Here's your chance to win a cozy Christmas read and Eggnog Pie recipe

Here's your chance to win a cozy Christmas read and Eggnog Pie recipe
Sunday, November 30, 2025 by Sally Jo Pitts

Categories: Books & Food / Recommended Books

Investigating Food Used in Novels

This month’s food scene and recipe comes from Tasha Hackett’s Waiting for Gilbert (Holidays in Hadley Springs Book 1). This Christmas cozy is also the 2025 Carol Award short novel winner! Read on for a free audio book opportunity.

Here’s the scene:

“May I come in?”
Cordelia blinks as if I’ve intruded on a private conversation.
“Please.” She waves me forward.
The mess of hair piled on her head bounces when she steps to the side and I smile at her range of colors. Fuzzy red socks, sunshine-yellow leggings, green hoodie, and her vibrant hair outshines the rest.
The door shuts behind me, but my feet won’t move. This woman is a magician of the best kind. My tired old kitchen has been transformed into a bakery. It’s strange because some of the surfaces are magazine-level perfect and others speak of the industry behind the production.
The round table that used to be in the center of the room has been shoved aside, blocking the hall. This leaves room for two tripods with light umbrellas and a third tripod with a camera. One half of the table displays a placemat with a cluster of candles and a serving tray with slices of pie. The rest of the table is strewn with papers, a laptop, a gray water bottle, and an open bag of jalapeño Cheetos.
Three pies inhabit the corner of the countertop with a dusting of powdery white stuff underneath and a wreath of holly leaves and sugared berries propped behind them. In stark contrast, the sink overflows with dirty bowls and dishes. By all appearances, the stacking method was designed by engineers with many letters behind their names and the addition of a single butterknife would send the modern art crashing to the floor.
“Wow,” I say in a harmony of wonder and astonishment. “Wow.”
She moves to stand beside me and hums a “what’s all this?” sound as if she’s here on official business. “There appears to have been a struggle.” A pencil materializes in her hand and she taps it against her palm.
We stand in silence until she shoves the pencil into her wild bun and slaps her thighs. “Yep. All in a day’s work.” She pulls out the chair nearest the tray on the table and gestures to the tray of pie. “Hungry?”
Is there a man in his right mind who would say no?
We talk, and I eat as she disassembles her camera equipment. I help her move the table so she can store the tripods and camera bags in the hall closet. Cordelia has me talking about music, my instruments, and song preferences.

Author Tasha Hackett shares this recipe for one of food photographer Cordelia’s pies.

Cordelia's Eggnog Pie

For the recipe click here.

(For additional recipes from authors, click here)

More about Waiting for Gilbert:

"I'm just a girl, standing in front of a phone, asking her landlord to come to dinner."

Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up!
If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.

Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?

To Do...
17. Finish unpacking
18. Drink coffee
19. Ask Gilbert to marry me

Tasha is offering a Free Audiobook copy of Waiting for Gilbert to one randomly selected commentor to this blog post. Since the main character is a food photographer, how would you answer this question?

If you were taking photos for a Christmas cookbook, which dish would you want to style first?

Offer good through December 6, 2025.

About the Author:

Tasha’s husband had no idea what he was about to start when he asked, “If you wrote a book, what would it be about?” Many years, kids, and books later, Tasha writes with hope and humor to encourage and entertain. Her novels demonstrate a realistic and achievable vision of romance between flawed characters, who are loved by an unflawed God.

Comments

Andrea Carroll From Wyoming At 12/3/2025 10:53:27 PM

Cookies... lots of cookies

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Always a hit.

Shirley Ashley From IN At 12/3/2025 9:51:29 PM

A dinner of ham and sides with an elaborately holly decorated table and red dishes. Can’t forget the fruitcake that I never liked but part of Christmas!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I happen to be one of the rare people that likes fruitcake.

Anita Klaboe From US At 12/3/2025 8:46:46 PM

I would style a variety of Christmas cookies.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good idea.

Leela From At 12/2/2025 1:07:14 AM

A collection of Christmas cookies.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Cookies are definitely photogenic!

Crystal Stewart From Bruin, PA At 12/1/2025 10:46:14 PM

Thanks thanks a lot

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thank you for stopping by, Crystal.

Barbara Diggs From Morristown Tennessee At 12/1/2025 9:59:45 PM

Curry sauce with potatoes, carrots and onion. A snowman made out of rice balls with raisin eyes and a nori hat and a sliced red pepper for a scarf. The snowman would sit in the “hot tub” of curry sauce.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Interesting winter scene.

Sarah P From USA At 12/1/2025 7:03:36 PM

I think for a Christmas cookbook I would want a table spread of the main dish, and some of the sides with a peek at the desserts in the background. Thank you for the opportunity.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

sounds picturesque

Johannah From Clifton, VA At 12/1/2025 6:46:58 PM

I would love to have plates and plates of decorated Christmas cookies!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Yum.

Debra Guyette From FL At 12/1/2025 1:37:42 PM

I am thinking some prime rib and some sort of potato dish.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Could make an elegant photo shoot.

Danielle From St. Louis At 12/1/2025 1:13:57 PM

Yummy Christmas Fudge

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds sweet!

Cherie J From At 12/1/2025 3:09:16 AM

I definitely would want to style some desserts since I love to bake. That pie looks so yummy.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I agree!

Sandra A Rodriquez From TX At 12/1/2025 2:52:09 AM

Christmas cookies

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Always a hit.

Laura R From Illinois At 12/1/2025 12:47:26 AM

I would style decorated sugar cookies as nothing says more to me than Christmas decorated sugar cookies with icing, sprinkles, and candy.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

You have a point!

Barbara C Lowdermilk From AR At 11/30/2025 11:43:59 PM

I would probably have decorated sugar cookies with a glass of eggnog-or maybe a fruitcake with a cup of wassail.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Nice.

Sunnymay From Cleveland, OH At 11/30/2025 11:11:15 PM

Yule Log with scratches in the bark chocolate frosting, mushrooms made of almond paste sticking out at jaunty angles and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Interesting

Teresa Hill From Winston Salem, NC At 11/30/2025 10:22:35 PM

Cranberry Orange Chicken or Raspberry Fried Pies

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds Christmassy.

Karen Topf From Iowa At 11/30/2025 10:16:57 PM

I would do a pictures of home made sugar cookies first .

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

A classic.

Lynn From Colorado At 11/30/2025 10:03:13 PM

I would stylize Christmas cookies that my family loves - Russian Teacakes, Spritz, crullers, and date nut bars all arranged on a platter with festive garnishes.