December 2018 - Cinnamon and Sugar

Tim’s Cranberry Orange Bread

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MURDER ON CAPE COD is the first book in the brand new Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series by Maddie Day. This delightful book introduces us to protagonist MacKenzie “Mac” Almeida, owner of Mac’s Bikes, which caters to tourists visiting the quaint town. I admire Mac for being super handy and she not only runs her business but also does the bike repairs herself. I also enjoy the way the author portrays women succeeding in traditionally male-dominated roles in this new book. Ms. Day has created a great cast of supporting, loveable characters for Mac. I adore her grandmother, who is ready to jump in and help Mac out, despite having a busy life. She has supportive parents and her brother, Derrick, is a single dad raising his young daughter. It’s heartwarming to see the family pull together to raise the darling little girl. Another character that steals the pages she is featured on, is Mac’s African Grey Parrot. The bird’s amazing vocabulary brings humor in each scene.

When Derrick is accused of murdering a down-on-his-luck man, Mac and her cozy mystery book club comes together to help clear his name. I loved that one of the club’s members is the town’s former Chief of Police. While he doesn’t solve the crime, he does provide some guidance for the amateurs. It’s entertaining how the group relies on tips and tricks they’ve gleaned from cozy mysteries in order to investigate and follow along as they hunt for the killer. The author provide lots of books and author mentions on the pages and I found it a great way to add to my TBR list. Like a good cozy mystery, the author provides plenty of suspects that must be scrutinized and there are some emotional subplots that add to the depth of the story. The exciting conclusion brought all the threads together for an entirely satisfactory read!

Mac’s boyfriend, Tim, runs a bakery and likes to share his delicious treats. He bakes a delectable Cranberry Orange Bread which Ms. Day provides the recipe for, along with other yummy dishes. I appreciated the use of fresh (or frozen) cranberries, versus the usual dried cranberries. The tartness of the cranberries combined with the zing of fresh orange zest and juice brings a refreshing taste and the added crunch of nuts brings a delicious texture to this not-too-sweet breakfast bread. I appreciated that the recipe doesn’t over-do the vegetable oil and instead relies on the fruit and buttermilk for both flavor and moistness. This Cranberry Orange Bread is delicious on its own or add a smear of butter or cream cheese and settle in to enjoy with a piping hot cup of tea or coffee!

Goodreads Synopsis

A Cape Cod shop owner and her book club must find a crafty killer in this charming new series from the Agatha-nominated author of the Country Store Mystery series.

Summer is busy season for Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida’s bicycle shop, nestled in the quaint, seaside hamlet of Westham, Massachusetts. She’s expecting an influx of tourists at Mac’s Bikes; instead she discovers the body of Jake Lacey. Mac can’t imagine anyone stabbing the down-on-his-luck handyman. However, the authorities seem to think Mac is a strong suspect after she was spotted arguing with Jake just hours before his death. Mac knows she didn’t do it, but she does recognize the weapon—her brother Derrick’s fishing knife.

Mac’s only experience with murder investigations is limited to the cozy mysteries she reads with her local book group, the Cozy Capers. So to clear her name—and maybe her brother’s too—Mac will have to summon help from her Cozy Capers co-investigators and a library’s worth of detectives’ tips and tricks. For a small town, Westham is teeming with possible killers, and this is one mystery where Mac is hoping for anything but a surprise ending…

A special thanks to Maddie Day for providing a winner with a print copy of MURDER ON CAPE COD. Contest ends Friday, January 4, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)

Tim’s Cranberry Orange Bread

Mac Almeida’s boyfriend, baker Tim Brunelle, makes this yummy quick bread for Greta’s Grains. Bake a day ahead of time for easiest slicing.

Ingredients

2 cups unbleached white flour
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Zest and juice of one orange. If juice doesn’t equal 3/4 cup add orange or cranberry juice to supplement
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 egg
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9”-x-5” loaf pan with butter.
Chop cranberries in a food processor or by hand.
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Make a well in the center and stir in the egg with a fork. Add the orange zest, juice, buttermilk, oil, cranberries, and nuts, and stir until just mixed. Do not beat or overmix.
Pour batter into the loaf pan. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, until a knife or toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean and the bread starts to pull away from the edges of the pan. Remove it from the oven and let cool on rack for fifteen minutes, then turn it out of the pan to cool completely.
Enjoy with butter or cream cheese and a cup of your favorite coffee.

