Posts made in July, 2016

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

Posted by on Jul 13, 2016 in biscoff spread, Blog, blondies, Bready or Not, brownies, chocolate | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

Last week I shared Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars. This week I switch out the peanut butter for a version that tastes even better.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

The top and bottom layers use cookie butter (Biscoff, Speculoos, whichever!) while the middle layer uses just a touch of Nutella. That combination is luscious. Cookie dough and chocolate. Guh.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

I mentioned before that the peanut butter version can be crumbly, especially the edge pieces. Well, this new variation is even messier. Karmic balance for the extra deliciousness, right? The middle pieces were a touch gooey, even as the edge pieces pretty much shattered as they were cut.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

That’s not a bad thing here, though. These pieces are delicious. Lap them up. Save them to top ice cream or yogurt. Just please, don’t let them go to waste.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

Mind you, they’ll also go to your waist, but that’s a totally separate dilemma.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

This variation of my Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars uses Biscoff or Speculoos for the crust and Nutella in the filling for a fantastic cookie dough-chocolate combination. They might be crumbly and messy (especially the edges), but you'll want to gobble up every morsel.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, chocolate, cookie butter
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup Creamy Biscoff spread or other cookie butter brand
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoons Nutella or similar chocolate spread
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and apply nonstick spray.
  • In a large bowl, mix butter, cookie butter, and sugar. Add the vanilla. Slowly mix in the flour. Set aside about 1 cup of the dough, and firmly press the rest into the prepared pan.
  • Using the same bowl, make the filling. Beat together the eggs, Nutella, and two sugars. Spread this over the unbaked crust. Sprinkle the reserved dough over the top.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the dough it set and golden. Cool completely in pan. Slice into bars. The bars may be crumbly, especially the edge pieces, but every bit is delicious. Keeps for at least 3 days in a sealed container.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

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Sirens Anthology Out Today! I Blurbed It!

Posted by on Jul 12, 2016 in Blog, others books | Comments Off on Sirens Anthology Out Today! I Blurbed It!

I had a story in FAE, the first book in the Magical Menageries series. The newest book in the sequence doesn’t include my work, but I did get an early copy of it, and I loved it, and I blurbed it!

Sirens_BethCatoBlurb_sm

Sirens are beautiful, dangerous, and musical, whether they come from the sea or the sky. Greek sirens were described as part-bird, part-woman, and Roman sirens more like mermaids, but both had a voice that could captivate and destroy the strongest man. The pages of this book contain the stories of the Sirens of old, but also allow for modern re-imaginings, plucking the sirens out of their natural elements and placing them at a high school football game, or in wartime London, or even into outer space.

Featuring stories by Kelly Sandoval, Amanda Kespohl, L.S. Johnson, Pat Flewwelling, Gabriel F. Cuellar, Randall G. Arnold, Michael Leonberger, V. F. LeSann, Tamsin Showbrook, Simon Kewin, Cat McDonald, Sandra Wickham, K.T. Ivanrest, Adam L. Bealby, Eliza Chan, and Tabitha Lord, these siren songs will both exemplify and defy your expectations.


Buy Sirens at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or from the publisher, World Weaver Press.


 

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Sunday Quote requires cheese

Posted by on Jul 10, 2016 in Blog, Quote | Comments Off on Sunday Quote requires cheese

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship,
stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
~Philip Pullman

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DEEP ROOTS Clockwork Dagger Collection out on August 2nd!

Posted by on Jul 8, 2016 in Blog, clockwork dagger shorts | Comments Off on DEEP ROOTS Clockwork Dagger Collection out on August 2nd!

I know a lot of folks have been waiting for my Clockwork Dagger short works to be released in paperback. Well, your wait is over as of August 2nd! You’ll be able to read them in mass market paperback ($4.99) or as a collected ebook ($2.99)! Deep Roots is available for preorder everywhere.

 

Deep Roots

From the author of The Clockwork Dagger and The Clockwork Crown comes a compilation of short works set in the same world: The Deepest Poison, Final Flight, and the Nebula-nominated Wings of Sorrow and Bone.

THE DEEPEST POISON

Octavia Leander, a young healer with incredible powers, has found her place among Miss Percival’s medicians-in-training. Called to the front lines of war, the two women must uncover the source of a devastating illness that is killing thousands of soldiers.

WINGS OF SORROW AND BONE

After being rescued from the slums of Caskentia, Rivka Stout is adjusting to her new life in Tamarania. But 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.

FINAL FLIGHT

Captain Hue hoped he was rid of his troubles once Octavia Leander and Alonzo Garrett disembarked from his airship, but then the Argus is commandeered by a Clockwork Dagger and forced on a deadly mission. Hue must lead a mutiny that might bring down his own ship…. perhaps for good.

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Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

Posted by on Jul 6, 2016 in Blog, blondies, Bready or Not | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

If you like peanut butter, these are for you. I found the original recipe on the back of a C&H Brown Sugar box.

Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

I tweaked it some (MORE VANILLA!) and clarified the instructions. It’s an incredibly simple recipe. Basic ingredients that whip together fast and bake up fast, too.

Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

The end result is like a peanut butter sugar cookie in bar form. It’s like getting punched in the face by the peanut butter fairy! They even look pretty because of the mottled layers.

Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

One caveat: these aren’t the neatest cookies, and probably not the best for travel. They are crumbly, especially the edge pieces. Seriously, though, you will want to save and eat those crumbs. They are that good.

Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

As I made these, I couldn’t help but think of more modifications. Therefore, stay tuned for next week when I post the Biscoff and Nutella version of these bars. OH YEAH.

Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

In the meantime, try these and experience peanut butter bliss.

Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

These bars end up like crispy peanut butter sugar cookies! They might be crumbly, but you'll want to gobble up every morsel. Based on Utterly Peanut-Buttery Bars from C&H Sugar.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, peanut butter
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter smooth or chunky
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoons peanut butter smooth or chunky
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and apply nonstick spray.
  • In a large bowl, mix butter, peanut butter, and sugar. Add the vanilla. Slowly mix in the flour. Set aside about 1 cup of the dough, and firmly press the rest into the prepared pan.
  • Using the same bowl, make the filling. Beat together the eggs, peanut butter, and two sugars. Spread this over the unbaked crust. Sprinkle the reserved dough over the top.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the dough it set and golden. Cool completely in pan. Slice into bars. The bars may be crumbly, especially the edge pieces, but every bit is delicious. Keeps for at least 3 days in a sealed container.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Bready or Not: Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars

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