Recipe from LaDonna Paulette

LaDonna has always been a dreamer. Growing up, she was the gal with her head in a book, spinning stories long after the lights went out at night. Like many writers, her road to publication was long. Raising two daughters was a delight she didn’t want to miss out on. And she refuses to discuss the dreaded day jobs here. Too boring. Thankfully, her stories kept whispering until she faced them. And she’s glad she did.
She shares her life with her husband, Randy, and two daughters and their families. Her five grandchildren bring her constant joy.  LaDonna enjoys living in a small town in Tennessee, and the characters she writes about share this setting. She and her family live close to Barkley and KY lakes, and they all enjoy boating. Born in Arkansas, and coming from a family rich in Southern traditions, it runs deep in LaDonna’s bones, and she’s grateful for those memories. She writes women’s fiction where hope and love survive.  Small towns are her landscape, and quirky characters are her writer’s palette.

BUTTERFLY WISHES was recently released by Tiger Publications.  DREAMING OF NICK, her next book, will be due out in the fall of 2008.  And Ruby’s Daughter will be a spring 2009 release.  A sequel will follow in the fall of 2009.  You can visit LaDonna’s website to find out more about her books.  Besides her personal website, she blogs at Magical Musings on Fridays, and is proud to be a part of Write Attitude, an inspirational website for writers.

BUTTERFLY WISHES
Having experienced great personal loss, two children form a deep bond under an old willow tree; a place they believe is a magical doorway to Heaven.  Colin O’Brien’s parents died, and he lives with his granny.  Fey Wright lost a mama and, having relocated to this sleepy town of O’Dessa TN with her daddy, isn’t expecting much.  What Fey and Colin discover together is a magical journey that brings miracles to light, and the power of belief in this world and the one beyond.

When Fey returns to her hometown, years later as a grown woman, she discovers the true magic of her childhood tree, and that love is a precious gift.  Butterfly wishes are waiting for those that truly see.

 

PERFECT STEW

¾ cup Kraft Italian dressing
2 lb. beef for stew, cut into 1-inch chunks.
6 slices Oscar Mayer Bacon, chopped
1 large onion, chopped.
3 cups sliced mushrooms
3 cups sliced carrots
3 medium potatoes, peeled, cut into large chunks.
1 can (14 ½ oz) stewed tomatoes undrained.
1 can (14 ½ oz) beef broth

Place dressing and beef in large resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate 30 minutes to marinate. Cook bacon in large pot, remove and drain. Add onion and mushrooms to pot, cook on med heat 10 minutes. Remove beef from marinade, discard marinade.  Add beef, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes with their liquid, broth and crumbled bacon to pot. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 hour 15 minutes, uncover; continue to simmer 15 minutes or until meat is tender and sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. 

I love this stew, and have shared it with my family many times.  I also simmer it longer than the recipe calls for.  I love slow cooking!