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A Wrench in the Works Audible Giveaway

A huge thank you to Kate Carlisle for providing an Audible copy of the new release, A WRENCH IN THE WORKS, to one lucky winner!

Contest is now closed

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I’m re-sharing my review of the book along with the recipe originally posted in November:

A WRENCH IN THE WORKS, the sixth book in the Fixer-Upper Mysteries by Kate Carlisle, is an entertaining addition to a delightful series! Protagonist Shannon Hammer’s sister, Chloe, is the co-star of Make-Over Madness on the Home Builders Network. Chloe has brought the show to Lighthouse Cove for a feature on Victorian houses (something Lighthouse Cove is famous for) and has talked Shannon into being on the program renovating a decrepit home. I loved the “behind-the-scenes” tricks on the do-it-yourself home renovation television show and the author has cleverly woven her plot into the filming of the segments. The reader is also introduced to words and techniques used to restore the historical homes. I enjoyed learning about the various tools, Victorian styles, and repairs that are used without it detracting from the story.

The book has everything you might think a reality tv program might have from a tyrannical producer to jealousy over stardom to flirtations to comradery between the staff. When the producer is found murdered, Chloe is immediately a suspect since she had been fired and was heard loudly arguing with the victim. Shannon wants to help but finds her sister has been harboring a long-time secret. It doesn’t help that Chloe had been on the wrong side of the law in her youth and has a strong mistrust of authority. Ms. Carlisle weaves in family relationships and I loved seeing Shannon and her sister learn to overcome the past and the secrets that kept them apart. This subplot adds an emotional depth to the story. There are enough suspects to keep it interesting and the pace of the plot moves quickly, keeping the storyline flowing. I had a hard time putting the book down when it was time to tend to other responsibilities and I found myself trying to find time to squeeze in ‘just one more chapter’. I am counting down the days until the next installment in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series!

While this book doesn’t have recipes, Emily, the town’s caterer, provides many yummy treats for the television crew to munch on during the shoots. One of the goodies Emily provides is Cream-Filled Maple Bars. Shannon almost swoons from the ‘intoxicating blend of luscious creamy custard, fluffy doughy wonderfulness, and maple sugared yumminess!’ So I set about to develop my own recipe that would make Shannon and Emily proud to serve. While these are quite a bit of work, the results are oh so yummy! Sweet yeast dough is deep-fried until golden brown and then filled with a creamy vanilla filling. Pure maple syrup brings loads of flavor to the thick icing for the finishing touch. Whether you like coffee, tea, or a big glass of ice cold milk, these Cream-filled Maple Bars will make breakfast or break time delicious!

Amazon Synopsis

Contractor Shannon Hammer has to dig through murder suspects in the latest Fixer-Upper Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Eaves of Destruction and Once Upon a Spine.

Don’t miss the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Originals starring Jewel, based on the Fixer-Upper Mystery series!

Shannon Hammer’s younger sister Chloe left Lighthouse Cove after high school to make it big in Hollywood. And she did it! For several years now, Chloe has been the co-host of a popular home repair show on the Do-It-Yourself Network. Now, after ten years, Chloe returns to Lighthouse Cove with her crew and co-host to film several shows featuring her sister Shannon, along with some special mini-segments on Victorian style and design.

But Shannon realizes quickly that things are not exactly blissful in TV land. Her sister’s handsome co-host is being stalked by someone who turns out to be his estranged wife, Erica–who also happens to be the executive producer of the show. Erica’s got a knack for stirring up sticky situations and when she’s found dead, Chloe and the entire crew are under suspicion.

Shannon soon discovers the real reason why Chloe was so eager to move away from Lighthouse Cove all those years ago. Can Shannon figure out if that ten-year-old secret is connected to Erica’s death? And can she track down the real killer before her beloved sister becomes the next victim?

A special thanks to Kate Carlisle for providing an audible copy of A WRENCH IN THE WORKS. Contest ends Sunday, December 30, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Cream-Filled Maple Bars

Ingredients

Donuts

4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 cup warm water (103 - 106 degrees F)
1 cup warm whole milk (103 - 106 degrees F)
1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil

Cream Filling

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding
1-1/2 cups cold milk
1/2 cup Cool Whip

Maple Glaze

3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
2 - 4 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Donuts

