It’s a pleasure to welcome Paige Shelton back to my blog as she celebrates her new release, THE LOCH NESS PAPERS! Thanks for joining us today, Paige, and sharing your memories of your grandmother and baking, along with your amazing Banana Bread recipe!

***

Did you have a grandmother who baked? Maybe you were one of the lucky ones and the child (your mother or father) of that grandmother paid attention and learned how to bake the most amazing things in the world. Or, maybe, none of your grandmother’s kids paid a bit of attention to her baking because they didn’t understand how amazing it was, didn’t ever think to write down recipes, didn’t care. Maybe, you, as the grandchild, have spent many moments throwing your hands up in disbelief. How did no one write anything down?

You can probably guess which group I belong to. Yep, my grandmother made the most amazing baked goods; she should have had her own bakery instead of three children who took her for granted. Okay, so maybe they didn’t take her for granted, but they did take her baking skills for granted. 

I might get over this someday.

At least I got to enjoy her ways in the kitchen when I was a child. She’s been gone a long, long time now, and I still think of her and miss her often. Some of my best memories of her are the time we spent together in her kitchen. Food is such a thing, isn’t it?

She was one of those people who, though she might not have shown it, would be insulted if her baked goods, sitting there on the kitchen counters and table wrapped or hidden under a domed cake platter, weren’t eaten. No one ever ignored them, really, but I remember a tsk or two when they weren’t noticed right off.

There’s a woman like that in my upcoming book, “The Loch Ness Papers.” I love that writing gives me a chance to remember people I want to remember just by throwing in a trait or a turn of a phrase they use, or used to use. In the book there’s a loaf of banana bread that better not get ignored.

Unfortunately, I don’t have my grandmother’s banana bread recipe (see earlier note about throwing hands up in the air), but I do have a really good one.

I’m not sure exactly where I got it, but I think it came from a cookbook. The last part about adding the sugar on the bottom came from a friend though. Thanks to Shannon for that added touch.

Enjoy!

Thank you for letting me stop by today. Kim is so amazing; it’s always a thrill to be a part of her blog.

A special thanks to Paige Shelton for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of THE LOCH NESS PAPERS. Contest ends Monday, April 8, 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!) 

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Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• Extra sugar to put on the bottom of the loaf after baking
• 1/3 cup softened butter (I always use salted because I usually have it)
• 2 eggs
• 3 to 4 medium ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup water
• 1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• - Sometimes I add about ½ cup nuts or chocolate chips or peanut butter chips, but most of the time I don’t.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease (or cooking spray) loaf pan.

3. Mix sugar and butter until only slightly crumbly.

4. Stir in eggs until blended.

5. Add bananas and water, beat 30 seconds.

6. Stir in remaining ingredients except nut or chips. Once everything is evenly moistened, add nuts or chips if using.

7. Pour into pan.

8. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (8-inch loaf pan: 65 - 75 minutes. 9-inch loaf pan: 55 to 60 minutes)

9. Cool 5 minutes in pan. 

10. Sprinkle some sugar on a flat surface. 

11. Loosen side of loaf from pan and remove. Rub the bottom of the loaf gently over the sugar to coat the bottom, and then cool completely before slicing (this cooling step takes FORVER, particularly when your mouth is watering).

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Amazon Synopsis

Bookseller Delaney Nichols befriends a Loch Ness monster enthusiast; when he stands accused of murder she’ll do whatever it takes to learn who the killer is―and whether Nessie herself is really lurking in the Scottish waters.

Delaney Nichols is delighted with her life in Edinburgh, working at The Cracked Spine―a shop that specializes in hard-to-find books and artifacts. With a job she loves, and her fast approaching marriage to devastatingly handsome Scottish pub-owner Tom Shannon, Delaney’s life could be straight out of a fairy tale―at least it would be, if the pastor meant to perform the wedding ceremony hadn’t recently passed away. Outside the church where Delaney is searching for another reverend, she stumbles across Norval Fraser: an elderly man obsessed with the Loch Ness monster. Always attracted to the interesting and unusual, Delaney befriends Norval. But when his nephew is found dead, the police decide Norval’s obsession has moved from monsters to murder.

