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Updated 10/22/22: I discovered a wee error in my topping instructions below. It is now fixed. Enjoy! Since I've been writing and researching more than baking during this hot summer, my kitchen has been used more for testing recipes rather than creating new or modifying existing. However, this one I could not resist. I previously shared the amazing peasant bread recipe by Alexandra Stafford of alexandracooks.com. This is a minor modification packed with a lot of deliciousness. This bread is great for toast, sandwiches, as a salad side, or freshly sliced with a drizzle of honey. Get the recipe at Alexandra Cooks: My Mother's Peasant Bread For the modification: It will seem like a lot of work, but it's really easy, and the extra flavor is so worth it. You can increase the amount of cereal and honey for the exterior coating if you want a thicker layer. As a bonus, the bread with this topping makes delicious french toast. 1st Part (Optional. You will still get the wonderful flavor without adding more grain to the bread itself. I just happen to like it.) 1/4 cup 7-Grain Cereal (I use Wheat Montana, but any good 7-grain with quality grains will work). 1 Tbs stone ground flax seed Add 1/4 cup cereal and the 1 Tbs flax to the flour portion of the peasant bread recipe. DO NOT add anything else. 2nd Part If using this topping, prepare it ahead of time and let it set while the dough is in the first rise. In a medium bowl (need room to mix), measure out another 1/2 cup 7-Grain Cereal. Warm 4 Tbs raw honey to a more liquid state; this only takes a few seconds in the microwave or set a smaller bowl inside a bowl of a boiling hot water for the same result. Immediately drizzle the warm honey over the cereal and mix together with a small rubber spatula or spoon. It will be sticky. Just scrape off and mix until it's well blended and all the cereal is coated. When you're at the step to separate the dough into two bowls, use a little extra baking or cooking spray in the bowls. Separate the dough, then mix 1/2 the cereal and honey mixture over each batch of dough and lightly mix using the forks. It will seem like it's greasy or sticky, but that's okay. Don't overmix. The idea is to coat the dough, not knead it. Follow the rest of the recipe as normal, and allow to fully cool before slicing. Even if you are not a baker, this bread if worth trying. It is so easy! Enjoy with your favorite beverage and a good book. You can download a PDF version of this recipe on the Writer in the Kitchen page. Books by a Favorite Author If you haven't already read Susanna Kearsley's books, I highly recommend them. She's an amazing writer and she so easily draws you into the worlds and times of her characters. My favorites are The Shadowy Horses, Mariana, Named of the Dragon, and The Rose Garden, but you really can't go wrong with any of them. I'm due for a drive up to Glacier Park soon, and if the Mother Nature sees fit, the smoke-filled skies will have cleared and there will be ample moments to photograph and share with you next month. Until then, it is back to writing I go. Be well, be kind, and may you enjoy life's simple pleasures whenever the opportunity arises. —MK

As I sit here looking at the latest chapters from my beta reader in need of review (she wrote "Excellent" on the top :)), I keep thinking that I want a cookie. My mind jumped to the new mixer that is taking too long get here (the mixer that is replacing my beloved kitchen companion of 15 years, and whose repair would cost almost as much as the new mixer), and how much fun it would be to make Cowboy Cookies, but I can't until the mixer gets here. These are the important things I'm thinking about. And brownies. Brownies would be really good because chocolate and writing go splendidly together. If you like to bake, or like cookies, chances are you've heard of Cowboy Cookies.* They are bar-none one of the best cookies recipes I've ever tried, and I've been making them for years. Like most recipes I try, I often put my own spin on them. This one really didn't need any modifications, but since I like to punch things up a bit, I added a couple of extras. Don't miss the companion post: Patriotic Porch and Tilly's Brownies These cookies are a beautiful blend of ingredients, and the result is a crunchy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside tasty treat that is great as an afternoon snack, dessert, or energy boost during a hike. They are filling, so one cookie will suffice, and each bite is satisfying. There's a lot that goes into these cookies, and they are worth it! Baking is also a messy process, at least in my kitchen. This is a cookie to savor. Slow down, enjoy each bite, share with a friend, and don't forget a cup of milk (or beverage of choice). Try the Cowboy Cookie recipe! PDF Recipe Download Until next time, be well, be kind, and stay bookish! *The original recipe I used before my modifications is Laura Bush's Texas Governor’s Mansion Cowboy Cookies, so she gets credit. However, did you know that versions of Cowboy Cookies were around prior to that? There's another version from a church cookbook from the 1950s. Oatmeal cookie variations have been around since the 1800s, and even earlier versions based on oatcakes were great energy boosters. Regardless of the origins or source, the addition of chocolate chips, coconut, pecans and all the other goodies were simply strokes of genius.

