Kim, Author at Cinnamon and Sugar

Paleo Earl Grey Madeleines

RESTAURANT WEEKS ARE MURDER, the third book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series by Libby Klein, is another laugh out loud, can’t put down read! Ms. Klein continues to create and develop characters that are entertainingly funny with plenty of witty dialog to tickle the funny bone. Her use of clever similes brings each scene to life. Protagonist Poppy McAllister is smart yet a bit self-deprecating. I’ve appreciated her internal growth over the course of the series and this book is no exception. Poppy has learned to “manage” her feisty, always getting into trouble Aunt Ginny while she’s almost given up on trying to corral her always getting into trouble cat, Figaro. Between Aunt Ginny (who is a hoot) and Figaro, Ms. Klein has plenty of opportunities to insert even more humor.

I greatly enjoyed the theme of the book: a week-long cooking competition very similar to the Food Network program Chopped where the participating chefs must create a dish using strange mystery ingredients. I’ve always liked these types of television programs and reading about Poppy’s participation in such a competition was highly entertaining. The combination of cut-throat competitors, sabotaged ingredients plus kitchen equipment, and a murder victim create plenty of suspense and mystery for Poppy to solve. Are the crimes connected or are there multiple people out for revenge? Ms. Klein writes a tight plot that kept me turning pages late into the night until I finished the very last page.

Poppy is an accomplished pastry chef, specializing in paleo desserts and treats. I love that Ms. Klein provides several paleo recipes at the back of the book, all which sound mouthwatering! I was drawn to the Earl Gray Madeleines because 1) I love madeleines and 2) I love Earl Gray tea. The combination of flavors in this dessert is an elegant, delectable taste that is perfect for serving at an afternoon tea or champagne brunch!

Amazon Synopsis

Cape May, New Jersey, is the site of a big culinary competition—and the knives are out . . .

Poppy McAllister is happy about opening a Jersey Shore B&B—but working in a professional kitchen has always been her real dream. Now it’s coming true, at least briefly, as she teams up with her former fiancée, Tim—and his condescending partner, Gigi—during the high-profile Restaurant Week challenge. Poppy’s specialty is pastries, despite her devotion to a Paleo diet. But if anyone can make glorious gluten-free goodies, it’s Poppy.

Things get heated quickly—especially when some ingredients get switched and Tim’s accused of sabotage. Relatively harmless pranks soon escalate into real hazards, including an exploding deep fryer. And now one of the judges has died after taking a bite of Poppy’s cannoli—making her the chef suspect . . .

A special thanks to Libby Klein for providing a winner with an arc print copy of RESTAURANT WEEKS ARE MURDER. Contest ends Thursday, February 28, 2019 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!)

Paleo Earl Grey Madeleines

Ingredients

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus additional for molds, room temperature*
4 tablespoons loose Earl Grey tea or tea from 4 teabags
1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon coconut flour
1/2 cup arrowroot starch
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum
3 eggs
1/3 cup raw honey
1/4 cup butter, melted*
1/4 cup coconut milk
Zest of 1 lemon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).
Melt 5 tablespoons butter in saucepan over low heat. Mix in the tea. Let steep for 10 minutes.
Grease two madeleine pans with remaining butter.
In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, arrowroot starch, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum. Set aside.
Whip the eggs until thick and lemon colored.
Strain the butter/tea mixture well - you want as much of the butter as possible. Throw away the tea.
Add the honey, melted butter, coconut milk, lemon zest, and strained butter/tea mixture into the beaten eggs, while mixing on low.
Slowly add in the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until incorporated, scraping the sides of the bowl often.
Use a cookie scoop to evenly divide the batter among the greased madeleine molds in the pans. You should fill the madeleine molds just about entirely. Do not bang the pan or pat down the batter.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Mine were done in 12 minutes.
Let cool in pans for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to completely cool.

Notes:

*You can always use coconut oil if you are sensitive to dairy. Refined coconut oil will not have a coconut flavor.
Optional: Sprinkle the madeleines with with powdered sugar, but be aware this is not a Paleo option.

