Monthly Archives: October 2020

Pumpkin Spice Waffles

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A WAFFLE LOT OF MURDER is the fourth book in the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries by Lena Gregory. I read the first in the series some time ago but somehow the next two books got buried in my to-read pile… simply because “too many books, too little time”. However, when I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this Halloween-themed cozy, I jumped at the chance. This book is easily read as a standalone and not once did I get lost. There’s enough backstory so I felt I knew the characters without the pacing being slowed down. Ms. Gregory captures the spookiness of the season with creepy descriptions that left me shivering as the protagonist, Gia Morelli, and her bff, Savannah, prepare for the Haunted Town Festival. (Don’t worry, the author adheres to the usual cozy mystery standards so there isn’t any horror.) I truly enjoyed the friendship between Gia and Savannah. They support each other but aren’t afraid to be honest with each other either.

With Gia dating Savannah’s law enforcement cousin, they try to not get involved in finding out who murdered the woman organizing the festival. But things turn personal when an innocent man is attacked after Gia casually questions him about suspicious characters. As owner of the All-Day Breakfast Café, Gia can’t help but have people gossip and/or confide in her about what they knew about the deceased. She finds there were numerous people who aren’t sorry that the victim is no longer around. This brings a large pool of suspects that kept me guessing as Gia follows the clues. My only irritation was how Gia put herself and Savannah in unnecessary danger instead of relying on law enforcement which was readily available. With a suspense-worthy conclusion, this newest release is highly satisfying and lives up to its spooky Halloween theme!

Running her All-day Breakfast Café, Gia serves up mouthwatering dishes. And in keeping with the theme of the title, she serves Pumpkin Spice Waffles to her patrons, and includes the recipe, along with several others, at the back of the book. Since I just received a new waffle iron for my birthday this summer (yes, it was on my “wish list”) I couldn’t wait to try these autumn-themed waffles! These richly spiced waffles had a generous portion of pumpkin added to make them moist. With tons of flavor, not only are these great for breakfast but would make a delicious base for a scoop or two of ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce for dessert! I would be remiss if I didn’t say a huge thank you to my granddaughter for making this recipe for the blog too!

 

 

Amazon Synopsis

For diner owner Gia Morelli, her seasonal fall menu calls for two main ingredients—maple syrup and murder . . .

While the first hints of autumn grace Boggy Creek, Florida, Gia misses the colorful harvest traditions she left behind in New York. On a scramble to make new fall memories—and promote her irresistible pumpkin spice waffles—things take a dark turn when she gets roped into the Haunted Town Festival, a spooky celebration held on deserted farmlands. The desolate area conjures plenty of eerie vibes at night, but Gia and her best friend, Savannah, are nearly frightened to death upon the discovery of the event organizer’s body buried in the nearby woods. More alarming, the local rumor mill says the woman’s shady dealings may have egged someone into sending her to an early grave. Now, there’s no shortage of creepy clues to feast on as Gia and her pals try to stop a killer with a very scary appetite . . .

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Lena Gregory for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of A WAFFLE LOT OF MURDER. Contest is limited to U.S. residents and ends Sunday, November 1, 2020 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

Print
Pumpkin Spice Waffles
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice *purchased or homemade
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
*Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions

  1. Preheat waffle iron, and coat top and bottom with non-stick spray.

  2. In a large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

  3. In another bowl, whisk pumpkin, eggs, butter, and almond milk until well combined.

  4. Pour wet mixture over the dry ingredients. Mix together until just combined.

  5. Pour batter into waffle iron, and cook according to waffle iron directions.

  6. Remove from waffle iron.

  7. Serve with butter and maple syrup. For an extra treat, sprinkle a bit of cinnamon over the top.

*Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

  1. Blend all the ingredients together. Store leftovers in an airtight container for the next batch of Pumpkin Spice Waffles.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Almond Biscotti

