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Discussion Questions
A list of active questions to energize and deepen your group discussions. Let’s talk about it!
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Giveaways and Freebies
Current contests, polls, results, and downloadable freebies! All here for my latest book, MERRY!
Refined Recipes
Tasty food and drink suggestions! Some directly related to the book, some just good… anytime. Let’s eat, drink, and be MERRY!
MERRY Discussion Questions
- Merry Bingham decides to sell her treasured edition of A Christmas Carol to take her
family to London. What do you think of this decision? Would you have made the same
choice or a different one? - What was your most memorable trip or vacation? Do you find you remember vacations
better when things go right or wrong? - With which of Merry’s three children did you feel most sympathetic toward? Why?
- What five words would you use to describe Merry as a character? Have you ever known
someone like her? - Many of the characters in this novel are dealing with guilt and shame. What are their
different coping strategies? Who do you think handles it most effectively? - What does the ghost of Charles Dickens add to the novel? What do you think the author’s
intention was in adding a dash of magic to an otherwise real-world setting? Or is the
magic—and Dickens—all in Merry’s mind? Have you ever experienced moments of
magic in your own life? - Building on question number six, do you believe Leroy the dog actually speaks to Merry?
Why or why not? - Are you an eldest, youngest, middle, or only child? Do you have any personal experience
with adoption (international or otherwise)? How has your family structure shaped your
life? - Merry helps people collect books. Do you collect anything? Why do you think so many
people find the idea of collecting so compelling? - Merry loves the Christmas holiday season. What is your favorite holiday and why?
Feel free to download and enjoy these phone and desktop wallpapers – be MERRY!
Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe
Victoria sponge cake is named for Queen Victoria, a woman famous for her sweet tooth. According to Grants bakery (https://www.grantsbakery.co.uk/blogs/the-history-of-the-victoria-sponge-cake), In the early 19th century, it was customary for dinner to be served around 9 pm. People got hungry in the late afternoon. Specifically, Anne Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. She requested that tea and cakes be served to her around 4 p.m. she began inviting friends over to share her tea. One of her friends was Queen Victoria, who had a special liking for a sponge cake sandwich filled with cream and jam then dusted on top with sugar. This became the Victoria sponge cake.
Ingredients
- baking spray
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter or margarine, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk, room temperature
- ½ cup strawberry or raspberry preserves
Vanilla Whipped Cream
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- fresh strawberries, for garnish (Optional)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans with baking spray.
- Mix flour, cornstarch, and baking powder in a medium bowl; whisk in salt and set aside.
- Beat sugar and butter with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, on medium speed. Beat in 2 teaspoons vanilla. With mixer on medium-low speed, add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with milk, beating until just combined after each addition.
- Evenly divide batter between prepared pans and spread into an even layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18 to 22 minutes. Cool cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a wire rack. Let stand until cooled completely, about 1 hour.
- Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Stir preserves in a small bowl until mostly smooth; spread in an even layer over cake.
- To make vanilla whipped cream: Whisk heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract by hand in a large bowl until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.
- Dollop over jam, then spread into an even layer.
- Top with remaining cake layer. Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with strawberries (if using).
Enjoy!
“It is required of every man,” the ghost returned, “that the spirit within him
should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide;
and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death.”