Kim, Author at Cinnamon and Sugar

Citrus Sugar Cookies

DEATH WHISK is the fifteenth book in the Cookies & Chance Mysteries by Catherine Bruns. This is another delectable installment in a fan-favorite delicious series! Sally (Sal) Muccio and her husband, Mike, are expecting their second child to arrive within the week. She should be taking it easy, but her mortuary-owning father begs her to provide desserts for his good friend, Guido, who is opening a luxury bed-and-breakfast and is celebrating with a party. Despite the impending birth of her second child, Sal can’t say “no” to her father, plus there’s the added incentive of getting to stay overnight in a luxurious suite with her husband. The author does an amazing job with the character development, bringing each to life on the page. It’s a pleasure reconnecting with the core characters—close-knit family and friends who always bring a smile to my face with their antics, especially Sal’s grandmother Rosa. If you haven’t read any in the series and adore character arcs, I’d suggest starting at the beginning even though this can easily be read as a standalone.

The new bed-and-breakfast owner, Guido, seems to be an enigma when Sal meets him. Her father hasn’t seen the man in decades, yet they claim to be best friends. And as the party progresses, she notices her father acting stranger than normal. When a winter storm descending upon them, and no electricity, Sal and Mike stumble across the murdered Guido. Ms. Bruns sets the stage perfectly with the raging storm to ramp up the suspense leading up to the gruesome discovery. Her strong descriptive skills had me envisioning the drama as it played out on the page. The mystery is well-plotted with a quick pace—there seems to always be something happening to Sal! There are twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and some surprises along the way. If you like sweet, family-oriented cozy mysteries filled with memorable characters and delectable desserts, then you’ll enjoy Death Whisk!

Running Sal’s Samples bakery means that Sal and her best friend Josie are always serving up scrumptious cookies to eager customers… you’ll want to have some cookies on hand to munch on while you read! Fortunately, the book includes some recipes to try, and I’m honored that my recipe for Citrus Sugar Cookies is included. The cover artist was even able to incorporate my cookie photo in the design! This recipe has the enticing flavors of orange, lemon, and vanilla, all in one buttery cookie that my taste testers loved.

Synopsis

Full-time baker and part-time sleuth, Sally Muccio, is looking forward to an impromptu getaway at Bella Vita, a charming local inn recently renovated by an old friend of her father’s. Sal’s been asked to provide treats for Bella Vita’s open house and, in addition to the extra dough she’ll earn, her entire family is invited to spend the night at the bed-and-breakfast for free.

But after a winter storm knocks out the power and Sal stumbles across owner Guido Sorrentino’s lifeless body, the night becomes something directly out of a horror movie. Sal fully intends to leave the investigation to the police…that is until her father’s life becomes endangered as well! Who wanted Guido dead, and what does her father have to do with it? Was Guido a member of organized crime? And why was he acting like he had a death wish? With a crowd of angry and bitter relatives busy celebrating his death instead of mourning, it quickly becomes apparent that there are too many suspects to count. It’s up to Sal to find a killer before she’s treated to a taste of death herself!

A special thanks to Catherine Bruns for offering a print copy of DEATH WHISK to one lucky winner! Contest ends September 21, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Citrus Sugar Cookies

Makes approximately 30 cookies, depending on the size and thickness

Ingredients

For the cookies:

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Zest from 1 orange*
Zest from 1 lemon*
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon orange extract*
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract*
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the icing:

2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 scant tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice*
2 scant tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice*
Coarse sparkling sugar or white nonpareils for decorating

Instructions

For the cookies:

Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, confectioners' sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the granulated sugar and the orange and lemon zest for 1 minute on medium-low speed, until the sugar turns light orange.
Add in the butter and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes on medium-high speed.
Add in the egg and beat until incorporated. Mix in the orange extract.
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated.
Divide the dough into two portions, flattened into disks, and wrap each tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F), and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Allow the dough to soften at room temperature about 20 minutes before rolling out to 1/8" to 1/4" thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into snowflakes or whatever shapes you desire.
Place cutouts on the parchment lined baking sheets. Refrigerate the cutouts for at least 10 minutes before baking.
Bake for 10 to 14 minutes (depending on thickness), rotating baking sheet once halfway through the baking time. The edges should be slightly golden brown. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Cool completely before decorating.

