Bell Bridge Books

COFFEE BEAN COOKIES

by Foodie Wednesday

It’s Foodie Wednesday, and we’re inspired by chocolate covered espresso beans!

The entire staff just returned from an enormous romance writer’s convention (RWA), and we had leftover goodies from our author swag bags, so these coffee bean cookies were a must!
There were a few glitches, though.  A lack of shortening had our team debating bacon grease at one point. Don’t worry, someone made a Crisco run!

Enjoy these cookies just like you would a giant cup of coffee with your favorite sweet romance. Speaking of . . . have you heard that Lindi Peterson’s RICH IN LOVE was featured in USA Today? Also Elizabeth Sinclair’s SUMMER ROSE is a finalist for this year’s Maggie Awards!  AND Jill Barnett’s BRIDGE TO HAPPINESS is only .99¢ at Amazon! Get your coffee on while you read! (Recipe Below)

Click for samples!

Coffee Bean Cookies

1/2 c butter

1/2 c shortening

3/4 sugar

2 1/2 c flour

1t baking soda

1 t salt

1/2 t cinnamon

2 eggs

1 t vanilla

1c chocolate covered coffee beans

1c english toffee bits

Instructions: Cream butter, shortening, and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients, then beat into butter mixture. Stir in coffee beans and toffee. Drop in heaping mounds onto baking sheet. 350° for 10-11 minutes.  Savor.

IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

by Elizabeth Sinclair

When we were first married, by no stretch of the imagination could my husband be described as a romantic. Please don’t misunderstand.  He loved me, and I knew it.  He was a big hand-holder, hugger and kisser. He just fell short in the gift-giving department.  For years, being very practical, his idea of a good gift was a blender, a vacuum, a breadmaker, or (are you ready?) a sponge mop with a special scrubber strip.  To his benefit, it did have a pink bow on the handle. He told me it was a joke, but, given his track record, I had serious doubts.

Getting the idea?

When one of our two daughters got old enough, she became very big on remembering special occasions and would give him a gentle reminder.  “Daddy, it’s Mom’s birthday.  Did you get her a present?  A real present?”   She knew early on that a kitchen appliance did not qualify as a REAL present. When that didn’t seem to sink in, she began giving him suggestions. And I have to say that after she started helping out, the gifts did improve . . . until that fateful Valentine’s Day.

One this Valentine’s Day, she’d been involved in some school events and didn’t remind him until quite late that day that he should get me flowers or candy. Since we owned a luncheonette at the time and right across the street was a florist, the solution to a gift for his wife at 8PM on Valentine’s Day Eve was simple.  He’d opt for flowers.
On Valentine’s Day morning, I was awakened with a kiss and told there was a gift on the dining room table.  I hurried downstairs and found a terracotta pot sitting in the middle of the table.  Laying around the base of the pot were a pile of red petals and protruding from the pot were a dozen stems, a few leaves, and the remains of what once were tulips.By the time I’d stopped laughing, my husband had appeared. I kissed him and thanked him.  After all, it was the thought that counted, and it wasn’t a sponge mop.

I’m happy to report that he has improved 100% and now gives me such gifts as perfume, lingerie, jewelry and clothes and often makes me a lovely romantic dinner for my birthday.  And all that only took 51 years of marriage.

So, what’s the strangest gift you’ve ever gotten from your spouse?