my newest, hot hero has chronic kidney disease

I'm sharing his favorite new recipe: Liam's Low-sodium Blueberry Muffins. You will love this recipe!

Jul 03, 2022

It’s a holiday weekend here in the United States. Many are celebrating this holiday with business as usual—from fireworks that frighten pets to parades to cookouts. Others will celebrate with mixed feelings and probably feel a bit guilty over it. And still others have decided that the 4th of July is no longer a day to be celebrated at all.

Me? I’m busy plotting my latest psychological thriller/romance by deepening the character arc of my lead female’s love interest.

But before we get to this troubled, sexy hero, be sure to subscribe to this newsletter:

There are so many details that go into building the characters of an intense novel. Some of those details have nothing to do with the actual crimes featured in the story or the suspense that unravels.

For example… before the characters can get caught up in a thrilling, plot-twisting story, the characters need a back story. Even though I’m about thirty thousand words into writing Danger is in the Shadows, I’m fine-tuning some details of one of my leading characters.

Meet Liam Jameson. Artist/Painter. Current New York resident who has returned home to Paynes Creek, Kentucky, to create pieces for an upcoming art exhibit featuring his work.

I found myself picturing Theo James while writing Liam. Have you watched Theo’s new TV series, a remake of The Time Traveler’s Wife, on HBO? At least I thought it was new. It was new to me.

While in Paynes Creek, Liam will meet Dr. Corinne Michel, the local medical examiner. And though Liam is NOT in Paynes Creek to date or start any sort of a relationship, he will have a hard time ignoring the attraction he feels toward Corinne—especially when trouble finds Corinne because of one of her cases.

A little background on Liam… He was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease when he was a young college student. Having this disease doesn’t define Liam, but it does add a little intrigue to his character, and it causes my female lead, Corinne—a doctor, to see him a little differently just as she was getting to know him.

Since March, in consultation with a nephrologist and a certified dietician, I’ve become a bit of a non-doctor, non-dietician expert in Liam’s illness and the diet and lifestyle he was forced to adopt at the time of his diagnosis in order to prevent kidney failure. Writers write what they know, right? This subject is, unfortunately, something I’ve gained extensive knowledge about during 2022, and fighting Chronic Kidney Disease is slowly becoming one of my passion projects.

Y’all!!! Kidneys are complicated. And it is important to take care of them, especially once you know there’s a problem.

Back to Liam…

Part of Liam’s diet/lifestyle is centered around a low-sodium, mostly plant-based diet. Also, and some people find this lucky, his diet is rich with desserts because he struggles to keep weight on.

This disease led Liam to become a good cook and baker while in college during a time when all of his friends could easily eat fast-food and convenience foods. Because the easiest way to blow a low-sodium diet is by eating out at restaurants and relying on highly-processed convenience foods. A hard lesson and lifestyle change for a college kid!

Of course, Liam is closer to thirty years old at the opening of Danger is in the Shadows, so he’s basically a sexy man in the kitchen for parts of this book. Other parts of the book, he’s a sexy man in blue jeans and a t-shirt painting nearly nude models. So far in my writing, he’s been unable to convince Corinne to pose. Will he succeed at some point? We’ll see.

Today though, I thought I would share one of Liam’s favorite new recipes—a recipe that can be considered breakfast or dessert—and a perfect recipe for this summer holiday weekend. Who’s in?

Be sure to comment or reply to the email and let me know if you try the recipe. Or let me know your thoughts about Liam. I’m slowly falling in love with him.

And if you’re interested in reading other books in the Paynes Creek Thriller series to prepare for the upcoming release of Danger is in the Shadows, be sure to check them out. The first book in the series, Death is in the Details, is currently FREE!

Low-sodium Blueberry Muffins

These blueberry muffins are so buttery and moist, and they have that perfect brown sugar cinnamon streusel on top that you get from your favorite bakery.

I have not yet tried to make these muffins with plant based butter or egg substitutes. If you do, I hope you’ll let me know how they turned out. For this recipe, though, I’m using no salt butter and two eggs. So vegetarian, but not vegan.

Liam adds notes throughout the recipe below.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 6 Jumbo muffins or 12 Regular muffins

Ingredients

Crunchy Streusel Topping

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 1 – 2 oz. package (optional - Liam doesn’t like nuts in his desserts)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Muffins

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour spooned & leveled
2 ½ teaspoon Hains baking powder no sodium
1/2 cup unsalted butter soft at room temperature, 1 stick
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs room temperature
1/2 cup plain yogurt room temperature (5.3 oz. yogurt cup) (Liam likes to use plant based yogurt)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk room temperature (Liam uses plant based vanilla soy or almond milk)
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a 12-count or 6-count jumbo muffin pan with nonstick spray. Or fill pan with muffin cups. Set aside.
Mix all of the crunchy topping ingredients together. Remember, nuts are optional according to Liam. Set aside.
Mix blueberries with a sprinkle of flour. It helps them not sink in muffin while baking. Set aside
Whisk the flour and no sodium baking soda in a medium bowl, evenly distributed, loose and fluffy. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or beater attachment, beat the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
On a medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the yogurt and vanilla extract on medium speed until combined. With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add or portion in the dry ingredients and milk into the wet ingredients and beat until no flour pockets remain. Carefully fold in the floured blueberries.
Spoon the batter into muffin tins, filling them all the way to the top. Top each with crunchy topping, lightly press it down into the surface so it sticks.
For standard size muffins - Bake for 5 minutes at 425 then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
For a jumbo muffin pan – Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then reduce to 350°F for 22-25 minutes for a total of 27-30. Makes about 6.
Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin pan, then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling.
Muffins stay fresh covered at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

According to Liam, you can set the butter out well-ahead of time. Then set out your milk and yogurt for at least thirty minutes before you’re ready to mix the ingredients to get them to room temperature. Liam is a bit of a baker-snob and says that all refrigerated items should be at room temperature so the batter mixes together easily and evenly.

And check out the sodium count below!! This is what Liam calls free food! Full of calories, but free of sodium!

Liam also notes that people with Chronic Kidney Disease sometimes have to watch other nutritional values like potassium levels, phosphates, sugar, and protein amounts. If this is you, definitely take that into consideration.

Nutrition

Hope you’ll give Liam’s Low-sodium Blueberry Muffins a try. Let me know if you do!

If you’re interested in reading other books in the Paynes Creek Thriller series to prepare for the upcoming release of Danger is in the Shadows, be sure to check them out. The first book in the series, Death is in the Details, is currently FREE!

On My Terms

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