Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 03-31-2020

Dear Reader,

Robin Blake, today's guest author has written six mystery novels about the 18th century English coroner Titus Cragg, and his scientific friend Dr Luke Fidelis. He is also the biographer of Anthony Van Dyck and George Stubbs.

Say hello (everyone loves email, especially in these times). Robin Blake can be contacted at [email protected]

Please welcome author Robin Blake...

About Time, and Stories.

I dare say all story-telling is about time. As word succeeds word, and page follows page, the flow of time is tested and explored. Time is the water in which story-tellers swim. Stories are drenched in it.

Even when a story is pretending to look forward, it is actually looking back, because the all-important business of fiction is retrospection--in anger, in tears, in gratitude, but often only in simple curiosity. Ideally, though, the matter is not so simple. There should be a chord of emotions, because the music of time is complex. It is often discordant, but when it's harmonious, as the saying goes, time is medicinal, a consolation. Writers love to play on the sadness of time, but they know it can be a sweet sorrow just as often as it's a bitter pill.

Memory is the postman of time, bringing the past again and again to your door whether you want it or not. As everybody knows memory is selective, and a distorting lens. Its selections and distortions can't be eliminated, nor should they be, because they're loaded with important meanings. Just ask your analyst, if you have one. Or ask your mother, if you still have one. But be warned: her memories have their own distortions and their own, quite different, meanings. Memory is not only selective, it is relative.

The only element in the mind that is not of time is the moment. Time is escapement, but moments momentarily escape time. In them the mechanism stops, the sun stops. When the poet Louis Macneice held hands with his girl in a teashop, "time was away and somewhere else" and Macneice had an experience of bliss. But soon enough the shadow on the floor moved and the moment was gone.

We dream of seizing such moments in order to live in them, if only we had time enough. But that is impossible. All moments, without exception, are inevitably crushed under time's chariot-wheel. We don't have time because, instead, time has us.

Every moment, every precious moment, is transient: that is the deal. In the long run time, as we experience it, does not mean development, or progress, or even random accumulation. It means loss. It means never going back.

Get used to it, says common sense. But time is immune to common sense. Time is immune to everything, except story-telling.

-- Robin Blake
[email protected]

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column 03-30-2020

Dear Reader,

I think we all need a little "funny" every day right now--I know I sure do. So I want to thank Carol B., from Iowa, for her response to last Wednesday's column about toilet paper...

"Suzanne, I loved your column and questions about toilet paper! It's a topic I've been thinking about myself, and recently included in a piece I wrote about our family's guidelines for our monthly Memoirs group. I've excerpted a paragraph that provides guidance on "how much" to use. <smile>

Some stores have limited the amount of toilet paper a customer may buy, a form of rationing. Strangely enough, our family had its own form of rationing toilet paper when I grew up. My parents didn't call it that, but in keeping with the family philosophy of conservation of and stretching resources, I was instructed to use three--and three only--squares of toilet paper per wipe. That was enough to keep your hand dry and do the job. My mother pooh-poohed those who tugged at the roll and mummified their hand with paper. 'Wasteful," she said, and "it can plug your plumbing.'

It was understood, though, that you had to start with quality paper, a 2-ply Scott brand was our family's choice. Similar stipulations were in place for using paper towels in public restrooms...only one towel. That was enough. My parents' instructions stuck. Without revealing too much personal information, let's just say that today I feel rather extravagant when I exceed the limit." -- Carol B., Burlington, Iowa

(Suzanne replies:) What a great email. Thanks so much for writing. If the toilet paper shelves in my grocery store weren't still bare, by golly Carol, I'd send you your very own six pack of TP and you could go a little crazy!

Besides counting squares of TP, I'd love to know how you're spending your extra "at home" time?

Are there any new projects you've tackled? My new challenge is to finally figure out how to match the bottoms and tops of the 20 plastic storage containers in my cupboard. (It really shouldn't be this hard.) My idea is to get out the magic markers and color coordinate--a red dot on the bottom, a red dot on the lid and they are a match. And move on to a different color. Wish me luck.

If you're working from home, how's it going? Any funny stories?

What (or who) is driving you nuts?

Are you homeschooling your children/grandchildren?

How are you staying connected to friends?

Are you using technology in a different way than you have before? How's it going?

And if you've been so fortunate--what has made you smile?

