Dish the Pie with Monique & Guest Darlene Fredette--author of contemporary women's fiction romance mystery

Dish the Pie with Monique & Darlene Fredette

Hi, guys! I'm happy to be hosting Darlene Fredette today. She's here to share the recipe for Jess's Blueberry Muffin and to dish the pie on her new romantic mystery release--Secret Recipe, book 4 in her Redford Falls series. Darlene is a multi-published author of contemporary women’s fiction. I can't wait to get to know her better. Please help me welcome Darlene to Dish the Pie.   

Welcome, Darlene! I'm so happy you’re here to dish the pie with me! The first question I always ask my guests is: Do you like desserts? 

Darlene: I LOVE dessert.

Monique: You're in good company here! What is your favourite?

Darlene: My favourite is strawberry shortcake, but I’m a big fan of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, too.

Monique: Yumbo! You promised to share the recipe for Jess's Blueberry Muffin. tell us more about this.

Darlene: In Secret Recipe, Jess has to prove her baking skills, but for someone whose previous attempts at baking ended in the trash can, she attempts to make blueberry muffins.

Jess’s Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1-1/2 cups blueberries

Baking Tip - Jess added a teaspoon of vanilla to her mixture, which is highly recommended!

Directions

In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a separate bowl, cream the butter with the sugar.

Beat in eggs one at a time and then add the vanilla. 

Gradually stir in milk (mixture may appear curdled). 

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture, and stir until moistened. 

Gently fold in blueberries.

Spoon into large paper-lined or well-greased muffin cups, filling to the top. 

Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until tops are firm to the touch.

Monique: Did Jesse pass the baking test and get the job? 

Darlene: You’ll have to read Secret Recipe to find out.

Monique: I think I'll do that! Have you ever eaten pie for breakfast?

Darlene: I have never had pie for breakfast. I’m a ‘start the day with a bowl of cereal’ kind of girl, but if I were to have pie, it would be apple for sure.

Monique: Some people might argue that certain types of cereal are on par with pie for breakfast😁. Are you married, Darlene?

Darlene: Yes, I am. My husband and I met in May of 1991.

Monique: How did you meet?

Darlene:  We were set up by friends (a guy he worked with dated a girl I worked with). He proposed six months later by the waterfront with roses. We married the following May (1992). He told his family that he didn’t need more time to know I was the ‘one’.

Monique: That's a wonderful story. Clearly, your hubs is a decisive man. I like that. Which season (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) is your favourite and why?

Darlene: My favourite season was summer because I love sunshine and warmth, but the past few years, the humidity has been getting worse, so much that you can’t sit outside. I don’t enjoy the cold winter, and spring tends to be the wet season, so I’m leaning more toward fall these days.

Monique: Summer is a favourite for sure, but autumn/fall is pretty cool, too...no pun intended 😆. What is your idea of an ideal vacation?

Darlene: Southern Italy. We haven’t been there yet, but hopefully someday. Until then, we like a lakefront cottage where we can sit on the deck with a drink in hand and watch the loons and birds fly by.

Monique: Sounds blissful! What’s your idea of comfortable clothing? 

Darlene: T-shirt and jogging pants. Not only are they comfortable, but I have two large dogs that drool…a lot, so wearing anything dressy is a waste of time.

Monique: 😆 I love dogs! Thank you so much for hanging out with me, Darlene. We'd love to hear more about Secret Recipe. Would you share the blurb and an excerpt with us?

SECRET RECIPE

A Redford Falls Story – Book 4

By Darlene Fredette

All Rights Reserved

In the heat of the kitchen, one woman’s secret recipe blends danger, deception, and desire.

Jess Robinson is desperate for a fresh start, but an unexpected call drags her back
into the dangerous world she thought she’d escaped. With a missing bag of stolen jewels at stake, Jess must execute the perfect con.

Between two jobs and family obligations, firefighter Travis Cooper is stretched too thin. The last thing he needs is an unqualified baker who stirs up more questions than answers. Something about Jess feels familiar, and while Travis is drawn to her, he’s convinced she’s hiding more than a few secrets.

As drama simmers and danger closes in, Jess and Travis are caught in a game where every move could cost them everything.

    Travis pulled Jess into a hug. She molded perfectly against him. Her soft hair brushed his chin, and her hands warmed his chest where they rested.

    Her stare dropped to his lips.