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THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES, the fifth book in the Spice Shop Mysteries by Leslie Budewitz, is another delicious addition to a tantalizing series! In this newest release, Ms. Budewitz once again displays her strengths in developing relatable and memorable characters that show growth over the course of the series. She also includes a colorful cast of characters that add to the whimsy of the locale. While this can be read as a standalone, I think the story is stronger by getting to know the protagonist, Pepper Reece, from the beginning and following her journey. I love how the author effectively uses Pepper, as owner of the Spice Shop in Pike Place Market, to showcase the bounty and tastes of the setting. In fact, she immerses the reader using all five senses so that I felt like I was right there and made me want to hop on a plane and visit in person. The Spice Shop would definitely be one of the first places I’d want to visit if it were possible! I also enjoyed all the tidbits of information offered up about spices and uses, along with all the mouthwatering descriptions of food.

The mystery surrounding the brutal shooting of one of Pepper’s childhood friends takes center stage. It also pulls in an unsolved 3-year-old murder case of the husband of another childhood friend. As Pepper searches for answers, it appears that the two crimes are connected. The author has created a complex, well-plotted mystery that revolves around the re-gentrification of a rundown area in Seattle. With plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, the ending caught me by surprise with a historical twist that provided another layer of intrigue. Tying in the themes of friendship and loss, hope and acceptance, the reader is taken along for an enticing read as they follow Pepper’s search for answers!

There are several delicious sounding recipes at the back of the book as well. I couldn’t help but want to try out the recipe for Almond Biscotti! These hearty, crunchy cookies stay fresh for up to two weeks and if you ship to loved ones, they remain intact and delicious. Crunchy, with a delicate almond flavor thanks to a generous amount of toasted almonds, these traditional Almond Biscotti don’t contain any butter or oil. Perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage!

 

Crunchy, with a delicate almond flavor thanks to a generous amount of toasted almonds, these traditional Almond Biscotti don't contain any butter or oil. Perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Pepper Reece never expected to find solace in bay leaves.

But when her life fell apart at forty and she bought the venerable-but-rundown Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, her days took a tasty turn. Now she’s savoring the prospect of a flavorful fall and a busy holiday cooking season, until danger bubbles to the surface . . .

Between managing her shop, worrying about her staff, and navigating a delicious new relationship, Pepper’s firing on all burners. But when her childhood friend Maddie is shot and gravely wounded, the incident is quickly tied to an unsolved murder that left another close friend a widow.

Convinced that the secret to both crimes lies in the history of a once-beloved building, Pepper uses her local-girl contacts and her talent for asking questions to unearth startling links between the past and present—links that suggest her childhood friend may not have been the Golden Girl she appeared to be. Pepper is forced to face her own regrets and unsavory emotions, if she wants to save Maddie’s life—and her own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Leslie Budewitz for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES. Contest is limited to U.S. residents and ends Wednesday, October 28, 2020 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crunchy, with a delicate almond flavor thanks to a generous amount of toasted almonds, these traditional Almond Biscotti don't contain any butter or oil. Perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES.

Print
Almond Biscotti

Biscotti have a reputation for being a major kitchen project, but Laurel's version of the classic Italian dipping cookie is as easy as it is tasty, crunchy on the outside and chewy inside. For an extra treat, dip a few in melted chocolate, or paint chocolate on one side.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface
  • 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted (see below)
  • 3 large eggs (one separated)
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees (F).

  2. *Toast the nuts on a rimmed baking sheet for 7 to 10 minutes, or until they just begin to change color. Remember that nuts continue to cook as they cool. Cool completely before using.

  3. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon sheet.

  4. In the bowl of your mixer, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the almonds and beat on low to blend well. Add 2 whole eggs, the yolk of the third egg, and the extracts. Beat on medium until a sticky dough forms. (If your flour is quite dry, you may need to add a teaspoon of milk.)

