Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Gluten-free cookie #recipe #book giveaway


Thanks to all of you, INHERIT THE WORD hit the national bestseller lists! Whee. My editor is very pleased.


This past weekend, I did a book signing at the fabulous Mysterious Galaxy bookstore in Redondo Beach.

[I know this isn't a great picture, but it shows how roomy yet inviting the store is.]













I adore talking to people at a store. The in-person contact is so special. We don't just chat about books and characters and writing and marketing but life in general. For a writer who spends most of her days in front of a computer, that's a joy!

Look at this great sign found on the end of a bookcase. It made me laugh out loud!




Everyone who works at the store is so great! Knowledgeable.  [Pre-photo] Nice set up. See the cheese and chocolate on the table back right? Say cheese!



Two fans won books or a mug of chocolate from the raffle I offered!


Moving on...

Last week's winner of the Cheese Shop/Cookbook Nook 
giveaway is:

CYN 209! 

Congratulations!!!  I'll be contacting you to find out which book you wish. 
I'll be having another giveaway this week, too, so chime in below... 
It's fun to celebrate!!


As I stated above, Inherit the Word has been out for a week. I truly appreciate any of you who might have written a review or shared the title with a friend!! Word of mouth seems to be the best way to sell a book.

Throughout the book (and the Cookbook Nook series, for that matter), Katie, the chef at the Nook Café, prepares snacks and taste-test treats for the customers to enjoy. It's a lure to bring them from the cookbook shop into the café. Jenna happens to be a big fan of Katie's cookies. This particular selection Katie makes for a friend who needs to eat gluten-free. Katie says these cookies are "almost" like a protein bar in texture. If you don't need to make them gluten-free, simple swap out the flour for regular flour and omit the xanthan gum!


Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Cookie Ala Katie
Gluten-free
(Yield: 12-16 cookies)

1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large egg
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanillin
2 tablespoons water
1 cup gluten-free flour
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups crispy rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies or Rice Chex)
1/2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375°F.

Mix the butter and sugars in a large bowl. Add the eggs, peanut butter, 2 tablespoons of water, and vanillin and beat on medium for one minute.

In a separate bowl, mix the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and mix on low speed.

Fold in the rice cereal and chocolate chips. Note: If you use chex-style cereal, crush them slightly in a plastic bag.

Line a 13 x 9 pan with parchment paper. Press the dough onto the parchment paper.




Bake until golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes and then cut into bars or squares.





Note: These can be made as individual cookies. Using a spoon, put out scoops of dough about an inch or two apart on a cookie sheet. Press with a fork to flatten. Cook for 12 minutes, until golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before removing with a spatula.


For the book giveaway this week, leave a comment with your email included. If you tweet or share on Facebook, tell me in your comment and you'll be entered TWICE. 

I'll give you your choice of one of the Cheese Shop mysteries, including the latest DAYS OF WINE AND ROQUEFORT, or a copy of FINAL SENTENCE, the 1st in the Cookbook Nook mysteries. I'll announce the winner next week. Good luck!

******************


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Days of Wine and Roquefort 
is out!
order here
Inherit the Word
  is out!
                        order here

If you haven't done so, sign up for the mailing list 
so you can learn about upcoming events, releases, and contests! 



31 comments:

  1. I love that sign at the store.

    Sorry I couldn't make it. My last game of the day ended at 2. Hopefully soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love your coffee mug - and that you gave one away!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am surprised how much everyone likes them. Yay. A good investment. :)

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  3. These sound great! Glad to hear the new book is doing so well.
    Congratulations!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the mug! Don't enter me in the giveaway, since I won one of your wonderful books so recently.

    But--thanks for the link to Mysterious Galaxy! I'll be in that part of the world in a couple of weeks, and I'm adding a visit to my list of "must do" stops.

    Also, I'm going to Malice this year, and look forward to getting a couple of books signed by MLK authors there. Squeee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen, how wonderful. Make sure you say hello! We'll be handing out some MLK recipe card packs at the convention.

      Daryl / Avery

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    2. Definitely will.

      Delete
  5. This is perfect! I promised my son chocolate chip cookies when he got home from school today. Thanks! This sounds yummy!

    mamamoongrrlie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have been eating healthy. My compromise for him to get him to try all the new things, is a batch of cookies each week, lol. A little is not bad for him and he is doing really good trying things. =)

      Delete
  6. I will have to wait till after Lent to try these cookies, my husband gave up chocolate and that would be cruel. My book club loves your cheese books and I must start them on the new series. Keep up the great writing!
    Toni N
    bobntoni@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Antonette, leave out the chocolate, swap for caramel chips, swap for white chocolate, stick in nuts???

      Daryl l/ Avery

      Delete
  7. Forgot to add, that mug is adorable. Did you design it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did. It's just my book covers, but with the two mottos I like to share: Say cheese and Savor the mystery.

      Daryl / Avery

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  8. This recipe sounds yummy. I'll have to try it.

    kaye.killgore@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. Terrific recipe and what lovely news about the bestseller lists, Daryl!

    XOXO

    MJ

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the sign, there is many a day that I would love to use it, LOL. I also love the mug, I'm a mug-a-holic, we just went through our mugs to clear some room because I accumulated too many. Congrats on your new releases.
    momzillasteel@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I acquire too many mugs, too. Have to do a cleaning about every 2 years. Love mugs! Just got a Tigger mug from Disney. In honor of Tigger in my series, of course.

      Daryl / Avery

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  11. I wish I lived on the left coast! Looks like a great 'party'
    afarage @ earthlink.net

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  12. The cookies sound delicious. I'm going to have to try them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great! Hey, if anyone decides to make them with regular flour, please let me know how they turn out.

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  13. great idea using the Rice Krispes or Chex with a chocolate chip twist!! hope to win! morris.jackie49@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Can't wait to try this recipe. Your books are always a great read.

    xzjh04 @gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kiki. I'm learning more and more how much fans are liking the books. Always nice to hear that they're resonating. :)

      Daryl / Avery

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