For the icing:

Whisk together the confectioners' sugar and the orange and lemon juice until smooth. If icing is too thick, add additional juice, 1/4 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Using a silicone pastry brush or the back of a spoon, smooth the icing over the cooled snowflake cookies. Garnish with sparkling sugar or white nonpareils if desired.
Allow the icing to set at least 2 hours, until firm. Store leftover cookies in an airtight container, layered between sheets of waxed paper, at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Note:

*You may use either all lemon or all orange in the recipe.

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

Halloween Muffins

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MURDER AT CAPE COSTUMERS is the seventh book in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries by Maddie Day. I’m always drawn toward character-driven stories, and over the course of this series the author has brought the characters in spades. This newest release has ended up being my favorite of the bunch with the appearance of protagonist Mac Almeida’s niece and nephew, on her husband Tim’s side. The emotional level of the book ramped up, as did my investment in finding out what happens next, with the subplot of the disappearance of Mac’s sister-in-law. Especially when Mac and Tim are left taking on the care of her children while they search for her. Mac, her friends, and family members have always been tight knit but with the kids brought into the mix, they join together even more, giving encouragement and practical support. This made the storyline and the characters all the more realistic as Mac and her husband try to juggle their businesses (she runs Mac’s Bikes, and he runs a bakery) and care for the two children. Ms. Day captures both the anxiety of the situation and the joy of having family and friends around.

While the disappearance of the young mother is a subplot, there is a murder to solve for Mac and the Cozy Capers Book Group. I adore that the sleuthing is a group effort, with each of the members assigned an action item, and as they track down clues, they share them on a text thread if they can’t do so in person. Mac is also quick to share the clues discovered with the investigating detective, and it was nice to see how he is finally appreciating the group’s insights into the crimes committed. With Halloween happening, there are costumes galore and festivities occurring, the book has a fun, spooky ambiance. I loved how the intriguing murder mystery fit the theme of the book. There are clues to follow, with twists and turns to puzzle the reader. In the nail-biting reveal, Mac once again proves her indomitable spirit and leaves me wanting to find out what happens next!

While Mac might not be much of a cook, her husband, Tim, is an accomplished baker and chef. There are a few recipes at the back of the book, two from Tim and the other two from Mac’s mom and a friend. One of the recipes is Tim’s Halloween Muffins, which are pumpkin-based. They’re not too sweet, using honey or maple syrup instead of sugar, and have a good amount of pumpkin spice to ramp up the flavor. I liked their use of whole wheat flour and oats, making this a healthy and delicious breakfast or snack choice!

Synopsis

Just in time for Halloween, a new costume shop has opened on Main Street in Westham, Massachusetts. Cape Costumers is a cut above the usual seasonal pop-up stores with their flimsy mass-produced outfits and cheap plastic masks, mostly due to co-owner Shelly, a former Broadway costume designer. But when Shelly discovers her elderly boyfriend Enzo—a Broadway star who retired to Westham—dead of unnatural causes, Halloween suddenly gets a lot scarier.

Sleuthing, Mac has found, is a lot like riding a bicycle: once you learn how, you never forget. Far from being spooked, Mac and the members of the Cozy Capers Book Group put down their weekly book selection and put their heads together to see past a bag of tricks and find a malice-making murderer who’s hiding in plain sight . . .

A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for offering a print copy of MURDER AT CAPE COSTUMERS to one lucky winner! Contest ends September 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Halloween Muffins

Tim makes these pumpkin-based muffins with Ella on Halloween morning. Not too sweet, they're a great breakfast or snack choice to counter the influx of candy later in the day.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend*
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup old-fashioned oats, plus more for sprinkling on top
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
1 cup pumpkin purée
1/4 cup milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Grease a standard muffin tin (or line with paper liners).
Mix flour, spices, baking soda, salt, and oats in a mixing bowl. Break eggs into the dry mix and stir briefly with a fork. Add other wet ingredients and stir with a form until just mixed.
Spoon into muffin tin. Sprinkle oats on top if desired.
Bake 20 - 25 minutes until tops are golden brown.

