Cookie Butter

Last week I stumbled up a recipe that used Trader Joe's (apparently FAMOUS) Cookie Butter. But sadly, I don't have a Trader Joe's nearby. So I decided to find a recipe and make some cookie butter to see what all the fuss was about.

I found Averie Cooks recipe for Cookie Butter Peanut Butter. It's simple, with only 5 ingredients I was excited to see how it turned out.

I started with my Honey Roasted Peanuts in my food processor.

As I watched them whirl round and round, I thought 'This is never going to get smooth.' But I waited, like the recipe said, and watched the transformation before my eyes.

I was so impressed! Creamy, delicious peanut butter in 5 minutes! I think I will be making my own peanut butter in the future.

Then I added 12 cookies. I added a few more later because it was still thin, so in total I probably added 16-18 cookies.

Then I added the vanilla and the tablespoon of cinnamon. I think this is too much cinnamon. The cookies have a cinnamon flavor so I would reduce this to a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Next I poured in the white chocolate chips. I ended up adding another handful because the butter wasn't sweet enough for me.

After blending all the ingredients together, the mixture was very loose. I was hoping this was due to the heat of the food processor so I decided to chill the butter over night. This picture is before it was chilled.

The next day it had firmed up so I went right in with a spoon. And to be honest, I was disappointed. The cookie butter tasted good but it wasn't anything I could go crazy with and eat in one sitting. I ended up dipping the leftover cookies in the butter and liked that better.

I have a few recipes I want to try with the cookie butter, maybe I will like those better than just the butter by itself. Maybe the homemade version isn't a good substitution for the Trader Joe's Cookie Butter. As soon as our Trader Joe's opens this fall I will buy some cookie butter and see for myself. 

Kitchen Update

Ever since we finished the kitchen renovations, I wasn't happy with the curtains. They were heavy and too dark for the kitchen.

So I have been keeping an eye out for the right window treatments and I finally found some at K-mart! They were super affordable and are the perfect curtains that really brighten up the kitchen.

Here was the kitchen curtains before: long, grey, almost too formal curtains.

And here are the new ones: light, white, airy curtains.
Kate Tier Panels and Valance in Blue.

I am so happy with how they look! They diffuse enough light to block out the evening sun, but they also brighten up my kitchen. 

Beautiful Bastard

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Bastard is the hot, passionate story of an inner office relationship between a CEO, Bennett Ryan, and his intern, Chloe Mills. They have intense feelings of hate for each other because they are so much alike. They are both smart, determined, hardworking, loyal and use to being in control of things. The relationship get complicated when things heat up between them.

My boss, Mr. Bennett Ryan. Beautiful Bastard. My stomach clenched tightly at the thought of him: tall, gorgeous, and entirely evil.

This is a fast paced book. Just a few pages in and things are already hot and heavy. The story is told in alternating POVs (Chloe vs. Bennett). I enjoyed being able to understand how each character was feeling and how they felt for each other. This was a fun read, great way to spend a rain day afternoon. Not all stories need to be deep and emotional, this lighthearted, sexy novel was a great change of pace.

Do women still wear garter belts and stockings to work?  Living in the South it is way to hot for stockings ever, so I found this kind of odd. But what girl hasn't chosen an outfit to drive a guy crazy? We've all been there.

And just because I knew it would get to him, I purposely recrossed my legs, making sure my skirt rode up a bit more than was appropriate. Maybe he needed to remember who could win at this game.

I think Chloe and Bennett's relationship makes sense because we want to be challenged in our relationships. They keep each other on their toes. It's fresh and honest. Their relationship is a power struggle, both are use to being in control, and it is interesting to find out who will give up control and admit how they ultimately feel.

I had never felt this way, and I had never expected to feel this about him. I wanted to slap him, and then pull him up by his shirt and lick his neck. (Chloe)

I wanted her. I wanted her more than any woman I'd ever seen. The big problem was I also hated her. (Bennett)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars! If you are a fan of Adult Erotic Romance Novels I think you will love this book. I would definitively re-read this book. I have already read it twice!

Buy Beautiful Bastard on Amazon

Life on the Edge

Life on the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux

I heard about Life on the Edge through work. The author Jennifer Comeaux works for the same company as I do. When I heard our CEO bragging about our best selling author, I knew I had to read these books!

Life on the Edge is the love story of Emily, a pairs figure skater, and her coach, Sergei. They both have Olympic dreams, Emily to be the first American pairs team to win a gold medal (with her partner Chris) and Sergei to coach them to gold. It's not allowed for these two to date, but everyone knows you can't help who you fall in love with.

In the drawing light, I saw the longing in Sergei's gaze. No one had ever looked at me that way. I was as still as the morning around me, but inside my heart raced.

I read Life on the Edge in one sitting! I loved the romantic connection between Emily and Sergei. Their love was pure and sweet and I was captivated watching them fall in love. I really cared for these characters and wanted them to be together.

"I want you in my life forever." My gaze met Sergei's. "So no more lies. No more secrets."

I am so use to evil, twisted characters that I kept waiting for the proverbial 'other shoe to drop' (or in this book 'other skate to drop'). It was refreshing to read a story about two good people. Obviously, no one is perfect (Sergei's past), but these two had the perfect balance. Their story and feelings were very relatable. I was able to put myself into their relationship, it felt as if I was right there with them. Through the ups and downs of their story I felt my heart race. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to hear the decision of the Ethics Committee and I was cheering with them when they heard the good news.

Looking into his eyes, I knew I could trust him with my heart forever. I sank into the warmth of his chest as we shared our most passionate kiss yet.

I really appreciated the attention to detail in the book. I'm only a fan of figure skating but the book illustrated that world so well, I could easily see it all in my mind. Jennifer has done an amazing job to make this story flow effortlessly. It's hard to believe this is her first novel, this was a beautiful love story and I can't wait to read the rest of Emily and Sergei's story.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!  This is a great summer read!  Make sure you purchase both Life on the Edge and Edge of the Past because you will want to read them back to back!

Buy Life on the Edge on Amazon

Life on the Edge on Goodreads

I'm a Bookworm

I have always had a love for books.  As a child, I remember going to the summer reading programs at our local library and making a promise to read 'X' number of books (I always went above and beyond this goal :)).

For Christmas last year, I got a Kindle. Probably the best gift ever! Michael knows me too well!

Though having a Kindle has been dangerous! I have been 'one-clicking' away! It's so easy and affordable when so many books are only .99! There are actually lots of FREE ebooks too!

Now I have a Kindle full of books to be read and not enough time to read them!

There are a few book blogs I follow where I can read reviews, learn about sales, and even find new authors to love.

Since I'm a bookworm, I'm going to share my thoughts on books as I read them. Maybe I can help others find their next favorite book!