  5. Lightly flour a cutting board. Turn the dough onto the board and shape into a disk. Cut the disk into four equal quarters. Lightly moisten your hands, then roll each quarter into a log, about 1-1/2 inches wide and 9 inches long. Place logs on the baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Press the tops gently to make sure they are even.

  6. Lightly beat the remaining egg white; brush it on tops of the logs, then sprinkle them evenly with the remaining tablespoon of sugar.

  7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until the logs are lightly browned and just set; there will be cracks on the surface. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire cooling rack; let the logs rest for 5 minutes, then carefully peel them off the parchment - they will be hot - and place them directly on the rack to cool for 10 minutes. Discard the parchment.

  8. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. Use a chef's knife to trim the end of each log. Then cut each log on the diagonal into equal slices. (Press down into the log, rather than sawing, to prevent breaking.) Place the slices on the baking sheet, with a cut side facing up. Bake 10 minutes, then turn each slice over. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until the slices are lightly golden. Cool on a wire rack before dipping in chocolate, if you'd like.

Note:

  1. Makes about 40 cookies. The biscotti will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

  1. *I found pre-toasted slivered almonds at Trader Joe's if you want to skip toasting the almonds yourself.

Crunchy, with a delicate almond flavor thanks to a generous amount of toasted almonds, these traditional Almond Biscotti don't contain any butter or oil. Perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES.

 

 

 

 

 

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Pin to Pinterest:

Crunchy, with a delicate almond flavor thanks to a generous amount of toasted almonds, these traditional Almond Biscotti don't contain any butter or oil. Perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Crunchy, with a delicate almond flavor thanks to a generous amount of toasted almonds, these traditional Almond Biscotti don't contain any butter or oil. Perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES.

 

 

Butterfinger Krispie Bars

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A FLAIR FOR GOBLINS by Deborah Garner is the sixth book in the Sadie Kramer Flair Mysteries. With lighthearted spooky vibes and tales of ghosts haunting a local San Francisco mansion, this newest addition fits the bill for a fun Halloween cozy mystery read! I love that the protagonist, Sadie Kramer, is a woman of a “certain age”. Mature, a no-nonsense attitude, and a flair for fashion, Sadie and her adorable Yorkie sidekick, Coco, take center stage no matter the situation. The author weaves in a disgraced paranormal investigator, disgruntled family members of the victim, and a stressful Halloween ball to organize, all set against the backdrop of San Francisco. I greatly enjoyed that Sadie’s detective beau from New Orleans shows up unexpectedly to assist in her quest for solving another murder. He adds a sweet dimension to the storyline. Despite being a quick read, Ms. Garner does an admirable job of developing the characters and creating plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing as Sadie snoops. The reveal itself came quite quickly and felt rushed but, all in all, the threads of the story wrapped up together in a spooktacular conclusion.

Sadie loves to eat and she greatly enjoys sampling some of the treats the caterer prepares for the Halloween Ball. I’m honored to have my recipe for Butterfinger Krispie Bars included at the back of the book after Sadie “approved” of them. A delicious riff on Rice Krispie Treats, Butterfinger Krispie Bars combines the flavors of the iconic candy bar: chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter. Plus it’s a scrumptious way to use up some of the Butterfinger candy from trick-or-treating. This recipe makes a large batch so you can tempt and treat all your ghosts, ghouls, and goblins!

 

 

A delicious riff on Rice Krispie Treats, Butterfinger Krispie Bars combines the flavors of the iconic candy bar: chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter! Recipe created by Cinnamon & Sugar for Deborah Garner, author of cozy mystery, A FLAIR FOR GOBLINS.

 

 

Amazon Synopsis

When Sadie Kramer agrees to help decorate for San Francisco’s high-society Halloween shindig, she expects to find whimsical ghosts, skeletons, and jack-o-lanterns when she shows up at the Wainwright Mansion, not a body. Especially not the body of the woman in charge of the charity event.

