I wouldn't be me if ...

‘Tis the season for good cheer, catching up with family and friends, and endless commercials for new cars adorned with a giant red bow. It’s also, in my opinion, the season for indulging in special sweets that recall memories of childhood. You know, those cookies or cakes baked once a year that became ineluctably paired with the jolly elf, holiday decorations, and wishes.

I’ve shared many recipes for such treats over the years and I wouldn’t be me if I let this season go by without another offering. However, rather than dip into my family’s recipe vault, I’m sharing a long time favourite from my friend Judi. She always talks about these soft, delicious, spice cookies at this time of year, a firm family favourite in her house. By the time I got around to asking for the recipe and baking a batch, I could only wonder why I waited so long! 

Legend has it these cookies keep for weeks. I cannot confirm because they don’t last more than a week in this house.

For a brief history behind the name of these cookies, check out this link.

Joe Frogger Cookies

(adapted from Judi Phillips' recipe)

Makes about 2 dozen.

3½ cups flour

2 teaspoons sea salt

2 teaspoons ground ginger.

½ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon grated nutmeg

¼ teaspoon allspice

1 packed cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons white sugar

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup molasses

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons dark rum

1/3 cup hot water

Adjust oven shelves to top and bottom thirds and preheat oven to 350F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice.

In a large bowl, beat together brown sugar, white sugar and butter until smooth. Mix baking soda into the cup of molasses and add to the butter mixture along with rum and hot water and blend. The mixture will curdle, that's okay. With the mixer at low speed, blend in the flour mixture until well-combined. Dough will be soft.

Drop by liberal tablespoon-fulls onto parchment-lined cookie sheet, spacing two inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes, switching the top and bottom cookie sheets halfway through. Cookies will be slightly plumped and appear dry on top. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely .

Store at room temperature in a covered container. 

These cookies freeze well. 

From my home to yours, may the blessings of the season fill your hearts with joy.

A blizzard … Krista Rhodes has seen a few in her lifetime. 

Snowed in for days … once, when she was a kid. 

Trapped in a house with Dr. Dreamboat … never saw that one coming. Not only cute, he’s also funny and kind and strong and how can she resist? 

Eric Monroe has it all mapped out – drive cross-country to a new job with a brief stop to celebrate a buddy’s engagement. A giant detour with a beautiful, witty, no-nonsense woman makes the journey more fun than he ever thought possible. And bonus – he’s moving to her town.

Except she’s got something she has to do. Maybe. And he can’t ask her to change her plans. Can he?  

Buy now!

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and historical romance. When not torturing her characters, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband and five hens.

Website ~ Bookbub ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

In Romance Novels the Journey to Love Comes in All Forms ... Delsora Lowe

Everyone wishes for love. That is why romances are the highest selling genre of any type of book. We all want to believe in the magic.

According to MasterClass,“Romance novels are perhaps the most popular genre in terms of book sales.”

The romance genre is filled with every imaginable sub-genre one can imagine. If want an upbeat story with a happy ending, despite the tumultuous journey and angst that might occur in between the beginning and the end of the book, look for a romance.

As romance writers, we each have our unique way of telling our stories. That is where the magic comes in. Out of the imagination of an author a story is born and grows. Add in that particular authors’ background and experiences and even if the storyline is similar to others, the uniqueness of each book comes from within every author.

Why is the romance genre so popular?

According to MasterClass, “These stories are aspirational, optimistic, and provide escapism.”

I think we can all agree, that is a great combination to find in a story. 2020 was a long tough year, and we all need to surround ourselves in optimistic endeavors. We need to escape to a story that fills us with optimism. These stories give us hope that the world is a better place than what we see on the surface. Romance stories, by definition, must have a happy ending. That ending can be happy-for-now or happily-ever-after, but the readers know what they are getting at the end of the book.

So, as you read stories that take place on another planet or are a comedic romp or have a suspenseful situation that you are sure the hero and heroine may not get out of, deep down, you know that if that story is a romance, it will end in an optimistic way.

Huey Lewis had it right. That’s “the power of LOVE.”

“It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes
But it might just save your life
That's the power of love
That's the power of love”

It’s February, a usually dreary time of the year, with a valentine thrown into the mix. So, run, don’t walk, to your nearest reader device or retail outlet and grab a romance or five or ten or twenty to get you through this winter.

What’s your favorite genre within the romance genre?

My Valentine Story
MOONLIGHTING

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Moonlighting-Serenity-Harbor-Novella-Starlight-ebook/dp/B075TK7KYS/
Books2Read
books2read.com/u/mZ5eop

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~
Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine.

Social Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe
https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

Attributes:
8 Popular Book Genres: A Guide to Popular Literary Genres - 2020 - MasterClass
Huey Lewis & The News: The Power Of Love (Official Video) - YouTube lyrics to power of love - Google Search
Free Free Heart Images, Download Free Clip Art, Free Clip Art on Clipart Library (clipart-library.com)
free clip art - hearts - Google Search 4357136-kara-rainbow-heart-rainbow-heart-png-no-background-transparent-rainbow-heart-png-820_752_preview
Power of love and rainbow heart - Download Free Vectors, Clipart Graphics & Vector Art (vecteezy.com)
Romance novels are perhaps the most popular genre
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