Vicki Delany’s Mother’s Stained Glass Cookies

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HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS is the sixth book in the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries by Vicki Delany. I’m so happy to see the reappearance of this series and it was a delight to be transported back to Rudolph, NY and reunited with its residents. With memorable characters, Christmas cheer galore, a musical production of A Christmas Carol, and a grinch who’s resorted to murder, the author pens a delightful yuletide tale to captivate the reader. The protagonist, Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures is the embodiment of the Christmas spirit. I just adore how close she is to her father, Noel, who is the town’s Santa. There are moments of sweet Christmas miracles happening in the story and Merry is known to say that she knows her dad isn’t Santa Claus, but sometimes she has to wonder. Her mother, a retired opera diva, can be a bit of, well, a diva, but it’s easy to see the love she has for her family. There are also moments of humor that had me laughing out loud, such as one that involves dogs, a squirrel, and a Christmas float.

It was all too easy to get caught up in the Christmas cheer and pageantry, and forget that a murderer lurks in the shadows. Yet, Ms. Delany is a master at weaving a tightly plotted mystery into an inviting setting that I’d love to visit. When the arrogant Mrs. Cratchit, of the play, is murdered in Merry’s shop no less, she can’t help get involved. I like that Merry doesn’t take unnecessary risks yet manages to suss out clues and convey them to the detective. There were lots of suspects—practically the entire troupe of actors had contentious interactions with each other, including Mrs. Cratchit—and plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. With a heartwarming conclusion, you’ll be counting down the days until the Christmas season is once again here.

Musings from Vicki Delany on her Mother’s Stained Glass Cookies:

My mother always simply called these cookies “Christmas cookies”. She made them every year and we loved them. They’re perfect for the holidays because they do look like little works of stained glass with the coloured cherries.

My mom is still going strong, but I’ve taken up the job of head Christmas baker, and I named these Stained Glass Cookies, to distinguish them from the other cookies I traditionally make for the holidays. They’re super easy to make and don’t require much in the way of rolling out and cutting.

Which makes them the perfect cookie for the harried home cook. I don’t know if the recipe would be right for Victoria’s’ Bake Shoppe, owned by Merry Wilkinson’s best friend in  the Year-Round Christmas series. Bakery goods need to be more attractive, more refined. Fancier than I do them. But, if I know Vicky Casey, she will find a way to fit these little delights in with her famous gingerbread, mince tarts, shortbread and all the other delights she makes for Christmas. Year-Round.

 

Vicki Delany's Mother's Stained Glass Cookies are perfect for the holidays because they do look like little works of stained glass with the coloured cherries! Recipe shared with permission granted by Vicki Delany, author of HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.

 

Amazon Synopsis

It’s the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America’s Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift and décor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is intensely preparing a special musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it’s not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production.

Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead shortly after a shopping excursion to Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry’s mother, and Merry’s shop assistant Jackie O’Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role.

It could be curtains for Christmas—and for Merry—unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings.

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Vicki Delany for providing a print copy of HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. Contest ends September 24, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to Canadian and U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

Vicki Delany's Mother's Stained Glass Cookies are perfect for the holidays because they do look like little works of stained glass with the coloured cherries! Recipe shared with permission granted by Vicki Delany, author of HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.

 

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Vicki Delany’s Mother’s Stained Glass Cookies

From the author, Vicki Delany:

My mother always simply called these cookies “Christmas cookies”. She made them every year and we loved them. They’re perfect for the holidays because they do look like little works of stained glass with the coloured cherries.

My mom is still going strong, but I’ve taken up the job of head Christmas baker, and I named these Stained Glass Cookies, to distinguish them from the other cookies I traditionally make for the holidays.  They’re super easy to make and don’t require much in the way of rolling out and cutting.

Which makes them the perfect cookie for the harried home cook. I don’t know if the recipe would be right for Victoria’s’ Bake Shoppe, owned by Merry Wilkinson’s best friend in the Year-Round Christmas series. Bakery goods need to be more attractive, more refined. Fancier than I do them. But, if I know Vicky Casey, she will find a way to fit these little delights in with her famous gingerbread, mince tarts, shortbread and all the other delights she makes for Christmas. Year-Round. 

Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup silvered almonds
  • 1/2 cup red cherries, chopped
  • 1/2 cup green cherries, chopped
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients in the order given.

  2. Using 1/4 of the mixture at a time, roll into logs. Wrap log in wax paper.

  3. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours (can be up to three days).

  4. Unwrap, slice dough into 1/4 inch rounds.

  5. Lay rounds on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes.

  6. Remove to a wire rack and cool completely.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note

  1. These are delicious with or without adding the festive cherries, so feel free to leave them out if it's not the holiday season.

