Rise Again by Ben Tripp and Apple Walnut Cookies

If you're following me on Twitter (@paperbackpastry) you know that my August is feeling a lot like the middle of Autumn right now. It's chilly! I jokingly tweeted about apple pie and pumpkin bread earlier this week and while I didn't actually go so far as making either of those things, I did chop up some apples and break out the cinnamon for a Fall-like treat to go with Rise Again by Ben Tripp. It's a bit scary and in my mind that goes perfectly with cold weather. 

Rise Again is a zombie novel, but it's in no way typical of what the genre is becoming. I've found a lot of authors jumping on the zombie bandwagon churn out utterly predictable story lines with the same plot elements regurgitated over and over. Tripp, however, gives us something different. 

Rise Again follows veteran and small town sheriff Danielle Adelman as she battles a diseased horde all while trying to find her runaway sister. The story is very character-driven - you get to know them, you grow to love them, and they are something more than just the opposite of a zombie - and the ending is not what you'd expect. 

I give Rise Again four and a half brains out of five ;)




Apple Walnut Cookies

1      c  butter
3/4 c    granulated sugar
1      c  brown sugar
2          eggs
1      t   vanilla
3     c   flour
1/2  t   baking powder
1/2  t   baking soda
1     t   cinnamon
1     c  walnuts, chopped
2         apples, peeled and diced

Stir together dry ingredients. Set aside.
Cream butter and sugars. Beat in vanilla and eggs.
Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in walnuts and apples.
Form into 1" balls and bake on parchment lined baking sheets at 350F for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown.

Because of the fresh apple in these cookies they should be stored in the refrigerator.
Makes about 3 dozen.

Happy Baking!