With two detectives, a paranormal investigator turned television star, and a cauldron full of Wainwright Foundation staff and family members cackling around her, Sadie and her sidekick Yorkie are determined to find out who the killer is. Will an old superstition help lead to the truth? Or will this simply become one more tale in the mansion’s haunted history?

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Deborah Garner for providing one lucky winner with their choice of print or an ebook copy of A FLAIR FOR GOBLINS. Print is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Wednesday, October 21, 2020 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

A delicious riff on Rice Krispie Treats, Butterfinger Krispie Bars combines the flavors of the iconic candy bar: chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter! Recipe created by Cinnamon & Sugar for Deborah Garner, author of cozy mystery, A FLAIR FOR GOBLINS.

 

Print
Butterfinger Krispie Bars

A delicious way to use up Halloween candy

Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1-1/2 cups peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
  • 6 cups (12 ounce box) Rice Krispies
  • 1 12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 12 ounce bag butterscotch chips
  • 3 Butterfinger candy bars, crushed
Instructions

  1. Line a jelly roll pan (12" x 18") with foil and spritz with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange the Rice Krispies over the bottom of the pan.

  2. In a medium saucepan, stir together over low heat, sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter.

  3. Once the mixture has melted and is smooth, pour over the Rice Krispies. Stir until all the cereal is coated and pat flat onto the pan.

  4. Place the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30 second increments, stirring after each cycle, until melted. Spread over the Rice Krispies mixture.

  5. Before the chocolate/butterscotch spread sets, sprinkle with the Butterfinger crumbles.

  6. Cut into bars while still warm, leaving them in the pan. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until firm and chocolate/butterscotch spread has set before serving.

 

A delicious riff on Rice Krispie Treats, Butterfinger Krispie Bars combines the flavors of the iconic candy bar: chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter! Recipe created by Cinnamon & Sugar for Deborah Garner, author of cozy mystery, A FLAIR FOR GOBLINS.

 

 

 

 

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A delicious riff on Rice Krispie Treats, Butterfinger Krispie Bars combines the flavors of the iconic candy bar: chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter! Recipe created by Cinnamon & Sugar for Deborah Garner, author of cozy mystery, A FLAIR FOR GOBLINS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A delicious riff on Rice Krispie Treats, Butterfinger Krispie Bars combines the flavors of the iconic candy bar: chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter! Recipe created by Cinnamon & Sugar for Deborah Garner, author of cozy mystery, A FLAIR FOR GOBLINS.

No-Bake Hollyberry Cluster Cookies

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HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE, the fifth book in A Berry Basket Mystery series by Sharon Farrow, has all the trappings that make a holiday cozy mystery enjoyable! From the delightful Christmas cover, to the protagonist, Marlee Jacob, (named after famed Jacob Marley of A Christmas Carol), to Marlee’s obsession with decorating both her shop and home, and to the town’s Hollyberry Festival, the reader is immersed in a flurry of holiday activities. The author’s descriptive voice shines through and brings the characters and setting to life on the pages without slowing down the plot. Ms. Farrow’s use of a local stage production, A Christmas Carol, to highlight the death of the 95-year-old man playing Jacob Marley, adds to the entertainment. Everyone is sure he died of natural causes but Marlee is convinced foul play was involved. With a colorful and humorous cast of characters surrounding Marlee (including Minnie, her African Gray parrot) I couldn’t help but be enthralled with the story and enjoyed several laugh out loud moments.

The murder mystery itself was well-plotted and had a good pace. I enjoyed that Marlee’s friends are supportive of her snooping and help out as they can. As I turned the pages, layers of suspicion and secrets were revealed but I still couldn’t hone in on the killer. The author expertly weaves in twists that left me shocked and the clues she includes had me fixating on one character then another. But in the thrilling conclusion, they all piece together into one cohesive ending that made me yearn for more!

