Welcome one and all to Liza's happy home.
Jess, come say hi to our guests.
Jess: Hello. Do you have any doggie treats on you?
Liza: No Jess, today we are making treats for our guests.
Jess: What type of treats?
Liza: Do you remember in Worst Week Ever, Carrie makes chocolate turtles? Well, I'm going to share her recipe.
Jess: But those turtles had the narcotic Europa in them.
Liza: It wasn't in the recipe. It was in the dark chocolate from Russia. If you buy semi-sweet drops from a normal store, you'll be fine...well, you wouldn't be fine. Dogs aren't supposed to eat chocolate, but humans will be fine.
So here it is:
Carrie Hanson's Grandmother's recipe for Chocolate Turtles.
They come in handy when you need to bribe someone for a password.
This is your objective:
Be warned this will be a big turtle.
Make sure the caramel flows halfway over the legs and head to prevent wandering body parts.
Then cover the top with melted chocolate.
You might want to avoid this particular supply of chocolate because it turned out to belong to a scary Russian mafia chef, who doesn't share nicely.
Now the actual recipe
Ingredients
• A bag of walnuts (shelled)
• A bag of pecans (shelled)
• A bag of brazil nuts (naked)
. Chocolate
. Caramel
. Chocolate
. Caramel
Buy a big bag of semi-sweet chocolates unless you find rich dark chocolate bar in your pantry and you are fairly certain they don't belong to the Russian mafia.
If you want to make your own caramel:
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter, cut into small cubes
1. Prepare a large pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Construct your turtles according to the above diagram.
2. Combine the cream and condensed milk in a small saucepan, and place the saucepan on a burner set to the lowest heat setting. You want the milk and cream to be warm, but do not allow it to boil.
3. In a medium-large saucepan combine the corn syrup, water, and granulated sugar over medium-high heat. Stir the candy until the sugar dissolves.
4. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and cook until it reaches 250 degrees.
5. Add the softened butter chunks and the warm milk-cream mixture. The temperature should go down about 30 degrees.
6. Continue to cook the caramel, stirring constantly so that the bottom does not scorch. Cook until the thermometer reads 244, and the caramel is a beautiful dark golden brown.
NOTE: You can skip 2-6 and just buy caramel cubes at the store and melt them. But make sure you unwrap them or you'll make a terrible inedible mess.
7. Remove the caramel from the heat and allow it to cool slightly then generously spoon on your turtle structure. Be sure the caramel covers half the pecan legs and half the brazil nut head.
8. Melt your chocolate in a double boiler (or a microwave) then spoon it on top of the caramel
9. Cool your newly formed turtles in the refrigerator if you can find room. If you leave them out on the counter, they will mysteriously disappear.
Disclaimer: Liza makes no promises this will turn out well because she doesn't follow recipes. Nor if you use bars of fine dark chocolate can she promise Ivan the Russian mafia cook won't come after you.
Liza: Hope you have better luck with it than Carrie, because she's still apologizing for her turtles, two books later.
Worst Week Ever
by Liza O'Connor
New Adult, Humorous, Contemporary
Blurb
What do you get when you put a hardworking, can-do middle-class young woman together with a egoistical, outrageous, billionaire boss, then throw in the worst week of disasters imaginable?
Book 1 of the 3 book series A Long Road to Love, named Worst Week Ever.
Trent Lancaster spends one month without his Executive Assistant (or as his drivers refers to Carrie: 'Trent's brain, left hand, and right hand'. He's had a miserable month without her at his side and to ensure it never happens again, he intends to marry this brilliant beauty. Only given all the times he's threatened to fire her, he's not sure she even likes him. However, the future of his company and his happiness depend upon him succeeding, so Trent begins a slow one week seduction, that happens to coincide with Carrie Hanson's Worst Week Ever when everything that can go wrong does so in hilarious form. (Hilarious to the reader, Carrie is not having much fun this week.)
And here's an Excerpt featuring Ivan the Cook and the turtles.
Sam hurried to the back entrance where he had to use both a security card and a physical key in a dead bolt. Upon entering, he turned and secured the lock, hearing the click as the security bolt fell into place. However, the click that echoed it sounded all too familiar and had nothing to do with a door.
He slowly raised his hands. “Take my money. I’m not going to fight you over it.”
“I don’t want your money. I want my chocolate bars,” a man with a familiar Russian accent replied.
“Ivan?” He lowered his hands and faced the chef. “Damn man, you scared me half to death!”
“You will be dead if you don’t return my chocolate.”
Sam really didn’t want to die yet, and certainly not for bars of chocolate, but that outcome seemed all too likely. Some serious firepower stared at him down a well-used, battle scarred silencer.
“With your left hand, slowly remove the gun you carry under your left arm.”
“I’m not terribly flexible.”
“Do it or I shoot you in the kneecap.”
Sam twisted his left hand to reach underneath his left armpit and, other than a bit of discomfort, found nothing. He’d left his gun at Dawn’s house. “I forgot my gun. I had a fight with my girlfriend and stormed out of her apartment.”