With a wedding to plan, her family arriving soon from Kansas, and the arrival of an over-the-top Texan with a wildly valuable book, Delaney’s plate is full to bursting, but she can’t abandon her new friend. Determined to help Norval, she sets out to learn the truth. The Loch Ness buries its secrets deeply, but Delaney is determined to dig them up―whether Nessie likes it or not.

My Review

THE LOCH NESS PAPERS, the fourth book in the Scottish Book Shop Mystery series by Paige Shelton, transports the reader to a land full of mystical intrigue! I’ve always been fascinated by myths and legends of other countries and loved the way the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) is central to this tale. Ms. Shelton weaves in information on some “historical” sightings making me think just perhaps this mythical beast might actually exist… the hallmark of a great storyteller! She also captures the charming atmosphere of Scotland and the Scottish people. I love how she imbues her characters with brogues, providing authenticity to the setting. Between the Cracked Spine Book Shop, Edinburgh, and Loch Ness, the reader will feel like they are on a delightful vacation. I was especially drawn to her description of the protagonist’s visit to Urquhart Castle situated next to Loch Ness, since I had the pleasure of visiting the location many years ago. It brings back fond memories of watching a bagpiper climb the castle ruins and play his haunting music!

Protagonist Delaney Nichols is an American transplant to Edinburgh, Scotland and is preparing for her wedding to pub owner, Tom. She connects with Norval Fraiser, an elderly Nessie enthusiast, who has devoted his life to researching the Loch Ness monster. Delaney gets pulled into researching the death of his great-nephew after Norval is accused of murder. Ms. Shelton’s portrayal of the obsessive/compulsive elderly man is treated with sensitivity and she pulls the reader in as she peels back of the layers of the man’s life to figure out his obsession. The subplots intertwined with the main murder mystery contribute to a page turner that, at times, had me on the edge of my seat. With plenty of suspects mixed in with twists and turns, I was breathless as I read the exciting conclusion. Ms. Shelton has once again proven she can bring exciting suspense to a charming setting with delightful results!

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

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BROKEN BONE CHINA, the twentieth book in the Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs is an entertaining addition to an enduring series. Protagonist, Theodosia Browning, is owner of the charming Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina. During her shop’s catering job at the Top Flight Balloon Club event, Theodosia and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are witness to a horrific calamity when a drone collides with one of the balloons. I’m impressed by the way the author uses a technical and unique murder method… the tragedy could have been pulled from current day news headlines. Ms. Childs brings the action to life, starting from the very first pages, and her description of Theodosia’s balloon ride reinforces my determination that I never want to give it a try myself.

I greatly enjoyed the interaction between Theodosia and Drayton, who are long-time friends. They work well together, both at the shop and in their search for finding the murderer. Their hunt involves a priceless American Revolutionary war flag which gives the reader a peek into historic places and architectural sites. As the duo ask questions and dig into the victims’ pasts, they find many suspects to focus on. The clues are scattered throughout the story and just when I would think I had it figured out, a new clue pointed me in a completely different direction.

Ms. Childs sprinkles her tale of murder with specialty tea events at Theodosia’s shop, like a Nancy Drew Tea, a Beaux Arts Tea, and a Floral Tea Cups competition, in which miniature floral arrangements are created in tea cups… brilliant! She also provides lovely ideas for hosting your own tea party at the back of the book along with delicious recipes. I was drawn to the recipe for Eggnog Scones, which are flaky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth yummy. While eggnog might not be available year round, this recipe is worthwhile to keep for the holiday season. But just in case you don’t want to wait that long, I’ve provided an eggnog recipe to make at home. These scones are an amazing accompaniment to tea or for a special breakfast treat.

Amazon Synopsis
It is Sunday afternoon, and Theodosia and Drayton are catering a formal tea at a hot-air balloon rally. The view aloft is not only stunning, they are also surrounded by a dozen other colorful hot-air balloons. But as the sky turns gray and the clouds start to boil up, a strange object zooms out of nowhere. It is a drone, and it appears to be buzzing around the balloons, checking them out. 

