Happy New Year!

2013… what can I say? It was busy. Lots of good happened. Some not so good, but those things seem trivial in retrospect. I wrote over 182,000 words of fiction—original, gift, and fan. I’m satisfied with that. Very satisfied. A good portion of those words make up two books that will be published this year.

I wished I had spent more time on LJ. That's one thing I plan to do better in 2014. I don’t mean all that promo crap either. I mean the fun stuff. Meta. Silly family posts. Memes. Recs. I vow to comment more on friends’ posts. I have no excuse for my silence beyond that I can be incredibly lazy.

I think it’s going to be an exciting year. I’ve got two kids on the cusp of big things. Things they worked hard for. I’m very proud of them. And apprehensive, but that’s a mother’s prerogative.

As for writing, I’ve got loads of ideas for books, a better understanding of how to mesh what sells with the kind of story I like to tell, and a solid support group of friends and professionals. I just need to pick an idea out of pile and run with it.

Resolutions, I have them. I promise to better balance the scales of work and play. To remember my kids won’t be kids forever. To be silly and romantic with my husband whenever I can. And to never forget how lucky I am.

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Have a recipe! It’s cold and snowy here tonight. This is a favorite when we’re all home for dinner.

Apple Butter Pork Loin:
4lb pork loin (or 2-2lb loins)
1 cup apple butter
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
2 cups apple juice
4 T water
Salt and pepper to taste

SO easy. Salt and pepper the loins and place them in a 13x9 baking dish. Pour apple juice over the meat, cover, and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Mix the remaining ingredients. After 45 minutes, remove the loins from the oven and cover them with the apple butter mixture. Re-cover and bake for an additional 45 minutes to an hour. Watch the meat carefully to make sure it doesn’t overcook. Internal temperature should be 145 degrees.

Like I said, super simple and super tasty. Comfort food on a wintry night. (Goes great with rosemary roasted potatoes. Just sayin’!)