What’s Cooking Wednesday with Heather McCollum

Here at Entangled, we like to read.

(Bet you would never have guessed that.)

So we also love quick-n-easy recipes that free up more time for us to indulge in our favorite past time.

Each week we’re sharing some of our favorite recipes to help you find a few extra minutes in your day to enjoy your next favorite book!

This week a special guest:

Heather’s Favorite From-Scratch Chai Tea Latte Recipe from Heather McCollum

I would not be an author without Chai Tea Lattes! My muse works for that semi-sweet, cinnamon flavored warm goodness. Without it, she doesn’t show up – LOL! I have some quick ways to brew some chai tea using concentrates, but if I have a bit of time, I like to brew my own from the spices in their simple form. The result is a milder, much more authentic taste of this delicious, soothing treat. I sipped it while writing my new release, THE HIGHLAND OUTLAW. Here is the recipe that I’ve tweaked over the years.

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk

2 cups filtered water (I use from my refrigerator filtered water)

1 cinnamon stick in pieces

4 cardamom pods

5 cloves

1 tsp. black peppercorn

2 star anise pods

¼ tsp. ginger powder

1 inch cut off a whole vanilla bean

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. loose leaf black tea

Put milk and water in medium saucepan. Add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, anise pods, ginger, vanilla bean piece and sugar. Bring to boil (watch closely so it doesn’t boil over), then simmer for 5 minutes on low heat. Turn off heat, add tea leaves and steep, covered for 2-3 minutes. Strain out spices, then enjoy! Serves 2.

You can add more or less sugar depending on your preference.

Pair your cup of tea with Heather’s new release The Highland Outlaw!

Shaw Sinclair, chief of the outcast clan of Sinclairs of Caithness in northern Scotland, has made a deal with the devil. Despite his strength and lethal skills, he needs help—specifically from a woman—to accomplish his mission to bring a bairn to safety to the coast. When he meets the brave and beautiful Alana Campbell at a Samhain Festival, he decides she’s the one.

Alana Campbell is ready to show the world she’s just as skillful with a sgian dubh as any man. Attracting the attention of the brawny chief who coerces her to join him on his journey to the coast of Scotland gives her that very opportunity. Sparks flash between them as they’re forced to act as husband and wife to accomplish the deadly mission. However, when secrets threaten to tear them apart, they have to decide if their differences outweigh the reality of their feelings…

Heather McCollum is an award winning, historical paranormal and YA romance writer. She earned her B.A. in Biology, much to her English professor’s dismay. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood of 2009 Golden Heart finalists. The ancient magic and lush beauty of Great Britain entrances Ms. McCollum’s heart and imagination every time she visits. The country’s history and landscape have been a backdrop for her writing ever since her first journey across the pond. When she is not creating vibrant characters & magical adventures on the page, she is roaring her own battle cry in the war against ovarian cancer. Ms. McCollum recently slayed the cancer beast and resides with her very own Highland hero, rescued golden retriever & 3 kids in the wilds of suburbia on the mid-Atlantic coast.