    He lowered his head until a loud boom rattled his sanity. He released her and walked to the counter, creating distance. “Congratulations on a job well done.”

    Her widened eyes met his, and her cheeks flushed. “Thank you.”

    The thunder returned, louder than before.

    He shook his head, trying to erase the memory of her in his arms. What got into me? He wasn’t a touchy-feely guy. Hugs were usually reserved for his mother.    “Would you like to join me for a bite to eat?” What the…? Did those words just come out of my mouth? “My way of thanking you for a great first week.” More unfiltered words tumbled out.

    Jess stuffed her hands into her apron pockets. Her lips formed a tight line. “Sure.”

    She accepted? Part of Travis had hoped she’d decline. The other half was elated. He needed time to locate his missing common sense.

    “Do you have a restaurant in mind?” she asked.

    I’m not thinking. He gripped the counter’s edge. “Have you ever been to Kringle’s Lounge?”

AmazonCA | AmazonUS | AmazonUK

Darlene Fredette is a multi-published author of contemporary women’s fiction that celebrates resilience, romance, and the small-town magic woven into ordinary days. Step inside her world for heartfelt stories, character-driven moments, a touch of charm, wit, twists, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning the page. Residing on Canada’s scenic Atlantic Coast, where summers are too short and winters too long, she finds inspiration from family, nature, and the quiet moments that ignite the imagination, and enjoys life with her husband, daughter, and two oversized, loveable dogs.

Website | Blog | Instagram | BlueSky 

Dish the Pie with Monique and Guest Judythe Morgan

Dish the Pie with Monique & Judythe Morgan

Today, my guest on Dish the Pie is Judythe Morgan. She’s here to dish the pie on her new release—The Iron Bed—a second chance romance, and to share her family recipe for Chocolate Chess Pie. Please help me welcome Judythe.

Welcome, Judythe! I'm so happy you’re here to dish the pie with me! The first question I always ask my guests is: Do you like desserts? 

Judythe: I love dessert. In my opinion, no meal is complete without a taste of something sweet. 

Monique: I’m right there with you. In fact, I’d happily pass on the meal and just eat the dessert! What is your favourite dessert?

Judythe: My favourite dessert around the holidays is Chocolate Chess Pie—sweet and chocolatey. The perfect mix. 

Monique: I’ve never heard of chess pie. Would you share the recipe with us?

Judythe: It’s a special recipe handed down from my grandmother, written on a small tablet. Every year during the holidays, chess pie is on the menu around our house. And there’s never any leftovers. 

Here’s my grandmother’s recipe: 

In case you can’t read the handwriting:

Ingredients 

Chocolate Chess Pie

½ stick (4 Tablespoons) of oleo, melted

3 ½ Tablespoons cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs beaten

5 oz of evaporated milk [half a large can]

Pinch of salt

Directions

Mix sugar, cocoa, milk and blend with melted oleo. Pour into unbaked pie shell.

Cook at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes. The top should be crisp and the inside soft. Use a pie tester to check. 

Monique: A nice, easy dessert. Have you ever eaten pie for breakfast? 

Judythe: I don’t remember eating pie for breakfast. 

Monique: What’s your favourite food?

Judythe: My favorite food—not sure I have one, except I never pass up potatoes cooked any way, especially Irish Colcannon potatoes.  

Monique: Ah, you’re a potato girl. Are you married? 

Judythe: I was a teenage bride. 

Monique: Snap! So was I. How did you meet your husband? How long have you been together?

Judythe: The summer before I went to high school, I met my husband at the local supermarket where my mother shopped. He worked a cash register. Turned out we went to the same high school, and one day he met me at my locker wearing a yellow plaid shirt and a big smile that I can still see. To wear a yellow shirt back in our day was gutsy, and that smile melted my heart. I knew he was the one.

A short time later, he asked me out, and three children, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and nine granddogs later, we’re still together. 

He's the reason I write romance. I know love works.

Monique: Awww, what a sweet story. What do you love most about your husband?

Judythe: I love his smile. It hooked me all those years ago. My heart still melts when he smiles at me. 

Monique: A true happily-ever-after romance. Where would you be more at home? The countryside, suburbia, the city, or beach? 

Judythe: Being a military brat, then an Army wife, I learned to plant roots wherever I landed.  Not counting military quarters, I’ve lived in sixteen different homes, including one in South Korea. Some homes were on the urban East Coast. Others in the south. We settled in a small town called Rosehill in Texas. 