As Theodosia and Drayton watch, the drone, hovering like some angry, mechanized insect, deliberately crashes into the balloon next to them. An enormous, fiery explosion erupts, and everyone watches in horror as the balloon plummets to the earth, killing all three of its passengers.

Sirens scream, first responders arrive, and Theodosia is interviewed by the police. During the interview she learns that one of the downed occupants was Don Kingsley, the CEO of a local software company, SyncSoft. Not only do the police suspect Kingsley as the primary target, they learn that he possessed a rare Revolutionary War Union Jack flag that several people were rabidly bidding on.

Intrigued, Theodosia begins her own investigation. Was it the CEO’s soon-to-be ex-wife, who is restoring an enormous mansion at no expense? The CEO’s personal assistant, who also functioned as curator of his prized collection of Americana? Two rival antiques’ dealers known for dirty dealing? Or was the killer the fiancée of one of Theodosia’s dear friends, who turns out to be an employee—and whistle-blower—at SyncSoft?

A special thanks to Laura Childs for providing a winner with a signed hardcover copy of BROKEN BONE CHINA. Contest ends Sunday, March 10, 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!) 

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Eggnog Scones

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 6 tablespoons butter, cubed and softened
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup eggnogg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

2. Combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.

3. Combine egg, sour cream, and eggnog in a separate dish, then add to dry mixture. Combine until mixture holds together. If needed, a splash more of eggnog can be added.

4. Pat dough into a large circle, about 1/2-inch thick. Now cut dough into 10 to 12 triangles and place on a well-greased (or parchment-lined) baking sheet.

5. Bake scones for approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Hint:

1. For a sweet topping, combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons eggnog and drizzle over scones.

I’ve made eggnog for numerous years when eggnog is out of season at the grocery stores. I’ve scaled the recipe down so there won’t be a huge amount left over after making this recipe.

Homemade Eggnog

Ingredients

1 egg
Pinch of salt
2-1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Dash of fresh grated nutmeg

Instructions

In a heavy pot, whisk together sugar, salt, egg, and vanilla.

In a microwave safe container, heat the whole milk in the microwave until very warm (I use the beverage button on my microwave.)

Once heated, whisk the milk very slowly into egg mixture.

Place over low heat and stir constantly until mixture reaches 160 degrees.  (If you don’t have a thermometer, mixture will be thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon with a thin film.  However, for safety, a thermometer is a must.)

Remove mixture from heat upon reaching 160 degrees and add heavy cream and the grated nutmeg.  Stir to combine.

Use a fine mesh strainer and strain eggnog before chilling.

Eggnog should be consumed within 3 days.

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MURDER ON CAPE COD is the first book in the brand new Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series by Maddie Day. This delightful book introduces us to protagonist MacKenzie “Mac” Almeida, owner of Mac’s Bikes, which caters to tourists visiting the quaint town. I admire Mac for being super handy and she not only runs her business but also does the bike repairs herself. I also enjoy the way the author portrays women succeeding in traditionally male-dominated roles in this new book. Ms. Day has created a great cast of supporting, loveable characters for Mac. I adore her grandmother, who is ready to jump in and help Mac out, despite having a busy life. She has supportive parents and her brother, Derrick, is a single dad raising his young daughter. It’s heartwarming to see the family pull together to raise the darling little girl. Another character that steals the pages she is featured on, is Mac’s African Grey Parrot. The bird’s amazing vocabulary brings humor in each scene.

When Derrick is accused of murdering a down-on-his-luck man, Mac and her cozy mystery book club comes together to help clear his name. I loved that one of the club’s members is the town’s former Chief of Police. While he doesn’t solve the crime, he does provide some guidance for the amateurs. It’s entertaining how the group relies on tips and tricks they’ve gleaned from cozy mysteries in order to investigate and follow along as they hunt for the killer. The author provide lots of books and author mentions on the pages and I found it a great way to add to my TBR list. Like a good cozy mystery, the author provides plenty of suspects that must be scrutinized and there are some emotional subplots that add to the depth of the story. The exciting conclusion brought all the threads together for an entirely satisfactory read!

Mac’s boyfriend, Tim, runs a bakery and likes to share his delicious treats. He bakes a delectable Cranberry Orange Bread which Ms. Day provides the recipe for, along with other yummy dishes. I appreciated the use of fresh (or frozen) cranberries, versus the usual dried cranberries. The tartness of the cranberries combined with the zing of fresh orange zest and juice brings a refreshing taste and the added crunch of nuts brings a delicious texture to this not-too-sweet breakfast bread. I appreciated that the recipe doesn’t over-do the vegetable oil and instead relies on the fruit and buttermilk for both flavor and moistness. This Cranberry Orange Bread is delicious on its own or add a smear of butter or cream cheese and settle in to enjoy with a piping hot cup of tea or coffee!

Goodreads Synopsis

A Cape Cod shop owner and her book club must find a crafty killer in this charming new series from the Agatha-nominated author of the Country Store Mystery series.

Summer is busy season for Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida’s bicycle shop, nestled in the quaint, seaside hamlet of Westham, Massachusetts. She’s expecting an influx of tourists at Mac’s Bikes; instead she discovers the body of Jake Lacey. Mac can’t imagine anyone stabbing the down-on-his-luck handyman. However, the authorities seem to think Mac is a strong suspect after she was spotted arguing with Jake just hours before his death. Mac knows she didn’t do it, but she does recognize the weapon—her brother Derrick’s fishing knife.

Mac’s only experience with murder investigations is limited to the cozy mysteries she reads with her local book group, the Cozy Capers. So to clear her name—and maybe her brother’s too—Mac will have to summon help from her Cozy Capers co-investigators and a library’s worth of detectives’ tips and tricks. For a small town, Westham is teeming with possible killers, and this is one mystery where Mac is hoping for anything but a surprise ending…

A special thanks to Maddie Day for providing a winner with a print copy of MURDER ON CAPE COD. Contest ends Friday, January 4, 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!) 

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Tim’s Cranberry Orange Bread

Mac Almeida’s boyfriend, baker Tim Brunelle, makes this yummy quick bread for Greta’s Grains. Bake a day ahead of time for easiest slicing.

Ingredients

• 2 cups unbleached white flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Zest and juice of one orange. If juice doesn’t equal 3/4 cup add orange or cranberry juice to supplement
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9”-x-5” loaf pan with butter.

2. Chop cranberries in a food processor or by hand.

3. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. Make a well in the center and stir in the egg with a fork. Add the orange zest, juice, buttermilk, oil, cranberries, and nuts, and stir until just mixed. Do not beat or overmix.

5. Pour batter into the loaf pan. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, until a knife or toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean and the bread starts to pull away from the edges of the pan. Remove it from the oven and let cool on rack for fifteen minutes, then turn it out of the pan to cool completely.

6. Enjoy with butter or cream cheese and a cup of your favorite coffee.

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GAME OF SCONES is the first book in the brand new Sugar & Spice Mystery series by Mary Lee Ashford! The premise of Sugar & Spice is cleverly based on the names of the protagonist, Rosetta Sugarbaker Calloway, aka Sugar, and her friend, Dixie Spicer, aka Spice. Together they own Sugar and Spice Publishing Company, which publishes community cookbooks for fundraisers in St. Ignatius, Iowa. I truly enjoyed the insight the author provides about the details of creating the cookbook for their first client, the St. Ignatius Founder Day Committee fundraiser. The mouthwatering descriptions of the dishes Spice tests for the cookbook will leave the reader drooling, along with some interesting regional dishes mention that had me running to Pinterest to find out exactly what it was.

Ms. Ashford has created some fun, well-developed characters for this new series. Sugar and Spice work well together and have great interaction. I like the potential for romantic developments between Spice and the local sheriff (although something happened between them long ago that has caused a riff). And the handsome food photographer might just be interested in Sugar. The action starts right off the bat with a huge dispute between two elderly committee members, almost a cat fight, over whose scone recipe will be included in the cookbook. After Sugar finds one of the women murdered and Spice’s aunt is considered a suspect, they decide to start asking questions to get to the bottom of the mystery. There are plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing and as the two women sift through the clues, the stakes turn even higher when their fledgling business is vandalized. The exciting reveal has some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I look forward to future installments in this delicious new series!