Ivan didn’t believe him until Sam stripped down naked
Once convinced Sam was truly unarmed, Ivan nudged him with his gun to the main room. Two U.S. army duffle bags, stuffed to the brim, one his, one Mars’, sat on the floor
“Am I going somewhere?” Sam asked.
“No, but they’ll get me through customs and out of the country faster.”
Ivan’s plan to take the duffle bag Sam had earned with four years of hard service in Iraq pissed him off more than threats of death or forced nakedness.
“Mars and I are kind of attached to those bags.”
“Cut the bullshit and tell me where my chocolate bars are.”
Sam decided to play dumb. “I’ve heard of people addicted to chocolate, but Ivan, you’ve gone way overboard, man. You need professional help.”
Leave a comment with email address to be entered in the Grand Prize Giveaway.
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Also
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Otherwise you can buy it at all these places:
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
LIZA O'CONNOR
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This sounds like a great recipe. Loved the book. Tweeted.
ReplyDeleteThat recipe sounds delicious, gaining weight just reading about it.
ReplyDeleteskpetal at hotmail dot com
This was a rather hilarious stop on the blog hop! It took me a little while to stop laughing in order to type up this reply (it's hard to type while trying to wipe up the coffee that wasn't exactly contained in your mouth when you weren't expecting to laugh while hoping along :P ) I am really looking forward to finding out more about the "A Long Road to Love" series! Thank you for the author page link and the newsletter link and also thank you for the recipe for the Chocolate Turtles. I am definitely going to give them a try!
ReplyDeleteThank you and I hope everyone has the happiest of holidays imaginable!
Shelly H
booski24@hotmail.com
Thank you for such exuberant appreciation. Most of my blogs require a spew alert, so stop by more often sans liquids.
DeleteI'll be sending out your copy of Worst Week Eve at the end of the night
DeleteThank you so much for the incredible recipe and for joining the giveaway!
ReplyDeletemelaniemcclure@knology.net
Thanks for sharing Liz;) Recipe sounds great...so does the book:) Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteOops, forgot my contact info - kaydeeroyal AT msn DOT com
ReplyDeleteMy mom's favorite candy was turtles. We always got her a box for her birthday and Christmas presents. I'm sure they didn't use Russian Mafia chocolate but I'm also sure I can't make them. You already read about how inept I am in the kitchen. So I'll keep buying them and hope that I don't accidentally get Russian Mafia chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI wish you many sales on your book! I loved the idea and excerpt. I'm also glad Trent is going to get his own story. And maybe be redeemed.
Melissa
daringzoey at yahoo.com
Thank you for the awesome giveaway. I love homemade mashed potatoes. esseboo@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteOk so I am not stealing any chocolate from Ivan :) Thanks for the except and for the turtle recipe... I liked you page and signed up for newsletter.
ReplyDeletej.m.platt83@gmail.com
Smart woman and thanks for the signup. I'll send you Worst Week Ever at the end of the night.
DeleteThe chocolate looks awesome, I'm going to have to try it! I signed up for your newsletter and liked your author page as well! Thank you! Caraolson24@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThat chocolate does look good, doesn't it. First edible thing I've ever painted that looks edible. I'll be sending you out a copy of Worst Week Ever tonight.
DeleteThese little treats look wonderful. I could see myself whipping these up when anyone pops over. Thanks for sharing. tania.f.walsh@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteCan't wait too make the turtles the kids will love them! Liked author pg on facebook and signed up for your newsletter!
ReplyDeletebbyg612@yahoo.com
Kids love them because they are toys that can be eaten.
DeleteI'll be sending out your copy of the funniest book I've ever written this evening.
I understand Ivans obsession...I feel that way myself about my goodies..lol!!! You lose some of that after becoming a mom though, Excerpt looked great! I liked your fB page and joined your mailing list!! Look forward to more adventures in humor!!
ReplyDeleteviajeradelmar@aol.com
And you will receive it. I'll send you Worst Week Ever this evening. (11/14) Don't drink when reading. HUGE spewing risk.
DeleteShould I try the recipe or read the book? I think both is in order. I love Liza's books! lauralbearden@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteNice recipe. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeletemimismithblue AT gmail DOT com
OMG those look fabulous. Thanks for posting that recipe. woofiepublications@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, but if Ivan shows up, run.
DeleteThis is why I love blog hops. I get to find amazing (new to me) authors & wonderful recipes too...lol Big Hugs & thanks. I liked your fb & added my email :D Cant wait to get to know u & you books & blog :D Big Hugs
ReplyDeleteMissie Jones
missie25524 (at) netzero (dot) com
I'll send you a copy of Worst Week Ever this evening. Prepare to laugh...Some have advised against reading it in public. (People stare at you when you laugh aloud.)
Deletelol - wandering body parts and naked Brazil nuts - too much for me to handle. I love turtles. Will have to try this recipe.
