Starting From Scratch by Kate Lloyd

Starting From Scratch was an interesting read. I enjoyed the plot and the characters were well thought out. There was enough drama and suspense to keep me reading and I have to confess I did not know which feller Eva was going to choose. I enjoyed the setting of a small cafe at a commercial nursery. I also enjoyed seeing Eva struggle with a job she was not trained for. My only complaint was the rather abrupt ending. I would have liked a bit more. So grab a glass of sun-tea and a whoopie pie and settle back for a satisfying read!

I was given this book by NetGalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

An Old Flame Brings a Spark of New Hope

En Alt Maedel—an old maid.

At age twenty-nine, that's what Eva Lapp considers herself. And who could argue with her? Finding a good Amish husband at her age will be next to impossible. Plus, Eva's unwarranted bad reputation in Lancaster County precedes her. Maybe living the Englisch life would be better.

Squeezed out of her childhood home by her brother's boisterous family, Eva finds lodging and a new job managing a small café at a local plant nursery. But the challenge of her new position isn't enough to distract from her current predicament.

To Eva's surprise, her first love, Jake Miller, suddenly returns to Lancaster County. Flooded with emotions and filled with questions about Jake's past, can Eva trust what she's feeling?

Jake and Eva face many obstacles in their quest for a fresh start in the community, but perhaps with God's help, they can find the redemption they both desperately need.

About the Author:

Kate Lloyd is a bestselling novelist whose books include A Portrait of Marguerite, The Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy (Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, and Forever Amish), A Letter from Lancaster County, and Starting from Scratch. A native of Baltimore, she enjoys spending time with friends and family in rural Pennsylvania and is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Please visit her on her Website katelloyd.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/katelloydbooks/?pnref=story, and on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram: @katelloydauthor.
Kate loves hearing from readers and often holds Blog Contests/Giveaways.

Whoopie pie recipe

Ingredients

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• 2 cups packed soft light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 cups quick cooking oats
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 3 Tbs boiling water
• Filling:
• 1 large egg white
• 1 Tbs vanilla extract
• 2 Tbs milk
• 2 cups icing sugar, sifted
• ¼ cup vegetable shortening, softened

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 425F.
2. Lightly grease a couple of baking sheets and set aside.
3. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs.
5. In another bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder.
6. Beat this into the creamed mixture.
7. Stir in the oats and cinnamon.
8. Mix all together well.
9. Stir together the baking soda and the boiled water.
10. Stir this mixture into the rest of the batter, mixing it in well.
11. Drop by the tablespoon onto the baking sheets, placing them at least 2 inches apart.
12. Bake until the cookies are firm and just starting to turn golden around the edges, some 10 to 15 minutes.
13. Remove from the baking sheets to wire racks to cool completely when done.
14. Combine the egg white, vanilla, milk and 1 cup of the icing sugar.
15. Cream well together.
16. Add the remaining icing sugar and the shortening, beating all together until smooth.
17. Spread 1 Tablespoon of the filling on the bottom of one cookie and top with a second cookie