Something's Gotta Give (Tempered Steel Book 3) (14 page)

Mac’s Favorite Meatball Stew

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  MEATBALLS:
  
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  2 lbs ground beef
  
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  1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
  
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  4 cloves garlic, minced
  
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  1 large egg
  
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  1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  
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  1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  
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  1/2 teaspoon pepper
  
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  SOUP:
  
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  3 cups sliced vegetables (I use frozen country vegetables)
  
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  1 large onion, finely diced
  
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  4 cloves garlic, minced
  
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  2 tablespoons olive oil
  
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  1 can (28 oz) Italian-style diced tomatoes
  
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  6 cups chicken broth
  
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  1 cup uncooked orzo pasta , or any small pasta (I like to use rainbow rotini)
  
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  2 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
  
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  2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  
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  Salt and pepper to taste
  

Instructions

1. Prepare the meatballs: Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Set aside.
   
2. In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients until evenly incorporated. Roll meatball dough into 1-in balls and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake meatballs at 350F 20-25 minutes or until they register 165F. Set aside.
   
3. Prepare the soup: In a large pot over medium-high heat, saute carrots, parsnips, onion, and garlic in olive oil until vegetables are fragrant and slightly browned, about 6-7 minutes. Stir in diced tomatoes, and chicken broth.
   
4. Bring soup to a boil over medium-high heat, then stir in orzo pasta, spinach, parsley, and cooked meatballs. Reduce heat to low and simmer until pasta is cooked and vegetables are tender.
   
5. Season soup with salt and pepper and let stand, covered for 30 minutes in order for the flavors to meld. Serve warm with fresh Parmesan.
   

Acknowledgements

              Thank you. All of you. You are in my heart and my prayers. My family, my friends, my fans, have made my dreams come true. I wish all of you the happiness I have found through you.

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Getting Lucky

Here’s an overview of my new novella from my Tempered Steel Series!

Lawrence “Lucky” Coalson is on the track of the arsonist that torched his older brother’s construction company. The clues have led him to the Mississippi Flame Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Taking a job as a bouncer there, he hopes to find a connection or even the arsonist. What he finds is a blonde bombshell in a bit of trouble, so like the alpha male he is, Lucky comes to the rescue.

But what happens in Vegas is about to follow him home – and no one is prepared for the consequences.

Here’s an excerpt from my Tempered Steel Series, Book Four….

(Want to help me pick a title?  Go to my fan club and vote for your favorite)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaggiesMinxes/
.

“Anna, you jump every time I come near you and you get flustered if a man walks into the office. What is it? I’ll try to correct the problem if I can. I want you to feel comfortable working here.”

Ann busied herself with straightening her desk to camouflage her nervousness. It would be so easy to tell this quiet, handsome man everything, but she couldn’t take that chance. She needed this job. And if she didn’t stop jumping like a scared rabbit every time he came in, she was going to lose it anyway. She bit her lip trying to think of what to say as she removed her keys from her purse.

Brandon couldn’t stand the tension any longer. He touched her cheek gently with his finger, turning her to look at him. He saw the hunted look in her eyes before she could hide it and he swore silently. Too fast. He was going too fast. He forced himself to back off. She was as skittish as a newborn colt. He didn’t want to frighten her anymore. He just wanted her to stop thinking of him as the enemy.

“If you want to talk about it, I’m here. I’m sure my shoulders are broad enough to handle anything you might dish out,” he said lightly, hoping to bring back her smile.

But Anna didn’t return his smile. She was mesmerized with the way he was looking at her. When she realized she was staring, she transferred her attention to his shirt front, where the play of muscles could be seen as he reached for her again.

“Anna, my sweet Anna, don’t you know what you do to me when you look at me that way?” Brandon groaned. He hadn’t misinterpreted the passion in her gaze as she stared at him. He felt all-powerful when she gazed at him like that. He couldn’t resist tasting her sweetness.

With a start she realized his intentions and leaned backward and away from him. “Excuse me,” she murmured weakly.

She almost pulled him back when she noticed the hurt that replaced the passion in his eyes, but she reminded herself that they were in a place of business, the lobby of the company, temporarily situated in his mother’s house, for goodness sake, and she needed to project proper business decorum. It was just so hard when he looked at her like she was priceless gold.

Brandon raked his hand through his hair in exasperation. “What am I going to do with you?’

She couldn’t give him an answer as she watched the desire reignite in his eyes. Frowning severely to mask her true feelings, she walked around him and set the letters on his desk, avoiding his penetrating gaze as she put on her coat, thrusting her keys in the pocket.

As she started out the door, Brandon grabbed her hands. “Tell me. I’ll do anything to help you.”

She was suddenly afraid. She didn’t want him to know her secret. She was too ashamed. She shook her head. “Nothing. You’re going to do nothing.”

She tugged at her hands and he let her go and she ran out the door and into the night.