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Beautifully narrated by Sarah Kate, now you can listen to the stories while driving, doing housework, or anytime!
Thank you for reading…
Though an intense and emotional experience, I loved writing this story of love, renewed faith, and truly surrendering to God. I hope so much that you enjoyed reading it!
If you did, please consider leaving a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads. Reviews help other readers like you find the books they’ll want to read.
Pepparkakor recipe
These thin and delicious spiced cookies are a traditional Swedish favourite, often cut in the shape of men, women, hearts, stars, flowers, and even pigs! There are many different recipes, often handed down within families. Though pepperkakor are often called ginger cookies, they contain other spices not usually used in American-style gingerbread.
One change from the traditional version is the sweetening syrup used. Swedes normally use sirap, a uniquely Swedish sweetener made from sugar beet. Either dark or light sirap is used, depending how brown the baker wants the cookies to be. You may be able to purchase authentic sirap from a Swedish grocery store, or IKEA (they also sell ready prepared pepparkakor dough). Or use the suggested sweeteners as an alternative. Golden syrup and molasses will give the closest taste to the original, but can be substituted with corn syrup if needed.
The dough should ideally be made the day before baking. Makes 6 dozen cookies, depending on the size of the cookie cutter used and how thick or thin the dough is rolled.
This recipe is a combination of several found on the internet. The original recipe can be found here (in Swedish, so I’m grateful for Google Translate!): https://sv.wikibooks.org/wiki/Kokboken/Recept/Pepparkakor
Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom pods (or 1/2 teaspoon dried cardamom)
3/4 stick (75 g) butter or margarine
1/2 cup (125 g) sugar (white, brown or a mixture)
1 1/2 tablespoons (25 g) golden syrup (or light corn syrup)
1/2 tablespoon (10 g) treacle (or dark corn syrup)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
3 1/2 tablespoons (50 ml) water
1 3/4 cups (225g) all-purpose(plain) flour
Instructions
Lightly crush the cardamom pods and empty the seeds out. Grind the seeds in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and discard the pods. Set ground seeds aside with other spices.
Mix the sugar, all the spices, and the sweetening syrups in a saucepan over a moderate heat, stirring until the sugar is melted.
Remove from heat, add the butter while mixture is still hot, and stir until it is melted and mixed into the sugar syrup.
Add the baking soda and mix thoroughly.
Add the water and stir in.
Add the flour and mix until it is completely combined with the wet ingredients.
Empty the mixture into a bowl and allow to cool. When completely cool cover with food
wrap (cling film). Leave the dough to rest in the fridge overnight.
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C, gas 6, fan oven 180°C).
Break off a small portion of the dough, leaving the rest in the fridge. The dough should be stiff, but not crumbly. Knead it a little to soften, and then roll out thinly (1/8 to 1/4 inch or 3 to 6 mm thick) on a lightly floured surface or on baking paper. If the edges crack, gently rub the cracked area back together with your fingers.
Cut the dough into shapes using a cookie cutter, or cut to the desired size and shape using a sharp knife. Leftover dough can be combined with the next batch. Transfer to cold cookie sheets (baking trays). If not using baking paper (recommended!) the trays should be lightly greased.
Bake for 5-8 minutes until evenly browned. Check frequently during baking, as they burn easily. Traditionally, the cookies are baked till crisp, but if you prefer a softer cookie, remove from oven when edges are browned.
Leave to cool a few minutes, then lift on the baking paper to a wire rack to cool completely. If not using baking paper, allow the cookies to cool longer on the cookie sheets — they break easily when hot.
Continue baking in batches until all you have enough cookies or all the dough is used. Unused dough will keep well for at least a week in the fridge if covered.
Though plain cookies are more traditional, once cookies are completely cool, they can be frosted (iced) in whatever pattern you wish.
Cookies should be stored in an airtight container and will stay good for up to 4 weeks.
Enjoy!
Bible Verses and other references
Prologue
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 NIV
Chapter 4
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV
Each one of us has one body, and that body has many parts. These parts don’t all do the same thing. In the same way, we are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body, and each part belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5 NIV
Chapter 11
IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to all,
From heaven's all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its babel sounds
The blessèd angels sing.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the heavenly hymn have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And warring humankind hears not
The tidings which they bring
O hush the noise and cease your strife
And hear the angels sing.
And you, beneath life's crushing load
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!
For lo!, the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The prince of Peace their King
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
(Edmund Hamilton Sears, 1849)
Chapter 12
God says, “Stop fighting and know that I am God! I am the one who defeats the nations; I am the one who controls the world.” Psalm 46:10 ERV
So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer you
r lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. Romans 12:1 ERV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV
I’m so grateful for...
Marion, Cecelia, Jan, Clare, and Mary — the wonderful authors in this set. It’s a privilege to work with such a friendly and harmonious group of dedicated, God-focused women. Special thanks to Marion for the lovely cover and formatting and to Cecelia for being our financial administrator. You are appreciated!
My superb editor, Dee at Brilliant Cut Editing, a true sister in Christ who always shows me how best to polish my words. Any grammatical errors in the story are all mine, added after she edited.
My writing buddy and dear friend Shannon Marie, who is such a blessing to me. Her story suggestions and friendship make all the difference!
