Faelen hadn’t thought he’d be hungry after the filling stew, but the pastry was warm and smelled delicious...perhaps he might have room for something sweet.
Outside, Maxen grinned and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I know how you love your sweets. Go ahead.”
Faelen blushed, even as a delightful shiver traveled through him from the place Maxen’s lips had been so briefly. He ducked his head, letting his hair fall forward to shield his face. - The Merchant's Love
Outside, Maxen grinned and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I know how you love your sweets. Go ahead.”
Faelen blushed, even as a delightful shiver traveled through him from the place Maxen’s lips had been so briefly. He ducked his head, letting his hair fall forward to shield his face. - The Merchant's Love
I thought I'd close out the week with more baked goods and more pictures with The Merchant's Love, since so much of Faelen and Maxen's growing relationship involves bonding/courtship via books and baked goods. And, yes, Faelen's weakness for both are something he has in common with me, though I wasn't thinking about that at the time. If you missed the first post and recipe, you can find it here, and there are more to come next week.
Today's recipe is for banana chocolate chip muffins (though you can substitute walnuts if you like—Faelen and I prefer the chocolate!). This is my go to recipe for when I have an overripe banana or two. It's easy, and the results are yummy. Here's the recipe, and keep reading below for more about The Merchant's Love, out June 18th from NineStar Press.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 1/3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or nuts, if you prefer)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
Preheat oven to 375.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in chocolate chips.
Melt the butter. Stir in the oil, then the brown sugar and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the mashed bananas. Add the flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Don't over mix.
Divide the batter evenly between muffin cups. Bake for 18 to 23 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool.
Makes 12 muffins, but the recipe can be halved easily.
Today's recipe is for banana chocolate chip muffins (though you can substitute walnuts if you like—Faelen and I prefer the chocolate!). This is my go to recipe for when I have an overripe banana or two. It's easy, and the results are yummy. Here's the recipe, and keep reading below for more about The Merchant's Love, out June 18th from NineStar Press.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 1/3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or nuts, if you prefer)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
Preheat oven to 375.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in chocolate chips.
Melt the butter. Stir in the oil, then the brown sugar and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the mashed bananas. Add the flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Don't over mix.
Divide the batter evenly between muffin cups. Bake for 18 to 23 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool.
Makes 12 muffins, but the recipe can be halved easily.
About The Merchant's Love
Faelen, cousin to the prince and son of a diplomat, has finally come home to Tournai after years away. The pull to return was almost tangible, and the sense of rightness at being back is absolute. He wants nothing more than to put down roots and build a life among family while pursuing his linguistic studies. Becoming involved in magic meant to protect Tournai isn’t part of his plans…and falling in love is even more unexpected and unfamiliar, but he finds himself doing just that as his friendship with Maxen deepens into something more.
Maxen, second son of a wealthy merchant family, longs to leave Tournai and visit everywhere he can. All his life, he’s found places on maps and dreamed, planning out routes to get to them. For now, he’s tied to Tournai’s capital city by family obligations and his position in their shipping business. Someday, though, he’ll be able to travel. His sudden attraction to Faelen shocks him, but their friendship soon becomes a necessary part of his life. Love, however, has no place in his plans, especially not love for a royal cousin with secrets who wants nothing more than to stay in one place.
For Faelen and Maxen to build something real between them, they must resolve their differences, but when magic goes awry and all Faelen’s secrets are revealed, will Maxen remain at his side?
Add The Merchant's Love to your Goodreads shelf.
Preorder The Merchant's Love at NineStar Press
Maxen, second son of a wealthy merchant family, longs to leave Tournai and visit everywhere he can. All his life, he’s found places on maps and dreamed, planning out routes to get to them. For now, he’s tied to Tournai’s capital city by family obligations and his position in their shipping business. Someday, though, he’ll be able to travel. His sudden attraction to Faelen shocks him, but their friendship soon becomes a necessary part of his life. Love, however, has no place in his plans, especially not love for a royal cousin with secrets who wants nothing more than to stay in one place.
For Faelen and Maxen to build something real between them, they must resolve their differences, but when magic goes awry and all Faelen’s secrets are revealed, will Maxen remain at his side?
Add The Merchant's Love to your Goodreads shelf.
Preorder The Merchant's Love at NineStar Press
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