 

Vicki Delany's Mother's Stained Glass Cookies are perfect for the holidays because they do look like little works of stained glass with the coloured cherries! Recipe shared with permission granted by Vicki Delany, author of HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Vicki Delany's Mother's Stained Glass Cookies are perfect for the holidays because they do look like little works of stained glass with the coloured cherries! Recipe shared with permission granted by Vicki Delany, author of HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

Vicki Delany's Mother's Stained Glass Cookies are perfect for the holidays because they do look like little works of stained glass with the coloured cherries! Recipe shared with permission granted by Vicki Delany, author of HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.

 

 

 

 

Cayenne’s Five Spice French Apple Custard Cake

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BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE is the seventh book in the Spice Shop Mystery series by Leslie Budewitz. The author pens a complex, multi-faceted mystery with compelling characters set against the backdrop of an enticing setting! With a setting as appealing as Seattle’s Pike Place Market along with the city’s Chinatown International District, and a colorful festival commemorating the Chinese Lunar New Year, the reader is in for a sensory treat! Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece is an admirable protagonist. Whip smart, she’s the go-to person when anything needs solved or if anyone needs help. She’s also compassionate and goes out of her way to assist those in trouble. I also love how she shares her love of spices and herbs on the page, alongside foodie mystery recommendations that match the theme of the book. I found a couple of new authors to try out too! Pepper also surrounds herself with like-minded employees and their interaction is a balm to anyone struggling. I also enjoyed the author’s historical look at the area as it pertained to early Chinese immigrants and how they assimilated with the city. It’s obvious she’s undertaken a lot of research, which adds to the authenticity of the story.

Ms. Budewitz has done a commendable job deftly weaving her research and history into the mystery. The discovery of the century-old Chinese pharmacy hidden in the basement of a defunct hotel that had been closed for decades intrigued me. But how did the Chinese Lion dancer wind up inside the boarded-up pharmacy? And who killed the dancer? (And, if you’ve never seen a Chinese Lion dance, I highly recommend checking out a YouTube video!) With the discovery of historical artifacts found alongside the body, it would seem like the owners of the property would want to find answers. Instead, they close ranks and discourage any snooping. Of course, Pepper can’t leave it alone, so with her ties to the marketplace, she digs for answers. Instead of playing armchair detective, I followed Pepper as she meandered the streets and enjoyed the aromas of exotic spices, the tastes of delicious cuisines, and the beauty of the architecture and costumes. As she narrows in on the killer, she becomes ensnared in a heart stopping predicament. But with the final reveal, all the clues Pepper has gathered comes together to answer all our questions in a highly satisfactory manner.

You can always count on Ms. Budewitz to provide great recipes at the back of the book, featuring spices that correlate to the theme of her book. The second I saw the title of Cayenne’s Five Spice French Apple Custard Cake, I just knew I had to try it. I typically associate Chinese Five Spice with Asian dishes so I was more than ready to try it out in a dessert. I’m happy to report that this combination of spices complemented the flavors of the apples perfectly! With an abundance of tart apples, this cake lives up to its custard name. Super moist, super flavorful, and super delicious!

 

Cayenne’s Five Spice French Apple Custard Cake is super moist, super flavorful, and super delicious thanks to an abundance of apples and Chinese Five Spice. Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Pepper Reece, owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, loves a good festival, especially one serving up tasty treats. So what could be more fun than a food walk in the city’s Chinatown–International District, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit?

But when her friend Roxanne stumbles across a man’s body in the Gold Rush, a long-closed residential hotel, questions leap out. Who was he? What was he doing in the dust-encrusted herbal pharmacy in the hotel’s basement? Why was the pharmacy closed up—and why are the owners so reluctant to talk?

With each new discovery, Pepper finds herself asking new questions and facing more brick walls.

Then questions arise about Roxanne and her relationship to Pepper’s boyfriend Nate, away fishing in Alaska. Between her worries and her struggle to hire staff at the Spice Shop, Pepper has her hands and her heart full. Still, she can’t resist the lure of the Gold Rush and its tangled history of secrets and lies stretching back nearly a century.

But the killer is on her tail, driven by hidden demons and desires. As Pepper begins to expose the long-concealed truth, a bigger question emerges: Can she uncover the secrets of the Gold Rush Hotel without being pushed from the wok into the fire?

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Leslie Budewitz for providing a print copy of BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE. Contest ends September 17, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayenne’s Five Spice French Apple Custard Cake is super moist, super flavorful, and super delicious thanks to an abundance of apples and Chinese Five Spice. Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE.

 

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Cayenne’s Five Spice French Apple Custard Cake

Cayenne spiced up this classic apple custard cake to demonstrate the versatility of the Chinese five spice blend. The alcohol will bake off leaving a hint of flavor to complement both the apples and spice.

Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 pounds Granny Smith apples or a mix of Granny Smith and MacIntosh (3 to 4 apples depending on the size.
  • 1 tablespoon Calvados (apple bandy), brandy, or white rum
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons Chinese five spice, divided
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg + 2 large yolks
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Powdered sugar for topping, optional
Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 325 degrees (F).

  2. Lightly coat a 9” springform pan with cooking spray and place pan on a baking sheet.

  3. Peel and core the apples. Cut each in half and place cut side down on the cutting board. Cut each half in 4 pieces then rotate and cut into pieces about 1/8 inch thick. Place apples slices on a microwave safe pie plate cover with plastic wrap and microwave until apples are pliable and slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. This softens the apples in the finished cake. Toss apple slices with Calvados, lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice, then cool for about 15 minutes.

  4. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk 1 cup flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and the remaining Chinese five spice, 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons.

  5. In a second bowl, whisk the whole egg only, oil, milk, and vanilla together until smooth. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and whisk until just combined.
  6. Transfer 1 cup batter to a separate bowl and set aside.
  7. Add the 2 egg yolks to the remaining batter and whisk to combine. Gently fold in the apples. Transfer batter to the pan using a spatula to spread evenly to the edges. Shake lightly to ensure an even layer and smooth surface.
  8. Whisk remaining 2 tablespoons flour into the 1 cup batter. Pour on top of batter in pan. Spread evenly and smooth the surface. Sprinkle remaining tablespoon of sugar evenly over the batter.

  9. Bake until the center of the cake is set, a toothpick or tester inserted in the center comes out clean, and the top is golden brown, about 65 minutes.

  10. Transfer pan to wire rack. Let cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife inside the edge of the pan to loosen the cake. Remove the springform and let the cake cool.
  11. Dust cooled cake with powdered sugar if you’d like. Serve slightly warm or cool.

 

Cayenne’s Five Spice French Apple Custard Cake is super moist, super flavorful, and super delicious thanks to an abundance of apples and Chinese Five Spice. Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cayenne’s Five Spice French Apple Custard Cake is super moist, super flavorful, and super delicious thanks to an abundance of apples and Chinese Five Spice. Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE.

 

 

 

 

 

Cayenne’s Five Spice French Apple Custard Cake is super moist, super flavorful, and super delicious thanks to an abundance of apples and Chinese Five Spice. Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE.

 

 

 

Triple-Layer Halloween Cupcakes

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HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE MURDER is a scary-licious trio of novellas by Carlene O’Connor, Liz Ireland, and Carol J. Perry. The thing that I love about these themed novella books is the opportunity to find new-to-me authors, or catch up with characters that I already know and love. I’m always impressed that each author manages to fit in a full mystery, with enough intrigue, in such short stories!

While I’m quite familiar with author Carlene O’Connor, somehow her Home to Ireland Mystery series escaped my attention. I was delighted to be introduced to her protagonist, Tara Meehan, an American transplant now living in Galway, Ireland. Despite the short length of Halloween Cupcake Murder, there were enough details to make me feel like I was right there and enough clues to keep me guessing. The author deftly provides the setup for the murder and then quickly gets to the action. I enjoyed getting to know Tara and now have to add her full-length books to my TBR pile!

A fan of the Mrs. Claus Mystery series by Liz Ireland from the very beginning, I couldn’t wait to dive into Mrs. Clause and the Candy Corn Caper. The author’s North Pole world-building is delightful and her use of fun puns adds great humor. Mrs. Claus, a gal from Oregon who just happened to have fallen in love with Nick Claus while he was on vacation, has introduced Halloween to the elves. With a candy corn dessert bake-off, a theft of candy corn resulting in a shortage, a new competing bakery in town, and a disgruntled employee leads to disaster for the festivities. With a strong descriptive voice, Ms. Ireland brings the North Pole and its various characters to life. Mrs. Claus is a tenacious amateur sleuth who states, “I might not have been born Mrs. Claus, but I was born nosy”. She still exhibits the caring, tender qualities you’d imagine Santa’s wife to have, even while investigating. If you’re a fan of this series, this is a great way to get your “fix” before the next book releases. If you haven’t read any in the series before, this is a fun way to explore the North Pole and whet your appetite!

A Triple Layer Halloween Murder by Carol J. Perry is a new-to-me author and series. I found it easy enough to get to know the characters and become acquainted with the setting without feeling lost. I’m so impressed with the amount of information the authors can include in the novellas without detracting from the pace of the plot. Protagonist Lee Barrett works as a program director for WICH-TV. There’s a touch of paranormal—Lee can see visions, although the meaning is never very clear—along with her cat, O’Ryan, pointing her toward clues. Lee’s detective boyfriend isn’t all that keen about her “abilities” but still respects her enough to listen to what she finds out. I enjoyed their interaction and the core characters and I’ll be seeking out the books in this series to get to know them better!

