Free Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker Page A

ignition as Andy and Henry got comfortable in the back seat behind her. She pulled the gear into reverse, stepped on the gas and—
    "Ohh, Hen-ry," Andy said with a groan. "Sherilyn, will you hand me the paper towels?"
    "Are you joking? We haven't even left the parking lot!"
    "Honey. The paper towels?"
    She picked up the roll they'd tossed to the passenger seat in preparation for just such an event and handed it over her shoulder to Andy. Once he engaged in the cleanup process, Sherilyn tugged at the front of her blouse, pulled it up over her nose, and shifted into drive.

 
Spinach & Gorgonzola Sausage Pies
    1 bag fresh spinach (about three bunches)
    3 to 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
    1 teaspoon olive oil
    1 chopped onion
    ½ pound ground sausage (browned, finely crumbled, and drained)
    5 ounces gorgonzola cheese (crumbled)
    3 ounces ricotta cheese
    ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
    ½ teaspoon basil
    ¼ teaspoon oregano
    Salt and pepper to taste
    12 sheets of phyllo pastry
     
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
     
    Trim the stems from the spinach. Wash in cold water and drain.
    Chop spinach into very small pieces and steam for about six minutes until leaves wilt.
    Drain again, squeezing out all of the excess water from the spinach.
    In a skillet, heat the butter and olive oil until melted, and sauté the onion until tender.
    Remove from heat and add spinach, sausage, cheeses, and seasonings.
    Place three sheets of phyllo at a time (keeping the others covered to avoid drying).
    Brush each sheet with butter/olive oil mixture and layer.
    Cut into thirds, lengthwise.
    Spoon small dollop of filling on an angle at the end of each strip. Avoid overstuffing.
    Fold the pastry to enclose, making a triangle. Fold again, upward to make another triangle. Repeat until reaching the end of the strip.
    Use the butter mixture to seal the end, and brush the top lightly with the butter.
    Grease two baking sheets and place triangles on them.
    Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
     

     

 
7
     
    Y eah, I'm pretty sure he belonged to the Stettwallers."
    The red-haired boy was no more than ten years old, and he pointed down the street as he balanced aboard a polished green and silver bike.
    "They owned the house that the Millers moved into, right over there. The big brick one."
    "Do you know what his name is?" Andy asked the boy.
    "Nah," he replied, scratching his freckled face. "You live here, too?"
    "We're going to," Andy said, shooting a smile at Sherilyn.
    "We just bought the Bender house."
    "That's two houses away from me!" he exclaimed.
    "What's your name?" Sherilyn asked him.
    "Aaron Boyett. When you movin' in?"
    "Won't be long now," Andy told him. "Maybe a week or so."
    Sherilyn could hardly believe Earl and Rita Bender had accepted their first offer, and Lola said they were ecstatic about the request for an immediate closing date.
    "You got any kids?"
    "Not yet."
    "Just you two?"
    The look of disappointment on his face made Sherilyn want to apologize.
    "Yeah, sorry," she said.
    "It's okay," Aaron said with a shrug, but she didn't entirely believe him. "I gotta go." And without so much as a quick wave in their direction, he pedaled down the street away from them.
    "Well, I don't think flyers are going to do much good, do you?" Andy asked her. "They obviously dumped him when they moved."
    "We don't know that for sure," she offered. "He said he wasn't certain."
    "He sounded pretty certain to me, Sherilyn."
    She deflated. "You're going to keep that dog, aren't you?"
    "I really want to. The only thing is . . . my mother isn't too excited about the arrangement."
    "I can imagine."
    "I was thinking, since you'll be living in the house until after the wedding, maybe he could live here once we get you moved in."
    "What, with me?" She hadn't meant to blurt it out like that, but the thought of it! "Andy, that dog wants nothing to do with me. He's attached to your heel. You think he's going to make life easy on me when it's just me and