My Favorite Easter Desserts

by Jill Kemerer

With Easter right around the corner, I'm eagerly anticipating making a dessert or two to accompany our dinner. Easter is such a special day. I'm filled with joy Jesus loved us so much that He died and rose again to take away our sins. What better way to celebrate than with a good meal after the church service!

Last year I attempted two new recipes. My husband loves this lemon fluff-like dessert his grandmother used to make, so I found a similar recipe on Pinterest. Unsure if the recipe would match his memories, I also decided to make a lemon pie.

The fluff was tricky to make, and it didn't reach quite the right consistency. I threw that recipe out! But the lemon pie was super easy, VERY sweet, and we all loved it!

You can find the recipe at "Luscious Lemon Pie" at OrganizingHomelife.com.

Another dessert I found on Pinterest has become a staple in our house. It's called No Bake Chocolate Lasagna. Yes, CHOCOLATE LASAGNA! It's so delicious!

Basically, it's crushed Oreos mixed with butter and pressed into a pan. Then there's a layer of whipped cream/cream cheese. Then chocolate pudding. More whipped cream. And tiny chocolate chips! Yum!

You can find the recipe at "No Bake Chocolate Lasagna" at iHeartNaptime.com.

Recently, I created my own Chocolate Strawberry Trifle to celebrate Valentine's day. It would make a great dessert for a crowd. It does take planning and time, but it's not difficult to make. The picture below doesn't really do it justice!

Here's what you need:

Chocolate Strawberry Trifle

• 1/2 of a prepared Devil's food cake (I made two round cakes from a 15.25 ounce box mix. You'll need 1+1/3 cups of water, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs to make it), cooled and cut into cubes.
• 1 prepared 3.9 ounce package of chocolate instant pudding (you'll need 2 cups of cold milk to make it).
• Either 3 cups of homemade whipped cream, see "Homemade Whipped Cream" at LiveWellBakeOften.com (you'll need 1.5 cups of heavy whipping cream and 1/4 cup of powdered sugar to make it) or a 12 ounce container of Cool Whip.
• 1 pint of strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and sliced.
• Chocolate shavings for the top. (I shaved mine using a vegetable peeler on a dark chocolate candy bar.)

In a clear glass bowl, layer cake cubes, then pudding, then whipped cream, then a layer of strawberry slices, more cake cubes, more pudding, more whipped cream, and top with more strawberries, cake cubes, and chocolate shavings. If you have leftover ingredients, keep layering until the bowl is full.

This can be made up to a day ahead of time and will easily feed 6-8 people. It's wonderful!

What are your favorite Easter desserts? I'd love to hear about them!

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Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of inspirational romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. She loves coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

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My new release, His Wyoming Baby Blessing, will be in stores April 16, 2019!

She’s pregnant on his doorstep…

Saddle up for this Wyoming Cowboys novel

When his childhood friend Kit McAllistor shows up, widowed and pregnant, rancher Wade Croft offers her a place to stay…but he can’t offer her his heart. As old feelings begin to surface, past tragedies force Wade to ignore them. But on the brink of losing his ranch, will he also risk losing the woman he’s beginning to love…or can he cowboy up in time?

Purchase links can be found HERE!

New for October from Our Love Inspired Contemporary Authors

Jean C. Gordon here with four new must buys from our Love Inspired Contemporary authors. Just click on the cover or retailer links to purchase it. And to learn more about Lorraine, Jo Ann, Arlene, and Jill, click on their names.

Their Family Legacy
by Lorraine Beatty 
 
Can new love spring from old pain?

Hope lives in Mississippi Hearts
To keep her new inheritance, single mom Annie Shepherd must uphold an old court ruling imposed on Jake Langford, who’s still paying for the tragic accident from his youth. But as Annie and her twin boys get to know the grade school teacher, she discovers a kind, generous man beneath the past mistakes. Can Annie and Jake create a family through forgiveness?

 

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The Amish Christmas Cowboy
by Jo Ann Brown 

A cowboy for Christmas…
or another year in the Amish Spinster Club?
Nanny Sarah Kuhns has her hands full with kinder, her overbearing brothers and her big dreams. And it only gets worse when she takes on the care of an injured cowboy. For Amish traveling horseman Toby Christner, tight-knit Harmony Creek represents everything he’s run from. Until he heals, he can’t leave…but will falling for Sarah make him want to stay?

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The Rancher's Answered Prayer
by Arlene James 

A single mom. A bachelor cowboy…

and an inheritance forcing them to share Three Brothers Ranch
According to the will, single mom Tina Kemp’s stepfather left her his house, but his nephew, Wyatt Smith, inherited the ranch—including the land the house stands upon. With neither willing to give up their legacy, they must find a way to make it work. Can these adversaries possibly share a home…without falling for each other?

 

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Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets
by Jill Kemerer 

A nanny at Christmastime…

Will she find love in this Wyoming Cowboys novel?
Six weeks on a ranch caring for quadruplets—aspiring nurse Ainsley Draper’s prepared for a busy Christmas. When the children’s handsome uncle opens the door, her task gets extra complicated. Marshall Graham is upholding his promise to look after his twin sister, the babies’ mom. But as family loyalty clashes with new love, will the perfect present include a future with Ainsley?

 

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New for June from Our Love Inspired Contemporary Authors

Jean C. Gordon here with five new must buys from our Love Inspired Contemporary authors. Just click on a cover to purchase it. And to learn more about Lorraine, Jo Ann, Deb, Jill, and Allie, click on their names.

