½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Combine butter, milk and cocoa in heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Stir in powdered sugar, return to a boil, stirring constantly. Immediately remove from heat and add vanilla and pecans. Stir constantly for 3-5 minutes or until frosting begins to lose its gloss. Spread over warm cake and serve.
Pecan Pie Muffins
(makes 24 mini muffins)
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease mini-muffin pan (I use cooking spray- even with non-stick pans). You can use those paper cups if you like.
1 cup pecan pieces
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
¾ cup flour
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup butter (1 stick) Not Margarine
Cream butter, eggs and vanilla. Add brown sugar and mix well; then add flour, mix till well blended. Add pecans and stir till blended.
Spoon evenly into muffin wells (I use a heaping teaspoon full). Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until muffins spring back when lightly touched.
Oven temps vary so keep an eye on them. I let them cool in the pan and they seem to release easier.
There are so many folks to whom I am indebted for the completion of this book. A special thank you to Investigator Roxanne Warren, UPSO who patiently answered my multitude of law enforcement questions and helped me better understand the investigative world. Any errors in process or procedure are mine alone.
A special thank you to my critique partner and friend, Patty Wiseman, who never hesitates to tell me when I can do better. To my writers’ group friends who encouraged me and supported me in this process, I appreciate you more than I can say.
And, last but by no means least, to my wonderful husband, and biggest fan. I couldn’t do this without him. Love you to the moon and back.
Awarding winning author Dana Wayne is a sixth generation Texan and resides in the Piney Woods with her husband, a Calico cat named Katie, three children and four grandchildren.
She routinely speaks at book clubs, writers groups and other organizations and successfully coordinated multiple writing events including conferences and workshops as well as appearing on numerous writing blogs.
Her debut contemporary romance, Secrets of The Heart, won First Place in the 2017 Contest sponsored by Texas Association of Authors, was a finalist for the 2017 Scéal Award for Contemporary Romance, Reviewers Top Pick and selected as a Top 10 Books to Read This Winter from Books & Benches online magazine.
Her second book, Mail Order Groom, released in April, 2017, has been favored with encouraging reviews as well, including 5 Stars from Readers Favorite and Book & Benches, 4.5 Stars with Crowned Heart from InD’tale Magazine, and 4 Stars from Romance Reviews Magazine. Affiliations include Romance Writers of America, Texas Association of Authors, Writers League of Texas, East Texas Writers Guild, Northeast Texas Writers Organization, and East Texas Writers Association.
Whispers On The Wind
Preview of Secrets of the Heart
Houston, Texas present day
They died two years ago today.
Tori didn’t need the calendar to remember the date. Her heart ticked away the hours one anguished beat at a time then stuttered and skipped each September fourth at 7:01 p.m.; the day her husband and seven year old son were murdered.
She sucked in a lungful of air and forced back the tears threatening to crush her resolve.
No more tears. Time to move forward.
