Tag: marmalade

Happy Valentine Weekend Everyone
Uncategorized

Happy Valentine Weekend Everyone

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Spring is on the way; evenings are getting lighter and there are warmer days to look forward to. In the UK we are still in a very strict Lockdown and for many this is tough, with a knock-on effect that complicates so many aspects of our lives. But the Covid19 vaccine is rolling out and there is light at the end of the tunnel. I wish all of you a safe and healthy journey through these difficult days and have included some treats below.

Thank you

Firstly, welcome to all the lovely new subscribers this month. It is great to have you onboard and I hope you enjoy these newsletters. 

Congratulations

A very big congratulations to new subscriber Tina Downs who has won a signed copy of Boomerville at Ballymegille and it is winging its way to you now. I hope that you enjoy reading all about Hattie and the gang at the new Boomerville in Ireland and sharing some of their shenanigans!

Grab a romantic read

My debut novel Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me is FREE to download all weekend on Amazon.

This is the first in a series and shot to #3 in Women’s Fiction when first published. Set in lovely Cumbria it was E-book of the week in The Sun Newspaper and their review included: “A strong plot with likable characters make it a great feel-good 5 star read.”

To grab your free copy use the link below:

Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me

Marmalade

I’ve been making marmalade this weekend while Seville oranges are in season and am trying a new recipe that will use truffles. The marmalade is to be eaten with savoury dishes so I am intrigued to see the results.  Seville oranges make the most wonderful marmalade and although it takes time to prepare them, the results are worth it.

Competition

This month the competition give-a-way is a signed copy of The Best Boomerville Hotel plus a box of delicious chocolates to dip into as you read. Simply head over to my Facebook Page to enter, saying why you would like to win the book or email me here: caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk  This is open internationally, so please do enter. Good luck!

Win The Best Boomerville Hotel & Chocolates

Chocolate Cake

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without chocolate – why not bake a gorgeous chocolate cake and indulge. Here’s my recipe for a rich and delicious cake. The recipe uses a lot of eggs but gives a lovely light sponge that keeps well.

Caroline’s Best Ever Chocolate Cake

FREE

Don’t forget that if you are in Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime, you can read my books for FREE. The link is below.

http://mybook.to/BABE

Wishing you a wonderful February

Happy reading

With love

Caroline xx

Uncategorized

Mothers Day, Marmalade, Books and a Recipe

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Its Mother’s Day this weekend in the UK and like our friends across the world (who celebrate the day in May), today won’t be a day spent with family, friends or loved ones. The Coronavirus is affecting everyone and it is a very strange time for all of us, wherever we live.

DA6D9910-93CD-4190-AC1F-D73C428E2394

#StayStrongTogether is a great hashtag on social media and little acts of kindness that are taking place are bringing us together as communities. Remember the elderly and the isolated during the weeks ahead and help out wherever you can; even a phone call can make a huge difference. All my talks, guest speaker events, book signings etc are now cancelled for the months ahead and I will use the spare time to make some calls, keep in touch and up my writing and also hope that my books will sell online.

C359A1AD-73BF-45BD-B1D4-C5A091FA6D48

BOOK

My new book Hattie Goes To Hollywood is on promotion this weekend, so if you are stuck inside grab yourself a feel-good read and escape for a few hours with super sleuth Hattie and the shenanigans of British village life in Hollywood – a little place nestling in the beautiful Lake District hills where murder and mystery abound. Hattie Goes To Hollywood is only 99p / $1.30 whilst on promo.

FUN

BD956DC8-387C-4906-A2E2-1DC4D37FA047_1_201_a

It’s the little things in life at the moment that are giving a lot of joy. I entered three pots of marmalade into the Dalemain UK Marmalade Festival which was to be held last weekend but was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. I’ve never entered before and more or less forgot about it. Imagine my pleasure when the post came yesterday and I learnt that I’d won a silver certificate and a merit! A big thank you to the judges.

RECIPE

BANANA BREAD

An easy and inexpensive recipe for you in this newsletter is my lovely Canadian daughter-in-law’s delicious banana bread. If you have bananas on the fruit dish that are dark and need eating, mash them together with a few store-cupboard ingredients and you will have a tasty treat for your tea today. A tip – don’t throw away dark or discoloured bananas, pop them in the freezer and use whenever you fancy making this recipe. You can cut down on the sugar content as freezing bananas seems to make them sweeter. Enjoy!

Ashley’s Banana Bread

4 mashed bananas / 2 eggs / 1 ¾ cups Self Raising Flour1 ½ cups white sugar / 1 ½ cups veg oil / ¼ cup milk

1 teaspoon baking powder / I teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients, mix well and pour batter into 2 loaf tins (greased & lined)

Bake at 170 C / 325 F until golden brown

Note: any cup size as long as uniform throughout

USA: If using plain flour double the baking powder

Take great care of yourselves in these difficult times, please keep safe and stay healthy

Sending love to you and yours

Caroline xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES

New Books in a banner

 

Uncategorized

Marriage, Murders & Marmalade

Caroline James Author6 Comments

It’s nearly the end of January and longest month of the year has flown by. For me, January has been busy following a hectic end to 2019.

CELEBRATIONS

E & C

I am so happy to share something special. I got married! It was a Christmas wedding with close family and the day was for us, absolutely perfect. My lovely hubby and I tied the knot and started the new year as husband and wife. Second time round for us both, at a time in our lives when neither ever imagined being in a relationship, let alone being married. So, dear friends, never think it’s too late to begin again in whatever you do from work, relationships and adventures. My life has changed completely since I walked out of my previous life and began again, and remember, as my mum always said, ‘The time to be happy, is now.’

BOOK NEWS

THREE COVERS

Some big news for me is that I have a new book on the way! I’ve changed direction a little and decided to write a new series of mysteries. Hattie Goes To Hollywood is the first in the series and will be published on February 14th. You can pre-order at the pre-publication discounted price here:

Hattie Goes To Hollywood

The book will be available as an e-book, paperback and audio. Click the link below to hear me talking about the inspiration behind the book:

Caroline talks about Hattie Goes To Hollywood

Caroline and HGTH

When recently bereaved Hattie Mulberry inherits her aunt’s dilapidated cottage in the village of Hollywood in Cumbria, she envisages a quiet life. But retired hotelier Hattie is bored and when her neighbour asks her to investigate a suspicious suicide, Hattie’s career takes a new direction and H&H Investigations is born.

During the hottest summer on record, Hattie discovers there have been three recent suicides in Hollywood and she determines to find out why. Temperatures rise as she throws herself into village life and, with mischief and shenanigans aplenty, Hattie has her work cut out. But will she establish the truth?

Early reviews are super, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that Hattie Goes To Hollywood will soar up the charts and inspire me to write many more in the series.

review rachels random reads

MARMALADE

Seville oranges are in season and I have been making marmalade. There are so many recipes for marmalade on the internet or in your favourite cookbook and I think that it is great to experiment and discover what tastes work for you. Test and try out different flavours. I added earl grey tea to a dark marmalade, and it is delicious. In a lime and lemon recipe, I included concentrated ginger cordial and it has a really warm, zesty bite. Have a look at this little video, where I talk about marmalade:

Caroline’s Marmalades

MARMALADE 5

There is an annual marmalade awards event in the UK, at Dalemain House in Cumbria, each March. Details are below and entries come from all over the world.

If you want to try your hand at being an award-winning marmalade maker, get your entry in by 2nd February. It attracts many visitors to see all the marmalades, plus demonstrations and fun events over the weekend of 14th & 15th March.

MARMALADE FESTIVAL 2020

COMING NEXT MONTH

A competition to win this gorgeous cuddly, ‘Drake the Duck,’ who features in Hattie Goes To Hollywood.

WIN A DRAKE HGTH

Until then, lovely readers and friends,

Stay safe, look after yourselves

&

Happy reading,

With love,

Caroline xx

CAROLINE JAMES AUTHOR

New Books in a banner