Kim, Author at Cinnamon and Sugar

Molly’s Double Chocolate Cookie Bars

I always love finding new books to read and I was happy when I picked up the newest release in Betty Hechtman’s Crochet Mystery series, HOOKING FOR TROUBLE. Even though I have not read any in this series and this is the eleventh book (boy do I have a lot of catching up to do!) it was an enjoyable, fun read!

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Synopsis

Molly Pink is an event coordinator and assistant manager at Shedd & Royal Books and More in San Fernando Valley, Southern California. She has organized the Tarzana Hookers, a group of crocheters who meet at the shop and work on projects for charities. Celebrity Cheyenne Chambers has just moved in next door to her house and Molly thinks she witnesses domestic abuse occurring so calls her ex-boyfriend, Detective Barry Greenberg. When Barry investigates he finds no evidence of wrong doing and tells Molly to mind her own business. But she can’t and late at night she’s certain she sees a dead body lying in the yard below the celebrity’s balcony. When Barry shows up again to investigate, the nanny shows him that the “body” is nothing more than a chaise lounge cushion.

Barry warns Molly to leave things alone but she’s certain she knows what she saw. When Cheyenne and her sister join the shop’s crochet group, Molly determines to ask questions and get to the bottom of things. She finds out that the Chambers’ nanny took a leave of absence with no notice, right after the detective showed up. No one seems concerned but Molly is still certain there was foul play. However, as her best friend says, “How can you find a body when you don’t even know who you’re looking for?” Undeterred, Molly continues her search for answers while helping organize a musical event at the shop featuring Cheyenne Chambers and Molly’s own mother. She’s also in the middle of helping two friends plan their weddings. Can she stay focused and solve the mystery proving Barry wrong, or will she get tangled up in the activities and follow the detective’s advice to leave well enough alone?

My Review

I grew up watching my grandmother crochet all evening long whether she was watching tv or chatting with family. There is a certain mesmerizing rhythm to crocheting (and knitting) that can be soothing and Betty Hechtman manages to convey that feeling throughout the book, even with a murder mystery taking place. The plot surprised me and stepped outside the usual format which kept me guessing, erroneously, which way the twists and turns where heading. It’s the kind of story that kept me turning pages late into the night to find out what happens next. While the characters were new to me, it was easy to jump in and figure out who was who without being distracted. The bits of backstory and the writing is concise without being distracting. I enjoyed Molly’s entertaining mother, who adds lots of fun to the subplots, along with her friends who both inspire and challenge.

While the crocheting bug never grabbed me (I tried but didn’t have the patience to stick with it) Betty has included a scarf pattern at the back of the book that sounds delightful. She also has a couple of recipes included and has graciously allowed me to share the recipe for Molly’s Double Chocolate Cookie Bars. Oh my, a chocolate lover’s dream cookie! Rich cocoa powder flavors the dough while dark chocolate chunks provide creamy melt-in-your mouth yumminess and walnuts add a nice crunchy contrast. I liked that the dough bakes in a jelly roll pan, creating lots of small bars for a group, while not taking as long to bake as baking sheets of cookies. This recipe is perfect for upcoming holiday parties or for sharing with family and friends to celebrate the season!

A huge thank you to Betty Hechtman for providing an autographed copy of HOOKING FOR TROUBLE for one lucky winner! Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Molly’s Double Chocolate Cookie Bars

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup dark-brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
4.5-ounce dark chocolate bar broken into small pieces
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
Combine sugars and cocoa powder in a small bowl.
Using an electric mixer, cream butter and then gradually add the sugar and cocoa mixture.
Add vanilla extract. Beat until blended.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Stir in chocolate pieces and nuts.
Line a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
Spread batter in pan and bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
Cool in pan on a wire rack.
Cut into bars. Makes 48 cookie bars.

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Matthew’s Crock-Pot Marinara Meatballs

A library, a murder, good food, and a little romance… BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, the new release by Jenn McKinlay in the Library Lover’s Mystery series, has all the ingredients for a highly entertaining read!

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Synopsis

Briar Creek’s library director, Lindsey Norris, has instituted the first ever amnesty for returning overdue books and forgiving fines. Lindsey and her staff are totally unprepared for the amount of books that are returned and as they sift through the piles they find a book that had been checked out twenty years ago. Ms. Cole, who has been working at the library for decades, searches her old records and finds that Candice Whitley, a local high school teacher, had checked the book out…on the day that she was murdered!

