Liz Tolsma – Recipe for Romance – Part 1 of 1

Historical romance author, Liz Tolsma shares two Thanksgiving recipes. All comments will go in the drawing for Shawna K. William’s Orphaned Hearts download and Kathy Harris’ The Road To Mercy. Deadline: Nov 24th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Liz:

Karen’s Sweet Potatoes
3-4 yams, baked, insides scooped out
1/2 cup sugar (or less)
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg to taste (optional)
Beat together. You can adjust the amount of the milk depending on how wet the mixture is. Place in a buttered casserole dish.
Topping:
1/3 c. butter, softened
2/3 c. light brown sugar
1/3 c. flour
1 c. pecans or walnuts
Mix together the sugar and flour. Cut in the butter, then stir in nuts. Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes, until the topping is light brown.
Mom’s Oyster Dressing
3/4 loaf of bread left uncovered for 3-4 days to dry, or dried in a low oven
turkey giblets and neck (or 1 can of canned chicken broth)
1 egg, beaten
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 can oysters
1 tsp. ground sage
salt and pepper to taste
Boil the turkey giblets and neck to make a broth. Strain out the giblets and neck. Process the bread into crumbs. Pour the broth over the bread crumbs. Sauté the celery and onions in a little butter until soft. Add them to the bread crumb mixture along with the egg, sage, salt and pepper. Drain the can of oysters and reserve the juice. Remove the grit bag from the oysters. Chop them roughly and add to the dressing. Add the reserved juice until everything is moist but not too wet. Place in an 8 X 8 or 9 X9 baking pan sprayed with Pam. Bake for 1 hour in a 325 oven. 
About Liz: Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her novella, Under His Wings, appeared in the New York Times bestselling collection, A Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow on the Tulips, is due to release in August of 2013. When not busy putting words to paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. Please visit her blog at www.liztolsma.blogspot.comand follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@LizTolsma).
About the novella – Under His Wings – included in Log Cabin Christmas – collection of 9 Christmas novellas: Adie O’Connell finds herself the lone woman stranded in a logging camp full of uncouth men. She knows Noah Mitchell promised her father he’d look after her, but is a marriage of convenience the only way? With the threats against her reputation continuing, she’s frightened. Will their marriage cost them both everything or can they find security—and love—under God’s wings?
Preview of Liz’s next release – Snow on the Tulips – available August 2013: In the twilight of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Gerrit Laninga, a known and hunted Dutch Resistance member, comes to Cornelia De Vries’ home for shelter and protection. Gerrit is smitten with this woman, as delicate as a tulip in the snow. When he asks her to contact the local Resistance cell on his behalf, she refuses. Gerrit must find a way to continue his Underground work without putting Cornelia and her family into harm’s way and without crushing their fragile romance.
The Germans have taken everything Cornelia De Vries had to give, even what was most precious to her. Now Gerrit Laninga – a man who puts God and country above all else – arrives at her house, needing help she’s not sure she can give, asking the impossible of her. She is terrified for herself and terrified for her family, but most of all, terrified of the pain she might feel again if she allows herself to love Gerrit. When things start to unravel and Gerrit’s life depends on her actions, she must summon the courage and learn to depend on the Perfect Love that drives out all fear. But will her new love be snatched away before it has a chance to bloom?