Every place I lived, whether for years or weeks or months, felt like home. One of my favorites was our cabin in the Rocky Mountain National Forest, sheltered far away from society with the bears, coyotes, turkeys, etc. Peaceful and quiet—it made for great writing time. 

Monique: Sounds bliss, Judythe. Would you tell us about The Iron Bed?

She left her past behind to find herself.

And found something she hadn’t even been looking for.

Pregnant and married at sixteen, Eden had a fairytale life with her high school boyfriend. But when he dies unexpectedly, she’s swallowed in grief. Determined to rebuild her life, she leaves her memory-filled home in Connecticut to start anew at her cousin’s interior design firm in Texas—where she discovers an independent version of herself that she never imagined. 

Then she meets Travis Taylor, her cousin’s rugged, emotionally guarded business partner. Sparks fly, and their chemistry is undeniable. 

Only Eden fears slipping back into dependency. And Travis—burned by a bitter first marriage—has sworn off love. Yet he finds himself going to any lengths to win Eden’s love. 

When an antique iron bed from his past ties their lives together, both must decide if second chance love might just be worth the risk.

The Iron Bed

by Judythe Morgan

All Rights Reserved

In the sales office, Eden listened to an overzealous salesman. He stopped mid-sentence and tilted his head toward the front door. “Boss is here.”

The man walking with Nicole was not the Travis Taylor Eden remembered. Splashes of gray peeped through his thick, brown hair. His athletic body, outlined by the black polo, projected authority that the younger man she’d met on her visits to Texas with Clay hadn’t. Smoky gray eyes locked magnetically with hers.

“I’m sure you two remember one another,” Nicole said.

A slow, easy Texas smile lifted his lips as he reached out and captured her hand with a warm, firm grip. “Glad to see you again, Eden. Sorry to hear about your husband.”

 “Thank you, and nice to see you again.” Long forgotten sensations shimmed up Eden’s arm at his touch.

Nicole’s voice broke her trance. “If I’d known that you’d be interested in one of these homes, I’d have brought you out sooner.” 

“It’s a hard place to resist. The trees and foliage remind me of Connecticut. Max’ll love it too.”

Travis raised an eyebrow. “Max?”

“Her dog. An Old English sheepdog about the size of a small horse,” Nicole answered.

“Aren’t they mostly hair?” The sales manager asked.

“Mostly.” Eden chuckled.

Travis sent the salesman off to help another couple. 

Nicole hugged Eden and flashed a thumbs-up to Travis. “Good luck. I’m heading back to the model.”

Travis guided Eden toward his office, where he pulled up the site map. After choosing a few plots, they walked around each lot. Eden selected one. They returned to his office where Travis went through the contract with her, promising priority handling for quick occupancy. She was signing the contract when Nicole reappeared.

“You found something?”

“I did. A corner lot with yard space for Max.”

Nicole looped her arm around Eden’s shoulders and squeezed. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Travis thinks he can have it ready in three or four months.” 

“If the weather and deliveries cooperate,” he emphasized.

“Then we’ll all pray for clear skies and on-time deliveries. Let’s head to Sandy’s and celebrate,” Nicole said. 

“Sounds great to me,” Travis answered. “I can meet you there.”

Eden hesitated. “Wait. The Larson’s party—I promised your mom.”

“I already called and told her what was going on. She’s fine with it. You know you didn’t want to go to that thing anyway. Sandy’s will be lots more fun.”

Eden ground her back teeth. She wouldn’t start an argument here in front of Travis. Later, she’d speak to Nicole about making decisions for her without checking first. “Alright. Let’s go.”

*

Sitting at the picnic tables behind the 1950s-style drive-in diner on Austin’s Town Lake, Travis served up milkshakes, hamburgers the size of dessert plates, and crispy French fries. Taking the last shake for himself, he raised it. “To Eden’s new home.”

“Hear, hear.” Nicole tapped her paper cup to his.

Smiling, Eden lifted her cup to theirs. “My new home.”

While Nicole and Eden discussed interior flooring, Travis studied Eden. Nicole had described her aura of melancholy like Pigpen’s black cloud perfectly. Relaxed as she was now, he saw a soft, feminine side. A side worth exploring. Nicole’s idea to liberate Eden Hill from her self-imposed exile might be the best project the two of them ever partnered on.

Especially since Nicole told him Eden wasn’t any more interested in a long-term relationship than he was.