My beloved husband Arthur, for trying his hardest to understand what it is I do when I write, and why I have such a passion for it.
As always, my deepest most heartfelt thanksgiving and praise to God, who makes it all possible. Without Him, I would be nothing.
And thanks to you, dear reader, for coming this far with me. I truly pray this story blessed and uplifted you.
MIDNIGHT CLEAR
Copyright 2017 © by Autumn Macarthur
First ebook edition as part of the Snowflakes & Snuggles boxed set, December 2017
This solo edition published August 2018
Contact details: [email protected]
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— for example, electronic, photocopy, recording— without the prior written permission of the author. The only exception is brief quotations in printed or broadcast reviews.
This ebook edition is licensed for your personal use only. It may not be sold, copied or given away to other people. If you would like to share an ebook edition, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with.
Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated!
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
BIBLE VERSION COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) Copyright © 2006 by Bible League international
New International Version (NIV): Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” Christmas carol by Edmund Hamilton Sears, Public Domain
Love to listen to your books?
Calm & Bright and Imperfectly Proverbs 31 are both available in audiobook from Amazon and iTunes. Midnight Clear is in production, and will be available soon.
Beautifully narrated by Sarah Kate, now you can listen to the stories while driving, doing housework, or anytime!
Thank you for reading!
I hope you enjoyed the first three books in the Huckleberry Lake series. If you did, I’d love for you to review this set on Amazon, Bookbub, or anywhere else readers find the books they want to read.
Honest reviews are a huge blessing to an author, as well as to other readers.
Thank you!
Other books by the author
If you enjoyed this set, you may also enjoy my other stories! Find the most up-to-date book list on my website. All books are in Kindle Unlimited, and (apart from sets) are also available in paperback!
Huckleberry Lake series set in Idaho!
Book 1 – Calm & Bright
Book 2 – Imperfectly Proverbs 31
Book 3 – Midnight Clear
All in this set.
More stories on their way! Subscribe to my reader newsletter or follow me on Amazon or Bookbub to be notified of my new releases.
Sweetapple Falls series set in Oregon
Book 1 – His Father’s Son
Book 2 – His Healing Touch – not yet released
The Love in Store series set in London:
Book 1 – The Wedding List
Book 2 – Believe In Me
Book 2.5 – Least Expected
Book 3– A Model Bride
Book 4– Forget Paris
Book 4.5 – Invitation to the Ball (or get it as my welcome gift for new subscribers)
Book 5 – Teapots & Tiaras
Book 5.5 – More than This – not yet released
Book 6 – Heart in Hiding – not yet released
Book 7 – Stand the Heat – not yet released
Books 2, 2.5, 3, & 4 are also available as a reduced price boxed set, London Loves.
The Macleans series set in Edinburgh:
Mac’s story – A Model Bride
Catriona’s story – More than Friends
Fraser’s story – A Lesson in Love
Brodie’s story – The Real Thing – not yet released
Together for Christmas
Discounted boxed set containing
Believe in Me, A Model Bride, Calm & Bright, and His Healing Touch,
launching October 2018
A Tuscan Legacy
The wonderful 9 book multi-author series is now complete!
My books:
Book 8 – Dolce Vita
Book 9 – La Risposta
Other books in the series are by:
Marion Ueckermann, Elizabeth Maddrey, Alexa Verde, Clare Revell, Heather Gray, & Narelle Atkins.
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About the Author
I'm a USA Today bestselling author of clean Christian inspirational romances with a strong touch of faith. If you love happy-ever-afters, sweet romance, and Hallmark movies, chances are you’ll enjoy my stories!
Originally from Sydney, Australia, I now live in a small town not far from London, England, with my very English husband (aka The Cat Magnet), and way too many rescue cats for our tiny house! We’ve now also recently added two guinea pigs to our family. For such small creatures, they have amazingly huge personalities.
When I’m not feeding cats, I hand sew, read, and most of all write my heartwarming stories of love and faith. With every story, God teaches me the exact same lessons my hero and heroine need to learn to commit to their lifetime love.
I'm also blessed with a chronic health issue that has changed my life with the way it limits me. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve come to give thanks for the gift hidden in the illness — the way it’s taught me patience, brought me into a greater dependence on God, and given me a far deeper appreciation of His love and provision.
Visit me at my website http://faithhopeandheartwarming.com and on Facebook as Autumn Macarthur. I’m also part of an active Facebook reader group, Three Authors and a Blogger. You’re most welcome to join!
Faith, hope, & heartwarming –
inspirational romance to make you smile.
Copyright notice
Copyright 2018 © by Autumn Macarthur
This anthology edition published August 2018
Contact details: [email protected]
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— for example, electronic, photocopy, recording— without the prior written permission of the author. The only exception is brief quotations in printed or broadcast reviews.
This ebook edition is licensed for your personal use only. It may not be sold, copied or given away to other people. If you would like to share an ebook edition, other than permitted lending via Amazon, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Your support and respect for the hard work and intellectual property of this author is appreciated!
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
For Bible verse and recipe copyright notices (where applicable) please see individual copyright pages at the end of each book.
Come to the Lake Page 35
