@CeliaBreslin's Sweet Treats & #Vampires for New Year's Eve

Happy Holidays Everyone!

 Wow, it's almost 2020...! I'm here today with a sweet treats recipe I post yearly around this time. Make a platter of these goodies for your New Year's celebration. You'll love them! I've tossed in some holiday paranormal viewing recommendations, too. Vampires, of course. Enjoy!

Celia’s Holiday Caramel Candy

Recipe compliments of my grandmother.

1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups white sugar
2 cups white Karo Syrup
1 stick of butter (1/4 lb.)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Mix together the first three ingredients (milk, sugar, syrup) in a large bowl.
2. Melt the butter in a large heavy kettle, pour in the mixture and bring to a boil.
3. Stir continuously while mixture boils until it reaches the temperature of 245 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer (can take up to 25 minutes).

Note: If mixture overcooks, candy gets too hard.

Once the 245-degree temperature is reached, remove kettle from stove. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, then pour mixture onto a large buttered cookie sheet or flat pan.

Allow to cool.

Cut into pieces, wrap with plastic wrap or your candy covering of choice (or eat All The Candy, LOL).

Celia’s Vampire Viewing Picks for the Holidays

It’s always time to watch vampire shows in my world. Here are my recs for some fun holiday viewing!

“Amends” - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, S3, Ep10. A brief happy moment for Buffy and Angel. Plus, snow in Southern California. “Once More With Feeling” S6, Ep7. Because it’s the best episode ever. “Bring on the Night” – Buffy, S7, Ep10. Multiple slayers, an uber vamp, and an Xmas tree lot. “Reunion” – Angel, S2, Ep10. Drusilla and Darla running amok. “O Come All Ye Faithful” – The Vampire Diaries, S4, Ep9. A Winter Wonderland theme-party aaaaand naughty, naughty Klaus. “Through Your Eyes” – S6, Ep10. Christmas reminiscing and one evil Kai. “Cold As Ice” – The Vampire Diaries, S7, Ep9. Holiday toy drive and a pesky Phoenix Stone. “Savior” – The Originals, S3, Ep9. Amid much drama, Klaus and Cami share a kiss.

Have a great January, Dear Readers, and I'll see you back here on January 30th!

xo,
Celia

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Christmas Traditions

I love this time of year—the music, the colored lights, the tree, the holiday movies and the excitement. Like most families, we have various traditions that have changed or evolved over the years. But one tradition that never changes is my mother’s fruit cake.

Yes, I said it. Fruit cake. We’re big on this holiday staple in my family and all of us would feel slighted if our mother didn’t make us one of her amazing cakes. Heck, when I was a kid, I used to ask for one for my birthday every year. Mom would make a fruit cake for the family celebration and a chocolate one for the party with my friends. I don’t know what makes hers so special. Maybe it’s the rum, maybe it’s the love. All I know is Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it.

Another tradition is chocolate fudge, but not just any fudge. I use the same recipe my mother used when I was a kid. It’s fast and delicious.


Five Minute Fudge (From the Carnation Milk Cookbook)

2/3 cup of Carnation milk
1 2/3 cups of sugar

~Bring sugar and milk to a boil and boil on low heat for 5 minutes. Stir constantly. Remove from heat.

Add:
1 ½ cups chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet dark chips)
1 ½ cups of plain mini marshmallows (I use Kraft minis)
1 tsp of vanilla flavouring

Stir until smooth and pour into greased 8” X 8” pan.

Cool and cut into squares.



And if you’re looking for a calorie-free treat to help get you through the season, be sure to pre-order Naughty Heroes now for only 99-cents. Price will go up soon after it releases.

NAUGHTY HEROES: In And Out Of Uniform A collection of UNFORGETTABLE HEROES

MARINE ON A MISSION 
N.J. Walters 

When Mitch McCoy left rural Kentucky to join the U.S. Marines he never thought he'd return. Now he's undercover with a state drug task force. He's not only facing his past, but also Sara Hawkins, the woman who broke his heart. This investigation will risk their lives and their hearts. 

 SEX BOMB 
Nicole Austin  

From first sight I knew Marine Lieutenant Harlie Savage wasn't fragile like a flower—she was fragile like a bomb. Definitely not some princess who needed to be saved, either. She was a queen who only lacked a sword, and I vowed to be her weapon. 

HER SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 
Belle Scarlett 


Leia has no idea who ex-Marine Major Tate McIntyre is when he saves her life in a dark alley. Yet Tate's certain Leia is his to have, hold, and protect. He vows to keep her safe at any cost. His only price is her heart. Semper Fi! 

THE NIGHT WATCHMAN
Katherine Kingston

A disabled vet rescues a woman on a mission to collect evidence, saving her from the men chasing her. As Jace and Shannon race to survive and outwit a traitor, a deep connection grows between them. But staying alive long enough to explore the attraction will take everything they've got.

MILITARY BLUES
Elizabeth Lapthorne

Luke is struggling to recover from a career shattering IED blast that sees him permanently discharged. Milly's career self-destructed and she's moved cities in the hopes of starting again. Can this new life and new relationship be a second chance for them both?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z29RCY1/

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1134068523

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/naughty-heroes

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1483388473

Universal: https://books2read.com/u/b5QgqA

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit me at: Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
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Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

Christmas Gifts for Those with a Sense of Humor

It's that time of year again--time for me to help you out with holiday shopping. Christmas time seems to bring out the absurd, but if you have to buy a gift for someone who is, well, equally absurd, then it's a win-win situation. Just make sure they have a sense of humor!

Behold my picks for the year:

Are you parents of a child in their 20s who still lives at home? Looking to give them a subtle nudge to leave the nest? Luggage makes the statement without having to spell it out.

How about a gift for your child's teacher? This gift will keep on giving for years to come and hopefully, make the "problem" students think twice.

Dads are so hard to buy for, aren't they? But something that all dads have in common is the ability to fart. A lot. And often. Dads also like to think they're the best at everything, so this T-shirt will make them feel like they're a winner.

This is the perfect gift for Mom. I'm a mom and I must say, "Seriously?" at least 50 times a day. So much so it'll probably be inscribed on my tombstone. 

Every grandchild thinks they're the favorite. Make sure you constantly reinforce it with this ornament, and don't forget to encourage Grandma or Grandpa to hang it somewhere all year round as a gentle reminder.  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Christmas is Tiffany N. York's second favorite holiday after Halloween. Feel free to visit her website at tiffanynyorkauthor.com