Her Fresh Start Family
by Lorraine Beatty 

A new life. A new love.
But will secrets tear them apart?
Struggling with a tragic loss, widow Nina Johnson seeks a fresh start in a small Southern town. Then she meets handsome veteran Brad Sinclair and his sweet daughters. Bret’s no stranger to loss, and his companionship is the solace Nina’s been searching for. Until a dark secret from Bret’s past is exposed, threatening to break apart these Mississippi Hearts.

The Amish Suiter
by Jo Ann Brown 

A Family Comes Courting…
The Amish Spinster Club series begins!
With his orphaned nephew depending on him, Amish carpenter Eli Troyer moves to Harmony Creek Hollow to start over. And when schoolteacher Miriam Hartz offers to teach Eli, who is hard of hearing, how to read lips, he can’t refuse. Spending time with Miriam forges a bond between them. Can two wounded hearts overcome their pasts to make a family together?

And Cowboy Makes Three
by Deb Kastner 

She fled their wedding years ago
Now she’s back…with a baby!
Coming home with a baby and no wedding ring was just what everyone in Cowboy Country expected from bad girl Angelica Carmichael. But she’ll brave their scorn to fulfill Granny Frances’s dying wishes, even if it means ranching with Rowdy Masterson…her jilted ex-groom. Rowdy’s still bitter but this new, softer Angelica—paired with a precious baby—might be too loveable to resist!

His Surprise Son
by Allie Pleiter 

Mayor with a past
Faced with her son’s father!
Mayor Jean Matrim’s plan to turn Matrimony Valley into a wedding destination is going swimmingly for the town—and disastrously for Jean. Their first bride’s stepbrother is Jean’s ex-fiancé…and the father of her son. Hiding Jonah’s existence from Josh Tyler wasn’t something Jean chose lightly. More stands between them now than ever before. Will the little boy be enough to bring them together at last?

Reunited with the Bull Rider
by Jill Kemerer 

Goodbye rodeo, hello hometown
But is this Wyoming Cowboy ready to face his past?
Amy Deerson wanted to mentor a child. Her plan did not include former bull rider Nash Bolton—the little girl’s brother and guardian. It’s been a decade since Nash left town without a word, breaking Amy’s young heart. Now they must put their painful past aside to help fragile, traumatized Ruby. If only getting over their first love were that simple.

Fuzzy Blankets, Warm Drinks and Novels

by Jill Kemerer

In northern Ohio the leaves have changed, the furnace is running, and I’m ready to snuggle inside. I love this time of year!

I kick off every morning with a nice, hot pot of coffee. While I watch the local news, I wrap up in a comfy throw and sip my creamy caffeine. I have a collection of fuzzy blankets, and my current favorite was a gift from my sister-in-law from last Christmas. It’s dove gray and so soft. My little doxie always curls up on my lap underneath the blanket! She’s silly.

This won’t shock you, but my T-shirts and shorts have been packed away. In their place are jeans and sweaters. I’m always cold, so in the afternoon, I fill my electric tea kettle with water and sip hot tea while I write.

Sometimes my husband and I will take a long walk before it gets dark out. We try to take advantage of the daylight as much as possible because it won’t be long until it grows dark before dinner time. Having less sunlight makes me sad. I’m not a fan of short days. I actually have a Happy Light, which is an LED light therapy lamp. It’s supposed to ease low moods due to lack of sunlight. Even my dog loves it. She stretches out in front of it whenever I turn it on.

My reading habits change this time of year. I read more cozy fiction—inspirational contemporary romance novels, cozy mysteries, and historical romances. Oh, and Christmas stories! I love holiday books this time of year. The only novels I steer clear of in autumn are heavy women’s fiction and thrillers. With winter approaching, I need reading material guaranteed to make me smile.

Here are a few books I’ve read recently and highly recommend.

Walk It Out: The Radical Result of Living God’s Word One Step at a Time by Tricia Goyer

First of all, I love the cover of this one. More importantly, the message is powerful. I was inspired by Tricia’s story, and I love the Bible truths in this book. Living God’s word isn’t always comfortable, but it’s worth it.

Rescue Me by Susan May Warren

This is the second book in the Montana Rescue series, and I loved it! It’s a romantic adventure and follows multiple characters. I highly recommend it.

Speaking of books... My new series, Wyoming Cowboys, launched this month with the release of The Rancher’s Mistletoe Bride! It’s a Christmas romance set on a ranch in Wyoming. The book is available in supermarkets and online at all major book retailers. See below for more information.

To celebrate, I’m giving away three copies of my new release, The Rancher’s Mistletoe Bride, on my Facebook page. US residents are eligible to win a paperback or ebook. International readers are eligible to win an ebook! Stop by and scroll until you see the post titled Giveaway Time 10/10/17. CLICK HERE to go to Jill’s Facebook page!

I’d love to hear your fall habits. Hot drinks? Fuzzy blankets? Or is it hot year-round where you live? And what are you reading?

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Jill Kemerer writes Christian fiction and nonfiction. She is a multi-published author of Christian romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. Her essentials include coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, her miniature-dachshund and taking long nature walks. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Jill loves connecting with readers, so please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

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The Rancher's Mistletoe Bride

Coming Home for Christmas 

Wedding planner Lexi Harrington needs a manager for her inherited Wyoming ranch. Clint Romine is the perfect man for the job, but the ruggedly handsome cowboy soon presents a new dilemma—distraction. Lexi can't fall for a small-town rancher when she's planning to return to her big-city career after the holidays. Home has always been elusive for former foster kid Clint. Working alongside Lexi at Rock Step Ranch feels too cozy—and too risky. Opening up to her means revealing a secret about his past that could jeopardize everything he holds dear. This Christmas, can Clint learn to trust Lexi with the truth…and with his heart?

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