Saturday, March 30, 2013

Kristen Ashley- Own The Wind GIVEAWAY!

Hey all! It's the best time of the year. Another Kristen Ashley gem is about to be released to the world, and I couldn't be more excited.

 

In honor of Tuesday's release of Own The Wind,  I decided to have a giveaway! I'll be gifting an e-copy (Nook or Kindle) to three winners!

Tabitha Allen has a not-so-secret crush on Parker "Shy" Cage. Shy thinks he knows the path Tabby's on and it isn't a good one. So he decides to teach her a lesson to lead her to the right path.

Unfortunately, he was wrong and his actions wound Tabby, breaking her heart. It's Tabby who then teaches Shy a lesson about casting judgment and Shy Cage learns what it feels like to be invisible. But when tragedy strikes and Tabby's heart is broken again, Shy does what he can in the background to help. Trying to forget her heartbreak, Tabby finds herself in danger. To keep it secret from her biker family, the Chaos Motorcycle Club, she calls Shy to rescue her. But when she lets him back in, she gets much more than she bargained for.
 
I don't know about you guys, but I'm pumped for more of the Chaos MC and especially appearances from Tack! Enter the giveaway and tell your friends!
 
 
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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Always Something There To Remind Me by Beth Harbison

Always Something There To Remind Me on Goodreads
 
Can you ever really know if love is true? And if it is, should you stop at anything to get it?

Two decades ago, Erin Edwards was sure she’d already found the love of her life: Nate Lawson. Her first love. The one with whom she shared everything--dreams of the future, of children, plans for forever. The one she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. Until one terrible night when Erin made a mistake Nate could not forgive and left her to mourn the relationship she could never forget or get over.

Today, Erin is contentedly involved with a phenomenal guy, maneuvering a successful and exciting career, and raising a great daughter all on her own. So why would the name “Nate Lawson” be the first thing to enter her mind when her boyfriend asks her to marry him?

In the wake of the proposal, Erin finds herself coming unraveled over the past, and the love she never forgot. The more she tries to ignore it and move on, the more it haunts her.

Always Something There to Remind Me is a story that will resonate with any woman who has ever thought of that one first love and wondered, “Where is he?” and “What if…?” Filled with Beth Harbison’s trademark nostalgia humor and heart, it will transport you, and inspire you to believe in the power of first love.

Thirty-seven year old Erin Edwards is seemingly content with her life as a hotel party planner. She has a wonderful, intelligent daughter, Camilla, with whom she has a fantastic relationship. She's been dating Cam's best friend's dad, Rick, for the past year. One night, unexpectedly, Rick pulls out a ring and asks Erin to be his wife. Shocked, the first thing that comes to Erin's mind is Nate.

Nate. Nate what Erin's first in every single way, and he's the one man she's never truly gotten over. Through flashbacks, we learn about Erin and Nate's passionate, albeit often times tumultuous, relationship. These flashbacks intersect with chapters from the present in which Rick continues to await Erin's answer to the proposal.

Days go by and Erin still cannot get Nate off of her mind as she considers Rick's proposal. Can she really marry another man when she still hasn't gotten over her first love? Eventually, she finds herself walking outside Nate's mother's house. Suddenly, after almost two decades, she's face to face with the man she still loves. The man she's never gotten over, the man who broke her heart so terribly that she's never been able to fully put it back together again.

So what does this mean? Will she finally get the closure she deserves, or will she find herself falling for him all over again?

The premise of this book and the use of the flashbacks is an intriguing idea, but it didn't really work for me. Erin and Nate's relationship, while passionate, was plagued with immaturity issues, no doubt due to their high school ages. I never truly felt this amazing, once in a lifetime kind of love that we're supposed to believe they possess. The reasons for their breakup in the past were just silly to me, and if they'd had this larger than life love, it never should have happened.

That being said, I did find myself rooting for them in the end. This was a good one time read for me, and I'll probably check out the author's other works.

