Thank you for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for today’s Mistletoe Madness spot. For a line up of all of the authors featured here and at The Book Nympho, and to enter the overall event giveaway for a free book (two chances to win!), please click on the image above or go to the kickoff post on November 26, 2014.
Today’s Mistletoe Madness author is…
Kelly Meade
Book: White Knight
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Publisher: Intermix
Christmas Cookies
Rook McQueen smelled smoke the moment he set foot on the front porch. Not the wood-burning scent that suggested part of the house was on fire. More the scorched sugar odor associated with a kitchen catastrophe. And that worried him into slamming his way inside and running down the hallway to the kitchen. Mrs. Troost, their cook and housekeeper, had never burned anything in her time working for the McQueens.
The smell increased as he got closer to the open kitchen door. A definite wisp of gray smoke danced in the air, and he skidded to a surprised stop when he finally got inside.
His wife was standing in the kitchen holding a tray of burned somethings and fanning it with her free hand, while tears rolled down her cheeks. Rook’s beast snarled at his mate’s distress. He snagged a potholder and took the tray away from her, so he could wrap her up in his arms.
“What’s wrong, love?” he asked.
“I suck at this.” Brynn sniffled against his shirt. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“Surprise me with what?”
“Christmas cookies.”
Rook scanned the messy kitchen. Spilled flour. A bowl of brown dough of some kind. A bowl of crushed candy. The black things on the tray looked suspiciously like cut-out stars and candy canes.
“I begged Mrs. Troost to let me try on my own,” she continued. “But I’ve never baked a single thing in my life, and I ruined them.”
“Don’t worry about it. We can fix it.”
“How?”
He glanced at the dough, which looked suspiciously more like a runny batter. “Um, starting over?”
She made an angry noise. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“Well, I am definitely surprised.” He yelped when she pinched his ass. “It’s okay. And you know what? It will be even more fun making Christmas cookies together.”
She pulled back to eyeball him. “You know how to bake cookies?”
“Knight and I used to help out Mrs. Troost when we were kids. I lost interest when I got older, but he still does.” Knight loved everything about Christmas, because the general mood all over town was more positive, and Rook’s empathic older brother deserved the break.
“Did Bishop?”
“Not really.” His eldest brother was always too busy being the first born of the Alpha to do domestic things around the house. “What were you trying to make?”
“Magic window cookies. Mrs. Troost gave me the cookie cutters and the Lifesavers candy.”
“We used to make those all the time.” Rook grinned at the memories of smashing Lifesavers into pieces with Knight, and then fighting over the leftovers. His personal favorite was still orange.
“Help me?”
Rook pressed a kiss to his wife’s forehead. “Definitely. Let’s get started.”
Magic Window Cookies
- Cream together ¾ cup of shortening, 1 cup of white sugar, 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla until blended and smooth. In separate bowl sift together 2.5 cups of flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 1 tsp salt. Add slowly to creamed mixture until well blended. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Cut out desires shapes. With sharp knife, carefully cut out center sections of those shapes and remove dough. Put cookies on foil-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle crushed Lifesavers candies into the holes you cut out.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes, until cookies are lightly browned and candy is melted. Allow to cool completely before removing from the foil. Once hardened, the candy looks like stained glass!
About the Book:
Checkmate…
Despite a month of peace from hybrid attacks, the constant threat of violence has the loup garou on edge. Knight McQueen’s home feels like a military compound and his people have become battle-weary soldiers. And Knight’s tenuous grip on his own self-control has been further damaged by the disappearance of the only woman whose touch brings him peace.
Held prisoner by her hybrid half-sisters and forced to care for an unknown child, Shay Butler’s quarterly is approaching but a silver-laced collar prevents her from shifting. As her time draws closer, her sanity begins to slip.
The opportunity to rescue Shay arrives when Magus enemy Archimedes Atwood requests a parley to discuss ways to end the conflict between their people and stop the rogue hybrids. Alpha Bishop McQueen agrees, bringing his brothers together to form a plan that will bring Shay home to Knight, stop the final two hybrids—and finally bring Archimedes to justice once and for all…
Giveaway:
Kelly is generously giving away a digital ARC of White Knight to one (1) lucky commenter. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form AND leave a comment telling us about one of your favorite childhood Christmas (holiday) cookie recipes. The giveaway is open during the time specified on the Rafflecopter form. Winner(s) chosen at random from all eligible entries. This contest is open internationally, where not prohibited by law. Open to participants, 18 years or older, who are legally allowed to participate in such a contest as allowed by their local laws. All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the contest sponsor. Prize will be delivered by the author. This blog, its reviewers, and the owner are not responsible for items lost in the mail. By entering this giveaway, participants agree to abide by these terms.
Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com if you have trouble with the Rafflecopter form.
Now, head over the THE BOOK NYMPHO to see today’s feature with Elisabeth Barrett.
I have loved making chocolate chip cookies since I was a child. Not really Christmas related but cookies are good anytime, especially when it’s cold out.
I’m horrible at baking or cooking in general. I do it some, but no more than I have too. Not to mention, if I make cookies, then I eat cookies, not to mention a large amount of dough. I find that not making it helps to not gain too much over the holidays.
OMG it’s Kelly…. Meade!
Mmm cookies. I’m with Melanie in that if I make them I eat them so I try not to bake too many times since I have the sweet tooth in the house it’ up to me to finish them before they go bad. LOL
Not exactly a cookie, but my mom has a famous fudge recipe. It has a ton of ingredients, but it really is better than the quick versions.
Christmas was one of the only times I recall cookies ever being in my house as a kid. My step-grandmother made amazing Russian Tea Cakes that just melted in your mouth. But I also have very fond memories of making what we still call ‘Picasso Cookies’ with my auntie, they were just sugar cookies with very runny icing that gave them abstract decoration. 🙂 A happy accident that has kind of become a holiday essential.
My mom’s sugar cookies 🙂 thanks for the fun giveaway!
Those cookies sound great. My mom makes sugar cookies that I just love. But they are different from what a lot of other people call sugar cookies. I really need to get that recipe from my mom. 🙂
chocolate chip cookies
Oh, I loved the sugar cookies that we out out with cookie cutters, and I got to help frost. Those were always the best. 😀 Of course, the gingerbread men were a lot of fun, and tasty too.
I love making holiday cookies. I loved picking the cookie cutters, cutting them and then decorating them when they were done. I still do love making them!
I love this trilogy and am eagerly looking forward to White Knight!
My mother never baked cookies, but I would make chocolate chip cookies with Christmas M&Ms when I was old enough to start cooking on my own.
I like fat sugar cookies with icing. My sister, brother and I enjoyed making them as children and now my 6 kids and I enjoy making them. Another fave is snickerdoodles 🙂
I only remember the chocolate chip cookies I made with my dad’s mom 🙂 She never wanted me to eat the raw cookie dough, so I’d nip some when her back was turned.
I don’t specifically remember my mother making cookies at Christmas, though she probably did. Her main thing when we were growing up was to make fudge.