Waldorf Salad with Persimmon and Pear by Taylor Lee

I hope you had as wonderful a Thanksgiving as I did. All four of my grandsons, my middle glorious daughter and my Special Guy were there! The food was fabulous. And a lot of it. Calories in the thousands. But my salad brought a glorious splash of color. One of the boys asked, “What are those orange things?” They were persimmons! Enjoy this fabulous salad. P.S Rather than the dressing they suggested, I drizzled a splash of Balsamic Glaze. Perfect! Recipe courtesy of The Washington Post.

Waldorf Salad

Modern Waldorf Salad with Persimmon and Asian Pear

Bright, textural, satisfying and beautiful, here’s a colorful, composed salad for your next cold-weather gathering. Let the persimmons ripen until soft but not squishy. Use crisp apples with a bright red peel. If Asian pears are unavailable, substitute a ripe but still firm Bosc pear. Mache, also known as “lamb’s lettuce,” is a winter salad green, vegetal and tender. If you can’t find it, use tender young spinach leaves instead. Compose this salad on a pretty platter or toss with dressing and serve in a wide bowl. If mayonnaise is a no-go in your household, swap in full-fat yogurt for a similar dressing.

The dressing can be shaken together 1 day ahead. The nuts can be toasted up to 2 days ahead. Otherwise, the ingredients should be cut up and served within a couple of hours, or the fruit will brown.

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise or full-fat yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups (2 ounces) mache or torn baby spinach leaves
  • 2 Pink Lady or Fuji apples, cored, halved and sliced 1/8-inch thick
  • 2 Asian pears, cored, halved and sliced 1/8-inch thick
  • 4 Fuyu persimmons, each cut into 8 wedges
  • 2 ruby red grapefruit, peeled, seeded and sectioned
  • 6 red radishes, thinly sliced
  • 4 stalks celery, diced
  • 1/4 cup (1 ounce) feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup (1 1/2 ounces) pomegranate arils
  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) toasted walnuts, roughly chopped (Instead I used Pistachios and Sweet and Spicey Pecans)
Directions:
  1. In a small jar with a lid, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice and black pepper. Cover and shake until combined.
  2. Place the mache or spinach on a large, wide platter. Arrange the apple, pear, persimmon, grapefruit, radishes and celery on top of the mache. Crumble the feta over the salad and scatter with the pomegranate arils.
  3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad (or serve it on the side) and top with the toasted walnuts. Serve right away.

Now that Thanksgiving is a done deal, it’s time to turn our attention to Christmas! And what better way to dive into the Christmas season than to grab the collection my ABB friends and I wrote to bring in the season. Irresistible Scrooges acknowledges what a challenge Christmas can be–until it isn’t!

Irresistible Scrooges

 

Irresistible Scrooges

My book in the collection is:

Nothing Good Happens After Midnight

Nothing  Good Happens After Midnight 

Prequel: Bah Humbug 

By Taylor Lee

  • The brazen detective crashes the emergency room determined to her question her dying agent.
  • The new head of the ER stops her at the door.
  • Their antagonism aside, the arrogant physician and the brash detective agree.
  • Christmas is the worst holiday of the year.

 

 

Why I’m Thankful by Taylor Lee

I know, I know. We’re not supposed to talk about politics. Someone might be offended or angry. For better or worse, I’m a political being. Always have been. My various degrees are all associated with Public Policy, Politics, International Relations, etc. I am not a partisan. In one election I voted for a Republican for Congress, a Democrat for the U. S. Senate and an Independent for governor. Because of that I faced the November midterm election with fear and a heavy heart. To say that I was relieved and thankful is an understatement. No one can echo my feelings of profound relief better than the inimitable Thomas Friedman, NYT opinion columnist. I’ll let him speak for himself:

“I always enjoy Thanksgiving, but I’m particularly going to savor this year’s in light of the midterm elections. They surfaced something beautiful and decent and vitally important in the soul of the nation. It was a readiness to defend the core of our democracy — our ability to peacefully and legitimately transfer power — when it was under imminent threat.

Had we lost our commitment to the solemn obligation that one party smoothly hands off power to another, we’d be totally lost as a country today. But instead, democracy was reaffirmed. Enough Americans — principled Republicans, Democrats and independents — sorted through their ballots and rejected almost all of the high-profile election deniers for major state and federal offices.

In “using the tools of democracy to protect democracy,” as Vox put it, they reconnected the country with something deep in our heritage — that losers concede gracefully and move on, and winners win gracefully and govern. In celebration of that tradition, I offer these readings for your Thanksgiving table:

Dec. 13, 2000, Al Gore’s concession speech after the Supreme Court effectively handed the 2000 election to George W. Bush:

“Good evening. Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States. … Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency: ‘Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I’m with you, Mr. President, and God bless you.’ Well, in that same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country. Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road. Certainly, neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came, and now it has ended, resolved, as it must be resolved, through the honored institutions of our democracy. …

“The U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court’s decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome, which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession. I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally, to honor the new president-elect and do everything possible to help him bring Americans together in fulfillment of the great vision that our Declaration of Independence defines and that our Constitution affirms and defends. …

“This is America, and we put country before party; we will stand together behind our new president. … As for the battle that ends tonight, I do believe, as my father once said, that ‘no matter how hard the loss, defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out. …’

“And now, my friends, in a phrase I once addressed to others: It’s time for me to go.”