A hail storm swept through Saturday evening and wiped out half the garden. No pictures as I was both dazzled by nature's beautiful power and saddened as pieces of damaged flowers fell to the ground. Windows rattled and the pounding upon the roof made it impossible to hear anything except the hail. The storm didn't last long, and the damage was confined, surprisingly, to the yards. As the torrent subsided, we opened the doors to let in the cool air, courtesy of the giant bits of ice balls everywhere. What struck me most was how the air—all around—smelled like Christmas, as if the branches on every pine tree were sliced open to release their fragrance. A lot of back-aching clean up started at 6:00 am the next morning, but I'm not too disheartened because I know everything will grow back healthy and even more beautiful than before. Thankfully, the roses were, for the most part, spared, and of course, my dependable heather plants came through with barely a scratch. And since hail storms and sweet-scented Pondersa pines have nothing to do with banana bread, onward to the books and bread. The books of Lori Benton and Elizabeth Camden are featured prominently in this post. Both are wonderful authors whose stories I have spent many hours enjoying. Whatever your choice of reading material, a slice of this moist banana bread will pair with it nicely. This is a recipe I have used for twenty-plus years, and do not recall from where the original came. I find most banana bread recipes variations are similar. I like these best as mini loaves or muffins, and of course, they come out great baked in full loaf pans. Did you know that banana bread is the most widely-searched bread recipe? Seriously, I didn't know, but King Arthur Flour put together an interesting bit of history on banana bread that you can read here. Since I need to spend my research time on post-Civil War Montana and not on banana bread, I defer to their post. If you like to bake and like history, then it's worth a read. Speaking of research, and writing, I better get back to both. The recipe link is below, and I hope you enjoy it! Try the banana bread recipe! PDF Recipe Download Until next time, be well, be kind, and stay bookish!

"Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book." ~Bill Patterson It's raining as I write this post, though when you see it, we should have lots of sunshine. It has been a month or more of rain, and parts of the valley where I live did not escape the flooding, though it was not anything like what the communities around Yellowstone Park suffered. Nature will do what it must, even if its heartbreaking, and we humans have no choice but to adapt. I adapt to the changing world by losing myself in books, be it my own writing or the talented work of others. Cake helps, too. And flowers. Gardens are how I survive summers. These delightful cakes are courtesy of my mother, who found the recipe online, and loving almonds as she does, mastered them on the first try. I only recommended she add a couple of spices and vanilla, which the original recipe did without. Did you know? Vanilla has been used in culinary creations for centuries. The vanilla bean dates back to the Totonac people, and the fruits of the Tlilxochitl vine. Back then, it was used medicinally. There were battles, conquerings, and a demand of gifts over the next two hundred years, which takes us to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the royal pharmacist, who realized vanilla's value as a delicious flavoring on its own. "Americans were not much familiar with vanilla until ice cream became popular in the late eighteenth century. Thomas Jefferson discovered its virtues in France and on arriving back in the United States in 1789 sent for some pods from Paris, which must have come from Central America in the first place. By the 19th century, Americans developed a passion for vanilla, especially as an ice-cream flavoring." (Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink,/John F. Mariani [Lebhar Friedman:New York] 1999 (p. 338)) I did not know that before now. Supposedly, almonds have been used in breads dating back to the Egyptian pharos, and it's often said how much Cleopatra prized almond milk for bathing. Since I have not done extensive research on either, and don't plan to for the economy of time, I'll assume it's accurate. It is good to know that if I write an almond and vanilla cake into one of the books, it will not be without historical foundation. Now that we've skimmed the surface of culinary history, let us move onto the books portion of this post. My British Agent titles are neatly tucked away behind the cake stand (mostly because the covers matched), and in front are a few books from talented writers. Only one I have yet to read now that I'm looking at the picture. I'll rememdy that soon. What are you reading now that you'd recommend? Try the coffee cake recipe! The original recipe comes from Jam Hands, and you can download a PDF of the modified recipe below. The tea is Easy Day from Mountain Rose Herbs, and it is oh so good! PDF Recipe Download