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

Spicy Chocolate Truffles

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A FLAIR FOR TRUFFLES, the fourth book in the Sadie Kramer Flair Mysteries by Deborah Garner, is a refreshing change to the lineup of cozy mystery young protagonists out there. Sadie Kramer is self-described as an “eccentric senior citizen who carries a dog around in a tote bag.” Despite her age, she is full of life, humor, and chocolate! I drooled over all the yummy sounding chocolate truffles she gets to sample whenever she visits her neighboring business, Cioccalato. I also appreciate that the author takes a moment to remind readers that chocolate and dogs don’t mix, especially during this holiday when chocolate gifts make the rounds. Coco, Sadie’s adorable Yorkie, adds her own brand of cuteness and humor to the story and fills in as a sidekick while Sadie investigates murder.

With San Francisco as a backdrop, the reader is treated to wonderful descriptions of the best that the city has to offer, along with a culinary tour of not to miss eats. It’s like a mini-vacation on the page. Despite the short length of this book, Ms. Garner manages to create a full-bodied mystery with fun characters, clues, and suspects, while throwing in entertaining humor!

I had the privilege of contributing the recipe for Spicy Chocolate Truffles included in A FLAIR FOR TRUFFLES. Using pantry staples, these creamy candies are quick to make. And by rolling the finished candy in holiday-themed sprinkles, these truffles are the perfect gift for any special occasion, year-round!

Amazon Synopsis

Sadie Kramer’s friendly offer to deliver three boxes of gourmet Valentines truffles for her neighbor’s chocolate shop, Cioccolato, backfires when she arrives to find the intended recipient deceased. Even more intriguing is the fact that the elegant heart-shaped gifts were ordered by three different men.

With the help of one detective and the hindrance of another, Sadie will search San Francisco from the prestigious financial district to a low-life bar, to iconic Fisherman’s Wharf, looking for clues. With the help of her trusted sidekick Yorkie, Coco, will Sadie manage to find out “whodunnit” before the killer finds a way to stop her?

A special thanks to Deborah Garner for providing a winner with their choice of either print or an e-book copy of A FLAIR FOR TRUFFLES. Contest ends Tuesday, February 19, 2019 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!)

Spicy Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

Truffles:

1 14-ounce sweetened condensed milk
16 ounces good-quality bittersweet chocolate chips or bars chopped into small pieces
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder, depending on how spicy you like it
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Garnish:

Your choice of cocoa powder, hot cocoa mix, non-melting confectioners' sugar, or holiday-themed candy sprinkles

Instructions

For the truffles:

Heat the sweetened condensed milk in a small saucepan just until the edges start to bubble, stirring constantly. Do NOT allow to boil.
Place the chocolate in a medium-sized heat-proof bowl. Pour the hot milk over the chocolate and allow to sit for two minutes. Add in the vanilla, sea salt, cinnamon, and cayenne powder and stir until the chocolate is fully melted.
Cover and refrigerate until chilled, around 1 hour. Mixture should be firm but not hard.
Roll the chilled mixture into small balls then roll into your choice of garnish.
Serve truffles at room temperature. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

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Peanut Butter and Bacon Homemade Dog Treats

I’m happy to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours presenting MURDER, SHE MEOWED! This seventh book in the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series by Liz Mugavero, brings the reader to Frog Ledge, Connecticut where protagonist, Stan (Kristan) Conner is preparing for her nuptials. Weddings are supposed to be joyous times but Stan is feeling nothing but stress because her mother is planning the wedding of her dreams and not those of her daughter. Adding to Stan’s angst is her own sister forcing a bachelorette party on the bride-to-be, complete with a handsome guy jumping out of a huge cake. Except the poor man is stabbed to death inside the cake while waiting for his cue to entertain and drags Stan into focusing on murder instead of wedding plans. Ms. Mugavero weaves a tight tale that helps the reader feel the emotions the characters feel and visualize the scenes they occupy. I greatly enjoy how, with each book, she’s stretched the protagonist and supporting characters. This has brought about personal and external challenges, growth and change which reflect how endearing the characters have become to readers throughout this series.