I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

FROM BLOOD AND ASH by Jennifer Armentrout

When I start reading a book, I want to be swept away, captivated, shocked and messed up in the best way possible from. This book is all of that. If you love forbidden romance, this book is for you. If you love snark, this book is for you. If you love action and intrigue, edge of your seat moments and being caught off guard by what you're reading, this book is for you.

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on FROM BLOOD AND ASH to read more and to email author Jennifer Armentrout, you'll get a reply.

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column 03-27-2020

Dear Reader,

I've discovered that the best way for me not to spend my day worrying about something (like a pandemic), is to get up in the morning and actually say out loud, "What can I do for someone else today?" That one simple line immediately changes my focus, because all day long I'm on the lookout for opportunities.

One of the things I'm doing every day is calling an 83-year-old woman who lives alone in her home. I check in to see if she needs anything and we have a nice chat. We're good "medicine" for each other.

To my surprise, even with the pandemic, another thing I can do for others is bake. "Are you still baking, Suzanne?" I continue to get requests from neighbors and my regular UPS, Amazon and FedEx delivery people.

The cinnamon roll recipe (below) is from my high school economics class. Easy to make, it rises in the refrigerator and there's plenty to share.

CINNAMON ROLLS

5-6 cups all-purpose flour
2 pkgs active dry yeast (quick rise is what I use)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) soft butter
1 1/2 cups very hot tap water
2 eggs (at room temperature)
Vegetable oil
1/4-1/2 cup of sugar
2 tsp of cinnamon

Combine 2 cups flour, yeast, 1/2 cup of sugar and salt in large bowl. Stir well to blend. Stir in soft butter. Add hot tap water to ingredients in the bowl all at once. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.

Add eggs and 1 cup more flour. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed for 1 minute or until thick and elastic, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour gradually. Use just enough flour to make a soft dough which leaves the sides of the bowl. Turn out onto the floured board. Round up into a ball.

Divide dough into two equal portions. Knead each portion of dough 5-10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. (I use the dough hook on my mixer, but if you don't have one, you can knead the dough by hand. Your arms will be lookin' great when you're done!) Cover each portion of dough with plastic wrap and then a towel.

Let the dough rest for 15-20 minutes on a board. Then punch down. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a rectangle. Spread enough softened butter over the dough to cover lightly. The recipe calls for 1/4 cup butter, but I never use that much. I just cover it lightly with butter.

In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; blend well and sprinkle over the dough. (I don't use all of the sugar mixture because I like just a taste of sweetness. But use as much as you think you'll like.)

Roll each portion of the dough in a jelly roll fashion. Pinch the edges firmly to seal seams. Cut into 1-inch individual rolls. (I use dental floss to make the cuts.) Place each roll in greased round pan.

Cover each pan with wax or parchment paper and put the pans in the refrigerator for at least two hours, but not more than 48. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until done.

Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls

3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 T softened butter
1 to 2 T milk

In a small bowl combine all the ingredients. Mix well. After the rolls are baked and slightly cooled, but still warm, drizzle the frosting over the top. Enjoy!

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column 03-26-2020

Dear Reader,

Every time I reach over and pull some toilet paper off the roll--it's become a traumatic, hold my breath, anxiety-ridden event. Anxiety, stress and trauma, these emotions don't encourage what should be going on in the bathroom, if you want to stay regular. But in these times, every single square has become precious. Starting a new roll takes a lot of finesse, which increases my TP anxiety. Why is that first square adhered securely to the roll? "Come on! Give me a break!" As I was having a one-sided conversation yesterday with TP executives, I was trying to gently slip my fingernail underneath that first delicate piece, so I wouldn't waste even one square.

But instead, that first square of toilet paper shredded and in my new TP conservation frame of mind, there I sat on the throne, frantically reaching out into the air, hoping to catch the soft-on-your-hiney Scott-brand white snowflakes falling to the floor.

How many squares in a roll? How many squares does it take to do the job? These are the questions that are starting to keep me up at night. And when I'm up, I've gotta go, so at 3 a.m. I was reaching for the roll. But as I was tugging gently on the paper, I realized this was the last "tug" for this roll. Panic set in and soon I was counting our stash of toilet paper. There were 18 rolls, which was comforting at the time, but then again, who knows how many days/months they will last. So in the morning, I asked my husband if he had any idea how much toilet paper we use in a week. His unscientific calculation was 1/2 to one roll.

But I wanted to ask the "experts" so I Googled the question and discovered this simple calculator for how much toilet paper I'll need to survive the pandemic.

