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In My Kitchen

Not-So-Plain Vanilla Cupcake Desserts

Looking for a quick, simple, and cool dessert that gives you many options at a moment’s notice? Simple vanilla cupcakes are one of my fav...

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Q&A: Karen Dionne

We think of nature as beautiful, life affirming, and inspiring. However, Karen Dionne, author of the No. 1 international bestseller, The ...

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Lafitte’s Best

While in Galveston, I went on a quest to find the perfect pirates’ punch. Although pirates have a reputation of just drinking rum straigh...

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Q&A: Peter James

When the Charterhouse school poetry prize was won in 1967 by teenager named Peter James, the real winner was the reading public. Today, h...

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Author Q&A: Liv Constantine

One of the scariest lines ever seen on a book jacket comes courtesy of Liv Constantine’s The Wife Stalker: It says, “All She Wants is the...

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The Librarian Did It

Librarians have a lot to answer for. It’s because of them I embarked on a life of crime. Growing up in a tiny, rural South Texas farming ...

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Q&A: Steven James

How does a former children’s entertainer and professional storyteller become a bestselling author of adult suspense? Being a “natural bor...

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El Dorado Taco Salad

While Covid–19 has meant that we can’t get out to all our favorite Mexican restaurants when we’d like, we can still enjoy many of those d...

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Summer Staycation Reads

Great stories from Catriona McPherson, Charles Finch, Jess Montgomery and Anne Perry Although we’re all trying to stay at home as much as...

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Lemon Curd

I take great joy in hosting afternoon tea parties. One staple of a tea party is, of course, lemon curd. I found this recipe years ago, an...

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Q&A: Allison Brennan

A chat with thriller author Allison Brennan obliterates writers’ excuses about not having time to exercise their craft. The New York Time...

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Life’s a Shell Game

We live in a world that strives for perfection. The fashion, business and technology, cosmetics, lifestyles and, of course, sports indust...

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The Gift of Kindness

We spend our lives accumulating. This collecting is an essential part of our memory-building process. There are items from school activit...

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Tell Me No Lies

As soon as I finished Ask Me No Questions by New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble, I was left begging for more of her sassy he...

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Roasted Red Bell Pepper Alfredo Sauce

This sauce is one of my favorites, and a nice take on traditional Alfredo sauce. Although here I’ve used prepared red bell peppers, fresh...

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Q&A: Helen Fields

If you love to read scary serial killer characters and terrific detective fiction, Helen Fields’ chilling Perfect series is reason to cel...

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Rio Enchilada Sauce

Living in Texas, Mexican food–technically “TexMex” after we put our Tejas spin on it–is a staple in our family’s diet. Enchiladas are alw...

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The Bucket Woman

I’m a huge fan of the 1990s British sitcom “Keeping Up Appearances,” starring Patricia Routledge as consummate social climber Hyacinth Bu...

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Q&A: Lesley Thomson

Fans of Lesley Thomson’s The Detective’s Daughter series have another reason to celebrate. Thomson’s new novel, Death of a Mermaid, her t...

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Rosemary Havarti Bread

Havarti is one of my favorite cheeses, delicious in recipes or sliced to snack on. I was delighted when I found this recipe. It’s easy, a...

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Q&A: Taking the Mystery Out of Writing

Number one New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George is sharing with readers her insight into novel crafting in Mastering the Pr...

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Q&A: Characters Matter

Deborah Crombie’s New York Times bestselling series featuring Scotland Yard’s Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James continues to delight. Her la...

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Tale of the Catchy Phrase

April is a lovely and distinctive month in the Dallas. Lawns are shedding their winter doldrums and treating everyone to the beauty of re...

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Pear Upside Down Cake

This recipe is sure to impress your family and friends. However, don't be fooled - it's actually very easy. And delicious. 1 ½ cup self-r...

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