There is one recipe at the back of the book, provided by Carol J. Perry: Aunt Ibby’s Recipe Hack of Pat Duncan’s Triple-Layer Halloween Cupcakes. It’s quick and easy, and my taste testers enjoyed the combination of chocolate and orange. While the recipe relies on boxed cake mix, the additions make it seem more “homemade”. The recipe also calls for canned frosting. Use it in a pinch, but if time allows, make your own frosting… it’s worth it. With simple Reese’s Pieces used to decorate in orange and brown Halloween colors, these cupcakes will be sure to please your ghosts and ghouls!

 

Triple-Layer Halloween Cupcakes is quick and easy, with a delicious combination of chocolate and orange flavors. With simple Reese’s Pieces used to decorate in orange and brown Halloween colors, these cupcakes will be sure to please your ghosts and ghouls! Recipe shared with permission granted by Carol J. Perry, author of A TRIPLE-LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER.

 

Amazon Synopsis

A trio of sweet-toothed Halloween cozy mystery tales by nationally bestselling authors.

HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR
With Galway’s Halloween Mystery Tour only a few days away, Tara Meehan is scouring the town’s curiosity shops for spooky decorations to draw tourists into her architectural salvage store. But when a stranger appears in her shop bearing a cryptic cupcake and an ominous message, Tara suddenly finds herself tangled in a mystery with ancient Gaelic roots, but very modern—and very deadly—consequences . . .

MRS. CLAUS AND THE CANDY CORN CAPER by LIZ IRELAND
Christmastown is pulling out all the stops for their Halloween celebration, planning a huge carnival with rides, games, and a candy corn-themed bake-off! But the sweet theme stokes the bitterest of rivalries amongst the elves, until tragedy strikes at Santaland’s newest bakery. The only clue is a cupcake, leaving Mrs. Claus to sort through tricks and treats as she races to unmask a Halloween fiend . . .

A TRIPLE LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER by CAROL J. PERRY
Every October, Salem plunges into a month-long celebration of Halloween and WICH-TV’s Lee Barrett can’t wait to cover the festivities. But rumors swirl after a wealthy bakery owner goes missing—and his beloved cat, Cupcake, is found—under mysterious circumstances. Now, amid Salem’s wicked revelry, Lee must conjure clues to reveal the missing millionaire . . . or the truth about his disappearance . . .

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for providing a print ARC copy of HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE MURDER. Contest ends September 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Triple-Layer Halloween Cupcakes is quick and easy, with a delicious combination of chocolate and orange flavors. With simple Reese’s Pieces used to decorate in orange and brown Halloween colors, these cupcakes will be sure to please your ghosts and ghouls! Recipe shared with permission granted by Carol J. Perry, author of A TRIPLE-LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER.

 

Print
Aunt Ibby's Recipe Hack of Pat Duncan's Triple-Layer Halloween Cupcakes

The real recipe is still a secret, so here's Aunt Ibby's quick and easy cake mix version!

Ingredients
  • 1 package of yellow or white cake mix
  • 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
  • 2 1/4 oz. squares of baking chocolate, melted
  • 1 can creamy white frosting
  • Orange and chocolate Reese's Pieces
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line muffin tin with twelve paper liners.

  2. Prepare cake mix according to directions.

  3. Put about one cup of batter into each of two small bowls.

  4. In one of them, mix in the orange marmalade. In the other, mix in the melted chocolate.

  5. Put a rounded tablespoon of chocolate batter into each cup. Follow with a spoonful of orange marmalade batter. Finish with plain batter. Cups should be abut three quarters full.

  6. Bake according to cake mix package directions.

  7. Cool cupcakes completely on wire rack, then frost with creamy vanilla frosting. Decorate with Reese's Pieces.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

  1. Feel free to add a couple drops of gel orange food coloring to the orange marmalade batter mixture if you want more of contrast in colors.

  2. If you prefer a sweeter chocolate base, substitute semi-sweet chocolate for the baking chocolate.

  3. If you prefer, feel free to substitute your own favorite homemade vanilla frosting for the canned frosting.

 

Triple-Layer Halloween Cupcakes is quick and easy, with a delicious combination of chocolate and orange flavors. With simple Reese’s Pieces used to decorate in orange and brown Halloween colors, these cupcakes will be sure to please your ghosts and ghouls! Recipe shared with permission granted by Carol J. Perry, author of A TRIPLE-LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Triple-Layer Halloween Cupcakes is quick and easy, with a delicious combination of chocolate and orange flavors. With simple Reese’s Pieces used to decorate in orange and brown Halloween colors, these cupcakes will be sure to please your ghosts and ghouls! Recipe shared with permission granted by Carol J. Perry, author of A TRIPLE-LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER.