Since the case was never solved, Lindsey takes the book to Police Chief Emma Plewicki, thinking the murderer might have been the one to turn it in. The police are interested in looking into it but have their hands full with a rash of burglaries that have been going on. Lindsey feels a deep seated need to find the answers to who killed Candice and find justice for the well liked teacher. She uses her library research skills to ask questions and dig deeper into the twenty-year-old mystery. Will she be able to peel the layers of the past away and find the killer or will their identity remain buried in the lies and secrets that have protected them all those years?

My Review

There are so many things to enjoy about BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! Jenn McKinlay weaves a tight tale of murder that happened twenty years before while Lindsey tries to solve it in the current day. The time span poses challenges but Jenn handles it effortlessly creating a plot that flows. The protagonist is surrounded by memorable characters, from her best friend, Beth, to elderly Ms. Cole who doesn’t like how Lindsey runs the library and is quick to let her know. And then there’s her love interest, Captain Mike Sullivan, aka Sully. Lindsey isn’t sure where she stands in their relationship and wants to take it slow and Sully is not one to talk about feelings. Can they move beyond their first botched attempt at romance or will misunderstandings keep them apart? Their relationship, while a subplot of the book, adds a certain sweetness to the story. Besides an entertaining read, Jenn writes with a laugh out loud flair. I loved her description of OMC Syndrome (One More Chapter)…and if you read this author’s books you’re bound to suffer from it too!

One of the programs that Lindsey has instituted at the Briar Creek Public Library is the Crafternooners, which is a group of people who meet to eat, discuss books, and do a craft. The author includes recipes, a craft, and a book discussion guide at the back of the book just like the Crafternooners use. I enjoyed the inclusion of these extras and especially like the recipes. One of the new members of the Crafternooners, Matthew, brings a dish of meatballs to one of the meetings. Jenn has graciously allowed me to share the recipe for Matthew’s Crock-Pot Marinara Meatballs. I’m always on the lookout for new slow cooker recipes and this one will definitely go into my rotation — it’s that good and it’s that easy! Starting with a marinara sauce that uses pantry staples and whirls up quickly in a blender to throwing a few delicious ingredients into a bowl, mixing and forming meatballs, and then combining them in a Crock-Pot. No messy frying or pre-baking and no extra pots and pans to clean up… just lots of flavorful, homemade taste without the hassle!

A huge thank you to Jenn McKinlay for providing an autographed hardcover copy of BETTER LATE THAN NEVER for one lucky winner! Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Friday, November 11, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Matthew’s Crock-Pot Marinara Meatballs

Ingredients

Marinara Sauce

2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
1 (14.5 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 bay leaves
36 meatballs, uncooked (recipe below)

Meatballs

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1/2 cup red wine, such as Chianti
1/4 cup fresh-grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Instructions

Marinara Sauce

In a large blender, combine all the ingredients except the bay leaves and the meatballs.
Blend until your sauce is the consistency you prefer, chunky or smooth.
Pour half of the sauce on the bottom of the Crock-Pot. Put aside remaining sauce to pour on top of the meatballs.
Place uncooked meatballs in Crock-Pot.
Pour sauce on top, until covered.
Add bay leaves.
Cover and cook on high for 3 - 4 hours, or low for 6 - 8 hours.
Remove bay leaves before serving.

Meatballs

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients until well blended.
Roll the mixture evenly into 36 meatballs.

Tip

Serve meatballs and sauce over your favorite pasta or on hearty hoagie rolls. These also make amazing appetizers and the Crock-pot keeps them warm as people help themselves.

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Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

I’m very happy to be a part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for the brand new release, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE by Rebecca Adler! From the moment I read the title and saw the cover I knew I wanted to dip into this book.

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Synopsis

Josie Callahan has moved back to Broken Boots after being abandoned at the alter by her fiancé. Trying to forget her humiliation she takes a job as a journalist for the Broken Boot Bugle and to help make ends meet, works at her family’s restaurant, Milagro. When country western performer, Jeff Clark, comes to town for the Homestead Days Musical Festival, Josie has her hopes up for a killer interview. After all her best friend, Patti, used to date Jeff and it appears they might be rekindling the romance. When Jeff Clark blows off their interview, Josie tracks him down and finds him dead, face down in a bowl of guacamole in Patti’s house.