Let It Go by Brooklyn James

Let It Go on Goodreads
Let It Go on Amazon

We meet sweet, sassy Savannah Bondurant an hour after she's signed the paper to officially free herself from Jack Brigant, the man from whom she's been separated for the past year and a half.

"Has it escaped your attention that you are a marriage columnist?" her quirky boss, Willow, exasperates upon hearing the news.

Savannah creatively decides to use this new development in her life to appeal to those who've gone through, or are going through, the same thing. She's excited to share with her readers her experiences as she begins this new, unexpected chapter in her life. You see, there was no huge, explosive breakup. No cheating scandal. No sordid affairs. Savannah and Jack simply grew up and grew apart.

"People grow, they evolve, and not always in the same direction." Savannah tells Jack, after he shows up, in shock, that she's actually signed the papers.

It simply just wasn't working anymore, and Savannah refused to spend her life in an unhappy marriage. Savannah, although nervous, is eager to move on begin this new journey, adamant that she's not looking for anything other than friendship.

"I'm not going to be that girl, hopping out of one relationship and right into another. I am not afraid to be alone."

Famous last words, right? Enter Gym Boy,  the smoking hot stranger that Savannah's secretly noticed at her gym four days a week, every week, for the past year.

Standing about six-foot-four, weighing in at two-hundred-twenty-five pounds, with a chest and shoulders out to there, his waist and hips narrow, chiseling his form into a delightfully attractive V.

"There's this guy at my gym. I swear it's like an episode of Clash of the Dinosaurs: Mating Season on the Discovery Channel every time I'm near him." Savannah hilariously reveals to her sister, Jac.

Fate. Coincidence. The universe aligning. Call it what you want, but there's something to be said for the fact that on this day, the first day of the rest of Savannah's life, Gym Boy, speaks to her for the first time, finally introducing himself as Brody McAllister. After a playful, flirtatious exchange, they part ways, but not before Brody can leave a note with his number inviting Savannah to join him for a run anytime she wishes. She soon finds herself contacting him, and they fall into comfortable conversation as they begin to get to know one another.

As there is an undeniable attraction between the two, Savannah and Brody quickly find themselves unable to fight the scorching chemistry that radiates whenever they're together.

His intuition magic, he reads her, every part of her like his favorite book, knowing exactly how to touch her, taste her, enchant her.

As they spend more time together, it becomes to clear that there are feelings between the two. Savannah's apprehensive to begin another relationship out of fear that she'll end up in the same spot again. For now, Brody's comfortable enough to let her set the pace, his own experiences having allowed him to understand the need for time.

"We all have scars, Savannah. Wounds. They take time to close. To heal. But in the meantime, you'd be better off to stop second-guessing yourself. Beating yourself up over past mistakes. Trust me."

The question remaining is how long will it take Savannah to allow herself to give in to her feelings for Brody...and how just how long is Brody willing to wait?

Savannah: I really enjoyed Savannah in this book. She was so down-to-Earth and comfortable in her own skin. She had such a positive outlook on like that I admire, especially when she could be drowning in post-divorce blues. She knew what direction she wanted to take her life in and she made it happen, no matter how hard it hurt. In the end, she came out a better person, with a better relationship, and a more beautiful view on life, love, and the art of letting go.

Brody: Brody was a fantastic male lead. Three years after his divorce, Brody chooses to be picky about the woman he plans on settling down with. He has a "checklist" of sorts, and darnit if he doesn't find himself mentally clicking off items every time he's with Savannah. Even though Savannah is the relationship columnist, Brody is akin to a modern day love guru. Rather than wallow in self pity, he used his relationship experiences and let downs to provide the insightful, heartfelt guidance that Savannah needs as they navigate the unknown waters of post-divorce dating.

Jack: Jack Brigant is an irritatingly sympathetic character, and he's ultimately an understandably lost man who is having trouble coping with the fact that he's now divorced. Although he did nothing to try and keep her, he didn't want to lose her, and now he's wallowing in self-pity. He cannot accept that his marriage is over, or that he had any responsibility in the breakdown of it. I'd actually really be interested in reading another story with Jack working through his issues and finding the woman he'd actually be willing to fight for and do anything to keep her.