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

Triple-Layer Halloween Cupcakes is quick and easy, with a delicious combination of chocolate and orange flavors. With simple Reese’s Pieces used to decorate in orange and brown Halloween colors, these cupcakes will be sure to please your ghosts and ghouls! Recipe shared with permission granted by Carol J. Perry, author of A TRIPLE-LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER.

 

 

 

 

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

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MURDER AT A CAPE BOOKSTORE is the fifth book in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries by Maddie Day. With spring just around the corner in charming Westham, Maine, a touristy town on Cape Cod, a spring festival seems just the thing to tempt tourists to return to town. Protagonist Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida, owner of Mac’s Bikes, is onboard with the festival and does her part to help make it successful. Mac is one of those caring women who lends a helping hand to anyone who needs it. In fact, her entire family is as thoughtful as they come, which lends a sweet disposition to the story. One of the things about Maddie Day’s books that I enjoy is the excellent character development, be it the core characters or the passing through characters. Her attention to detail pulls the reader into the story and keeps them there.

However, not everyone is thrilled that the new Chamber of Commerce director, Wagner Lavoie, is pushing the festival and pushing business owners to ante up freebie giveaways to the crowds he hopes to attract. Partway through the festival, the director is found dead in the bookshop, a toppled bookshelf seeming to be the murder weapon. Mac and her crew from their Cozy Capers book club gather to find out who did the dastardly deed. I really like how they divide up potential suspects between themselves to quiz instead of Mac being the only one to investigate. Their use of text threads to share what they’ve learned makes their interaction more believable in today’s world. With a town full of tourists and with so many business owners upset with the director, there are suspects aplenty to keep the armchair detective guessing. At the perilous reveal, I appreciated Mac is self-reliant and rescues herself. As the story concludes, all the threads of the plot and subplots come together in one cohesive unit.

Mac and her family are foodies, so there’s lots of mention of food on the pages. And what would a festival be without food? There are several recipes at the back of the book to tempt the home cook. I was tempted by the no-cook recipe for vegetable Spring Rolls with a Thai-inspired taste. Rice paper wrappers, soaked in hot water, are filled with crunchy sliced veggies dowsed with a bit of lime juice, soy sauce, and freshly grated ginger. These delectable spring rolls are made even tastier by the addition of slightly spicy peanut dipping sauce. These versatile spring rolls can be served as an appetizer or a side dish to your favorite Thai noodles or curry. Or, add some protein to the spring rolls to make them an easy summer meal.

 

Vegetarian Spring Rolls with a Thai-inspired peanut butter dipping sauce is a delicious no-cook appetizer or side dish! Recipe shared with permission granted by Maddie Day, author of MURDER AT A CAPE BOOK STORE.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Everyone loves a festival, though Mac has a few concerns about the Spring equinox event organized by the new Chamber of Commerce director, Wagner Lavoie. After all, March weather is unpredictable. Still, there’s plenty to enjoy, between flower-shaped candies at Salty Taffy’s, spring rolls at the Rusty Anchor, and a parade of decorated bicycles. But the festivities soon take a stormy turn…

Mac glimpses conflict between Wagner and other locals during the festival, but it’s a shock when he’s found dead in the Book Nook, pinned beneath a toppled bookshelf. It’s an irresistible case for Mac’s book group. She and the rest of the Cozy Capers will have to use all their sleuthing skills to bring the killer’s story to an end.

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Maddie Day for providing a print copy of MURDER AT A CAPE BOOK STORE. Contest ends August 30, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetarian Spring Rolls with a Thai-inspired peanut butter dipping sauce is a delicious no-cook appetizer or side dish! Recipe shared with permission granted by Maddie Day, author of MURDER AT A CAPE BOOK STORE.

 

Print
Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Yvonne puts Thai-inspired tastes of spring on the menu at the Rusty Anchor.

Ingredients
Peanut Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter, unsweetened
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce (omit if you don't like spicy food)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 garlic clove, minced or put through a garlic press
  • 1 tablespoon ginger root, finely grated (or 1 teaspoon ginger powder)
  • 2 - 4 tablespoons warm water
Spring Rolls:
  • 1 package rice spring roll wrappers
  • 1 cup peeled and finely shredded carrots
  • 1 cup finely shredded cabbage
  • 2 green onions, finely sliced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 inch peeled and finely grated ginger
Cinnamon & Sugar's suggested additional filling ingredients:
  • Precooked rice noodles or thin spaghetti, fried tofu, thinly sliced radishes, chopped spinach, julienned cucumber, fresh cilantro or basil. Or any of your favorite veggies, whether cooked or raw.
Instructions
Peanut Sauce:

  1. Whisk together all ingredients except water.

  2. Whisk in water, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Set aside.

Spring Rolls:

  1. Mix vegetables, ginger, soy sauce, and lime juice in a bowl.

  2. Soften the rice paper wrapper in hot water, according to package directions.

  3. Lay the softened wrapper on a damp dishcloth. Spoon two tablespoons vegetable mix along one side. Fold in the ends, then roll and set joint-side down on the towel. Repeat.