Place water, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of a standing mixture and allow to sit until bubbly, about 5 minutes.
With a dough hook, mix in the butter, remaining sugar, salt and egg, then slowly pour in the warm milk. Add 3 cups of the flour. Once the flour has been incorporated, add in additional flour until the dough is tacky but not overly sticky.
Once the flour is incorporated, knead on low speed for 3 minutes then cover and let rise until doubled, about one hour.
Once doubled, punch down the dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a large rectangle (about 12-inches x 8-inches).
Cut into small rectangles (3-inches x 1-inch). Place on parchment-lined baking sheets (6 donuts per sheet). Cover and let rise until double, around 30 minutes.
Pour vegetable oil, 3-inches deep, into a pot. Heat oil to 350 degrees (F) then place 3 donuts into the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Flip over and fry until browned. Remove and allow to cool on paper towel-lined wire racks. Repeat with remaining donuts. Cool completely before filling.

Cream Filling

While the dough is rising, place the instant pudding into a bowl and whisk the cold milk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Fold in the Cool Whip. Refrigerate until the donuts have cooled completely.
Place cream filling into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (or in a ziplock bag with the corner slightly snipped). Poke a hole in the short end of a donut and pipe the filling into the donut. Repeat with remaining donuts and filling.

Maple Glaze

Place the confectioners' sugar into a medium-sized bowl. Whisk the maple syrup into the sugar along with the maple extract. Stir in 2 tablespoons milk. Add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until glaze reaches desired consistency.
Spread over the filled donuts and serve.

Notes

Best served right away. You may store leftover donuts in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for up to 2 days.

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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ma’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake

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STEAMED OPEN, the seventh book in the Maine Clambake Mysteries by Barbara Ross, captured my attention from the very beginning and held it until the very last word was read! I’ve been a long-time fan of this series and picking up this newest release was like sitting down and having a reunion with special friends that I haven’t seen in a year. Ms. Ross is tops in her league at creating memorable characters that readers feel can become close friends. And as happens (hopefully) in real life, these characters grow, change, and become better people from the events that shape them. Even though STEAMED OPEN is easily read as a stand-alone, I whole-heartedly recommend reading in order (if possible) to fully appreciate the skill Ms. Ross exhibits in creating her characters.

Protagonist Julia Snowden and her family own and operate a clambake on their family’s private island. It’s mid-August in Maine and the tourists are out in force. Ms. Ross paints a beckoning description of the town and the island during summer season, enticing the reader to take a virtual vacation. I would dearly love to visit this area in real life after reading this series! But, it’s not all fun in the sun for Julia and her family when a murder hits the town. The story is tightly plotted with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The subplots are riveting and adds an extra layer of intrigue to the book. I’ve been long curious (as has Julia) about her boyfriend’s past and his reluctance to open up. We’re finally given a glimpse into his secrets which makes him all that more meaningful to the story. I also appreciated the bits and pieces of information the author adds about clams, lighthouses, and the plight of seasonal fishermen and workers, and how difficult it is for them to make a living in the area. The author wove in the facts without ever detracting or slowing down the exciting story.

Julia, her family and friends, all enjoy lots of delectable food both on the island during clambake and in town. The descriptions will leave the reader hungry but fortunately Ms. Ross includes several recipes at the back of the book to satiate any appetite. I was drawn to the recipe for Ma’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake because it’s a recipe handed down from the author’s grandmother. What a wonderful keepsake! The fact that my taste testers told me this recipe is a “keeper” says it all! I loved that it bakes in a tube or bundt pan, which makes an elegant presentation for serving. Cinnamon and walnuts give a nice textural crunch, while the sour cream adds tang and moistness. Honestly this is a yummy breakfast or brunch treat but with a drizzle of an easy powdered sugar glaze, it’s perfect for dessert too!

Amazon Synopsis

It’s summertime in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and the clamming is easy—or it was until a mysterious new neighbor blocks access to the beach, cutting off the Snowden Family Clambake’s supply. Julia Snowden is just one of many townspeople angered by Bartholomew Frick’s decision. But which one of them was angry enough to kill?

Beachcombers, lighthouse buffs, and clammers are outraged after Frick puts up a gate in front of his newly inherited mansion. When Julia urges him to reconsider, she’s the last to see him alive—except the person who stabs him in the neck with a clam rake. As she pores through a long list of suspects, Julia meets disgruntled employees, rival heirs, and a pair of tourists determined to visit every lighthouse in America. They all have secrets, and Julia will have to work fast to expose the guilty party—or see this season’s clam harvest dry up for good.

