Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Welcome Dana Lynn to the Cafe

 Happy Wednesday everyone. I'm excited to welcome my "Killer Voice" sister, Dana Lynn, to the Cafe today. Dana sold to LIS with me back in 2014 when the editors ran their Search for a Killer Voice contest. Her 2nd book for LIS is out this month.

Please join me in giving a Yankee Belle welcome to Dana.




Thank Goodness for Teenagers and 4WD

 
Dana R Lynn here. I'm so happy that Cate Nolan invited me to be on Yankee Belle Cafe today.  I had a post all planned out, but then God got my attention. So, I'm going to focus on gratitude.


Like many of us, I live a busy life. I have three kids involved in various activities, a husband with a very demanding job, and I work full time.  Oh,  yeah,  and I have this writing thing.  I just accepted a three book contract with Love Inspired Suspense,  so I have deadlines.  (Yay!) Sometimes,  things get hectic.  Just a bit. And sometimes I forget to count my blessings.

Until yesterday.

Let me explain.  My hubby, wise man that he is, insisted I needed a vehicle with 4WD, so he bought an old pick-up truck.  It's not the most attractive thing,  and I have trouble getting in it (I'm only 4'10"). And for most of the winter, it has sat in our driveway. This past month we have been hammered with a couple of snow storms.  And now I love my old,  ugly,  plows-through-snow-like-butter truck. Then yesterday, we had the worst storm yet. My kids got a snow day.  Me?  I work in a different district and had to go to work.  That's when God showed me how blessed I was. My 16 year old (my nurturer) got up to make me a bagel and fix my lunch. Leftover lasagne, which I will tell you about in a bit. My varsity wrestler went out and started and cleaned off my car. And my 12 year old took care of the pets. Then they all said a prayer for my safe travel. I am so blessed!



So now to the lasagne. ..I am grateful for the ability to provide for and nourish my family. And I'm grateful that it's so easy to do. I love food that's easy and this recipe doubles well, so I can freeze half. Plus, it uses oven-ready noodles, so I don't have to pre-boil them.

Here's the recipe:
1 lb. Ground beef or sausage, cooked and drained
 

1 pint ricotta cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups  mozzarella cheese
Oven-ready noodles (12)
2 eggs
28 oz of spaghetti sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Mix ricotta,  1 cup of mozzarella,  1/4 cup of Parmesan, eggs and spice together.
Mix sauce and meat. Put 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 pan.  Top . With 4 noodles.  Top with half of cheeses mixture. Repeat process. Cover cheese with last 4 noodles. Cover with remaining sauce and then sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. 
Cover with double layer of aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour.  Yummy.










Oh...wait. I'm supposed say something about my book.  INTERRUPTED LULLABY is now on shelves.  I love this cover.  My sweet and silly hubby calls it Swingset Adventures.  Lol.



This is what it's about:
Maggie Slade's been on the run since witnessing her husband's murder, hiding from a killer who wants evidence he believes she has. A killer who was dressed as a LaMar Pond policeman.  And she'd better run fast,  because it's not just her life on the line -Maggie now had year - old twin babies. But then she's attacked again,  and rescued. .. by a LaMar Pond cop. Trusting Lieutenant Dan Willis is frightening.  Letting him take get back to LaMar Pond to find her husband's killer is terrifying.  But to protect her babies, she'll risk anything.  Even her life.  And as she draws closer to Dan and learns to trust again...she may even risk her heart.


I loved writing this story. And I'm again reminded of gratitude.  For even in the midst of danger, God provided for Maggie, giving her a worthy protector. Just like he used my children and husband to provide for me and show His awesome love.

I can't help but say God is good...all the time!




Cate here - I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm suddenly craving lasagna!

 

30 comments:

  1. Good morning. Welcome to the Cafe, Dana. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    I'm so glad your husband insisted on the truck. We got stuck in an unexpectedly bad snowstorm in Maine a few years back on Thanksgiving Eve. That's when my husband decided our next car had to have 4WD.

    I love the kindness of your children. What blessings for you.

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    1. They are such a blessing. And about the car...I hear you. Last year my little car became known as "Mom's off road vehicle" because it landed in a ditch several times.

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  2. Good morning Cate and Dana. First off, thank you Cate for introducing your sister. How fun to meet family and she sounds like a great sister.

    And Dana, welcome and thank you for sharing that yummy recipe. I love easy and leftovers. That will be perfect to cook up before speedbo and have on hand.

    And what a blessing to have such helpful children. Shows you are a great mother who taught them well. smile.

    Have fun today.

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    1. Hi Sandra,

      Thanks for stopping by. I need to correct the sister part. I didn't mean to give the impression that we were flesh and blood sisters (not that I'd mind at all. ;) ) Just that we all call ourselves the Killer Voice Sisters because we all sold together as a result of that contest.

      I'm so glad you mentioned Speedbo. I'm getting excited!

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    2. Sandra, I was just thinking - you got normal ingredients today, not my mish mash of odd mixes. :)

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    3. Sisters in spirit! I have so much enjoyed sharing this journey with such wonderful women. And I'm looking forward to Speedbo, too, Sandra.

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  3. Dana!!!! First, you gotta love an old 4 wheel drive truck like the one sitting in my driveway right now! Yowza, those are bulls in snow! And I'm glomming onto the recipe, my friend, because in times of winter storms, comfort foods make me comfortable!

