"Not unless you tell them," said Lyle.

"We'd deny it, of course," said Vince.

"So," said Lyle, shrugging, "life goes on. Such as it is."

Bram's head was spinning.

"Now that we're done with the initiation," said Vince, dishing Bram up a plate, "let's eat."

"Vince has outdone himself tonight," said Lyle, wiping at his eyes with the handkerchief.

"Remember our motto," said Vince, pushing the plate across the table.

"No reservations required?" repeated Bram.

"Amen," both men replied.

Vince grinned. "Come on, Baldric. Dig in."

Sophie's Favorite Kransakaka Cookie.

Kransakaka is generally made as a wedding cake in Scandinavia, so it's a big hit (ya, sure!) in Minnesota, too (land of ten thousand Nelsons, Johnsons, Petersons, and Olsons). Give it a try. Oh, and trust me. You'll like it a whole lot better than you will mealworm dip or deep fried crickets.

2 cups almond paste.

1 cup granulated sugar

2 egg whites, beaten slightly (may need slightly more if the

batter is too thick)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Crumble the almond paste into small chunks; then add the sugar and the egg whites. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture together until well combined. Fill a pastry bag with the batter and squeeze out long (approximately 1 inch wide by 4 inches long) cookies onto the parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the surface is golden brown. Handle with care when they are hot because these cookies are fragile. Cool. Frost with melted chocolate, powdered sugar icing, or just serve plain. Be sure to put the coffeepot on. Scandinavians always have coffee with their sweets!

By Ellen Hart.

Published by Ballantine Books:.

The Jane Lawless mysteries:.

HALLOWED MURDER.

VITAL LIES.

STAGE FRIGHT.

A KILLING CURE.

A SMALL SACRIFICE.

FAINT PRAISE.

ROBBER'S WINE.

The Sophie Greenway mysteries:.

THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO MURDER.

FOR EVERY EVIL.

THE OLDEST SIN.

MURDER IN THE AIR.

SLICE AND DICE.

DIAL M FOR MEAT LOAF.

DEATH ON A SILVER PLATTER.

NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

end.