A special thanks to Barbara Ross for providing a winner with a print copy of STEAMED OPEN. Contest ends Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)

Ma's Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Author's Note: This recipe is from a book of handwritten cards given to me by my grandmother the Christmas before she died. It is delicious and smells wonderful as it bakes.

Ingredients

For the cake

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 stick salted butter, softened (1 quarter pound)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 pint (8 ounces) sour cream

For the "topping"

1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
Using a mixer, mix the ingredients for the cake until smooth and integrated.
Using your fingers, mix the "topping ingredients.
Pour one half of the cake mixture into a greased tube pan. Sprinkle one half of the "topping" over it.
Pour in the rest of the cake mixture. Sprinkle the rest of the "topping" over the top.
Bake for 35 minutes.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes

After baking, cool in pan for 10 minutes then invert onto a serving platter. Allow to cool at least another 15 minutes before slicing to serve. If desired, you can dust the top of the coffee cake with confectioners' sugar right before serving or drizzle with confectioners' sugar mixed with a little milk.

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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jell-O in a Can

ONE TASTE TOO MANY is the first book in the brand new Sarah Blair Mystery series by Debra H. Goldstein. Protagonist, Sarah Blair, gets pulled into investigating her nasty ex-husband’s murder when her twin sister, Emily, becomes the number one suspect. As Sarah starts asking questions, she finds that her ex-husband’s girlfriend, Jane, seems to have her finger in a lot of things… including claiming ownership of Sarah’s cat, Rah-Rah. I loved Sarah’s sweet relationship with Rah-Rah and her ongoing conversation with the Siamese. It shows additional insight into Sarah’s personality. I was intrigued with the author placing the setting and several scenes at a Food Expo, where Emily, as a talented sous-chef, has to both demonstrate how to prepare dishes and participate in a competition. Sarah, on the other hand, is not a cook… at all. Entertainment is provided when Sarah has to step in for Emily and provide a food demonstration, despite her lack of cooking abilities. It highlights their close relationship with each other and I enjoyed how they support each other no matter what.

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The author weaves several subplots into the central murder mystery, providing lots of twists and turns with many suspects. I had a bit of trouble following how it all interrelated at times but in the end, the threads wrapped up together in a satisfying conclusion. There are also lots of characters introduced in this first book but I think it could be providing set up for future installments. Overall ONE TASTE TO MANY is a good start to a new series. I look forward to seeing what mysteries find Sarah and Rah-Rah in future installments.

Since Sarah isn’t a cook at all, when she’s put in the spotlight to demonstrate a dish at the Food Expo, she turns to a convenience product standby and creates Jell-O in a Can. This classic recipe from the 1950’s was a hit with the less-than-adept cooks attending her demonstration. I’ll admit I haven’t prepared Jell-O in years but found that my granddaughter was enthralled with it. From the sweet, jiggling treat to the juicy pineapple… is it a dessert or a salad? We finally decided it’s good for both! I garnished with maraschino cherries for a festive look, but you can always add them (or any other fruit) to the can before you pour in the liquid Jell-O. Either way, sometimes it’s fun to revisit classic, old-time recipes!

Amazon Synopsis

For culinary challenged Sarah Blair, there’s only one thing scarier than cooking from scratch—murder!

Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty‑eight, Sarah Blair reluctantly swaps her luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job in the tired hometown she never left. With nothing much to show for the last decade but her feisty Siamese cat, RahRah, and some clumsy domestic skills, she’s the polar opposite of her bubbly twin, Emily—an ambitious chef determined to take her culinary ambitions to the top at a local gourmet restaurant . . .

Sarah knew starting over would be messy. But things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by Emily’s award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and Emily wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death—being in the kitchen!

A special thanks to Deborah H. Goldstein for providing THREE copies of ONE TASTE TOO MANY for three lucky winners! Contest ends December 16, 2018 at 11:59 pm and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and the winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Jell-O in a Can

In the 1950's, Jell-O and Dole Pineapple joined forces to create the Jell-O in the Pineapple Can recipe.

Ingredients

1 20-ounce can of sliced pineapple*
1 3-ounce package of Jell-O gelatin, any flavor choice
1 cup boiling water
Optional: 1 banana or other type of fruit

Instructions

Open the can and pour off the pineapple juice but leave the pineapple in the can.
Dissolve the Jell-O in boiling water and permit it to cool slightly before pouring the Jell-O and water mixture into the can, over the pineapple. If desired, place the banana or other fruit in the center of the rings of pineapple.
Chill until set.
To serve, run a knife around the inside of the can and tip it out. (Before rimmed flip-top cans, one pushed the jelled mixture through and out, using the bottom of the can.)
Slice between the pineapple rings and serve.