    And I grin like a goof every time I see your book cover, and hear your growing good news! I am so happy for you and proud of you!

    Go you!!!!!

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    1. Hey Ruthy,

      I'm not sure whether to be envious of your snow or just be glad our incredible rainstorms are over. The rain we had yesterday was unbelievable. At one point I said to my husband, imagine if this was snow! Well, I guess we'd look like your yard if it had been.

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    2. I never thought I would be a pick up girl, but I am!

      Thanks for all your support!

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  4. Oh, yes, you are blessed with those children! And I love lasagna -- a real comfort food for sure especially on a cold, wintry day. Looking forward to reading Interrupted Lullaby -- it's on the top of my toppling TBR pile!

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    1. Kav, I'm amazed you still have internet with all that snow!

      It sure does look pretty. I hope you have someone to plow it for you.

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    2. I am too! LOL They actually cancelled school buses again today -- never done that before -- two days in a row. But the roads are a mess. Buses are still stuck all over the city blocking traffic. We got articulated buses from Georgia and they weren't made for snow. They are jack-knifed all over the place. LOL

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    3. My kids had a five day weekend because of the snow. They were scheduled to be off Friday and Monday. Tuesday was a surprise.

      Snow days are good times to catch up on the important stuff...like your TBR pile, or current WIP:)

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  5. Well, I'm envious of everyone's snow, Mary Cate.

    DANA!!!! Welcome to the Yankee-Belle. So glad you're here. Congrats on the contract, not to mention those great kiddos of yours.

    Your truck sounds like a beast. Just what you need when Old Man Winter comes a callin'. Bless your husband for looking out for your best interests.

    Now about that lasagna. How did you know I've been craving lasagna? You just upped that craving. Now I'm going to have to make some. Thank goodness I finally found some Dreamfields lasagna noodles.

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    1. Right, Mindy? Except I didn't even know I was craving lasagna until I read this post. Won't my husband be happy. :)

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    2. Thanks for the congrats. And I'm happy to brag on my kids every chance I get. They make my life so much brighter.

      My husband asks me to make two things every month...lasagna and meat loaf. Not chili, though. I gave up on chili and let him make it. It's for the best, really.

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  6. Hi Dana! It's so good to see you here :)

    First of all - I need your truck! Ours is slowly building itself in our savings account. I can't wait to use it to travel some of our back roads in the Black Hills. With our van, we have to stay on the primary and secondary roads...the other ones tend to have gullies down the middle of them. 4WD and high clearance is a must! Oh, yes - it will also be useful during blizzards and snow days. I get to work from home, but my husband HAS to get to work.

    And the lasagna - it looks so good and easy. A great dish for Speedbo and deadlines.

    Speaking of deadlines, congratulations on the three book contract! Yay!!!!

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    1. We're making do with our (old) Volvo on that same plan, Jan. I think I'll be sad to give up this station wagon though.

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    2. Nuh uh. No one gets my truck. It is a beast, and I love it.

      I agree about the lasagna being a great dish for Speedbo. I have my outline, and my character chart, and my planning out of the way. Gonna get my freezer packed with ready to cook meals 'cuz this girl is going to hit the ground running coming Speedbo. Or skating, if there is still snow on the ground.

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  7. DANA!!!! Your book looks great and your lasagna amazing. I vote I eat this tonight and read your book!! Leftovers are a good thing. No cooking the next night.

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    1. Are you cooking? When can we arrive?

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    2. Aww, thanks Tina. I was actually thinking about your fantastic Seekerville post from yesterday this afternoon. The part about trusting our voices and not letting others change it. Actually, so many things resonated with me. I love that I have access to so many of the authors that I have read and admired for so long, right here!

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  8. Dana, welcome! This looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing.

    I'm still celebrating your contract!! Woo hoo!! And also have to say I'm amazed at your dear children! Mine would have been in bed sleeping. :)

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    1. Hi, Missy.

      My oldest is pretty good about helping shovel out the car after a storm, but you're right. During the blizzard she was driving her sister down from Maine. That took some doing. Fortunately her rental van did have 4WD.

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    2. Thanks Missy. I'm still a bit shocked, but celebrating every bit of it.

      Actually, I was amazed at my kiddoes too, but they are amazing kids.

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  9. Hi Dana! And now I want to make lasagna! I just made enchiladas yesterday. I think I better wait a day or two so we can detox from all the cheese... and start over. :D YUMMY!

    Congrats on your three book deal (and deadlines!) and so glad your snowstorm had a happy ending.

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  10. Enchiladas...now those I haven't made in a long time. Hmmm. I think I must dig out a recipe for that next:)

    Thanks for the congrats. It's a whole different feeling, writing with editor deadlines instead of the self-imposed kind. But I tend to work better and be more focused with deadlines.

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    1. I do, too. AS much as I'd like to say I'm a great self-motivator, I never take a deadline seriously until I tell people about it. "This book will be done January 10th" is a lot less important when it's only in my head. When I make an announcement, it changes everything!

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  11. Dana, your kids sound amazing. Such a blessing.

    Now on to the lasagna. I'm an awful cook, it looks great and the pics made me hungry. In my book mixing multiple items is tricky.

    So excited about your three book contract. I love your writing.

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  12. Hi Terri! I'm not a master chef myself. So I love this recipe cause it's easy-peasy.

    Super excited about the contract. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement!

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