by Carla Rossi
“It’s easy, Noah, you just have to have fait—”
“I thought you were listening.”
She pressed her lips together.
“I know you have to go back to school for a term, and I don’t know what’s going to happen in the long run, but I’m not going anywhere, and I think we should spend as much time together as possible.”
She nodded, and then hugged him so hard and so fast she felt the breath rush right out of his lungs.
He wrapped his arms around her. “See? This is how you’re going to drive me insane. When you do talk, you sometimes ramble and don’t say anything. Then when you’re not supposed to be talking at all you still do something that says a million things.”
She stepped back. “Now who’s rambling?” She looked at him and caught his gaze and the reflection of a million twinkle lights from the neighbor’s yard. “I appreciate the kind words, but I’m not perfect. I have lots of issues. And you already know my family’s weird.”
“They’re not weird. It’s my family that needs the work. I realize I need to try to fix what I can.”
“I’m glad. You need your parents. And speaking of family, I have one request.”
“Name it.”
“If Bridget’s family doesn’t come forward, please don’t let her go. Save her for me.”
“I’m not letting anybody go, Jane.”
She smiled as he grabbed the ends of her scarf.
She knew what that meant.
And she liked it.
Sunny Trumbull’s Best Ever Sugar Cookies
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup shortening
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 ½ cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Combine sugar, shortening, butter or margarine, eggs, and vanilla and beat at medium speed with electric mixer.
Spoon dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture. Mix well.
Chill for several hours or overnight. (Dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.)
Separate dough into portions and roll out to desired thickness—usually ¼ to ½ inch.
Cut out cookies.
Bake on cookie sheet or baking stone at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate as desired.
****
Jane and Dr. Noah’s Gingerbread Dog Biscuits
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 ½ to 2 tablespoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ cup molasses
¾ cup water
¼ cup canola oil
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon and cloves until combined.
In a small bowl, stir together molasses, water, and canola oil.
Pour molasses mixture into flour mixture. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Separate dough into manageable portions and roll out to ¼ to ½ inch thickness.
Use your favorite dog cookie cutter to cut shapes.
Lightly spray a baking sheet or use a baking stone.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Cool completely on wire rack.
These dog biscuits will keep fresh in the refrigerator for several weeks. They also freeze well.
****
Jane’s Holiday Apple Cranberry Pie
1 pastry for a 9-inch double crust pie
4 Granny Smith apples
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup dried cranberries
Preheat an oven to 425 degrees.
Press one of the pie crusts into a 9-inch pie plate.
Peel and slice the apples.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Stir in the flour and cornstarch.
Stir in 2 tablespoons of water and the vanilla extract, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg; bring to a simmer.
Add apples and cranberries.
Cook and stir 5 minutes; remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
Pour the fruit into the pie plate and add the top crust.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes; reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking an additional 35 to 40 minutes.
Thank you for purchasing this White Rose Publishing title. For other inspirational stories, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.pelicanbookgroup.com.
For questions or more information, contact us at [email protected].
White Rose Publishing
Where Faith is the Cornerstone of Love™
an imprint of Pelican Ventures Book Group
www.PelicanBookGroup.com
May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG
