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THE TROUBLE WITH MURDER by Kathy Krevat is the first book in the brand new Gourmet Cat Mystery series and a terrific start! The protagonist, Colbie Summers, is very likeable. Unlike the majority of cozy mystery heroines who are young, and footloose, Colbie is single, but also a mother to a pre-teen son. This brings a depth of reality and seriousness to the story along with a greater sense of danger when a child is threatened. It also adds to the depth of Colbie’s character with the interaction between her child and her father, whom they live with. The author also explores the difficult relationship that can often occur between a grown woman and her parents. She captures the essence of Colbie’s relationship with her father in this one sentence, “Why did every serious conversation with him have to be fraught with so many emotional landmines?”
I loved Colbie’s line of business, gourmet cat food, selling under the name Meow-io Batali Gourmet Cat Food – a great pun along with so many clever names for the pet food! Her cat, Trouble, is a character all to his own, and between him and the doorbell ringing chicken, they bring lots of smiles to the story! Ms. Krevat writes with a great sense of humor and lots of puns bringing laugh out loud moments. Yet when Colbie’s friend is killed with Colbie’s Meowi Chef Knife, the seriousness of the situation comes to light and the author creates a tight plot with lots of viable suspects. All in all this is a terrific start to a series that I can’t wait to continue reading!
In case you didn’t realize it, Kathy Krevat also writes the Chocolate Covered Mystery series under the name Kathy Aarons! While that series contains some awesome chocolate candy recipes, this new series doesn’t contain recipes. However, one of Colbie’s elderly neighbors bakes some banana nut muffins to comfort them after a body was found. So, I decided to share my own recipe for Banana Nut Muffins and added a walnut streusel to make it more enticing for holiday gatherings. Muffins are a staple in my family and the freezer at my granddaughters’ house often contains a wide assortment for a quick breakfast or on-the-go snack. One of my granddaughters isn’t a huge nut fan but decided that these muffins were still pretty awesome… in fact I was told that these Banana Nut Muffins made an appearance in her lunch for several days running. I hope your family and holiday guests enjoy them as well!
Amazon Synopsis
Colbie Summers has moved back in with her father, a place she left with no intention of ever returning. When her father grows ill, Colbie knows she has no choice but to pack up her 12-year-old son, their cat, Trouble, and her gourmet cat food business and go back to the tiny town of Sunnyside, CA.
While Colbie expected that things might be complicated, she certainly never expected the complications to lead to murder. When police suspect her of murdering one of the other women in the Sunnyside Power Moms trade show, Colbie realizes that in order to save her name, her business, and her son, she needs to find out who the real killer is and that might include getting into a little trouble!
A special thanks to Kathy Krevat for providing one winner with an e-book copy of THE TROUBLE WITH MURDER! Contest ends Thursday, December 21, 2017 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!)
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1-1/4 cup ripe bananas, mashed (about 2 very large bananas)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup milk (2%, whole, or dairy-free)
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted (can substitute dairy-free margarine)
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a 12-cup cupcake tin with wrappers, or grease.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
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Mix together the mashed banana, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, milk, egg, and vanilla until well combined.
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Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir just until moistened.
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Gently stir in 3/4 cup walnuts.
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Mix the walnuts, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together.
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Stir in the melted butter then divide the mixture between the muffins, sprinkling on top.
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Bake for 18 - 20 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. A few moist crumbs clinging to the skewer is fine.
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Allow the muffins to rest in the pan for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove and cool on a wire rack.
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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My 16 y/o min pin eats a raw foods diet and gets a hemp treat (CBD oil) for his bad hips.
I wonder if you can substitute pecans for the walnuts in this recipe?
I give my kitties tune and some extra store bought treats for Thanksgiving and Xmas.
I buy the food for my cats. They get canned and dry food with high protein.
I purchased treats for my dog Louie. I really likes his treats. Thank you for a chance to win a e-book copy of The Trouble With Murder.
I purchase treats for my cats and dog, at Christmas they get their favorites and some toys.
I buy special treats for all my fur babies. Out local animal shelter recently had a cookie walk and had homemade cat and dog treats for sale.
I’m impressed with how wonderfully clean your oven is!
My dog pretty much just eats her dog food. I haven’t made anything special for her. The banana nut recipe looks great!
my dog eats anything that of course won’t hurt him………the recipe here does look good though!
Good luck everyone!
Unfortunately, I have no fur babies because of allergies.
I buy special treats at a local pet bakery.
I buy several different treats and occasionally make homemade
Those muffins look delish! I can’t Wait to try them. I don’t make special treats for my dog. I have couple of recipes I want to try for him for Christmas.
I both buy and make my babies special treats. I found a recipe for sardine crackers that they love.
I have not ever made treats for our furry friends.
Yes I like to make homemade trrats for them. They are spoiled and won’t eat store bought treats. Thank you for the chance.
We buy ours. But we do by local gourmet treats around the holidays. Great review Kim!
I buy extra treats for them. They’ve already made out like bandits this season, with gifts of treats from two different people. They are spoiled rotten, lol.
Treats are stashed all over the house
They are spoiled!
Looks like a fun new series. Would love to win an e-book!
My kitty gets all kinds of treats at Christmas. He gets treats every day when he comes in for the night. Sorry I can’t complete the entry because I am locked out of Tweeter.
In the past I’ve done special stuff for my pets, but don’t plan anything this year. They already have beds and toys and get treats daily.
I love the recipe sounds so good just like the book and love the cat on the front. If there is an extreme chance that i win I sure hope the author will agree to a print book but i thank her for being here !
I don’t have pets now but have made treats for pets in the past!
Right now we do not have any pets as we are part time missionaries and travel all the time. Hopefully when we stop traveling we can get a dog!
I purchase packets of broth to add to dry food for my cat Stella. ?❤
I don’t have any furry friends of my own, but my daughter has dogs & my granddaughter has a cat. But, no, we do not make treats for them. And treats, or special things we get them are bought.
Our furry pet gets food the Veterinarian recommends…love ebooks thanks for the chance.
Marilyn [email protected]
I don’t make treats for my cats as they are finicky and I’ve never found a home made treat they like, but have been successful in making treats for our two grandpuppies.
Boy what a awesome Christmas present a book. I love books and that is everything I ask for from people is just books. That is the best. You have a awesome holiday. Your book cover is super I also love cats. My cat Rambo die a few years ago and I still miss him.
I get to spoil my daughter’s dog when they visit. Good luck everyone!