The second book in the adorable Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery series by Laura Bradford, SILENCE OF THE FLANS is a solid, entertaining addition! Winnie Johnson is an engaging protagonist with a smart sense of humor and witty dialog. I love her interaction with her elderly friends who are more like family to her. One of the fun things about this series is the absolutely creative, whimsical names for desserts that Winnie bakes and delivers! The author enlisted the help of a couple of people to come up with the names in this book and I think it would be so much fun to see the variety they created before narrowing it down to a few. I am not a pun creative type of person which makes me appreciate and admire those who can.
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Winnie has a heart of gold: taking in a cat that hates her (which provides some comedy) along with helping out a troubled college student, whose grandmother is dying. Even though she’s warned about the girl, she still feels like she needs to do her best to help. Winnie says, “How much trouble can 1 college girl really cause?” and from there the story takes off with a bang when another college girl drops dead after eating Winnie’s Fade to Blackberry Crisp. Becoming a suspect with her dessert the cause of the poisoning, Winnie’s business comes to a standstill. Winnie’s tenacious determination to keep her business going and prove to the town that she’s innocent propels her into tracking down the real killer. Besides being a fun, entertaining read the mystery had a good flow and I enjoyed seeing her find new suspects and then rethinking old suspects which made it believable. The reveal wrapped up the plot and subplots with a satisfactory conclusion and made me anxious to find out what happens next!
With all the adorable, pun-filled dessert names floating around the book, I am grateful that Laura provides several recipes for the reader to drool over! She has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for Apple Kootchy-Kootchy-Koo Kuchen with you. I’ve never had Kuchen before and was impressed with the yummy pastry crust, rich custard filling, and tart apples. There is just enough cinnamon to delicately flavor it without overwhelming or detracting from the overall flavor. I really like that it bakes up into a large casserole dish and serves a lot of people. Perfect for breakfast, a coffee break, or warmed up with ice cream for dessert…any way you serve it, your friends and family will thank you!
Amazon Synopsis
Baker Winnie Johnson does her best work when the heat is on. As owner of the Emergency Dessert Squad, she has a deft touch in the kitchen and a soft spot for lost causes. So when her business professor beau, Jay Morgan, expresses misgivings over having to fail one of his fourth-year students, Winnie cooks up a sweet solution.
She’ll offer an extra credit opportunity in exchange for a little help with her growing business. But when her protégé’s first dessert delivery poisons a student journalist, the publicity threatens to burn Winnie’s business to a crisp. Now the entrepreneur-turned-detective must uncover the ingredients behind a recipe for murder before she crumbles under pressure…
A special thanks to Laura Bradford for providing a signed copy of SILENCE OF THE FLANS for one lucky winner! Contest ends Friday, March 10, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST, and limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe 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!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 4 Granny Smith apples (peeled, and cut into 6 - 8 wedges each**)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 tablespoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 8-ounce container sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Combine all the crust ingredients in a bowl to form a dough.
- Pat gently into a 13 x 9-inch pan, lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray.
- Arrange the apple wedges across top of the crust.
- In a separate bowl, beat eggs.
- Blend in sugar, salt, cinnamon, flour, and sour cream.
- Pour over fruit topped crust.
- Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for 30 - 35 minutes, until filling is set.
- Top with whipped cream if desired. Koochy-Koochy-Koo Kuchen is great served warm with ice cream.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
- **My taste testers indicated they preferred the apples sliced thinner, which I'll try next time.
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Thanks so much for the lovely review for The Silence of the Flans. I am humbled by your words. And the dessert–wow, you certainly did it justice!
It is such a pleasure hosting your wonderful books and delectable desserts on my blog! Thank you so much for the opportunity to share!
Recipe – and book – both sound amazing!
No special bakery. Just buy what looks irresistible!
Surprisingly, my favorite bakery is our local HyVee store. Their desserts, breads, and rolls are phenomenal!
I used to, but they closed.
No bakery, I am pretty good at making deserts so I make whatever my taste calls for. Also, I don’t care for “bought” cakes at the grocery store too much. This apple recipe–I will be making that!
I love the recipe. But I really can’t wait to read and review your new book! Thank you for the opportunity.
We don’t have any bakery around our place just a donut shop. The one I have been to is from our local store they have a bakery there which is good. Love the sound of this book I’m looking forward to reading it.
Penney
I don’t have a bakery nearby. O really want to read Silence Of The Flans.
