Last-Minute Gift Idea, Guest Blogger and Mulled Holiday Cider

Christmas is just a few days away, so I have a special treat for you today. Lee McKenzie, of Victoria, BC, is sharing her favorite Christmas recipe with us, as well as her newly published romance, The Christmas Secret. If you have a girlfriend you'd still like to pick up a gift for, check out the romance section at Chapters or go online for an ebook. Here's a taste of what Lee's newest book is about.

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT WITH A HIDDEN PAST

AJ Harris needs to leave town, before his past sneaks up on him in the form of a tool-belt-wearing beauty who also happens to be the mother of his child. Fate has other plans when AJ inadvertently hires Samantha Elliott to renovate and sell his grandmother's old house. Now he has to hide the truth - he secretly adopted the child Sam abandoned three years ago.

Only, AJ can't prevent the bond between mother and child. When he learns the selfless reasons behind Sam's actions, including his own father's deceit, AJ's secret becomes a burden he can't keep. But will Sam forgive him for having their son all this time? Or will one little boy's love bring together a family...just in time for Christmas?

Quick interview with Lee:

L: Hi, Kemala! Thank you so much for inviting me to be a guest on your blog today. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and gathering my family around the dinner table is my favorite art of the holiday.

K: Mine, too, without a doubt. Now, am I correct - this is your fifth published book? Have all of them been with Harlequin American Romance?

L: Yes, The Christmas Secret is my fifth book for Harlequin. Writing for the American Romance line is a perfect fit for me because it's classic contemporary romance - two people meeting, or meeting again, and falling in love, with a strong focus on family and community.

K: Was there something in real life that inspired this story?

L: The Christmas Secret is the first in a three-book series about three women who run a business called Ready Set Sold. They renovate and stage homes for the real estate market. I'm a huge fan of HGTV! Samantha, the heroine of the first book, is the company's carpenter, and hers is a secret baby story with a twist. The working titles of the next two books are The Daddy Project and Daddy, Unexpectedly.  

K: Wow - I’m excited about this series. I’m an HGTV girl, too! With Christmas just a few days away, 
where can we get copies of The Christmas Secret for gift-giving? I think you have ebooks available, don't you?

L: All of my books are available as eBooks from Harlequin.com, Amazon.com and, in Canada, Chapters.com.

K: Tell us about the recipe you're sharing - is it used in the book or is it just a favorite of yours?

L: There are quite a few references to food in The Christmas Secret. One of the characters bakes gingerbread and serves "green eggs and ham" to the little boy in the story. Mulled cider isn't mentioned in the book but I decided to share it on my recipe card because it's one of my favorite things to make and serve for the holidays. Nothing makes a home smell more like Christmas than the scent of warm, spicy apple cider. I invite anyone who would like a recipe card to send me their address via my website (www.leemckenzie.com). I'll be happy to pop one in the mail to them! Merry Christmas, Kemala! Merry Christmas, everyone!

K: Thank you, Lee - It's been great to have you on today. Merry Christmas, and I wish you every success with your new series. I'm looking forward to making your cider for our New Year's Day party.

If you tend to have all-day open-house type parties like I do, making this in the crockpot is a great idea. 

Lee's Christmas Secret Recipe 
MULLED HOLIDAY CIDER

4 qts apple cider or apple juice

1 c orange juice, strained to remove pulp

1/2 c pineapple juice

1/4 c lemon juice

1 t lemon zest

1/4 c sugar

2 t ground nutmeg

1 t ground cinnamon

1 t ground ginger

1 t ground cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

2 t whole cloves

Mix the juices and lemon zest in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat but do not boil. In a small bowl, blend sugar with ground nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Stir this mixture into the juices. 

Wrap cinnamon sticks and whole cloves in a small piece of cheesecloth, tie with kitchen string, and toss into the pot. Reduce heat and simmer for an hour.

Crock Pot Method: follow the above steps but simmer on low for four to five hours.

To Serve: remove the cheesecloth bundle and garnish with orange slices or other festive fresh fruit.

Serves 40 - Enjoy and have a happy holiday!