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The mystery itself is well-plotted. The victim seems like a happy-go-lucky guy which makes it harder to imagine someone would actually want to murder him. Yet as Stan delves into his life, she finds people who were jealous of him and the suspects start piling up. I’ll admit the creepy stalker and Fatal Attraction scenario with a chocolate bunny was a clever idea and captured my attention. It added a unique twist with an interesting ending that I didn’t see coming. While Stan has a way of getting involved in investigations, her future sister-in-law, a sergeant with the Connecticut State Police, hasn’t always been happy about her meddling. It was nice to see how she’s finally recognizing that Stan has valuable insight and welcomes it to help capture the killer. MURDER, SHE MEOWED is another terrific addition to an entertaining and endearing series!

Stan is the owner of the Pawsitively Organic Pet Patisserie and bakes special treats for the town’s pets. Ms. Mugavero provides several recipes at the back of the book for our furry friends and I knew my grand-puppy, Piper, would adore her Bacon and Peanut Butter Homemade Dog Treats. A dog would likely be happy with any good treats, be they some of the Serenity Store’s range of dog products or these homemade treats, but I felt like spoiling my girl today. These whole-grain bites are full of flavor thanks to a generous amount of peanut butter and bits of bacon. And I was right… Piper danced around and begged just as soon as her nose caught a whiff of these treats! I liked that they were easy to mix up and they freeze well so we can spoil our four-legged fur-baby for weeks to come.
In case you aren’t sure whether the same food or ingredients would suit your cute canine, it’s better to seek some professional advice on that. There are various websites that can provide you with the necessary information, considering your dog’s breed type and age. You can get more details here.

Amazon Synopsis

Kristan “Stan” Connor loves concocting tasty organic treats for dogs and cats-and she also loves her fiancé, pub owner Jake McGee. But she’s not so enthusiastic about finding a dead body at her own bachelorette party . . .

Stan and Jake’s wedding will soon take place on the town green in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, followed by a reception at their beloved Irish pub filled with friends, family, and their four favorite canine companions. Stan just has to endure the traditional girls’ night out first. Male strippers jumping out of gigantic cakes aren’t her preferred entertainment. But the hired hottie never gets around to taking it all off . . . because someone takes him out first with one of Stan’s kitchen knives. A heartbroken Stan recognizes the victim as one of the delivery men from the local farm-who must have been moonlighting for some extra cash. Now the guest list has turned into a suspect list-and Stan’s making a vow to find the killer . . .

A special thanks to Liz Mugavero for providing THREE print copies of MURDER, SHE MEOWED for three lucky winners! Contest ends February 12, 2019 and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and the winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Peanut Butter and Bacon Homemade Dog Treats

Recipe courtesy of Chris Carrington

Ingredients

1 cup creamy natural peanut butter
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg
2 cups plus 1 tablespoon whole-wheat flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl, add the peanut butter, milk, and egg. Stir until well mixed. Add the flour and baking powder. Mix well to incorporate all of the ingredients.
Knead the dough until it is firm and elastic. You can knead directly in the bowl, or if you prefer, on a level workspace. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour onto your workspace and place the kneaded ball of dough on top. Flatten the dough a bit and sprinkle the crumbled bacon and oats on top. Knead the dough four or five more times to distribute the bacon and oats.
Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes and cool on a wire rack.
You can store these peanut butter and bacon dog treats in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, if they last that long. You can also freeze them for up to 1 month.

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

Gertie’s Saint Patrick’s Cheesecake

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CORNED BEEF AND CAUSALTIES is another holiday novella in the Tourist Trap Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. While I prefer full-length books, I do adore the Tourist Trap Mysteries and the ability to visit South Cove, California even if for a short read. And I’m always drawn to St. Patrick’s Day themed stories… especially since my maiden name is McMahan. Protagonist Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More is getting ready for the town’s first ever St. Patrick’s Day event. And what an event it turns out to be with perhaps just a little too much flowing green beer. Ms. Cahoon captures the festival’s shenanigans and celebratory spirit with fun descriptions and events.

When the sweet woman, who Jill felt a close connection to after their brief chance meeting, is found murdered on a deserted beach, she feels the need to get involved. I liked how the author has the townspeople come together to piece together the victim’s last hours on earth to help solve the mystery. Even though it is a novella, I felt the story contained all the necessary elements to make it a delightful read: good characters, a mystery to be solved, clues sprinkled around, and a satisfying conclusion.