  4. Serve at room temperature with peanut sauce.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

  1. You can either chop veggies to uniform pieces or cut in matchstick pieces to layer in the spring roll (as I did). These are super versatile so do whatever inspires you!

 

Vegetarian Spring Rolls with a Thai-inspired peanut butter dipping sauce is a delicious no-cook appetizer or side dish! Recipe shared with permission granted by Maddie Day, author of MURDER AT A CAPE BOOK STORE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Vegetarian Spring Rolls with a Thai-inspired peanut butter dipping sauce is a delicious no-cook appetizer or side dish! Recipe shared with permission granted by Maddie Day, author of MURDER AT A CAPE BOOK STORE.

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

Vegetarian Spring Rolls with a Thai-inspired peanut butter dipping sauce is a delicious no-cook appetizer or side dish! Recipe shared with permission granted by Maddie Day, author of MURDER AT A CAPE BOOK STORE.

 

 

 

Moon Rock Muffins

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I’m so very excited to introduce you to my cousin, Mary Karnes, and her brand-new debut cozy mystery, WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOM! This is the first book in the brand-new Wedding Planner Mystery series. With a career as a professional wedding planner, Mary brings her expertise to life on the pages while weaving a tantalizing tale of deceit, blackmail, and murder. Each chapter starts off with a wedding planning tip and, whether or not you’re thinking of a wedding, I found them both educational and enjoyable. The protagonist, wedding planner Kate Ludlow, is a mother to a teen girl. I liked that Kate is older than the usual protagonist, yet she still has an inner snarky voice (no doubt influenced by her daughter) that lends a bit of humor to the story. That “voice’ is especially evident when dealing with her teen daughter, bridezillas, and unreasonable vendors, and makes Kate quite relatable. She does an admirable job in showing a single working mother juggling multiple weddings alongside raising her daughter. It’s a wonder that Kate can find time to fit in some sleuthing after finding the body of the florist… the same florist Kate had had a public argument with the day before.

Despite the backdrop of planning weddings, visiting gorgeous wedding venues, and discussing the many facets of the industry, the mystery itself is foremost, with the crime occurring early on. Kate finds ways—some that had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails—in finding information. There is also a subplot of a family heirloom ring, missing since the bride’s grandmother’s youth. The bride cajoles Kate into tracking down the ring. I initially thought it might be a scene filler, but Mary meticulously wove the two plots together in an impressive and seamless manner. Clues were planted throughout and I’ll admit, I fell for some of the misdirection. Even though Kate took some risks in sleuthing, she proves to be most resourceful. With a suspenseful reveal, the clues came together and all my questions were answered. Of course, being a wedding planner, there must be a happy ending and the author provides one, along with a tantalizing hint at what might happen in the next book. I, for one, will be waiting on pins and needles for the next release!

As the story concluded, I was pleased to find bonus material at the back of the book. Mary provides thoughtful tips for planning a wedding along with tips for guests attending a wedding. There are also several recipes for the home cook to try out.

I was delighted when Mary asked if she could use my recipe for Moon Rock Muffins – so named by my husband because of the density, lol. I’d developed this recipe almost 24 years ago after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The surgery and the radioactive iodine treatment (which I had to endure twice) took a toll on my body and I found I needed to ingest a whole lot more fiber. I also wanted to eat healthier but wasn’t ready to give up on chocolate either. Chockful of dried plums (which add moistness and sweetness) apple, bananas, oat bran, ground flax seed, and whole wheat flour, along with a combination of craisins, raisins, and mini chocolate chips, these muffins are hearty yet tasty. When my stepdaughter became pregnant, she asked me to keep her in stock with these muffins and once my granddaughters came along, these muffins became one of their “on-the-go” breakfasts and snacks. It’s not uncommon for me to get a text from my now college-aged granddaughter, asking me to bake a batch and ship them to her! I’m happy to pass my recipe on to you and hope you’ll enjoy them as much as my own family has!

 

Moon Rock Muffins are chockful of dried plums (which add moistness and sweetness) apple, bananas, whole grains, along with a combination of craisins, raisins, and mini chocolate chips for a hearty yet tasty breakfast or snack. Recipe provided by Cinnamon & Sugar for Mary Karnes, author of WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOM.