The supporting cast truly made this book remarkable. Every character was relatable in one way or another. At times, I had to set my Kindle down and contemplate on various situations with which I could associate some of my own life experiences to better understand the character. Throughout the course of the story, we're given an incredible group of women whose stories are woven beautifully with Savannah's. We have many interactions with her sisters, mother, and nieces. The female dynamic amongst the Bondurant women is beautiful, heartwarming, and at times, laugh out loud funny. The extraordinary display of love and affection between the three Bondurant girls brought tears to my eyes. They loved each other fiercely, creating an undeniable support system as each sister dealt with real life issues that had them questioning everything they've ever known.

Overall, this was a refreshing, realistic take on modern relationships. We've all known someone whose suffered through divorce, or perhaps you have yourself. It can be painful. It can be lonely. It can be so agonizing that you're filled with pain with every breath you take. But it can also be exactly what you need. It can be revitalizing. It can rejuvenate your soul and revive your heart. That's the message I got from this beautiful story of taking the reigns and finding happiness if you can just find a way to Let It Go.

Cover Reveal!!!! The Do Over by A.L. Zaun




Life doesn't look like it's supposed to for Daniela, aka Dani. After a painful break-up with Rick, Dani decides she doesn't want to deal with the hassles of relationship.

After almost two years, Dani's friends stage an intervention, forcing her out of her holding pattern and back into the real world of dating.

Liam, a down to earth firefighter, may be just the person to show her she’s still worth something. Their chemistry is instant and electric. But will Dani be able to trust her patched-up heart with him?

And what will happen when Rick decides he’ll go to any lengths to get her back?



Title: The Do Over
Author: A. L. Zaun
Genre: Contemporary Adult
Cover Designer: Wicked by Design
Expected release date: May 20, 2013
Goodreads Button photo goodreads-badge-add-plus_zps5d68ec23.png

 About the Author
A.L. Zaun photo ALZaun_zps02443741.jpg 

A.L. Zaun graduated from Florida International University with a degree in English Literature a long time ago. A degree she didn’t use at all in her professional endeavors. She loves to read, write and take pictures. She walks around with her camera, and most importantly she has her e-reader available at all times. Healthcare Management by day, Mommy in the evening and most nights, you can find her sitting in front of her laptop with a bottle of Diet Pepsi, bringing the voices in her head to life on the pages of her debut novel, The Do Over.
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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Amazon Freebie!! Rogue Alliance by Michelle Bellon


This Weekend Only, Rogue Alliance by Michelle Bellon is Free!!!


5 Stay Rated Adult Crime Suspense with Paranormal Elements!!

Buy Link

Book Description 
Trying to escape a horrific past, Shyla has immersed herself in life as a tough, sassy cop in the bustle of LA. When the case of a lifetime takes her back to her hometown of Redding , she is thrown into a world of organised crime, deceit, and bitter reminders of her childhood.

As Shyla’s path crosses that of Brennan, an unwitting and troubled sidekick to the ringleader she’s intent on taking down, she is forced to re-evaluate everything she believes about herself, her job, and what she knows about right and wrong.

Can she face the demons of her upbringing and learn to trust again? Her life will depend on it.

Praise
 “Bellon gives a whole new twist to the vampire story!”…”This book was fantastic…I could not put it down…”

Excerpt
He faded in and out of consciousness. Sound, light, and movement blended together until he couldn’t tell one from the next. Coherent thought was impossible; fragments of ideas filtered in then slipped through the sieve of his mind. He was weak, dehydrated, and starving.

The one consistent concept he was able to grasp was his name. Brennan Miles. The name he had given himself. Simple, strong, normal; all qualities that he longed for. He no longer remembered his real name, just as he no longer remembered anything before he’d come to the institute.

