Macaroon (not French Macaroon)

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macaroon

I just baked macaroons.  No, they are not the French kind, which are a meringue-based cookie with almond flour (sometimes spelled Macaron).

The above is the typical kind of macaroon and is made of coconut, egg, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla.  I usually make them during Easter in multiple pastel colors.  For Passover, I will make both vanilla and chocolate.  (I believe in equal opportunity celebrating and eating)  These are a lot easier to make than French macaroons.

I don’t believe either Macaroons or French macaroons are a substitute for one another.  While the name might be confusing, the tastes are distinct.  Both are delicious!

Laurelin Paige – “Hudson”

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The Fixed Trilogy  (plus 1)

“Hudson” – Hudson’s perspective before, during, and after the trilogy.

Hudson is a sexy complicated man with a huge capacity to love and to harm.  As a reader of the series, you known how true this is.

I was a huge fan of Alayna and Hudson since the beginning of the series.  After, being rewarded with the HEA, I was a little reluctant to read “Hudson” and delve more into his darkness.  In the end, if you love the character Alayna, who in turn loves and forgives Hudson, then you should read “Hudson.”  It makes the HEA richer and more fulfilling.

Reading this book was rewarding.  It made me think about forgiveness – forgiving oneself and forgiving others.

See my other posts about this series:

Laurelin Paige – “Forever With You”

Laurelin Paige – Fixed Trilogy

Whoopie Pies Are For All Occasions

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red and green whoopie pies

It’s Christmas time – so here’s some red, green, and white whoopie pies (although the cookies would be good for Italian holidays as well :).  Even if you’re tired of the red and green theme of the holidays, these are still great little cookies.

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between a whoopie pie, moon pie, and a macaroon?

A whoopie pie is a cake-like cookie sandwich filled with buttercream.

Whereas, a moon pie has a marshmallow filling between two circular chocolate-coated graham crackers.

A French macaroon is a sandwich style cookie made of light meringue-textured cookie (usually made with ground almonds) with a buttercream filling.

Lorelei James – “Tied Up, Tied Down”

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This is Book 4 in the Rough Riders Series.

Kade may be the closest thing to perfection: sexy, strong, helpful, thoughtful, good father, and has strong libido.  Let’s not forget – he’s also exceptional with rope.  He’s certainly perfect for Skylar whose mind is filled with “kinky bondage fantasies.”

Not to worry, Kade and Skylar make enough blunders to make for an interesting plot line.

In addition, the huge McKay clan adds humor and warmth, which make the Rough Riders a must-read series.

Check out my other Rough Riders posts:

Lorelei James – “Branded as Trouble”

Lorelei James – “All Jacked Up”

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 8.55.28 AM to Lorelei James!

Gooey Butter Cake

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gooey butter cake   Never heard of gooey butter cake?  Well, it is a St. Louis tradition.  The name says it all.  It rich, dense, and of course gooey.  It is typically served like a coffee cake.  Supposedly, Walmart sells a version of gooey butter cake and calls it Paula Deen Baked Goods Original Gooey Butter Cake.  Since Paula Deen is the queen of butter, I would hope her cake is good.

In the photo, it is chocolate gooey butter cake on the left and a vanilla version on the right.

 

Katy Evans – “Ripped”

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If you liked the first three books in the Real Series, then you are bound to like “Ripped” (the 5th in the series) as well.

Young love can be intense, ever-lasting, and most importantly REAL.  Pandora and Mackenna prove that in Ripped.  I love how Katy Evans echoes the theme of real love in Ripped.  Kenna says, “She’s real to me.”

I also like how Katy Evan plays on the characters from her other books.  She uses the deep love between Remy and Brooke as the ideal attainable goal to which Pandora and Kenna are both jealous.

The desperate need that both of them have for each other is palpable.  “I want her deep and hard, like wanting to tie myself to a sinking ship and letting it take me under.”

This book makes you ache for REAL LOVE.

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 8.55.28 AM to Katy Evans!

Lorelei James – “All Jacked Up”

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This is the 8th book in Lorelei James’ Rough Riders series.  I can be honest – I am totally addicted to this series.

One of the reasons I love this book in the series is because I love the strong female character.  She is the baby girl of a large family, but has an independent streak and a spine of steel.  She owns her sexuality and has no regrets about her sexual history.  And, I love how she refers to Jack as “Jack-off” when she is irritated with him.

Jack may not be a cowboy, but he is just as hot as the other cowboys in the series.  One of my favorite parts is when Jack and Keely tell her family that they are engaged.  Individually, each of Keely’s five older brothers and her father, warn Jack that they will “gut him” if he does anything to harm Keely.  It definitely takes a real man not to cave when threatened like that.

Check out my other Rough Riders post:

Lorelei James – “Branded as Trouble”

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Abbi Glines – “You Were Mine”

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“You Were Mine” is the 9th book in Abbi Glines’ Rosemary Beach Series.  Finally, we get the backstory on Tripp and Bethy!  We knew Tripp was a good guy when he helped out Della, but Bethy didn’t seem to have many redeeming traits in earlier books.

Reading about Bethy’s past and her emotional struggles, she becomes a much more sympathetic and likable character.  My favorite Bethy quote:

Only Tripp.  No one else had looked at me that way after sex. … Because once you knew that look, it was hard to accept less.  The warm feeling that ran through me, making me feel cherished and special, was all because of that look.

Tripp’s never-ending love for Bethy makes him an attractive character.  His dirty talk makes him sexy as hell.  My favorite Tripp quote:

In that moment, I realized I wasn’t her second-best.  What we had was bigger than anything else she’d had.  Even with Jace.  Knowing I meant more to her was a game changer.  I’d move fucking mountains to give her what she needed.

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 8.55.28 AM to Abbi Glines!