Evocative Prose with Cookies

A good book, a cup of coffee and ginger cookies are a combination hard to beat.
Astrid & Veronika is Linda Olsson's first novel. The prose is lyrical, moves quickly with short chapters. It is the story of two women who develop an unlikely friendship set in a small Swedish village. Astrid is practically a recluse in the story who has lived almost her entire life under one roof. Veronika who has traveled the world is a writer, has rented a secluded home next door to Astrid. As their friendship deepens the women find they are each other's inspiration as their tragic secrets are shared. Their journey together leads them to emotional healing.
I felt the author did an excellent job crafting sentences that gives the reader a sense of character and setting. I enjoyed the way poetic lines were sprinkled throughout the novel at the beginning of each chapter. 

Chapter 5

I shall build it with a towering turret

called solitude.

Consider adding to your fall reading list. 

If you had time to browse the board I started on Pinterest (see Sept. 5 posting) I have downloaded titles of other books I have enjoyed the past few years. You might get some good ideas.

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Ginger Molasses Crinkles

Cook's notes: The recipe called for 4 TB. molasses. If you like more of a molasses taste I'd suggest increasing to 5 TB. This was the first time I had made the recipe so I went with 4 TB. so taste was a little on the lighter side. Recipe makes 2 dozen cookies. This recipe was quite easy to make and looked festive with the sparkle of cinnamon/sugar mixture. 

FYI: I did not consume the whole plate of cookies in photo while reading. But the temptation was strong!

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cups salad oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 4 TB. molasses
• 2 cups of flour
• 2 tsp. soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 TB. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ginger
• small bowl of sugar and cinnamon combined

Directions:

Preheat oven 350

• Mix all ingredients. Place dough in freezer for an hour so it is well chilled.
• Roll dough into balls about 1 inch
• Keep dough refrigerated till needed for next batch
• Roll cookie balls into cinnamon sugar mixture
• Place on a ungreased cookie sheet and bake 12-15 minutes (with my oven 12 minutes worked fine)

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