Kim, Author at Cinnamon and Sugar

Caprice’s Chicken Cacciatore

A few years ago my husband and I decided to move to a new home a few miles away from our old house. When we shared the news with our family my youngest granddaughter, Emory, who was seven at the time, immediately burst into tears. We reassured her that we were going to live closer to her, not further. It didn’t matter… her response was that she had so many good memories in our old home she didn’t want to leave them behind. Trying to reason with a sobbing seven-year-old doesn’t always work so I grabbed my laptop, opened Pinterest, and got her interested in searching for room themes in which to decorate her new bedroom at the new house. Problem solved! Although I did have to creatively steer her away from neon rainbow smiley faces plastering every wall 🙂

The opportunity to research and come up with decorating and design ideas and then see them come to life with my granddaughter was a treasured experience. I wouldn’t say that I’m an interior decorator, but I did find I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Who knows, had I discovered the joy a couple decades ago maybe that would have ended up being my chosen profession.

When I came across DRAPE EXPECTATIONS by Karen Rose Smith I was intrigued. First by the clever play of words in the title, then by the inviting cover and finally by the subject of this cozy mystery. How was the author going to tie in murder and interior decorating and home staging? The answer is: very cleverly!

Caprice DeLuca started out in business as an interior designer but when the economy tanked she turned towards staging homes to help them quickly sell. She met Ace Richland, a rock star legend making a comeback, when he purchased one of the homes she staged. They became friends and Caprice was able to bond with his twelve-year-old daughter, Trista, when he asked her to decorate the girl’s bedroom. Ace started dating again, after a bitter divorce, and finally introduced Caprice to his wealthy widowed girlfriend, Alanna Goodwin. Alanna is planning on selling her mansion and moving in with Ace so asks Caprice to stage her home.

It’s not long before Caprice and Alanna are at odds. Caprice knows what needs to be done but Alanna wants her own way. To make matters worse, Alanna has a beautiful Persian cat whom she locks into a closet anytime she doesn’t want to be bothered by it, with no food or water. Caprice, being the animal lover she is, is appalled and leaves in the middle of the open house. The next day she returns to apologize, feeling she acted unprofessional. She happens to overhear Alanna and one of Ace’s band members plotting to sabotage the band’s tour. Not sure what to do since it’s really none of her business, she returns home and says nothing.

Later that day, a panicked Ace calls Caprice telling her he found Alanna dead and it appears she had been strangled. The police are very interested in Ace as a suspect because he and the victim were seen having a huge fight the day before, with Alanna storming out of the country club. When Alanna’s sister, Twyla, shows up to deal with the funeral arrangements, she hints she’d like Caprice to help find the killer since they are both sure Ace is innocent. As Caprice starts asking questions she finds that Alanna disappeared for six months during her first marriage. What was she hiding then and could her past have caught up with her? Caprice also has to wonder if Alanna really was the devoted girlfriend or did she have ulterior motives for dating Ace? And just what was Alanna’s connection to Ace’s bandmate?

In amongst the clever plot, Karen Rose Smith weaves a close knit family that’s a refuge to Caprice, with lots of family dinners together. However, all families have problems and Caprice’s has its share of troubles too. I enjoyed seeing the interaction between Caprice and her family and how they try to resolve the issues. There’s also a hint of romance which I liked. Caprice isn’t sure if Seth, the doctor who left for a fellowship in Baltimore, is right for her or if Grant, with his tragic past, can move beyond it and give their relationship a chance to grow. I was very happy to find out that the next installment in Karen Rose Smith’s series will be available April 26th! I’ve included a sneak peak at the bottom of the page.

Of course with Caprice’s family joining together for dinner often, she has a speciality that she makes: Caprice’s Chicken Cacciatore. Succulent chicken braised with Italian sausage, veggies and fire-roasted tomatoes until the chicken is fork tender and melt in your mouth! Thank you to Karen for allowing me to share this delicious, comforting dish with you! Be sure to take a look at the short video tutorial on how to make this recipe.

