Donna Schlachter – Story Behind the Story & Recipe for Romance – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Donna Schlachter shares her inspiration for her Cozy Mystery, Guilt-Free Muffins, plus a recipe for Almost Zero Guilt Calorie Muffins. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: Jan 4th, 2025. Here’s Donna:

How far would you go if you thought you were losing the love of your life?

That’s the question I came up with that started this story, which was originally published a couple of years ago as a limited time anthology. I looked over the themes and plots of several other stories in the collection, all of which were really good. The idea was to release a book that would resonate with moms, grandmothers, and women in general. I’d never actually written women’s fiction before, but I knew how I would answer this question for myself: as far as it took to save my marriage.

Then I came up with ideas that would drive wedges between a husband and a wife. Secrets. Misunderstandings. Overwork. Health concerns. Because, after all, romance—whether between best friends, frenemies, strangers, or a married couple—always has roadblocks and problems.

And thus was born Guilt-Free Muffins, recently released as Book 1 in the BAKING UP A STORM series.

Along the way, I needed a recipe with zero—or close to—calories, and no sugar, because my main character developed an aversion to sugar. Most inconvenient for her, as she owns a bakery. So I found a recipe and swapped out calories and ingredients. Took me three tries before I came up with the one I include in the book.

And here’s the recipe I came up with:

Almost Zero Guilt Calorie Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oat bran
• 2 cups shredded raw carrot
• 1/2 cup monkfruit dry sweetener or 1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated) DO NOT USE SPLENDA FOR BAKING
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice or cake spice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 Tbsp Baking Powder
• 3 Tbsp liquid egg white

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray of choice. Or line with muffin cups. May also use butter and flour if you prefer.
• Shred carrots. Drain on paper towel to dry liquid.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients well. May use electric beater.
• Pour batter into muffin pan. Don’t overfill the cups. Should be about 3/4 full.
• Bake in oven 30 minutes. Will be browned on top and around edges.
• Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan.
• Best eaten immediately.

NOTE: recipe adapted at 5,200 ft. altitude. Adjust as needed.

Makes 8 servings, about 5 ounces of veggies. Around 40 calories each.

Question for Readers: Themed cozy mysteries are all the rage: culinary, crafts, animals, small towns, bookstores, and more. What is your favorite themed series?

About Donna: A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers’ groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers. Learn more and connect: 

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About the book – Guilt-Free Muffins:

Christina MacAulay enjoys baking up special treats for her customers at Sweet Tooth Cupcakes. But when her husband stays out late several times a week and won’t explain what’s going on, she becomes suspicious he might have a floozy on the side. Well, she’ll fix him—she’ll have her own affair.

But first, to lose that extra ten baby pounds from when her now twenty-three-year-old son was born.

As a baker and businesswoman, she spends far too much time at her bakery, taste-testing new creations to make certain they are fit to eat. If she could come up with a new recipe with minimal—or even zero calories—she’d not only slim down, she’d also have something nobody else has.

James MacAulay is happily married and has been for almost thirty-five years. And he wants to celebrate that milestone with his wife Christina. He sets out to plan a special anniversary surprise for her, but first, he needs to get more active. A career in banking didn’t exactly retain his previously youthful physique.

But when Christina becomes distant, cold, and acts suspicious, hovering when he answers his cell, peeking into his messages, hacking into his email, and spending hours with the chemist who lives two doors down, he wonders what’s gotten into her.

Maybe he should rethink his plan.

Perhaps she’s not as happily married as he thinks.

Or maybe she’s doing something she shouldn’t.

Can Christina get to the bottom of her husband’s change of behavior? Does she really want to?

And can James figure out what’s going on with Christina? If he does, will that really make things better?

Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win?

Need extra copies for last-minute Christmas gifts? Interested in Donna’s other titles?

Get your copy/copies now!

Guilt-Free-Muffins            Donna’s Books

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Merry Christmas! Remember Jesus is the Reason for every season!