So many yummy dishes are described as Spice tests the recipes and styles them for the photographer. Ms. Ashford has a delicious way of helping the reader practically see, smell, and taste the dishes prepared. Fortunately, she includes a few recipes at the back of the book, including Spice’s aunt’s recipe for Bertie Sparks’s Proper English Scones. Buttery and rich, the addition of dried fruit brings some sweetness to each bite… but you’ll still want to slather the scones with creamy butter and some jam for an authentic taste. These Proper English Scones are a welcome addition to any breakfast, brunch, or tea time! I had the chance to share some of these scones with one of my elderly neighbors and she said she felt like she was back eating breakfast with her British mother… they were exactly like her mother made when she was young. I was touched that I could bring back such wonderful memories in a delicious way!  

Amazon Synopsis

As co-owner of Sugar and Spice Cookbooks, Sugar Calloway has seen simple confections bring friends together and spark fiery feuds. Except this time, the recipe truly is to die for . . .  
After losing her job as food editor at a glossy magazine, Rosetta Sugarbaker Calloway—aka “Sugar” to friends—isn’t sweet on accepting defeat and crawling back to her gossipy southern hometown. So when she has an opportunity to launch a community cookbook business with blue-ribbon baker Dixie Spicer in peaceful St. Ignatius, Iowa, she jumps at the chance to start over from scratch . . .  

But as Sugar assembles recipes for the local centennial celebration, it’s not long before she’s up to her oven mitts in explosive threats, too-hot-to-handle scandals, and a dead body belonging to the moody matriarch of the town’s first family. With suspicions running wild, Sugar and Spice must solve the murder before someone innocent takes the heat—and the real culprit gathers enough ingredients to strike again . . .
 

A special thanks to Mary Lee Ashford for providing a winner with an e-book copy of GAME OF SCONES. Contest ends Sunday, December 16, 2018 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!) 

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Bertie Sparks's Proper English Scones

Ingredients

• 2 cups + 13 tablespoons self-rising flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons caster or regular sugar
• 3 ounces butter, cubed
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Squeeze of lemon juice
• 1 egg, beaten to glaze
• 1 cup raisins or craisins, or dried fruit of your choice

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees (F). Bertie recommends also preheating your baking tray. 

2. In a mixing bowl, add the sifted flour, salt, baking powder, and combine.

3. Add the butter and rub in with your fingers until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.

4. Using a knife, stir in the sugar.

5. Put the milk into a cup and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, then set aside for 2 minutes.

6. Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a knife. Dust some flour onto the work surface and place the dough on the surface.  *Add the 1 cup of raisins, or craisins, or dried fruit, shake some more flour on the dough and your hands then fold the dough over a few times until it's slightly smoother and the fruit is incorporated. Gently pat it into a round about 1-1/2 inches deep.

7. Take a 2-inch cutter and dip it into some flour. Cut into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. Then press what's left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four. Try not to over work the dough; be light with your hands when reshaping.

8. Brush the tops with beaten egg, then carefully place onto the hot baking tray.

9. Bake for 10 minutes until risen and golden on the top.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note

1. *I mixed the fruit in with the flour when I added the sugar with good results. Either way should work just fine. 

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THE DOUGH MUST GO ON is the ninth book in the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series by H.Y. Hanna and is filled with a jolly good time! Gemma Rose, owner of Little Stables Tearoom in Oxford has been hired to cater morning and afternoon tea for a famous reality talent show: From Pleb to Celeb. The creator and owner of the show is one of the richest and probably most eccentric men in Britain. This gives the author plenty of opportunities to create scenes filled with hilarity, especially when the four octogenarians, known as the Old Biddies, land a spot on the show with their “Granny Band” act. Ms. Hanna provides great descriptions of the various and often crazy talent acts which provides plenty of chuckles. Of course Gemma’s adorable little tabby, Muesli, gets in on the act as well and steals every scene, while Gemma’s mother puts her own mark on the show.

