Speculaas!

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Traditional dutch speculaas cookies on white background

 

 

Don’t these cookies look delicious? Have you ever eaten these before? I was browsing through my King Arthur flour catalog and saw these advertised. I did a little research about these cookies and discovered the following:

  1. It’s a shortcrust-type cookie made with different spices.
  2. Speculaas are eaten on Saint Nicolas Day (December 6th) in the Netherlands and Belgium. They are eaten in Germany around Christmas time.
  3. They usually have some image or figure stamped on the front and the back is flat.
  4. The dough can be stored overnight so that the spices can permeate the dough, giving it a richer spicy flavor.
  5. Sometimes speculaas contain slivered almonds.

I must admit, I’ve never made these before. However, I believe I’ve eaten a store-bought version of this cookie. Perhaps I will make some this Christmas! If I do, I’ll be sure to post a mouth-watering picture!

So, have you ever eaten these cookies? If so, do you enjoy them?

If you like cookies, then you should try my Christmas novella Loving Luke! It’s only 99 cents and mentions lots of sweet Christmas treats for your palate! Winter Background

 

Blessed Assurance

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Blessed Assurance by various authors

If you could take a Bible story and re-tell it in a modern way, which story would you choose?

This was a nice change from my usual Christian fiction reading. These are short stories. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a collection of short stories. These tales take Biblical stories and re-tell them in a modern day setting. Out of all of the stories, these were my favorites:

Traveling Mercies by Maurice Gray – this story is a modern day rendition of the Good Samaritan. When Matt is attacked near a group of onlookers, the only person who helps him turns out to be a prostitute named Samaria. Samaria is dealing with a lot of issues, including her lack of faith. I loved this story – it shows that even Christians sometimes turn their backs on those in need, and that non-believers are sometimes the only ones who will offer assistance.

Baby Blues by Patricia Haley – this story is based upon Sarah and Abraham

When Sarah has trouble conceiving, she convinces her friend Gayle to have a baby with her (Sarah’s) husband. Sarah’s demands causes a strange love triangle and leaves a lot of hurt feelings between the threesome. This story proves that we need to wait on God’s timing for everything.

The Best of Everything by Victoria Christopher Murray – this story is based upon Hannah

When Hannah and her husband Brandon have trouble conceiving, Hannah is stunned that there is no medical reason as to why she can’t conceive. Her desire to conceive dominates her life and causes problems in her marriage. Her husband’s ex-wife’s attitude towards her makes her angry – after all, Brandon has had several children with his ex. This story shows us that we need to be patient and trust in God for all that we want. We need to trust that God knows what’s best for us.

Jacquelin Thomas’s A Change Is Gonna Come is based upon Tamar. Dinanna’s life takes a drastic turn when her half brother rapes her. Her father does little to help her with her plight. This story show how we need to lean on God during the darkest of times. At times, even our family members abandon us during our darkest times.

If you could take a Bible story and re-tell it in a modern way, which story would you choose? How would you tell your modern day Bible story?

Frosting and Flurries!

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I’m pairing up with some wonderful authors this autumn! We’re going to do a box set of Christmas stories. Book four of my Bakery Romance Series will be included in this collection. If you enjoyed my other stories, then I encourage you to purchase the box set once it’s released! This is a great way to introduce you to some more Christian romance authors!

box set 2 box set SugarandSpice_AMAZON

Love Finds You In Treasure Island Florida

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Love Finds You in Treasure Island Florida

Have you ever vacationed in Florida? If so, what was you favorite Florida vacation spot?

Jerry is on vacation in Treasure Island Florida with his elderly parents. He’s been attracted to pretty Amanda for the last few years. He comes each year with his parents for vacation – he rents a tandem for the older couple from Amanda’s bike shop.

Amanda is attracted to Jerry too, and when he comes in this year to rent the tandem, they end up doing a lot more than just saying “hello” to each other.

However, Amanda is a mother-figure to her irresponsible younger sister Lacey. Plus, she doesn’t consider herself a good candidate as a girlfriend since she’s had a troubled past with her mom. She’s also never gotten over being stood up at the altar by her ex-fiancé.

Jerry has his own set of problems. He’s only in the beach town of treasure island because he’s vacationing with his folks. After awhile, he’ll be returning with his parents back to Atlanta. His folks are getting older and they have health problems, too. If Jerry doesn’t take care of his parents then, who will? How can he even consider a relationship when he has so many responsibilities?

This book was  a light, gentle, heartwarming read. It’d be a nice book to take with you to the beach.

So, have you ever vacationed in Florida? If so, what was you favorite Florida vacation spot?

 

 

Locusts And Wild Honey?

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Matthew 3:4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Locusts and wild honey? I’ve always wondered about this. I wish there were more details. John The Baptist wandered around the wilderness dressed in a garment made with camel’s hair, preaching the gospel and he ate locusts and wild honey? I’m wondering if the locusts were alive when he ate them, or if he cooked them over a fire before eating? How does one eat a locust? I’m wondering how easy it was to gather the locusts and wild honey for his meals? If you have any knowledge about this, feel free to share. It just doesn’t sound like an appetizing diet to me. I’m thinking he had other things to eat, but it appears that he may have eaten the locusts and wild honey quite frequently?

Montana by Debbie Macomber

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Montana by Debbie Macomber

Have you ever relocated to another state?

Molly relocates from California to Montana to help her ill grandfather run his ranch. She’s angry and sad about the demise of her ex-husband. Her ex is in prison for swindling old folks out of their funds. When she arrives, she meets Sam Dakota (her grandfather’s foreman). Sam has a few secrets of his own. Molly is at odds about the way she feels about Sam. He’s nice to her kids, especially her wayward son, so, he has a few good attributes.

But, trouble appears. Mysterious acts of vandalism and a mysterious disappearance make this story so intriguing. This was a great book. There was an unexpected slightly suspenseful twist that added a layer of danger to the story. This book was also about how to learn to trust after being hurt by someone that you love.

So, have you ever relocated to another state? If so, was the relocation by choice, or, was it a matter of circumstance?

 

Loving Luke – a squeaky clean, sweet, delicious romance novella! Only 99 cents – also on Kindle Unlimited!

Still Mine

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Still Mine by Amy Stuart – this is a secular title

Have you ever known someone who was missing? If so, was she/he ever found?

When Clare is sent on a mission to find a missing woman (Shayna), she’s forced to take a hard look at her own life. Clare becomes enmeshed within the lives of the inhabitants of Shayna’s town. There’s Charlie, the local drug dealer, and his girlfriend Sara. Clare and Sara share a camaraderie while Clare finds herself taking drugs, drinking alcohol, things that she really need so avoid. There’s also Derek, the town’s doctor as well as Jared, Shayna’s ex-husband. There’s also Wilfred and Louise, Shayna’s mentally-unbalanced parents. Who is responsible for Shayna’s disappearance and why was Clare hired to find her?

While Clare searches for Shayna, she’s reminded of the abusive life she’s left behind. She’s forced to face her own fears while the mystery in the town of Blackmoore unravels.

I found this to be a very dark read. It was very suspenseful. I also found the ending to be a bit abrupt and unfinished. I’m a bit curious to know if there will be a second book in this series? I’d recommend this book if you like dark, suspenseful novels.

Have you ever known someone who was missing? Was that person ever found?