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Category: Kayelle Allen

A post mentioning Kayelle Allen

Saint Patrick’s Day Yumminess – Pistachio Cookies!

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Shamrock
A quick and easy low sugar recipe for cookies you can use any day of the year, but they’re great for Saint Patrick’s Day.
Pistachio Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups baking mix
1 (3 oz.) package instant pistachio pudding mix
1 egg
1 Tbsp sugar
Preparations
Grease cookie sheet.
Preheat oven (350 F)
To Make
Stir the butter into the pudding mix, and add the baking mix a bit at a time.
Beat the egg slightly, and add.
Stir in the sugar.
Roll out on a lightly floured surface. A shamrock-shaped cookie cutter is great for this holiday, if you have one.
Bake 9 minutes, or until lightly golden.
– – –
Cream Cheese Frosting
5 oz pkg cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese
1 T vanilla
1 T honey
Mix ingredients. If desired, add 1-2 drops green food coloring. Spread on cooled cookies.
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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Party Size Cinco de Mayo Dip with Corn & Peppers

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Peppers!

Looking for a fun, fast, and easy food for your Cinco de Mayo celebration? I like things I can make in a hurry and enjoy at my leisure, but are also healthy.

This is made with a lower fat version of cream cheese called Neufchatel. You can find it right next to cream cheese in the dairy section. If you’ve never tried it, this is a good recipe to start. It tastes just like cream cheese but is better for you.

Peppers, whether green, red, yellow, orange, or the spicy variety, all contain antioxidants good for your immune system.

Time saving tip: If you buy a pre-chopped pepper blend, you can assemble this dish in a few minutes, and have peppers for an omelet the next morning. Yum!

Ingredients

1 16 ounce can whole kernel corn (or Mexi-corn), drained well
2 Tbsp diced red bell pepper
2 Tbsp diced yellow bell pepper
2 Tbsp diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 finely chopped jalapeno pepper (optional)*
2 tsp taco seasoning
2 Tbsp skim milk**
1 package (16 ounces) Neufchatel or cream cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack, Colby, or Mexican-style cheese
*may substitute serrano pepper for a hotter flavor
** add milk, a few drops at a time if needed for thinner consistency (may substitute water)

Directions

Soften the cream cheese in the microwave for 15-20 seconds on 30% power.
Mix together Neufchatel cheese, skim milk, and seasoning mix. Stir in drained corn, peppers, jalapenos, and green onions. When veggies and cream cheese mix are blended, fold in the schredded cheese.

Refrigerate to blend flavors. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, corn chips, or vegetable dippers.

Serving size: 2 Tbsp. / Makes 24-30.
Image credit: Tacluda at RGBstock.com
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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A Good Report from Home

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Chilling at Home

Almost a week after being hospitalized for what my doctor thought might be a heart attack, I’m home, a little healthier, a lot wiser, and too tired to believe. A hospital is not the best place to rest. About the time you get to sleep, someone wakes you to test something, check vitals, or make sure you’re comfortable. ^_^ Ironic, isn’t it?

Well, doctors discovered no blockages, but say my heart has been weakened. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It’s possible my thyroid has problems that may have triggered some of this. I reduced my weight by 80 pounds over a four year period, and for two years, my weight had been steady, never rising or falling more than a 3-4 pounds. But since Nov 2011, I’ve gained 40 lbs. I’d have to gain over a pound a week to gain that much so fast. I don’t eat enough to gain so much so fast. I have been increasingly tired, to the point I wondered if I might be anemic. (Docs ruled that out, too.) However, thyroid problems would explain my fatigue and weight gain. I’ll be following up with my doctor next week.
Right now, I’m on orders not to pick up more than 10 lbs, bend over, or stand for more than about 15 min at a time for the next four days. I’m doing what they say. I’ll be offline most of the day after this post. Not going to be online much until Friday. That is harder than it sounds. My location on all my profiles says “at the keyboard” and that is so true. ^_^
I’m thankful to have had all this caught and not have had a heart attack. My advice to everyone, and especially to authors… Take care of yourself. Expect another health-conscious post after this. Okay, maybe more than one. I’m thinking about how authors hurt themselves by thinking they’re as invincible as their characters. Might be some good material in that!
I want to give a shout out to Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. The folks in the cardiac unit there are amazing. I was cared for, looked after, and taken care of in the most amazing fashion. If you are looking for a place to be treated professionally but with the utmost care, look no further.
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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More Spam Spam and More Spam

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Danger Ahead…

I occasionally share a list of amusing spam emails. Here are some of the latest. Use discretion when opening these kinds of messages — and a good antivirus program. For best results, don’t open them at all! I include their titles here, but did not open any of these emails.

Dear Confidant/Scam Victim
I love this one! Apparently they believe in telling you the truth right up front. You are a victim. What a timesaver.

Confirmation! Confirmation! Confirmation!
Because I might not pay attention if they just wrote Confirmation.

