Sunday Quote releases CROWN in 2 days
“Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life.”
~Lawrence Kasdan
The Almost-There Link Round-Up
Clockwork Crown. NEXT TUESDAY. *happy flailing* Here’s the latest news on that and other writing stuff!
– Kirkus Reviews has Clockwork Crown on their Can’t-Miss list for June.
– My entire collection of #TwitterFiction is in easy-to-read Storify form!
– Want to read something fun? I wrote up a cross-over of Clockwork Dagger and Little Red Riding Hood for Dark Faerie Tales!
– There’s an interview with me in in Big Thrill Magazine.
– Josh Vogt interviewed me! Find out the sordid truth about gremlin pee!
– I shared Beer Pizza Dough at the Holy Taco Church.
Ask Me Stuff!
Clockwork Crown is out on Tuesday and I intend to be everywhere and Do All the Things. To that end, there are two opportunities next week where you can ask me questions.
I’ll be in reddit/Fantasy next Tuesday for an AMA (Ask Me Anything). A thread will start early in the morning and folks add questions throughout the day. In the afternoon and evening, I’ll hop on and answer things.
On Wednesday, I’ll take part in the Sword and Laser video show/podcast. They have started a topic on Goodreads where you can also pose questions for me. No need to wait–you can post your scintillating queries for me now.
Please participate! Have fun with it. Ask about my writing process or recipes or cats or cosplay or books. Whatever. I’m game.
Bready or Not: Twinkie Cake
The Clockwork Crown is out next week, and that means this is CAKE MONTH on Bready or Not! We start that off with a glorious layer cake that tastes like a fresh version of a Twinkie.
Seriously, that’s what this is. A totally fresh, melt-in-your-mouth version of a Twinkie.
I wanted to make this from scratch because I believe in making my life extra difficult. I found this awesome yellow cake recipe at Mel’s Kitchen. I used the dry ingredients to form my base of the Twinkie Cake.
The good news is that you can make this using a store-bought mix–heck, you could even do it gluten-free!
The marshmallow frosting here is amazing. It’s not overly sweet but it does pack a sugar wallop. Eat a few slices of this and you might have trouble sleeping tonight.
Varied reactions to this cake: “It’s… a Twinkie. That you made?” “Wow.” “You are trying to murder me with diabetes.” “Good grief.” “Don’t tell my doctor I’m eating this.”
One funny note, too. This was at room temperature for a few hours at a party. When it was down to about a quarter of the cake, the top layer kept sliding off. The frosting layers didn’t budge and the yellow cake didn’t even crumble. I kept going over to slide it back into place again because I’m OCD like that.
Finally, I told my husband we had to finish the cake because it didn’t look right.
The things I do.
Yellow cake mix modified from Mel’s Kitchen and Twinkie Cake modified from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.
Bready or Not: Twinkie Cake
Ingredients
Homemade dry cake mix:
(Or disregard this section and use a boxed yellow cake mix)
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups cake flour
- 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Add to cake mix:
- 5.1 oz box instant vanilla pudding large box
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup salted butter 1 stick, melted and cooled slightly
- 4 large eggs lightly beaten
Filling/Frosting:
- 1/2 cup salted butter 1 stick, room temperature
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 7 oz marshmallow creme
- 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar sifted
- rainbow sprinkles if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Butter or add nonstick spray to 8 or 9 inch round cake pans, then cut out parchment rounds to place inside each pan, then butter or spray again.
- Combine the dry ingredients of the cake mix (this can be done a day or two ahead of time) or open up a box of yellow cake mix.
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs and butter. Slowly add the cake mix (homemade or store bought), pudding mix, vanilla extract, and water. Beat on medium for a minute or so, until it's smooth and thick.
- Spread batter in the prepared pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until top is spongy to the touch and/or it passes the toothpick test.
- Cool cakes in pans for a few minutes, then gently run a plastic knife around the edge. Turn cakes out onto wire racks, remove the parchment, and let them completely cool.
For frosting/filling:
- In a mixer, beat together the butter and vanilla extract. Add the jarred marshmallow crème and beat until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar and then pour in the heavy cream. Put the mixer on high and beat for a minute or two, until the frosting is light, smooth, and fluffy.
- To assemble the cake, dab some frosting on the cake plate and set the bottom cake layer on top. The frosting dabs will act like glue. Note that this cake doesn't have frosting on the sides. Place about half the marshmallow frosting on the cake layer and even it out. Place the second cake layer on top. Dollop on the rest of the frosting and swirl it to be all pretty. Add sprinkles on top. Store in fridge.
- OM NOM NOM!
