Below is a food-related excerpt from my short story, Shortcut to Romance, and below that is a recipe related to the story. For more information on this and other of my stories, go to http://diskuspublishing.com/annherrick.html

ENJOY!

With a little help from a class assignment, a sudden detour, and Jane Austen, Emily finds an unexpected romance with a most unlikely prospect.


Food-Related EXCERPT:

Funny, I had no trouble making the actual card for Todd. It was turning out great. But I still hadn't thought of one word of text for it. Oh, well. I'd have all day Sunday. Assuming it stopped snowing and I got home where I'd have time to myself.

Finally, I was satisfied with my card. Just as I was admiring my work, Mrs. Blair announced, "Lunch time!"

Lucas must have been really concentrating on his card, because he jumped when his mother spoke. I noticed that he tucked the card away in a book and placed the book on a shelf. It was then I also noticed that the shelf was crammed with books, so many that they spilled out onto the floor. Funny, but I hadn't pictured the Blairs as book people

After a delicious lunch of home-made vegetable soup and home-made bread spread with home-made butter, Lucas turned to me and said, "I've got to head out to the barn and do some chores. Would you like to come along?"

"Sure," I said. I'd finished my valentine for Todd and couldn't think of anything else I could do at the moment anyway.

CARAWAY SWEET BREAD

3 cups sifted flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup butter

1 ¼ cups sugar

2 eggs

1 ¼ cups milk

2 tablespoons caraway seeds

2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Alternately beat in flour mixture and milk, until well blended. Add caraways seeds and vanilla. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cool at least 10 minutes before removing from pan.