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Blueberry Overdrive Arrives and with it Blueberry Lemon Loveliness

June 16, 2020 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

This past week, my family’s quest to eat healthy or more specifically, avoid high fat and carbs in favor of anti-oxidant foods, erupted in a mountain of blueberries that turned to blueberry lemon loveliness.

I took my usual trip to the market and decided to buy the largest box of blueberries. Buying extra made sense because we had been popping them plain as snacks, putting them in yogurt parfaits in the morning, and serving them with vanilla flavored almond creamer (just a drop, I swear) for dessert. But then… it was a case of blueberry overdrive.

Blueberry Overdrive Arrives

My husband passed a fruit stand on the side of the road and detoured to make a stop. He didn’t know that I had gone to the market just an hour prior. He also decided to buy extra blueberries. I had thought that the pack I purchased was large, but what he brought home put my Trader Joe’s box in its place. His purchase was the muscle box of blueberries… big enough to feed a family for a week. At least, that was his intention.

Best-Laid Plans

The saying goes, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” We just had too many blueberries. I’m not a wasteful person and I knew that there was no way we could eat this many before some of them started to spoil. It was time to bake! I was thrilled because frankly, after writing, baking is my number one way to relax. There’s something about churning the butter with the sugar, adding the eggs, one by one, and smelling the scent of vanilla as I drizzle in that delectable teaspoon of extract.

Return to Carb Land

I looked at my husband and explained that I had to bake. I just had to. He raised his eyebrows knowing that I had been looking for an excuse for over a week. In truth, I think he was happy. He always says my baking was partly responsible for him falling in love with me. I told the kids that we should celebrate a half birthday since nobody in my family has a June birthday. And then, ta-dah… blueberry overdrive arrives and I had a reason to embrace my love of butter and flour recipes again.

Blueberry Lemon Loveliness

I gained inspiration from Tieghan Gerard’s Half Baked Harvest blog when I created Blueberry Lemon Loveliness. Her version has a few difference in the ingredients and it’s baked in a loaf pan, but I can’t use the word loaf to describe this because it’s not a lazy loaf. This delicious any time snack tastes likes it’s jumping for joy. Here it is …

Ingredients:

1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice (add the zest of the lemon for an extra burst of flavor)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 heaping cup fresh blueberries
3 tablespoons any variety of fruit jam

For the glaze:
2/3 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9×5 inch pan.

2. Mix together the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, yogurt, and lemon juice.

3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Toss the blueberries within this mixture. (Did you know that coating the blueberries in flour helps them to float in the batter rather than sink to the bottom of the pan?)

4. Gently fold the flour mixture into the butter mixture.

5. Spoon half the batter into your pan. Smooth a layer of jam on top of the batter, then top with the remaining half of batter.

6. Sprinkle some extra sugar on top of the Blueberry Lemon Loveliness and tell it how beautiful it looks. Everyone, even baked goods, needs some positive accolades from time to time.

7. Then bake for 55 minutes, or until the center isn’t wiggly jiggly. Remember, it was a muscle box of blueberries!

8. Make the glaze while the Blueberry Lemon Loveliness cools. Simply combine the lemon juice and powdered sugar.

9. Once it’s cool, take the cake out of its pan and spoon the glaze over the top, allowing it to drip down the sides.

Enjoy!

Top Five Ideas for a Great First Date

May 25, 2020 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

You met a guy. Maybe, you met The Guy! One thing is for certain, your first activity together sets the course for your relationship. After all, you can’t tell your future grandchildren about the amazing first date you had if you never experience it. Read on for suggestions on the top five ideas for a great first date.

Go on a Walk

Simple. No excessive planning or spending needed. There is plenty to see or you can take time to look into each other’s eyes. A walk is a chance to breathe, take in the scenery, and let conversation flow. But if conversation slows, perhaps it’s just a comfortable silence. It’s nice to “just be” and not worry about always saying the right thing.

Visit a Museum

Museum visits are great because you don’t have to be by each other’s side every second. It gives you a chance to have some space and then frequently come back together to share what you saw. There’s also plenty to talk about when you’re looking at the exhibits. You don’t have to get too personal or ask stumble for talking points. You can simply speak to what’s right in front of you.

Shop at a Farmer’s Market

A farmer’s market shopping trip is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy a laid back setting. You can sample the wares of the farmers. I know that the idea behind a farmers market is to get fresh fruits and vegetables, but these days there are also pastry chefs who sell homemade baked goods. Many farmers markets are located near coffee houses so you can buy some homemade goodies and then turn your shopping expedition into breakfast.