The police arrest Patti after her fingerprints were found all over the murder weapon and a witness claims they heard Patti and Jeff violently arguing late the night before. Despite what the police say, Josie is positive her friend is innocent. Using her journalistic skills, she starts asking questions hoping to track down the real killer and free her friend. Plus it wouldn’t hurt her career to scoop the story for her newspaper. But the more questions she asks the more people she finds wanted Jeff out of the way. Can Josie sift through the clues and suspects or will the real killer salsa away while her friend takes the fall?

My Review

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE did not disappoint! I loved Josie’s relationship with her aunt, uncle, and grandmother, Señora Mari. She’s been raised by her relatives after her parents died in an accident when she was twelve and it’s obvious that Josie has a very close bond with them. They also provide a bit of comedic relief with their meddlesome antics, especially Señora Mari, who while appearing gruff on the outside, has a heart of gold. Josie’s Chihuahua, Lenny, is a nice sidekick for her and I would dearly love to read Lenny’s blog! And then there is her best friend, Goth princess Patti Perez. While some folks might look at the exterior of Patti and only see a hardened gal, the author helps us see below the surface and get to know the real person. A good lesson in real life not to judge people based on their appearance alone!

Rebecca provides a satisfying mystery to whet your appetite for more, with plenty of suspects drawn from both the townspeople and the band’s roadies. The dialog is snappy and the down-home sayings are cute and add to the feel of the western Texan town of Broken Boots. And then there’s the food…oh my, so many mentions of tamales made me want to run to Costco and pick up a dozen (although I know they would not be as yummy as Señora Mari’s, but at least they’d satisfy my craving) along with lots of other delectable Tex-Mex food served at Milagro. Although I’ll admit I will be pausing for a moment whenever I eat guacamole after reading this book 🙂 Rebecca has also graciously allowed me to share her recipe for The Cogburn Hotel’s Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies. These delightful treats have just the right amount of soft chewiness with melt in your mouth creamy chocolate chips and buttery, crunchy pecans. The perfect combination! Be sure to check out the back of her book for other mouth-watering recipes, all which sound delicious.

Thanks to the publisher, I have a print copy of THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE to give to one winner. Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

The Cogburn Hotel's Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter 2 sticks, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (F).
In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until combined.
Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture.
Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans.
Spoon the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet by tablespoons.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Tip:

According to King Arthur Flour, refrigerating your dough for at least 30 minutes prior to baking results in a tastier cookie that browns more evenly. I tried it and it really does work!

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Tour Participants

October 24 – Sleuth Cafe
October 24 – Books,Dreams,Life
October 25 – View from the Birdhouse
October 25 – Bibliophile Reviews
October 26 – StoreyBook Reviews
October 26 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary
October 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
October 28 – Shelley’s Book Case
October 28 – A Blue Million Books
October 29 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews
October 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy
October 31 – Back Porchervations
October 31 – Readeropolis
November 1 – LibriAmoriMiei
November 1 – A Holland Reads
November 2 – Brooke Blogs
November 2 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
November 3 – Texas Book-aholic
November 4 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder
November 4 – Varietats
November 5 – Community Bookstop
November 6 – MysteriesEtc

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Vicki’s Molasses Spice Cookies

As I’ve mentioned before (and will probably say it a few more times) I just love the Christmas season! When I found out that Vicki Delany was releasing her new holiday-themed book, WE WISH YOU A MURDEROUS CHRISTMAS, I was elated… Besides, don’t you just love the clever play on Christmas carol titles?

Synopsis

Merry Wilkinson owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures in Rudolph, New York. Rudolf is America’s Christmas Town and the place for year-round Christmas celebrations. The town is preparing for Christmas day with lots of festivities and holiday cheer. One of the elegant places to celebrate is at the Yuletide Inn and as Merry and best friend leave the Inn after dinner, they witness the owner, Jack Olsen, suffer a massive heart attack. Merry’s father, Noel, is Jack’s best friend and does everything he can to help his friend. Jack survives but has a long recovery so asks his son, Gordon Olsen, to help out at the Inn. But once Gordon arrives from California he does everything he can to take control of the restaurant and Inn away from his father and step-mother.

When Gordon cuts corners and fires local vendors who supplied the restaurant and Inn with local fares, many of the townspeople are appalled. But when he brings in a budget hotel chain to discuss selling Yuletide Inn, someone is so angry they stab him to death and leave him out in the snowy garden late one night. The police set their sights on Noel, who was overheard threatening Gordon over ruining Christmas and their town. Merry likes the new detective but worries that since she is an outsider, Noel will take the blame for the killing. Merry starts asking questions trying to decipher long buried secrets that could destroy their town. Will she be able to find the grinch who stole Gordon’s life and save Christmas?