*Make your own pumpkin spice blend:

Blend together 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice or cloves.

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Spiced-Tea Baked Donuts

SOUR CRIME DONUTS is the tenth book in the Deputy Donut Mysteries by Ginger Bolton. This is another delicious installment in this sweet series featuring Deputy Donut shop owner, Emily, alongside her intrepid kitty, Deputy Donut. The author has created charming characters you can’t help but want to get to know, with imaginative plots to keep you coming back. If you’re new to the series, this can easily be read as a standalone, but you’ll want to go back and start at the beginning to follow along as the characters grow and change. In this newest release, Izzy, a (very) young and overly sweet woman, moves to town and reconnects with Emily. The pair have a connection, even after only spending a day together a decade earlier at camp. Ms. Bolton knows how to create memorable characters—both good and kind people as well as mysterious and sinister types—and sometimes you might not be able to tell them apart. This sets the stage for leading the reader on a merry chase when murder happens.

Izzy has come to the quaint town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin (after inheriting a substantial amount from her grandfather) with his stipulation that she put it to good use and start a business. She has grand plans to buy property to grow fresh produce year-round. It all sounds perfect until a developer decides he must have the property, no matter the cost, and things turn ugly. When the developer is found murdered with Emily’s donuts close by, suspicion falls on both her and Izzy. The intricate plot, with subplots woven into the mix, had twists and surprises that kept me on my toes as I followed along with Emily in clearing her name. I liked that Emily immediately passes along any information she finds to her detective husband, and doesn’t hide clues from him. There were several suspects, and I never guessed whodunit until the edge-of-your-seat reveal. As the story wrapped up, all my questions were answered, leaving me eagerly waiting for the next book in this delightful series!

There are donuts galore mentioned throughout the story, so be prepared to be hungry. Or you can make one of the donut recipes at the back of the book to munch on while you read! I decided to try the Spiced-Tea Baked Donuts because they can easily be made year-round… although the spices are more reminiscent of fall than of spring or summer. I appreciated that the donuts are baked instead of fried, and the author even includes directions for turning the batter into muffins instead of donuts. Iced with a sour cream frosting and sprinkled with cinnamon, these make for a delicious breakfast or coffee break snack!

Synopsis

Emily feels like a protective big sister around bubbly twenty-something Izzy—a new regular whose enthusiasm for peaches and cream donuts is surpassed only by her dream to start her own business. As if blown in by an August breeze, Izzy pulls Emily into her plan to buy a property at the edge of town to grow and sell fresh produce. But she’s not the only fan of Deputy Donut’s peachy delights . . . or the only patron vying to own the lush parcel of land. And the competition is fiercer than the two women imagined . . .

Petty squabbles turn deadly when a developer with a mean streak is found murdered on the vacant stretch of land. Worse, Emily’s signature donuts are spotted nearby, leading to several potential suspects who could have left their sugar-frosted fingerprints all over the crime scene—including the mayor, a handsome out-of-towner, and even sweet-to-the-core Izzy. When her detective husband discovers poisonous ingredients in the discarded desserts, a shocked Emily must reveal holes in a collection of very fuzzy facts and nab the killer before someone else takes their last bite . . .

A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for offering a print ARC copy of SOUR CRIME DONUTS to one lucky winner! Contest ends September 7, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Spiced-Tea Baked Donuts

Makes 10 donuts and/or cupcakes. (*Cupcakes will be denser than normal cupcakes.) For the baked donuts, you will need a nonstick donut baking pan. They have donut-shaped baking cavities.

