Books and Bites with Kayla Rae Whitaker

Books & Bites Podcast, Episode 16

Each month, JCPL librarians bring you book recommendations and discuss the bites and beverages to pair with them. On this episode, we talk to author Kayla Rae Whitaker about her book, The Animators, creativity, and the many varieties of pie, including oatmeal cream and Frito.

 

 

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Book Notes

Kayla recommends:

Bite Notes

  • Kayla recommends pairing The Animators with super sweet candy such as Peeps or circus peanuts. If you enjoy stress baking like she does, see below for her recipe for Homemade Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies. They’re the perfect crumb-free work snack.
  • Since so much of the book takes place in Kentucky, Carrie thinks you should wash your sweets down with a Winchester-proud Ale-8-One.
  • Melissa appreciated the comforting presence of pie in the book. She struggles with pie crust but says the savory Cherry Tomato Galette turns out beautifully every time.

Homemade Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies

For the cookies:

  • 1 1/2 cups oats
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 stick butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the cream filling:

  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 7 ounces marshmallow creme
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine and cream the sugars with the butter. Add egg and vanilla. Whisk. Add dry mix. Whisk.
  3. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon rounded balls of batter onto the parchment – anywhere from a healthy tablespoon-sized ball, for larger cookies, to the size of a ping pong ball, for smaller. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool.
  4.    Beat marshmallow creme, powdered sugar, shortening, and vanilla together. Wait until the cookies have cooled completely before applying the filling. Top filling with another cookie to form the sandwich.