Tip

*Be careful if using a pull-top can because the can's lip won't allow the Jell-O and pineapple to slip out as smoothly as from cans which can only be opened with can openers.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 3 – Book Babble – REVIEW
December 3 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW, GUEST POST
December 5 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 6 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
December 7 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
December 7 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 8 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 9 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
December 10 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 –A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 12 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, GUEST POST
December 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GUEST POST
December 13 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 13 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
December 14 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
December 14 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE
December 15 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW
December 15 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 16 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
December 16 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bertie Sparks’s Proper English Scones

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GAME OF SCONES is the first book in the brand new Sugar & Spice Mystery series by Mary Lee Ashford! The premise of Sugar & Spice is cleverly based on the names of the protagonist, Rosetta Sugarbaker Calloway, aka Sugar, and her friend, Dixie Spicer, aka Spice. Together they own Sugar and Spice Publishing Company, which publishes community cookbooks for fundraisers in St. Ignatius, Iowa. I truly enjoyed the insight the author provides about the details of creating the cookbook for their first client, the St. Ignatius Founder Day Committee fundraiser. The mouthwatering descriptions of the dishes Spice tests for the cookbook will leave the reader drooling, along with some interesting regional dishes mention that had me running to Pinterest to find out exactly what it was.

Ms. Ashford has created some fun, well-developed characters for this new series. Sugar and Spice work well together and have great interaction. I like the potential for romantic developments between Spice and the local sheriff (although something happened between them long ago that has caused a riff). And the handsome food photographer might just be interested in Sugar. The action starts right off the bat with a huge dispute between two elderly committee members, almost a cat fight, over whose scone recipe will be included in the cookbook. After Sugar finds one of the women murdered and Spice’s aunt is considered a suspect, they decide to start asking questions to get to the bottom of the mystery. There are plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing and as the two women sift through the clues, the stakes turn even higher when their fledgling business is vandalized. The exciting reveal has some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I look forward to future installments in this delicious new series!

So many yummy dishes are described as Spice tests the recipes and styles them for the photographer. Ms. Ashford has a delicious way of helping the reader practically see, smell, and taste the dishes prepared. Fortunately, she includes a few recipes at the back of the book, including Spice’s aunt’s recipe for Bertie Sparks’s Proper English Scones. Buttery and rich, the addition of dried fruit brings some sweetness to each bite… but you’ll still want to slather the scones with creamy butter and some jam for an authentic taste. These Proper English Scones are a welcome addition to any breakfast, brunch, or tea time! I had the chance to share some of these scones with one of my elderly neighbors and she said she felt like she was back eating breakfast with her British mother… they were exactly like her mother made when she was young. I was touched that I could bring back such wonderful memories in a delicious way!

Amazon Synopsis

As co-owner of Sugar and Spice Cookbooks, Sugar Calloway has seen simple confections bring friends together and spark fiery feuds. Except this time, the recipe truly is to die for . . .
After losing her job as food editor at a glossy magazine, Rosetta Sugarbaker Calloway—aka “Sugar” to friends—isn’t sweet on accepting defeat and crawling back to her gossipy southern hometown. So when she has an opportunity to launch a community cookbook business with blue-ribbon baker Dixie Spicer in peaceful St. Ignatius, Iowa, she jumps at the chance to start over from scratch . . .

But as Sugar assembles recipes for the local centennial celebration, it’s not long before she’s up to her oven mitts in explosive threats, too-hot-to-handle scandals, and a dead body belonging to the moody matriarch of the town’s first family. With suspicions running wild, Sugar and Spice must solve the murder before someone innocent takes the heat—and the real culprit gathers enough ingredients to strike again . . .