"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." ~Winston Churchill MK here, with a look back to my younger years. This was originally a tale I told in May 2015 after my editor mentioned her sweet horse (whose name I chose for a Gallagher steed. The memories arose once again while I was writing The Case of the Copper King, set in one of my old home towns. A wonderful, yet sometimes temperamental, Arabian horse, Abe and I enjoyed many wild adventures in the Colorado mountains. The name "Abe" came with the horse who had been a carriage horse in Durango, CO for a number of years. I have pictures of old Abe somewhere in a box of memories, but it's the memories I keep stored in my mind that mean the most. "I am still under the impression that there is nothing alive quite so beautiful as a horse." ~ John Galsworthy My favorite memory is of my younger sister and I when we would crawl around on all fours in the pastures, walking between the horses' legs pretending to be foals. Gross, and possibly dangerous, but the animals were great about it. Of course, we had to do this without grown-ups watching. Thinking back on it, I'm sure they found out. My other siblings would sometimes join in for a round of Cowboys and Indians, or we would all ride up on the mountain trails behind the house. That leads me to my second prominent memory of good Abe, and the one that earned Abe a dedication in my McKenzie Sisters novel. Now, to Abe's credit, he was a great horse who didn't bite, throw, or otherwise harm anyone, but Arabian horses can be hot-blooded. My family and a few friends—all adults—rode up into the mountains one day. Something spooked the horse—to this day we aren't sure what—and he took off with the others at a run. I was always good at holding on, and enjoyed a good run as much as Abe, but something about this ride was different. Contrary to training, I leaned forward just a little too much and in the wrong way. Before I realized what was happening, Abe's head leaned down and I went with it, toppling over his head and rolling onto the ground before he went over me. I had angels on my back that day, because other than a major case of trying to catch my breath, and a few bruises, I came out of the incident unscathed. As a child, I was always taught to get back on the horse—figuratively and literally—as soon as possible. It took me a couple of days, but I got back on Abe and it was as though nothing had happened. In fact, Abe seemed more upset about the incident than I did. “The horse. Here is nobility without conceit, friendship without envy, beauty without vanity. A willing servant, yet never a slave.” ~ Ronald Duncan The original interview question that stirred up these memories was related to horses in my books in regards to transportation and how commonplace they were in everyday life. It made me realize how much I miss the days when I spent every day after school with my horse. Horses are, in my humble opinion, one of the grandest creatures to ever walk this earth. I love being around them, watching them prance in the summer and exhale warm breath into cold winter air. I'm grateful for every story I write that gives me a chance to spend time with these amazing animals. Now for a bit of trivia. If you've read my Gallagher books, this will be easier for you, but can you guess which of the Gallagher horses, and the horse's name, is named after my editor's horse? Until next time, be kind, be well, and always turn your eyes toward beauty. —MK

