Blog Challenge

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I haven’t done many blog challenges, but this one sounded fun—possibly because I’m enjoying a beautiful 80° day outside, which always puts me in a great mood. 

Herding Cats & Burning Soup Presents – BLOG ALL ABOUT IT Blog Challenge 

This 2018 blog challenge is easy because each month has a different prompt. The prompt for March is Favorite Scent and April is Art. For the challenge, you can review books, interview authors, post pictures, share recipes, or get creative as long as you can weave the theme of the month into it. Since I only just found this challenge today and March is almost over, I’m keeping my post simple. I promise a more creative one for April. If you’d like to participate, you can sign up for the challenge here.

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MARCH Challenge  Favorite Scent: Cinnamon

 To me, no scent is more wonderful than cinnamon filling a room, especially when the spice is baking in my oven. I like to put cinnamon sticks in hot apple cider and tea as well as bake desserts with apples and cinnamon. The aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking is a close second on my favorites list. To get the two great smells of cinnamon and chocolate together, I use the Rich Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake recipe from Taste of Home.

 

 Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

1 cup butter, softened

1 – 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1-1/2 cups sugar (divided into batter and topping)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon soda

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup milk (I use almond milk)

1 cup chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)

¼ cup chopped pecans (I don’t add these)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

 In mixing bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and 1-1/4 cups sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add the dry and creamed mixtures alternately with milk. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 9-inch springform pan. Combine the pecans, cinnamon, and remaining sugar and sprinkle over the top. (I also sprinkle a handful of chocolate chips).

 Bake at 350° for 50 – 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen and remove the side of the pan. Cool completely before cutting. (We never do that!)

Writing Tip

 As a writer, I weave scents into my writing for my protagonists and readers. For instance, in my Dagger & Brimstone series, one of the characters, Arloe, loves lavender and uses a lavender shampoo. When her boyfriend Racer smells lavender, it immediately makes him think of her. When Racer and Arloe smell sulfa, they know a demon is nearby.

Next month’s challenge – Art!