Recipe Friday

I love fresh baked cookies, but there are times I want cookies but don't want to go through the hassle of mixing the dough.  Well, when I discovered this three ingredient recipe for peanut butter cookies I was certain they would never work.  They have since become my go to cookie.  (And if you are (or have friends who are) gluten intolerant-- you can eat these!)


3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

350 degree oven
1 cup peanut butter (your choice crunchy or creamy-- I use creamy)
1 cup sugar (or sugar substitute)
1 egg

(Yup.  Those are all the ingredients you need.)

Whisk egg in bowl.  Add sugar and mix.  Add peanut butter and mix.  Dough will be tacky, but not really stick to your fingers.  Scoop up by teaspoons and roll into ball.  Place on cookie sheet a couple inches apart (they don't spread much)  criss cross with a fork then bake for 10-12 minutes.

Variations:
Mix as above and add about 1/2 cup of miniature chocolate chips.  Follow remainder of recipe.

Mix as above and press into 8x8 greased pan.  When removed from oven, pour half a bag of chocolate chips on top and let soften.  Spread the softened chocolate over the top, cut into squares when hardened.



Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?  Share it in the comments!

Motivation

So, you have a great story idea, and great outline, and are ready to write.  In fact, you've already put four chapters of the story onto paper (or in my case on the screen).

Then, all the momentum and excitement of these new characters and new story fades and you find that you are forcing yourself to write in an effort to get words on a page so you can get something down you can fix later.

That is where I am finding myself this week.  I found a new character last week (and was very excited about him) and this week I am struggling to make it work.

Fortunately I have a great critique partner I chat with and who can help me find my muse.  Yesterday I forced myself to write, knowing if it isn't written, it can't be fixed.  After doing that for a bit, I chatted with Katie about my problem and realized I am trying to make this chapter perfect from the get go, and not thinking of it as the draft it is.  With that in mind, I was able to take off and get a draft I am happy with, knowing I can go back and make any changes I need.

So, when you are writing, and you struggle with making it work, what do you do to motivate yourself?  Share your tips in the comments!

WCC Wednesday

Since joining the WCC, I have noticed a difference in the way I write.  Each week I write with Katie, my critique partner, in mind.  I try to catch my typos and grammar errors as well as make sure my story is flowing as smoothly as it should be.  I want Katie to really be able to focus on the story itself and give me good feedback on that (which she does each time!)

When I am reading Katie's work, I look for typos and grammar things, but also try to focus on flow and pacing.  She has a great writing style, with a penchant for long sentences.  As we've discussed several times-- long sentences are a good thing, but variety in lengths is even better.  Katie creates such intricate people-- its as if they are people you know from real life.

This week I began working with Fiona.  She has a story with an interesting concept-- a girl who lives in the past and has visits to the past.  So far I have met the girl (and am very anxious to read more about her) and have had a brief look at who I believe is the woman from the past.  I have found her descriptions absolutely amazing.  She has such a gift with words, using few to say much.

I am working on chapter 5 this week.  While procrastinating on my writing yesterday, I realized I need to modify the first thoughts I had for the chapter based on the timeline I gave myself in the first chapter.  This is a good thing--as I was beginning to over complicate with the introduction of several characters I am not sure we actually need to meet.

Upcoming Posts:
Showing vs telling
Recipe Friday

Football Season

Well, football season is finally here again.  Sundays pigging out on cheese and cracker trays, bowls of chili, homemade pizza's, and company of family and friends.

With the three of us liking different teams (and the neighbor we usually watch with liking even a different one still) we do a lot of channel flipping while the games are on.  This week wasn't so bad, hubby's team (the Steelers) and my team (the Colts) were on at the same time--but, my Colts weren't looking so good, so we watched the Steelers.  My sons team (the Eagles) was the 4 o'clock game (and oddly he didn't watch hardly any of it!).  Then there was the night game where our neighbor's team (the Cowboys) played.

When my husband and I were talking about the scores this evening, I realized his was the only team out of all of ours that won yesterday.  Hmmm.  We'll have to see how the season goes.

How did your team(s) do?  Share in the comments.

Busy Weekend

This past weekend we took out a tree, a series of bushes, and a grotto in preparation for the new deck we are building.  It was A LOT of work, but will be well worth it in the end.  I was surprised by how much larger the backyard looks with those things gone.

Writing Update:
I sent chapter 4 of Th Lost Princess off to Katie yesterday for her thoughts and comments.  I am finding writing with the plot summary much easier than my usual way of writing.  I am still taking time to listen to my characters and see where they want to go-- in fact I just met a new character at their insistence!

While I am writing TLP, I am working through my thoughts for a third book in this setting.  I have my two lead characters and a villain, I am just trying to figure out my plot--it is not falling together well at this point, but I am sure one day I will have my "Ah-ha!" moment and rush to pen and paper to jot it down before I forget it!

Upcoming Posts:
WCC Wednesday
Recipe Friday
Showing vs Telling