Ingredients

Donuts:

Vegetable oil for greasing the pan
1/2 cup 14 percent butterfat sour cream
1 extra-large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon strongly brewed Darjeeling tea
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon each of the following spices: ground cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, ginger, and nutmeg.
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Sour Cream Frosting

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted or pushed through sieve
1/2 teaspoon strongly brewed Darjeeling tea
1/4 cup 14 percent butterfat sour cream

Instructions

Donuts:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Lightly grease nonstick donut baking pan.
In one bowl, whisk together the sour cream, egg, tea, vegetable oil, and sugar, until well blended.
In a larger bowl, stir the flour, spices, and baking soda with a fork until well blended.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well.
Spoon the batter into the donut-shaped cavities in the donut baking pan, filling them halfway.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until tops are golden and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Invert the pan on a cooling rack. When the donuts have cooled, gently loosen them with a silicone spatula and remove.

Sour Cream Frosting:

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter.
Beat the sugar into the butter until blended.
Stir in the tea and sour cream.
If the frosting is too thick, stir in more sour cream. If it's too thin, stir in more powdered sugar.
Store the frosting in the refrigerator until you're ready to use.
Frost the donuts then sprinkle tops with cinnamon.
If any frosted donuts are left over, store them in the refrigerator.

Note:

If you don't have a donut baking pan, bake as cupcakes in cupcake papers and pan for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Emily's home donut baking pan makes only 6 donuts, so she bakes the rest of the batter in cupcake papers in cupcake tins.

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

Hayley’s Halloween Apple Crisp

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HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER is a compilation of three spooktacular novellas by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Liz Ireland. Each feature longtime favorite characters from cozy mystery series I already love, and it was a treat to catch up with them in between the full-length books.

The first novella is Halloween Night Murder by Leslie Meier. Featuring Lucy Stone, a reporter for the local Tinker’s Cove, Maine, newspaper, the book starts with an annual children’s Halloween party. It sounds like a very fun event and captures the vibe of a cozy mystery Halloween. But from there, things turn dark. While the story is well written, it veers into crime fiction or suspense with themes of child endangerment, domestic abuse, and the death of a minor. I was caught unprepared and had to do some mental adjustments to finish the story. Had I been forewarned of the triggers, I think I might have been able to enjoy it more than I did.

The second novella is Death of a Halloween Night Stalker by Lee Hollis. This is definitely not a cute trick-or-treater tale… instead it captured the chills and thrills of the spine-tingling Friday Fright Night programs I watched as a young adult (eons ago!). Campy and spooky, reminiscent of a Stephen King novel, and definitely Halloween-worthy, yet stays within the cozy realm with some humor thrown in. When protagonist Hayley and her friends get stranded in the middle a storm, in the middle of nowhere, with no one but a strange mother and her even stranger son to take them in, the stage is set for an edge-of-your-seat read. You’ll want to keep the lights on for this story!

The third novella is Mrs. Claus and the Wily Witch by Liz Ireland. This story definitely captures the cuteness of Halloween yet weaves in a mystery with twists and turns. The creative descriptions and the setting of Santaland pulled me in while the memorable characters (how can you not love a holiday crossover featuring Mrs. Claus, snowmen, elves, reindeer, and a snow witch?!) kept me reading to find out what happens next. Ms. Ireland includes plenty of humor alongside the mystery… this is just a fun, fun read!

If you’re looking for some quick Halloween-themed stories, you can’t go wrong with HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER. It’s perfect for snuggling in with a hot drink and leftover candy once all the ghouls and goblins are tucked in.

Lee Hollis includes a few recipes within Death of a Halloween Night Stalker, and the recipe for Hayley’s Halloween Apple Crisp caught my attention. Using a generous number of apples with a generous amount of cinnamon and topped with loads of crunchy oat and brown sugar topping, this apple crisp hit the spot. Served warm with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream, you’ll forget all about those leftover mini candy bars from trick-or-treating, although this is so yummy you’ll want to serve it year round!

Synopsis

HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
After a tiring but satisfying day of organizing Halloween festivities, Lucy Stone is surprised by a lone late-night trick-or-treater at her home in Tinker’s Cove, Maine. The next morning, she’s heartbroken to learn that the teenager died in a hit-and-run just minutes after she gave him the last of her candy supply. Haunted, she starts digging into his story—and discovers some dark secrets . . .

