Monday, January 28, 2013

Aunt Doris's Taco Soup



Hands down, this is hubby's favorite meal.  I make it in double batches and freeze individual servings.

 
Serves: 10
 







2 pounds ground beef or ground pork                            

1 onion, chopped                                               

1 green bell pepper, chopped                                   

1 15 1/2-ounce can black beans                                  

1 15 1/2-ounce can pinto beans                                 

1 15-ounce can Mexicorn                                        

1 15 1/2-ounce can whole kernal corn                           

2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes                                  

1 10-ounce can tomatoes with chilies (Rotel)                   

2 4-ounce cans chopped green chilies                           

2 16-ounce cans chicken broth                                  

1 package taco seasoning mix                                   

1 package ranch salad dressing mix                             

 

In a heavy skillet, brown ground meat over medium-high heat.

Break large clumps into small pieces as meat cooks.

Drain meat and place in large stew pot, reserving drippings.

 

Return drippings to skillet.

Add onions and green bell pepper.

Continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent.

Drain and add vegetables to stew pot.

 

Open all beans and pour into a large colander.

Rinse and drain.

Add beans to stew pot.

 

Add remaining ingredients except ranch dressing mix to stew pot.

Stir well.

Slowly bring to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 hours.

 

Before serving, pour ranch dressing mix into a small bowl.

Slowly stir 1/4 cup soup broth into bowl.  Stir until all mix is dissolved.

Stir into soup.

Continue simmering until mixture thickens very slightly.

 

Serve with tortilla chips.  If desired, top with grated cheese or sour cream.

 

Note:  Taco Soup may be made in a crock pot.  When making in a crock pot, do not double. 

Monday, January 7, 2013

Blogger Fail

Well, I'd intended to post about a newspaper recent article (featuring yours truly), but Blogger is being difficult this morning.  The Upload Photos capability has disappeared.  According to some sources, people in the know are working the problem.  When they fix it, I'll try again. 

Monday, December 17, 2012

Tallahassee Book Signing

 
Saturday's book signing at the Tallahasee Books-A-Million exceeded my expectations!  Not only did people turn out to buy copies of Rancher's Son, but I met lots of truly fantastic readers!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Cocoa Beach Library Event

 
Look where I'll be Wednesday night.
I hope you'll be there, too!
 

Monday, December 3, 2012

Time for Contests!

Contests, contests, contests.

When she visited STAR, my local RWA chapter , Random House editor-at-large Sue Grimshaw reminded everyone that writing contests serve a vital place.  Quite often, she said, she looks over the author's bio before selecting an item to read from the slush pile.  The submissions that include one or more contest finals or wins are the ones that will snag her attention.

For unpublished writers, the contest "season" runs year round.  Pick a month.  Any month.  Look in the back of the Romance Writers Report.  You'll find one or two, sometimes more, contest deadlines.   

For published authors, the contest season is much shorter.  Most of those contests open in November and close in December or January because they use the copyright date as an entrance criteria.  For instance, the 2013 contest season is underway for books published in 2012. 

I had two books hit store shelves in 2012, Rodeo Daughter and Rancher's Son.  Which meant I had twice as many contest entries to prepare this year.  For the last few days I've been busy filling out entry forms, autographing books and packing envelopes to mail.

Here's the result, all ready to take to the Post Office. 




Don't they all look like winners?

Monday, November 26, 2012

Release Day Tidbits


Tomorrow is the long-awaited release day for Rancher's Son! 

In honor of the occasion, I Googled the title this morning.  It always amazes me what little tidbits you can find on-line.  For instance...

Rancher's Son is on sale in the UK!  See http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ranchers-American-Romance-Fatherhood-ebook/dp/B009USMQIC 

Genre Go Round Reviews gave Rancher's Son a very positive review saying, " Character driven, fans will enjoy this engaging Yuletide romance as a late twist accentuates that love is the foundation for a functioning family." 

If you haven't had the opportunity, I hope you'll "like" my page at www.facebook.com/LeighDuncanBooks for a chance to win a prize package that includes an autographed copy of Rancher's Son. 

And last, but puzzlingly not least, a copy of Rancher's Son sold on Ebay in October, nearly two months before the release date.  I'm scratching my head over that one.  If you can shed some light on how that happened, I'd love to hear from you. 


  
 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Counting Down To Release With A Contest!

One week from today, on November 27th, Rancher's Son arrives in book stores and e-readers.  Kicking off the week leading up to release day, I'm holding a contest! 


Want to win an autographed copy of Rancher's Son and more????
It's easy!
Simply 
"Like" my author page at:
 
 
On 11/27/12, I'll pick two names at random from all my followers to receive bookmarks, autographed copies of Rodeo Daughter and Rancher's Son...and more!

One additional name will be selected, again, at random, to receive the same prize package from new "likes" between today, November 20th, and release day, November 27th!

(Prize packages can be mailed to only US and Canada addresses.)