FBI Seeking to Wiretap Internet
Now, when I got this it was in all caps, but I wrote it like a title to fit my blog better. Which is another way you can tell if something is spam. It SCREAMS at you. Apparently, finding the caps lock key is too much of an effort for these folks.

Kind Request
Yeah right. Their kind request is for me to download their virus-laden attachment and/or click their malicious-site URL. No thank you.

Poverty Alleviation Program
I knew this was the real thing because it came from United Nation. Not Nations, mind you, but Nation. Although what this one nation is united with, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s an internal thing. Anyway, I didn’t open it. I prefer to alleviate poverty the old fashioned way — by working.

Verification Notice
This type of notice should be considered seriously. No, really! If you just joined a website and are expecting a confirmation of some sort, it can be handy. But in my case, I got one from the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Somehow I don’t think so. Gonna pass on that one.

Your Winning no: GB8701/LPRC
Okay, my winning “no” (which is an abbreviation for number — but I digress) is right there. If you want to contact Australia Lottery Inc and claim it, be my guest. But I’m passing on that one too. Kind of hard to be a winner in something I’d never heard of, and hadn’t played.

Use caution online


USPS notification #1880453, #5216533, #2116200
Three notifications for me in one day, all from ISPS Inc. Gee, they must be afraid I’ll miss the packages they tried to leave for me. Maybe I should open this email and download the goody they sent me so I can claim it. I haven’t had a virus in a while. On second thought, think I’ll pass…

And there you have it. More spam spam and more spam from the wonderful world of email.

Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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Why I Used to Hate Spring

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Spring.
Years ago, I was taking a break with a friend at work, and we walked through a garden that was on the grounds. My friend commented on how pretty all the flowers were that season. My response? “Yeah, but they’re all going to die anyway.” She laughed, but then upon seeing I was serious, asked me why I felt that way.
I told her I would become terribly depressed in Spring. I couldn’t enjoy the flowers because I knew they were all going to die. The blooms represented hopelessness to me. My friend asked me a few questions, and suggested that I might not just be feeling depressed; I might actually have depression.
Summer
I discounted that at first, but eventually decided it might be a good idea to have a checkup. I made a doctor appointment, and after he asked me even more questions, he told me there were seven signs of major depression, and that I had five of them. He suggested medication and therapy. I resisted both at first. I tend to be stubborn like that — but again decided it might have merit, and called to tell him I’d changed my mind.
Autumn
It took a few trials of medication, but I finally found a prescription that worked for me. I also went to counseling. What I realized in talking about my feelings was that some of my problem with Spring was that I wasn’t living in the here and now. I was worried about what might happen. So much so that I didn’t enjoy what was happening.
That changed my life. One of the major changes I made was in the way I thought about life. I started focusing on how I could help others, and spent less time focused on my problems. That in turn has guided the way I write, including the fact that I do everything I can to help other authors.
Winter
If I am working to help others then I am helping myself. Who knew a random comment about how pretty the flowers are today would lead to such a life-changing experience? I’m thankful to that friend for taking the time to listen and see past the words, into my heart. My body healed itself. My mind and heart took a little longer. Today, I no longer need medication, and I’ve taught myself to view the world in a more positive way.
I can now say Spring is truly one of my favorite times of the year, but I’ve learned to look for the beauty in every season. Spring’s message of hope, Summer’s promise of full, rich life, Autumn’s harvest, and Winter’s rest and inner quiet that in turn, gives way to the cycle of hope once more.
– – –
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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Today My Husband Won’t #poetry

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My husband and me, 2011.

Today My Husband Won’t
By Kayelle Allen
Today, my husband won’t leave his socks on the floor, or miss the hamper.
He won’t pull out a towel and mess up the way the others are folded.
He’s not going to run over the newspaper as he comes down the driveway.
He won’t leave the garage door open, or back the car into the grass on that tight corner.
My husband won’t watch the early news instead of talking to me.
He won’t ignore the family for a ball game.
He’s not going to fall asleep watching the late news.
There won’t be a magazine or book open in his lap.
He won’t complain about traffic on the freeway tonight.
He won’t sing off key in the shower.
He’s not going to putter around in the garage.
He won’t work overtime and end up being late for dinner.
It won’t be because he’s a perfect husband.
Nor because he’s turned over a new leaf.
Today, my husband won’t do any of these things…
Because my husband is now in Heaven.
I miss him.
Hug your husband today.
—
My husband is alive and well. I wrote this because I try to keep in mind every day that my spouse, like me, has a finite number of days on the earth. I want to enjoy every single one of them with him, while he’s here. Never take your loved ones for granted. We have only this moment, right now, right here. Hug your husband. Think twice about complaining about what he says or does. You have so few moments together. Make each of them count.
Kayelle Allen is an award-winning, multi-published author. Her heroes and heroines include badass immortals, warriors who purr, and agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever. She is known for unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.
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