Wattpad User Name: @The3dreamers

Author Name: Amber Boyd

Tell us a little bit about yourself

When I'm not writing, reading, or working, you'll likely find me chasing after my two kids. They're awesome. When I can find time, I love to head outdoors, strap on my hiking boots or snowboard to enjoy a bit of mountain fresh air. If my husband is driving I'll even get some writing in.

What genre do you write in? Why are you drawn to the genre?

Fantasy and Paranormal

What is your most memorable moment on Wattpad?

Party crashing Wattpad's 10th Anniversary party. SOOO MUCH FUN!

Do you think that writing on a platform such as Wattpad has helped you grow as a writer?

Definitely. I would never have written as much as I have if it wasn't available. I love the feedback from my fans. Their great.

What advice can you give to those that are just starting out on their online writing journey?

Write about what interests you. If you do, then you can be sure you'll get to the end of the book.

What books have most influenced your life most?

That would definitely have to be the Harry Potter series. Those book inspired my love of reading. If I'd never picked up that series, I probably would never have written any of my books.

Are you a published author? If so, what name do you write under.

Actually, I have a short story being published this summer, called Howling at the Moon. I can't wait to let my fans know when it's out on Amazon.

Readers can connect with Amber outside of Wattpad as follows:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AmberDBoyd

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheThreeDreamers

Recipe Name: Star Anise cookies

Is there a special story behind the recipe? If so can you tell us a little bit about it?

SURE...this recipe is in my book The Dream Weaver. Partly because Wattpad was having a multimedia challenge. Anyway, when I was writing chapter six, I was eating a delicious Star Anise oatmeal cookie as I wrote the cafe scene with Kellan and Wren. You might recall Wren's favorite type of cookie was oatmeal. But what you wouldn't know was that the cookie she raved about in the cafe was a cookie that we bake in our house all the time. Probably because it's without a doubt my all-time favorite cookie. So much so, that when I make this cookie, I bake at least three batches of them at a time and freeze some, so we don't run out.

PLEASE NOTE: The recipe below is an adaption of a recipe that I found online. The original recipe can be found on this site: http://dishingupthedirt.com/recipes/breakfast/cranberry-oatmeal-star-anise-cookies/. I give FULL credit to Andrea Bemis for the original recipe. My modified version of the original cookie recipe is below for you to try at home.

What makes this cookie AMAZING?

For one, this is an NO EGG and DAIRY FREE recipe! (That is if you use dairy free chocolate chips.) Oh, without any eggs in the batter, feel free to taste test it too. Yum! The recipe also calls for an unusual ingredient (at least it is in North America): Star Anise. This spice gives the cookie its unique, amazing flavor.

Most people I know haven't cooked or baked with Star Anise before. So here are a couple of tips:

1. You'll find Star Anise in specialty cooking shop. Worth the hunt to find it. It looks like the picture on the recipe card below, kind of star shaped.

2. You'll need to grind the spice into a fine powder. A coffee grinder or pestle and mortar will both work great for grinding it up. (Both pictures below are of the spice in the process of being ground, but not in its final fine powder form.)

3. If there are any tiny pieces, you can't grind into a fine powder (should look like ground cinnamon), pick them out before adding them it to the batter.

If there are any tiny pieces, you can't grind into a fine powder (should look like ground cinnamon), pick them out before adding them it to the batter

Ingredients

1 cup whole grain spelt flour (or whole wheat pastry flour)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2- 2 teaspoons finely ground anise seeds (can be purchased at the store or ground in a coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle)

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)

1/2 cup coconut oil, melted enough to stir (can sub with olive oil too!)

1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped

1/2 cup unsweetened dried cranberries (organic if possible)

1/2 cup white chocolate chips (organic if possible)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375F with the rack in the top third of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, oats, ground anise and salt. In a separate bowl whisk together the vanilla extract, honey and coconut oil. Mix until well combined. Stir in the walnuts, cranberries and white chocolate chips. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until well incorporated and a dough is formed. Taste test the dough (yay for no eggs!) and adjust seasonings if need be. We added more ground anise!

Drop tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about two inches between each cookie. Bake the cookies, one baking sheet at a time, until the cookies are lightly browned on the bottom and top. About 10-12 minutes. Repeat with the second baking sheet of cookies. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool before enjoying.

I'd love to hear from readers that give the recipe a try. Please post a comment below if you do and let me know what you think. The cookie has a more grown up flavor to it. (My daughter isn't a fan, but my son who's seven, sneaks into the cookie jar for these every time I make them.)

I can't believe you crashed the Wattpad Anniversary party! So jealous!

Thanks for sharing such a cool recipe Amber! 

Don't forget to put Amber's story The Dream Weaver in your library..

https://www.wattpad.com/story/29082298-the-dream-weaver-featured-story

Also, make sure you put @KellyAnneBlount 's Wattpad Block Party in your library and party with us all August long!

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