Colton and Ainslee from Wild Montana Winds are in my spotlight after I was recently sent a wonderful review for the book, which brought these characters to the forefront of my thoughts for a few days, and distracted me from my work-in-progress because I kept thinking about the Gallaghers. Since I've been stuck on heroes a lot lately, it's a pleasure to revisit those from Hawk's Peak for a few minutes before I return to Crooked Creek (WIP). Spending time with heroes happens to be one of the beautiful "curses" we romance authors deal with daily. “There is no greater mistake a man can make than deny his love for the only woman who was meant to have his heart.” (Wild Montana Winds) You could say this is the line that started it all, the line that brought all the elements of Wild Montana Winds together. It is spoken by Ethan Gallagher to Colton in a memory Colton shares with the reader. I love this line because it speaks to who every hero is in this series. Ethan, Gabriel, Ramsey, Ben, Colton, Brody (and more heroes to come), have many things in common, but their complete devotion to the women they love surpasses all else. I adore a chivalrous hero who knows his own mind, is his own person, and yet he becomes the man he does because of love. Colton’s journey toward loving Ainslee is not without doubt and difficulty. He’s used to being alone, to living without restraint. What is it about Ainslee that makes him start to think beyond the quiet existence he’s enjoyed for so long? This is the question to which he has to find an answer. His struggles, I believe, are greater than Ainslee’s. She has a good head on her shoulders, with lots of common sense, and bundles of adventure. She must overcome what she left behind in Scotland, and realize that not all men are going to disappoint, disgust, or annoy her. It’s enjoyable watching the changes take place in them both, and it’s all because a good man—the right man—decided it was better not to deny either of them the love they were meant to share. Who are some of your favorite fictional heroes? What about them touches your heart? Until next time, be kind, be well, and may you always hold a hero close to your heart. —MK Horse and rider and two horses images from Unsplash. This post was originally written in 2019 for a now inactive blog, and has been updated

That's a mouthful, and so are the cookies. They're actually called Almond Joy Cookies, but since I don't care for that particular candy or the association with such a tasty cookie, I call them Light Cowboy Cookies. And, we make them with pecans instead of almonds, so Pecan Joy Cookies is more apt. Pecans are my go-to nuts for baking. This post comes during a writing break and recharge. In fact, I just finished enjoying one of these treats. I've been working on tweaks to the first half of the current manuscript, and listening to "Ashokan Farewell" composed by Jay Ungar from The Civil War documentary film by Ken Burns. I don't listen to music much these days while I write, even soft ambient melodies, but I like a little something during light edits. Since the manuscript is for a Crooked Creek novel set in post-Civil War Montana Territory, the lament is appropriate. Thanks to our English, Scottish, and Dutch immigrants bringing their early versions of these treats with them to America, we have a plethora of cookie varieties today, and with all our culinary advances, there is not much limit on what could be baked into one. Cookies during the American Civil War Cookies were not popular during the Civil War as they are today. Because sugar rationing during the war, many recipes turned to molasses, and of course molasses/ginger spice cookies became a popular dessert that lives on. Applesauce cookies are another sweet treat that would have been shared both on and off the battlefield. They would certainly be preferable to the hardtack most soldiers had to endure. Unfortunately, Pecan Joy Cookies (or Almond Joy Cookies) would not have been on the list of baked goods passed around. Cookies at the turn of the twentieth-century Fast-forward to 1899 where Cassandra and Rose McKenzie are solving crimes, blowing things up (usually by accident) and enjoying a wider variety of dessert options than folks did a few decades earlier. Cinnamon Jumbles (I'm definitely trying these), oatmeal raisin, sugar wafers, Fig Newtons, and more. Since chocolate chips still weren't a cookie staple in 1899, these Pecan Joy Cookies were, alas, not on the McKenzie sisters' menus. Grateful for our modern life I believe we too often forget how truly blessed we are in our time (I am terribly guilty of forgetting.). As much as I long to live in days long ago, we are each born in our time for a reason and purpose. If that means enjoying all the modern conveniences imaginable and baking anything our hearts desire, then so be it. We can still escape to those bygone eras in books, when the land was rougher and the journey was, quite possibly, more rewarding. If you've a mind to make a small batch of these cookies, be sure to share with family, friends, a neighbor or stranger. Until next time, be well, be kind, and always take time to get lost in a good book. —MK Try the cookie recipe! We use the Small Batch Almond Joy Cookies recipe courtesy of the Small Town Woman blog. The only change we made was to substitute chopped pecans for the sliced almonds to make . . . Pecan Joy Cookies! Featured Books

