Beth Cato's Blog, page 44
July 10, 2019
Bready or Not: Double Chocolate-Candied Ginger Cookies
Let’s go hardcore chocolaty with these Double Chocolate-Candied Ginger Cookies.
Candied ginger with bittersweet chocolate, you say? Why, yes! The combination is extraordinary. These are grown-up cookies, with heady chocolate and ginger mingling in a great way.
I was surprised at how much the cookies dough hardened during its chill time. I still recommend chilling the dough, though, because aging the flour mix does age the dough and deepen flavors.
Just soften the dough at room temperature for a bit, if needed. My cookies didn’t spread much, either. They ended up as fat. luscious little chocolate bombs!
These are cookies to bludgeon off the lingering foulness of a bad day. Indulge!
Modified from Saveur Magazine.
Bready or Not: Double Chocolate-Candied Ginger Cookies
The sweet spiciness of candied ginger wonderfully complements bittersweet chocolate in the rich cookies! Shaped teaspoon-sized, recipe makes about 33 cookies.
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 1 Tb unsweetened cocoa powder (sifted)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
5 Tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate (heaping, coarsely chopped or in chips)
1/2 cup candied ginger (chopped)
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
In a big bowl, beat together the butter, coconut oil, both sugars, and salt, until pale and fluffy. Add the egg, scraping the bowl as needed. Stir in the flour mixture. Fold in the bittersweet chocolate and candied ginger.
Wrap cookie dough in plastic wrap and chill for a few hours.
Preheat oven at 375-degrees. Pull out cookie dough; if it fairly hard, let sit out a few minutes to soften some. Use a spoon to shape and form small dough balls. Space out on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake 9 to 11 minutes. Let sit on cookie sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.
OM NOM NOM!
July 3, 2019
Bready or Not: Moose Farts
Tomorrow might be America’s Independence Day, but let’s go rebellious and Canadian with a tasty no-bake treat called Moose Farts.
That’s right, MOOSE FARTS. With a name like that, you know it has to be good.
These are apparently a Newfoundland treat. They bear some similarities to “magic cookie bars,” but these are in a distinct ball shape.
I think they’re perfect for a hot Arizona summer. No need to turn on the oven or use tons of fussy ingredients! Moose Farts are something kids and adults can enjoy. The moose… not so much.
Modified from Rock Recipes.
Bready or Not: Moose Farts
Moose Farts are an easy, no-bake treat out of Newfoundland! If grinding your own graham cracker crumbs, about half a standard Honey Maid box will give you the perfect amount of crumbs to include in the balls and to roll them in.
1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
14 oz sweetened condensed milk can
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dried coconut (shreds or flakes)
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
extra graham cracker crumbs to roll balls
In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract, then follow up with the coconut flakes, graham cracker crumbs, and chocolate chips. Once they are combined, stash the bowl in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
Use a teaspoon or teaspoon scoop to form a small ball. Roll in extra graham cracker crumbs. Place in a container. Repeat with more balls, with waxed paper placed between the layers. Recipe makes about 51 ball using a scoop.
Store balls in sealed container in the fridge.
OM NOM NOM!
July 2, 2019
Published in F&SF! ZOMG!
Words that I have wanted to read in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since I was a teenager: “…Beth Cato makes her first appearance in F&SF…”
That’s right, I’m in the new July/August issue of F&SF. I have yet to bust in with a full story, but by golly, I made it in with a poem. I AM PUBLISHED IN ONE OF MY DREAM PUBLICATIONS.
Plus, it’s a very personal poem. “My Ghost Will Know the Way” is a fictionalized autobiographical work. Read it, and you’ll know what I was like at age 10, scrounging around the ditch next door for rocks that just might contain a spark of something more, and always with a posse of cats in my wake.
You can buy the issue in paper at most any US bookstore with a sizable magazine collection and it’s sold worldwide, too. Plus, you can get it digitally. Lots of info about purchasing it can be found here, and do check out the full table of contents. The issue promises to be awesome.
#SFWAPro
June 28, 2019
New Story: “By Footpad and Clenched Paw” set in the Monarchies of Mau
Role-playing games have played a major part in my life and in my writing. Therefore, I’m quite tickled to have a story within in an RPG setting–one featuring magic and cats! Tales of Excellent Cats is set in the world of Monarchies of Mau. This anthology features a very me kind of story about a cleric who tends to others even as she struggles with an incurable disease. There’s murder, sword-fighting, and of course, a requisite tavern scene.
The full table of contents for the book is amazing, with 14 stories edited by Melanie Meadors: Karen Bovenmyer, Joseph D. Carriker Jr., ZZ Claybourne, Elaine Cunningham, Erin M. Evans, Steven S. Long, Lee Murray, Errick A. Nunnally, Aaron Rosenberg, Lucy A. Snyder, Monica Valentinelli, Sabrina Vourvoulias, and LaShawn M. Wanak.
You can buy Tales of Excellent Cats in ebook at Amazon, and in PDF or print through DriveThruFiction.
#SFWAPro
June 26, 2019
Bready or Not Original: Chewy Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bready or Not is back with an original recipe for Chewy Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies!
