Mother Teresa's ANYWAY Poem

Today I saw a quote that touched my heart. “Your capacity to allow people to live a truth completely opposite to yours, without shutting off your compassion for them, is a reflection of how powerful your love is.” I don’t know who said that, but those words had a profound affect on me. I have been engaging in a lot of political discourse lately and finding myself feeling very frustrated and irritated. I need to work on cultivating my compassion for those whose truth is completely opposite of mine. The quote reminded me of Mother Teresa’s ANYWAY poem. I’m posting it here for myself and anyone else who might need to read these wonderful words.

Mother Teresa’s ANYWAY Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Use Library Apps ~ They're Free ~ They're Fun @DonnaFaz

During this time of self-isolation, I have wondered what I might be able to do to be helpful. I have been using my local library via its various library apps (the physical building is closed). I have been enjoying audiobooks, but there are also ebooks, magazines, and movies available for use. All free of charge. I thought I would alert people to these library apps and how to use them.

First, find your local library’s website online, and if you don’t have a library card, apply for one online. It costs nothing for you to apply for a card/account. The “apply now” button on my library’s website is easy to find:

Second, find the link on the website that allows you to download an app. Some of the apps available on my county library’s site are specifically for children which is great for those of you who have children at home. Other apps give you access to movies, magazine, and newspaper, just to name a few of the available resources. The “downloading and streaming” apps on my library’s site were easy to find:

I have also downloaded an app called Libby that allows me to search my library directly from my iPhone (rather than going through the library’s website). If you have an iPhone, click the Apple App Store icon, search for the library app used by your library, and click “get.” Libby and Overdrive are two very popular library apps. Once the app has been downloaded on your phone, click it to open. Then log in, using your library account number. Once you’re logged in you can search for thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and other free reading material.

Library apps are easy to use, and best of all, they’re free! I hope you find this information helpful, and please remember to STAY HOME AND STAY HEALTHY.

DIY Hand Sanitizer ~ #Coronavirus Defense

All this talk of Coronavirus has me feeling nervous. I am planning to fly across the country next week and the last thing I want is to catch a bug. So I went to the store today for hand sanitizer—and the shelves were empty. However, I read online that I could make my own. Here’s my recipe:

DIY Hand Sanitizer

Ingredients:

2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol

1/3 cup 100% aloe vera

Directions:

Measure alcohol and aloe vera into a clean glass mixing bowl. Use a wire whisk to stir until well combined. Pour the hand sanitizer into clean containers.

Yield: 1 cup (about 236 ml)

Other things you can do to avoid getting sick:

Wash your hands thoroughly and often.

Don’t touch your face.

Avoid shaking hands. Some people are bumping fists or elbows. I’m avoiding that, too as it is still skin-to-skin contact. Besides, people often sneeze into their hands and elbows. 

March Madness Sale #Kindle #99cents

March Madness 99¢ Sale

This month, I'm offering 2 books for under $1 each.
Price is good in Kindle Stores worldwide. 

Offer number 1:

What readers are saying about HER FAKE ROMANCE:

"I was in the mood for a light-hearted, romantic read and this fit the bill perfectly."

"A wonderful way to escape from your own reality."

"I started this book and couldn't put it down."

*   *   *   *

Offer number 2:

What readers are saying about DANGEROUS MEMORIES:
"If you enjoy Hallmark Mystery Movies, you'll love this book."
"Great romantic suspense."
"...well done, intriguing to the end."

As an Amazon, Nook, and iTunes Associate, Awesome Romance Blog earns from qualifying purchases. This post may contain paid links.

Simple Apple Cake #Recipe for #Foodies @DonnaFaz

I had some time on my hands, so I deep-cleaned my refrigerator. You know what I mean—I completely emptied it out, removed the shelves for hand-washing, wiped down the inside walls, and then put everything back. I threw away anything I couldn’t remember buying (pickle relish, cocktail sauce, creamed horseradish, etc.); the jars were nearly empty anyway. There were 3 apples in the crisper drawer that were on their last legs, so I decided to use them to bake a cake. I found a recipe in my Betty Crocker Cookbook and decided to fiddle with it. Instead of all white sugar, I used half white and half brown. I added some cinnamon and increased the apple content. All in all, I’m very happy with this Simple Apple Cake. I hope you like it, too.