A very special thank you to Karen Rose Smith for offering readers a chance to win an autographed copy of DRAPE EXPECTATIONS or an e-book, your choice. Non- U.S. residents will receive an e-book. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe for a chance to win. Contest ends Monday, March 7, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Caprice’s Chicken Cacciatore

Serves 4 – 6

Ingredients

Sauce

1 pound Italian sausage cut into 1-inch pieces (sweet or hot – your choice!)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium onion)
1 cup chopped sweet bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)
1 cup chopped celery
3 cans fire roasted tomatoes (14.5 ounce cans)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
Add 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (if using mild sausage)

Chicken

8 chicken thighs (3-1/2 pounds)
1-1/2 cups flour
3 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons oregano
4 tablespoons butter (I used olive oil since my husband can’t consume dairy)

Instructions

Sauce

Brown the sausage pieces in vegetable oil for about 10 minutes on medium, stirring to brown on all sides. (Do not burn. You want the oil with sausage drippings to coat the onion, pepper, and celery.)

Add onion, pepper, and celery and sauté for about 3 minutes.

To this mixture, add the 3 cans of fire roasted tomatoes and the spices.

Simmer on low while browning the thighs.

Chicken

Put flour, salt, pepper, and oregano in a Ziploc bag and shake to mix.

Melt butter (or heat oil) in 11-inch to 12-inch deep-sided skillet.

Drop thighs into the bag with flour mixture, 2 at a time, and shake until they are coated.

Brown the thighs in the skillet on medium-high until all sides are golden brown.

Place browned thighs in a lasagna pan.

Pour sausage mixture over the thighs.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees (F) about 1-1/2 hours until thighs are tender and meat is falling off the bone. Use a meat thermometer to assure proper doneness.

This dish can be served over pasta of your choice (I cook a pound) or complemented by side dishes such as mashed potatoes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you subscribe to receive my post via email, you will need to visit my website to view video.

A sneak peak of Karen Rose Smith’s newest book, SILENCE OF THE LAMPS, releasing April 26, 2016.

Caprice’s house staging is disrupted by Drew Pierson, a caterer who opened Portable Edibles, a business in direct competition with her sister Nikki’s Catered Capers. Nikki turned down Drew as a possible partner and he seems determined to undermine and bury her. However his successful launch of a deal for his blackberry barbecue sauce must have stirred up his enemies. When Nikki visits the house where Drew lives with his grandmother to resolve differences, she and Caprice find him dead–murdered with the base of a valuable Tiffany lamp.

Caprice discovers clues about Drew’s sly business dealings–from stealing recipes from another chef, to friends who hold grudges, to a sister who will now inherit half of her grandmother’s estate since Drew is dead. In the midst of her own romantic relationship upheaval, helping her uncle set up his pet sitting-business, assisting a friend care for a pregnant stray cat, Caprice follows the suspect trail, inadvertently putting herself in danger once more.

Caramel Cheesecake

I always know when I pick up one of Avery Aames (aka Daryl Wood Gerber) books I’m in for a treat with a wonderful story and great recipes to choose from. I wasn’t disappointed when I read FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, the seventh book in A Cheese Shop Mystery series.

Before I get into the story I have to gush about her Caramel Cheesecake recipe…oh my…I ate a very large slice before my lunch guests ever showed up and then proceeded to eat more for dessert! Best of all, it was super easy to make gluten-free and no one knew until I shared. Ultra creamy and rich, this cheesecake has homemade caramel sauce drizzled both on the crust and on top… and was so yummy I had to eat a spoonful before I started the cheesecake. Surprisingly, the caramel sauce is super easy to make with only ONE ingredient!

FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE begins a few months after Fromagerie Bessette cheese shop owner, Charlotte Bessette, marries Jordan Pace. Charlotte and Jordan are both attending a “Brain Trust” for cheese makers. The conference is being held at their friend, Erin’s, cheese making farm. Half of the twenty attendees are staying at the inn located on Erin’s property, including Charlotte and Jordan. The surprise attendee who shows up is none other than famous Lara Berry, an author who specializes in reviewing and writing about cheese, farms and wine. Lara, instead of being the polite nice person she portrays on television, is rude and insulting to some of those attending.