DEATH OF A HALLOWEEN NIGHT STALKER by LEE HOLLIS
Bad weather has stranded restaurateur Hayley Powell and her friends in rural Maine—and the only shelter available is a spooky spot where they’re welcomed warmly by the lady of the house—but coldly by her suspicious, gun-toting son. They’re even more nervous after he scares them with his Halloween zombie costume—but the real fright is yet to come . . .

MRS. CLAUS AND THE WILY WITCH by LIZ IRELAND
Disgraced elf Flake has returned from exile just in time for Halloween, but not everyone in Christmastown thinks he’s truly reformed. When Pumblechook the snowman suffers a mysterious fate, and a fellow elf is felled by Flake’s caramels, Mrs. Claus must determine whether the sticky-fingered Flake has become a hardened criminal—or if sorcery has invaded Santaland . . .

A special thanks to Lee Hollis for offering a print copy of HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER to one lucky winner! Contest ends August 31, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Hayley's Halloween Apple Crisp

Ingredients

6 McIntosh apples, peeled and chopped (you can use your favorite apple in this recipe)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon, divided
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced into small cubes
Pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F). Butter an 8x8-inch baking dish and set aside.
In a bowl add your chopped apples, granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, and lemon juice. Stir to combine and pour into your buttered baking dish.
In another bowl add the rest of the ingredients and using your clean hands (my preferred method) or a pastry cutter, mix all the ingredients until the mixture looks like pea-sized crumbs.
Spread your toppings over the apple mixture in the baking dish and pat it down evenly over the top. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until brown and bubbly.
Serve your apple crisp warm and enjoy! Just a quick note: I like to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top while warm. It's to die for!

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Grant’s Bleu Cheese Tarts

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EDAM AND WEEP is the sixth book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries by Linda Reilly. Protagonist Carly Hale has her hands full preparing for her upcoming nuptials, running her restaurant Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery, and surprise guests showing up to stay with her and her fiancé, Ari. Yet she’s found time to take part in and contribute to the local high school’s fundraiser alongside her mom, Rhonda, in a 1950s-themed diner bash. From the very beginning of this series, the author has done a marvelous job in creating sweet core characters that the reader can’t help but connect to and cheer on. This newest release continues in that vein. I was excited to get to know Carly’s mom better, and I adored the relationship the pair has with each other. They are caring and supportive of each other, and close friends. And let me tell you, Mama Rhonda is very protective of her daughter and stands up for Carly…setting the stage for the mystery. The strong descriptions let me visualize the characters and the setting, bringing the story to life. And how could a 50s-theme bash not be a blast, especially when one’s mother dresses in the spitting image of Lucille Ball of I Love Lucy fame?

When a fellow vendor at the fundraising event tries multiple times to bully Carly, Rhonda steps in to protect her daughter. Someone takes advantage of the altercation and later kills the bully, framing Rhonda. With numerous townspeople attending the event, there is a large pool of suspects who had issues with the bully. Carly, naturally, gets involved in trying to clear her mother’s name, except her mom seems to be hiding something. The mystery is solid with good pacing that kept me turning pages. There were a few twists that added to the intrigue, but it’s the characters and their kindness that keep me coming back to this charming series.

Running a grilled cheese eatery, Carly and her employees serve mouthwatering food. There are a couple of recipes at the back of the book to try out at home. I’m a big fan of bleu cheese and couldn’t wait to make Grant’s Bleu Cheese Tarts—little mini bite-sized appetizers. I wasn’t sure what to make of the combination of adding onion to the apple and cheese mixture, but it was delicious! I liked that the filling can be made ahead of time and, shortly before guests arrive, fill the mini phyllo cups (which are super convenient), and bake for less than 10 minutes. My granddaughter visited for a weekend, and we enjoyed these quick appetizers with a glass of wine while enjoying the sun out on the patio after a fun day browsing through a quaint bookshop!

