Cakes on a table, a variety of cakes

Brenda knows books!

Brenda Novak writes wonderful novels, she’s drop dead gorgeous, super smart, and a first class fundraiser for juvenile diabetes.
I know, right? And she has the same number of hours in the day the rest of us do. Yet she gets it all done.
One of the most innovative authors out there, Brenda and her daughter, Alexa, are bringing books, writers, and readers together in a unique online book group. And you can join it right here. Each month, Brenda selects a book to read, share, and discuss.
She’s coming to visit me and Map of the Heart. You should join us because we are telling ALL. And we’re giving away $100 worth of gift cards during the event. Thursday, 21 September, at 8pm eastern. Be there.
I’m so excited, I made her a delicious cake. And I used gingered pears that were  homemade by my favorite reading group–the Bees of Mineral County in Superior, Montana.

This is my go-to cake because the ingredients are always on hand. I learned it years ago from Suzanne who got it from Sunset Magazine… Anyway, you should save this recipe because it’s almost impossible to mess it up.

Cake of a Thousand Faces
Preheat oven to 350º (F)
Use any juicy berry (not strawberries), or pitted cherries, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, or sliced almonds.
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup fresh, or frozen (non-sweetened), fruit
1 Tablespoon powdered (confectioners) sugar
Method:
Coat a 9 inch cake pan with removable rim with cooking spray.
Cream sugar and butter with an electric mixer. Add eggs and beat until fluffy. Then add flour and baking powder and blend into a stiff batter.
Scrape the batter into the pan and spread. Lay the fruit (berries or slices) over batter and press down slightly.
Bake just until cake begins to pull away from sides of pan and tests done, about 40 minutes.
Run a thin-blade knife around pan rim and let cool for about 10 minutes. Then brush on a glaze of warm jam, jelly, or syrup, and dust with powdered sugar. Serve at room temperature. Delicious with tea.
#books #bookclubs #giveaways #recipes

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16 Responses

  1. Map of the Heart was the first book written by you that I read and it definitely won’t be the last! I had such a hard time putting it down! One of the best books I’ve read this year.

  2. Map of the Heart was the first book written by you that I read and it definitely won’t be the last! I had such a hard time putting it down! One of the best books I’ve read this year.

  3. Susan I will be there . I have been reading your books for years and finally get to see you on live video. You are absolutely right about Brenda she is great. A great author that I found in November of 2016 and I have read all her books. Joined her book group the most wonderful people ever. Brenda and Alexa are the best real bombs. Can’t wait

  4. Susan I will be there . I have been reading your books for years and finally get to see you on live video. You are absolutely right about Brenda she is great. A great author that I found in November of 2016 and I have read all her books. Joined her book group the most wonderful people ever. Brenda and Alexa are the best real bombs. Can’t wait

  5. Can’t wait Susan – love your books also! I loved Map of the Heart! It’s going to be fun Thursday – enjoy your time with Brenda and Alexa!

  6. Can’t wait Susan – love your books also! I loved Map of the Heart! It’s going to be fun Thursday – enjoy your time with Brenda and Alexa!

  7. I adore her book group and the ladies in it. So happy and excited you’ll be with us Thursday. The cake looks/sounds delish. I thoroughly enjoyed Map of the Heart too!!

  8. I adore her book group and the ladies in it. So happy and excited you’ll be with us Thursday. The cake looks/sounds delish. I thoroughly enjoyed Map of the Heart too!!

  9. Map of the Heart stole my heart! Had never read any of your books, didn’t know what to expect. I couldn’t stop reading! Thank you for a wonderful story! Can’t wait for the book group discussion, and I hope you enjoy your time with us! Brenda is the best, and she encourages us to expand our reading interests. Can’t wait to read more of your books.

  10. Map of the Heart stole my heart! Had never read any of your books, didn’t know what to expect. I couldn’t stop reading! Thank you for a wonderful story! Can’t wait for the book group discussion, and I hope you enjoy your time with us! Brenda is the best, and she encourages us to expand our reading interests. Can’t wait to read more of your books.

  11. The cake sounds delicious! I’ve read a lot of your books and truly loved Map of the Heart, but Just Breathe is my favorite, with Family Tree a close second.

  12. The cake sounds delicious! I’ve read a lot of your books and truly loved Map of the Heart, but Just Breathe is my favorite, with Family Tree a close second.

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