During dinner Lara verbally berates Erin for her run down farm and inn. But when Lara crosses the line and starts belittling Erin’s autistic brother, Erin becomes very angry. The next morning Lara does not appear for breakfast so Charlotte and Jordan decide to check on her. When she doesn’t answer their knocks on the inn’s bedroom door, Jordan breaks down the locked door and finds the arrogant author…dead. The police quickly determine it was murder but no one can figure out how the killer entered the room. The door was locked with a deadbolt in place and the only window on her third floor room was painted shut.

When a guest mentions she heard a violin plucked during the night in Lara’s room, the police find that Erin has an extremely valuable violin locked in her closet. Since she’s the only one with a violin, ugly accusations of murder are soon flying at Erin. Charlotte is pulled into seeking answers to clear her gentle friend’s name with the hopes that the investigation will not prove detrimental to Erin’s business and to her autistic brother. When a large piece of wooden balcony almost falls on top of her, Charlotte has to step up her investigation before she becomes the victim.

It is always a pleasure to go back and visit quaint Providence, Ohio with it’s festivals dreamed up by Charlotte’s Grandmère, who is the town’s mayor. Avery’s descriptions of the town, the shops and the people make you feel like you’ve visited there before and makes you feel welcome when you come back. I love how the author provides wonderful cheese suggestions…it makes my mouth water and makes me want to find a shop just like Fromagerie Bessette. The story had me hooked from the very beginning and kept me guessing up until the very end with a complete surprise that I never saw coming!

A special thanks to Avery for allowing me to share her delectable and utterly yummy Caramel Cheesecake recipe! If you adore cheesecake, check out the recipe for Goat Cheese Cookies from her book AS GOUDA AS DEAD. There is also a short video tutorial at the bottom of this page for the Caramel Cheesecake.

As a bonus to my readers, I’m offering a copy of FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE to one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe for a chance to win. Contest ends Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!) Open to U.S. residents only.

Caramel Cheesecake

(Serves 8 -12)

Ingredients

Caramel Sauce

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Cheesecake

1 pound (16 ounces) ricotta cheese
1/4 cup rice flour or corn starch
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound (16 ounces) cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
4 egg whites (no yolks!)
1/2 cup MORE sugar
1/2 cup* crushed graham crackers (for gluten-free version of dessert, use gluten-free graham crackers)
2 tablespoons butter
Whipped cream for topping, if desired

*I like a thicker crust so I used 3/4 cup of graham cracker crumbs.

Instructions

Caramel Sauce

Open the can of sweetened condensed milk and set the can in a saucepan. Fill the saucepan with water to halfway up the sides of the can. Turn on the heat and bring the water to a boil. Turn the heat to low and let the condensed milk cook for about 2 hours, until it turns a warm brown color. (Make sure you don’t run out of hot water around the can; replenish if it starts to get too low!)

Using tongs or mitts, remove the can from the saucepan and let cool. This can be made a day ahead. Keep at room temperature. (My note: if you’re uncomfortable leaving dairy out overnight, refrigerate and then gently rewarm prior to drizzling over finished cheesecake.)

Cheesecake

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.

In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, mix ricotta cheese, rice flour (or corn starch), xanthan gum, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt until well blended.

Add cream cheese and sour cream and mix well.

In a small bowl, using a hand mixer, mix separately: egg whites (with no egg yolks in them) and the other 1/2 cup sugar until egg whites form a soft peak (about 6 – 8 minutes).

Fold the egg white mixture gently into the cheese mixture.

In a springform pan, set 1/2 cup crushed graham cracker cookies. (Note: if you want to ensure this is gluten-free, use gluten-free graham crackers.)

Drizzle crumbs with 2 tablespoons melted butter and press with your fingertips to create a “crust.”

Now drizzle the crust with 4 tablespoons of the caramel sauce in concentric circles.

Pour cheese mixture on top of the graham cracker crust.

Bake for 60 – 75 minutes. Cheesecake should still be just a bit jiggly.

Turn OFF the oven and let the cake STAND IN THE OVEN for 2 hours so the cheesecake will set and not droop.