Of course there are no guarantees that this site is accurate, but I do guarantee the site will make you laugh. Heaven knows we all need a good laugh--and of course--toilet paper.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column 03-25-2020

Dear Reader,

Because of the COVID-19 virus, one of the things I wanted to stock up on at the grocery store was flour, because baking is a relaxing thing for me to do. And I must not be the only one whose baking is therapeutic, because the first grocery store I visited--the flour "cupboard" was bare. The next market I went to, there were only five bags of flour on the shelf. (I didn't take five, I left four so other crazy bakers like me could fill their emergency prescriptions.)

It would be impossible for my husband and me to eat all of the baked goods I make, but our next door neighbor frequently reminds me that he's always willing to help. When he was out walking his dog yesterday and he saw me, he must have talked for five minutes about how great my recent Chocolate Banana Nut cake was. 'Keep me on the list for that cake, Suzanne!'

Book club readers agree with my neighbor...

"Suzanne, thank you for the recent Chocolate Banana Nut cake recipe. My husband and I are enjoying the cake. We are all transitioning from working from home, but sitting eight hours online gets exhausting in a whole new way. Librarians are never used to just sitting at their desks all day. I know that I am teaching, talking to students at random times of the day, working with my colleagues away from the desk. I was hitting a wall yesterday, and then I remembered your recipe. So, I took my mental break and made the cake. It was so wonderful to smell the cake baking as I continued through the work day. Then my husband came home (he is still in his office), and it just put such a happy smile on his face to smell the cake, too. And of course, it was delicious. Thank you," -- Eileen W.

"Hello Suzanne, see the photo of your chocolate banana nut cake (it's included in a link at the end of this column). I just made it and it is yum. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I chuckled when I read that the cake will 'giggle' in the middle when you sprinkle walnuts. Since I love quotes here are a couple: Audrey Hepburn: 'Let's face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.' and Julia Child: 'A party without cake is just a meeting.' Take care, be safe hugs," -- Farida S.

To see Farida's Chocolate Banana Nut Cake, get my recipe so you can make one of your own, and to see who inspired me to become a baker years ago, click here.

Keep singing "Happy Birthday" to yourself, wash, wash, wash your hands--and then eat cake!

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column 03-24-2020

Dear Reader,

Over the past twenty-five years, the husband and wife writing team, Jim and Nikoo McGoldrick, have crafted over forty fast-paced, conflict-filled historical and contemporary novels and two works of nonfiction under several pseudonyms, including May McGoldrick and Jan Coffey. Their stories have touched the hearts and minds of millions of readers all over the world. Their work has been translated into over a dozen languages and counting. Their latest book, in the Royal Highland series, is Highland Sword.

Contact this writing pair at:
https://www.maymcgoldrick.com/contact-us

Please welcome Jim and Nikoo (May) McGoldrick...

Jim's path to the writing profession was a natural one, and he was well prepared for it. Aside from his talent, he brings knowledge acquired through years of education and teaching, and his discipline is exemplary. But I (Nikoo) trained as a mechanical engineer in an era when there were only two female students in my graduating class. And English is my second language.

Many things prepared me to give up one career and fall in love with another, but there is one event that stands out in particular. I was entering my final semester of college. All my engineering requirements were completed.

The only three courses I had left to take were electives. But instead of settling on an easy one, the course I wanted was a 500-level Shakespeare class being offered only to graduate students or undergrad English majors with permission of the instructor. As an avid reader who'd read a great many works of classic literature, I saw this my last chance to find balance in my education. The lecturer, Warren Smith, was an eminent Renaissance scholar and an iconic figure on campus.

Holding tight to my registration form, I approached Professor Smith for his signature. He stared down at my double major in engineering and handed the form back to me. "No. We don't have enough women in engineering. Take an elective in basket weaving, graduate, and go change the world."

"But I need your Shakespeare course to change the world."

His smile deepened the wrinkles around his eyes. "Take judo as your elective. You'll need that more."

"We need the arts to understand who we are and why. And everyone says you know so much about Shakespeare."

"Not as much as Shakespeare knows about me." He took my pen and signed the form.

Warren Smith influenced my career and my future. That one course taught me that the human experience has not changed over the centuries. Othello reminded me that life and love are fragile things. Twelfth Night told me I must actively learn in order to grow: "There is no darkness but ignorance." And Ophelia says, "We know what we are, but we know not what we may be."