“No tile. Has to be wood,” Eden said.

“Carpet?”

“Not with Max. I’d be cleaning all the time.”

“So, hire a maid,” Nicole countered.

Travis leaned in, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “Whoa, you two always argue like this?”

“Only when she won’t listen.” Nicole gave Eden a playful punch.

“You know, she uses the same tactics with me. What do you say we gang up on her? Two against one.”

Eden extended her hand. “You got a deal.”

He brushed his thumb across the back of her hand. Her skin soft to his calloused thumb.

His cell phone vibrated. Glancing at the number, he stood. “I have to take this. I’ll have a crew at your site first thing tomorrow morning.”

Eden watched his retreat, her pulse still racing from his touch. Her gaze shifted to Nicole’s amused grin. “What?”

“Nothing.” Nicole dipped a French fry in her ketchup cup. “He never remarried, you know.”

Eden took a deep breath. “I’m not interested.”

“You two would be great together.” Nicole popped the fry in her mouth.

“Never.” Eden sipped the last of her milkshake with a deliberate slurping sound.

Nicole winked. “You know what they say about ‘never’.”

AmazonUS | AmazonUK | AmazonCA | AmazonFR

Judythe Morgan is an award-winning, multi-published author who believes stories should offer escape from real life, with strong characters and engaging plots, and satisfying endings, without explicit content.

A lifelong wanderer as an Air Force daughter then an Army wife, Judythe now lives in a small Texas town north of Houston with her husband and their Old English Sheepdog, Finnegan MacCool. They enjoy a busy life with three grown children, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and nine granddogs who keep their lives filled with fun and laughter. 

When she isn’t writing, you’ll likely find her on the porch swing with a glass of sweet tea, reading a book.

Stay connected by subscribing to her free newsletter with subscriber-only sneak peeks at https://judythemorgan.com/contact/ or her blog at https://judythewriter.com

 

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | BookBub | Goodreads

Thank you so much for hanging out with me on Dish the Pie, Judythe. It’s been a pleasure spending time with you. 

Dish the Pie with Monique and Guest D.V Stone

Dish the Pie with Monique & D.V Stone

On Dish the Pie today, D.V Stone joins me to share the recipe for Lightning Cake, one of her favourite pies, and to tell us about A Christmas Storm, her Sweet Inspirational Christmas story. Please help me welcome D.V.

Welcome, D.V! I'm so happy you’re dishing the pie with me! The first question I always ask my guests is: Do you like desserts? 

D.V: I do like desserts, and much to the horror of many people, I’m not a huge fan of chocolate. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a hater, but I prefer vanilla, lemon, cinnamon, and other spices.

Monique: I can identify. When it comes to chocolate, I can take or leave it, but caramel, toffee, fudge, or lemon will get me every time. What is your favourite and would you share the recipe with us?

D.V: One of my go-to recipes is called Lightning Cake. Thus named because you can make it fast. Here’s the recipe.

Ingredients 

1 cup flour  

milk

1 ½ tsp baking powder

¼ cup vegetable oil

¾ cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

Directions

To one cup of flour, add baking powder and sugar. Break 2 eggs in one cup measure and fill the balance of the cup with milk. Stir together. Add oil and vanilla. Bake in a greased 7 x 11 pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

The cake isn’t too sweet, which I like. I usually add a dollop of some kind of jam to the top. I particularly enjoy fig.

Monique: That's quick and simple.

D.V: Now that’s the recipe, but I often go rogue with it. Last time I added cinnamon and instant coffee. Sometimes cocoa powder. It’s your kitchen, have fun.  

Monique: Very versatile. Have you ever eaten pie for breakfast, D.V? If so, what was it?

D.V: Of course! Apple, blueberry, lemon blueberry. It’s fruit. Sometimes in the morning, a little sweet is exactly what you need. 

Monique: Haha…fruit is part of our five-a-day 😊. Are you married? 

D.V: Oh, you may be sorry you asked this one. I am married.

Monique: How long have you been together?

D.V: Thirty-one years.

Monique: How did you meet your husband? 

D.V: We met in a women’s state prison. I’d been there about five years when he was hired as a correction officer.

Monique: Gasp! You were in prison??

D.V: Okay, I’ll let you off the hook. I was an emergency medical technician for the medical department.

Monique: Good one! Loved the hook. How did your husband propose? 