The few who had ever met him took one look at his stocky build, and thought he looked plenty strong. He could see it in the way they looked at him with a mix of awe and fear. But he wasn’t strong in the way that he wanted to be. At the moment, he wasn’t even physically strong. They’d kept food and his supplements from him for over seventy-six hours - the longest period to date. Water was the only offering and even that had been the bare minimum. They wanted to see how powerful his need would be when triggered.

He had seen how intense his need could be and what it could drive him to do. All those other times, though, he had been in prime condition - healthy and agile. In his current state, he doubted he would be able to lift his head, much less give in to the power of his unnatural instinct. The doctor would be disappointed.

Serves him right, he thought.

Brennan heard the swish of the door open and close. His acute sense of smell instantly recognized the scent of Doctor Shinto and that of a stranger. Repulsion and hate flowed through his veins. The voices of his visitors drifted in and out. They spoke about him as if he weren’t there. He was just an object, an experiment. He wanted to lash out and crush the doctor. He wanted to give in to his need here and now, but with his ankles shackled and his wrists bound, he would do no such thing. Even if he had been unrestrained, he doubted that he could stand up, let alone end Doctor Shinto’s unconscionable life in his current condition. Instead, he let his head loll against the back of his chair and listened to the conversation at hand.

“Don’t get too close, Mr. Champlain. He can smell us. I don’t want him to be tempted.”

“Tempted, huh?” Champlain said, “he’s restrained and looks to be half dead. What threat could he be?”

Dr. Shinto spoke methodically. “He’s been without supplement or food for over 3 days. He’s had only 50ccs of water daily. He is extremely weak and dangerously dehydrated and will go into hypovolemic shock if he doesn’t get what he needs very soon.”

His voice was devoid of concern. The only inflection was a breathless excitement revealing the delight he took in his work.

Code Red by Amy Noelle

Code Red on Goodreads
As my first ever ARC for NetGalley, I couldn't be happier with my selection. Code Red by Amy Noelle was a fun, sexy, light-hearted book that I just could not put down.

Nicole's heart was crushed when she was in college, so she's decided to forgo relationships, opting for simple sex and nothing more. She and her friends, Amy, Kim, Ashley, and Jen came up with a plan: Code Red. Anytime one of them got to close to a man that they were afraid would hurt them, they'd call Code Red and the others would get her back on track.

Flash forward seven years later. Nic's a successful technical writer who wears yoga pants and ponytails to work. She doesn't do relationships; she has sex with losers that she knows won't be able to get into her heart. Amy, Kim, and Ash have married their Code Reds, and wish she'd put and end to her Code Red and find a man with whom she can settle down. Nic and Jen remain single, something that Nic is perfectly content with.

While waiting to meet the "new Suit" that's being sent to Chicago from New York, she begins a hilarious e-mail to Jen outlining all the ways her BOB (battery operated boyfriend) is better than a real man. As she's typing, the Suit sneaks up on her and catches her off guard. Way off guard. Nic soon learns that Josh Daniels, the sexy new Suit, is there to partner with her to write a manual for a new electronics product. They'll be spending weeks sharing an office while working on the manual.

There's an instant attraction between the two, and the chemistry is undeniable, so of course, Nicole is quick to call her girls and declares: CODE RED. It's up to Josh to break down the walls around Nicole's heart so that she can finally experience love once and for all. The question is, will she let him?

I loved this book. I was grinning like a loon throughout most of it. Nicole reminds me so much of myself, straight down to the two cats! I related with her on so many levels. I wish she were real so we could share wine while watching Supernatural on Friday nights. The friendship among the group of girls had me rolling with laughter quite often. These girls were laugh out loud funny. And the playful, sexy banter between Josh and Nic was fun to read and had me fanning myself quite a bit. Josh is a completely swoon-worthy book boyfriend, and Nicole's a hilarious, sweet and sassy hot chick. Their romance was such a fun one to read. Now, they weren't without their issues, but they were seemingly normal relationship type issues. There wasn't any crazy, angsty drama, and that was such a nice change. This book was simply a beautiful, funny, light-hearted romance that I'd recommend to any of my friends and then make them watch Supernatural with me. I truly cannot make one single complaint about this book. I will definitely be looking forward to more of Ms. Noelle's work.