This recipe arose from my need to create a good, basic chocolate chip cookie that could last for weeks to be shipped cross-country. I looked to my staple Chewy Honey cookies for inspiration, and started tweaking.
On my first try, the cookies were good but a tad bland. Therefore, I upped the vanilla extract and also added espresso powder. Espresso powder is a secret weapon for anyone who bakes with chocolate, as it deepens the inherent flavor without making it taste like coffee.
This second version worked in every way. Not only did it taste delicious, but it was perfect to pack and ship, too.
Mind you, I wouldn’t do that right now because I live near Phoenix. In June, this isn’t a chocolate-friendly place outside of air conditioning!
Try my other original Chewy Honey cookie recipes! If you’ve met me at a con, I’ve likely offered you the Maple or Snickerdoodle Cookies.
Chewy Honey Maple Cookies
Chewy Honey Snickerdoodles
Chewy Honey Lemon Cookies
OM NOM NOM!\n","cookTime":"P","prepTime":"P","totalTime":"P"}
Bready or Not Original: Chewy Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies
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This Bready or Not Original reinvents the chocolate chip cookie using a mixture of flours and corn starch for soft and chewy cookies that stay delicious for weeks in a sealed container. Note that the dough needs to chill for at least a few hours prior to baking.
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tb honey
1 large egg, room temperature
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup bread flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips (add a variety!)
In a large bowl, beat the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and honey and beat until creamy and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then mix in the egg and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: bread flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt. Sift together.
Slowly stir together the wet ingredients and flour mix until just combined. Sprinkle in the chocolate chips. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and stash in the fridge for several hours or days; dough can also be frozen at this stage.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven at 350-degrees. Use greased stoneware, parchment paper, or silpat mats. The cookie dough, even straight from the fridge, has a soft Play-Doh-like consistency, and will spread when it bakes; keep this in mind when spacing cookie dough.
Teaspoon-sized cookies need to bake 9 to 12 minutes; Tablespoon-sized take 11 to 13 minutes. Let set on cookie sheets for 10 to 15 minutes before moving to a rack to cool completely.
Stored cookies will keep in a sealed container, between waxed paper or parchment layers, for weeks. They are excellent for travel or shipping.
OM NOM NOM!
June 19, 2019
Bready or Not Classic: Slow Cooker Korean-Style Short Ribs
If all has gone according to plan, I’ve fled to a far-distant isle to enjoy Wensleydale cheese and scones. I didn’t want to schedule new recipes while I travel as I won’t be able to promote them to the fullest. Therefore, I’m revisiting a classic recipe this week. Enjoy!
I’m presenting to you the recipe for one of the best dishes I’ve ever made in a crock pot: Korean-Style Short Ribs.
I have made this many times over now. I’ve even tried it using cheaper cuts like chuck roast and rump roast. Those worked out okay (though the meat really dries out before its soak in the juice at the end), but they are nowhere as delicious as the short rib version.
It turns out amazing whether you use boneless or bone-in ribs–a mix is a great way to go, too! Don’t trim the fat. You want all that flavor. The end result is a sauce that tastes like you added red wine, but you didn’t. It’s like MAGIC.
Seriously, these ribs taste like something from a great Asian restaurant. Pair it with some broccoli and a good spoonful of the sauce, and YUM.
Whenever I see beef short ribs go on sale, I do a little dance of joy because it means I get to make this recipe again.
OM NOM NOM!\n","cookTime":"P","prepTime":"P","totalTime":"P"}
Bready or Not Classic: Slow Cooker Korean-Style Beef Short Ribs
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This recipe makes rich, savory short ribs that taste like a dish from a great restaurant! A 5 or 6-quart crock pot is necessary to fit the ribs. Note: A chuck roast or rump roast can be substituted for the ribs and it tastes okay, but the fatty ribs create a much deeper and richer flavor.
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 Tb sesame oil
2 Tb rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
4 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
5 lbs beef short ribs; boneless, bone-in, or a mix
1-2 Tb cornstarch
sesame seeds, optional
In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, brown sugar, oil, vinegar, ginger, garlic and red pepper. Place the ribs in a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker; pour the sauce over them. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 9 hours. Depending on how the ribs are stacked in the cooker, you may want to quickly stir them at some point halfway through.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the ribs from the cooker. Place a tablespoon of corn starch in a small bowl and add some juice from the cooker. Whisk them together to create a slurry without lumps, and add back into the crock pot. Stir. If the juice doesn't start to thicken, repeat the process with some more corn starch.
Either keep the ribs intact, or pull meat into chunks and discard the bones and fat. Place meat in cooker again on WARM setting for 10 minutes or so to soak in flavors. Serve. Great with rice, broccoli, and perhaps a sprinkling of sesame seeds!
OM NOM NOM!
June 12, 2019
Bready or Not Classic: Chewy Honey Snickerdoodles
If all has gone according to plan, I’ve fled to a far-distant continent to enjoy Wensleydale cheese and scones. I didn’t want to schedule new recipes while I travel as I won’t be able to promote them to the fullest. Therefore, I’m revisiting a classic recipe this week and next. Enjoy!
