The Quilted Heart 3-Day Countdown January 20th

In anticipation of the upcoming release of The Quilted Heart we will feature a different post each day from January 19-21st with all things related to the book, you never know what neat things we will dig up to share with you.

Countdown Day 2
Recipes

Each woman in The Quilted Heart has their own unique heritage, family, and story. I have carefully chosen the recipes to be what each woman MIGHT have made or eaten. Hopefully these recipes will inspire you to try a little something and take you deeper the worlds of Maren, Emilie, and Caroline.

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In  Dandelions On The Wind Maren is a sweet young Danish woman living on a farm with German family. The farm happens to feature an apple orchard, Mrs. Brantenberg might have taught Maren a similar recipe to take advantage of that bounty.

Apfelkuchen (Apple Cake)

Recipe makes 1 9x13-inch cake

Ingredients 

• 2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  
• 1 1/8 cups warm milk
  
• 1/4 cup white sugar
  
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
  
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 pinch salt
  
• 3 large apples - peeled, cored, and sliced
  

• 1 cup white sugar
  
• 3/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour
  
• 2 ounces candied lemon peel, chopped (optional)
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  
• 1 pinch salt
  
• 1/2 cup butter
  
  

Directions

1. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Beat 2 1/4 cup flour, milk, 1/4 cup sugar, yeast, 6 tablespoons butter, vanilla extract, and 1 pinch salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high until dough is smooth, about 5 minutes; spread into baking dish and press dough up the sides. Press apple slices into dough.
3. Mix 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup flour, candied lemon peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1 pinch salt in a bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup butter with a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; sprinkle over apples. Allow dough to rise for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
5. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 35 minutes.

In  Bending Toward The Sun Emilie is a pretty young German girl living with her father, the storekeeper. The young man she falls in love with is of Irish descent and I can imagine Emilie deciding to try her hand at some Irish dishes while dreaming of a happily-ever-after.

Colcannon

Recipe makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 pound cabbage
  
• 1 pound potatoes
  
• 2 leeks
  
• 1 cup milk
  

• salt and pepper to taste
  
• 1 pinch ground mace
  
• 1/2 cup butter
  
  

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, boil cabbage until tender; remove and chop or blend well. Set aside and keep warm. Boil potatoes until tender. Remove from heat and drain.
2. Chop leeks, green parts as well as white, and simmer them in just enough milk to cover, until they are soft.
3. Season and mash potatoes well. Stir in cooked leeks and milk. Blend in the kale or cabbage and heat until the whole is a pale green fluff. Make a well in the center and pour in the melted butter. Mix well.

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In  Ripples Along The Shore Caroline a lovely young widow living with her sister and brother-in-law. Missouri is known for it's Pecan orchards and with things slowly piecing back together after the war Caroline may made one of the South's most famous desserts for her family.

Pecan Pie

Recipe makes 1 - 9 inch pie

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
  
• 1/4 cup dark corn syrup
  
• 1/4 cup butter
  
• 1 tablespoon cold water
  
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  

• 3 eggs
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans
  
• 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell
  
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, water, and cornstarch. Bring to a full boil, and remove from heat.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Gradually beat in cooked syrup mixture. Stir in salt, vanilla, and pecans. Pour into pie shell.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until filling is set.

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Sources:
Apfelkuchen
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apfelkuchen-Apple-Cake/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24
Colcannon
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Colcannon/Detail.aspx?evt19=1
Pecan Pie
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pecan-Pie/Detail.aspx?evt19=1

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The Quilted Heart

Dandelions On The Wind
When Maren Jensen took a job at Elsa Brantenberg's St. Charles, Missouri, farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg household. But when Gabi's father, Rutherford “Wooly” Wainwright, returns to the farm unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren, and she feels compelled to find another job. Are her choices in obedience to God, or is she running from His plan?

Bending Toward The Sun 
Dedicated to her education and to helping her father in his general store, Emilie Heinrich is convinced she doesn't have time for love. But when a childhood friend returns to St. Charles, Missouri, after serving in the Civil War, his smile and charm capture Emilie's heart. Will she be forced to choose between honoring her father and a future with a husband and family of her own?

Ripples Along The Shore
Change is brewing in St. Charles. A group of brave souls are preparing to head west on the Boone's Lick Wagon Train, led by the mysterious and handsome Garrett Cowlishaw, who served as a Confederate soldier in the war that killed Caroline's husband. Despite her dislike for him, Caroline is tempted to join the wagon train and start fresh somewhere new, but when Mr. Cowlishaw forbids her – a single woman – to travel with them, will one man's prejudice destroy Caroline's hope for the future? Or will the ripples of God's love bring the answer she needs?

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