The best place we have up here is Whole Foods ~
There were many great bakeries on Long Island. They’re not the same in Louisiana, unless you’re getting beignets!
This is a new series for me, but have put it on my list to read. Not sure my hips can take the Kuchen, but it sure looks good.
Our Giant Eagle grocery store has a wonderful in-store bakery. This is where I turn when I need a cake for a special occasion or just some tasty cookies. I love Laura Brandford’s books and can’t wait to try the recipe on your blog.
The title of this post and the recipe have me seriously giggling! I love it all!
Good bakeries are hard to find.
When little, my husband thought his feet were “kootchy-koos” because that’s what everyone said when they played with his feet!
My favorite bakery is one that has gluten and dairy free options – I have horrible allergiers so I usually bake my own sweet treats!
Servatis in Cincinnati
The bakery in the grocery store. Thanks for the chance!
Th only bakeries we have around here are in the grocery stores—so I tend to by baked deserts at the farmers markets during the summer months.
I make most of my desserts. When I don’t I just go to a grocery store. That’s all we have around us. Thank you for a chance to win a Signed copy of Silence Of The Flans.
I am so happy as again we have a print book to win. Here in Ia there are no bakeries exc in a grocery store so that is just terrible but i do in San Mateo, Ca where i used to live it was called Kathy’s Creative Cakes and they would do any kind of cake in any shape and they also did Claire’s Honeycomb Cake which was out of this world and she would give you a small bag of honeycomb without the chocolate to put on the outside just before you serve and my grandmother used to love it so for many many years i would order this for her then for my deceased hubby he would teach people to play craps he liked the game as the woman had to bend down to play and he just was a terrible person anyway for his 50th i had a party and got him a craps table cake and she made it just wonderful. My comment was he won;t like it as the woman are standing up when they ate it . I just love the flan at a mexican restaurant so it won;t be hard to forget the name of this book!
Miss Christy’s Sugar Shack in Carson, Iowa
I love the Madonna Inn bakery inside the Madonna Inn located in San Luis Obispo California. They make the most beautiful and tasty cakes especially their very special pink Champagne cake. I get a slice every time I get over to San Luis Obispo which isn’t often enough! But since it’s so very wonderful, it’s probably for the best that I don’t have it more than once or twice a year. LOL
I used to have one but they closed down. Now the only one left that is really good is pretty far away from us, so it would have to be a really special trip to get something.
Great series!!! Looking forward to next installment!!
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Oakmont Bakery in Pittsburgh is well known for its desserts and breads. It’s been around for a long time. When you shop there you know you will be getting something very good!
there is an amazing italian bakery in little italy near us
I can’t wait to read “The Silence of the Flans”, really enjoy this series. I do have a favorite bakery for desserts. It is actually the only bakery in our town. Every thing there is wonderful and it’s always crowded.
While I don’t normally buy desserts (too much fun to make them myself) I usually just go to our local Kroger store that has an amazing bakery department. I live in a small town but there are honestly no little bakeries around.
I don’t have a favorite bakery to where I purchase desserts. I usually bake my desserts.
There are no special bakeries in my area. When we get something, it’s usually from a grocery store bakery.
Our local bakeries have closed down, but there is a really good bakery about 20 miles down the road called The Pie Shop which is worth the trip. Most of the time I bake things myself or get something from the Giant Eagle bakery. I am looking forward to trying this Kuchen, it sounds yummy! Laura Bradford is a new to me author, and I look forward to reading her books.
I haven’t had apple kuchen in years. I will be making this soon. I am looking forward to reading this next book in the series.
There is no privately owned bakery here so we just get our bakery good from the grocery store.
I really don’t have a favorite bakery. I do have a favorite cake baker/decorator though.
Thank you for this opportunity. My favorite bakery is Crust!! What a place!
Thanks for the chance, book sounds great
There are no old fashion bakery’s where I live , you have to buy from food stores 🙁 I really miss a good bakery
My favorite hometown bakery is called Gamble’s. Thank you for the giveaway!
Unfortunately we have no “homemade” bakeries in our town or even close to us. However, we LOVE to go to the Koehn Bakery in Bulter, MO when we go visit my husband’s Mom and sister. The cinnamon rolls are to die for – all homemade and fresh every day. Makes it well worth the LONG trip. 🙂
Unfortunately I do not know of a bakery near me, so we make do with the in-store bakery at our grocery store. I do love to bake though so usually have something homemade in the house.
