>July already. I don’t know about you, but summer in the South means it’s too hot to even think about firing up the cook top or turning on the oven. We’d much rather be fanning ourselves on the patio or packing up for a family picnic. And no righteous picnic in the South is complete without a sweet wedge of …
>CAFE SPECIAL OF THE WEEK – Rhubarb Pie
>Today, I have a double treat for you here at the cafe. I’m thrilled to have a visitor from Canada . . . an excellent writer and frequent visitor to the cafe . . . as my guest. Bonnie Way, aka The Koala Bear Writer, has special memories and a recipe to share with us. Bonnie is a freelance writer …
>CAFE SPECIAL OF THE WEEK – Peach Cobbler
>Last week I went to one of our local farmer’s markets for some locally grown produce. Pickling cucumbers, green beans—all freshly picked with smudges of dirt still clinging to them. Then alongside the sweet corn, I saw them. Porter peaches. Yes! In this corner of the world, Porter peaches are the fruits of heaven. They even have a festival in …
>CAFE SPECIAL OF THE WEEK – Sassy Water
>Sizzling hot! That’s what we’re experiencing weatherwise in mid-America. The kind of hot that when you walk outside, your skin melts. Frying-eggs-on-the-sidewalk hot. Firecrackers-in-the-seat-of-your-pants hot. Prickly-pear hot. Anyone relate? With the heat comes the warning: Stay hydrated. We all know that caffeine, colas, and even alcohol DE-hydrates, so we’re told to drink water. Lots of water. Lots of boring water. …
>CAFE SPECIAL OF THE WEEK – World’s Best Scones!
>A week or so ago I read The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows). Oh my! Just a delightful book, set in London and on Guernsey, one of the Channel Isles. Written entirely in correspondence, it was an unusual presentation of story, but one which drew me in at once. The year is 1946 …
>Book Reviews: SUMMER OF LIGHT and RETURN POLICY
>As promised, I’ve got a couple of reviews for you today—books by male authors. Just keeping the balance here. Summer of Light. This book is not a new release (2007, Bethany House), but I’ve just now discovered W. Dale Cramer’s writing and am delighted that I chose this one as my introduction to his fine novels. Mick Brannigan, a construction …
>BATTLE OF THE SEXES
>So, I’ve been thinking about which I like more . . . male authors or female. Do I choose one over the other? Do I gravitate toward the straightforward, often plot driven books that guys are known for? Or the more character driven, emotional books associated with female authors? Looking over our bookshelves, there are probably more books by male …
>CAFE SPECIAL OF THE WEEK – Tasty Taters
>Thanks to Alice Wisler for allowing me to share one of her recipes from her new book, How Sweet It Is. (See previous post where I reviewed this book.) This is a yummy recipe that main character Deena Livingston learned from the chef she worked with back in Atlanta . . . before she landed in the mountains of North …
>WINNER OF THE SHAPE OF MERCY
> CONGRATULATIONS !!! CHERYL BARKER YOU ARE THE WINNERofSusan Meissner’s Book THE SHAPE OF MERCY I know you will enjoy this book a lot. Thanks to all of you who left comments. I’m sorry you couldn’t all win this beautifully written masterpiece. I hope you’ll stop by the Cafe again to see what’s going on, enjoy the latest in new …
>ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
>This is from my good friend Debbie Symons who sends me the most intriguing links and the occasional . . . ahem . . . racy joke. Sorry, friends. This is one of the fun and intriguing things. 1909 FORD MODEL R The year is 1909. One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics from …