Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

www.biblegateway.com


Friday, December 21, 2012

Grace Book Review

More Than We Deserve
Greater Than We Imagine

SUMMARY:  We talk as though we understand the term.  The bank gives us a grace period.  The seedy politician falls from grace.  Musicians speak of a grace note.  We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful.  We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers.  We talk as though we know what grace means.
    But do we really understand it?  Have we settled for wimpy grace?  It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign.  Never causes trouble or demands a response.  When asked, "Do you believe in grace?" who could say no?
     Max Lucado asks a deeper question:  Have you been changed by grace?  Shaped by grace?  Strengthened by grace?  Emboldened by grace?  Softened by grace?  Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace?
     God's grace has a drenching about it.  A wildness about it.  A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it.  Grace comes after you.  It rewires you.  From insecure to God secure.  From regret-riddled to better-because-of-it.  From afraid-to-die to ready-to-fly.
     Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.
     Let's make certain grace gets you.

REVIEW:  This review has been one of my hardest to write.  In typical Max Lucado fashion, he takes a difficult and very deep subject and makes it easier to understand, interjecting stories and using examples to show how grace works. But, trying to explain the intricacies of the meaning of grace without retelling the whole book is proving difficult.
      One story that sticks with me that shows this wonderful attribute of God is the story about Heather Sample and her father Kyle Sheets.  They were treating AIDS patients in Zimbabwe when Kyle was exposed.  The treatment to prevent HIV infection was life threatening and made him violently ill.  On the flight home, Kyle took a turn for the worse and Heather convinced the pilots to take the fastest flight home to the States.  Heather was praying for help and crying when four passengers asked if they could help.  They were just a few of the 100 other doctors on board.  One of the physicians was an infectious disease doctor top in his field.  They offered to watch her father and pray for him while Heather got some rest.  When she woke up, her father was still very sick but much stronger and standing and talking to the other doctors.  Heather saw God's hand at work by placing them with the right people and on the right plane at just the right time.  God knew their need and met them there with grace.  Just like He knows your needs and will meet you with grace, wherever you are.
     This is an outstanding book that I recommend for anyone and everyone looking to fully understand the whole concept and idea of grace.

This book was provided by Booksneeze/Thomas Nelson Publishers for review without compensation.

 Max Lucado is one of America's favorite writers with more than 100 million products in print.  He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Christmas in Apple Ridge Book Review

Three-in-One Collection:
The Sound of Sleigh Bells
The Christmas Singing
The Dawn of Christmas

     Beth Hertzler is unable to let go of a past tragedy, but when she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth's soul responds.  Determined that her niece meet the gifted artist, her aunt tracks him down, but it's not that simple - will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she's always dreamed of and a second chance at real love?

     Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve.  Brokenhearted, Mattie moves away and pursues her longtime dream of becoming a cake decorator, and even finds a new beau.  But when Mattie is forced to return home three years later, will learning the truth behind Gideon's rejection restore her Christmas joy - or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?

The Dawn of Christmas
     Sadie enjoys her freedom away from home and her missions trips to Peru, but after four years, her Old Order Amish family insists it's time to come home and settle down.  Levi, a bachelor who distrusts women after a family heartbreak, also has no desire for romance.  To keep their families from meddling in their lives, Sadie and Levi devise a plan - but soon discover that the walls around their hearts are breaking down.  Can they let go of their prejudices, learn to trust each other and embrace a future together?