Favorite Lines (Quotes are subject to change upon publication):

You're smart, and funny, and maybe a little weird, but I wouldn't change a thing about you. I don't care if you're a lady or not. You're what I want.

You cloud up everything so I'm completely full of you.

At least he didn't steal any hearts. Josh did. He's a thief, too. A cat burglar. (This scene had me in stitches)

**ARC was provided by NetGalley and The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House in exchange for an honest review

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Adventures in Winemaking: Part 1

Last summer Derek and I decided to start a new hobby. We weren't quite sure what we wanted to do until we went to Jungle Jim's, an awesome HUGE mega-grocery store. They had winemaking kits and we were instantly sold. We bought the Vintners Reserve Wine Equipment Kit for about $90. It came with the 7.5 gallon plastic fermenter with lid, 6 gallon glass carboy, stopper, airlock, bottle brush, hydrometer, wine thief, 8 ounces of Easy Clean No-Rinse Cleanser, Gilda single lever corker, 5 feet of siphon tubing, bottle filler, shut-off clamp, and equipment instructions. We also decided to go ahead and buy a double corker, which you'll see in Part 4.

Since last year we've made a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chilean Malbec, and a Chianti. Each concentrate kit was between 60-70 bucks and each kit has made at least 30 bottles. So as long as it turns out well, we're talking right around 2 bucks a bottle, not including initial equipment cost.

This time we're making a Coastal Red. This one was $60 bucks a kit, and BOGO this past Black Friday. So here we're talking $1.00 a bottle. That's a steal, and it's fun!

Each concentration kit includes directions, concentrate, and the various additives used throughout the fermenting process.

Today we're focusing on the Primary Fermentation stage.

Step 1:
The most important thing that you must do is ensure that all your supplies are cleaned and sanitized. For primary fermentation, we're using the primary fermenter, lid, spoon, thermometer, hydrometer, test jar, and wine thief. We use Oxi-Clean and the Easy One Step sanitizer for this step.

Step 2:
Heat and then add a 1/2 gallon of hot water to the primary fermenter. We buy and use gallons of distilled water, but feel free to use from your tap if you wish. Stir the water vigorourly as you slowly sprinkle in the bentonite onto the surface of the water. Stir for at least 30 seconds to allow the breakup of any clumps in the water.





Step 3:
Take the concentrate kit out of the box, secure it by the neck, and remove the cap from the bag. Pour the concentrate into the water/bentonite solution. Add enough warm water to the bag to get out any remaining juice in the bag and add to the bucket.




Step 4:
Fill the primary fermenter with water up to the 6 gallon mark. Stir vigorously for 30 seconds. In total, we used 3 1/2 gallons of water total for this kit.

<--Derek :)


Step 5:
Take a sample of the juice. To check the specific gravity, use the hydrometer and test jar. The reading should be between 1.080-1.097. For this batch, the starting specific gravity was 1.082. This number is extremely important, because with the next reading we can determine the alcohol content of the wine.



Step 6:
If your kit contains oak chips or elderflowers, this is when you will add them. This kit doesn't contain either additive.

Step 7:
Ensure that the temperature of the juice is between 72-75 degrees. If you ferment in a cooler environment, fermentation will take longer.

Step 8:
This is another very important step. Add the yeast now. Sprinkle the contents on the surface of the juice, and DO NOT STIR.



Step 9:
Cover the primary fermenter and place in a cool, dark place. Insert an airlock, and fill the airlock halfway with water.


**Fermentation will start within 48 hours. The water in the airlock will begin to bubble as the yeast begins to activate. We'll check back in 7 days. :D

It really is a fun and interesting process. Each kit takes around 28 days to complete, and then you should wait at least one month to drink. They recommend 3-6 months of aging before truly enjoying the wine.

