Posts by Beth

Bready or Not: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge

Posted by on Nov 23, 2016 in Blog, Bready or Not, fudge, maple | 2 comments

It’s holiday time, so that means it’s time for super-fast microwave Maple Cookie Fudge!

Bready or Not: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge

“But Beth,” I hear you saying, “You just featured a fudge recipe a month ago!”

Bready or Not: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge

Aha! I did indeed. That pumpkin fudge is delicious indeed, with its texture and taste like pumpkin frosting, but it also gets soft if it’s not kept chilled. THIS fudge recipe has endurance. Fortitude. Maple.

Bready or Not: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge

This is a shortcut fudge without any need of a candy thermometer or stress. I like to use the microwave, but you can use the stovetop if you want. You can keep the maple cookies chunky, if you desire, or grind everything to crumbs–your choice! I actually like some small chunks mixed in for texture.

Bready or Not: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge

The maple flavor is nice and consistent here, not cloying, while the marshmallow fluff grants the texture some extra oomph. If you want, you can add in some nuts as well, but if you keep your cookies kinda chunky, they can add some nut-like texture to the squares.

This would be the perfect quick fudge to make for a holiday party where everything needs to stay out on a counter for hours! The leftovers will keep very well in a sealed container in the fridge, too.

Bready or Not: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge

Come to think of it, this maple cookie fudge is just about perfect if you ignore the pesky nutritional side of things.

Bready or Not: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge

This Bready or Not Original uses maple crème cookies as the base of a fantastic microwave fudge. The fudge should be stored in the fridge, but also keeps very well at room temperature for parties and potlucks.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: chocolate, fudge, maple, no bake, quick fudge
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 3 cups white chocolate chips
  • 20 maple crème cookies crushed/chopped/maimed
  • 7 ounce marshmallow fluff jar
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk can
  • 1 teaspoon maple flavor
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup nuts chopped walnuts/pecans/macadamia, optional

Instructions

  • Prepare a 9x13 pan by lining it with foil and applying nonstick spray.
  • Either in microwave or on stovetop, carefully melt chocolate with canned milk and marshmallow cream. If microwaving, do it in short bursts because it can burn fast! Stir often.
  • When the mix is smooth, add the maple flavor and vanilla. Fold in the maple cookies. Use an uneven spatula to smooth out the top.
  • Refrigerate at least 3 hours, until the fudge is firm. Cut into bite size pieces. Keep stored in fridge between layers of wax paper. Unlike some other quick fudges, this will keep well for hours at room temperature.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Bready or Not: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge

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B is for Broken 99-cents at Kobo through the 28th

Posted by on Nov 22, 2016 in anthology:story, Blog | Comments Off on B is for Broken 99-cents at Kobo through the 28th

b-is-for-broken-1

The B is for Broken anthology is on sale for 99-cents today through November 28th over at Kobo! The book features 26 diverse stories around the theme of “broken.” My story is for the letter K, and I won’t say more than that.

This is a steal of a buy, so grab it at Kobo while this price lasts!

#SFWApro

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Sunday Quote welcomes cold weather

Posted by on Nov 20, 2016 in Blog, Quote | Comments Off on Sunday Quote welcomes cold weather

“I suppose half of writing is overcoming the revulsion you feel when you sit down to it.”
~Flannery O’Connor

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CALL OF FIRE cover reveal at The Mary Sue!

Posted by on Nov 18, 2016 in Blog, call of fire | Comments Off on CALL OF FIRE cover reveal at The Mary Sue!

The sequel to Breath of Earth has a cover, and it’s glorious and fiery! You can see the exclusive cover reveal for Call of Fire today over at The Mary Sue.

zootopia sloth gif

#SFWAPro

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Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

Posted by on Nov 16, 2016 in Blog, Bready or Not, chocolate, cookies, maple | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

These Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies are light, crisp, and full of maple goodness.

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

Story prompts inspire stories. Cookbooks inspire new spins on already-great recipes. In this case, I found my inspiration in the cookbook MAPLE, which also provided the basis for my Maple Pear Galette and part of my Maple Apple Pie (aka Voltron Pie).

I loved the look of the original recipe, but right off the top, I knew I needed to make some adaptations. I don’t keep whole wheat pastry flour around. I decided to substitute with cake flour since it was also lower in gluten.

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

As a result, the cookies are surprisingly light and crisp. However, this also means they can overcook–and fast! Keep an eye on them as they near the end of baking time. Better to have them slightly underdone when you pull them from the oven, as they’ll finish cooking on the cookie sheet.

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

I also went with white chocolate rather than milk or dark chocolate. I find the mellowness of white chocolate better works with maple flavor.

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

Now, maple sugar can be pricy stuff at supermarkets, if you can find it at all. I buy it in bulk at Amazon. If you glance through my maple recipes, you’ll find plenty of ways to use it up!

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

Walnuts–and other nuts–are easy to roast in your oven. Line a rimmed pan with foil. Add the nuts in an even layer. Bake at 350-degrees for like 7 to 10 minutes, shifting them once sometime in there, until the nuts are fragrant. Let’em cool, then use them or eat them.

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

The combination of flavors here–maple, white chocolate, walnuts–makes these the perfect cookies for autumn.

… Except, well, if you know me, I believe in summoning up the goodness of maple all year round. Awesome things shouldn’t be confined to one season.

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

These cookies combine cake flour and all-purpose flour to create lightly-textured cookies full of maple flavor. White chocolate and chopped walnuts add extra crunch and oomph. Watch these cookies carefully in the oven--their lightness means they can also quickly overcook.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: chocolate, cookies, maple
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup maple sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tablespoons avocado oil or canola oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup cake flour
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup walnuts roasted and chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven at 375-degrees. Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or a silpat mat.
  • In a large bowl, beat the butter and maple sugar until creamy. Beat in the egg followed by the oil and vanilla. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the two flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mix until they are just combined. Stir in the white chocolate chips and walnuts.
  • Use a tablespoon scoop to dole out dough onto the prepared sheet pan, leaving space for each cookie to spread. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until cookies puff and are just turning golden--watch them carefully at the end, as they can overcook quickly! Let them cool on the sheet about ten minutes and then transfer to a rack to completely cool.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Bready or Not: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

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