My Review

The town of Rudolph will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit! I loved the sights, the sounds, the smells of holiday cheer that Vicki Delany weaves into WE WISH YOU A MURDEROUS CHRISTMAS, along with a murderous plot that kept me turning pages and guessing until the reveal. There were plenty of suspects with believable reasons why they would have wanted Gordon Olsen dead, while the subplots added dimension to a terrific story without detracting from it. The author has also created memorable characters, especially with Merry’s father, Noel, who epitomizes Christmas and was born on Christmas day. By the end of this book, you’ll be left with a magical feeling that just maybe Santa does exist!

While there aren’t any recipes included in the book, Vicki has shared her own recipe for Molasses Spice Cookies. These delightful treats bring an incredibly delicious smell to your kitchen which will instantly put you into the holiday mood. And once you take a bite of these spiced chewy cookies, you’re bound to find you have a new favorite Christmas goodie! Vicki tells me that these cookies are sturdy enough to package and ship which makes them perfect for gift-giving this holiday season. Thank you, Vicki, for sharing your recipe for Molasses Spice Cookies!

A huge thank you to Vicki Delany for providing an autographed copy of WE WISH YOU A MURDEROUS CHRISTMAS to one winner. Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Vicki’s Molasses Spice Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups sugar divided
3/4 cup 6 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.
With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined.
Beat in egg and then molasses, until combined.
Reduce speed to low and gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until dough forms.
Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon.
Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.
Arrange cookie balls on a baking sheet, 3 inches apart.
Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges of cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes.
Cool 1 minute on baking sheet then transfer to racks to cool completely.

Vicki's Tips:

If you bake 2 cookie sheets at a time the cookies will not crackle uniformly.
These cookies are sturdy enough to hold up for shipping to family and friends!

Cinnamon & Sugar's Tips:

I like to add 1/4 cup of finely chopped candied ginger to these cookies.
If dough seems too sticky for rolling, refrigerate for 30 minutes.
I made a gluten-free / dairy-free batch of these by substituting with King Arthur's new gluten-free flour, Measure For Measure, along with Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks. They turned out amazing!

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Classic Banoffee Pie

I have been following the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series by H.Y. Hanna for some time and am impressed with her entertaining stories and classic English desserts! I was delighted that I didn’t have too long of a wait in between her last book and eagerly pick up the newest release in her series, MUFFINS AND MOURNING TEA.

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Synopsis

Gemma Rose, owner of Little Stables Tearoom near Oxford, has finally moved into her own tiny cottage with her darling tabby, Meuseli. Gemma is happy to be on her own except for worrying a bit that her boyfriend, CID Detective Devlin O’Connor, might be a tad upset that she chose not to live with him. But between working at her busy tearoom and preparing for May Day festivities, she doesn’t have much time to worry too much. Her best friend, Cassie, talks Gemma into attending Oxford’s early morning May Day celebration, like they did as students. With the crush of people on the bridge listening to the university’s choir usher in the day, Gemma is horrified when the man next to her topples off the bridge and instead of swimming out of the water, floats face down.

It is soon discovered that the student was stabbed to death. Gemma is sorry for the young man and his distraught Russian girlfriend, but is glad she’s not connected to this death…until her chef begs her to solve the case because her best friend, middle-aged Miriam, is the chief suspect. Miriam worked as the Scout (housekeeper) for the dead man’s university room and the weapon turns out to belong to her. The four “Old Biddies” are soon dragging Gemma into the investigation even though Devlin repeatedly warns her to stay away from his case. Can Gemma survive the Krav Maga training the Old Biddies drag her to? Can she figure out why Devlin is so withdrawn or will she cave in to his wishes to not investigate? Will she be able to clear Miriam’s name or will the killer walk away from the crime? And just what is Gemma going to do with all the hysterically hideous housewarming “gifts” and plants being given to her by the Old Biddies and her mother?

My Review

MUFFINS AND MOURNING TEA is even better than the last book in the series, which is saying a lot since I’ve loved each and everyone of H.Y. Hanna’s books. She makes you feel like you’re actually visiting Oxford and participating in the May Day celebrations and sipping tea at her Little Stables Tearoom. I loved the bits and pieces of history that she provides about the area and the traditions. It adds to the book without detracting from the story. Be sure to read through to the back of the book for the Glossary of British Terms, which is entertaining reading on its own.