REVIEW:  Since I have already reviewed the first two books, I have added the links to those reviews to the titles above.  Just click on it and you will go to that review.  This post will deal mainly with the last book, The Dawn of Christmas, and the book as a whole.
      Sadie is a great character.  She has become somewhat independent living with the Mennonite community for the last four years.  She doesn't want to get married and resists her mom's attempts to set her up on her visits home.  She is determined to stay with the Mennonite community but when the couple she works for decided to sell their store, Sadie has to decide if she wants to go to Peru to work with the locals or if she needs to move back home.
     After seeing his brother hurt when his wife left him and his friend Daniel jilted the evening before his wedding, Levi decides he does not ever want to get married.  His mom has other ideas and keeps trying to arrange dates for him.  I like Levi.  He is loyal to his family and friends.  He helps Sadie as she tries to decide what to do by helping her sell her homemade candles and soaps in the local store.
     This is a great story.  Sadie and Levi work together to help each other out and, in doing so, end up falling in love.  This novel goes great with The Sound of Sleigh Bells and The Christmas Singing.  Cindy Woodsmall's characters from The Scent of Cherry Blossoms even figure briefly into the storyline.  This book is a great read!!

This book was provided by Waterbook Multnomah for review without compensation.

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times and CBA best-selling author of ten works of fiction and one work of nonfiction, whose connection with the Amish community has been featured widely in national media and throughout Christian news outlets.  She lives outside Atlanta with her family.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Bridesmaid Book Review

 
Home to Hickory Hollow
Book Two

SUMMARY:  Come home to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania - the beloved setting where Beverly Lewis's celebrated Amish novels began - with new characters and new stories of drama, romance, and the ties that draw people together.
     Joanna Kurtz has made several trips to the altar, but never as a bride.  The young Amishwoman is a closet writer whose stories aren't her only secret.
     Eben Troyer hopes to make Joanna his bride - if he can ever leave his parent's farm in Shipshewana, Indiana.  Yet Eben's hopes to build a life with Joanna hinge on his brother's return from the English world . . . .

REVIEW: This was a good book but sometimes the story seemed to drag when it came to the long distance courtship of Joanna and Eben.  That said, I like the idea of them meeting on the beach, each with their secrets: her - writing stories; him - his camera and pictures.  I also like the bridesmaid storyline:  Joanna has been a bridesmaid three times which superstition means she will become an old maid and never marry.   When she and Eben start writing and developing a close relationship, Joanna wonders if this notion is just an old wives tale or if it will become true.
    You do not need to read the first first book to read this one.  It stands on it's own with a few references to the first book.

 This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than seventeen million books in print.  Her stories have been published in eleven languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestsellers lists, including the New York Times and USA Today.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

No Safe Harbor Book Review

Edge of Freedom Series
Book One

SUMMARY:  New York City, 1897
     She came to America searching for her brother.  Instead all she's found is a web of danger.
      Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead.  Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desparate to find him.  Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend - Rourke Walsh.  Despite her brother's warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York.
     She's then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats and attempted murder, including political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge.  Her questions guide her ever nearer to locating her brother - but they also bring her closer to destruction as those who want to kill him track her footsteps.
     With her faith in tatters, all hope flees.  Will her brother finally surface?  Can he save Cara from the truth about Rourke . . . a man's she's grown to love?

REVIEW:  This was a good book but a little hard to follow at times.  Sometimes trying to keep track of all the characters, their relationship to each other and how they were involved with Cara's brother Eoghan was difficult at times.  I liked how Cara was determined to find her brother in New York City even though she had no idea how to even locate him to keep who she was a secret even though it was really difficult.  I also love the boarding house she lives in and all the ladies she rooms with.  They support her and she's there for them when times are rough.  This is a good book and I am eager to read the next one in the series.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Bethany House for review without compensation.

Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author whose work has been featured on Novel Journey, the Christian Authors Network and The Christian Pulse.  Elizabeth's debut novel, Where the Truth Lies (coauthored with Janelle Mowery), earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year Award.  Her first historical novel, Love Finds You in Calico, California, was given four stars from Romantic Times.  And her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoys a wide readership, its first year seeing more than 17,000 visitors.  She is also an accomplished speaker and teacher.  Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in Texas.  To learn more abut her work, visit ElizabethLudwig.com

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Christmas Roses Book Review


SUMMARY:  Celia Anderson doesn't have a husband on her Christmas wish list.  But when a traveling carpenter finds lodging at her boardinghouse, she admits that she might remarry if she found the right man - the kind of man who would bring her roses for Christmas.  It would take a miracle, though, to find roses during a harsh Wyoming winter.
     But Christmas, after all, is the time for miracles...