D.V: We actually were engaged in the prison. I was out on the grounds for a call. My radio kept yapping at me about when I was coming back. Dude, when I’m done. So annoying, and I got angry. Afterward, I head back to my office and marched through the connecting door to the charge nurse. She stopped me and pushed me back into my office and closed the door. Pete was behind it and had my ring hanging from a balloon. The prison was in lockdown until he could get to lineup. That’s what all the calls were for. We often mess with people when we meet and drop the bomb of me being in prison, and let it marinate a bit before we let them off the hook.

Monique: You made me chuckle. I love your sense of humour. What do you love most about your husband?

D.V: Pete is a man after God’s own heart, in my opinion. He loves sharing about Jesus. He is part of our missions team at church and goes on short-term missions often. Due to some health problems, I’ve not participated in recent years, but this year I’ll be joining him in distributing Thanksgiving baskets to a community in West Virginia that has a high poverty level. 

Monique: That’s amazing, and very heartwarming, D.V. I pray for your good health. Where would you be more at home? The countryside, suburbia, the city, or beach? 

D.V: Even though I was born in Brooklyn, NY, and lived on and off there in my younger years, I am now a country girl through and through. I lived on a dairy farm for a while, and then lived in a small town, but since marrying Pete, I have lived in a rural part of NJ. Yes, we have rural parts. A lake is in front of my house, and a state forest is behind. If you have ever heard of the Appalachian Trail, it’s less than a mile away. We’re regularly visited by foxes, bears, bobcats, and too many deer to count. 

Monique: That sounds so peaceful! Which type of music do you like? 

D.V: Music is almost always on in my house or car. I reference it in some of my books. I have very eclectic tastes. Classic rock, Jazz, Big Band, and Prime Country are on my secular list. Hymns in a more modern style that still have the original words are on repeat, as well as Praise and Worship.

Monique: It was so lovely getting to know a little about you, D.V. Would you tell us a bit about your book?

A Christmas Storm

D.V Stone

In the spirit of Dickens, a delightfully sweet holiday story about family love and the opportunity for second chances.

An early storm is brewing in Upstate New York, and military wife Lacey Prescott is

caught unprepared when it turns into a blizzard. Defeated by her own lack of preparation and the recall of her husband’s Christmas holiday leave, her joy in the season is replaced by bitterness and anger. 

In an unexpected turn of events, Lieutenant Matthew Prescott’s leave is reinstated. But the journey home is not an easy one since a Nor’easter stands between him and his family. 

Amidst the storm’s fury, Lacey gets a glimpse of the past, present, and possible future, while Matt gets assistance from a mysterious stranger. 

In a heartwarming story of determination, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unexpected kindness of strangers, the possibility of a Christmas reunion brings a sense of hope with a message of love and support from friends and family that embodies the true spirit of Christmas.

Grab a copy of A Christmas Storm

D. V. Stone is known for her engaging and captivating storytelling, often weaving elements of romance, fantasy, and adventure into her novels. Her official website, dvstoneauthor.com, serves as a central hub for fans and new readers alike to explore her literary works, learn about upcoming book releases, and gain insights into her creative process. The site typically features detailed book descriptions, author blogs, and exclusive content such as interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at her writing journey. Additionally, visitors can find information on where to purchase her books, sign up for newsletters, and connect with DV Stone on social media. Whether you’re a long-time follower or new to her stories, dvstoneauthor.com offers a comprehensive and inviting space to immerse yourself in the world of DV Stone’s imagination.

Hali, her rescue dog, always reminds her to let readers know, “Woof, woof.” Which loosely translates to “support your local animal rescue.”

You can learn more about D. V. by following her on Social Media.

Website | Instagram | X | FaceBook | Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | TikTok | YouTube

Thank you for joining me on Dish the Pie with Monique & Guest, D.V. A Christmas Storm looks like an interesting read. I'll be checking it out.

Dish The Pie With Monique & Guest Nina Croft: Lemon Meringue Pie and His Fantasy Bride @entangledpub #ContemporaryRomance #EntangledBrazen

Dish The Pie with Monique & Nina Croft!

It's been a while, but I have another fabulous Dish The Pie guest for you. Please help me welcome my good friend Nina Croft!

Nina writes for Entangled Brazen, and today she's dishing the pie on His Fantasy Bride, book 3 in her Things To Do Before You Die series. And sharing her favourite pie recipe with us.