“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.” ―Beatrix Potter Beatrix Potter's stories have opened the imaginations of children and adults alike for more than a century. From Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny to Mrs. Tiggy-winkle and Jemima Puddle-duck, Beatrix's approach to writing brought these characters to life in a way that has endured since long before Peter's book was published. The gardens at Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm are a stunning and chaotic work of art that are as real-to-life and naturally beautiful as the settings in her stories. Surrounded by such beauty as found in the Scottish Highlands and England's Lake District, it is no wonder that she found inspiration among nature's hidden gardens, rolling hills, and wild landscapes. For anyone who loves gardens, and adores Potter's lively tales, then I recommend Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life. You can learn about the author, Marta McDowell, on her website. You might be asking what lemon cookies have to do with Beatrix Potter. Well, other than their light and zesty consistency and how well their pale yellowness matches the cover, absolutely nothing. Of course, tea goes with all things Beatrix Potter, so there is that. Even without the chopped pecans we'll add to the next batch, these lemon cookies are such a delicious springtime treat and pairs perfectly with a soothing cup of tea. They are almost as delicious as writing the first words of a story . . . if you aren't a gardener, consider delving into Potter's classics while enjoying a lemon cookie and a tasty English Tea. This Lemon Cookies recipe comes from Live Well, Bake Often. Enjoy!

It is always exciting to discover childhood memories, but the process of unearthing them takes an advance pep talk. However, once those treasures are uncovered, I forget all about the rummaging, lifting, and dusty part. This is a post filled with old, scratchy images, and every one of them shows a glimpse of Rocky Mountain beauty, from Colorado to Montana, taken between the mid-1980s to 2000. The first one should be easy; bison roaming with a stunning backdrop of the Tetons. See the train peeking through the green? I don't remember this, but "Sand Mountain Pass - Sawtooths" is written on the back. Goodness, I haven't been in the Sawtooth Range since, well, too long. A bison munching on grass outside Jackson, WY. Somewhere in Wyoming. It was taken too long ago for me to remember exactly where. I should have been better about writing on the backs. The next few have trees, water, and are beautiful settings . . . in Colorado or Idaho. Now we're back in Montana. Lesson: Never throw away memories. Preserve them, cherish them, and share them with others to hopefully brighten someone's day.

Missionary work, freedom from gender oppression, business, and pleasure were among the reasons women traveled, and while not as common as such travel is today among the fairer sex, many (primarily those of some wealth) went about their explorations alone. It seems that the further we move away from a period, the greater the misconceptions about how advanced those time periods were. The nineteenth century was a revolutionary period of momentous change across multiple realms, including human and civil rights, nationalism, voting, and industry. Batteries, telephones, sewing machines, matches, domestic gas lighting, steam locomotives and so much more were all advancements during this period. With such great forward movement, is it any wonder that the mere act of a woman traveling alone in the late 1800s would not be outside the realm of possibility? And yet, there are still too many who believe this happening close to an impossibility simply because it does not fit with a standard practice of the time. From world explorers and business-wise entrepreneurs to women doctors, battlefield nurses, herbalists, and savvy investors (Oh yes, and queens!), women have been pushing boundaries since the beginning of time. Now, this is not a women's lib post because honestly, I am old-fashioned enough to enjoy the concept of a woman overseeing the home provided for by the loving, chivalrous husband (cue romance books). However, I have always believed women can have it all, and guess what? Many of them did! While it would be nice to use historical romance novels as a basis for how life truly was, it is not usually the case. Writers often (not always) embellish or leave out the harsher aspects of period life (because no one really wants to read a lot of books about female oppression, bad teeth, and outhouses). A woman in 1880 who sits by the hearth all day to sew and make calls or tend to children can be as historically accurate (and respectable) as a woman traveling on behalf of her father's business or exploring the world to take photographs. The American Civil War and the expansion of railways gave women more freedom to travel on their own without the protection of a man or another chaperone. And though the dangers and difficulties remained for women journeying alone, it happened increasingly during the post-war years. The courageous women who embarked on such adventures opened the United States (and the world) to the idea of a stronger and more independent woman capable of great intelligence and ability. The battle for equality was hard won and took far too long, but one should never capitulate to the premise that women of bravery and daring were without tremendous accomplishment and freedom long before a piece of paper "officially" gave them equal rights. Their historical feats are even more impressive considering the resistance they faced for ages on multiple fronts. Unfortunately, they rarely received the proper recognition. This post, of course, is a simplified overview of a history that could fill a warehouse with documents. However, I have no interest in writing out a long historical essay on all things women accomplished and carried out independently in the nineteenth century, and the centuries before, for I have another such independently minded female waiting for me to return to her story in Crooked Creek. Goodness, without all these daring women, the writing of historical romantic fiction would be quite dull. Suffice to say that YES, women traveled alone, fought, spied, owned reputable businesses, and much more besides throughout history. The next time you read a book with a strong-minded woman who does something seemingly out of character for the period, do not assume there is not some basis for such behavior in reality. The Women of Crooked Creek Four courageous women, an untamed land, and the daring to embark on an unforgettable adventure. Meet the remarkable women willing to forge new lives in post-Civil War Montana Territory. Find out more →

