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“Write what you know.” It’s common advice for writers. How can you write something that you don’t know? Writers do research, lots of research. If we don’t know something or have never been somewhere, we research it.
My family loves when I do research, because most of the time, I’m researching recipes. I cook when I’m stressed, or when I’m bored, or when I have new ingredients to play with, or when I’m writing. No, I don’t write cookbooks. I write science fiction. And yes, it does involve cooking. Food is important to any society. Cooking is a valued skill, if you’re good at it. So I have a character who loves to cook. She bakes wonderful cookies, like these little gems.
Jasyn’s Spice Shortbread
1 c. real butter, at room temperature (let it sit on the counter for 2 – 3 hours to soften, it works much better than accidentally melting it in the microwave)
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
2 t. vanilla
1 T. anise seed (or use 1 t. nutmeg and 2 t. rum flavoring)
2 2/3 c. flour
Heat oven to 350°. Shape chilled dough into balls about the size of a walnut.
Place on a greased cookie sheet. Dip the bottom of a glass into sugar and use it to press the balls flat, keep them at least 1/4 inch thick, though. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until very lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Store in a loosely covered container. Makes 3 – 4 dozen.
Great served with milk or hot cocoa.
About Jaleta:
Snippet from Nexus Point (The Fall of the Altairan Empire book 1):
I swallowed hard, wondering if he was just a dream. I shifted my feet on the stream bank. “What do you want?”
He looked me over, not answering.
I lifted the rock, trying to appear as threatening as possible. I lost my hold on it. It fell into the stream with a loud splash.
His lip twitched as he smothered a chuckle.
Having a complete stranger laugh at me was the final straw. I thumped down on the stream bank, dropping my head into my hands.
The man splashed across the stream, his touch gentle on my shoulder. “Are you hurt?”
I shook my head. I’d felt worse and lived.
He watched me a moment longer, then put his arm around my shoulders.
I stiffened at the unexpected touch. No one had ever tried to comfort me. I surprised myself by bursting into tears. I’d lost control. I hated the feeling. I struggled until I finally fought the tears back. Only the occasional hiccuping sniffle escaped.
I couldn’t look at him, embarrassed by my outburst. I stared down at his vest, at his muscles, at his hands, anywhere but at his face.
“You want to explain why you’re out here?” He waited, still as a statue.
I finally looked up, at his face. It was a mask, giving nothing away. “I got lost?”
I’d like to thank, Jaleta for stopping by the blog and hope you enjoyed her post as much as I did. Also looking forward to trying the recipe. Yum!
Have you ever made a recipe from reading a book? Or just had a sudden attack of the hungries while reading? Please say you have, cuz I’ll feel very alone here. O.O Share your hungry moments and you can a) make us all hungry, too; and b) your comment is entered into my monthly drawing for an AnaBanana gift basket filled with stuff that looks good enough to eat, but “only” makes your skin soft and you smell awesome. So don’t eat them.
Perilously yours,
Pauline (and Jaleta!)
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