REVIEW:  This is a sweet story by Amanda Cabot.  I like how Celia doesn't bow down to the common idea that she remarry.  If she did, she wants it to be different from her first marriage, which was arranged.  She is determined to give her daughter the best she can, even if that means avoiding the intentions of her well-meaning suitors.  Mark Williams has one goal in his mind - to find the father that left when he was a young boy.  I like how Mark pitches in around Celia's boardinghouse, helping wherever needed while he takes a break from his search.  Once he finds someone connected with his father's past, Mark helps the man by working on his cabin and treating him like family.  My favorite part is the Christmas roses Celia gets and all that is tied into them.  This is a fabulous book that will warm your heart.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Amanda Cabot is a popular speaker and the author of Paper Roses, Scattered Petals, Tomorrow's Garden, and Summer of Promise, as well as a number of novels under various pen names.  She's an avid traveler who finds inspiration for new stories in her travels and enjoys sharing new parts of the country with her readers.  A former Easterner, she now lives in Wyoming.

Monday, November 12, 2012

The Christmas Pony Book Review


SUMMARY:  With the Christmas around the corner, the Turnbull family is in need of a few small miracles.
     It is 1937, and Lucy Turnbull knows better than to wish for a pony this Christmas.  Her mother has assured her in no uncertain terms that asking for a pony is the same as asking for the moon.  Besides, the only extra mouths they need at their boarding house are the paying kind.  Then an interesting pair of strangers comes to town, and Lucy's world changes forever.

REVIEW:  In typical fashion, Melody Carlson does not disappoint.  She makes you feel the desperation of the times: the woman willing to take in boarders and to extra laundry to help make ends meet, the little girl who only wants a pony of Christmas but there's no way her family can afford it, and the repairs that need to be made but cannot due to the lack of money and a husband.  She also helps you feel the hope of the season:  two new boarders show up when they are needed, someone to help with the repairs, and the miracles of Christmas.  This is a wonderful book can help you get into the Christmas season.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Available Sept 2012  at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
 
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's.  She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market.  She lives with her husband in Oregon.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A Flight of Fancy Book Review

The Daughters of Bainbridge House
Book #2

SUMMARY:  Her head is in the clouds.  His feet are planted firmly on the ground.  Can love cover the distance?.
     Cassandra Bainbridge may be a bit of a bluestocking, but when Geoffrey Giles is near, love seems a fine alternative to passion for Greek and the physics of flight.  With his dashing good looks and undying devotion to her, the earl of Whittaker sets Cassandra's heart racing with his very presence.  It seems his only flaw is his distaste for ballooning, the obsession that consumes so much of her thoughts.
     When a terrible accident compels her to end her betrothal, Cassandra heads for the country to recover from both her injuries and her broke heart.  With time on her hands and good friends to help her, she pursues her love for ballooning and envisions a future for herself as a daring aeronaut.  But when Lord Whittaker slips back into her life, will have to choose between him and her dream?

REVIEW:  This is the second book in the Daughters of Bainbridge House series.  You do not need to read the first book to understand this storyline, unless you want some background information of Cassandra and Geoffrey and the family.  
     My heart went out to Cassandra after her terrible accident, having to suffer the way she did and not being able to tell her fiance' the extent of the problem.  Geoffrey won my admiration by not giving up on Cassandra after she broke off their engagement but supporting her in every way, even going up with her in her beloved balloon to protect her when her life is threatened.  I also liked how Geoffrey tried to understand the frustrations of the loom mill workers and trying to come up with a solution the workers and owners could all agree on.  This book is superb.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of the Midwives series, A Necessary Deception, and several other novels.  She won a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007 for Family Guardian.  Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Fantasy Fallacy Book Review