When ready, remove cake from oven and run a knife between the cake and the springform pan, then pop open the springform pan and remove the cheesecake from the pan.

Set the cake on a platter and cover with plastic wrap.

Cool the cake in the refrigerator 1 – 2 hours (or overnight).

When ready to serve, drizzle with the remaining caramel sauce.

Top each slice with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Note from Grandmère: There is nothing more satisfying to me than a rich cheesecake. It reminds me of when we moved to the United States. Etienne and I landed in New york, at Ellis Island. We stayed the night in New York and we tasted our first cheesecake. I will never forget the rich flavors and the sweetness. It will forever be our reminder of the sweet life we came to seek…and found.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you subscribe to receive my post via email, you will need to visit my website to view video.

Stuffed Chicken Breast with Lemon-Tarragon Sauce

While it’s always fun to find a new author or new series to start, there’s something comforting about reading a new release in a series I’ve been following. It’s kind of like catching up with old friends and following along on one of their adventures…albeit from the safety of my sofa. When I found out that Barbara Ross was coming out with FOGGED INN, the latest installment in her Maine Clambake Mystery series, I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to dive in.

Julia Snowden has decided to stay in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, over the winter to continue her relationship with Chris Durand. Gus, owner of the town’s “residents only” breakfast and lunch restaurant, offers to let them use his restaurant during the evening to serve dinner and live in the apartment above. They both snatch the chance since winter is the down season with little work to go around and they agree to name their “restaurant” Gus’s Too.

Five weeks into their new venture, Julia is awakened by Gus yelling up the stairs to the apartment about a dead body in the walk-in refrigerator. It turns out to be the stranger who had sat at their bar the evening before. The police determine it’s murder and close the restaurant down while they investigate. With free time on her hands and the loss of their income, Julia determines to start asking questions to find answers when the police don’t seem to be making any progress.

She remembers that in addition to the stranger there were four other couples in the restaurant, all retiree aged and all ignoring each other. What made it unusual is that all four couples paid for their meal with gift certificates that had an expiration date added…which she didn’t do. Julia believes the couples were brought there for a reason and had to have some connection to the dead man. Before she can give the gift certificates to the police, someone breaks into their apartment while they are sleeping and steals them…but the police still think it’s just a coincidence.

A decades old photograph at the yacht club brings new light to Julia’s investigation and threatens to expose long buried secrets, but just like the gift certificates, it too vanishes. When another dead body shows up and with her home repeatedly invaded, she knows she needs to piece the puzzle together before the answers are lost in Maine’s pea soup fog.

Barbara has scored a home run with FOGGED INN and it’s my favorite in her series by far! In addition to a well plotted mystery with an ending that is unique and brimming with surprises, the author has undercurrents of many emotions which makes the characters seem real. The strong theme of friendship was deftly woven throughout the story and struck a chord with me. I loved Barbara’s use of a quote given by actor and writer, Mike O’Malley: “You cannot make any new old friends.” It came at a very poignant time for me as a dear friend was recently diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and is starting the fight of her life. A good reminder to cherish those around us!

In addition to a great mystery, Barbara includes many delicious recipes at the back of the book…and I want to try them all! In the end, I chose to make Gus’s Too Date Night Stuffed Chicken Breast with Lemon-Tarragon Sauce – yum! Chicken cutlets are wrapped around crispy, salty pancetta, creamy, nutty Fontina cheese, and fresh, vibrant spinach. The panko and Parmesan coating adds extra flavor and crunch to the chicken packet while the Lemon-Tarragon Sauce provides a nice earthy tang to the dish. Elegant enough for a date night or for company yet kid-friendly too…my granddaughters loved it! I made a video tutorial which is provided at the bottom of the page. Let me know if you like it because if it gets enough attention, I might take a shot at creating more tutorials and uploading them on Newsflare (https://www.newsflare.com/sellyourvideo) or similar sites to see if they can be sold online. Might as well make some profit if I can.

A special thank you to Barbara for allowing me to share her wonderful recipe with you!

As a bonus for my readers I have a copy of FOGGED INN to give to one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe for a chance to win. Contest ends Friday, February 26, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!) Open to U.S. residents only.

