How many books are in the Lakeshore Chronicles?

One of the questions I get most frequently is “How many books are in the Lakeshore Chronicles series? In what order should I read them?”

Today’s plan: Stay inside where it’s warm and curl up with a good book.

You can read the books in any order because each book is a complete novel unto itself, but if you want to go chronologically (and if you’re a fan of the Daisy Bellamy storyline, I recommend this), it’s

1. Summer at Willow Lake

       (a) “Homecoming Season” (a novella in the anthology MORE THAN WORDS: STORIES OF COURAGE)

2. The Winter Lodge

3. Dockside

4. Snowfall at Willow Lake

5. Fireside 

6. Lakeshore Christmas

7. The Summer Hideaway 

8. Marrying Daisy Bellamy 

9. Return to Willow Lake

10. Candlelight Christmas

11. Starlight on Willow Lake

How many Lakeshore books will there be? Well, here’s a hint:

(This glimpse into the future comes to you courtesy of the multitalented Suzanne Selfors.)

happy holidays to all

Here’s Lenny in a Christmas sweater, ca 1985 (I kid you not). It was the sweater that refused to go away. So Jerry re-purposed it. Lenny is feeling as warm as a Christmas wish.

Santa on board

Cookie tiiiiime!

Mine never look this beautiful. Image from hdwallpapers.com

This is the only cookie recipe I’ve ever committed to memory. These are pretty much the best rolled cookies there are. I used to call them “Sailboat Cookies” because for some reason, I was in possession of only one cookie cutter, and it was shaped like a sailboat.

• 1-1/2 cups pure unsalted butter at room temp
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 cups flour

(You can add optional flavorings like lavender, almond oil, lemon extract, etc.) Cream the butter together with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, then salt and flour. Roll and cut. Don’t make these too thin, because they’re very tender and will break (see below). Make them nice and thick. Lay on ungreased parchment lined baking sheets and bake at 325F for about 10 minutes, just until they start turning brown at the edges. Frost with your favorite icing or make a glaze of confectioners sugar mixed with an egg white. Sprinkle on colored sugar.

deck the halls

This is ridiculous. You’ve been warned.

such a deal

Hey gang! It’s a winter romance with a bakery. And recipes. And it’s $1.99. Enjoy!

The Winter Lodge By Susan Wiggs From a #1 New York Times bestselling author who “paints the details of human relationships with the finesse of a master” (Jodi Picoult): After a fire destroys Jenny’s home, she finds one of her grandfather’s belongings among the wreckage — and sets out on a journey to find love and fulfill her dreams. $1.99 Originally: $7.99 Get Deal: Amazon B & N Apple Google Deal ends: December 15

baking for the right-brained

From the Gundersen family right-brained recipe file. No cookie cutters required!

Christmas Morning Plum Bread

2 c. self-rising flour

2 c. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. cloves

1 c. oil

3 eggs

2 jars baby food plums

Dump everything in a bowl and beat with mixer. Pour batter into oiled and floured pans. Makes 2 medium loaves, 4 mini loaves or one bundt pan. Bake at 325-350 for 50 min. to 1 hour.

Intensely Flavored, Moist Gingerbread

I adapted this from the Splendid Table website. I cannot tell a lie–I simplified it, increased the sugar and added the candied ginger and cayenne pepper. It’s pretty much the best gingerbread ever.

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup chopped candied ginger
• 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup molasses (dark corn syrup works, too)
• 3/4 cup very hot water
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg

Preheat oven to 350°. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with waxed paper (you can also use 2 loaf pans or 4 mini loaf pans), coat with nonstick spray and dust with flour. Beat together the butter, molasses, hot water and brown sugar. Beat in the egg and quickly add the rest of the ingredients, stirring until blended. Pour into pans. Bake 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool on a rack in the pan.