Be Still My Heart!

Cute idea!

February means two things to me: Valentine's Day and peak winter temperatures. This month I'm bringing you my top 5 list of best romance reads for Valentine's Day and my Mexican Stew recipe. The books are some of my favorite from over the past year, and include Josette, my own Jane Austen-inspired romance that everyone enjoys. These reads are achingly romantic, sweet and clean, and best of all, well written. (The stew recipe is to die for on a cold winter's day, and if you love Pozole, you may very well want to get cooking ASAP.)

Regency Romance!

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day and remember: It's all what you make of it. You don't need a date to see a movie, get your nails done, or indulge in some fine chocolate. Loving yourself is essential to your ultimate happiness and any and every successful relationship.

Top 5 Recommended Valentine's Day Reads

The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd

Blackmore by Julianne Donaldson

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Winter Collection: A Timeless Romance Anthology Book 1

Josette by Danielle Thorne

  

Need a Winter Warm-up?

Mexican Pork Stew

This is my new favorite spicy soup recipe that tastes amazingly close to Pozole. It is thick and hearty with plenty of flavor. If you love TexMex, you gotta try it! 
(Yes, the picture is of my messy, half eaten bowl of stew--just keeping it real!)
 

1 pound of pork (roast), cubed

Olive Oil

1 cup of chopped onion or 2 teaspoons of onion powder

2 cloves of garlic or 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

2 teaspoons of oregano

1/4 teaspoon of cumin

1/2 salt

1/4 teaspoon of pepper

3 cups of chicken broth

1 jar of mild or medium chunky salsa (about 15 oz)

1 can of chopped green chiles

1 can of golden hominy or corn

1 cup of sliced carrots

1/4 cup of celery

Serve with shredded Pepper Jack Cheese

Brown pork cubes in a tablespoon of olive oil and saute onion and garlic. Add remaining ingredients and boil 30 minutes or until pork is tender. Alternately, cook stew four hours on high in crockpot or add one cup of water and use a pressure cooker for 10 minutes (my method). Enjoy!

Stay balanced!
~Danielle Thorne