As owner of The Berry Basket, Marlee serves an assortment of mouthwatering berry-themed goodies. While holly berries are poisonous, Ms. Farrow includes several holiday-themed recipes at the back of the book that not only are safe to eat, but sound scrumptious as well. I couldn’t wait to try her recipe for No-Bake Hollyberry Cluster Cookies since they epitomize hollyberries and Christmas! Similar to rice krispie treats, except using cornflakes, these cookies are sure to please the kids. Plus the brightly-colored green dyed cornflake cookies with red hot candies will make any holiday cookie platter stand out as you share Christmas cheer!

 

No-Bake Hollyberry Cluster Cookies epitomize hollyberries Christmas! Similar to rice krispie treats, except using cornflakes, these cookies are sure to please the kids. Recipe shared with permission granted by Sharon Farrow, author of HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE.

 

Amazon Synopsis

A cold wind is blowing off Lake Michigan, and murder is scaring the dickens out of everyone . . .

Considering her name, Marlee Jacob is an obvious choice for the role of Jacob Marley in Oriole Point’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s just sad that the role has opened up because of the death of the elderly actor who’d originally been cast.
 
But Marlee, the proprietor of The Berry Basket, will do her best to keep spirits high—that is, until clues start mounting that there’s danger behind the scenes. There are accidents on set, the tree in the village square topples over, and worst of all, a body is found with a sprig of holly draped over it. If Marlee can’t wrap up the case, she may not have a berry merry Christmas . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Sharon Farrow for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE! Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, October 18, 2020 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!)

 

 

No-Bake Hollyberry Cluster Cookies epitomize hollyberries Christmas! Similar to rice krispie treats, except using cornflakes, these cookies are sure to please the kids. Recipe shared with permission granted by Sharon Farrow, author of HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE.

 

Print
No-Bake Hollyberry Cluster Cookies

After Theo points out the lack of holly pastries in the shop, Marlee searches on Pinterest for a recipe that incorporates a holly theme. This easy, no-bake recipe seemed perfect. Variations of this recipe call for shaping the batter into wreaths. Since the leaves and berries of holly are poisonous, real holly is not included. What you will find included is a lot of flavor.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine
  • 30 large marshmallows
  • 1/4 teaspoon green food coloring
  • 4-1/2 cups cornflakes cereal
  • 1/3 cup mini red cinnamon candies, such as Red Hots
Instructions

  1. Heat butter in a large saucepan or pot until melted. Add marshmallows.

  2. Stir until all the marshmallows are melted. Mix in the green food coloring.

  3. Stir in the cornflakes cereal, until all the pieces are coated.

  4. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Press 3 cinnamon candies into each cornflake cluster.

  5. Let cool until set.

Notes

Makes approximately 24 cookies.

No-Bake Hollyberry Cluster Cookies epitomize hollyberries Christmas! Similar to rice krispie treats, except using cornflakes, these cookies are sure to please the kids. Recipe shared with permission granted by Sharon Farrow, author of HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE.

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

No-Bake Hollyberry Cluster Cookies epitomize hollyberries Christmas! Similar to rice krispie treats, except using cornflakes, these cookies are sure to please the kids. Recipe shared with permission granted by Sharon Farrow, author of HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

No-Bake Hollyberry Cluster Cookies epitomize hollyberries Christmas! Similar to rice krispie treats, except using cornflakes, these cookies are sure to please the kids. Recipe shared with permission granted by Sharon Farrow, author of HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE.

Poison Apple Cocktail Cupcakes

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The reviews are pouring in for CAKE POPPED OFF! Thank you to everyone who has made my new book release such a great success!!! If you haven’t picked up the book yet, it’s still only $0.99 for the ebook or free on Kindle Unlimited.

 

 

 

I’m celebrating the release with another giveaway, winner’s choice of SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION, the first book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery series or CAKE POPPED OFF (use the Rafflecopter below to enter). Contest ends Wednesday, October 14, 2020 and print is limited to U.S. residents. All others will be awarded an ebook.