A special thanks to Mary Lee Ashford for providing a winner with an e-book copy of GAME OF SCONES. Contest ends Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Bertie Sparks's Proper English Scones

Ingredients

2 cups + 13 tablespoons self-rising flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons caster or regular sugar
3 ounces butter, cubed
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Squeeze of lemon juice
1 egg, beaten to glaze
1 cup raisins or craisins, or dried fruit of your choice

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees (F). Bertie recommends also preheating your baking tray.
In a mixing bowl, add the sifted flour, salt, baking powder, and combine.
Add the butter and rub in with your fingers until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
Using a knife, stir in the sugar.
Put the milk into a cup and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, then set aside for 2 minutes.
Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a knife. Dust some flour onto the work surface and place the dough on the surface. *Add the 1 cup of raisins, or craisins, or dried fruit, shake some more flour on the dough and your hands then fold the dough over a few times until it's slightly smoother and the fruit is incorporated. Gently pat it into a round about 1-1/2 inches deep.
Take a 2-inch cutter and dip it into some flour. Cut into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. Then press what's left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four. Try not to over work the dough; be light with your hands when reshaping.
Brush the tops with beaten egg, then carefully place onto the hot baking tray.
Bake for 10 minutes until risen and golden on the top.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note

*I mixed the fruit in with the flour when I added the sugar with good results. Either way should work just fine.

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Church Basement Funeral Bars

I am excited to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book tour for EGGS ON ICE, the eighth book in the Cackleberry Club Mysteries by Laura Childs! This newest release brings A Christmas Carol to life on the pages. Protagonist, Suzanne, and her best friend, Toni, volunteer behind the scenes for the community production. They get caught up investigating when Scrooge is murdered by the Ghost of Christmas Future right in front of their eyes during dress rehearsal. I thought it was a very unique and clever setup for the murder and added a certain mystic to the scene. It just so happens that Scrooge is played by the town’s miserly scrooge and as they investigate, find even more people who weren’t all that unhappy with his death. I enjoyed the imagery and colorful descriptions the author provides in introducing the characters, which accurately captures their personalities. It makes the people in the story memorable.

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The interaction between Suzanne and her best friend, Toni, provides great interaction and opportunities for one-liners which had me chuckling. I found it heartwarming that Suzanne not only volunteers for various community projects, but also takes in rescue horses to foster until she finds people to give them forever homes. Her caring personality is exhibited over and over again, even when having to deal with Toni’s trying ex-husband, who is short a brick or two but is arrogant enough to think he’s got the full stack.

I also appreciate that Ms. Childs starts her books off quickly with a crime, which moves the story along instead of dragging down the pace with too much backstory and set up. Even if you haven’t read any previous books in this series, this is easily read as a standalone. While there isn’t a ton of action in the investigation (Suzanne has a business to run and she devotes herself to it) there is a heart-pounding conclusion to wrap the story up, and had me sitting on the edge of my seat.

Suzanne owns the Cackleberry Club Café and serves so many delicious dishes. She also provides catering on occasion and one of her clients requests she make Church Basement Funeral Bars for the victim’s wake. Layers of graham cracker crumbs, coconut, dates, cherries, pineapple, and pecans mix up in a jiffy and create a sweet, chewy treat! They also received very high praise from my taste testers… several times, which I think was a hint. I will definitely make these again… they’re perfect for any gathering be it fun or a somber event or just to spoil the special people in my life!

Amazon Synopsis

Some say that casting crusty attorney Allen Sharpe as Scrooge in the Kindred Players production of “A Christmas Carol” is just playing to type. He’s not the most beloved man in town. In fact, you’d have a dickens of a time finding someone who liked him. Still it’s a shock when the Ghost of Christmas Past stabs him during the first rehearsal. Suzanne, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club café, Kindred’s favorite combination diner, craft store and bookshop, chases the murderer out of the building but loses him in the alley.

As the days pass the list of suspects grows longer. Is it the disgruntled partner? The former secretary whom Sharpe sexually harrassed? Or is it fellow owner of the Cackleberry Club, Toni’s almost ex-husband, Junior? The women of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he can add another victim to his Christmas list.

A special thanks to Laura Childs for providing TWO hardcover copies of EGGS ON ICE for two lucky winners! Contest ends December 16, 2018 at 11:59 pm and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and the winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Church Basement Funeral Bars

Ingredients

1/3 cup melted butter
1-1/2 cups crushed graham crackers
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup dates, chopped
1 cup candied cherries, chopped
1 cup candied pineapple, chopped
1 cup pecans
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).
In a bowl, combine melted butter with graham cracker crumbs. Pat crumb mixture into a 9" x 13" pan.
Press each ingredient, in a single layer, on top of the crumbs, starting with the coconut flakes, then adding the dates, cherries, pineapple, and pecans.
Cover the entire dessert with the sweetened condensed milk.
Bake for 20 minutes. Cool completely and cut into 15 to 18 bars.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note

My family is not a fan of candied fruit so I substituted dried cherries and dried pineapple. The candied cherries would make the dish more festive looking though.