Hope you've enjoyed! See you next time!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Collide by Gail McHugh

Goodreads: Collide by Gail McHugh
Amazon: Collide by Gail McHugh

A missed first encounter…

Colliding with a second chance…

On the heels of graduating college and trying to cope with her mother’s death, Emily Cooper moves to New York City for a fresh start.

While harboring secrets of his own, Dillon Parker takes care of Emily through her grief. Knowing he can’t live without her by his side, he’s sweet, thoughtful, and everything Emily has ever wanted in a man.

Until she meets Gavin Blake—a rich and notorious playboy who is dangerously sexy and charming as hell. Emily tries to deny the instant connection she feels, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is not inclined to let go so easily. Recovering from his own painful past, Gavin will stop at nothing to win Emily over.

This unexpected encounter compels Emily to question her decisions, forcing her to make a choice that will destroy friendships, shatter hearts, and forever change her life.



Phew, wow, what a rollercoaster!


Emily Cooper, a recent college graduate, is trying to get over the death of her mother as she moves to New York to be near her boyfriend, Dillon, and to move in with her best friend, Olivia. While she searches for a teaching job, she takes a position as a waitress at a local Italian restaurant. After a delivery boy quits, she's sent on a order run to Blake Enterprises where she encounters Gavin Blake, with whom she has an instant connection.

Take-your-breath-away good looking. Want-to-strip-your-body-naked-and-let-him-devour-you-alive good looking. Certified-eye-candy good looking.

The next day Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome, the more than appropriate moniker Emily's bestowed upon Gavin, shows up at her restaurant. Although in love with Dillon, she's drawn to Gavin and his sexy smile, beautiful blue eyes, and incessant charm. After a flirtacious exchange, in which Gavin expresses his definite interest, Emily gives him a fake name and sends him on his way, but she can't stop thinking about him all the while.

Several nights later, Dillon talks her into meeting his at a club to meet some of his buddies. Little does she know that Gavin happens to be one of those buddies. As she approaches the table, she's shocked to find him there: Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome.

Situations continue to push Gavin and Emily together, while Dillon becomes increasingly controlling, possessive, and begins working extremely late nights. As Dillon's neglect continues, Gavin's always right there to lavish Emily with the attention he knows she deserves. He promises to just be looking for friendship, but he can't seem to stay away, can't seem to keep his hands to himself, and can't help falling for her. Emily is not far behind. As she begins to realize that Dillon is not the man she thought he was, she finds herself wanting Gavin more and more with each passing day.

Will Emily realize that Gavin's the man she's meant to be with, or will she make the biggest mistake of her life and stay with Dillon?
 
I loved this book and the incredible, intense, passionate chemistry between Emily and Gavin. From the beginning, it's clear that Dillon has a few screws loose, but Emily has a misguided notion that she owes him and loves him because of how caring he was during her mother's illness. Unfortunately, the further we get into the story, the more unraveled, erratic, and creepy Dillon becomes. At the same time, Emily's struggling to fight the gravitational pull she feels whenever Gavin is around. It was so abundantly clear which man was perfect for her, which man found love, cherish, and protect her, and you find yourself rooting for him from the very first encounter.

Gavin. I absolutely adored Gavin. He treated Emily with more passion, love, and respect that her boyfriend of the last year. There wasn't a single second that I questioned his motives. He knew what he wanted, no qualms about it.

I'd never hurt you, Emily. Stop fighting me. Stop fighting what you already know.

I want to take my time with you, brushing my fingers over the sports he's neglected. He's never loved you the way you need to be loved.

Say it with me now...Dillon Who?!

And Emily. Oh, Emily, I love to hate you. Honestly, I liked Emily and her interactions with Gavin, but there were so many times I wanted to smack her over the damn head. The girl drove me nuts!!
There were so many signs and indications that Dillon was so wrong for her, but she either ignored them or rationalized them. I couldn't imagine being Olivia, having to sit back and watch your best friend in such a destructive relationship.