If you’ve eaten my cookies at a convention or book event in recent years, you may have very well eaten these cookies: Chewy Honey Snickerdoodles.
As WorldCon in Kansas City neared, I asked on Facebook if people had cookie requests. Several people asked for Snickerdoodles. Problem: My traditional Snickerdoodle recipe only stays optimal for a few days.
Therefore, I needed to create a new Snickerdoodle recipe, one that would travel well and hold up to summer heat. I looked at my other go-to convention cookie recipe for Chewy Honey Maple Cookies. I Snickerdoodlified it.
The end result: a new kind of Snickerdoodle with a sweet kiss of honey, and the durability to travel without falling apart AND the miraculous knack for staying fresh ‘n tasty for weeks. As long as three weeks, I’ve been told.
I’ve had numerous people tell me that these are the best Snickerdoodles they have ever had. Try the recipe yourself, and see if you agree!
OM NOM NOM!\n","cookTime":"P","prepTime":"P","totalTime":"P"}
Bready or Not Classic: Chewy Honey Snickerdoodles
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A Bready or Not Original: classic Snickerdoodle cookies with a touch of honey! These cookies are excellent to pack for conventions or ship cross-country, as they’ll stay chewy and delicious for many weeks.
For dough:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tb honey
1 large egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup bread flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
For rolling:
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
In a large bowl, beat the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and honey and beat until creamy and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then mix in the egg and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: bread flour, all-purpose flour, cream of tartar, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Sift together.
Slowly stir together the wet and dry ingredients until just combined. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and stash in the fridge for several hours or days; dough can also be frozen.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350-degrees. Use greased stoneware, parchment paper, or silpat mats. Prepare sugar and cinnamon mix, and roll dough balls to coat. The cookie dough, even straight from the fridge, has a soft Play-Doh-like consistency, so it will spread when it bakes; keep this in mind when spacing the cookie dough balls.
Teaspoon-sized cookies bake in 9 to 12 minutes; Tablespoon-sized take 11 to 13 minutes. Let set on cookie sheets for 10 to 15 minutes before moving to a rack to cool completely.
Cookies will keep in a sealed container, between waxed paper or parchment layers, for as long as three weeks. They are excellent for travel or shipping.
OM NOM NOM!
June 7, 2019
Off on an Adventure!
If all goes according to my maniacal plans, I am now on the far side of the world. Where am I going? What am I doing? Follow along on my Twitter and/or Facebook to find out! Novella the Sloth will play tour guide, as she does so well.
The next while, Bready or Not will feature what I am calling Classic Replays–reposts of old favorites that are due some more attention. Enjoy!
June 5, 2019
Bready or Not Original: Chewy Oatmeal Apple Chip Cookies
Apple Chips are delicious to eat out of the bag, but they can also be used to make delicious baked goods like these Chewy Oatmeal Apple Chip Cookies!
If you recall last month, I shared a new recipe for Apple Chip Blondies as I searched for ways to utilize a Costco-bought gigantic bag of apple chips. I decided to find a way to use them in cookies as well.
This ended up being tricky. I tried one recipe, and while the result was tasty, the cookies were crumbly and turned hard within a few hours. That would not do.
I turned to one of my own old recipes for Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (which I need to bake again to post here, as I posted before on my old LiveJournal). I modified it to use apple chips instead of raisins, and to use one of my new favorite grocery store finds, caramel chips.
These cookies worked in the best kind of way. The apple chips soften, but remain chewier than raisins. The cookies themselves are chewy and stay chewy in a sealed container. The caramel chips–well, like liquid caramel, they pair perfectly with apples. The caramel flavor is at the forefront, followed by the sublime taste of the apple chips.
OM NOM NOM!\n","cookTime":"P","prepTime":"P","totalTime":"P"}
Bready or Not Original: Chewy Oatmeal Apple Chip Cookies
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This Bready or Not Original recipe uses apple chips, such as Bare brand, along with caramel chips for an innovative, delicious spin on oatmeal cookies. Makes about 45 cookies using a tablespoon scoop.
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, melted (1 1/2 sticks)
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned (rolled) oats
1 cup caramel chips
1 cup apple chips, broken small
Preheat oven to 325-degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat, or use seasoned stoneware.
Melt butter and let cool slightly.
Mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the cinnamon, vanilla, egg, and egg yolk for 2 to 3 minutes until light and creamy. Mix in the flour mixture. Add the oats, caramel chips, and apple chip pieces. Mix until just blended.
Using a tablespoon scoop, place dough balls on pan. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, until the edges are slightly brown and the middle is still soft. Let the cookies rest on the cookie sheet for 5 to 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
OM NOM NOM!
June 3, 2019
New Story at Daily Science Fiction: “Clouds Gleam Across Her Eyes”
Daily Science Fiction just published my story “Clouds Gleam Across Her Eyes,” my take on the Chosen One trope from the mother’s perspective. A great deal of the inspiration for it comes from Terminator 2, but I gave it a fantasy bent. I’ve had incredible reactions to the story so far–incredibly good reactions, at that! Take a look–it’s under 1000 words–and let me know what you think, too!
In the meantime, I’ll be over here holding a massive bread pillow. As one does.
