by Amy Reece
2 tablespoons sugar
Dough
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for rolling
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) salted cold butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup ice water
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Peel, core and chop the apples into 1/4-inch chunks. Put the apples into a pot with the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Cook the apples over medium heat for 12 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Strain and discard the liquid. Set aside to cool for 30 minutes.
2. While the apple mixture cools, combine flour and sugar and then cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork, until it looks like coarse crumbs. Toss with 1/4 cup water to moisten. Continue adding water by tablespoon and mixing with a fork until the dough holds together.
3. Form a ball out of the dough and divide into four smaller balls. Flatten each into a disk. Refrigerate dough, covered for 20 minutes.
4. Roll out one ball of dough to approximately a 9 inch circle, 1/2-inch-thick, sprinkling extra flour to prevent it from sticking. Use a 4 to 5-inch round biscuit cutter, glass, or mug to stamp out circles, rerolling scraps to finish the dough (each ball makes approximately 5).
5. For each circle, use your index finger to wet the edge with cold water. Place 1 tablespoon of cooked apples in the middle. Pick up the circle of dough, making a “boat” out of the dough, pinching together the sides to make a semicircle. Fold the edges of the pinched-together dough in toward the empanada and crimp, sealing it well.
6. Repeat until you have finished all the dough. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
Bernie’s Biscochitos
Makes 4 dozen cookies
Ingredients
1 ½ cups lard, chilled*
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 eggs
2 teaspoons anise seeds
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
About 3 tablespoons brandy, apple juice, or milk*
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat lard and 1 cup sugar in a bowl until fluffy. Add eggs and anise seeds and beat until very light and fluffy. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture along with the brandy. Mix thoroughly to make a stiff dough. Place dough on a long piece (about three feet) of waxed paper, at one end. Bring the long end over the top and press to about one inch or slightly less in thickness and refrigerate until chilled.
2. Roll out dough between waxed paper to just under 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with flour dusted cutters into 3-inch rounds. Combine the 3 remaining tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon in a shallow bowl; dip unbaked cookies into the sugar-cinnamon mixture on one side. Place cookies on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until tops of cookies are just firm. Cool cookies on wire racks.
*Notes: Josh scoffed at Bernie’s request for lard. Butter or margarine can be substituted for the lard; however the cookies will not be as crisp and moist, as she pointed out. Apple juice or milk can be substituted for the brandy; however, they are not quite as good.
Grammy Norma’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Ingredients
1 8 oz. box macaroni noodles
4 eggs
3 cups milk
4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
Few dashes hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Butter to dot on top
Directions
1. Boil noodles as directed on package. When noodles come to a boil, continue to boil 16–17 minutes. Drain and spread 1/2 noodles in bottom of 9x13 greased casserole dish.
2. Cover noodles with a layer of cheese. Repeat noodles and cheese for another layer.
3. Whisk eggs in a bowl; add milk, salt, pepper, mustard, and hot pepper sauce, mixing well. Pour over noodles and cheese layers. Dot top with butter. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 1 hour or until golden brown on top.
Acknowledgments
Almost forty percent of the homeless in the United States are under eighteen. In case after case, the main cause of youth homelessness is physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse from parents or guardians (covenanthouse.org).
The Department of Justice estimates that every year, over 1.7 million teens experience homelessness in the U.S. (dosomething.org).
These statistics are staggering. As a high school teacher, every year I have students who are experiencing various levels of homelessness. Some don’t get along with their parents; some have been kicked out of their home. Some find assistance through various aid agencies, but many more simply fall through the cracks.
This story was born out of the heartbreaking situations I have seen and heard about in my many years in the classroom. I wish with all my heart those children had a Josh in their lives.
As always, love and gratitude goes to my family and friends for all their support and encouragement. Special thanks to my beta readers—Carol, Lacey, and Lou. You are always there for me, and I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate you! Huge thanks to the team at Limitless Publishing for believing in this project and helping polish and buff it for publication. I couldn’t do it without you.
About the Author
Amy Reece lives in New Mexico with her incredible husband and two ridiculous mutts, Greta and Sodapop. When she’s not writing, she’s teaching high school English and social studies or maybe wandering through a thrift store in search of the next lucky teapot for her vast collection. She is an unrepentant bookaholic and has overflowing bookshelves in nearly every room of her house. Her favorite authors include J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and C.S. Lewis–must have something to do with initials! She loves to travel and is hoping to need many research trips for future writing projects.
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13884337.Amy_Reece
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
