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dinners?” Caro asked. The excitement in her voice caught Sadie’s attention almost as much as the words “Dutch oven” did. Sadie had eaten meals cooked in those large cast-iron pots, though she’d never cooked in them herself. She knew that they had a unique way of capturing the heat produced by coals or charcoal, creating a self-contained “oven.” What a fun way to kick off her trip!
    “Oh, he’s always looking for an excuse,” Tess said as she pulled open the oven door. “And as long as he’s willing to put up with the heat to do it, I’m always game.”
    “Mmmmm,” Caro said. “I still remember that stew he made last year.”
    “Wait until you have this, then,” Tess said as she removed a pan of rolls—perfectly golden brown—from the oven and set it on the stovetop. This meal was looking better and better. “It’s a recipe his dad used to make, but he’s changed it up a little and it’s so good.”
    Sadie continued to watch Paul—though she hadn’t been formally introduced to him—through the glass as Tess explained his love for Dutch oven cooking and how he was looking to turn it into a side business. Paul straightened, and Sadie hurried to open the door for him. “Thank you,” he said. He had the same hazel eyes Sadie had seen on his daughter, and a kind face. “I’m Paul, but my hands are covered with charcoal so I won’t make you shake them.”
    Sadie smiled. “I’m Sadie, Caro’s friend. Nice to meet you.” She closed the door behind him.
    “I think we’re ready,” he announced to the group.
    “Great,” Tess said, putting the last of the rolls in a basket lined with a flour sack towel. “Gabby, go get your brother for the prayer.”
    Gabby did as she was asked and returned with Paul and Tess’s son, Ryan, who looked ten or eleven years old. He said a prayer over the food, and then Paul instructed everyone to pick up their plates from the table and come outside to be served. Sadie had to stop herself from being the first in line and graciously let the children go in front of her.
    As soon as she stepped outside, the heat was forgotten because of the amazing smells coming from the two Dutch ovens. One had chicken in it and the other a potato casserole. Sadie had to swallow in order to keep her enthusiasm in check. Really, her food obsession was a bit out of hand.
    “This is wonderful,” Sadie said after Paul slid into his seat at the head of the table. She’d already enjoyed a few bites of both chicken and potatoes, and they were delicious.
    Paul grinned his appreciation for the compliment but said nothing, probably because his mouth was full. She waited for him to finish before asking about the recipe, which he said he’d be happy to share. She committed to buy a Dutch oven and make it for Pete. Maybe after they were married. Zing.
    “Oh, I forgot the rolls.” Tess jumped up and headed for the kitchen, returning seconds later with the basket of rolls that completed the meal perfectly. She also put a small bowl of what looked like strawberry cream cheese in the center of the table.
    “When we got married, Paul’s mom gave me a whole cookbook full of her family’s favorite recipes, including this one,” Tess explained as she returned to her seat. “It’s from a restaurant called Maddox in northern Utah—that’s where Paul’s from. The rolls are especially good with raspberry butter.”
    Raspberry butter, not strawberry cream cheese.
    Sadie was happy to sample a roll. She spread both halves with a generous helping of the raspberry butter. “These are delicious,” she said one bite later. “Is it a batter roll?” It was so light it couldn’t possibly be from a traditional kneaded dough.
    “It is a batter roll. They’re my go-to roll recipe—so easy to whip up and so good. I’m glad you like them.”
    “I like everything. Thank you both for your efforts.”
    “Sadie’s a bit of a foodie,” Caro explained with a teasing smile in Sadie’s