Friday, December 23, 2011

Reaching for the Stars!

Well, right about now, I reckon I'm probably lying comatose and pleasantly stupefied on a sofa, so I've taken the liberty of pre-scheduling this post. Luckily, Janice Horton is on hand! Take it away, Janice.


Janice Horton’s new novel ‘Reaching for the Stars’ is about a Scottish celebrity chef called Finn McDuff who is media stalked and disillusioned after winning his third star and losing his third wife. He decides he’s had enough of all the food campaigns, the TV cookery shows, the constant frenzy surrounding his private life and, after giving up all his accolades and closing down his restaurant, he disappears.

With the enfant terrible of the kitchen missing, two rival newspapers, having lost their media meal ticket, compete against each other to whip up further public curiosity in the missing chef.


 To celebrate both the launch of Reaching for the Stars and Christmas, Janice is sharing her special Scottish Christmas Cake recipe with us!

Scottish Christmas Cake Recipe

You'll need the following:

12oz Plain flour
1 Teaspoon mixed spice
24oz Mixed dried fruits
4oz Glace Cherries
8oz Butter
8oz Soft brown sugar
6 Eggs,
2oz Nuts
1 Tablespoon black treacle
1 bottle of whisky

Sample the whisky to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again. To be sure it's the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and beat again. Make sure the whisky is still OK. 

Cry another tup. Tune up the mixer. Beat two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fired druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it goose with a drewscriver. Sample the whisky to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares? Check the whisky. Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon the sugar or something. Whatever you can find. Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out of the window. Check the whisky again and go to bed.

Merry Christmas!

‘Reaching for the Stars’ is available in e-book format now at the special launch price of just 99p
Amazon UK: link to follow
Amazon US: link to follow

Links:
Janice Blogs at: www.janicehortonwriter.blogspot.com
Janice is a www.loveahappyending.com author
Follow her on Twitter @JaniceHorton
Facebook Author Page: http://on.fb.me/nbaWed
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com

About the author: Janice lives in Scotland and writes romantic novels with humour which are, for the most part, inspired by the beauty of the heather-filled glens around her country cottage. When Janice is not writing novels, she write lifestyle articles and has had work published in national and international magazines and regional newspapers. She edits The Review Chair for the innovative reader/writer website Loveahappyending.com and is also the bestselling author of humorous romance ‘Bagpipes & Bullshot’.

Thank you, Janice! And have a fantastic Christmas, everyone. 

25 comments:

  1. Wonderful recipe and book, thanks for sharing.

    Yvonne.

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  2. Nice recipe! Thanks for sharing :) Merry Christmas!!!

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  3. Hahahaha!*hic* That was hysterical! You got me...I was reading the recipe to perhaps make it. And REACHING FOR THE STARS sounds awesome! Merry Christmas!

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  4. Off I go to get more whisky!

    Huge congrats to Janice!! Happy Christmas! take care
    x

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  5. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Talli!!

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  6. Best wishes for much success with your book, and for a wonderful New Year too!

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  7. Love the recipe - I'll have to adapt it for use at one of my launches! xx

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  8. Hi. Have just treid out the cake resssipee Hic. Bootifully and moistt.
    Goes great with the boobk too. Hic Thank youu for sharring both.
    Good luck hic from Kit

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  9. Hic... greet reshi..hic...pe. Shanks for tharing. hic!

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  10. Just how does one make it through that recipe without getting completely hammered? Very funny!

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  11. Now that is a brilliant recipe! I'm falling about laughing!

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  12. I think I've had that cake! It was yummy!!! Thanks Janice!

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  13. I love Christmas cake but have never got around to attempting to make my own. I think it's better off that way to be honest!

    I've downloaded Janices book and look forward to reading it.

    Happy Christmas Talli!

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  14. Now there's a unique recipe.

    Happy Holidays!

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  15. I do believe a few of my Scottish great anuts and uncles used to follow that recipe fairly closely... :P

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  16. Thank you for all your lovely comments and thanks to Talli for hosting me at what is the end of my 'Reaching for the Stars' Blog Tour. I hope those of you who bought the e-book enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

    Merry Christmas and a happy Hogmanay from here in Scotland!

    Love, Janice xx

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  17. I love this!

    I'd have to save the whiskey for anyone who was going to eat my cooking. Maybe the alcohol would stave off the salmonella....

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  18. Christmas is near! May we all have a white and festive Christmas!

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  19. Loved the recipe! I think I'd be on the floor with all the whiskey and the cake would never make it to the oven!

    Happy Holidays!

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  20. Well, I'll be keeping this recipe for next year - cheated this year and bought one.... about to try it later today! Fabulous post again - well done Janice and Talli!

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  21. Bravo, BRAVO!!! This was at once amusing, but also reminded me of a book called to my attention by a friend who similarly wanted his anonymity back called "Exit the Rainmaker" or some such. It is a true story! Great post! :)

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  22. Sample the whiskey...haha! Great fun reading this post. Best of luck with "Reaching for the Stars" book sales!

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  23. LOL! I love that recipe, so fun. I think I'll have to try it to unwind from all the holiday craziness. Best of luck to Janice with her book, it sounds excellent.

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  24. Thanks for all the lovely comments about the cake recipe (te-he!) and Reaching for the Stars!

    Janice xx

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Coffee and wine for all!