A Response to the Fifty Shades of Grey Phenomenon
Exposing the Deeper Meaning Behind Sexual Thoughts

SUMMARY:  Erotica has invaded more than our minds - it has exploded onto our bestseller lists and into our bedrooms.  
     Many are looking to sexual and emotional fantasies as avenues to fulfillment.  Our fantasies, however, are not reliable guides into the future - they are actually rocky road maps from our past.  Best-selling author Shannon Ethridge theorizes, "Fantasies are simply he brain's way of trying to heal itself from unresolved tragedies and traumas.  We mentally compartmentalize our pain to make room for pleasure."
     Fantasies have deep psychological roots, and if acted on many of them can do deep psychological damage.  Rather than let fantasies rule us, let's take out the sting and bring them under God's rule, allowing the Lord to heal us from the brokenness and insecurities that cause inappropriate fantasies to haunt us.
     Without being judgemental or condemning, Shannon helps us dissect several common and often-disturbing topics, such as:
  • a distorted fascination with pornography
  • the mental pursuit of multiple partners
  • bondage, domination, and sadomasochism (BDSM)
     With tips for controlling unwanted fantasies and resources for providing a safe haven for recovery, The Fantasy Fallacy helps us recognize and heal our emotional pain and equips us to help others do the same.

REVIEW:  This was an interesting and very different book.  Shannon does not shy away from any topic.  She faces it head-on, bringing understanding to difficult subjects we like to keep hidden away and avoid, discussing them in length and bringing it out into the light.  Shannon includes the research studies, material, books she used and counseling sessions she has been in herself and ones she has led to help others to help bring understanding to these formidable subjects.  Also included in the Appendixes are lies we tell ourselves to justify our behavior and ways to combat them; help for curing the sexual abuse epidemic with information on what to look for, discussions to have with our kids and resource information for help; resources for those looking for guidance, encouragement and support for sexually broken people; twelve steps to recovery; and recommended resources for your personal library or for your church's.

This book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers (Booksneeze) for review without compensation.

Shannon Ethridge is an international speaker and certified life coach.  she has a master's degree in counseling/human relations from Liberty University and is the author of the million-copy best-selling Every Woman's Battle series.  Learn more at www.ShannonEthridge.com.

Hot Button Books Book Review


SUMMARY:  Nicole O'Dell helps address the Hot Buttons in teens' lives before the issues become problems.
     From dating to drugs, modesty to purity, morals to popularity, teens face all sorts of tough issues. How teens respond to these hot-button issues can have lasting effects on who they want to be and who they actually become. What if parents can help their teens prepare for these hot buttons-before the issues become a problem?
     The uniquely packaged Hot Buttons Series is an accessible, quick-reference resource that parents can use to equip their children to make the right decisions, even in the face of peer pressure and outside influences. More than just another how-to manual, Hot Button Dating Edition offers practical real-life situations that parents can read and discuss with their preteens. Topics include: physical activity, missionary dating, and violence/abuse in dating relationships. 
     Author, mom, and broadcaster, Nicole O'Dell provides short scenarios followed by three or four responses that a teen might choose in that particular situation. Parents are then encouraged to help their children explore the issue, ask questions, and discuss the options, so when a similar situation comes up in real life, the teens are already prepared to respond.

Hot Buttons Dating Edition offers practical real-life situations that parents can read and discuss with their preteens. Topics include: physical activity, missionary dating, and violence/abuse in dating relationships.
Hot Buttons Internet Edition helps parents prepare their teens for online challenges they may face. Topics discussed include: internet activity, file sharing, social networking, and internet predators.
Hot Buttons Drug Edition braves the scary world of substance abuse, equipping parents with facts, warning signs, and real-world scenarios on: alcohol; Marijuana and other drugs; inhalants; and prescription drugs.
Hot Buttons Sexuality Edition offers the facts about teen sexuality, backed by statistics; specifics for how to talk frankly about sex with your kids, discussion about the growth of homosexuality and bisexuality among teens; and compassionate advice for guiding your teen to reclaim purity.

