Yam and Apple
Casserole
(One of D. L. Mains' Favorite Recipes)
2 - Medium Granny Smith apples (I’ve used Delicious or
Macintosh)
2 - 16 oz cans yams (1 large can Princilla)
8 tbsp unsalted butter – melted (I’ve used reg. salted)
½ cup dark corn syrup (or honey)
1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp light brown sugar
½ to 1 tsp cinnamon (I use the whole tsp)
1/8 tsp salt
Drain yams – combine with 6 tbsp melted butter, corn syrup,
brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in bowl and puree until smooth. Spread half of mixture in greased 10”
casserole dish. Arrange half of apples
(sliced) overlapping evenly. Repeat
layers. Brush top of apples with
remaining butter.
Bake until apples are tender and mixture is heated
through. (30 minutes at 350 degrees)
The Crystal Rose – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of
Stir, Laugh, Repeat and A Book and A Dish
‘Keith hung up the phone, glaring at the receiver. He
turned his head to stare at the wall of the one room apartment where many
pictures of his soon-to-be bride looked back. He could see her beautiful
face from everywhere in the apartment, except the bathroom, but he had a
separate picture in there. “Where are you, Dan?” he asked those
faces. “Why don’t you answer my messages?” He reached across the
bed and grabbed the box from under his pillow. His chest swelled as he
opened the velvet box. The huge cubic zirconia twinkled at him. He
could see Sheridan showing off the ring to her friends. How could he
make her see they were made for each other, if he couldn’t even get in touch
with her? All his difficulties had to be Joel’s fault.’
Sheridan McLaughlin is a marine biologist that has found
herself out of work. With the economy, the market for research in her
field of expertise is on hold and there appears to be nothing opening up
within the near future. On top of that her apartments have just gone
condo so unless she decides to buy her unit, which is out of the question
since she has no job, she must move. Her only option is to go back
‘home’ to her godfather/uncle Joel and hope she can keep herself afloat by
singing and tending bar at his dinner club The Crystal
Rose. Could things get worse? If you call trying to change
a flat tire with a spare that’s also flat in a rain downpour, then I guess it
can get worse.
Russell Madison is a self made millionaire.
Everything he touches turns to money making him one of the most sought out
bachelor around. He also has the looks to go with his money which makes
every woman he even glances at swoon for his attention. That is every
woman with the exception of Sheridan McLaughlin. This wouldn’t be a
problem if Sheridan didn’t end up owning the majority of The Crystal
Rose, which Russell wants for himself. So if it requires him
engulfing Sheridan with his charm, he can handle that. So he thinks.
What Sheridan nor Russell could have foreseen was Keith
Cainam stepping into their lives to make sure there would never be a
relationship between the two of them… business nor personal. Keith had
dated Sheridan years before when she worked for Joel at The Crystal
Rose. He played in a band that served as the entertainment now
and then and his love for her had only grown over the years of their
separation. His determination to prove to her how much she means to him
and how much he really means to her is his top priority.
So… will Sheridan keep the stone wall she is noted for up
preventing both Russell and Keith out? Will Russell keep his wall in
tact while it protects him from feeling the pains that was inflicted on him by
his mother years ago? And will Keith make Sheridan take a really hard
look at him and see his sincerity before she leaves him again?
The Crystal Rose is a beautiful love story of both past and
present. The characters are well written and believable. It’s
filled with love and just enough suspense to make it a very enjoyable
read.