Gus’s Too Date Night
Stuffed Chicken Breast with Lemon-Tarragon Sauce

Chris and Julia worked hard to develop a menu for Gus’s Too that meets a lot of differing needs. Chris wants to cook good, fresh food that is fun and engaging. Julia wants the restaurant to offer couples stuck on the peninsula for the winter the possibility of a “date night.” They both know the restaurant needs to be affordable. Gus is adamant that they not serve anything on his menu. Although the menu changes daily, Date Night Stuffed Chicken Breast is one of Chris’s go-to offerings.

Ingredients

Chicken

4 – 6 ounces pancetta, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
8 chicken cutlets pounded 1/4-inch thick, 1/8-inch thick at the edges
1 – 2 cups baby spinach leaves
4 – 6 ounces Fontina cheese, cut into 1/8-inch cubes
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs

Sauce

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth, warmed
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, chopped

Instructions

Chicken

Fry the pancetta over medium heat until browned.

Lay each cutlet flat on a board. Put a small handful of spinach leaves and 1 tablespoon each of pancetta and Fontina cubes in the center.

Roll the cutlet into a packet, folding the sides into the center and pinching to seal. (My note: if you struggle with this, use a toothpick to secure. Just be sure to remove the toothpick before serving!)

Put the stuffed cutlets in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to complete the sealing process.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix bread crumbs and Parmesan in a bowl and put half on a plate.

Put flour on another plate.

Lightly beat eggs with a fork in a separate bowl.

Remove chicken from the refrigerator and roll each packet first in flour, being sure to shake off excess.

Roll the packet in the egg and finally in bread crumbs.

Place chicken on a wire rack set on a sheet pan. (Now is a good time to make sure all the toothpicks have been removed if you used them!)

Cook chicken for 40 – 45 minutes or until an instant read thermometer inserted in the center reads 165 degrees.

In the last twenty minutes or so of cooking time, make the sauce.

Sauce

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

After butter stops foaming, add flour and whisk together constantly for 3 minutes.

Begin adding broth slowly, whisking together, and continue to slowly add broth, whisking all the while.

Cook on medium-low heat until sauce thickens, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add lemon juice and chopped tarragon and cook for 1 minute more.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serves: 4

Tip

Toss baby spinach with a light vinaigrette made with lemon juice. Garnish with reserved pancetta and diced Fontina cheese for an easy salad that complements the flavors of the stuffed chicken breast.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you subscribe to receive my blog post via email, you will need to visit my website to view video.

A Most Curious Murder: A Little Library Mystery

Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli is offering two lucky people a chance to be one of the very first readers of her newest book releasing July 12, 2016

A MOST CURIOUS MURDER

Please be aware that this is a galley copy and is the UNcorrected version, but does have the cover art….so there will be some errors. However, I know her latest book will be a riveting tale!

Elizabeth Buzzelli also writes under the name Elizabeth Lee and is the author of two books that I’ve shared on my blog: A TOUGH NUT TO KILL and NUTS AND BURIED.

While I have not had a chance to read the galley myself (but I will, soon!) I will definitely be sharing my review along with a recipe from the author when the book releases. In the meantime, here is what Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli has to say about her book along with a brief overview:

In honor of Alice in Wonderland, and Alice’s 150^th birthday, I have written A Most Curious Murder, a mystery with Alice In Wonderland overtones and undertones. Of course, there were murders in the original, and a great deal of madness, so how could I write anything less? A couple of dead bodies, a Little Person who is a well-known expert on ‘Alice’, and Bear Falls, Michigan, a small Michigan town where everyone might be a suspect in the demise of two brothers.

Jenny Weston moves home to Bear Falls, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, to nurse her bruised ego back to health after a bitter divorce. It is a very strange town with tangled and damaged lives. There is budding love. There is old money. But the idyllic vision of her charming hometown crumbles when her mother’s little library is destroyed.

The next door neighbor, Zoe Zola, a little person and Lewis Carroll enthusiast, suspects local curmudgeon Adam Cane, but when he’s suddenly found dead in Zoe’s fairy garden, all roads lead back to her. Jenny, however, believes Zoe innocent, so the two women team up to find the true culprit, investigating the richest family in Bear Falls, interrogating a few odd townspeople and delving into old, hidden transgressions–until another body turns up.

