Happy New Year!

May 2010 be a year full of surprises and great joy!

Here's a Christmas Gift for you: Ready to win an eReader?

The Samhellion is giving away Sony and Kindle e-readers during the month of December and I'm part of the fourth and final round!

The contest rules are posted at The Samhellion. All you have to do is go to my website, www.tillygreene.com/, and try to find the "icon" I've been asked to hide. Once you find it, write down the location and go looking for the next one on the next author listed site. After you've found them all, go back to The Samhellion, and enter the contest for a chance to win!

What a great way to end the year and start a new one - happy hunting and good luck!

Oh, and because you're here, I'll give you a hint of where to find my icon:  Think BOOKS!

Smooches under the mistletoe!

Ever wonder about the tradition of kissing beneath the mistletoe?  I did and yet my mind got stuck on one little, tiny, bit of information:  "The appearance and nature of the fruit's content (viscin) is very similar to or suggestive of human semen and this has strengthened its pagan connections." Wikipedia

I didn't see this anywhere else, but like I said, it stuck in my head and makes me look at the ball of tradition a little differently.  I'm not so keen to stand beneath it, although this lost bit of the tradition brings a little bit of the fun back into seeing it hanging:  "The mistletoe is still hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases."  Christmas Eve by Washington Irving found quoted on About:Landscaping  Kissing Under the Mistletoe by David Beaulieu

Let the fun times beneath the mistletoe commence.

Hump Day Reflections

Santa is taking a little rest before getting busy in a couple of days.

Book Talk!

Whether its been a job application or social media, travel is always listed as one of my favorite things to do and boy, have I gone on some great trips.  When I make these trips, sometimes there's a story I'm there to research, but then there are those times one builds up while I'm there.  My intention is to put the reader right there, in the chair beside me, in whatever location things may be taking place.

A few places I've been and brought between the covers are:

New York [The Painted Lady, Come Sweet Creature, The Leather Bride]

California [Extreme Speed Total Control, An Invitation to the World: China, Drive-In, OohRah!, And She Scores! - coming in February, Call Me Lucifer - coming in March]

United Kingdrom [Extreme Speed Total Control (Scotland), The Gilded Cage (England), Highland Heat (Scotland), My Angel (England) - coming in May]

France [Taming Marie Antoinette]

India [An Invitation to the World: India]

Happy travels, be it in person or by book!

Naughty thought for Monday...

Baby, it's cold outside, but it some cases, making things hotter may not be the right thing to do.

Who is the big guy wearing red?

Seriously, who is that jolly old gent we welcome into our home, and accept gifts from him?

Well, the man called Santa Claus started out in the 4th Century as Saint Nicholas of Myra, a bishop known for giving gifts to the poor. This led me to thinking if this why many charities reach far and wide for help during the holidays. I certainly enjoy giving, to family and friends, and those who need it most.

One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is pulling a name off a gifting tree set up in bookshops. Maybe it's because I like spending time in those places, but reading is something I think everyone, of all ages, should be excited to do. I usually pick out one of the older kids, more of a challenge to give them something they want, like, and touches that place that makes them want to read more.

If you're shy of money, then I have another suggestion: go visit your local senior center or home and spend some time with the folks there. Maybe take a book to read, everyone loves to hear "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore. You could make the same offer to your library, it's will put a smile on your face, and those listening as well.

Hump Day Reflections!

Model David Gandy wearing this hat helps make thinking warm thoughts, happen.

Book Talk!

I am one of those women who love a variety of sports and so this is an interesting time for me. You see, this is the time of year when some sports are coming into their season and others are ending. Whether championships or games where they players are still finding their rhythm as a team, the games are good fun to watch.

Okay, now you know a secret of mine, you won't be surprised to know sports have shown up in a few of my books. They are:

The Painted Lady - Ice Hockey
Extreme Speed, Total Control - Car Racing
An Invitation to the World: New Zealand - Rugby
Zandia - Speedball [Futuristic and twisted around version of Basketball]
And She Scores! - Football [coming in February]

Enjoy!

Naughty Thought for Monday

Ummm, what?

Are you ready for this?

I've recently told you how to make that special mug of sweetness, a yummy treat usually consumed during the holidays in England, and last week I gave you a bunch of British flicks to watch. Well, ttoday, I'm feeling more contemporary, so here are a few films to put you in Jolly Ol' without having to pack a suitcase:

My Beautiful Laundrette
Love Actually
Full Monty
Trainspotting
Rock n Rolla
Death at a Funeral

Fun times!

Have a holiday party to go to and no time to make anything?

In my case it's a lack of skill and attention that led me to learn how to make Mince Pies.  They are very simple to make and don't take long either.  So here you go, something for workmates, neighbors, relatives, or yourself - a little something to put you in the holiday frame of mind.

Here we go, Mince Pies:

You need flour, sugar, milk, rolling pin, two different sized glasses, teaspoon, anti-stick method [I use Pam, but anything will do], muffin tray for mini muffins [bite size :-)], pastry for pies [I use Pillsbury, yup, told you it was easy], and Mincemeat. 

This comes in basic mincemeat and the other is with Brandy and Rum.  I've used both, but the latter is my favorite - can't taste it, but it does add a little unique flavor to the mix. 

Now, like there are recipes for the pastry, there is help around the next for making your own mincemeat.  Good on you for going there, but I get the Crosse & Blackwell.  You'll find it in your local supermarket in the "baking aisle" or in the "holiday aisle".  There are other brands, but after ten years of making these, C&B is my preferred brand.

Throw a bit of flour on your counter, roll out the pastry, not too much, but some.  Now take the larger glass and cut out your bases.  After making sure your tin is sticky proofed, gently push the pastry disk down into the muffin holes.  Gently.  Don't press the pastry to the sides and don't leave anything poking up, should be flush.

Next, use your teaspoon, put a dollop of mincemeat into the pastry cup, making sure you don't overfill.  When all the holes are filled, use your smaller glass, cut out the tops, and lay them on top.  You may have to put scraps together in a ball and roll it out again, but that's fine.

The last thing you do before cooking them is have a small bit of milk in a dish, dip two fingers into it, and gently [again with the gently] paint the top.  Now you're ready to cook them.

Cook at 425, middle of the oven, for about 15 minutes.

When you pull them out, they will be seriously hot - especially the mix - give them a couple minutes [no more] to cool down.  Using a knife tip, release the mince pie from the cup and place them on a cooling rack.  When you have them all there, add a pinch of sugar to each top, and there you go:  Mince Pies.

They taste great whilst still warm and with brandy butter on them, but they are good any way you can get them.  You'll often find Hard Sauce by C&B being sold beside the Mincemeat, as well as Plum Pudding, which the hard sauce can also be used on - well, after you've lit it up that is - but that's another thing.

Enjoy!