Goddess of Suburbia
Page 25
As grown-ups, our connection deepened and there has been something so wonderful about recapturing the best part of my youth. You know how you might remember something or someone from the past and then when you get to see that person or do that thing again, it’s not nearly as good as you remember? Well, this has been the opposite—everything about Ben has been even better than I remember—whether we’re just curled up on the couch in sweats watching a movie, or we’re rolling around together naked—it’s all just better. I guess that stupid video zipping around cyberspace really was the most unlikely of catalysts thrusting me into the most amazing new life.
*** The End ***
Author’s Note
When my youngest son was in three-year nursery, he would fall asleep on the way home from school without fail. I’d sit in my minivan every other day at noon for one to two hours and scribble down a story that came to me in those quiet moments… A tired PTA mom living her life on autopilot suddenly finds herself embroiled in an Internet scandal, the paparazzi tracking her every move. Her marriage is in jeopardy, her college boyfriend shows up and suddenly… Her tidy, boring existence is anything but. There were times I thought that story would never see the light of day, but it was so important to me, I never gave up. So many editors and agents said that they loved the story, loved my writing, but couldn’t figure out how to market it. There’s no rakish billionaire in this story, no vampire, no star athlete, none of the characters agents and marketing departments adore—but there is one regular, overwhelmed mom whom readers connected with and loved. So I pushed on, hoping this book would find a home one day. I figured if I’d love to read about a mom whose house isn’t perfect and whose life is even messier, there were others out there who would also like to read about that. I’m so grateful and thrilled that I was right. Oh and that little napping nursery schooler? He’s in fifth grade now! It’s been a long winding journey, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I hope you all enjoyed reading Max’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Delicious Bonus Content
Judy’s Rugelach
Dough
½ lb cream cheese (1 bar)
½ lb sweet butter softened (2 bars)
2 cups sifted flour
Filling
¾ cup finely chopped walnuts
½ cup raisins
4 tsp granulated sugar
About 2 tablespoons jelly (your choice)—enough for a thin layer
Cinnamon to taste
Place dough ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend and when it’s all blended in a sticky dough, put on wax paper and place in refrigerator overnight
Remove from fridge, leave at room temperature until slightly softened
Sprinkle a small amount of flour—or confectioner’s sugar—on a board to keep dough from sticking
Cut dough into four pieces, roll each into a round circle—not too thin, not too thick
Mix sugar, nuts and raisins
Spread layer of jelly on circles
Sprinkle with raisin-nut mixture
Cut into equal wedges
Roll each wedge, there will be a point at the end
Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, point side down
Chill in the refrigerator for at least twenty minutes
Bake at 350 for 15-22 minutes or until golden brown
Remove to a wire rack to cool
Max’s Easy Apple Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or 325 degrees, ovens vary)
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
4 eggs
½ cup orange juice
¼ teaspoon salt
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
3-4 cored and thinly sliced apples
1 – 1 ½ cups raisins (optional)
Cinnamon to taste (optional)
In a large bowl with an electric mixer combine oil and sugar until dissolved
Add eggs one at a time
In a separate bowl mix together (with a spoon) flour, baking powder and salt
Pour mixture into the oil/egg mixture in batches, alternating with orange juice and vanilla and continually mixing
Once all the flour/baking powder/salt and orange juice and vanilla have been added, beat at medium speed until fluffy
Grease and flour Bundt pan
Carefully pour half of the batter
Layer apple slices over the batter
Sprinkle raisins and cinnamon over the apples
Pour in the remaining batter to evenly cover raisins and apples
Bake for one hour to one hour and ten minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
Let cool and turn over onto a plate
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