 

 

Plus scroll down for another recipe from the book just in time for Halloween:

Poison Apple Cocktail Cupcakes!

(You’ll find the recipe for Poison Apple Cake Pops,
with detailed instructions on how to make them, in the book.)

 

 

Poison Apple Cocktail Cupcakes, with generous amounts of boozy libations in both the batter and the frosting, are a fun and tasty addition to grownup Halloween celebrations. Recipe created by Kim Davis, author of CAKE POPPED OFF.

 

Praise for Cake Popped Off!

I recently featured CAKE POPPED OFF on the Great Escapes Virtual Blog Tour. Many thanks to Lori Caswell for facilitating the tour and to the bloggers who hosted me!

 

 

. . . let me tell you when the killer was revealed the word surprised doesn’t cover it! Blown away! Astonished! Thunderstruck! And this is not the first time Kim Davis has done this to me! Dang! she is an incredible storyteller!!
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

With loads of family drama, charismatic and genuine characters, and a delectable mystery (or two) to solve, Cake Popped Off! is a wonderful cozy mystery with a Halloween theme.
~Diane Reviews Books

What a great Cozy read! I have to say this one gets my vote for favorite of the year (so far the years not over yet!) and will be featured on my fav’s list.
~My Reading Journeys

This is the second cozy I’ve read recently that floored me when the killer was revealed. Normally I have a clue as to who might be guilty but in this case? Nada, zip, zilch, nothing.
~StoreyBook Reviews

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really enjoy the relationship between Emory and Tillie. Although they have not known each very long, they have become very close.
~MJB Reviewers

Great characters, a layered plot, and an engaging writing style combine with all the traditional elements of a cozy – plus the added bonus of delicious baked goods!
~Reading Is My SuperPower

Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis is an intriguing book about a wealthy family that has hit a bit of a rough patch with bodies being found near them…I am giving this book five stars and recommending it to all culinary cozy mystery readers out there.
~Baroness’ Book Trove

With characters you can relate to, situations that bring about all sorts of emotions, yummy food, and keep you guessing mystery you won’t be able to put this cozy down. Makes for a fantastically fun read. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

I believe that the Cupcake Catering Mystery Series is going to become one of my favorites. With its gorgeous setting, heavenly cupcakes, baffling mysteries, and entertaining characters, you’ll love this cozy mystery book and series too!
~Christy’s Cozy Corners

Cake Popped Off! is an entertaining and fast-paced cozy whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, romance, family secrets and drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns.
~Jersey Girl Book Reviews

I found the character growth and the relationship growth to be fantastic, and I hope to see that continue in future books in the series.
~Carstairs Considers…. 

 

 

 

Poison Apple Cocktail Cupcakes, with generous amounts of boozy libations in both the batter and the frosting, are a fun and tasty addition to grownup Halloween celebrations. Recipe created by Kim Davis, author of CAKE POPPED OFF.

 

Print
Poison Apple Cupcakes

Poison Apple Cocktail Cupcakes, with generous amounts of boozy libations in both the batter and the frosting, are a fun and tasty addition to grownup Halloween celebrations.