Nina, welcome! So happy to have you hang with me . The first question I always ask my guests is...

Do you like desserts? What is your favourite and would you share the recipe with us?

Nina: Actually, I’m not a huge dessert fan. I’m more of a savoury person, which is probably just as well as I already spend half my life on a diet. But I do tend to make desserts if we’re having people around for dinner and my favourite at the moment is lemon meringue pie. I love the contrast of the sweet and the sour and the different textures, crisp pastry (well, it’s supposed to be crisp though mine sometimes turns a little soggy) gooey lemon, soft melty meringue. Hmmm – might have to go make one….

Monique: Gasp! Not a huge dessert fan? How do you function? Lemon meringue pie...Yumbo, I'd love a slice. How about giving us your recipe?

Recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemon Meringue Pie

For the pastry

• 175g plain flour
• 100g cold butter, cut in small pieces
• 1 tbsp icing sugar
• 1 egg yolk

For the filling

• 2 level tbsp cornflour
• 100g golden caster sugar
• finely grated zest 2 large lemon
• 125ml fresh lemon juice (from 2-3 lemons)
• juice 1 small orange
• 85g butter, cut into pieces
• 3 egg yolks and a 1 whole egg

For the meringue

• 4 egg white, room temperature
• 200g golden caster sugar
• 2 level tsp cornflour

1. For the pastry, put the flour, butter, icing sugar, egg yolk (save the white for the meringue) and 1 tbsp cold water into a food processor. Using the pulse button so the mix is not overworked, process until the mix starts to bind. Tip the pastry onto a lightly floured surface, gather together until smooth, then roll out and line a 23 x 2.5cm loose-bottom fluted flan tin. Trim and neaten the edges. Press pastry into flutes. The pastry is quite rich, so don’t worry if it cracks, just press it back together. Prick the base with a fork, line with foil, shiny side down, and chill for 1⁄2-1 hour (or overnight).

2. Put a baking sheet in the oven and heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Bake the pastry case ‘blind’ (filled with dry beans) for 15 mins, then remove the foil and bake a further 5-8 mins until the pastry is pale golden and cooked. Set aside. (Can be done a day ahead if you want to get ahead.) Lower the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.

3. While the pastry bakes, prepare the filling: mix the cornflour, sugar and lemon zest in a medium saucepan. Strain and stir in the lemon juice gradually. Make orange juice up to 200ml/7fl oz with water and strain into the pan. Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and smooth. Once the mixture bubbles, remove from the heat and beat in the butter until melted. Beat the egg yolks (save white for meringue) and whole egg together, stir into the pan and return to a medium heat. Keep stirring vigorously for a few minutes, until the mixture thickens and plops from the spoon. (It will bubble, but doesn’t curdle.) Take off the heat and set aside while you make the meringue.


4. Put the egg whites in a large bowl. Whisk to soft peaks, then add half the sugar a spoonful at a time, whisking between each addition without overbeating. Whisk in the cornflour, then add the rest of the sugar as before until smooth and thick. Quickly reheat the filling and pour it into the pastry case. Immediately put spoonfuls of meringue around the edge of the filling (if you start in the middle the meringue may sink), then spread so it just touches the pastry (this will anchor it and help stop it sliding). Pile the rest into the centre, spreading so it touches the surface of the hot filling (and starts to cook), then give it all a swirl. Return to the oven for 18-20 mins until the meringue is crisp and slightly coloured. Let the pie sit in the tin for 30 mins, then remove and leave for at least another 1⁄2-1 hr before slicing. Eat the same day.

Created by Crystal Swan for Dish The Pie With Monique

Monique: Have you ever eaten pie for breakfast? If so, what was it?

Nina:  Often. Usually the night after we’ve had people for dinner. And the last one was guess what…. lemon meringue pie.

Monique: What’s your favourite food?

Nina: Cheese! All sorts of cheese, though I’m particularly fond on stilton and really mature cheddar and melty camembert and dolcelatte and… I also like food with cheese on it – I absolutely love pizza, especially four cheese pizza.

Monique: Okay, I'm jealous. I love cheesy foods, but I can't have them because I'm allergic to cheese. What do you love most about life?

Nina: I think, the ability to be able to appreciate what I have and not take things for granted. I have a fabulous husband and I live in a beautiful place, surrounded by animals, and I get to write every day. It’s the life I always dreamed of, but it still strikes me frequently, just how lucky I am. And I’ll sit back (often under a fig tree with a glass of wine in my hand) and just stare at the beauty around me.

