#Giveaway #HoHoHoHarlequinHolidayExtravaganza Allison Leigh The Rancher's Christmas Promise

Today is the last of the Harlequin author's guest post and I couldn't think of a better SE author to send us off than Allison Leigh another fantastic author who writes about people you would want to know. I'm featuring her holiday novel, The Rancher's Christmas Promise and Allison has a giveaway, details below. Plus she's got a fab Christmas recipe to share.

Enjoy!

 “We believe the infant girl under our protection is your daughter.”

With that, rancher Ryder Wilson’s world turns upside down. But he’s determined to make a home for the baby his late estranged wife left on a stranger’s doorstep. Local lawyer Greer Templeton is there to help, after growing attached to little Layla during the search for her daddy. It’s enough to make Ryder propose a marriage of convenience. But does love factor into his Christmas promise?

Allison is offering one entrant a 3 print book giveaway
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Allison's Christmas Storybook Cookie Recipe:

Today is Christmas cookie-baking day.

I have all the ingredients—I hope, since running to the store mid-recipe is always a nuisance. I have Christmas music on the radio and a very chilly day outside the windows. And I have my various recipes all lined up and ready to mix and beat and roll and cut.

Yes, today is baking day. This year, for the first time in a while, I have no particular deadline I’m racing to meet and no long lists yet to be completed while dreading the increasing crowds and decreasing time. So for once, the baking task feels again like it used to—like wrapping myself into a cozy, warm familiar blanket with a favorite book in hand. I love baking. Always have. But it is particularly rare to find myself with a day (or even two or three!) during which I can simply indulge that pleasure with nothing else pressing on my mind or my time. I have to say I’m practically giddy with anticipation.

First up—Storybook Cookies. I’ve made these since I was a child. The recipe was clipped by my mother from a Good Housekeeping magazine. They’re sugar cookies, but the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies that I’ve ever had. They’re topped with an egg-yolk “paint” which helps keep them tender throughout the holidays. The recipe as is makes about 2 dozen cookies, depending on the size of your cookies. I always double the recipe. (I’ve even quadrupled it). They can be frozen after baking and thaw well. Otherwise, store in a covered container and enjoy!

                                    

                         

Cookie Recipe:

2 ½ C sifted all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 C granulated sugar

¾ C softened butter

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Egg-Yolk Paint Recipe:

In a small cup, with a fork beat 1 egg yolk with enough food coloring to achieve desired color. Mixture thickens on standing, so beat in drop of water as needed to retain good brushing consistency.

Directions:

Sift dry ingredients together. In large bowl, cream sugar and butter together. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour and refrigerate for 2 hours or until dough can be easily handled.

Roll out on lightly floured surface to ¼” thick and cut as desired. Reshape scraps into a ball, refrigerate again if too soft before rolling out again. (Dough will get a little tougher with each roll, so try to minimize that.)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare egg-yolk paint in several colors. With small, clean paintbrush, brush yolk paint onto unbaked cookies completely to edges. (As the cookies bake, a border will form around the edges as the cookies rise.) Add sprinkles, decorator sugars, etc., if desired.

Bake cookies 6-8 minutes until firm enough to remove to racks, but are not brown. Cool on wire racks. Add additional frosting as desired after baking.

About the author:

A frequent name on bestseller lists, Allison Leigh's highpoint as a writer is hearing from readers that they laughed, cried or lost sleep while reading her books. She’s blessed with an immensely patient family who doesn’t mind (much) her time spent at her computer and who gives her the kind of love she wants her readers to share in every page. Stay in touch at www.allisonleigh.comand @allisonleighbks.

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