Making Memories … With Apples! by Katy Eeten

​You’ve probably heard it said that a song can bring back a memory. And I’m sure we all have examples of this being true. Whether it’s the first song you danced to with your spouse, or a tune that reminds you of a rough patch you or a loved one went through. For me, I will forever think of my Dad on the rare occasion that I hear the song “Happy, Happy Birthday Baby.” He used to drive me to my afternoon kindergarten class, back when kindergarten was a half-day affair and my dad worked second shift. The country radio station he listened to must have had a birthday segment at that exact timeframe, because without fail, the chorus of this song was playing as we drove to school. My dad would sing along, I would laugh, and all was right with the world.
 
But another thing I’ve found that can stir up memories is food. When I was a kid, my mom used to make an apple salad that I thought was something special. Of course, at that point, I hadn’t experienced Apple Snicker Salad (https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/221192/apple-snicker-salad/), which is far more delectable if I’m being honest. But there was something about my mom’s salad that satisfied my taste buds like nothing else.
 
I now know how easy and cheap it is to make, and as an added bonus—it’s pretty darn healthy, too. I’ve even made this quick recipe as a refreshing lunch for work. For me, the crisp, clean taste of this salad brings back memories of a simpler time. Below is the easy recipe I gleaned from my mom. We never actually measure the ingredients—we just throw them together until the proportions seem right. But this gives you something to start with, and you can adapt to your own preferences from there!
 
Apple Waldorf Salad (1-2 servings)
1 medium apple, unpared and cut into bite-size pieces.
2/3 c. raisins
1/3 c. chopped celery
1/3 c. walnut pieces (optional)
1/8 to 1/4 c. Miracle Whip (I use Miracle Whip Light)
 
Just mix everything together in a bowl. The dressing helps the apples not turn brown, so while the salad is best served fresh, it can last all day without going bad. After a day or so, though, the apples get a bit mushy.
 
There’s a mom-inspired recipe in my new release, A Heart Held Captive, as well. Emily tells her new beau Cole about a memorable meal her now-deceased mom used to make for her. Check out my book to see how this meal becomes a special part of their story!

A Heart Held Captive
​***New Release***

​Physical therapist Cole Pearson has had his share of shallow relationships. But a year spent focusing on God opened his eyes to what he really wants in life. When he learns that ER nurse Emily Jenkins has volunteered to pay for a foster child’s therapy, he is inexplicably drawn to her generous spirit. If only he can convince her to take things beyond their casual conversations at the clinic.
​
Emily is a prisoner to her past mistakes and insists on paying a price God never asked her to pay. When she finally allows herself to grow closer to Cole, her faulty theology is shattered and her wounded heart begins to mend. But when tragedy strikes, Emily is sent into a tailspin. Can Cole help her grasp the freedom of God’s grace, or will she revert back to the captivity of her old ways and shut Cole out of her life for good?

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About Katy

​Katy Eeten lives with her husband, Jason, and their two school-age sons in southeast Wisconsin, despite her dislike of cold weather. She works full-time in the business world, but her true passion is writing. In addition to A Heart Held Captive, she is the author of Christian romances Blast from Her Past and Christmas in Meadow Creek. When she's not working or writing, she enjoys taking walks or bike rides, baking, and spending time with her family. 



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