While the rest of the US is out handling the crowds, fighting for their holiday gifts, some of us like to stay in, shop online, or just ignore Black Friday all to together. This year, join us in our second annual Black Friday Blog Hop! It’s a ONE DAY hop where we’re giving away prizes, talking about books we love, and most likely eating left over turkey. 🙂
The hop is November 23rd and is ONE DAY only.
And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.
But that’s not all….
We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
Welcome to my little corner of the hop!
To me, Black Friday begins the Christmas present buying blitz, but also the start of the Christmas season. And what’s Christmas without all the yummy deserts? Here’s a simple candy cane recipe to start out the holiday.
Candy Cane Recipe
Be careful! It will be very hot. Once it is just barely cool enough to handle, the candy must be pulled and turned on itself over and over until it is no longer clear.
Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- Red food coloring
Preparation:
Cook sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar to a very hard ball stage (use candy thermometer: 250 to 265 degrees F.). Remove from heat and add peppermint. Divide into two parts and add red food coloring to one part and mix well.
Pull pieces of each part to form ropes and twist red around the white to make candy canes.
Yield: 1 dozen
Recipe Source: “From my Great-Grandmother Maggie’s cookbook…” —Jonni McCoy
Candy canes have always been one of my favorite Christmas treats, and in my m/m erotic romance MERRY CHRISTMAS, SHELTON, these sweet confections quickly become one of Shelton’s favorites as well!
Prize Time! I’d like to give away a PDF copy of any one of my ‘Shelton’ books to a commenter who tells me what their favorite holiday candy/cookie is. Don’t forget to leave your contact info! The winner will be picked by Random.org
Blurb:
Can Shelton and Nevil overcome the obstacles of a blizzard, a baby, and one hot redhead and find their way to a merry Christmas?
Shelton and Nevil have rented a cozy cabin in the mountains in which to spend the Christmas holiday. Tree is lit. Presents sparkle. Shelton anticipates a very merry Christmas indeed. But then a blizzard springs up, landing a sexy redhead on their doorstep looking like trouble in a pretty package.
Tommy brings a message for Nevil, but when he first hits on Shelton in the shower, then offers to drive Nevil to his sister’s side while she has her baby, Shelton begins to wonder just how this mixed up Christmas is going to end.
Mini Excerpt:
Nevil had stolen a candy cane from the tree. “Desert,” he explained, settling into the quilts with an arm across Shelton’s bare shoulders. Shelton watched the red and white stripes disappear between his lover’s perfect lips and his dick thickened. Nevil caught his rapt gaze, leaned over, and gave him a peppermint kiss.
“Taste?” he asked and held the candy to Shelton’s lips. Shelton caught the cane between his teeth and his darling gasped slightly as he sucked with purpose on the sweet end. “Oh, lord,” Nevil said, sounding breathless, and pushed Shelton down and straddled him. His hard cock pushed against Shelton’s stomach when he stretched across him and licked at the cane still caught in his lips.
Removing the candy, Nevil gave him a deep, lingering kiss, then pulled back, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. “I know somewhere else I’d like to stick this,” he confessed and gave the candy a provocative lick.
Shelton blinked, though he shouldn’t have been surprised by anything Nevil’s wicked imagination suggested. “I’m not sure…”
His sweetheart chuckled, but his voice was a caress when he bent to Shelton’s ear and whispered, “Let me pleasure you, love.”
Buy Link: Breathless Press
Continue the hop Here!
beccaboo97200@att.net
I love almond cookies. Every year we make my grandmother’s recipe.
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
Wow so much nice stuff to eat at Christmas. I think my fav has to be Ferrero Rocher because we only have them at Christmas and they are just so yummy. Speaking of yummy I am dying to get my hands on Shelton so I hope I win. Thanks for being part of the hop. SJThomaswpr@hotmail.co.uk
Homemade chocolate cookies and gingerbread.
Thanks!
dita(dot)skarste(at)gmail(dot)com
i adore gingerbread cookies
parisfan_ca@yahoo.com
macadamia cookies
bituin76 at hotmail dot com
Thank you for sharing the recipe!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
peanut butter cookies!
miriam.whitewolf@gmail.com
Miriam, you’re my winner!! Thanks everyone for playing. 🙂
Chocolate, chocolate chip cookies. I’m not a black Friday shopper. lisarayns at gmail dot com
OOO I am in and trying the recipe too!!
musings-of-a-bookworm@hotmail.co.uk
We make tons of cookies in our house. I can’t wait to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
planterofhope(at)aol(dot)com
Pinwheels – lcahoon7(at)gmail(dot)com
candy cane sugar cookies are my favorites angelwolfmystic@yahoo.com
I always make chocolate cookies, oatmeal cookies, and gingerbread.
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
I love, love gingerbread cookies! thanks 😉
swordlily_girl[at]yahoo[dot]com
Mint Chocolate cookies Thanks for the giveaway
crystaley73 at yahoo dot com
I make Spritz, Kifle and Shortbread cookies. Thanks for the giveaway.
kareninnc at gmail dot com
I do not like crowds so BF shopping is not for me! I will be spending my day hopping and then snuggled up reading! Well that is after I decide on what new book I have just added to my to be read list! It gets longer every hop! Thanks!