 

Amazon Synopsis

California wedding planner, Kate Ludlow, moves back home to New England after her marriage implodes. In tow is her teen daughter Ellis, unhappy and nervous about the move. Suddenly, Kate’s responsible for turning her part-time wedding planner gig into a full-time business. Kate’s off to a good start, too, when she books the society wedding of the year. The prosperity of her business is dependent on the success of Marcy Simpson’s wedding. The joy of an unlimited wedding business is intoxicating. But when Kate’s best florist is murdered, her focus changes from pulling off the year’s most glamourous wedding, to saving her own skin—for Kate’s suspect number one for the murder. Further complicating her life, Kate’s old high school flame, Brian McAllister, is the police detective assigned to the murder case. The spark is definitely not gone from their connection, as they have unfinished feelings. Throw in a scavenger hunt for an antique missing family ring, the job transfer of Kate’s ex to New England, and quirky and endearing townsfolk, Kate has more than she can handle—almost.

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Mary Karnes for providing a print copy of WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOM. Contest ends August 27, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moon Rock Muffins are chockful of dried plums (which add moistness and sweetness) apple, bananas, whole grains, along with a combination of craisins, raisins, and mini chocolate chips for a hearty yet tasty breakfast or snack. Recipe provided by Cinnamon & Sugar for Mary Karnes, author of WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOM.

Print
Moon Rock Muffins

These dense, yet moist muffins, are chockful of fruit and fiber. They're a delicious way to start your day!

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 ripe bananas
  • Fifteen pitted prunes++
  • 1 apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped (or 1/2-cup applesauce)
  • 1-1/4 cups (5.5 ounces) whole-wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup (2.5 ounces) ground flax seed
  • 1/2 cup (2.5 ounces) oat bran
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet mini-chocolate chips
  • 1 cup Craisins or Raisins (or a combination)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake wrappers and spritz wrappers with cooking spray.
  3. Whisk flour, flax seed, oat bran, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
  4. Place oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, bananas, prunes and apple into a large mixing bowl. Using a hand-held immersion stick blender, puree until mixture is blended and apples and prunes are very tiny pieces. (Alternately you can use a food processor to puree the ingredients together.)
  5. Add dry ingredients to the fruit mixture and stir by hand just until moistened.
  6. Add chocolate chips and Craisins/raisins and gently stir until incorporated.
  7. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 of the way full with the batter. I like a spring loaded 2 tablespoon cookie scoop for this.

  8. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes, rotating the pans half way through the baking period. Muffins are done when they slightly spring back when gently pressed. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

  9. These will keep for one week stored in an airtight container. If you live in a very hot and humid place you may want to store in the refrigerator. Alternately, wrap individual muffins in plastic wrap or foil and place in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Freeze for up to four months. Remove muffins from the freezer as needed, leave the plastic wrap on and thaw until room temperature. Reheat in the microwave for a few seconds and enjoy!
  10. ++If you don’t have an immersion blender or food processor place prunes in a heatproof dish with 2 tablespoons of water and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 1-1/2 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly, then finely mince before adding to recipe. Either use applesauce or grate an apple and mash the bananas with a fork before proceeding with mixing the wet ingredients together.

Moon Rock Muffins are chockful of dried plums (which add moistness and sweetness) apple, bananas, whole grains, along with a combination of craisins, raisins, and mini chocolate chips for a hearty yet tasty breakfast or snack. Recipe provided by Cinnamon & Sugar for Mary Karnes, author of WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOM.

 

 

 

 

I know I typically don’t ask you to follow authors, just visit their Facebook pages. But, I’d appreciate it if you could show this brand-new debut author some support and follow their page!

 

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Moon Rock Muffins are chockful of dried plums (which add moistness and sweetness) apple, bananas, whole grains, along with a combination of craisins, raisins, and mini chocolate chips for a hearty yet tasty breakfast or snack. Recipe provided by Cinnamon & Sugar for Mary Karnes, author of WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOM.

 

 

Purchase links:

Barnes and Noble ebook, Print or audiobook:
Also available in most other platforms.

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Moon Rock Muffins are chockful of dried plums (which add moistness and sweetness) apple, bananas, whole grains, along with a combination of craisins, raisins, and mini chocolate chips for a hearty yet tasty breakfast or snack. Recipe provided by Cinnamon & Sugar for Mary Karnes, author of WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOM.

 

 

 

Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

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MURDER AT THE PUMPKIN PAGEANT is the fourth book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series by Darci Hannah. From the eye-catching cover to the ghost-hunting premise to the tricks-and-treats on the pages, this newest Halloween cozy mystery proved to be a scary-licious delight! Halloween fever has arrived in Beacon Harbor and protagonist Lindsey Bakewell is gearing up for the town’s annual Halloween Bash shenanigans. With her lighthouse bakery known for its resident ghost, Lindsey’s bff, Kennedy, signs them up for a live streaming Ghost Guys’ ghost hunting investigation. This provides a great opportunity for all sorts of mayhem and mischief. I love the strong descriptive voice the author uses to bring the chills and thrills to life. Along with the great characters, the action leaps from the pages, drawing the reader in, and I found myself unable to put the book down.