Link to buy books: http://ow.ly/esojj

REVIEW:  These books should be a MUST READ for parents with kids of all ages.  Laid out in an easy-to-read format, the author provides information, direction, scripture, and examples to help you navigate through the dangerous areas of modern life.  One of my favorite parts of the books is the "Scenerios" section.  Here, she gives scenarios to discuss with your child(ren) that covers different situations they could encounter with some possible solutions/directions.  They are designed to help your child figure out beforehand what they would do if they are faced with that particular situation and for you to help guide them in the best possible answer.  Mrs. O'Dell also provides a parent-teen study guide for each book, resources to use if you are faced with difficult situations, and a reference guide for the research she used.  These are some great books that will help me and my husband as we help our children navigate the difficulties of being a teenage and give us easy-to-follow directions to open conversational doors.

These books were provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation. 

Nicole O'Dell is a mom of six; founder of Choose NOW Ministries; host of Teen Talk Radio and Parent Talk Radio; and the author of more than a dozen books, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series.

Monday, October 22, 2012

A Light in the Window E-book Review


SUMMARY:  One Woman. Two Men.  One stirs her pulse and the other her faith.  But who will win her heart?
     Marceline Murphy is a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues. But when two of Boston's most notorious pursue her, she encounters a tug-of-war of the heart she isn’t expecting. Sam O’Rourke is the childhood hero she’s pined for, the brother of her best friend and a member of the large, boisterous family to which she longs to be a part. So when his best friend Patrick O’Connor joins in pursuit of her affections, the choice seems all too clear. Sam is from a family of faith and Patrick is not, two rogues whose wild ways clash head-on with Marcy’s—both in her faith and in her heart.
     While overseeing the Christmas play fundraiser for the St. Mary’s parish soup kitchen—A Light in the Window—Marcy not only wrestles with her attraction to both men, but with her concern for their spiritual welfare. The play is based on the Irish custom of placing a candle in the window on Christmas Eve to welcome the Holy Family, and for Marcy, its message becomes deeply personal. Her grandmother Mima cautions her to guard her heart for the type of man who will respond to the "light in the window," meaning the message of Christ in her heart. But when disaster strikes during the play, Marcy is destined to discover the truth of the play’s message first-hand when it becomes clear that although two men have professed their undying love, only one has truly responded to “the light in the window.”


REVIEW:   This book is a prequel to Julie's series about the O'Connor family.  Having read a few of the later books in the series, it was great getting to see how the family got started.  One of my favorite developments was how Marcy's strong faith helped Patrick change his character, rise above his circumstances and become a better person.  Her faith also helps guide her in many decision making situations and helps her to not give up when things start looking bleak.  This is a great book that is worth checking out.


This e-book was provided by Julie Lessman for review without compensation.

 Julie Lessman is the popular author of A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied, as well as A Hope Undaunted,  which was one of 2010's Booklist Top Ten Inspirational Fiction winners, and A Hope Revealed.  Lessman has garnered several writing awards, including fourteen Romance Writers of America Awards, and was chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards.  She lives in Missouri. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

 

Sunday, October 21, 2012

A Promise to Love Book Review


SUMMARY:  Can a marriage of convenience ever become one of true love?
      Ingrid Larson arrives in Michigan in 1871 with little more than the clothes on her back and a determination to find her brother, who has disappeared into the dangerous lumber camps.  Destitute and barely hanging on to hope, the young Swedish immigrant crosses paths with Joshua Hunter, a newly widowed farmer with eyes the color of the ocean she had crossed and five rambunctious children to raise on his own.
     Marriage would solve both of their problems, and Ingrid finds herself proposing in broken English to a man she barely knows.  Many difficulties lie ahead - but the hardest battle of all will be winning the heart of her new husband.