Not only is Jill’s shop known for its coffee drinks but also for its sweet treats, especially cheesecakes. Jill’s friend, Sadie, who is the owner of Pies on the Fly, creates the desserts and comes up with a special cheesecake especially for St. Patrick’s Day. She names the cheesecake after the fun visitor who shows up at the end of the book… Gertie might be real or imagined or mystical… either way, the cheesecake inspired by her appearance embraces the epitome of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The creamy, slightly minty filling perfectly complements the chocolate crust and received high praise from my friends! While the spring green color is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, this is so yummy you’ll want to make it throughout the year.

Amazon Synopsis

South Cove, California, is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day—and there’s going to be a parade of suspects.

Jill Gardner’s store, Coffee, Books, and More, is raking in the green as her little coastal town holds a big festival for St. Patrick’s Day. But the locals aren’t exactly feeling the luck of the Irish, thanks to the rowdy behavior of some of the tourists who are pouring in.

Then a woman who just visited Jill’s shop is found dead near the shore. The fireworks display on the beach may have already happened, but the real fireworks have just begun . . .

A special thanks to Lynn Cahoon for providing a winner with an e-book copy of CORNED BEEF AND CASUALTIES. Contest ends Sunday, February 10, 2019 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!)

Gertie's Saint Patrick's Cheesecake

Ingredients

2 pre-made chocolate graham cracker crusts

Filling:

4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1/3 cup green Crème de menthe liqueur

Topping:

Whipped Cream
Shaved Chocolate

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F).
Microwave chocolate on High 45 to 60 seconds, stirring once halfway through microwaving, until melted. Set aside.
Mix together cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Stir in liqueur.
Pour filling evenly over crusts.
Drop melted chocolate randomly onto filling. Let it sink, then with a knife, cut through chocolate and filling to swirl to marble.
Bake 1 hour, 10 minutes until set. Turn oven off and open door slightly. Cool cheesecake in oven 1 hour.
Remove from oven and cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Refrigerate 3 hours.
Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate if desired, right before serving.

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#giveaway Celebrating Cinnamon & Sugar’s 4th Year Blogiversary

I am overwhelmed by gratitude for the many, many wonderful authors and their fans who have made my blog a success! I truly appreciate the generosity of these talented authors who share their books and delicious recipes with the cozy mystery community. You have all inspired me both in the kitchen and in writing my own books!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of my journey!!!

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Announcement!

I am thrilled to announce that I recently signed a contract with Blue Ridge Literary Agency to represent my new culinary cozy mystery (tentatively titled), SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION! I know there’s a lot of hard work ahead before it finds a home, but I’m excited about this first step.

Sale!

And to continue the celebration my suspense book, A GAME OF DECEIT, is on sale! Amazon e-book price is $0.99 and print price is $7.99.

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Amazon Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2B7hNid

Contest and sale ends February 10, 2019

Heavenly Hot Fudge Sauce

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HOT FUDGE MURDER, the second book in the Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe Mystery series by Cynthia Baxter is a sweet mystery with lots of yummy, cold treats to whet the reader’s appetite! I greatly enjoyed the way the author starts each chapter with a historical blurb on ice cream. Not only was it entertaining but it was educational. I was also intrigued “watching” how the protagonist, Kate McKay, puzzles over flavor combinations to create new ice cream flavors for her shop, Lickety Splits. So many unique flavors and most of them sound divine! While the ice cream and charming shop provide a relaxing, inviting setting, it’s not long before murder intrudes, disrupting a party Kate has been hired to cater. Worried what it might mean for both her fledgling business and her town’s tourist trade, she knows she must step in and find the killer before financial ruin becomes a reality. Kate isn’t a sophisticated investigator, but her determination to ask questions despite her reluctance is sweet. While I figured out the killer early on, there was a twist to the story that I didn’t expect. This provided great satisfaction to a light-hearted read.