Life, love, growth, change. Writing is learning, and by taking the risk, by stretching beyond what was expected, a new road was revealed to me. A road that Jim and I will hopefully continue to walk on for years to come.

-- Jim and Nikoo (May) McGoldrick

Contact Jim and Nikoo at: https://www.maymcgoldrick.com/contact-us

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column 03-23-2020

Dear Reader,

"We want you to work from home." Instead of going into the office, a friend of mine started working from home last week. She was excited about the news. In addition to helping her avoid the COVID-19 virus, there would be no more commuting, her work uniform could be pajamas and she could toss a load of laundry in while she was working, or load the dishwasher, or take the dog for a walk (on her coffee break). But after only three days of working from home, along with caring for two children, she realized that her dream of working from home, was in reality, a bit of a fairytale. Working from home can actually be more challenging.

Tips (some very amusing) from Valerie, who is on my staff and has worked from home for almost 19 years...

Have a designated space for work where you have all the stuff you need--reports, pens, highlighters and phone, handy. Nothing is worse than getting a call and having to run around the house looking for something you need, or wrestling your laptop away from your kid or spouse who "borrowed" it.

If you have a dog, they WILL bark loudly and incessantly when you are on an important call or meeting. If my dog is really alarmed by something (like another dog walking by the house), she will come into the office and bark--at me--warning of our imminent demise. So secure the dog, preferably in a spot where they can't see the delivery van or other animals, before the set time.

If you decide to wear a headset, or use the speaker function of your phone, always know where the mute button is and have it within reach. Your kids WILL run in the room, screaming, "Mom!! He just took my dirty underwear and shoved it in his mouth!" when you are on the phone with your boss.

Do your chores before or after work, as you always have done. It can be very tempting to tell yourself 'It will only take a minute to load the dishwasher and wipe down the counters.' But, you don't take a break at the office to tend to the dishes piling up by the sink, so don't do that now. And even though some laundry can easily be done while you are working, it can be distracting when the dryer beeper keeps dinging while you're on the phone with a colleague. Leave the chores for after work, or better yet, have your kids who are home take care of them.

Speaking of children...for school-age children, explain from the start that you are 'working' from home (making money to pay for Doritos and their favorite Internet game), so broken bones, blood, and vomit are the only acceptable reasons to interrupt you. "I need a snack, I'm bored, I can't find my whatever" are not. Spend your lunch period with your kids. Praise them for how well they have done respecting your work time. Then really devote that period to them, fixing and eating lunch together, playing video games, reading books, giving them your undivided attention. And then, tell them you are going back to work.

Whether you're working from home, at your desk in the office, or retired, if your local library is closed and you find yourself having "going-to-the-library" withdrawal, be sure to enter my book giveaway. Every day this week, I'll be giving away books to lucky book club readers.

Stay safe and healthy. (I do work from home and I've broken one of the golden rules--gotta go my dryer is beeping.)

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column 03-20-2020

Dear Reader,

You can count on receiving the library's Online Book Club as usual (M-F), even if your local library is temporarily closed because of the coronavirus virus. The folks who staff this book club are working from home, so your emails will be answered and I'll continue featuring guest authors and fun giveaways. I love to hear from readers, so feel free to write.

If your local library is closed and you find yourself having "going-to-the-library" withdrawal, be sure to enter my book giveaway beginning on Monday. Every day next week I'll be giving away books to lucky book club readers.

Even though most libraries are closed, I know there are two librarians who are munching and dunking my homemade chocolate chip cookies. Emails from two of this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie winners...

"Thank you Suzanne for the cookies I received today! They really are the most delicious chocolate chip cookies. Today is Orange County Library System's first day being closed to the public and the cookies are a huge boost to staff morale. Thanks from the bottom of my heart." -- Shasta Q., Orange County Library System

"Dear Suzanne, thank you for always brightening my day with your column. What a ray of sunshine in an otherwise rainy, dreary day, when your cookies arrived today. I shared them with my family while the library is closed until after Easter." -- Karyn W., Westchester Public Library

A sharp-eyed book club reader spotted my added touch to the recent Chocolate Banana Nut cake recipe I featured in last Wednesday's column...

Re: Giggling cakes
From: Laura W.
"Suzanne, I love the image of you sprinkling walnuts on a 'giggling' cake!"

Laura, watch your mail. I'm sending a free book to you for spotting the "giggle."

Besides a little "giggle" the Chocolate Banana Nut cake tastes amazing--really amazing! I shared some of the cake with my neighbor, and when he was out walking his dog yesterday and he saw me, he must have talked for five minutes about how great the cake was. 'Keep me on the list for that cake, Suzanne!'

Stay safe and healthy. Remember, soap and water and singing "Happy Birthday" twice while we're washing our hands, is something we all can do. (And for a little fun, sing out loud--I do!)

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE: How One Woman's Words Made History by Elisa Boxer helps children realize how much their voices matter. For a chance to win a free copy and learn more, see KIDSBUZZ.

Dear Reader Column 03-19-2020

Dear Reader,

Book Club reader, Nyssa F. wrote to me...

Hi Suzanne,

I started a new habit and as I did, I thought of you and your column, so I hope you don't mind if I share.

I used to journal every day. For 15 years every night before bed I put my thoughts down on the page.

And then...

Then I had children.

The desire to journal didn't leave me, if anything I wanted to write more, record every milestone, every laugh and every frustration. But suddenly my "me time" had become very defined. One hour, maybe three, if I was lucky in a day. (I am not one of those people who skips the sleep to have free time. Doesn't work.)

So now all my hobbies were clamoring for time. Reading, watching TV, gardening, knitting, cooking, baking, playing a game, writing, yoga...but there was only one hour.

For the past four years I've been journaling intermittently. The past dry spell was three months. After the first month, other obstacles start rearing their heads. Now I have too many updates. I don't know where to start. I'm not in the mood. I'd rather do something else. Finally I got fed up with myself and made myself a deal.

I've started setting a timer on my phone for 15 minutes. For 15 minutes during the day I write. I don't let myself think about it, or talk myself out of it. The timer starts and I start writing, starting at whatever spot inspires me. And when the timer goes off, I put down my pen.

Yes, I've still talked myself out of a few nights. But this new habit is both freeing and holds me to an accountability I needed. Now that I've shared, I have an extra accountability--it's not just a compact between me and myself.

Thanks for reading.

Nyssa F.

(Suzanne replies:) I think you're onto something Nyssa. And you've made it easy to succeed at your goal, because you've decided on an amount of time that doesn't feel overwhelming. Instead it's become your 15 minutes of fun. I appreciate you sharing your idea with me.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

With so many new books out every week, we promise these titles deserve your attention:

(Fantasy)
CRUSH THE KING by Jennifer Estep

(Fiction)
SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS by Jennifer Probst

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader Column 03-18-2020

Dear Reader,

It was kismet...

I was in the mood to try a new recipe the other day, so I decided to thumb through my favorite cookbook to find one. And as soon as I opened the cookbook up, a recipe card fell out of it. The recipe, Chocolate Banana Nut Cake, was written in my handwriting, but I didn't remember ever writing down the recipe, and I certainly didn't ever remember making it. But it seemed like it was "meant-to-be." I wanted a new recipe to try and there it was, neatly written out on the card in front of me. It was kismet!

The cake tasted so good that after my husband took his first bite he announced, "From now on, this cake is number one in our house!." And he cut a second piece.

The recipe might look long, but it's simple as can be. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE BANANA NUT CAKE

Grease 10" round cake pan (the sides and bottom) with a cooking spray. Then line the pan with parchment paper on the bottom. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 oz semisweet chocolate (broken into pieces) I used chocolate chips
1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup ground walnuts (put whole walnuts on a cutting board, put parchment paper over top of them and roll until crushed with your rolling pin)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup buttermilk
1 T pure vanilla extract
2 cups lightly mashed overripe bananas (5-6)
3 eggs lightly beaten
3/4 cup chopped walnuts for topping

In a saucepan over low heat (or use the microwave), melt the butter and chocolate stirring until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, ground walnuts, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Blend thoroughly. Stir buttermilk, vanilla and bananas just until combined. Set aside.

Add the eggs to the cooled chocolate mixture and stir well. Stir the chocolate mixture into the banana mixture.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and sprinkle the chopped walnuts across the top. (The cake will still giggle in the middle). Return the cake to the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for 15 minutes and carefully remove the cake from the pan. (If you use a 9" pan the baking time will be longer.)

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE: How One Woman's Words Made History by Elisa Boxer helps children realize how much their voices matter. For a chance to win a free copy and learn more, see KIDSBUZZ.