SUMMARY:  Serena Miller wrote an excellent and awe-inspiring story based on her grandmother's story when she came to America.  Ingrid is like no other character I've read about before.  She is strong, determined, has a very strong faith and loves with everything she has.  When she sees a problem, she tries to figure out the best solution and does everything she can to complete it to absolute best of her abilities.  She can take a minimal amount of food and create a feast.  When her step-daughter needs a new dress, she fashions a new one out of an old dress that belongs to the girl's deceased mother.  When Joshua's brother drops their elderly mother off on their porch just a short time at their marriage, Ingrid doesn't complain at all.  Instead, she does everything she can to make Mary feel at home and to help her adjust to her new surroundings.  She loves her new children with her whole heart and does what she can to help the girls have positive memories of their mom Diantha, even when she learns the absolute worst about her from her own hand.  Ingrid's faith is very strong and I love how she uses it to get her through some very difficult situations.  Her strong will serves her well in many ways and in many settings.  Ingrid is the type of woman I want to be when I grow up.  She is awesome!! 

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Serena B. Miller is the author of The Measure of Katie Calloway as well as numerous articles.  She lives on a farm in southern OhioMeet Serena B. Miller on her website at www.SerenaBMiller.com.

A Farmer's Daughter Cookbook Review

Recipes from a Mennonite Kitchen

SUMMARY:  Over 200 mouthwatering recipes - fresh from the farm
     I'm Dawn Stolzfus.  Welcome to my kitchen!  I was raised on a Mennonite farm where simple, wholesome food was a key ingredient of the good life.  Now I'm opening up my recipe box,wiping away the crumbs and wrinkles from the well-loved recipe cards, and sharing them with you.  From Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls and Strawberry Shortcake to Old-Fashioned Beef Stew and Chicken and Herb Dumplings, all the best comfort food I learned to cook from my mother are here, along with some dishes that may surprise you!
     In addition to the simple, wholesome recipes for starters, main dishes, sides, and desserts, I share favorite stories from my Mennonite upbringing, tips and tricks for easy meal planning and preparation, and ideas for serving with flair.
     If you enjoy feeding your family hearty, wholesome meals made with fresh ingredients and lots of love, please join me in the kitchen!

REVIEW:  I love cookbooks and this looks to become one of my favorites.  The recipes are ones that sound delicious and look like they might be relatively easy to make.  There are quite a few I've marked for future meals.
     One of the recipes included was one to make your own cream of chicken (celery or mushroom) soup from scratch.  Since I am always looking for ways to make my family's meals healthier, this is one I wanted to check it out, especially since I needed a can of cream of chicken soup for my recent casserole dish. The recipe was easy to follow and tasted really good, even though I left out some of the seasonings.  It has since been added to my mix.

Cream of Celery, Chicken, or Mushroom Soup
2 cups powdered milk
3 tbsp reduced sodium chicken bouillon
3 tbsp onion flakes
2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 1/2 cups cornstarch
2 tbsp diced celery (or 1/2 cup freeze-dried 
mushrooms or chopped cooked chicken)

Mix together all ingredients except celery, mushrooms, or chicken, and store in an airtight container.  This makes a bulk version, so tape the instructions on your container so they'll be easily accessible when the time comes.
     To make the equivalent of one can of cream soup:  mix 1/3 cup dry soup with 1 1/4 cups water.  Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes or until thickened.  Add celery, mushrooms, or chicken.  Stir constantly so that soup will not burn or stick to bottom of pan.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Dawn Stoltzfus is a wife, a mother of two sweet little boys and one precious baby girl, and a lover of anything creative.  She started and ran The Farmer's Wife market until 2008, when she sold it in order to stay at home to raise her family.  She loves to cook, for one or three hundred.  Her love of cooking was inspired by her mother and developed as she cooked for her family of six on their active, working dairy farm in Ohio.