I don’t know about you, but I have a HUGE soft spot for holiday books and movies. If we’re talking miracles and blessings I think George Bailey. I will undoubtedly watch It’s a Wonderful 
Life 3 times before 2010 arrives, and Miracle on 34th Street will probably get 2 viewings. But ask me what I’ll be watching December 5th at 8:00 pm. Seriously, ask. Well I’ll be tuned in to see the first adaptation of one of Debbie Macomber’s books: MRS. MIRACLE. I can’t resist a wonderful love story set around the holidays. Nope, I sure can’t.
So to celebrate the airing of MRS. MIRACLE on the Hallmark Channel, Avon Books is re-releasing the book equipped with brand new cover and all. And together, Avon Books and The Season are giving away a copy of the book and a lovely apron. Wendy at Avon Books was gracious enough to model the MRS. MIRACLE apron for us. Even sans head, you can see Wendy is as pretty as can be. And tres fashionable I might add.
~*~*~
MRS. MIRACLE
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Avon
Re-release date: November 29, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0061083464
352 pages
Seth Webster’s heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family together . . . he needs a miracle.
And then a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her “Mrs. Miracle”—and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different. Her sassy spirit is infectious, and it gives Seth the courage to approach Reba, a beautiful travel agent who’s been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to ever love again. Through the magic of faith—and with a little help from a children’s Christmas pageant and a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle—Seth and Reba might just be able to find a Christmas miracle of their very own: true love.
~*~*~
Since an apron is also up for grabs and Thanksgiving is only days away, let’s talk food. Share your favourite holiday food. Comment to win.
What a great givaway, and one of my favorite topic too !!
Here is my pick of holiday recipe :
Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie :
1 (9 inch) pie shell
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees F).
2.In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, and butter or margarine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter or margarine melts and sugar dissolves. Cool slightly.
3.In a large bowl combine eggs, bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Slowly pour sugar mixture into egg mixture, whisking constantly. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans. Pour mixture into pie shell.
4.Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until set and golden. May be served warm or chilled.
Can’t wait to read everybody else’s recipes 😉
My favorite holiday food? Can I do any holiday? Because my favorite is actually for St. Patrick’s Day.
Its corned beef. But not the boiled one, no I like roasting mine, and it disappears very quickly.
You just wrap the corned beef in aluminum foil, and roast it in the oven. Usually on the packages I get it tells you the temp (I think its 300F, but don’t quote me on that) and it usually tells you how long per pound. I know that I usually have mine in the oven for 6-8 hrs, and I do at least 3 corned beef’s that way.
Now if it has to be a Thanksgiving or Christmas recipe, I love sweet potatoes. I found this awesome recipe at The Romance Dish that I’m going to try this year. Since I don’t know if I can reproduce it here, I’ll just post the link so you can check it out, and while your there, check out the rest of the blog too.
http://www.theromancedish.com/
To get to the recipe just scroll down to Sat Nov 21st post.
Well, good night all (its 3:30am here).
Happy Reading, and Eating!
I have to watch Mrs. Miracle for sure. I love the apron.
Favorite recipes or food has to be simply mashed turnips mixed with mashed potatoes. So good. Have them every holiday. Peel and dice 5 lbs of potatoes and 2 medium sized turnips, Cook turnips in enough water to cover for a good hour and 15 minutes. Cook potatoes the way you usually do and then, mash them both (separately) adding cream and butter and mix together. Very good with gravy.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
here’s my favorite recipe :
taken from my favorite place to find lots of great recipes , ” slowlikehoney.net”
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie
Origin: “Baking: From My Home To Yours” by Dorie Greenspan
Yield: about 45 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 to 12 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
● 2 cups all purpose flour
● 1 tsp. salt
● 3/4 tsp. baking soda
● 2 sticks unsalted butter at room temp
● 1 cup sugar
● 2/3 cup light brown sugar
● 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
● 2 large eggs
● 12 oz. bittersweet chocolate (I used 2 cups store-bought chocolate chips)
● 1 cup chopped walnuts (I used one cup of almond meal)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment or spray with cooking spray.
2. Whisk the flour, salt, and baking soda together.
3. Beat the butter on medium speed for about 1 minute until smooth (you can use a stand mixer, but I don’t have one so I used a hand mixer). Add the sugars and beat for another 2 minutes, until well blended. Beat in the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for1 minute after each egg goes in. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients in 3 portions, mixing only until each addition is incorporated. By hand with a wooden spoon, mix in the chocolate and nuts. The dough can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days. (Normally, I put it in the fridge for just a half an hour just to firm it up but this time I couldn’t wait. )
4. Spoon the dough by slightly rounded tablespoonful onto the baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between spoonfuls.
5. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time and rotating the sheet at the midway point- for 10 or 12 minutes, or until they brown at the edges and are golden in the center. Pull sheet from oven and allow the cookies to rest for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool to room temperature.
I love Christmas all year round! I will definitely watch “Mrs. Miracle” with Doris Roberts. She’s always great! In the spirit of the holidays, here is my favorite recipe for Fruitcake : )
BEST QUICK & EASY FRUITCAKE:
2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 large eggs
1 (27 oz.) jar Ready to Use Mincemeat
1 (14 oz.) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups (1 lb.) mixed candied fruit
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
Instructions:
HEAT oven to 300ºF. Coat a 10-cup fluted baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
STIR together flour and baking soda. Combine eggs, mincement, sweetened condensed milk, candied fruit and nuts in large bowl. Blend in dry ingredients. Pour into prepared pan.
BAKE 1 hour, 45 minutes to 1 hour, 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes. Remove from pan. Garnish as desired.
VARIATIONS:
FRUITCAKE BARS: COAT 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan with no-stick cooking spray. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes. Cool. Glaze, if desired. Makes about 4 dozen bars.
FRUITCAKE COOKIES: COAT baking sheets with no-stick cooking spray. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 15 to 18 minutes. Makes about 5 1/2 dozen cookies.
I am looking forward to the movie. Doris Roberts was a great choice as Mrs. Miracle. I thought the book was great; although, my fave Debbie Macomber books are the Orchard Valley Trilogy stories.
Hmmm, I have lots of fave holiday foods. Here is a candy recipe (any time of year candy) that everyone seems to like; my husband raves about it.
MAPLE NUTTY BARS
12 oz. chocolate almond bark (1/2 pkg. + 2 squares)
1- 12 oz. pkg. butterscotch chips
1 1/4 c peanut butter
1 c butter or margarine
1/2 c evaporated milk
3 c dry roasted peanuts
1 small pkg. vanilla cook-n-serve pudding mix (do not use instant)
7 to 8 c powdered sugar
4 1/2 tsp. maple flavoring
Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips in saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter. Lightly spray or butter a jelly roll pan and spread half of chocolate mixture in the pan. Put in refrigerator to harden.
In another saucepan, melt margarine and add evaporated milk and vanilla pudding. Cook until somewhat thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add maple flavoring, peanuts, and powdered sugar. Spread (or pat) onto cooled chocolate layer in jelly roll pan. Pour and spread remaining chocolate mixture (may have to reheat to spread better) over top of peanut mixture. Because these are so rich, cut into small squares that are slightly larger than a postage stamp. (Yield: 40 to 55 pieces.) The flavors of maple, peanut butter, chocolate, and butterscotch really taste great together!
These bars are hard to get out of the pan, so let the pan sit out for awhile before cutting.
I guess my favorite food at Thanksgiving besides the turkey is Pumpkin pie. I do have to fix sweet potatoes every Thanksgiving and Christmas or my family would disown me. I love your books and can’t wait for the movie. I got my sister reading your books and know she will watch the movie too. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
I agree with you Joan. My favorite food at Thanksgiving is Pumpkin Pie. It’s something about only eating it once a year that makes the pie taste more yummy than other pie. My other favorite food is Turkey and ketchup. ^^
I can’t wait to see the movie when it airs.
Wow, recipes. I never expected this. My favourite holiday food is fresh baked whole wheat bread. It’s a must for Christmas breakfast.
What a great idea! Share recipes. Okay, I’m going to have to find some of mine to share… I’m at work so I’ll do it when I get home.
I love Debbie Macomber’s books. The movie looks cute, too. But I love anything Hallmark puts out…or Avon for that matter. (grins)
Okay, I’ll be back in a few hours with a recipe!
~Phyllis~
Enjoyed reading the comments.
My favorite Thanksgiving food is the turkey gravy since it is the only time I eat it during the year. Seems like I eat all of the other traditional foods but seldom get turkey gravy and mashed potatoes. It is something that is really really good if made correctly but if it is not….ugh.
Happy Thanksgivng all of you. Hope the weather is nice for you -here in Arizona where I live it is supposed to be 82 degrees. yeah kids can play outside
This is tough because I don’t really like the traditional Thanksgiving meal. I love ham, but found out a few years back that I’m allergic to pork, so I can’t have it anymore. I’d have to go with cherry jello and pineapple chunks as a favorite for this meal. Rather boring, I know.
Sadly, we don’t have the Hallmark channel, so I won’t be catching the movie either. Sigh.