Makes 12–14 cupcakes

Ingredients
Cupcakes
  • 1 cup (5 ounces by weight) cake flour
  • 1 cup (5 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 3 tablespoons Crown Royal
  • 2 tablespoons Sour Apple Pucker
  • 1 tablespoon cranberry liqueur (or cranberry juice)
Frosting
  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 4-1/2 cups (20.5 ounces) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons Sour Apple Pucker
  • 2 tablespoons cranberry liqueur or cranberry juice
  • 1 tablespoon Crown Royal
  • Red food coloring
Garnish
  • Tootsie Rolls or fondant tinted brown and formed into apple stems
  • Leaves formed from fondant tinted green or cut from sour apple fruit leather
Instructions
Cupcakes
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
  2. Line cupcake tins with paper liners.
  3. Whisk flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl and set aside.
  4. Mix Sour Apple Pucker, Crown Royal, and cranberry liqueur together in a measuring cup and set aside.
  5. In the bowl of a standing mixer, mix the vegetable oil and sugar together on medium speed for about 1 minute.
  6. Add the sour cream and applesauce and mix until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
  7. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated.
  8. Add half the flour mixture to the sour cream mixture and beat on low until mostly incorporated.
  9. Add half the Sour Apple Pucker mixture and stir to combine.
  10. Repeat with remaining flour and Sour Apple Pucker mixture and beat until smooth for about 30 seconds.

  11. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 16–20 minutes. Cupcakes should be golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it.

  12. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the cupcake tin for 5 minutes.
  13. Move the cupcakes to a wire rack. Allow to completely cool before frosting.
Frosting
  1. Mix the Sour Apple Pucker, cranberry liqueur, and Crown Royal together. Set aside.
  2. Place butter and salt into the bowl of a standing mixer and whip until creamy, approximately 2–3 minutes on medium-high speed.
  3. With the mixer running on low speed, add half the confectioners’ sugar a little at a time, mixing until sugar is coated with the butter.
  4. Slowly add 3/4 Sour Apple Pucker mixture.
  5. Repeat with remaining confectioners’ sugar and 1 tablespoon Sour Apple Pucker mixture.
  6. Add red food coloring until desired shade of red is obtained.
  7. Increase the speed to medium-high and whip for approximately 5 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy. If needed, add the remaining Sour Apple Pucker mixture if frosting is too thick and additional Sour Apple Pucker 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  8. Frost the cooled cupcakes.
Garnish
  1. Form leaves from green-tinted fondant or cut leaf shapes from Sour Apple fruit leather.
  2. Roll small pieces of the Tootsie Roll or brown-tinted fondant to form stems.
  3. Insert a leaf on top of the frosted cupcake and accent with a stem.

 

Poison Apple Cocktail Cupcakes, with generous amounts of boozy libations in both the batter and the frosting, are a fun and tasty addition to grownup Halloween celebrations. Recipe created by Kim Davis, author of CAKE POPPED OFF.

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

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Poison Apple Cocktail Cupcakes, with generous amounts of boozy libations in both the batter and the frosting, are a fun and tasty addition to grownup Halloween celebrations. Recipe created by Kim Davis, author of CAKE POPPED OFF.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poison Apple Cocktail Cupcakes, with generous amounts of boozy libations in both the batter and the frosting, are a fun and tasty addition to grownup Halloween celebrations. Recipe created by Kim Davis, author of CAKE POPPED OFF.

Susan Cutie’s Lemon Meringue Pie

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MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA & MURDER is the fifth book in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series by Tina Kashian. As a Christmas cozy mystery, this book hits all the right marks for a delightful read, starting with the adorable cover depicting a sandy snowman on the iconic Jersey shoreline. One of the draws in this series is the special familial bond the protagonist, Lucy Berberian, has with her parents, sister, and friends. Despite the bickering her parents exhibit from time to time, there’s still love between them that flows over to how Lucy interacts with those around her. I also have enjoyed watching Lucy grow over the course of the series, especially with her relationship with Azad, the chef at their restaurant and am excited to see what happens in future books as they plan their nuptials. Other core characters are Kate, Lucy’s long-time best friend and her landlady, elderly Eloisa. Kate, married to a detective, brings humor to situations as Lucy’s sidekick and sleuthing partner, while larger-than-life Eloisa brings outright hilarity.