Monique: Awww. Living a life of thanksgiving makes all the difference. Your life sounds bliss! When was the last time you cried?

Nina: Yesterday. I saw on Facebook that a friend’s dog, Jessie, had died. She was a friend when we first moved out here to Spain (she now lives in Florida) and we both got dogs around the same time, and we used to walk them together. Mine, Lola, died last year, and it was heart-breaking, like the end of an era. Learning Jessie had died as well just brought it all back.

Monique: Sorry though I'm sure Jessie and Lola are reunited, and Lola is having a wonderful time showing Jessie around their new home. Are you married? How did you meet your husband? How did he propose? How long have you been together?

Nina: Yes, I’m married, to a wonderful guy called Rob. We met when I was nineteen and just going into my second year at university. I was on a field trip in the wilds of Essex, studying voles and things, and Rob worked at the field station. I was so drunk that whole week (a total character aberration – I usually hardly drink at all – honest) and we sort of got together at the party the final night. We’ve been together for over thirty years and married for twenty-five this year. And do you want to know something really bad…I can’t remember how he proposed.  That’s awful! But marriage was never a big deal to me, just being together is what’s important.

Monique: Awww... Okay, now please tell us about your new release.

His Fantasy Bride

Things To Do Before You Die #3

by

Nina Croft

Entangled Publishing

All Rights Reserved

I can’t marry you. You don’t love me.

Two sentences, that’s all Gabrielle Harper left Vito D’Ascensio when she vanished the night before their wedding. If he wants his bride back, he’s going to have to hunt her down and prove his love. But when he searches for Gabrielle, he finds Gabby instead; it seems his perfect bride is nothing but a fantasy. 


After six months, Gabby presumes it’s over, an episode in her life she’s totally ashamed of. But now Vito is back. He’s the one man she can never have, but as desire explodes between them, she has a tough time remembering why they shouldn’t be together. Oh, right, her family hates him, and he’s done terrible things. Or has he? But it doesn’t matter. When he finds out the truth about who she really is…he’ll never want to see her again.

“I think the sex has muddled your mind.”

Vito caught her gaze and held it. “Then no more sex until this is resolved.”

Her brows drew together. “It’s not resolved?”

“Not by a long way.” He reached across and took her hand. The move caught her by surprise, and she didn’t pull back. The stroke of his long fingers over her palm sent shivers up her arm. “I believe my Gabrielle is under there somewhere.”

Oh, no, she’s not.

“I believe you’ve built me up into some sort of paragon that you can’t live up to, but that’s not who I am.”

Want to bet?

“I think you should give me a chance to prove to you that I’m just an ordinary man.”

Hah! Of course you are. Not.

“Just give me some time. It’s all I’m asking. Let me show you the real me. Sicily was time out for both of us. Let’s see how we get along in real life. Just a few weeks.”

When she remained silent, he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm, and she tingled everywhere.

“Please.”

Oh God, how the hell am I supposed to say no when he asks so nicely? Not fair.

She was weak willed as well as pathetic. Somehow she couldn’t bring herself to deny him. She’d actually hurt him when she’d run. When he hadn’t come after her she’d presumed his feeling were shallow, but maybe he’d felt too much.

“Gabby, say something.”

What?

She was so tempted to give him his few weeks. But it would be wrong. If she was a decent person, she would make a clean break now. Just get it over with and tell him the truth. He’d hate her. But he’d hate her even more if she strung him along, pretended there was a chance for them, until the truth came out—as was inevitable. There were no words bad enough for what she’d done.

On the other hand, there was a chance—probably quite a big chance, huge in fact, considering her personality—that he’d spend time with her and come to the conclusion, all on his own, that they were totally unsuited for each other.

And he’d walk away. She wouldn’t need to tell him anything.

God, she was a coward.

But it would be better for him as well as her. She was doing him a favor.

Self-delusion at its best.

She took a huge, deep breath. “Okay.”

After all, how long would it take him to realize that Gabrielle just didn’t exist? Then he could move on. Yeah, she was doing this for him, to atone a little for her sins. Totally for him.

And now who’s the liar?

But he was right about one thing—sex did cloud the issue.

“But no sex.”

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Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia, which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of nine-to-five work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.

Nina writes all types of romance, often mixed with elements of the paranormal and science fiction.

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