Dec. 13, 2000, George W. Bush’s speech accepting Al Gore’s concession:

“Vice President Gore and I put our hearts and hopes into our campaigns. We both gave it our all. We shared similar emotions, so I understand how difficult this moment must be for Vice President Gore and his family. He has a distinguished record of service to our country as a congressman, a senator and a vice president. This evening I received a gracious call from the vice president. We agreed to meet early next week in Washington, and we agreed to do our best to heal our country after this hard-fought contest.

“Tonight, I want to thank all the thousands of volunteers and campaign workers who worked so hard on my behalf. I also salute the vice president and his supporters for waging a spirited campaign. And I thank him for a call that I know was difficult to make. …

“I have something else to ask you, to ask every American. I ask for you to pray for this great nation. I ask for your prayers for leaders from both parties. I thank you for your prayers for me and my family, and I ask you to pray for Vice President Gore and his family.”

In his memoir “A Promised Land,” President Barack Obama recalled six words that he shared with his staff on April 27, 2011, after holding a news conference at the White House announcing the release his long-form birth certificate to end the bogus but distracting claims by “carnival barkers,” that he was not born in the U.S.:

“I exited through the sliding doors that led back into the communications team’s offices, where I encountered a group of junior members of our press shop who’d been watching my remarks on a TV monitor. They all looked to be in their 20s. Some had worked on my campaign; others had only recently joined the administration, compelled by the idea of serving their country. I stopped and made eye contact with each one of them.

“‘We’re better than this,’ I said. ‘Remember that.’”

And yes, now we can remember that and joyfully surround our Thanksgiving table confident that the great country we live in has once again confirmed that while we may disagree, the majority of us believe that our strength as a nation rests on our belief “that losers concede gracefully and move on, and winners win gracefully and govern.”

Now that we have eaten ourselves silly on Thanksgiving we can turn to Christmas.  And what better way than to grab our latest Author Billboard Christmas treat:

Irresistible – Unexpected Christmas 

Thankful

Click here to buy this bundle.

My book in the collection is:

A Christmas Reunion

Not all Christmas reunions have sugar plum fairies dancing in their heads.

Some include murder.

Pleasure of Reading

Did you know that on the list of the most popular hobbies, reading is number one?Pleasures of Reading

Not surprising to me. I was one of those kids who started reading before I even got to kindergarten, and I haven’t stopped since.

As author George R.R. Martin said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before dying. One who never reads lives only one.”

Aside from the pleasure reading gives, apparently sharing in the lives of the characters in a book helps increase our ability to empathize with others and supports emotional development.

Reading is Good for the Brain

One study suggests a regular reading habit helps develop neural networks. Reading increases our ability for complex thinking. And it strengthens the brain against things like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

There is even a system of bibliotherapy where a psychologist recommends certain books for patients to read to help them work through certain life issues. I know they sure help me.

The news of the world can be harsh and upsetting. My favorite escape is to treat myself to a good book. A romance with a satisfying, swoon-worthy happily ever after!

If you are looking for a bundle of great reads to escape with as we head into autumn, check out Irresistible—Fall into Romance.

Fall Into Romance

Spring Into Love by @AliciaStreet1

Do you believe in love at first sight? Your eyes meet his, and just like that, you know you might have met THE ONE.

I am a firm believer. You see, I experienced love at first sight myself. And my husband and I have been married for many happy years.

Love at first sight is the running theme of the latest multi-author boxed set in the Irresistible series.

IRRESISTIBLE ~ SPRING INTO LOVE

Eight brand new steamy stories from New York Times, USA Today bestselling, award-winning authors.

Spring Into Love

TWO HEARTS IN RETREAT by Tamara Ferguson, USA Today Bestselling Author. Mel’s an R.N., and Steve’s an ex-Navy medic and physical therapist. Although they’re instantly attracted, they’ve both suffered incredible loss. Will they ever be healed enough to stop their sparring and finally admit that the attraction they’re fighting just might be love?

BELIEVE IN ME by Natalie Ann, USA Today Bestselling Author. Caden Finely discovers that having it all isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But the sexy nurse who treats him makes it all better for a man who never believed in love, let alone love at first sight.

BAYOU MARDI GRAS by Suzanne Jenkins, USA Today Bestselling Author. When Maggie Angel’s friend Katrina, visits Cypress Cove during Mardi Gras, her intention is to get a little R & R. But a fisherman’s boat runs aground near Maggie’s dock and his presence changes everything for Katrina when romance is added to that rest and relaxation.

THE SHERIFF’S TROUBLE by Cynthia Cooke, USA Today Bestselling Author. Witness to her best friend’s brutal murder, Callie must remember who the killer is to stop him from coming after her again.

WINDSWEPT LOVERS by Alicia Street, USA Today Bestselling Author. Who says being a wallflower doesn’t have its perks? Max Tribane always preferred being in the background, and her job keeping things going behind the scenes for a successful mover and shaker like Ashley Welz is the perfect fit—until they both fall for the same guy.

SAILING AWAY PLANS by Mona Risk, New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author. Lonely and frustrated by his grownup children, surgeon and widower, Dr. Steve Winston quits work to start a new life in the Caribbean, on his new boat and in a new clinic, when love strikes at the wrong time, and his kids rush in to keep him company.

THE SEAL’S TEMPTATION by Jacquie Biggar, USA Today Bestselling Author. A right-wing militia group infiltrates the area. But will DEA Agent Maggie Holt and her partner be able to set aside their differences to stop them before someone dies?

WHISKEY COBBLER by Jen Talty, USA Today Bestselling Author. Crew’s detective skills might be rusty, but he doesn’t have cobwebs for brains. And Heather was about as guilty as sky was pink.

So go out and enjoy the spring sunshine—then Spring into Love! Sink into your favorite reading chair and get lost in a fresh bouquet of romance.