The murder mystery of who killed a local reception hall owner in sight of scores of people during the annual Polar Bear Plunge was cleverly done. Ms. Kashian writes a tightly plotted tale with clues sprinkled throughout to keep a sharp reader on their toes. With the interjection of holiday cheer, descriptions of the quintessential boardwalk and the businesses that thrive on tourism, and adorable Gaddoo (which is cat in Armenian), this book is a cozy, lighthearted read. The reveal caught me unawares as I was caught up in the holiday celebration, which added to my enjoyment in this well-crafted story.

With the family’s Mediterranean restaurant, the Kebab Kitchen, being a central setting, there are plenty of mentions of delicious ethnic foods throughout the book. I really liked that Ms. Kashian expanded the plot to also include a delectable bakery in the mix and includes recipes from both venues at the back of the book. Since my granddaughter is a huge lemon dessert fan, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try the recipe for lemon meringue pie! It was every bit as sweet-tart as I had hoped and the meringue whipped up nice and fluffy with no problems at all. Since I used a pre-made refrigerated pie crust (Pillsbury is highly rated) this scrumptious dessert didn’t take that long to make much to the delight of my family!

 

Lemony sweet-tart custard filling piled high with billowing cloud-like meringue, Susan Cutie's Lemon Meringue Pie is a refreshing dessert! Recipe shared with permission granted by Tina Kashian, author of MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, AND MURDER.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man’s float—for real . . .
 
Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose—and his price—at her wedding plans, she can’t help wondering who wouldn’t kill the pompous caterer . . .

Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy’s wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen’s mouthwatering Christmas celebration—and before her hometown’s holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Tina Kashian for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA & MURDER! Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, October 11, 2020 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!)

 

 

 

 

Lemony sweet-tart custard filling piled high with billowing cloud-like meringue, Susan Cutie's Lemon Meringue Pie is a refreshing dessert! Recipe shared with permission granted by Tina Kashian, author of MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, AND MURDER.

 

Print
Susan Cutie's Lemon Meringue Pie
Ingredients
For the Lemon Filling:
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 5 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 eggs, separate yolks from whites and keep both
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • Grated rind of 1 lemon
  • Baked and cooled pastry pie shell
For the meringue:
  • 3 egg whites (reserved from the filling)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
For the Lemon Filling:

  1. Combine the sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt and mix together.

  2. Gradually add the water, stir and cook the ingredients over low heat until the mixture gently boils. It should thicken and become smooth.

  3. Beat the egg yolks together in a bowl, then slowly and constantly whisking, add in 1 cup of the hot sugar mixture. Once incorporated, slowly add the warmed egg mixture back to the saucepan containing the remaining sugar mixture, whisking the entire time. Cook over low heat for three minutes, constantly stirring.

  4. Stir in the butter, lemon juice, and lemon rind.

  5. Allow to cool on stovetop, then pour custard into the baked pie shell and cool in the refrigerator.

For the meringue:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F).

  2. It's easiest to use an electric mixer to make the meringue. Beat the egg whites with the salt in a small bowl until light and frothy.

  3. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat at high speed until the mixture will stand in peaks, about 4 - 5 minutes.

  4. Add the vanilla extract and beat in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time.

  5. Cover the chilled pie filling with the meringue until it touches the edges of the pastry to prevent the meringue from shrinking.

  6. Bake at 425 degrees (F) for five minutes. Cool and then refrigerate until cold before serving.

 

Lemony sweet-tart custard filling piled high with billowing cloud-like meringue, Susan Cutie's Lemon Meringue Pie is a refreshing dessert! Recipe shared with permission granted by Tina Kashian, author of MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, AND MURDER.

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Lemony sweet-tart custard filling piled high with billowing cloud-like meringue, Susan Cutie's Lemon Meringue Pie is a refreshing dessert! Recipe shared with permission granted by Tina Kashian, author of MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, AND MURDER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Lemony sweet-tart custard filling piled high with billowing cloud-like meringue, Susan Cutie's Lemon Meringue Pie is a refreshing dessert! Recipe shared with permission granted by Tina Kashian, author of MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, AND MURDER.

 

 

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