Final complaint (didn’t mean to whine), I’m in the midwest, so we might be in the mid 40’s on Thanksgiving and it is suppose to rain. Wish I was in Arizona like Joye. 😉
Have a Happy Thanksgiving. My favourite holiday food is Pumpkin Pie. I enjoy reading all of Debbie Macomber’s books. I’ll be watching MRS. MIRACLE on December 5th at 8:00 pm.
Hmmmm I think I love it all, turkey and dumplings, can’t wait. Mom’s Pecan Pie, she’s not with us now but we still make her pie!
Pecan Pie
1/4cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1cup light corn syrup
3 eggs
1 cup pecans
1 frozen pie shell thowed
Cream together butter and sugar, cream well. Beat in eggs one at a time, beat well. This is very important because it helps the filling hold together.Beat in light corn syrup, Stir in pecans. Pour in thowed pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Cute apron,and Mrs.Miracle sounds great,I wish we had the Hallmark channel here in Canada so I can watch the movie.
We already celebrated Thankgsgiving (in October) but my favorite food for the Xmas holiday, besides the turkey is all the desserts and pastries,pumpkin pie and homemade shortbread.
I’m a big sweet potato fan. And the recipe we make every year that I just inhale is:
Ingredients:
2 pounds sweet potatoes (3 cups mashed)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons melted butter
Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Preparation:
Scrub sweet potatoes and cut in half if large. Boil in their jackets until tender. Cool; slip the peels off and mash well. Stir in sugar and salt. Whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and 4 tablespoons melted butter. Stir into the mashed sweet potato mixture until smooth and well blended. Spoon the mixture into a lightly buttered 2-quart baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients; sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture. Bake at 350° for 35 to 45 minutes.
This so creamy and sugary I could just OD on it. They’re that good.
Melt and Mix Christmas Cake
3lb mixed fruit
1/2 cup sherry rum or brandy
1 green apple
1 tablespoon honey or golden syrup
1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
4 large eggs
8 oz butter
1 & half cups plain flour
1/2 cup self raising flour
1 teaspoon mixed spice
2 tablespoons sherry rum or brandy extra
Place mixed fruit in large basin. add apple sherry peeled and coarsley grated apple honey sugar and eggs mix well with wooden spoon or hand to break up any large clumps of fruit. Add cooled melted butter and sifted flours and spice mix thoroughly. Place into deep 9 in round or 8 in square cake tin which has been lined with 3 sheets of greasproof paper. Make sure papers stands up around edge of tin to a height of about 2 in this is to protect the top of the cake during cooking time.
Bake in slow oven 3 & half hours until cooked when tested. Remove from oven and brush evenly with extra sherry cover tightly with aluminium foil leave until cold. Remove from tin leaving lining paper intact. Wrap cake tightly in plastic wrap then in foil store in a cool dark place or if weather is humid in refrigerator. This cake will keep for 3 months.
I love Christmas time and this is the Chrissy cake I make every year I make 6 actually because I give 4 of them as gifts. I have made 3 already another 3 to go.
I love the sound of this book and movie I hope it comes to the Hallmark channel here in Australia I need to get the TV guide out and check it out.
Have Fun
Helen
Okay, I’m back. I have a yummy cookie recipe.
Old Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies
2 1/2 C flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup solid packed pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg – and set aside. In large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar. Add pumpkin, egg, vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Add dry ingredients. Mix well. Drop on greased cookie sheet. Smooth tops of cookies. Bake 350 for 15-20 minutes.
ENJOY!
~Phyllis~
I love green bean casserole with extra french fried onions. Happy Thanksgiving.
My favorite is mashed potatoes and gravy.
Wow! All these recipes are making me hungry. They sound great!
My favorite holiday food is sweet potato casserole. Sweet potatoes, pecans, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon with marshmallows browned to perfection on top…what more could a girl ask for? LOL 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!! I have been waiting for this show forever. I LUVED the book, but then I love all of D. Macombers books!!! I read her blog and she mentioned it maybe last year about the show. I actually love the holidays because we have turkey and 2nd would be the pumpkin pies. After seeing these recipes I can’t wait till Thursday!!! Thanks, Sue
All my recipes are so typical that everyone has them. I lvoe Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. Wehave turkey, green beans, potatoes and of course pumpkin pie.
Do the traditional turkey and stuffing. Have started adding craisins and diced apricots to my stuffing along with the onions, celery and cooked sage sausage.
A favorite for dessert is mince meat pie. I use Nonsuch either from the jar or block. To this I add grated orange rind, chopped walnuts, diced apples (a tart type like Macintosh or Granny Smith), and some brandy. I recently found a pumpkin spice liqueur and am considering adding it to my pumpkin pies.
As long as we are all healthy and together, that is all I wish for. We could have peanut butter sandwiches and it would still be Thanksgiving dinner.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.