After discovering a murder victim during the competition (killed with an unbelievably unique weapon), Gemma is drawn to helping find the murderer. With so many contestants and show employees in the vicinity of the crime, there are plenty of suspects. As Gemma delves deeper into the victim’s life, she finds lots of people had reasons to truly dislike the murdered woman. Gemma’s boyfriend Devlin, is the inspector in charge of the investigation. While he’s a capable investigator, Gemma has a way of getting people to confide in her, providing clues along the way. The suspenseful conclusion wrapped up the threads of the story and I was greatly surprised at the “how” the murder was executed. It was quite ingenious!

With Gemma’s tearoom catering tea time for the talent show, scones are a must for English tea. Little Stables Tearoom is famous for their Traditional English Scones (the recipe is included in A SCONE TO DIE FOR), which are round and compact, light and fluffy on the inside, and crusty on the outside. They are not very sweet and are usually plain with no toppings. American scones, in contrast, are larger and denser, with more butter and sugar, and are normally made with a variety of ingredients added to the dough. Ms. Hanna thought it would be fun to provide an American scone recipe for contrast and I was honored that she asked me to develop the recipe. We settled on a scone that features an eternally popular combo: tangy orange and dark chocolate. Tart orange zest and bittersweet dark chocolate flavors the buttery scone dough while a drizzle of thick dark chocolate scented with orange extract gives taste buds a sudden burst of flavor with each bite!

Click here to see the recipe for: Traditional English Scones

Amazon Synopsis

Showbiz comes to Oxford in the form of Britain’s hottest new talent show, and tearoom owner Gemma Rose gets a peek behind-the-scenes when she’s asked to cater for the event. But with the Old Biddies, entering the contest as England’s first “granny band”, and her little tabby, Muesli, stealing the limelight, Gemma soon ends up with more than she bargained for… and that’s before she comes across a frozen dead body!

Now, she’s on the trail of a murderer, with four nosy old ladies giving her a helping hand, while also dealing with her embarrassing mother, her workaholic boyfriend–and even a mouse invader at her tearoom!

With things heating up in the contest and so many suspects in the running, can Gemma catch the killer before the curtain falls?

A special thanks to H.Y. Hanna for providing a winner with their choice of either print or an e-book copy of THE DOUGH MUST GO ON. Contest ends Friday, October 5, 2018 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!) 

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Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones

Ingredients

Scones

• 2 cups (272 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/3 cup (72 grams) granulated sugar
• zest from 1 large orange
• 1/2 cup (112 grams) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and frozen
• 1/2 cup (108 grams) sour cream
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 egg
• 1-1/2 ounces (42 grams) dark chocolate, chopped

Chocolate Orange Drizzle

• 2 ounces (56 grams) dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening
• 1/4 teaspoon orange extract

Instructions

Scones

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F) or 218 degrees (C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Whisk together until smooth the sour cream, egg, and orange juice. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together until combined (about 10 pulses) flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and orange zest. 

4. Sprinkle the frozen butter pieces over the top of the flour mixture, then pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. 

5. Add the sour cream mixture to the flour mixture and pulse just until the dough comes together. Be careful to not over process the dough. 

6. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle the chopped chocolate over the dough then gently knead into the mix. Again, be careful to not overwork the dough or it will toughen. 
   

7. Place the dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and pat into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges and move them slightly apart.

8. Bake 12 - 15 minutes. The scones should be golden and the center should look set. Cool scones on a wire cooling rack while preparing the glaze.

Chocolate Orange Glaze

1. Place the chocolate and vegetable shortening into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on 70% power for 45 seconds. Stir. Heat in additional 20 second increments as needed, stirring after each heat cycle until chocolate is melted and smooth. 

