Tag Archives: Patrice Wilton

WELCOME TO NIGHT LIGHTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE

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I am fortunate enough to live in the beautiful and warm state of Florida, and had the pleasure of meeting up in St. Augustine with a friend from our days in elementary school, which was not far from Vancouver, Canada. Sixty years have passed and we both have lost our husbands. Jacquie now lives in Phoenix and came to visit this week.

St. Augustine

Old Town of St. Augustine

As a special outing we drove to the magnificent old town of St. Augustine, the first European settlement in the United States, founded in 1565 by the brave and bold Spanish explorers. The beautiful and stately architecture was influenced by the founders—but who discovered the land first?

Pedro Menendez de Aviles was sent to Florida by King Philip of Spain in order to establish a center of operations from which to attack the French. Pedro may have the fame and glory, but in reality, he was not the first to discover this piece of land. Let’s give credit where credit is due.

La Florida is claimed

The first European known to have explored the coasts of Florida was the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. He ventured in 1513 as far north as the vicinity of the future St. Augustine. He believed it to be an island and named it “La Florida,” claiming it for the Spanish crown. Others had attempted to colonize the land before the founding of St. Augustine. But all attempts had failed.

So yes, I’m confused. While both men are recognized for being the adventurous explorers, Pedro seems to have the most credit. I won’t bore you further with the history, but I will let the photos speak for themselves. It truly is a wonder and gorgeous to see.

Here we are at the Christmas Night Lights at St. Augustine 2022.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING – AND YET A SAD ONE, TOO

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THANKSGIVING will be a different holiday this year. Although many can still celebrate with their family and friends, so many will not. It has been an extremely difficult year for most people—not only in America but around the world.

Thanksgiving

My heart breaks for all those who have suffered so greatly, with storm after storm, and Ian the worst Hurricane to ever hit Florida—devastating so many homes and families—ripping away their lives, their homes, their businesses, and for some, their hopes and dreams. Only a few days ago another hurricane, Nicole, made landfall on the east coast of Florida, destroying more homes and oceanfront. The beaches are being washed away.

I can’t imagine the pain of losing all your photos, all your special moments and memories, gone forever. Actually, I can. Unbearable pain. And yet, the citizens have plunged in to help each other, to rebuild what they can, keep their dreams alive, and refuse to be beaten.

How heroic is that? Around the world we see the same tragedies and atrocities and a very real danger, but the people come together and show compassion and a friendly hand in the worst of all times. Their resilience is to be admired, their strength and combined hope for a better world, a safer place for all to live in.

Hopefully, I haven’t depressed you all, and if I have, I’m sorry. Please enjoy this Thanksgiving and be grateful for all that you do have. Family, friends, neighbors, and your beloved pets are there to help lift you up.

Now, how about a nice Thanksgiving recipe to pick you up?

Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie

From AllRecipes—this top-rated cheesecake pie is shockingly easy to make with cream cheese and refrigerated crescent rolls.

Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie

Ingredients:
  • cooking spray
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups white sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla extract
  • 2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup honey
Directions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. Beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
  3. Unroll crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape each sheet into a 9×13-inch rectangle. Press one piece into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Evenly spread cream cheese mixture on top, then cover with remaining piece of crescent dough.
  4. Mash remaining 3/4 cup sugar, butter, and cinnamon with a fork until combined. Dot mixture over top of dough.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until crescent dough has puffed and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes.
  6. Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey. Cool completely in the pan for about 2 hours before cutting into 12 squares.
  7. ENJOY!

Here’s a romance series that is sure to brighten your day!

Serendipity Falls 3-book Set

This set is sold as an eBook Anthology for Kindle Readers. It is also available as a free read for Kindle Unlimited members.

The Value of Friendship by @PatriceWilton

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Value is a quality that provides worth to people. If you consider your friend a stock, value is the price you’d pay to buy the friendship. The value of friendship is priceless. It’s not something that can be bought or sold but can be given and shared with people who are dear to us. In times of need and celebration, our friends give us a shoulder to cry on and someone to celebrate with.

