Kissed by Kimberly Loth





Spaghetti Sauce and Parmesan Rolls Recipes From Kissed
A Guest Post by Kimberly Loth

When I write, I pull a lot of small details from my own life. One of the things my sister said when she read the book was, “Hey, you put my favorite meal in there.” It’s one of my favorites too. I thought I’d share the recipe with you.

Food is important to my main character because her father so rigidly controls every aspect of her life, including what she eats. Here is a small excerpt from when she’s finally had enough.

A dish of spaghetti with meatballs and a plate of huge yeasty rolls rolled in Parmesan cheese sat on the table. When my mother served me, she gave me noodles with a bit of sauce. No meatballs, no roll. I finished my noodles and my stomach grumbled. Hunger still lingered. Without thinking I grabbed a roll and took a big bite. Mother’s eyes flashed toward me, but she didn’t say anything. The tense silence thickened. I chewed slowly savoring the taste of the bread. Then, emboldened by the fact that no one said anything I reached across and dished a few more noodles on my plate. But, when I reached for the meatballs my father grabbed my wrist. 

He spoke without looking up from his plate that so engrossed him. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”

I grimaced from the pain but answered. “Eating, Father.”

He squeezed. “You eat only what you are given.” 

Fury burned within me, my vision blurred and I could taste blood on my lips. Father’s tyranny was coming to an end. It was time for him to understand exactly what it meant to provide a proper home.
“You don’t give me enough. Most of this will go to the dogs. I deserve better than that.”

He let go of my wrist and stood glowering over me. His hand snapped back and he slapped me. My cheek stung, but I’d had worse. 

“Never speak to me like that. You’ll do well to learn that before you go live with the Yerdins. I am kind compared to them. If you speak to Dwayne or his father like that you will find your arm broken. I am your father and you will do what I say.” 

I met his gaze with defiance and knowing he wouldn’t be the first to back down, lowered my eyes to the table, seeing only the bowl full of yummy meatballs. I grabbed one with my hand and shoved it in my mouth, letting the juice drip down my chin. Then, I grabbed another. Father didn’t move and Mother continued to eat as if nothing unusual were happening. 

With sauce-covered hands I upended the spaghetti bowl and threw the rolls across the room. One hit mother in the head, the parmesan cheese leaving white specks in her hair. She still did not change her methodical eating, but a tiny smile crept over her lips. 

Before escaping to my room I looked at my father. “I’ll eat what I want. And I won’t go live with the Yerdins. I’d rather die.” Then I ran to my room and slammed the door. I found a towel and cleaned the food off my face and hands. Spaghetti sauce stains. Would my fingers still be orange tomorrow?

Parmesan Rolls (super easy)
Buy Rhodes Rolls or any other frozen roll that needs to rise. After they rise, roll in butter and then parmesan cheese. Follow the baking directions on frozen roll package.

DeVito’s Spaghetti Sauce

I had to ask my mother permission to post this one. This recipe has been in the family for years. It comes from my stepdad’s Italian family. I have to admit, food was better after my mom married him.

When I make spaghetti sauce, I normally double the recipe and then freeze the sauce in gallon size freezer bags. I put enough in each bag for one meal.

Spaghetti Sauce

3 large cans of tomatoes (blend and strain through colander-you don’t want seeds or skin, it will make it acidy)
6 small cans of tomato paste
1 1/2 cans of water to each can of tomato paste
Salt and pepper to taste
2 level tsp of sweet basil
Dash or 2 of oregano
Garlic powder to taste (I used a lot)
2 tsp of parsley flakes
1 tsp celery flakes or 1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 or 3 tbsp brown sugar (This takes away some of the acidity. I typically will add more as the day goes on if I need it.)

Use some beef or pork for flavoring.  Brown or seer meat before putting into the sauce. (I use a chuck roast and a small pork roast. In the last hour I add breakfast sausages with skin or meatballs. I prefer the sausages. I used to use only one package of sausage but now my kids fight over them so we use three).

Simmer at slow roll with lid ajar to allow for slow evaporation for 6 to 8 hours. (Yep, it’s an all day project. I usually do it when I have a good book to read. I can use the sauce as an excuse to do nothing but read and stir.)

Stir frequently to keep from sticking on bottom of pan. (This is where the sauce can go really bad. I’ve ruined my share of spaghetti sauce by not stirring often enough. If you do neglect it and realize it is stuck to the bottom, don’t scrape it off. The rest of the sauce will taste fine. If you do scrape it off, your sauce will have a burned taste.)

Kissed (The Thorn Chronicles)
by Kimberly Loth

Naomi is rescued from her impending nuptials by the mysterious Kai who sends her off to Vegas with a sweet kiss and a promise of only a short time apart. But there Naomi meets Puck, a boy with wine colored hair and kisses that rival Kai’s. Soon Naomi is swept into a glamorous world where kisses hold power and not is all is at it first appears. Soon she must choose, freedom but heartache or love and captivity.

Buy the book: http://amzn.to/1oeQAPf Only 99 cents

About the Author

Kimberly Loth can’t decide where she wants to settle down. She’s lived in Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, California, Oregon, and South Carolina. She finally decided to make the leap and leave the U.S. behind for a few years. Currently, she lives in Cairo, Egypt with her husband and two kids.

She is a high school math teacher by day (please don’t hold that against her) and YA author by night. She loves romantic movies, chocolate, roses, and crazy adventures. Kissed is her first novel.

Connect with the Author

Apryl Baker

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