Ice Cream

As the saying goes, “I scream, they scream, we all scream for ice cream!” A first date is a perfect excuse to go out for ice cream. Even someone who is lactose intolerant can find an assortment of sorbet or sherbets that will appeal to them. You can sit and talk in a quiet corner or if there isn’t such a place, take your ice cream on a stroll.

Bake Cookies

You caught me… it’s hard to contemplate eating ice cream without cookies too. Baking cookies is a low stress and fun activity. One could get together to cook dinner, but that puts a bit more pressure on the situation. It’s also harder to focus on conversation when you have an entire dinner to prepare, not to mention there’s the clean-up afterwards. Baking cookies has the added bonus of eating out of the batter bowl together.

No matter what you do, make sure to have a great first date by adding a smile to any activity. It will go a long way to making each other feel comfortable and telling your date that you are having a great time.

Four Downright Sexy Foods

May 18, 2020 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

Sexy food doesn’t have to mean oysters. Here are four downright sexy foods that you can easily find, prepare, and they’re not slimy.

Black Raspberries

As a romance author, I know that reading a sexy book can get you into the right mindset for romance. The same result can be found by eating certain foods. Black raspberries have been found to boost your libido and increase sexual stamina. Berry up!

Ginseng Tea

If you’re planning an evening with your man, it can’t hurt to have a bit of caffeine in your system. Late nights are more fun when fatigue doesn’t strike. However, not all caffeine is equal when it comes to your sex drive. Ginseng tea has a multitude of sexy properties. It increases sexual satisfaction and can help prevent or lessen erectile dysfunction.

Saffron

Initially, the idea of saffron as one of the four downright sexy foods had me thrown for a loop. I had never thought of those little red strings of spice in that way. They seemed so innocent, a mere spice. And that’s when it hit me. It made so much sense. Why not turn to a spice when you want to spice things up? Saffron isn’t just any old spice. Pure saffron is actually the world’s most expensive spice. Here are the details: A Canadian review of 150 international studies found that saffron both enhances sexual performance and satisfaction. No wonder Indian guys with their chocolate complexions and white teeth are so damned sexy.

Strawberries

As the saying goes, “First come sex, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage!” If you’re wanting to conceive, fill up on strawberries. They contain lots of vitamin C, which raises sperm count. They also help to improve circulation, which is important for men and women’s sexual satisfaction. For an added sexy twist, coat your strawberries in chocolate, which is known to boost libido.

In a previous post, I wrote about ultimate dating foods. I’d love to hear your meal planning ideas around this list of four downright sexy foods. Feel free to drop me a line. Or, you could always just have a bowl of berries, a cup of tea, sprinkle in some saffron, and see what happens next.

Date Night Mushroom Risotto

May 11, 2020 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

Date Night Mushroom Risotto is the perfect meal for a romantic dinner at home. If you’ve read my previous post about the ultimate date food, it ticks all the boxes. First and foremost, it’s delicious. It’s also impressive, easy to eat, and won’t leave you with bad breath or bloating. Most important, it’ll leave you wanting dessert.

Ingredients

Here’s your list of ingredients:

1 carton low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 tbsp. butter

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 cups sliced mushrooms

1 bay leaf

4 sprigs thyme, leaves removed

salt and pepper to taste

1 3/4 cups arborio rice

1/2 cup white wine

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed

2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

These are the steps to making your Date Night Mushroom Risotto

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring chicken stock to a simmer. Reduce heat to low.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Next, add 1 tablespoon butter, garlic, mushrooms, bay leaf and thyme. Cook until the mushrooms have softened and are golden, about 4 more minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Remove mixture from the pot.
Continue by melting remaining tablespoon butter in the pot and add the arborio rice, stirring quickly. Cook until the grains are well-coated and smell slightly toasty, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the wine has mostly absorbed.
With a ladle, add about 1 cup of hot stock. Stirring often, cook until the rice has mostly absorbed liquid. Add remaining stock about 1/2 cup at a time, continuing to allow the rice to absorb each addition of stock before adding more. Stir often and cook until the risotto is al dente and creamy, not mushy. (You might not need all the stock.)
Add the mushroom mixture back into the rice.
Finally, stir in Parmesan and peas then garnish with parsley. Serve warm.

Best Practices

Before launching into cooking, here are some “best practices” to keep in mind when making Date Night Mushroom Risotto.

1. Use hot stock.

Before starting, heat your stock in a separate pan over medium heat. Hot stock will help keep the temperature from dropping each time you add it to the rice. The faster your rice absorbs the liquid, the better your risotto texture will be.

2. Keep stirring.

In “Finding Nemo” Dory always said, Just keep swimming.” Swap that little song for “just keep stirring” and you’ll end up with perfect risotto. Arborio rice is very starchy, so the chances of burning increases. Do not leave it for even a second. Just keep swimming… err stirring.