A huge thank you to Elizabeth for giving my readers a chance to win two galleys of A MOST CURIOUS MURDER! Please use the Rafflecopter box below to enter. Contest ends Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!) Open to U.S. residents only.

One last thing, if you are a winner please leave a review (even if it’s just a couple sentences) on Goodreads when you’ve finished reading. Remember, this is an uncorrected copy so please overlook any errors when writing your review. Amazon won’t let you post until the book has actually released but it will be greatly appreciated if you can do so.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pumpkin Twists Dog Treats

When I saw that MURDER MOST FINICKY by Liz Mugavero was going to be a part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours I was very excited. While I have never read any books in this series (my misfortune!) lately I’ve been noticing other reviewers posting great things about this author and series so I knew I needed to add it to my reading list. As a bonus there are pet recipes included at the back of the book, which couldn’t have come at a better time.

One year ago this month, my granddaughter, Emory, adopted a rescue puppy and named her Piper. Fortunately, Piper settled in super-quickly – there are so many dogs who really struggle to adjust to their new surroundings, especially if they’ve been passed from place to place so aren’t sure if this is going to be just another temporary fixture. But, hopefully, with lots of love, and perhaps some CBD oil for dogs, they hopefully soon realise that they are in their forever home and can relax and bond with their humans. Of course celebrating Piper’s adoption anniversary called for making special dog treats so Emory made Liz’s Pumpkin Twists. Piper gave them two paws up and then proceeded to make it difficult to capture a photo without her trying to gobble up the dog treats! The author generously allowed me to share the recipe (provided by The Big Biscuit) and I’ve also included a video tutorial at the bottom of the page.

Kristan “Stan” Conner owns the Pawsitively Organic Food business but wants to expand into a shop in Frog Ledge, CT. Sheldon Allyn, known as Mr. Pastry, is interested in investing and helping her open a shop. When he puts together the Allyn Retreat for Top Chefs in Newport, R.I., to create a star menu for a collection of investors, Stan knows she’d better accept. She arrives at Sheldon’s palatial mansion and meets four of the other five chefs involved in the retreat. The fifth chef, Pierre LaPorte, is a no show until Stan and her cat, Nutty, stumble upon his murdered body on the mansion’s patio overlooking the ocean.

Of course the police take an extra close look at Stan since she found the body and are even more interested in her when they find out this isn’t the first time she’s been involved in a murder. But when another chef, Kyle McLeod, goes missing, he becomes the prime suspect. She’s happy to let the police figure out this crime so she can concentrate on creating her cat dish masterpieces for the investors. Except her estranged sister contacts her and begs Stan to find Kyle and clear his name, and she can’t say no. As she asks questions and digs into the past she finds most of the other chefs are hiding secrets, including her own sister. When another chef disappears Stan knows she’d better step up her investigation before there’s another victim.

As much as Piper loved her Pumpkin Twists I loved MURDER MOST FINICKY! There were plenty of twists and turns in the plot while the author kept me guessing until the very end. The action started right from the very first page and continued with the collection of quirky characters that added to the appeal of the book. Even though this is the fourth book, it was easily read as a stand-alone…but be warned, you’ll want to read the rest of these wonderful books once you finish the last page!

A very special thanks to Liz Mugavero for giving away two print copies of MURDER MOST FINICKY as part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours! Please enter using the Rafflecopter below and good luck!

Pumpkin Twists Dog Treats

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon Canola oil
1 egg
1/2 cup natural canned pumpkin
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour*
1-1/2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 dash cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F).

In a large bowl, combine water, oil, eggs, and pumpkin and whisk together.

Stir in the whole wheat flour, unbleached flour, cornmeal and cinnamon.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness.

With a knife or pizza cutter, cut out strips 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.

Twist strips and place on a greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Bake for 30 minutes, turn oven off and let cool inside for 20 -30 minutes.

Cool completely on a wire rack and store in a sealed container.

Treats may also be dehydrated to extend shelf life.

Recipe courtesy of The Big Biscuit

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Emory with her rescue puppy, Piper. What a difference one year makes!

If you subscribe to receive my blog post via email you will need to visit the website to view video.

Cranberry Pecan Yogurt Scones

I have been a fan of Victoria Hamilton’s Vintage Kitchen Mystery series and was delighted to find out that Victoria writes a Teapot Collector Mystery series under the name of Amanda Cooper. Recently I had the pleasure of reading her brand new release, THE GRIM STEEPER, the third book in her series and found I’ve been missing out!

When her grandmother, Rose Freemont, is hospitalized with a suspected heart attack, Sophie Taylor begs to take time off from her sous chef de cuisine position in the Hamptons. Denied permission, she quits. Not that Sophie is a quitter by nature but her grandmother means the world to her and she feels that she should be back in Gracious Grove, New York, to help out.

Out of a job, Sophie returns to work in her grandmother’s tearoom, Auntie Rose’s Victorian Tea House. With Rose’s health returning they plunge themselves into planning the Fall Fling, the town’s Tea Party, which Cruickshank College is sponsoring. In the midst of the preparations, a scandal rocks the college, involving her maybe boyfriend, Jason Murphy. Dean Asquith has accused Jason of accepting bribes to inflate the grades of the school’s star basketball player. Jason’s reputation and job are on the line and when the Dean is found dead in front of Auntie Rose’s Tea House, Sophie knows she’s going to have to find the culprit since the police have Jason in their sights.

THE GRIM STEEPER is the epitome of a cozy mystery! I love how the author connects the reader to the small town feel of Gracious Grove, where every body knows every one. Sophie’s grandmother is a sweet character and her group of teapot collectors, The Silver Spouts, adds charm and some humor when they decide to help with the investigation. The conflict between Sophie and her mother didn’t seem forced and there’s a hint of a mystery to what really happened between them. I’m hoping that relationship will be fully explored in the next book. Auntie Rose’s Victorian Tea House is some place I’d love to visit, especially to browse their teapot collection…have I mentioned I have a “few” teapots myself? And of course no tearoom would be caught without having scones.

Amanda (aka Victoria) has graciously provided a delicious recipe for Cranberry Pecan Yogurt Scones. Healthy yogurt replaces some of the butter in the recipe while still providing tender, flaky pastries. The ruby, tart cranberries and the buttery crunch of the pecans add just the right amount of flavor. My taste testers were clamoring for the recipe before the scones barely cooled! I’ve also included a short video tutorial at the bottom of the page, so you can see how simple these are to mix up.

A huge thank you to Amanda Cooper (Victoria Hamilton) for providing an autographed copy of THE GRIM STEEPER to one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe for a chance to win. Contest ends Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!) Open to Canadian and U.S. residents only.

Cranberry Pecan Yogurt Scones

Makes eight generous sized scones

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour (use the ‘lightly spoon into measuring cup and level’ method)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons (1/3 cup) cold butter – if you are using salted butter you can omit salt from the recipe.
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F).

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt (if you are using it).

Add in butter, bit by bit, mixing as you go. Rub it in with your fingers, if you like, but leave small pebbles of the cold butter in the mixture.

Stir in the cranberries and pecans, and then the yogurt. Mix gently, but thoroughly. It may take a bit to get all the dry ingredients worked into the yogurt.

Form dough into a ball. Place on a greased or parchment paper covered baking sheet and pat into a circle about a 1/2-inch thick.

Sprinkle with sugar – you could use turbinado or another decorative sugar for this, if you want, but plain sugar works just fine.

Cut into eight pie shaped segments, but don’t separate the wedges!

Bake at 425 degrees (F) for about 20 minutes, or until edges are slightly crisp and the top is lightly browned. It may need as little as 18 minutes, or as much as 22, but don’t over or under bake the scones!

The scones will break apart nicely into perfect wedges. These are delicious warm or cold, with butter or not, and also stand up well to preserves or jams like Cranberry Apple conserve or cherry jam. Perfect with tea of any kind!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you subscribe to receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.

« Previous Page