I enjoyed Ms. Baxter’s descriptive voice which helped me visualize the settings and the characters so I felt like I was right there experiencing what Kate was experiencing. I also loved Kate’s relationship with her ‘Grams’ and her niece, Emma. They have an adorable closeness that is heart-warming. She also has a great sidekick in her best friend, Willow. Opposites, they complement each other and provide opportunities for good dialog. The author also sets up potential romances for Kate in future books. Personally I hope she steers clear of the over-done love triangle and allows Kate a realistic relationship. However, one of her potential suitors is from her past and I thought it was a clever way to learn some of Kate’s backstory. While I haven’t had a chance to read the first book in the series, HOT FUDGE MURDER is easily read as a standalone. Ms. Baxter provides just enough information to help the reader connect with the characters without detracting from the main plotline. I look forward to seeing what happens next to Kate and seeing what delectable ice cream flavors she comes up with in future releases!

I’ll admit, I adore ice cream! Anything with chocolate, nuts, or caramel, and I’m in heaven. Fortunately for the reader, there are a couple recipes at the back of the book. One is a sorbet, and it sounds remarkable. While I greatly enjoy that type of frozen dessert, I couldn’t pass up the chance to try Heavenly Hot Fudge Sauce because, well, chocolate! And any kind of ice cream is oh so yummy when drenched in hot fudge. I liked the ease of making this hot fudge sauce in the blender and especially loved the author’s recommendation that it works well for dipping other foods into, like fruit or cake… but I’ll admit I was just as happy eating a spoonful straight from the jar for dessert! I’ll be keeping a jar of this heavenly yumminess in my refrigerator to reward myself with at dessert time and just might share a jar or two with some lucky friends.

One thing the author mentions in her book is Kate’s involvement in food photography. I was more than intrigued when she talks about how mashed potatoes are used to mimic ice cream when photographing, so there’s not the issue of melting. Plus, shaving cream is used in lieu of whipped cream. I had to try it for myself since I’ve struggled with melting dishes of ice cream and trying to run them back and forth from the freezer trying to snap a few photos before running the dish back to the freezer to chill before starting all over again. It worked amazingly well and now that you know my secret…

Amazon Synopsis

Just six weeks after the grand opening of Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe, owner Kate McKay has been enlisted to whip up sundaes at the most decadent soiree in the Hudson Valley. If only Kate knew how deadly sticky her sweet deal will turn out . . .

Once Kate arrives at a glamorous gala hosted by world-famous fashion designer Omar DeVane, she’s instantly intimidated by the mogul’s luxurious mansion and the frosty personalities of his handlers. But the party completely loses its flavor when guests follow screams to a room that’s eerily empty—except for Omar’s freshly murdered body . . .

While the headline-grabbing crime brings a steady stream of journalists to the sleepy village of Wolfert’s Roost, Kate knows things won’t return to normal until Omar’s killer is brought to justice. And with the scandalous case driving customers away from Lickety Splits, she has no choice but to put down the ice cream scooper and expose the culprit on her own . . .

As Kate crashes high-profile photo shoots and mingles with fashion’s biggest influencers in search of clues, the puzzling truth about Omar’s fame and fortune rises to the surface—and with it, the key to his killer’s twisted motive. Kate will have to navigate the celebrity lifestyle to save her fledgling business, but her attempts to freeze cold-hearted criminals in their tracks could lead to a double scoop of deadly trouble . . .

A special thanks to Cynthia Baxter and Kensington for providing a winner with a print copy of HOT FUDGE MURDER. Contest ends Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Heavenly Hot Fudge Sauce

The secret to this utterly divine topping is whipping it up in a blender. Not only does beating it improve the texture, adding air to food, anything from carbonated beverages to whipped cream, always makes it taste better.

This hot fudge sauce is fantastic not only on ice cream, but also on pound cake, strawberries, or bananas, or for a chocolate fondue... in fact, there's probably not a single food that couldn't be improved by dipping it in hot fudge sauce!

Be sure to use a better-quality cocoa powder, like Ghiradelli. It may cost a little more, but it's so worth it!

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1/3 - 1/2 cup cocoa powder
2-1/2 cups sugar
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt

Instructions

In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the butter, cocoa, sugar, salt, and evaporated milk. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat and let it boil for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the vanilla. Pour the mixture into a blender and blend it for about 3 minutes.
It is best served immediately, but after cooling it, it can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated right before using.

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