3. It’s all in the cheese.

You’ll notice that there aren’t a lot of ingredients. Therefore, the quality and flavor of each one is important. Fresh herbs. Fresh cheese. Parmesan from a can doesn’t belong in your date night mushroom risotto.

The whole point of this blog is to offer recipe advice for a sure-fire romantic meal. This is it! Put in the time before he arrives and all you have to do is heat up the risotto. Then, you can heat up the rest of the evening as well.

Ultimate Date Food

May 1, 2020 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

There’s a lot to consider when choosing what to eat on a date. You don’t want to appear like you’re spending too much or not enough. You can’t risk bad breath, gas, or spillage. So what’s a girl to do? Don’t worry. Whether you’re going out to eat out or cook at home, I’ve got you covered. This is practical date food advice. I’ll focus on aphrodisiacs in another blog post. For this article, I’ve researched food blogs, dating sites, health sites, and my personal experience to bring you the ultimate date food.

If cooking at home..

Simplicity

You don’t want to spend all day cooking and then you’re faced with tired feet and a mountain of clean-up. Choose a meal that is fairly simple to make. You’ll feel proud of yourself and still have enough energy to engage in “dessert” activities.

Make an Impression

We’ve all heard of making a fashion statement. The same can be said of food. What kind of statement or impression does your meal make? Is it eye-catching? Colorful? Delicious? Fragrant? You want him to say, “You look amazing,” the minute he sees you. The same can be said for your meal.

Restaurant or At-Home Dining

Minty Fresh

Sushi is a popular date night dish, but make sure to enjoy plenty of the raw ginger that they serve. You don’t want fish breath. Similarly, sushi is a good option because it won’t leave you feeling too full afterwards. Who knows what sort of physical activities you might want to try after dinner?

Mess-Proof

Soup, stew, sauce… be careful of these messy choices. Imagine red splatter on your sexy white dress. Even if it doesn’t end up on you, it’s still not a great look when it lands all over your place at the table. It may sound old-fashioned, but when it comes to eating, be a lady.

Final Recommendations

If you want to find a meal that hits all the marks in terms — easy to make without any bad after taste and makes a statement, then check out my blog post for Date Night Mushroom Risotto. It’s the ultimate sexy meal because you can spoon it into each other’s mouths and then retreat to the couch for a cozy evening.

How Men Make Love without Falling in Love

April 17, 2020 by Mia Fox Leave a Comment

One of my characters once asked: How do men make love without falling in love?

This was the quandary Kat found herself in when she allowed herself to fall for Cole in my romance novel, “A Much Younger Man.”

Readers, I’d love your insight into this question. Do you think it’s biological? Is the very act of allowing someone within your body akin to bringing them into your heart?

Sexual Response Cycle

If we want to get technical, I cite a fascinating article from Boston University School of Medicine. In this research, female sexuality is said to go through four phases. These are known as the sexual response cycle and consists of: desire, arousal, orgasm, and resolution. It’s interesting to note that the resolution phase is both physiologic and psychologic.

Then, I decided to go a little less high-brow in my research and consult with Self Magazine. The 2016 article by Zahra Barnes confirmed that sex doesn’t just affect our bodies, but also our brains.

Our Body and Brain on Sex

The article highlights 19 steps that occur in our bodies…yep, you read that right, 19! Women are incredibly complex and magical creatures. Unlike men, our sexuality isn’t just a matter of: 1. I feel attraction; 2. let’s do it; and 3. thank you very much. Nope. We have 19 body responses, but the one that most interested me involved the release of the oxytocin during love making.

This fact gave credence to my theory that a tiny bit of falling in love occurs every time women make love due in large part to an increase in the production of oxytocin.

Oxytocin… the Feel Good Hormone

Interestingly, oxytocin can have a two-faced effect. For women, it’s often known as the “feel-good hormone” and can make them feel in love. In men, the hormone may serve to strengthen bad memories and can increase fear and anxiety. When I learned about this last tidbit, the “fight or flight” response came to my mind.

Ladies, if you’ve ever witnessed a man scamper faster than a jack rabbit to dress and retrieve clothing while you innocently made a quick trip to the bathroom after the deed, you know what I’m talking about.

Sex is an Emotion in Motion

Where does this lead us? I’m afraid it means we must guard our hearts. It’s fine to act on desire. It’s certainly what makes romance novels so much fun to read. But, as Mae West once said, “Sex is an emotion in motion.” FYI…for those who aren’t familiar with Mae West, she died in 1980 at the age of 87 after a long acting career in which she became known as a sex symbol.

So, be aware of the emotions that occur once you put something into motion. And, if your man ever fails you, grab a good book!