Friendship

Here are a few of my favorite quotes on friendship. Perhaps you have a few of your own.
  1. The value of friendship is that it is the most beautiful thing in our lives. A good friend may not be the same distance away, but they will always be convenient to reach.
  2. A friend knows all about you and still loves you. A friend thinks you are a good egg even though you are slightly cracked. That’s the value of friendship; thank you for being my friend.
  3. Friends accept each other as they are and delight in each other’s differences. Friendship has no measure or end; it cannot be quantified or reduced, like love. Friends will go through fire for each other; the value of friendship is worth more than gold.
  4. The value of true friendship is a rare and precious thing you can never pay too high a price.
  5. The value of friendship is not only to do things together but to share the happiness you experience. When someone in your life makes you feel that you truly matter, it’s friendship at its best.
  6. Being a good friend is just as important as being a good person. A true friendship is something that everyone needs, and it takes time to build up a strong one.

Take a moment to reflect on all the meaningful friendships you have now and in your past that made a difference in your life. It’s humbling, and I’m ever so grateful for each and every one, even though distance keeps us apart. Cherish those who have enriched your life. It really is the best thing in the world to have wonderful friends.

Author Billboard has many new collections added in the past few months and in the near future. Please check them out by clicking here. Books are also our friends.

No Friends as Loyal as a Book

2 Wonderful Recipes by @PatriceWilton

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Love to cook? I have two wonderful recipes from the Paradise Cove series. Enjoy!

The first recipe is perfect for company. It’s extra special and delicious.

Orange Pecan French Toast

Orange Pecan French Toast

Ingredients:

  • 12 slices French bread (1-inch-thick slices)
  • 1cup packed brown sugar
  • 1⁄3 cup butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1⁄3 cup chopped pecans
  • 1⁄2 cup nonfat milk
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange rind
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 large egg whites

Directions:

  1. Combine brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup; pour into the prepared baking dish.
  2. Sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over sugar mixture.
  3. In a bowl, combine milk, orange zest, granulated sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, whole eggs, and egg whites. Whip with a whisk until thoroughly combined.
  4. Arrange bread slices over pecans in dish. Pour egg mixture over bread.
  5. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to overnight.
  6. When ready to eat, preheat oven to 350°. Remove baking dish from refrigerator.
  7. Carefully turn bread slices over to absorb excess egg mixture.
  8. Let stand at room temperature while the oven preheats.
  9. Bake for 35 minutes or until lightly browned.

Classic Cuban-Style Picadillo

This is a classic Cuban picadillo recipe for ground beef that is typically eaten over white rice. It can also be used as a filling for tacos or empanadas. It’s delicious with fried ripe plantains.

Recipes

Prep: 10 mins – Cook: 20 mins – Total: 30 mins – Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • ½ green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced, or more to taste
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 6 large pitted green olives, quartered
  • ½ cup raisins
  • 1 tablespoon capers (optional)
  • 2 (1.41 ounce) packages Sazon seasoning (such as Goya®)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • salt to taste

Directions:

  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion, bell pepper, and garlic, onion in the hot oil until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add ground beef into the skillet; cook and stir until crumbly and completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes.
  3. Stir tomato sauce, olives, raisins, capers, cumin, Sazon seasoning, sugar, and salt into the ground beef mixture.
  4. Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and cook until the mixture is heated through, 5 to 10 minutes.

 

Both recipes sound great, don’t they? I hope you try one of them and let your family or friends enjoy something different this Fall.

My latest book, A RECIPE FOR DISASTER will be on KU by Friday, Sept. 23rd! It’s a fun, fast Romantic Comedy. It will be $.99 and I hope you give it a try!

 

A Recipe for Disaster

Available for Kindle readers Friday, Sept 23rd!