Simple Apple Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cups white sugar

2 eggs 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 medium apples, peeled and grated (about 2 cups)

1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped (for serving, optional)

1   1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square cake pan with baking spray.

2   2. In large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and white sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in apples and spoon into pan. Spread out evenly.

3

     3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool 10 minutes longer and then cut into squares. Serve warm with whipped cream (optional).

Other options: Feel free to toss in a half cup of raisins or a half cup of toasted, chopped walnuts… or both! I didn’t have them on hand when I made the cake or I’d have added them.

Newsletter #Giveaway! You have 48 hours only! Ends Feb 13th.

Newsletter Giveaway! 

In 48 hours, I’ll be sending out my Feb newsletter. Newsletter subscribers (only) will be eligible to enter to win: 1 signed paperback, 1 leather fanny pack, 1 novelty pen, 1 cotton tea towel with LOVE quotes, 1 pumice stone, 1 Bodycology fragrance mist, and 1 Bodycology moisturizing cream. To enter the giveaway, you must be on my mailing list. Join here today:

Click here to sign up at MadMimi

There’s only 48 hours to join the mailing list. My Feb newsletter will go out late afternoon on Feb 13^th. To enter, all you’ll be asked to do is forward my newsletter to a romance-loving friend. Good luck to all those who enter! I will NEVER share your email address with anyone.

Here's a picture of what you could win:

#Recipe - Bacon Zucchini Fritters Plus 2 eBooks for You!

I've had one of those days today. You know the ones, where you’re feeling creative in the kitchen. I pulled some ingredients out of my refrigerator and pantry, and I wondered what I could make with them. I had bacon, a zucchini, Locatelli cheese, eggs, flour, you get the picture. I came up with a recipe that is so delicious I decided to write it down. When you write it down, you know it’s good.

Bacon Zucchini Fritters 

Ingredients:

5 strips of bacon, fried crisp, drained, chopped

3 cups zucchini, grated (leave the skin on)

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup scallions, thinly sliced (slice a little extra for garnish)

1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper, or to taste

2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil for frying

Directions:

1. Mix together all ingredients, except the oil, until well incorporated.

2. Heat a frying pan on high until it’s hot, add oil to the pan, and then
   turn the pan down to medium heat. You want the oil almost to the
   smoking point.

3. Use an ice cream scoop (a large spoon works too) to portion out the
   batter and fry in batches for about 5 minutes or until golden brown.
   Flip and fry on the other side until golden. Remove to a serving
   platter and keep warm.

4. I serve these fritters as a side dish, garnished with thinly sliced
   scallions and a dollop of sour cream.

Serves 3-4

*  *  *  *

Bacon Zucchini Fritters is just one of the recipes you'll find in my Cooking In All Directions cookbook, a collection of 75 recipes for soups, salads, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. The cookbook is available in these ebook outlets:

Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

*  *  *  *

Also this month, I'm offering my Second Chance Valentine for just 99¢ – that's a $2 savings off the regular price. Here's more information about this sweet contemporary story:

As teens, Josie and Alex met under golden sunshine, frolicked in the surf and sand, and fell head over toes in love. But circumstances arose that ruined their one glorious summer, and Josie fled Ocean City with a broken heart.

Now Josie’s grandmother is ill and needs help with the family business, a thriving harbor-side diner called Joe’s Place. So after more than a dozen years, Josie returns to her hometown only to discover she has a 180 pound problem—Alex is the Kitchen Commander at Joe’s Place. 

Surely, Josie can work with Alex to keep the diner going and retain her dignity until her grandmother is back on her feet. However, when Alex’s little girl starts scheming, not a single heart will be safe against the twelve-year-old matchmaker.

This book contains bonus recipes from Joe’s Place!

This book is available for Kindle readers. 

As an Amazon, Nook, and Apple affiliate, I earn a couple of pennies 

on qualifying purchases when you use the links I have posted here.