How far would you go if you thought you were losing the love
of your life?
That’s the question I came up with that started this story.
I was invited to join an anthology, and I went over the themes and plots of
several other stories, all of which were really good. The idea was to release a
book for Mother’s Day that would resonate with moms, grandmothers, and women in
general. I’d never actually written women’s fiction before, but I knew how I
would answer this question for myself: as far as it took to save my marriage.
Then I had to come up with ideas that would drive wedges
between a husband and a wife. Secrets. Misunderstandings. Overwork. Health
concerns.
And thus was born Zero Guilt Calories.
Along the way, I needed a recipe with zero—or close
to—calories, and no sugar, because my main character developed an aversion to
sugar. Most inconvenient for her, as she owns a bakery. So I found a recipe and
swapped out calories and ingredients. Took me three tries before I came up with
the one I include in the book.
Here’s a little about the story:
Christina MacAulay enjoys baking up special treats for her
customers at Sweet Tooth Cupcakes. But when her husband stays out late several
times a week and won’t explain what’s going on, she becomes suspicious he might
have a floozy on the side. Well, she’ll fix him—she’ll have her own affair.
But first, to lose that extra ten baby pounds from when her
now twenty-three-year-old son was born.
As a baker and businesswoman, she spends far too much time
at her bakery, taste-testing new creations to make certain they are fit to eat.
If she could come up with a new recipe with minimal—or even zero calories—she’d
not only slim down, she’d also have something nobody else has.
James MacAulay is happily married and has been for almost
thirty-five years. And he wants to celebrate that milestone with his wife
Christina. He sets out to plan a special anniversary surprise for her, but
first, he needs to get more active. A career in banking didn’t exactly retain
his previously youthful physique.
But when Christina becomes distant, cold, and acts
suspicious, hovering when he answers his cell, peeking into his messages,
hacking into his email, and spending hours with the chemist who lives two doors
down, he wonders what’s gotten into her.
Maybe he should rethink his plan.
Perhaps she’s not as happily married as he thinks.
Or maybe she’s doing something she shouldn’t.
Can Christina get to the bottom of her husband’s change of
behavior? Does she really want to?
And can James figure out what’s going on with Christina? If
he does, will that really make things better?
You can check out the entire anthology here and purchase for
one low price: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Sprinkles-Collection-Jennifer-Miller-ebook/dp/B09KTB32B3
And here’s the recipe I came up
with:
Almost Zero Guilt Calorie Muffins
Ingredients:
·
1
cup oat bran
·
2
cups shredded raw carrot
·
1/2
cup monkfruit dry sweetener or 1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated) DO
NOT USE SPLENDA FOR BAKING
·
1/2
cup apple sauce
·
2
tsp. pumpkin pie spice or cake spice
·
1/2
tsp cinnamon
·
1/8
tsp salt
·
1/2
Tbsp Baking Powder
·
3
Tbsp liquid egg white
Directions:
·
Preheat
oven to 450 degrees.
·
Spray
muffin pan with non-stick spray of choice. Or line with muffin cups. May also
use butter and flour if you prefer.
·
Shred
carrots. Drain on paper towel to dry liquid.
·
In
a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients well. May use electric beater.
·
Pour
batter into muffin pan. Don’t overfill the cups. Should be about 3/4 full.
·
Bake
in oven 30 minutes. Will be browned on top and around edges.
·
Allow
to cool slightly before removing from pan.
·
Best
eaten immediately.
NOTE: recipe adapted
at 5,200 ft. altitude. Adjust as needed.
Makes 8 servings, about 5 ounces of
veggies. Around 40 calories each.
About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 50 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both.
www.DonnaSchlachter.com Stay
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Check out previous blog posts at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com
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Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=donna+schlachter
Etsy
online shop of original artwork: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dare2DreamUS
1 comment:
Mrs. Donna Schlachter is a awesome writer. I'm a big fan. All her books look great. I loved A Pink Lady Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Three, Book 3. Thank you for sharing.
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