Linda Broday has a new Lone Star Legends book! Her immensely entertaining historical western romance novels are a pure delight, and I hope you check out A Man of Legend. A Man of Legend Bestselling author Linda Broday sweeps readers back to the wild and untamed West, where men became the stuff of legend, with: Two young lovers ripped apart A family feud turned deadly A secret waiting to be unearthed And a passion no one could ever deny Crockett Legend has always loved Paisley Mahone, but a family feud sure can ruin a romance. When her father turned against the powerful Legend clan, she took her family's side and broke Crockett's heart into pieces. Now her father's dead and Paisley and her last remaining brother are convinced the Legends are to blame. If only he can find a way to prove his innocence... A chance meeting throws the two warring hearts together, and when their train is held up by outlaws, Crockett and Paisley have to team up to save a young boy from dying. A tenuous truce is born. Together they may have a chance of bringing the truth to light...if they can get to the bottom of who's been trying to turn the two powerful families against each other. With so many secrets to unbury, it isn't long before Paisley finds herself in the crosshairs, but Crockett vows there'll be hell to pay if anyone hurts the woman he loves—or stands in the way of a Legend in the making. AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS | KOBO Content Rating: Sensual with some graphic scenes. About Linda I'm a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 30 full length western romance novels and short stories. Watching TV westerns during my youth fed a love of cowboys and the old West and they still do. Here in the Texas Panhandle I can often hear the voices of American Indians, Comancheros, and early cowboys whispering in the breeze. My stories focus on family life and you’ll find children in almost all of my books. You can find me at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads And if you’re looking for a complete (printable) list of my books, come to: https://lindabroday.com/books/booklist

Scones (pronounced 'skahn' or 'skoan') were the craving of the day after one of the young characters in the next Crooked Creek book (work-in-progress) enjoyed one while she visited with the inn's cook. If you haven't read "Clara of Crooked Creek" then you won't know what I'm talking about . . . yet. :) Anyhoo . . . I give you Chocolate Chip Scones. They are not at all what the inn would have served, which matters not the least because they are delicious. Credit for variations of scones, and how they are served, can be given to different places in the British Isles. However, Scotland traditionally gets the credit for having them derive from the Scottish 'bannock.' They were once much larger, flatter, and more substantial than the scones, or biscuits, we enjoy today. Thank goodness for culinary evolution. I've mentioned this in other scone-related posts, but it's worth repeating how versatile scones are. It's nice to enjoy traditional scones, and yet so much fun to experiment with both sweet and savory variations. I made these chocolate chip version with pecans, because pecans are delish. If I had been feeling really adventuruous, I might have added peanut butter chips or toffee, but these are perfect just as they are. Berries, dried fruits, nuts, and spices all make for great scone ingredients. I recently came across carrot cake scones. Count me in! Do you have a preference on how you say "scone"? Apparently, it depends more on geography (Scotland vs England, or one part of England vs another, or Cornwall vs Ireland, then of course there is the rest of the world). It seems the Queen, along with Scotland and most of England is on the side of scon ('skahn') rather than scone, ('skoan'), which is considered proper. Never fear, because both ways are correct, which is a relief since in the U.S. we tend to say scone. Now that you have a head full of random bits of scone info, fix a cup of tea and enjoy a scone or two while reading a great book. The Chocolate Chip Scones are a variation of the Blueberry Lemon Pecan Scones that can be found on the recipes page. For your convenience, you can download the Chocolate Chip Scone recipe here. Enjoy!