I am thankful for all the wonderful books I am finding on the hop!
grapeapril75(at)gmail.com
Love cookies! christiethemom@hotmail.com
Thank you for the lovely recipe! I love Christmas time baking~ candy cane sugar cookies and white chocolate chocolate cookies are a must for my cookie exchanges! Thank you for the lovely giveaway~<3
MostlyMisha [at] gmail [dot] com
I love having chocolate fudge! Happy Black Friday! Thanks for the chance to win some great prizes!
I’m an online shopper and prefer not to deal with the crowds!
kacidesigns AT yahoo DOT com
I didn’t go out this year. I’m waiting for cyber Monday. But DH had to go in at 8pm last night. 🙂 But I’ve started shopping. We love making candy and fudge this time of year!
joyskidsdidit at gmail.com
Chocolate chip cookies!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
I skipped Black Friday shopping this year.
Hopping by.
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com
I’ve completely spoiled my children. They have come to expect homemade chocolate chip cookies (they say it’s santa’s favorite,) My favorite though peanut butter blossoms. Can’t beat having a cookie with a hershey kiss right smack in the middle of it like an extra treat.
purple975@ msn.com
Thanks for participating in the hop!
xxsquigglesxx(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite cookies ever are the peanut butter ones with the Hershey’s kiss in the middle. SO GOOD!
JYL22075 at gmail dot com
This is the BEST way to spend Black Friday. Sitting at home, hopping with old friends and making new ones. I can’t handle the crowds anymore so I only do Black Friday shopping online if I do any. I tend to pick up gifts throughout the year so come November I’m finished. That way I can spread out the purchasing and not spend a fortune at the time of the year when my job is at its slowest and my paycheck is at its lowest. Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
reneebennett35 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Hi! Happy Holidays to you! My favorite is plain old chocolate chip cookies. Yum! Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaway! Best wishes and many blessings to you!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
I love gingerbread cookies.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Since I am in Scotland, it’s got to be Christmas pudding! Followed closely by mince pies! soozbuch@gmail.com
I like chocolate chip cookies.
Thanks for participating.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I guess if I have to choose, my favorite would be pecan pie, but I would never turn any sugar down. LOL Happy Holidays.
sandywolters(dot)author(at)gmail(dot)com
For me, Christmas is cookie season, and I can’t wait to start baking! Thanks for being in the hop!
jochibi AT yahoo DOT com
I love gingerbread cake with applesauce on it! Yummy
susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com
I do some Black Friday shopping, but I’m more addicted to Cyber Monday. No lines, No rude people, free shipping…. how can you go wrong!
angelheart618@gmail.com
I no longer go Black Friday shopping. Too many crazy people out there. I don’t have the patience I had when I was younger, LOL. So today I am staying in and blog hopping, instead of shopping! angadair@nwcable.net Thanks for the hop!
Gimmee fudge, fudge with marshmallows and pecans; holidays or anydays gimmee fudge! Seems that I am in good company with my avoidance of the shopping madness. Three cheers for online shopping!
Would love to try making my own candy canes this year! Thanks for sharing, and for your giveaway! My favourite treat is homemade gingerbread cookies! No Black friday shopping for me, maybe next year I’ll try shopping online, but never in a crowd.
oddball2003 at hotmail dot com
Anything chocolate for me! Thanks for participating.
katieamanda1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
Thanks for the hop stop and the recipe!
melhalp at msn.com
dark chocolate covered pretzels.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
I love Christmas bark candy 🙂
Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com
My grandmother who is 97 now made Christmas wreaths every year and now I make them for my grandchildren and nieces and nephews. They look forward to them just like I did when I was small. Everyone walks around with green teeth. lol Thanks for doing the hop!
gatormaryd(at)yahoo(dot)com
Lots of pies!! My favorite is bourbon pecan pie with bourbon whipped cream…Yum!
mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I love homemade chocolate chip cookies and kolacki! Thanks for the giveaway.
jillynann(at)gmail(dot)com
I wish I cooked so I could try your recipe! LOL I am horrible at it and am lucky enough to have a wonderful boyfriend who cooks for us. I do look forward to seeing all the Christmas decorations that are hopefully put up this weekend!
Thanks so much for being a part of the hop and for the giveaway.
Happy Holidays,
Marlena
charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oatmeal chocolate chip.
harvester5905, please follow back
Sorry, heres my email.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway and the recipe!
nerdswillruleoneday@yahoo.com
Thank you for the candy cane recipe, the post & the excerpt, as well as, the giveaway. My favorite holiday cookie is Russian teacakes/Mexican wedding cake. It’s a little ball like cookie with chopped nuts in the dough & then after it’s baked you roll it in confectioners sugar. Yum!!!
JessieL62@comcast.net
Snowball cookies – yum!!
Thank you!
Deliachic3@hotmail.com
That’s a tough one. I’m going to have to go with coconut clusters. My mom makes them every year and they’re absolutely amazing!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
peppermint bark
Thanks for the chance!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Never knew you could make candy canes at home! Thanks for the giveaway!
Jesse
jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com
Sugar cookies! Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com