Naturally, things go wrong… very wrong during the live streaming ghost hunt. What Lindsey thought was a prank—a creepy clown hanging in the trees by the lighthouse—turns out to be a murder victim, and it’s all captured by the videographer. The victim turns out to be a well-loved teacher in town and no one can understand why she’d been targeted. Ms. Hannah does an admirable job crafting the plot so that the pieces of the puzzle—which include a hidden treasure—come together in a most satisfying way. As Lindsey and her crew investigated, I sat back and enjoyed the ride, instead of trying to guess and second guess myself. With lots of suspects for Lindsey to consider, the twists and turns kept me turning pages to find out what happened next until the very final page. I’m looking forward to finding what comes next for Lindsey and her crew!

Owning a bakeshop, there are SO many mouthwatering treats and food on display throughout the book. Be prepared to drool over the mouthwatering descriptions. There are several seasonal recipes included at the back of the book for the home cook to make. I couldn’t wait to try the recipe for Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies. These soft on the inside, a bit crunchy on the outside, cookies are delicious all on their own, but it’s the addition of the cinnamon-flavored frosting that makes these an extra-special treat! Your ghosts and ghouls will thank you when served these yummy cookies!

 

Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are soft on the inside, a bit crunchy on the outside, and are delicious all on their own. But it’s the addition of the cinnamon-flavored frosting that makes these an extra-special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE PUMPKIN PAGEANT.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Lindsey prefers to keep her bakeshop’s Halloween decor light and autumnal, rather than gruesome and ghoulish. But everyone knows her lighthouse home is haunted. Some intrepid teens have even tried to break in to witness the resident ghost themselves. Dreading Halloween night, Lindsey reluctantly allows her influencer and podcaster best friend, Kennedy, to host a live ghost hunting investigation in the lighthouse, conducted by a professional team. Protective of her ghost, Lyndsey is understandably nervous about what they might uncover . . .

The segment is uneventful—until things take a terrifying turn. The team freaks out. As Kennedy joins the mad dash outside, she bumps into what looks like the prankster teens’ creepy clown costume hanging from a tree. But when Lindsey’s dog, Wellington, begins to whine, they make a grim discovery: the clown is no dummy. It’s a corpse.

Now Lindsey and company will need to keep their cool if they want a ghost of a chance to solve the murder—and see another Halloween . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Darci Hannah for providing TWO winners with print copies of MURDER AT THE PUMPKIN PAGEANT long with Halloween-themed “Good Juju” specialty soap! Contest ends August 20, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to continental U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are soft on the inside, a bit crunchy on the outside, and are delicious all on their own. But it’s the addition of the cinnamon-flavored frosting that makes these an extra-special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE PUMPKIN PAGEANT.

 

Print
Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Prep time: 10 minutes. Bake time: 10-12 minutes a batch. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Ingredients
For the cookies:
  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 1-1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin purée 
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teapoons vanilla extract
For the frosting:
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 4 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons (or more) whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
For the cookies:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

  2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Set aside.

  3. In bowl of electric mixer, beat butter until fluffy. Add sugar, pumpkin purée , egg, and vanilla extract. Add dry ingredients and stir until combined.

  4. Place half cup of sugar in a small dish. Form a tablespoon of cookie dough into a round ball, then roll in sugar. Place cookie on baking sheet, spacing each cookie 2 inches apart.

  5. Bake cookies for 10 - 12 minutes or until lightly golden in color. Cool, then remove cookies to a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

  1. To make the frosting, beat the softened butter until fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Beat until frosting is a nice spreading consistency.

  2. Spread frosting on top of each cookie. Enjoy!

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes:

  1. If the dough seems too sticky to work with, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 to 60 minutes.

  2. I like using a open star tip for piping the frosting on.

  3. These frosted cookies make a wonderful base for decorating with colorful Halloween sprinkles!

 

Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are soft on the inside, a bit crunchy on the outside, and are delicious all on their own. But it’s the addition of the cinnamon-flavored frosting that makes these an extra-special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE PUMPKIN PAGEANT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are soft on the inside, a bit crunchy on the outside, and are delicious all on their own. But it’s the addition of the cinnamon-flavored frosting that makes these an extra-special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE PUMPKIN PAGEANT.

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are soft on the inside, a bit crunchy on the outside, and are delicious all on their own. But it’s the addition of the cinnamon-flavored frosting that makes these an extra-special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE PUMPKIN PAGEANT.

 

 

 

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