The plot has a good flow to it with lots of interesting suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. But once again, it’s the characters that have me coming back and eagerly waiting for the next installment! Without a doubt, the Old Biddies steal the scenes they are in and they create many laugh out loud moments. Adorable Meuseli is a cheeky little tabby that will win your heart. Gemma’s relationship with Devlin seems to be at a turning point while her friendship with Cassie provides a sounding board. They all combine to create a story where I wish I could hang out at Little Stables Tearoom and take in the gossip and atmosphere while Gemma solves her cases!

H.Y. Hanna also provides a recipe for Classic Banoffee Pie at the back of the book. When she asked me to test the recipe I’ll have to admit that while I had heard of this dessert I had never tried it or even seen a recipe. Thank goodness for Wikipedia and Pinterest 🙂 According to Wikipedia, “credit for the pie’s invention is claimed by Nigel Mackenzie and Ian Dowding, the owner and chef respectively of The Hungry Monk Restaurant in Jevington, East Sussex in 1971.” They combined the the words banana and toffee to create Banoffee which is amazingly rich and decadent! The pie isn’t difficult to make but the results are quite elegant and I think I just about licked the plate clean! In fact, the toffee sauce is so easy I’ll be making it for ice cream sundaes instead of purchasing the jarred caramel sauce. Thank you, H.Y., for allowing me to share your delicious recipe!

A huge thank you to H.Y. Hanna for providing winner’s choice of print or an e-book copy of MUFFINS AND MOURNING TEA to one winner. Since the author is traveling internationally, I’ve extended the contest for a few extra days and it will end Friday, November 4, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Classic Banoffee Pie

Ingredients

Approximately 9 or 10 inch loose-bottomed cake or tart tin greased

Crust:

100 g butter melted (7 tablespoons)
250 g digestive biscuits 2-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs in the U.S. can be substituted. Gluten-free graham crackers can also be used.

Filling:

1 tin of sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces eg. Nestlé Carnation or Eagle Brand
100 g butter melted (7 tablespoons)
100 g dark brown soft sugar 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons
3 tablespoons water

Topping:

300 ml whipping cream 1-1/4 cups
4 small bananas this can be increased or decreased according to taste
Grated chocolate

Instructions

Crumble the digestive biscuits (or graham crackers) in a food processor until they become fine crumbs.
Pour in the melted butter and combine well, until the crumbs stick together when pressed.
Press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of your cake tin. This is the base of the pie.
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.
Melt the dark brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of water in a non-stick pan, over a low heat, stirring continuously until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Add the remaining butter and condensed milk and bring to rapid boil, for at least 1 minute. Stir continuously until the mixture forms a thick, golden toffee sauce. (This step is important for creating a delicious, thick caramel / toffee)
Remove the toffee sauce from the heat and spread most of it over the pie base (reserve a small amount to keep at room temperature for drizzling over the pie at the end).
Refrigerate for at least an hour – until the toffee is semi-firm. (It can be kept in the fridge until ready to serve)
Beat the whipping cream using an electric mixer, until it is very thick and forms soft peaks.
Carefully remove the pie base from the cake tin and place it on a serving plate.
Slice the bananas thinly. Arrange them on top of the toffee sauce in the pie, followed by a layer of the whipped cream (alternatively, you can fold them gently into the soft whipped cream, then spoon the mixture over the toffee sauce). Keep a few slices back for decoration on top.
Decorate the top of the pie with the last few slices of banana and sprinkle with grated chocolate. You can also drizzle some more toffee sauce on top (you may need to rewarm it slightly if it has thickened too much to drizzle)
Serve immediately and refrigerate any leftovers.

Tips:

Thoroughly chill the mixing bowl and beaters before whipping the cream.
Use a vegetable peeler to make chocolate curls. Drag the peeler across the edge of a chocolate bar.
If you are going to serve this several hours after making, be aware that the whipped cream may deflate. To prolong the life of the whipped cream, add 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar after soft peaks form when whipping the cream. Continue to whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Add the whipped cream to the pie as desired, either spooned or piped on using a decorative tip. Be sure to refrigerate Banoffee Pie until serving time.

