Welcome Guest Blogger, Darlene Franklin

Years ago—as far back as the last millennium—I had plotted out a series with a restaurant owner, a fire fighter, and an immigrations officer. The proposal went the way of most of those early ideas—into the dustbin.

Since then, I have written over thirty books, including six historical romances set in Maple Notch, Vermont. I finished the historical books with Home Front Dreams, set during World War II, but decided to revisit my favorite town for contemporary romances.

My old idea for a restaurant owner named Phyl (and a food critic) came together with the historic Bailey Mansion in Maple Notch. Phyl became Felicity Finch, owner of the Bailey Mansion Bed & Breakfast and FeliciTea’s Shoppe. Family emergencies have eaten most of her startup money and she’s in danger of losing the home that has been in her family for over two hundred years.

My hero was updated as well. Felicity turned to Travis Cobb, the host of B & B or Bust, to save the failing business. They clash on his methods—and his rejection of her Christian faith.

Here is a recipe for Maple Walnut Muffins, provided by Angie Breidenbach.

Maple Walnut Muffins

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

1 Tbs. of chia seeds in 3 Tbs. of water (let sit 5 min.)

2 eggs

1 cup 1% low-fat buttermilk

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup apple sauce

1 tsp liquid maple flavoring

Mix all wet ingredients.

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/2 cup white flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon                                                                                                         

Mix all dry ingredients and then add to wet ingredients.

1/2 cup chopped candied walnuts 

Place one small spoonful in the bottom of paper muffin cups in muffin tray. Top nuts with muffin batter, sprinkle any remaining nuts and spice evenly across tops of muffins. Bake in 400 degree oven for about 20 min. Let cool.

To make candied walnuts

1 egg white, gently stirred to not foam, but liquify.

1 lb. walnuts

Stir egg white into nuts coating them completely.

1 tsp cinnamon, sprinkled over nuts

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cloves

Mix spices into coated walnuts.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 min. on lightly oil-sprayed foil covering cookie sheet.

Turn nuts and bake another 5 min.

Cool and chop amount needed for Maple Walnut Muffins.

Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over thirty books and has written more than 250 devotionals. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont.

You can find Darlene online elsewhere at http://darlenehfranklinwrites.blogspot.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/darlene.franklin.3 .