Holiday Event: The Highlander's Lady by Eliza Knight (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Hello lovelies and welcome to our week long Holiday Event! I've asked some fabulous authors to stop by this week with their favorite, or one of their character's favorite, recipe for the holidays so don't miss it! You'll find some delicious recipes for dinner, dessert and more to help keep you warm this month along with some sizzling hot romances. 

To start the event off, I'd like to give a warm welcome to author, Eliza Knight!

Thank you, Reading Between the Wines, for hosting me once again! I’m excited to share with you my newest release, THE HIGHLANDER’S LADY (Book 3: The Stolen Bride Series) and one of my favorite recipes which also happens to be something my medieval characters would have eaten every day! During the holidays/winter, I love to bake! Like every day… One of my favorite things to bake, is something that my heroine, Myra, also loves—bread!

I love to cut off a thick slice of freshly baked bread and drizzle it with honey or smear it with peanut butter. So sad that one of the first things to go when you’re on a diet is bread, when it used to be a staple! I would eat bread for every meal if I could!

The idea of baking bread can be really daunting, but seriously, this is the easiest recipe evah! This recipe is so versatile; you can really dress it up! Add some cheese and parsley, maybe add raisins and cinnamon.

Eliza’s Heavenly Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup sweetened almond milk (I seriously sometimes use chocolate) (I use Silk) *You can use soy or dairy milk*

4 ½ tsp of active dry yeast (or two small packets) (I use Fleischman’s)

5 cups of UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur)

1 tbsp salt

2 tbspGrapeseed Oil

3 tbsp organic evaporated cane sugar

Tools:

~I use a KitchenAid mixer which does the arm work for me. You don’t have to if you want to get a work out J

~Two loaf pans

~Two glass measuring cups (liquid/solid measuring cups are different, so make sure you have both)

~Other utensils/measuring instruments

Heat 1 cup of water – I do it for about 40-60 seconds in the microwave, and dump in the yeast. Stir about 5-10 times, then set aside for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile…(I love to say that, lol), heat the milk for about 40 seconds in the microwave. Pour into your mixing bowl along with the salt, oil and sugar.  Mix.

Add in the yeast mixture and stir. Now it’s time for a work out! Pour in one cup of flour at a time until well mixed. If you’re using the mixer, set it low unless you want flour everywhere. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Once all the flour has been added, and the dough is formed, cover with a cloth and set in a warm place for 1 hour. I usually put mine in the microwave or oven (NOT TURNED ON!), so that they are out of the way.

Once the hour is up, set you oven to 375 degrees. Grease your loaf pans—I do this usually with spray oil (Organic Olive spray usually) Press down the dough—it should be double in size. Take it out of the bowl, and knead it for a few minutes. I usually do this on top of wax paper, because I don’t have to put any flour down—less mess! Divide equally in two, and press into pans. Cover with the cloth and let it rise for another 15 minutes.

Now it’s time to bake! Bake for about 35-40. Tops should be golden and sound hollow when you tap on it. Once its baked, leave it in the pans to cool for about 10 minutes, and then take out and place on cooling racks. This is usually the point I cut off a healthy hunk to munch on!

And here’s an excerpt from THE HIGHLANDER’S LADY where Myra doesn’t get such a yummy piece of bread :-( I feel bad for her!

She heard the splash of water as Daniel washed his face, but she refused to turn around. Having that vision of him, even for something so mundane, was intimate, she didn’t want it in her mind. Didn’t want to remember such an inane thing about him. No need for thoughts of domesticity clouding her mind.

There was a rustling of noise which she assumed was Daniel donning his weapons and packing up his satchel.

“I’m for the stables. When ye finish in here, meet me there.”

Myra nodded and waited for the sound of the door closing before she turned away from the window. She located her hose and boots and pulled them on. Then found her cloak, which thankfully hadn’t retained as much damage as her gown.

She’d brought nothing else with her. A bitter reminder of all she’d lost. Leaving the room behind, Myra descended the stairs into the rather quiet inn. Upon a table was a plate of stale-looking rolls. Grabbing one, she bit into it. Stale. Slightly moldy. But who was she to complain? There was nothing else to eat for now. And she dared not ask Daniel for something.

The Murray men were gathered in the courtyard, their horses readied and they appeared only to be waiting for her. Daniel eyed her wearily and she couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind. ’Twas obvious he kept more inside than he wanted to and she suspected that was hard for him. He was not a shy man, and contradictorily not one prone to sharing his mind. Why did he act thusly with her?

“My lady,” he muttered, offering her a hand.

Myra stuffed the last bit of bread in her mouth and placed her hand into his. He hoisted her up onto the horse and then came up behind her.

Oh, joy… She’d forgotten about how uncomfortable riding was with him. Myra stiffened her back so that she sat ramrod straight.

“How long shall we travel today?” she asked.

“As long as the weather will allow us,” he said, gruffly and shifted.

Myra sighed deeply with resignation. Daniel was likely to shift and grunt the whole of it. She prayed however that they were able to travel until dark and until they found shelter and without any snow falling. Traveling in winter was treacherous. Especially at this time of year. The winter solstice was upon them. Snow was inevitable.

As it was, the grass was covered in frost and her breath came out in white puffs before her face. Myra wiggled her toes. At least they weren’t likely to be frozen for a little while.

Daniel kicked his horse into a trot and Myra was unable to control her sudden fall backward. Her back hit the wall of his muscled chest, taking her breath away. She was quick to pull back upright, but it didn’t matter. That sudden contact, however unromantic and unintentional still sparked something inside her. Zounds! No matter how hard she tried… Her body would always betray her when Daniel was near. Thank the saints he wasn’t the enemy, at least in a literal sense.

A Highlander tamed…
Laird Daniel Murray seeks adventure, battle and freedom for his countrymen. Putting off his duties as laird—with a promise to his clan he’ll return come spring—Daniel sets off with his men to fight alongside William Wallace and the Bruce. But soon he stumbles across an enchanting lady in need. She tantalizes him with an offer he simply can’t refuse and a desire he attempts to dismiss.
A lady’s passion ignited…
Escaping near death at the treacherous hands of a nearby clan, Lady Myra must find the Bruce and relay the news of an enemy within his own camp. Alone in a world full of danger and the future of her clan at stake, she must trust the handsome, charismatic Highland laird who promises to keep her safe on her journey—and sets her heart to pounding.
Together, Daniel and Myra will risk not only their lives, but their hearts while discovering the true meaning of hope and love in a world fraught with unrest.

READ IT!  Kindle (Print and Ebook)/ Barnes and Noble / Smashwords (all e-formats)

Leave a comment for your chance to win an ecopy of THE HIGHLANDER’S LADY! Best wishes to you and yours this holiday season!

Cheers,

Eliza

Eliza Knight is the multi-published, award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain, and enjoys cold winter nights when she can curl up in front of a roaring fire with her own knight in shining armor. Visit Eliza at www.elizaknight.com or her historical blog History Undressed: www.historyundressed.com

~*GIVEAWAY*~

As Eliza mentioned above, she is giving away one eBook of The Highlander's Lady to one reader. To enter, just leave a comment for her on this post and then fill out the Rafflecopter below. Additional entries are available but not required. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway