Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column - October 18, 2021

Dear Reader,

Congratulations to Sandy H., the winner of last week's Birthday Party Giveaway. After looking at all the different party photos, Sandy chose the Down on the Farm theme for her prize. I'll be sending a Pin the Tail on the Cow birthday party game to get the party started.

From my Email: Book club reader Noreen B. writes...

"Hi, Suzanne [after reading about all the themed birthday parties you've hosted for your family] has your family reciprocated and surprised you with a themed party?" -- Noreen B.

(Suzanne replies)

Me, I'm lucky, I've been treated to two surprise parties over the years. My friends yelled "Surprise!" when I was in junior high school. And my husband surprised me big time, on my 30th birthday. Not only did he orchestrate a surprise, he even managed to have me unknowingly do all the cooking--except for baking the birthday cake. Every other week a girlfriend and I were in a routine of cooking together for fun. My husband overheard us making plans to cook several Chinese dishes the next time we got together, and our upcoming cooking date just happened to be May 25th, the day before my birthday.

At 6 p.m. that evening, my husband was scurrying around the house tidying up, which I didn't find all that unusual because he helps out a lot around the house. But when I noticed that he'd put fresh hand towels by the bathroom sink I thought he'd lost his mind, until the doorbell rang--"Surprise!" and there stood over a dozen friends with a cake, flowers and balloons--and guess what was on the birthday dinner menu?

All of the food my girlfriend and I had made earlier in the day, including Potstickers, Braised Shrimp with Vegetables, Egg Foo Yung, Beef with Broccoli and my husband's favorite, Hot and Sour Soup. What a surprise for my birthday! And what a sweet, romantic gesture from my husband.

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

Hungry for Chinese food? Click to see some of my favorite recipes.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

A SHADOW IN THE EMBER (FICTION) by Jennifer Armentrout

This novel takes place in the same world as the Blood and Ash books but goes back to when the gods interacted with man--before the Kingdom of Atlantia existed, or the first  Ascended was created. Some of the events are going to pave the way for what is to come in the Blood and Ash series, but if you haven't read any of the Blood and Ash books, don't fret, it's not necessary. Be ready for action, steam--lots of steam--and plot twists you probably won't see coming.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on A SHADOW IN THE EMBER to read more and to email author Jennifer Armentrout, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column - October 15, 2021

Dear Reader,

Jodie, a reader at the book club, sent me an email and her opening line was,

"Suzanne, I had my own 'chocolate chip cookie' moment last week."

Most folks would probably wonder what the heck Jodie was talking about. But I smiled after reading her first line, because I knew exactly the feeling she was describing. Whenever I give away my chocolate chip cookies, whether it's to someone I know, the UPS delivery person, or the man who fixed our refrigerator the other day, it's a little kindness that changes the way people feel. It's a warm and comforting feeling they carry with them.

Jodie writes:

After coming home from an ER visit and a day in the hospital, once again I had to call 911 because my ill husband had fallen. While the decision was mine, the paramedics did recommend taking him to the ER. It was a dark, rainy night, and in this time of COVID, I was unfamiliar with the small college medical center across town, where he was eventually admitted. Bless my 18-year-old night owl grandson for picking me up at 1:30 am.

The next morning my daughter, Susan, and I went to the unfamiliar hospital and checked in. The receptionist was so very sweet, helpful, accommodating and made us feel like everything would be all right. We showed proof of vaccination, temp check, told her the room number and got our visitor badges.

And the next morning, when I arrived alone, Roselyn immediately greeted me with "Hi Jodie! Room 211A, right? Where's Susan?" How many people does she check-in in a day? Does she remember them all by name and room number? My patient husband immediately wanted to know, "What did you guys do?" (To be memorable).

The third and last morning, I made a quick stop at the pharmacy, and while I was there I bought a bunch of flowers. When I got to the hospital, I was disappointed that Roselyn wasn't in the window. I learned she was on a break returning at 11, so I asked the receptionist if she'd please give Roselyn the flowers.

I honestly didn't care if the gal remembered who they were from, actually relishing the fact that Roselyn may never know! But as I sat at my husband's bedside, hours later Roselyn came up behind me, gave me a little thank you note, and we had a short visit.

"I hope I never see you again." I told her.

She replied, "Same."

But I know neither she, nor I will forget our brief exchange. -- Jodie H.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader Column - October 14, 2021

Dear Reader,

There’s still time to enter my Birthday Party Giveaway. Click here and after you’ve looked at the photos and chose the party idea you like best, then click on the dino party link at the top of the page to enter the giveaway.

Pumpkin bread is a favorite in our family. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, we are constantly baking pumpkin bread. Especially Paul, my 14-year-old grandson. He's been baking pumpkin bread for years. Even his friends at school ask him to bake pumpkin bread and bring it to school.

A few years ago when I shared Paul's pumpkin bread recipe, some book readers pointed out our family recipe was missing a key ingredient...chocolate.

"Hello Suzanne, I've made pumpkin bread lots of times--you've inspired me to make a batch! But--you've left out my favorite ingredient, chocolate chips! Try it, you'll never go back!" -- Chris H.

"Hello Suzanne, your bread sounds yummy and simple. Wanna kick it up a notch? Be well my friend, and happy reading." -- Lemonz

(Suzanne replies:) When I mentioned the idea of chocolate, Paul jumped on board. The next time he made pumpkin bread he dripped melted chocolate overtop of the bread. You're right, pumpkin and chocolate are delish!

Pumpkin Bread With Chocolate Swirl
from book club reader Lemonz

4 T unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, leveled, plus more for the pan
6 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped, melted
1/4 cup plus 2 tsp canola oil
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp fine salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup pure pumpkin puree
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Brush an 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch loaf pan with butter and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Combine the chocolate and 2 teaspoons of the oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

2. Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.

3. Beat the butter, sugar, and the remaining 1/4 cup oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin puree and mix until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, and vanilla and mix until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.

4. Transfer half the batter into the prepared pan. Top with two-thirds of the chocolate mixture. Repeat with the remaining batter and chocolate mixture. Using a skewer or a knife, swirl the chocolate and batter together to create a marbled pattern.

5. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise this title deserves your attention:

(Thriller)
THE FIELD OF WRONGDOING by Lili St. Germain

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

Dear Reader Column - October 13, 2021

Dear Reader,

After my column about the llama-themed birthday party I created for my daughter-in-law and 9-year-old granddaughter, book club reader Kris J. emailed...

"Suzanne, I would love to get some boy birthday ideas from your past parties. I have an 18-month-old leap-year grandbaby, and a soon to be 8-year-old grandson (new to our family)." -- Kris J.

(Suzanne replies)

The best tip I can give you about coming up with party ideas is to Google (for instance ‘boy birthday party ideas’), and then click on images. Photo after photo you'll see party ideas and decorations. Or your 8-year-old grandson may be interested in LEGO or a super hero--there's your party idea..

When someone in my family has a birthday I make the party, not just for the kids, I get the adults involved in the party activities, too. Painted faces, everyone wearing a mustache, grass skirts, a painting party with a canvas for everyone to create a painting they can take home. LEGOs, sailing, a circus set up in my yard, every birthday party has a different theme. One of my favorites was a "Down on the Farm" birthday party for my 13-year-old grandson Paul.

A life-size cut-out cow, walking balloon ducks, pigs, horses, geese, chickens and sheep. Everyone wore a cowboy hat with a bandana tied around their neck, there was a pull-string chicken pinata filled with candy, and a BBQ. And at Paul's request, we each made our own butter using heavy cream, a small mason jar and a marble. Yes, Paul was right, it works! After continuously shaking the mason jar for five minutes, then adding a pinch of salt, the butter tasted divine.

Have fun planning your parties. It's a lot of work to put a party together, but it's a memory that your family will never forget.

Planning a birthday party?

I've got a fun giveaway to help you get started. Look through all of the party photos I've featured at the link below. Choose the idea you like best, and be sure to add it to the entry form on the page. If you're a winner, I'll send you something to compliment the party idea you chose.

To see photos of some of my past family birthday party ideas and to enter today's party giveaway, click here.

* Congratulations to the winners of the October Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway, I'll be baking for you this weekend: Lois S., Beth S. and Karyn N.

And congratulations to the winners of Personal Effects by guest author Robert A. Jensen: Elsie W, Drew M. and Linda F.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader Column - October 12, 2021

Dear Reader,

Today's guest author, Elizabeth Penney, is the creator of the Elizabeth Penney Apron Shop Series and the Cambridge Bookshop Series. Elizabeth spent her early years in England and France, but now lives in New Hampshire, where she pens mysteries and tries to grow things.

In Elizabeth's newest mystery, Chapter and Curse, Molly Kimball is used to cracking open books...but when a poetry reading ends in murder she must use her skills to crack the case.

Please say "Hello" and welcome Elizabeth to the book club. Email: elizabethpenneyauthor@gmail.com

Next weekend, my young granddaughter is coming to visit. She wants to bake with me, she told her mom. Needless to say, I'm thrilled. The familiar process of waiting for butter to soften, of carefully measuring ingredients, mixing batter in a bowl, and shaping cookies for the oven brings back memories of my own childhood. Licking beaters is a must, as is taking care of all the "mistake" cookies. We talk about how to measure and mix while enjoying the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.

Firing up an oven and baking something delicious for family or friends is a thread running through history, thousands of years, in fact. The spices we use were once rare and precious, transported via ship or camel train across continents. Sugar cane was first domesticated ten thousand years ago, and the "sweet salt," as it was called, became a heavily traded commodity.

By Elizabethan times, confectionary recipes were common in cookery books. As the Goode Huswife's Jewell by Thomas Dawson says (1596 edition), "take sweet butter, two or three yolkes of egges and a good quantity of Suger and a fewe cloves, and mace..." Here we are, four hundred years later, whipping up very similar baked goods in our kitchens, connected to our ancestors by ritual and recipes.

Recently I've been attempting recipes from England, where I spent my early years. Scones, butterfly cakes, crumpets, and jam tarts are all remembered treats. Crumpets resemble an English muffin that you don't cut in half. They're made of batter, not dough, but are also cooked on a griddle in shaping rings. Holes in the top allow plenty of melted butter to seep in. Butterfly cakes, also called fairy cakes, are basically cupcakes filled with buttercream frosting or whipped cream. The top is cut off and shaped into two "wings" placed on the frosting, hence the names.

This week I'll be thinking about what to make with my granddaughter. Should we try butterfly cakes or crumpets? Or since it's fall, whip up a batch of molasses cookies, a New England tradition where we live? We have fresh apples, too, which offer a lot of possibilities. Whatever we decide, I'll be passing along a tradition to a new generation, and she will hopefully do the same someday. No matter how much things change by then, I'm pretty sure eating leftover batter will still be popular.

-- Elizabeth Penney
email: elizabethpenneyauthor@gmail.com

To see a photo of Elizabeth's butterfly cakes, click here.  

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader Column - October 11, 2021

Dear Reader,

I wrote my own prescription the other day and it did the trick. I felt much better after taking the medicine.

I was feeling down, a real bad case of the blues, and when I took a minute to sit with my feelings, I realized what I needed to do. I needed to bake some chocolate chip cookies and give them away to someone. It's a feeling that overtakes me sometimes. A calling that I can't ignore. It might seem strange to admit to someone that my soul is telling me I need to bake cookies and give them away, but thankfully when I made the announcement to my husband, he simply smiled and together we started to bake. I knew I would be cured soon.

If you've ever wrapped a "just-because" present for someone and as you were tying the bow, you could envision the smile on their face, and the look they would give you as they opened their surprise. Such joy! That's the picture I envision as I'm baking cookies. Allowing myself to do something for somebody else--it heals me. Sometimes the prescription includes my being bold. Because I'm not baking with any particular person in mind, instead my heart is telling me, "It's time to bake Suzanne, you're gonna need those cookies later today."

And by golly, when I saw the trucks out in front of our house, later that day, and workers fixing the road, there he was--the man who needed cookies. Standing right in front of my house, his job all day long was to hold a traffic STOP/SLOW sign. Immediately when I spotted him, no doubt about it, he was the reason I baked earlier in the morning.

So without hesitation, I walked up to the man and told him," I baked this morning and I thought you might like some of my chocolate chip cookies, and here's a bottle of cold water, too. What a job! You have to stand out here all day with the sign. If you need to go to the bathroom at some point, give me a holler. You're welcome to use the bathroom at my house, too, and I'll even hold your sign for you. (He laughed, but it's true, I would have).

I wrote my own prescription the other day--and magically I was cured.

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

* Congratulations to the winners of A Darker Reality by guest author Anne Perry: Carlene C., Trude V., Jennie R., Sue F., Tammy B.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

THE FIELD OF WRONGDOING (Thriller) by Lili St. Germain

In the spirit of Gone Girl comes a twisted, small-town thriller that doesn't let up until the very last page.

A girl has gone missing from Gun Creek. The second girl in nine years. Everyone in town thinks Cassie's boyfriend did it. She didn't believe it back then, but this time she's not so sure...

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on THE FIELD OF WRONGDOING to read more and to email author Lili St. Germain, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column - October 8, 2021

Dear Reader,

Call me stupid. Say I'm naive. It's fine with me. I was thinking about this the other day when I offered a suggestion to someone, and they rolled their eyes and gave me the look: "You're not the brightest bulb in the chandelier are you?"

Let's study this. Maybe there's a real advantage in being a bit dim sometimes. Everyone's clamoring for more info, more data, crunch the numbers, search the Internet, gather as much knowledge as you can--dazzle them with your intelligence.

Me, myself, being labeled as "simpleminded" once in a while is fine with me. It takes the pressure off. If the people around me think I'm not too bright, no one interrupts me during the day. Nobody wants my advice because they don't value it. Fine with me. Pestering me with questions when I'm trying desperately to get my work done--it can be a real nuisance.

When something breaks down in the office and my coworkers say, "Hey, don't even bother asking her to help troubleshoot that computer problem, she doesn't know a thing." It works for me. Get the idea? Think of all the free time you'd have on your hands. Sounds inviting, doesn't it?

It's Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway time at the book club. I'm ready to bake for you, but you have to enter to win. To enter the October giveaway, click here.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Calling all fans of Victoria Kann's #1 NYT bestselling series PINKALICIOUS! The latest (AND 8th!) book in the beloved series is here: RUBYLICIOUS, about overcoming fear, being generous and discovering what's truly important. For a chance to win a free copies, to talk with the author, and more, see KIDSBUZZ.

Dear Reader Column - October 7, 2021

Dear Reader,

The cooler weather is finally here, so that means it's Chocolate Chip Cookie time at the book club. Every month (except the summer months--chocolate melts), I bake for three lucky book club readers. I love to bake; readers love to "dunk and munch" and they send photos, too, so we all can share in the fun.

Every week I measure all of the dry ingredients for five batches of chocolate chip cookies and seal each in a ziplock bag. Then when I want to bake a batch of cookies, the messy part is already done. (No matter how hard I try not to make a mess with the flour, I always fail). Yes, I do indeed, bake five batches of cookies every week. Because wherever I go, I take cookies along with me and give them away--even to strangers.

I'm ready to bake for you, but you have to enter to win. To enter the October Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway, click here.  

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

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Baker,

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise this title deserves your attention:

(Mystery) TWISTED TEA CHRISTMAS by Laura Childs

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

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

Dear Reader Column - October 6, 2021

Dear Reader,

Janice, a reader at the book club, and a recent giveaway winner writes:

"Hi Suzanne, I'm not much of a cookie baker, so I decided to use the [cookie scoop I won), to make matzo balls. They came out great! Below is the recipe. My family likes the matzo balls very firm (sinkers), others like them lighter (floaters). Thanks for the scoop." -- Janice

Janice's Matzo Ball Recipe

1 cup matzo meal
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp fat
2 eggs well beaten
1/2 cup water
2 tsps salt

In a medium size ball, blend matzo meal with the salt and fat (I use canola oil). Add the well-beaten eggs. Mix thoroughly. Gradually add cold water to make a dough formed enough to be shaped into balls.