Synopsis

When the local high school hosts a fundraiser, restaurant owner Carly Hale is happy to sign on and enlists her mother’s help selling her much-loved grilled cheese sandwiches at the school. But no good deed goes unpunished, and the vendor stationed next to them at the event turns out to be aggressively rude and bullies them both. Never one to be pushed, Carly’s mom gives the man a vicious tongue-lashing and assumes that’s the end of it—until later that day when the man is found dead, strangled with her scarf.

With her mom on the hook for murder, Carly has no choice but to find out who killed the man and why. It turns out the victim had always been bad news and had racked up a long list of enemies. One of those enemies may have been the menacing stranger Carly saw lurking on the edges of the fundraiser, but her intuition tells her the murdered man’s girlfriend may have been mixed up in it too. Certain one of them—or both—did the deadly deed, Carly realizes too late that all her sleuthing has landed her next on the killer’s hit list . . .

A special thanks to Linda Reilly for offering a print copy of EDAM AND WEEP to one lucky winner! Contest ends August 24, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Grant's Bleu Cheese Tarts

In keeping with the traditional wedding motif of "Something borrowed, something blue," Grant wanted to prepare an exceptional treat for Carly and Ari's pre-wedding party, and for the wedding reception. Using bleu cheese as the primary ingredient, he created these tantalizing delicious appetizers that got rave reviews from the guests. If the blend of apple and onion seem odd, don't worry--you'll find that it's a marriage made in culinary heaven.

Although Grant makes his own phyllo dough, he knows that it's a labor-intensive task that takes some practice. To save time, he suggests using the miniature phyllo shells available in the freezer section a your supermarket (a 1.9-ounce package yields 15 tart shells). If you're a talented baker, or adventurous enough to make your own phyllo dough, some great recipes can be found online.

Once you serve these gourmet treats, your guests will be clamoring for you to make them often!

Ingredients

2 teaspoons butter, preferably unsalted
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 cup of crumbled bleu cheese
4 tablespoons finely chopped roasted walnuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package (1.9 ounces) of frozen miniature phyllo tart shells
Dried basil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Add apple and onion: cook and stir until tender (3 to 5 minutes) and remove from heat.
Stir in bleu cheese, three tablespoons of the walnuts, and salt.
Spoon a rounded tablespoon of the mixture into each phyllo shell, and place them on an ungreased baking sheet; bake for 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and a light touch of dried basil; bake another 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly browned.
Serve warm out of the oven. After they're cooled, they can also be frozen in a freezer container, separating layers with wax paper.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

The filling made a lot... almost double what I needed. It could be that my onion and my apple were larger than normal, but whatever the reason, the resulting leftover filling was delicious served with crackers.

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Mango Scones with Cream Cheese Frosting

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THE MANGO MURDERS is the fifteenth book in the Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of a sunset cruise in Key West, protagonist food critic Hayley Snow is busy hosting the city’s movers and shakers on behalf of her Key Zest online magazine employer. Hayley’s mother and stepfather, Janet and Sam, are catering the event hoping to expand their business. I just adore the characters of this series and can’t help but admire the close relationship Hayley has with her mother and stepdad…as well as her friendships with other key characters, in particular, octogenarian Miss Gloria. These are people you’d count yourself lucky to call friends, which adds to the appeal of the book. From the very start, Ms. Burdette captures the intricate details of the setting, from the sights, sounds, scents, and flavors… and the mango-themed menu evokes the tropical feel of the locale. As inviting as the balmy breeze and mango daiquiris are, discord comes aboard the yacht, and it doesn’t take long for chaos to ensue.

One of the things you can count on from this author is that the action always starts off early on and the pace holds its own throughout the book… there is never a dull moment. In this latest release, a fire and then an explosion happen aboard the yacht, causing the guests to abandon ship, starting the mystery. Was it accidental? Who is the unidentified victim, and why were they on board in the first place? Could Janet, the caterer, have been the target, or is someone trying to drive her thriving company out of business by setting her up to take the blame for the explosion? Hayley has so many questions and feels the need to find the answers and protect her mother. Her sleuthing takes her around Key West, and it feels like a mini travel guide as I followed along, while the mystery is well-plotted and kept me turning pages. Interspersed with the investigation are the celebrations planned for Miss Gloria’s 85th birthday party and the upheaval her arriving family creates, adding to the fast pace and intrigue. This character-driven story has all the right ingredients that keep me coming back and keep me anxiously awaiting each new release.

