This is our first blog post in the new format. We’ve decided to move our newsletter here, and we’ll be posting the second and fourth Tuesday every month. Thank you for joining us!

Today’s Recipe

We recently added some recipes to Christmas in Silver Birch Valley, and we want to share one with all of you today. A few drops of green food coloring in the frosting would make these cookies a wonderful option for St. Patrick’s Day!

We’re also planning to add a recipe to the end of each of our Sweet Romance books, so we’ll be discussing those later this spring. Here’s the recipe for today…and if you want to try the cookies, send us a photo and we’ll include it with the next newsletter!

Shortbread Cookies

1 ¼ cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
½ cup butter or margarine

Combine flour and sugar in medium-sized mixing bowl.  Cut in butter or margarine until mixture looks like fine crumbs.  Form into ball and knead until smooth.

Spread onto lightly floured surface and roll until ½ inch thick.  (Should be about 6 x 8 inches)

Cut into strips approximately 2 x 1 inches each.  Should make about 24.

Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake in 325 degrees F. oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Let cool then lightly frost if desired. 

(This is enough frosting for a cake or two batches of cookies…we always end up making more cookies!)

Frosting Recipe

1/3 cup butter or margarine
4 ½ cups powdered sugar
¼ cup milk or orange juice
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
Extra milk or orange juice if needed (a few drops at a time)
Food coloring (optional)

In a mixing bowl, beat butter or margarine until fluffy.  Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar (mix well).  Slowly add ¼ cup milk or orange juice until well blended.

Beat in the rest of the powdered sugar about ½ cup at a time.  Add a little additional milk or orange juice until spreading consistency.  Tint with food coloring if desired.

Author Spotlight

Our good friend D.L. Gardner writes in several genres but especially enjoys fantasy. Rise of the Tobian Princess is the first book in her Sword of Cho Nisi trilogy. Dianne has created new artwork and covers for the Kickstarter campaign she’ll be running this spring.

Erika, the youngest daughter of a legendary king, aspires to be a warrior and follows her brother to war against an evil wizard’s minions but makes a fatal mistake during her first battle. When she attempts to right her wrongs, her misdeeds bring turmoil on her and her father’s kingdom.

“There’s never a dull moment in here; it’s jam-packed with monumental events and action to look forward to. Princess Erika is one hero that readers are going to be thrilled to discover.” – Independent Book Review.

Lavender CottageCore

We’re celebrating all the wonderful elements that make our Lavender Cottage BookShop stories special. Gardening, decorating, crafts…and of course tea. We’ll be sharing projects and ideas in this newsletter, including our redesign of the garden this spring.

A hailstorm did a lot of damage, but we’re choosing to look at this as an opportunity to make the garden even better. We’ll be making some changes and adding new plants (and asking your opinion at times), so we hope you’ll join us!

Once Upon A Rose – Chapter 1

Finally, we want to include a chapter for everyone to read at the end of each newsletter. We’ll begin with Once Upon A Rose, the first story in our Enchanted Fairytale Series. Action, adventure, romance…and maybe a little magic.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Celsiana, who lived in a castle surrounded by gardens.  The queen, who loved flowers, had named her daughter for a favorite rose bush that she and the king received as a wedding gift.  Celsiana roses are pink and slowly turn white as they age, so it should have come as no surprise that their little princess would one day transform into a very capable young woman.

The gardens around the castle were quite large and completely surrounded by a high stone wall.   Beyond the wall, there was the village on one side and a meadow on the other.  A river wound along the edge of the village, then cut through the meadow before it disappeared into the woods beyond.

Celsiana loved the gardens almost as much as her mother did, but she often wished she could visit the young people in the village.  Her parents allowed a few girls to come to the castle, but they were always so in awe of the surroundings that they seemed more nervous than happy to be there.

Her two older brothers used to spend time with her, but now all they wanted to do was go hunting or travel to distant kingdoms.  Celsiana decided it was time to talk to her parents about visiting the village.

“But my dear, you do have companions,” her mother said, smiling at the king.  “Your father and I had some young ladies visit the castle only last week.”

“Yes, but I would like to visit them in the village,” Celsiana replied, tucking a strand of dark blonde hair into place.  “They seem so uncomfortable here in the castle, and I wish to visit this school they talk about.”

“The school?” her father repeated.  “Why would you want to go to a school when we have the best tutors available right here?”

“Perhaps those tutors could work at the school,” Celsiana thought…then realized she’d said it out loud.

Her parents were looking at each other in shock.  “Send the tutors to the school…” her father said.  “Why would I do that?”

“Because then I would fit in with the other girls.”  Celsiana stood tall and continued.  “I could go to school with them, and we would all learn about philosophy and science.”  She knew her father was very fond of both subjects.

Her mother smiled for a moment and took her husband’s hand.  “I remember feeling the same way before I met you.”  She glanced over at her daughter.  “Maybe we should invite some other royal families to the castle.  Soon, Celsiana will be old enough to marry…and meeting some eligible prospects now might be a good idea.”

Celsiana realized this conversation was not going as she’d hoped.  “Mother, I do not want to meet eligible young men.  I wish to be with people my own age.  Have girlfriends.  Be normal.”

Her parents both gasped.  “Normal?” her father asked.  “Why on earth would you want to be normal?  You are a princess.  Normal people want to be royalty, not the other way around.”

The queen put a hand on her husband’s arm.  “Calm down, Roderick.  We both know it’s been difficult for her having the boys gone.  She misses them.”

The king took a breath and nodded.  “Very well.  I will send for more young ladies to be brought up here for Celsiana to meet.”  He looked at his daughter.  “Find two or three you enjoy spending time with, and we will have them stay here for a few weeks.”

Celsiana nodded, then managed a smile.  It was not what she had hoped, but maybe spending a longer time in the castle would make the girls more comfortable.  And then, she might finally have some real friends.

Read the second chapter in our next post!

Thank you for joining us today. If you miss a newsletter, please visit our Lavender Cottage Blog, where we’ll show every post. Have a wonderful Tuesday!