With wet hands (or cookie scoop) shape the mixture into balls and drop into a 3 quart pot of boiling salted water or soup. Cover the pot and cook for 15 minutes. If cooked in water, drain well. Drop into soup a few minutes before serving. Makes 12-14.

If you have a favorite recipe, share it with readers. Email me at: Suzanne@DearReader.com

Janice won one of the cookie scoops (like the one I use) that I gave away over the summer months. It was too warm to send my monthly chocolate chip cookies to readers. But since October is here and the weather has changed, it's time for me to bake.

Be sure to check my column tomorrow for this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie giveaway. I'll bake and if you're a winner, FedEx will deliver my cookies right to your door. Enter October's cookie giveaway tomorrow.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

KIDSBUZZ: Calling all fans of Victoria Kann's #1 NYT bestselling series PINKALICIOUS! The latest (AND 8th!) book in the beloved series is here: RUBYLICIOUS, about overcoming fear, being generous and discovering what's truly important. For a chance to win a free copies, to talk with the author, and more, see KIDSBUZZ.

Dear Reader Column - October 5, 2021

Dear Reader,

Today's guest author, Robert A. Jensen, is Chairman of Kenyon International Emergency Services, the global leader in crisis management and mass fatality response. Robert has spent most of his adult life responding to such events.

About his new book: Personal Effects: What Recovering the Dead Teaches Me About Caring for the Living, we witness a rare glimpse into a world we all see, but many know nothing about. Personal Effects is an inspiring and heartwarming story of survival and the importance of moving forward, Jensen allows his readers to see over his shoulder as he responds to disaster sites, uncovers the deceased, and cares for families to show how a strong will and desire to do good can become a path through the worst the world can throw at us.

Robert is giving away three copies of Personal Effects, to book club readers. Enter the drawing, by sending an email to his publisher: trademarketing@stmartins.com

You can personally contact Robert at: https://twitter.com/Robert_AJensen

Family Traditions

One day, my daughter asked me what family tradition she could write about for school. I had to think about that for a minute and decided on sharing this one.

When I was about six or seven, I came home from playing and there my father was, loading up his MG and telling my two sisters and me that he was moving out. Then he was gone. That is sadly not so different from a lot of kids. It was kind of like the video scene in one of my favorite videos by Everclear, Father of Mine.

About six years later, when I was twelve, I came home on the last day of school before the Christmas holiday. My sisters and I got to see our father and his brother, my uncle, on TV. They had been arrested. It turns out my uncle had set up a rather complex lab in his garage, which my father would take my sisters and me to go visit. My uncle also owned a mountain lion and a pair of ocelots. I mean, doesn't everyone's uncle have a pet mountain lion, ocelots, guns, and a meth lab? Maybe today, but this was in 1977.

Ten years later, because I love irony, I went to work as a sworn law enforcement officer for some of the same agencies that arrested my father and uncle. By then, of course, I was no longer in contact with either of them. After leaving college and law enforcement, I spent time as an Active Duty Army Officer, working with Nuclear Missiles (that is another story) and then Mortuary Affairs, which led me to my next 23 years of life dealing with mass fatalities, terror attacks, and plane crashes to name a few tragedies.

One of these events involved two UN aircraft that had been shot down in the last days of the Angolan Civil War. Our team, on behalf of the UN, recovered skeletal remains and personal effects, which we brought back to South Africa as had been agreed upon with the UN and South Africans. However, and here comes the tradition, my team and I were arrested by the South African Police Service. This as result of an apparent squabble between the intelligence services and police services. We were released and I received a letter of apology.

So, I told my daughter getting arrested was the family tradition, but she would really have to top the two arrests. This is a family tradition I hope we have broken!

-- Robert A. Jensen

You can reach Robert via twitter https://twitter.com/Robert_AJensen 

ENTER his book giveaway: trademarketing@stmartins.com

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

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