2. Mix in the orange extract and stir until smooth.

3. Drizzle the chocolate over the scones. Allow to set for 15 minutes then serve.

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COLOR ME MURDER, the first book in the brand new Pen & Ink Mystery series by Krista Davis was everything I had hoped and so much more! The reader is introduced to Florrie Fox, a delightfully creative protagonist. She has a kind and loyal heart and I loved the relationship she has with her family, especially her sister. It’s refreshing to see close-knit families portrayed on the page. Ms. Davis includes a cast of characters at the beginning of the book so that you can reference if needed. I felt that the author was judicious in bringing new characters to the page, so I never got confused about who was who. But it was nice to know the list was there if I needed it. The story quickly pulled me in and allowed me to get a good sense of who the main characters are, especially Florrie, while the murder mystery provided page-turning suspense. I found Florrie’s method for collecting and organizing clues by sketching what she had seen or heard to be very unique and added to the enjoyment of the story.

The mystery was well plotted and kept me guessing as Florrie uncovered suspects, including her own sister… which puts her loyalty to the test. There are so many creative twists and turns in the book and I love how the author expertly weaves together humor with mystery, adds adorable animals and admirable humans, hidden secret passageways with a missing author, and then ties it all up with an exciting conclusion! And if a delightful tale isn’t enough, Ms. Davis provides several delectable recipes at the back of the book and if you purchase the print copy, you will have your very own cover to color with your own creative style.

Speaking of the recipes, they are drool worthy and you’ll want to try them all! I’m delighted to share Krista’s recipe for Blackberry Muffins, perfect for breakfast, snack, tea time. Since I visit my sister in Oregon every summer and pick wild blackberries, I’m always on the lookout for blackberry recipes to try. Not only were these blackberry muffins super quick and easy to mix up, they were utterly delicious from the crunchy, cinnamon-y topping to the jammy pieces of tart blackberries baked into the sweet bread. Since it’s not wild blackberry season yet, I had to settle on store-bought cultivated blackberries. They are much, much larger than wild berries so I cut them into smaller pieces so they were more evenly distributed. I can’t wait for berry season to start so I can make these again and again!

Amazon Synopsis

By day, Florrie Fox manages Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. By night, she creates her own intricately detailed coloring books for adults, filling the pages with objects that catch her eye. There’s plenty of inspiration in her new apartment—a beautiful carriage house belonging to Professor John Maxwell, Florrie’s boss. He offers the property to Florrie rent-free with one condition—she must move in immediately to prevent his covetous sister and nephew from trying to claim it.
 
When the professor’s nephew, Delbert, arrives, he proves just as sketchy as Florrie feared. But the following morning, Delbert has vanished. It’s not until she visits the third floor of the store that Florrie makes a tragic discovery—there’s a trap door in the landing, and a dead Delbert inside. The esteemed Professor Maxwell is an obvious suspect, but Florrie is certain this case isn’t so black and white. Doodling clues, she begins to consider other colorful characters on the scene, all with a motive for murder. With a killer drawing closer, Florrie will need to think outside the lines . . . before death makes his mark again.

A special thanks to Krista Davis for providing a print copy of COLOR ME MURDER for one lucky winner. Contest is limited to U.S. residents only and ends Sunday, April 29, 2018 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!) 

Print

Blackberry Breakfast Muffins

Ingredients

• Butter for greasing muffin tin
• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup 2% milk
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Fahrenheit.

2. Grease muffin wells in the muffin pan.

3. Combine the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt in a bowl. Mix well with a fork, and make a well in the middle.

4. In another bowl, whisk the egg with a fork, pour in the milk and combine, then whisk in the 1/3 cup melted butter.

5. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. It should be lumpy. Do not overmix!

6. Add the blackberries and turn gently to distribute.

7. Spoon into the muffin pan, diving evenly, filling each well about 1/2 full.

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 20 minutes.

9. Meanwhile, stir the cinnamon with the 1/4 cup sugar.

10. Melt the 1/4 cup butter in a small bowl.

11. Remove the baked muffins from oven. While still hot, remove each muffin from the pan, dip into the melted butter, and then dip into the sugar. 

Note:

1. If your blackberries are huge, as often times cultivated berries are, cut them into smaller pieces so they distribute more evenly in the muffins. 

Notes

Makes 12 muffins

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