I won't say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but it really bothered me that Emily couldn't see Dillon for the lying bastard that he was, but she was so quick to believe that absolute worst of Gavin without a second thought.

Again, I loved this book, finished it in a day. I can't stop thinking about this story and what's going to happen next. I'm on pins and needles until Pulse comes out!!

 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Dark Romance Giveaway!!!






I'm getting really anxious for the release of CJ Robert's Epilogue to Caleb's and Livvie's story. If you're read both Captive In The Dark and Seduced In The Dark, you can read chapter one of Epilogue here: Epilogue Chapter 1 I'm so excited for this book, so I'm giving away a set of the e-books on Kindle! 


I am DYING for Convicted to come out! DYING! These two books mind effed the hell out of me, and I'm still not sure I've recovered. I've never felt more unbalanced in my entire life. How can you love and hate someone so passionately at the same time? I simply have to give this away. If you haven't read it, you're missing out!

Enter the raffle below, tell your friends, and check back for future giveaways!! 



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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Creamy Chicken Chowder


My husband, Derek, and I like to make soup on the weekends with the intent of it using it as our lunch throughout the week. For the past few months, he's been making a vegetable soup and it's been very good. However, it was getting rather repetitive and I kept finding myself going to the cafeteria at work at least once a week. Oops. I decided to change things up and make a different soup to throw into the mix. This is the first time I'm trying out this recipe. The following recipe was adapted from Taste of Home's Cream Cheese Chicken Soup. Cream Cheese Chicken Soup
I've made a few changes to tailor our tastes.

Ingredients List:
3 chicken breasts (I used Perdue's no hormone, no steroid added)
4 medium carrot, cut into slices
2 medium potatoes, cubed
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups of corn
Fat Free cream cheese (8oz)
2 cans low sodium chicken broth
1 TBSP butter
1 cup skim milk
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Any spice you want (black pepper and cayenne for me!)

Directions:

1.) Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken on baking sheet and put in the oven once it has preheated. Bake for 12 minutes on each side, ensuring that chicken is cooked all the way through.



2.) While the chicken is baking, you have plenty of time to wash and prepare your vegetables. I have a vegetable brush specifically for washing my vegetables. Make sure to get all the dirt and possible toxins off of the outer surface of your veggie. I cut my carrots about 1/6 of an inch thick, and I cubed my potatoes. Some people prefer to peel their potatoes, but I don't usually bother. If you prefer peeled, by all means, peel away! Then, I used my handy dandy slap-chop to chop up my onions. This is a solid method to prevent those pesky onion tears.



3.) At this point your chicken should be good to go. Cube the chicken into small pieces. Now we're ready to make the chowder!


4.) Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large pot on the stove. Once melted, add the chopped onion and sauté for several minutes, thoroughly coating the onion.


5.) Add the chicken broth, potatoes, and carrots to the pot. Bring the contents to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat, cover, and let it stew for fifteen-twenty minutes as the vegetables cook.
Derek was making Cincinnati chili in the pot next door :)


6.) Once the vegetables are tender it's time to add the chicken! In this step I also added black pepper from my pepper grinder to give it a little spice. Let the chicken soak in the mixture for a few minutes to thoroughly heat.


7.) Mix the milk and flour in a bowl until smooth. This will help thicken the chowder. Add to the pot, bring to a boil, all the while continuously stirring the soup. Once it it as a boil, let it sit for a few minutes until it has thickened. Keep stirring!!! Once it has thickened, reduce the heat to low.


8.) Cube the cream cheese and add to the pot. Continue stirring until all of the cheese is melted and mixed in.


9.) At this point, I thought the dish was rather bland. Not only do I like my books to have some spice, but my food needs heat, as well. I added more black pepper and some cayenne pepper to spice things up.

10.) This made six 1-cup servings, with a calorie count of 227 calories per serving.



Enjoy!!

Footnote: While getting my pot out, my grumpy cat, Nick found a hole and decided to explore under the cabinets. It took twenty minutes for him to get bored.