Posts made in September, 2015

Bready or Not: Pumpkin Praline Cake

Posted by on Sep 30, 2015 in Blog, Bready or Not, cake, cake mix, pumpkin | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Pumpkin Praline Cake

If you love quick and easy dump cakes, let me introduce you to one that is full of pumpkin goodness.

Pumpkin Praline Cake

Last year I went through a stack of old issues of Betty Crocker magazine. I sliced out recipes that looked promising. This was one of them.

Pumpkin Praline Cake

I was amazed at how easy this recipe was. It literally came together in the time it took for the oven to preheat. The flavors and texture are amazing: you have a cakey base topped with spicy pumpkin custard, with a nutty-crunchy layer atop.

Pumpkin Praline Cake

Plus, you can cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for days! It tastes even better after a day or two. The spices meld with everything.

Pumpkin Praline Cake

My husband took this cake to work. He returned with an empty dish. The guys raved about it.

Pumpkin Praline Cake

If you like pumpkin, if you like cake, this is the way to start your fall off right.

Bready or Not: Pumpkin Praline Cake

This super-fast dump cake recipe is perfect for autumn with its spicy pumpkin custard and praline crunchy top. Make it days ahead of time--it keeps very well in the fridge! Modified from Betty Crocker Holiday Easy Entertaining Magazine, November 2002
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: cake mix, pumpkin
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 15 oz pumpkin puree
  • 12 oz evaporated milk
  • 3 eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice heaping
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 1/2 cups pecans or walnuts, chopped
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine, melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Prepare a 13x9-inch pan by lining with foil or parchment and then greasing it well with Pam or butter.
  • In a large bowl, beat together the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. It should be smooth. Pour it into the pan.
  • Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the pumpkin goop. Sprinkle the nuts all over the top. Pour the melted butter evenly over everything.
  • Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a knife in the center comes out clean. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate. Cut and serve from the pan; warm slices in the microwave, if desired, or eat cold.
  • OM NOM NOM!

Pumpkin Praline Cake

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Cover Reveal: Wings of Sorrow and Bone

Posted by on Sep 29, 2015 in Blog, clockwork dagger shorts | Comments Off on Cover Reveal: Wings of Sorrow and Bone

I’m happy to share the cover for my Clockwork Dagger novella, Wings of Sorrow and Bone!

Wings of Sorrow and Bone novella

Wings of Sorrow and Bone novella

Release date: November 10th 2015
Price: 99-cents
Format: ebook
Available for preorder everywhere!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play | iTunes

What’s it about? Well, it takes place a few months after Clockwork Crown

After being rescued by Octavia Leander from the slums of Caskentia, Rivka Stout is adjusting to her new life in Tamarania. But it’s hard for a blossoming machinist like herself to fit in with proper society, and she’d much rather be tinkering with her tools than at a hoity-toity party any day.

When Rivka stumbles into a laboratory run by the powerful Balthazar Cody, she also discovers a sinister plot involving chimera gremlins and the violent Arena game Warriors. The innocent creatures will end up hurt, or worse, if Rivka doesn’t find a way to stop Mr. Cody. And to do that means she will have to rely on some unexpected new friends.

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Sunday Quote is homeward bound

Posted by on Sep 27, 2015 in Blog, Quote | Comments Off on Sunday Quote is homeward bound

“Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have.”

~Lloyd Alexander

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Bready or Not: Maple Nut Butter No-Bakes

Posted by on Sep 23, 2015 in Blog, Bready or Not, maple, no-bake dessert | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Maple Nut Butter No-Bakes

When you need maple goodness whipped up quickly with no baking involved, here’s your go-to recipe: Maple Nut Butter No-Bakes.

No Bake Maple PB Oat Bars

I had PB & Co Mighty Maple Peanut Butter, so I went with that to add some maple oomph. You can use various nut butters here, but avoid the natural kind where the oil separates. That would make these too dry and probably make it turn out weird.
No Bake Maple PB Oat Bars

I made these because I needed to create goodies on a quick timeline, so I put them in the fridge straight away, chilled them for an hour and a half, then sliced them. The bars crumbled some, I think because I didn’t chill them long enough. They were still mostly intact, though, and tasted fabulous.

Therefore, I highly recommend these get to cool down at room temp and then have a few more hours in the fridge, just to solidify things and make the end result a little prettier.

No Bake Maple PB Oat Bars

The taste is what matters most, though. If you love maple, you must make these bars. It’s maple candy. Sweet, chewy, maple candy. With autumn nigh, these are perfect to whip out for any of the forthcoming holidays!

Modified from Maple Almond No-Bakes at Lovely Little Kitchen.

Bready or Not: Maple Nut Butter No-Bakes

These no-bake bars come together in about ten minutes to create a candy that's a fusion of maple, nut butter, and oats! These things are seriously sweet and delicious, and will keep for weeks if sealed in the fridge.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: maple, no bake, peanut butter
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup almond butter or peanut butter; not natural, it's too dry
  • 1/4 cup milk almond milk works
  • 1/2 teaspoon maple flavor
  • 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

Instructions

  • Prepare an 8x8 or 9x9-inch baking dish by lining it with foil or parchment paper then greasing it. Measure out the maple flavor and oats so they are ready to add quickly.
  • In a medium pan, bring the butter, sugar, almond butter, and milk to a boil over medium high heat. Stir frequently. Bring the mix to a full boil for one minute, stirring constantly, and then removed from the heat and stir in maple extract. Immediately add the oats and stir thoroughly to coat everything.
  • Glop the mixture into the baking dish. Cool at room temperature and then chill in fridge for several hours until it is firm.
  • Use the foil or parchment to lift out the bars for easy cutting. Best served chilled.
  • OM NOM NOM!

No Bake Maple PB Oat Bars

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I’m Horrific!

Posted by on Sep 22, 2015 in anthology:poem, awards, Blog | Comments Off on I’m Horrific!

Cover_Mar2014_noissnI was pleasantly surprised yesterday to find that my name was listed on Ellen Datlow’s full recommended list from Best Horror of the Year Volume Seven. She singled out my poem “Bird Girl” from Niteblade Magazine issue 27.

I find this especially meaningful because Niteblade’s most recent issue was their last. It’s wonderful to see the magazine garnering recognition like this.

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