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Oatmeal Crème Pie Cookies

One of the nice things about finding a series I really enjoy is when a new book is released it’s like receiving a platter of cookies…I can’t wait to try them and then I want to savor the enjoyment. Such is the case with the Cookies and Chance Mystery series by Catherine Bruns. Her newest release, BURNED TO A CRISP, had me ready to pour a glass of milk and sample Sally’s baked goods while turning pages!

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Synopsis

Sally Muccio owns Sally’s Samples, a cookie bakery. Business is good even if she’s sorry she started the tradition of giving away a free fortune cookie with each order. Somehow the fortunes come eerily close to becoming reality and Sal would rather not have them around, especially with her wedding to Mike Donovan right around the corner. However, her grandmother’s best friend demands Sally keep serving them so she gives in and almost immediately regrets it.

Her mother throws the bridal couple a party and one of her sister’s clients shows up. Gianna is a public defender so the client, mobster Bernardo Napoli, isn’t someone Sally is happy to see her sister leave with. Later that evening Sally’s bakeshop goes up in flames and Bernardo is found inside, murdered…with Gianna no where to be found. The police treat Gianna as the prime murder suspect and with her disappearance things don’t look good. On top of that, Bernardo’s unsavory family think Gianna stole from them and want to find her too. Can Sally find her missing sister and clear her name or will the mob find her first? Will Sally be able to reopen her bakery or will this be the end of Sally’s Samples? And will Sally’s mom be able to pull off a win in a bikini contest?

My Review

Oh my goodness…what a fun read! The mystery is everything you could want in a good book with twists and turns, and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. But it’s the characters that keep me coming back for more! Sally seems like an average gal who is finally over her cheating ex-husband and is ready to move on with fiancé Mike Donovan. She still has the scars from her miserable first marriage that make her feel insecure but she’s willing to give love a chance. However, it’s Sally’s family and friends surrounding her that push and pull Sally out of the “average” zone which makes the Cookies and Chance Mystery series such a fun read.

Her parents are perpetually embarrassing Sally and her sister. Her father wants to open a mortuary in his home while her mother (who acts and looks like a teen) prances around in bikinis while preparing for a beauty contest. Neither of her parents are good for her cookie business, but what’s a girl to do? Her best friend and baker, Josie, is sassy with a sarcastic edge and challenges Sally to step out of her comfort zone. Her Grandma Rosa is the stability to the family and has the very cute idiosyncrasy of mixing up words for everyday cliché sayings. Even with the quirkiness of the characters, there is still a fundamental close and caring bond between them which has helped create Sally’s compassionate personality. I think that’s what strikes me with this series, no matter what shenanigans are going on Sally is very tenderhearted person which adds depth to the story.

Of course a book about a cookie bakery must have cookie recipes. Catherine has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for her very delicious Oatmeal Crème Pie Cookies. Creamy marshmallow filling is sandwiched between two soft and chewy oatmeal cookies that are lightly scented with cinnamon. These cookies are reminiscent of Little Debbie’s (remember those?) but Catherine’s cookies are so much yummier!

A huge thank you to Catherine Bruns for providing winner’s choice of print or an e-book copy of BURNED TO A CRISP to one winner. Print limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Oatmeal Crème Pie Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies:

1 cup butter-flavored Crisco or margarine
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1-1/2 cups quick oats

Filling:

2 teaspoons very hot water
1/4 teaspoon salt
7- ounce jar marshmallow fluff
3/4 cup butter-flavored Crisco
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

Cookies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
In a large bowl, beat margarine or Crisco, brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, and vanilla.
Mix well and then add eggs, one at a time, beating until light and fluffy.
In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture.
Add in the oats and mix until blended.
Drop by tablespoonful onto parchment-lined baking sheet or non-greased stoneware.
Bake sure the cookies are at least 2 inches apart for them to spread out. Cookies will flatten.
Bake 8 - 10 minutes or just until starting to brown around the edges. Do not overcook.
Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before filling.

Filling:

Combine hot water with salt and mix until the salt is dissolved.
In a large bowl, beat the marshmallow fluff with Crisco, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
Beat on high until fluffy.
Add the salt water and mix until well combined.
Spread filling onto one cookie and press second cookie on top....ready to eat immediately!
Makes 3 dozen oatmeal cookies or 18 cream pies.
Store leftovers in an airtight container.

Tips:

If filling seems too soft add additional powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
These are the perfect soft oatmeal cookies to use for ice cream sandwiches too!