter, Laura

To hear the intriguing story that goes with this recipe, visit http://n.pr/13QRAAH

Happy eating, and until next time,

Ann