There are so many yummy mango-themed foods mentioned throughout the book, and luckily there are several recipes at the back of the book to tempt your tastebuds. I couldn’t wait to dive in and try out the Mango Scones with Cream Cheese Frosting and they were every bit as delicious as I’d expected. The scones are flaky and rich thanks to a generous amount of butter and sour cream, but it’s the chunks of mango and cream cheese frosting that make them exceptional.

Synopsis

Food critic Hayley Snow’s employer, Key Zest, is throwing the event of the season, a lavish cocktail party catered by Janet Snow, Hayley’s mother. As Hayley boards the luxurious cruise, she anticipates a smooth sailing soirée filled with shimmering cocktails, mouthwatering mango-infused delicacies, and new supporters for the e-zine. But as the boat sets sail, the festivities take a tragic turn when an explosion rocks the vessel, plunging the party guests into chaos.

In the days that follow, Hayley learns that a local culinary entrepreneur died in the explosion and it was no accident–someone on board had a deadly agenda. With the tropical city of Key West as her backdrop, Hayley navigates a web of secrets and lies. Her investigation takes her from the shadowy corners of island politics to fierce competition between high-end event caterers and personal vendettas.

With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Hayley must rely on her keen intuition to unmask a cunning culprit before they strike again.

A special thanks to Lucy Burdette for offering a print copy of THE MANGO MURDERS to one lucky winner! Contest ends August 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Mango Scones with Cream Cheese Frosting

Hayley's neighbor Miss Gloria is celebrating her eighty-fifth birthday in this book. Lots of visitors have arrived on the island, included her two thorny daughters-in-law. Mis Gloria gets the idea of inviting them for a tour of residences on Houseboat Row, with scones and coffee on Hayley and Nathan's deck at the end. Hayley makes these mango scones, and my, they are delicious! You could make them without the icing, but as my husband would say... why?

Ingredients

For the scones:

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon almond flavoring
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (aka 1 stick or 8 tablespoons) frozen unsalted butter
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream
2-1/2 tablespoons whole milk
1 cup ripe mango, peeled and cut into small chunks

For the frosting:

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted

Instructions

For the scones:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F).
Combine the dry ingredients with a fork. Take care to mix the brown sugar in thoroughly.
Placed a grater over the bowl of dry ingredients, grate the frozen butter into the bowl using the largest holes. With a fork, mix the butter in well with the flour mixture.
In another bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the egg, sour cream, almond flavoring, and milk. Stir the combined wet ingredients into the dry and mix just until moist. Fold in the mango.
Dump the batter onto a piece of parchment paper lightly dusted with flour and shape it into a circle. The batter will be wet and crumbly, but don't overwork it.
Cut the circle of dough into eight wedges and separate slightly so there is space between each scone. (I cut mine into six wedges, which were very generous!)
Bake until beginning to brown, about 18 minutes. Serve as you like with more butter, whipped cream, the cream cheese frosting, or just as they are.

For the frosting:

Beat the cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until needed.

Author's Notes:

These freeze well and can be warmed up for a treat on another day.
As a side note, I asked my hub if he wanted his frosted and he first said no. He changed his mind when he heard I was having frosting. After tasting it he said, "I don't know why you even asked me about the icing, it's amazing!"

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

I resorted to using frozen mango when I realized I couldn't find ripe mangos at the store, nor did I have time to wait for green mangos to ripen. I defrosted the mango chunks (overnight in the refrigerator). After blotting the excess liquid from the defrosted mango, I chopped it into smaller chunks to use in the scones. The scone dough was very sticky and the mango chunks tended to disintegrate as I folded them in. I ended up having to add an extra tablespoon of flour. However, the scones were still delicious but next time I'll plan ahead and buy fresh mangos to use.

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