MAKING WISHES COME TRUE

Please welcome my long-time friend, Carra Copelin, who lives only about twenty minutes from me. Remember to leave a comment to be entered into the drawing for a Kindle Fire 7 on Christmas Eve!

What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

There are several that stand out through the years, but one I remember snips and snatches of is the Christmas I was five years old. I had asked Santa for a buggy to push my babies around in. When we walked into the living room, the buggy was front and center of the tree. I was so excited to get it, and promptly went to get my favorite doll, Janie, to take her for a spin. Obviously, I don’t remember the details, I was five, but my mother liked to relive the story. She said, she and my dad knew if I saw the doll Santa had brought, I wouldn’t see anything else. So, she hid the doll behind the tree. She felt so bad at hiding the new doll, that was the last time she hid anything from either me or my brother.

What is your favorite adult Christmas memory?

One of my favorites is, I believe 2012, and the year it snowed a couple of inches. Our son and our grandson spent that Christmas with us. We dug out an old antique sled, had a huge Santa delivery, and just the best time!

Grandpa snapping photo of grandson pulled by son.

Is there a Christmas song that’s your favorite?

A.      Secular – "Santa Baby"

B.       Religious – "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

Tell us about your family’s Christmas traditions.

We set up the Christmas tree onto a train board, where we have two Lionel trains on the track running around a Texas town circa 1955. The farm house and fence were made by my husband’s great-grandfather around 1920, and other items we’ve picked up through the years.

Christmas train and tree

What about Christmas do you most enjoy?

Being with family, making some wishes come true, the magic of the season, and singing the beautiful songs.

Is there something about this holiday that drives you crazy?

The commercialism.

What do you hope for this Christmas?

This Christmas, I hope for more love and peace in our world, and a joyous time together with our family.

Do you have a treasured Christmas food? If so, would you care to share the recipe?

I have several, but one we love, I just posted in my newsletter, Cheesy Enchiladas.

CHEESY ENCHILADAS

INGREDIENTS

•         Enchilada Sauce

•         6 cups shredded sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese

•         1 cup vegetable oil

•         24 (6-inch) corn tortillas

•         1 cup finely chopped white onion (about 1/2 medium onion)

INSTRUCTIONS

1.       Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Evenly coat the bottom of two 13-by-9-inch baking dishes with 1 cup of the sauce in each. Place the cheeses in a large bowl, and line a baking sheet with paper towels; set aside.

2.       Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking, about 5 minutes. Test the oil temperature by carefully dipping the edge of a tortilla in the oil—it should bubble vigorously. Once the oil is hot, use a metal spatula to carefully submerge the tortillas one at a time until bubbles form around each, about 5 to 10 seconds. Flip and fry an additional 5 seconds or until the edges of each tortilla are slightly crisp but not browned. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, separating the layers with paper towels.

3.       Blot the tortillas with paper towels to soak up any excess oil, then fill each with 2 heaping tablespoons of the shredded cheese and 2 teaspoons onion. Roll to enclose the filling and set the tortillas in the baking dishes, seam side down, placing 12 enchiladas in each dish. Evenly distribute the remaining 1 cup sauce over both baking dishes and top with the remaining cheese.

4.       Bake until the enchiladas are hot and bubbly, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes before serving.

Do you have a Christmas book you’d like to share?

Yes, I have a new Christmas short story out this season. A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS is set in San Antonio on and around the River Walk. It’s beautiful, and a bit magical with all the lights and decorations.

Blurb:

Tony Medina, star quarterback for a Texas NFL team, is on the brink of making a career changing, life altering decision. It just might take a miracle to get him back in his wife’s good graces and their house.

Karla Masters is a popular morning TV show host in San Antonio. Her personal life however, is lacking on all fronts. After she becomes a foster parent, there’s only one more item needed to bring them all together. If Christmas is the time for wishes and miracles, is there one left for her?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Christmas-Texas-Book-ebook/dp/B0773K329G

Carra Copelin, Author

Carra Copelin is an award winning and Amazon Best Selling Author in contemporary and historical romances but, unlike so many other authors, didn't write from childhood or read long into the night beneath the covers with a flashlight. She found romance novels as an adult. After reading about a million, she discovered numerous people residing in her head, all looking for a way onto the printed page.

She's a member of Romance Writers of America and Past President of Yellow Rose Romance Writers, plus she regularly contributes to the romance blog, Smart Girls Read Romance. She is a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution and The Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Carra and her hero live in North Central Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where they enjoy family and their three beautiful grandchildren. In addition to writing and researching with her fabulous critique partners, she enjoys playing Bridge, working on crochet projects, and tracking down relatives through genealogy.    

http://carracopelin.com

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Merry Christmas