Bella’s! Best cinnamon rolls in the area! Yum!
Whole Foods has the best bakery for me!
No, I don’t have a favorite bakery. I haven’t found one nearby yet. Your recipe sounds delicious and I will have to try it and I love your books!
We have a local bakery that makes the best desserts! And it is called Desserts!
I wish I did! I usually just pick up treats like that at the grocery store.
We have a bakery in town, but it really isn’t what I consider a bakery with yumminess.
We don’t have any bakeries near us, however our grocery stores like Wal-Mart, Kroger & Martins have home baked goods they make right there. Thanks for the great recipes & I would love a chance to win this book, Thanks for your generosity.
Looking forward to reading this .
I do not have a bakery around here. I do all the baking since my fiance’ loves his sweets! LOL
We do have a favorite bakery. Hate to admit it, but don’t know it’s name. The people opened up a year and half ago. Margi and Carol have gluten free, low cal, dairy free products and you would never know it unless you ask. Discovered it when going to Jan’s new book store. She had moved from a side street local to the “main drag” location. To get to her store we had to walk a bit from the parking lot. The last place we had to park on the street if there was room. She said her traffic flow has doubled. We passed the bakery on the way to her store, she sells new and used.Used you can bring in two take home one. The bakery is on the way to Jan’s. You can buy and carry out or, if there is room you can buy a coffee, tea, water, or soda and eat there. They have 6 lovely tables you can use to sit and eat one of their luscious treats. 11 bakeries & non can come close to their really nice maple bars
Just read what I wrote. Oops. Didn’t have time yesterday. We have 11 bakeries. But the newest one has the absolute best maple bars. The topping is not your traditional type maple topping. Hate to admit it, but don’t know it’s name. The people opened up a year and half ago. Margi and Carol have gluten free, low cal, dairy free products and you would never know it unless you ask. Discovered it when going to Jan’s new book store. Jan sells new & used books. You can trade the used 2 for 1. She was on the side street where it was hard getting a parking spot. When a shop on the main drag closed, she snapped it up and moved there. With the new place we had to walk half a block from a parking lot, passing by the new bakery. We stopped in and discovered a wonder. Not sicky sweet like most of the others.You can buy and carry out or, if there is room you can buy a coffee, tea, water, or soda and eat there. They have 6 lovely tables you can use to sit and eat one of their luscious treats.
When you’ve lived in a town as long as I have, you tend to see things come and go, renovate and renew… My favorite bakery, back in the 70s, had breads of all shapes, sizes, and flavors to small bite-sized to banquet desserts. They had a little deli, too, where I would pick up an order of raviolis and a baguette. OOOOH! Name? I can’t remember; it’s an Indian restaurant now. Today the best bakery is a few miles away called ‘Cottage Bakery.’ They have renovated to include a coffee bar.
My small town has a Mexican Market and the bakery is to die for. Unlike Safeway and Walmart where they start off frozen this one is made from scratch. It’s just fun to go see all the different types of pastry The bakers come out talk to you and make suggestions.
We have 2….Parcells..who makes the best cupcakes in the world and Dumplins..who makes the best cakes in the world
There’s a French café and bakery called Amelie’s that we go to that has every dessert imaginable. It’s amazing. My sweet tooth is twitching right now just thinking about it. My weakness for sure.
Almost all of the ethnic bakeries within a 20 mile radius are now close except for the Scandinavian bakery in a city not too far away. That means I only get there a couple of times a year but I get a lot of things when I go and share and freeze a few things for an “emergency” craving. ?
Love cozy mysteries with food and recipes. Take several bus trips and lots of stops with great food. Always end up bringing something home
My mom is a huge Cozy Mysteries fan and she’s gotten me reading them now. Looking forward to checking out your books.
Yes. Mercier’s orchards in blue ridge Georgia. They have the best fried pies and fritters and fudge!
There was a bakery in Lincoln, NE called Kleins that was there when I was growing up. They had the best cream filled powdered sugar donuts I’d ever eaten! Sure do miss ’em! Thanks for a chance in the give-a-way Kim.
I really like a bakery close to my home called Tres Hermanos Bakery. I teach high school Spanish, so it a great place to go to buy authentic desserts for my students to try! Thank you for your recipe and this giveaway! The book sounds fantastic! 🙂