ReplyDeleteTweeted.
I imagine all author will read 'wandering body parts' as an editing nightmare...
DeleteThanks for participating in the blog hop!
ReplyDeleteeliseandtegan@gmail.com
Followed your newsletter and liked you on FB
Thanks, I'll send you Worst Week Ever tonight.
DeleteLove the turtles! If I make them I'll be very careful about where my chocolate comes from (though imported dark chocolate does sound pretty delicious)
ReplyDeletedancingcelt at gmail dot com
Yes, Carrie is still apologizing for her turtles two books later.
Deletethanks for joining the hop
ReplyDeleteashlynnwiliams81 at gmail dot come
sadly people in our house are allergic to nuts, so no turtles for us. marie.mattingly88@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThat is a terrible and dangerous allergy. You have my sympathies.
DeleteAnything with chocolate can't be half bad, right?
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great, I'm definitely TBR'ing it!
I've also liked your author page and signed up for your newsletter :) (on fb I am Liz Ziol******)
nice to meet you!
Liz
liz at fictional candy dot com
Thanks for the support. I'll send you out a copy of Worst Week Ever this evening.
Deletelove the recipe! I'm gaining weight following the blog hop! lol
ReplyDeleteI also liked your author page & signed up for your newsletter
Robin
lovbooks641@gmail.com
Well, I'll be sending you Worst Week Ever later tonight. And I agree with you about the blogs. I keep wandering to the kitchen after I visit a blog searching for chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI think I need to make candy this year. Too many awesome cady recipes keep crossing my path. Yumm delphinareadstoomuch at yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteYes, this blog hop will end any diet that exists.
DeleteWell, it worked for me. I haven't smiled in awhile and I am still smiling. I loved the trailer and I think, well I know I would enjoy your story, it's brilliant. I have yet to make all my rounds but I love the turtle. I took a picture of it and of the recipe. I definitely would love to make this one day. I will make it one day. I loved it and it really does look like a turtle. That's great!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say thank you for bringing some light back in my life. I've been overwhelmed since my husband's job closed down and we're barely paying the bills with what unemployment he gets. I think this is a precious gift that you all have gotten together to do.I tried early on to start early by entering giveaway after giveaway, until I was entering 20&30 at a time. I just was trying to win Amazon gift cards, even if they were $1 because I know every dollar helps. I wasn't lucky at all. I found this giveaway and I would jump up and down, cry, and be so grateful to win but if I don't then it will have to be ok. I've struggled all my life and I will make it up to my daughter somehow, someway. I think this is a great thing you all are doing.
Angela
angie1977t@gmail.com
I hope things get better for you Angie, and any time you need a laugh stop by my blog and have one on the house. :)
DeleteThis is a great excerpt! Going to add to my tbr list! What a funny recipe! I think I will buy my turtles instead of making them! Thanks and have a great day! amybowens34@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy. It's always safer to buy Turtles assembled, but you'll rarely find one using Brazil, walnut and pecans.
DeleteEnjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDeletebituin76 at hotmail dot com
Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThanks for the amazing giveaway!
ReplyDeleteelizabeth @ bookattict . com (subscribed)
GFC: BookAttict
G+: Book Attict
Thanks! I'll be sending you Worst Week Ever today
DeleteChocolate, Caramel, and Books....what a great combination.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe and for a new book to read.
FB liked-Michelle Bledsoe
Email sign up-koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
Thanks,
DeleteI'll send you Worst Week Ever today.
Thanks for the amazing hop.
ReplyDeletemagic5905 at embarqmail dot com
Thanks for stopping by
DeleteSounds delicious, I love turtles!
ReplyDeleteHowardgirls2003@gmail.com
me too.
DeleteSounds delicious hope I have as much fun when I try it. Thanks for sharing the hop and giveaways. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season. evamillien at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteyou too Eva
DeleteSounds yummy. Love the tie in to the book
ReplyDeletesmurfettev AT gmail DOT com
Thanks Sheri
DeleteThank you for participating. :)
ReplyDeletetrb0917 at gmail dot com
I love Turtles!! Thanks for the recipe and the excerpt!!!
ReplyDeletejasdarts at hotmail dot com
Aww! Cute and delicious! Turtles are my mommas favorite! This recipe is a must read! Thank you for sharing and for the giveaway!! Your book looks awesome! Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteshadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
a must make, not read. lol sorry.
DeleteI did wonder about that.
DeleteThanks for the recipe and the chance to win!
ReplyDeletenatasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
You are most welcomed
DeleteThanks for the wonderful recipe, blurb and giveaway. I'm love chocolate,so this recipe is up my alley. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
ReplyDeleteKoala571 (at) msn (dot) com
Thanks Kathy you have a fab holidays too.
DeleteOMG, I love turtles!! Can't wait to try this!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for being part of this wonderful hop.
Karen(dot)arrowood(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
Thank you for being part of the hop. mrscrabbyfan(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDelete