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SIFTING THROUGH CLUES, the eighth book in the Cook Book Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber, captures the spirit of all that is great about cozy mysteries. An engaging, amateur sleuth with a crime for her to solve; memorable characters; delightful settings; and mouth-watering food! The charming town of Crystal Cove, California is hosting the Book Club Bonanza week-long event and the protagonist, Jenna Hart, is preparing all sorts of displays, crafts, and food at her shop, the Cookbook Nook and Café. As so often happens when I’ve read the Cook Book Nook mysteries in the past, I end up having a list of books mentioned in the story that I want to buy. I love how Ms. Gerber weaves appropriate titles into the theme of events happening in the town. Jenna is surrounded by a good cast of family and friends and I enjoy how the author has not only developed the protagonist, but the supporting characters as well.

When a member of Jenna’s Mystery Maven book club is found murdered during their progressive dinner, everyone looks to Jenna to help solve it. The town’s Chief of Police, Cinnamon, happens to be Jenna’s good friend but Cinnamon doesn’t want her help, causing a strain on the friendship. But as Jenna hears people talk, she can’t help but start piecing the puzzle together and getting involved. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing with clever twists to the plot. The author provides an exciting conclusion and the wrap-up is heartwarming, bringing the story of family and friendship full circle.

All sorts of yummy goodies come out of the kitchen of the Cookbook Nook’s café and the author includes multiple recipes at the back of the book, both sweet and savory, and they all sound fantastic! Lemon is a favorite flavor in my family and I was drawn to the recipe for Lemon Teacakes, especially since we’ve had a bumper crop of lemons this year. I like that the batter is baked in small or mini loaf pans, so that this delectable treat can easily be shared. Quite some time ago I purchased a mini bundt cake pan which I (finally) used with some of the batter. I loved how elegant they turned out, but the mini loaf pans worked just as well. Lemon Tea Cakes have layers of bright, sunny flavor thanks to plenty of lemon juice and zest used in the sweet quick bread batter, glaze, and frosting. Summer in a dessert!

Amazon Synopsis

Book clubs from all over have descended on Crystal Cove to celebrate the library’s Book Club Bonanza week, and Jenna Hart has packed the Cookbook Nook with juicy reads and tasty cookbooks. But she’s most excited about spending an evening with the Mystery Mavens and their moveable feast, when they will go from house to house to share different culinary treats and discuss the whodunit they’re all reading. It’s all good food and fun for the savvy armchair detectives, until one of the members of the group is found murdered at the last stop on the tour. 

As if that weren’t enough to spoil her appetite, Jenna discovers that all the evidence points to her friend Pepper as being the guilty party. And with Pepper’s chief-of-police daughter too close to the case to be impartial, Jenna knows she’ll have to step in to help clear her friend’s name before a bitter injustice sends her to jail. Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before Pepper’s goose is cooked . . .

A special thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing a winner with their choice of one of the following books: Final Sentence; Inherit the Word; Stirring the Plot; Fudging the Books; Grilling the Subject; Pressing the Issue; Wreath Between the Lines. Contest ends Sunday, April 28, 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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Lemon Tea Cakes

From Jenna:  As promised by Sweet Pea Bakery, the food truck that was serving high tea near Azure Park, I found this recipe on its website. It is moist and delicious and would make lovely gifts, wrapped in cellophane bags and ribbons. You can use small or mini loaf pans. If using the latter, be sure you reduce the baking time. 

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 5 tablespoons lemon zest, approximately 3 - 4 lemons
• 8 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup lemon juice, no pulp, no seeds
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the syrup:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup lemon juice, no pulp, no seeds

For the frosting:

• 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 - 4 tablespoons lemon juice, no pulp, no seeds

Instructions

For the cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Spray 5 -  6 small loaf pans or 10 - 12 mini loaf pans with nonstick oil.

2. Put the sugar and lemon zest in a bowl and stir well to let the lemon oil mix with the sugar.

3. Cream the butter and lemon/sugar mixture. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat to combine.

4. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

5. In another small bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, buttermilk, and vanilla

6. Add half of the flour mixture to the eggs/lemon/sugar mixture and then add half of the buttermilk mixture. Repeat and beat until smooth.

7. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, filling about 2/3 full.

8. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Reduce baking time if using mini loaf pans.

9. When the cakes are done, remove from oven and let cool for about 15 - 20 minutes before removing from pan.

For the syrup:

1. Meanwhile, while the cake is cooling, make the syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to simmer and cook until the syrup thickens, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

2. After turning the cakes out of their pans, set on a tray lined with parchment paper and poke holes in the bottom of the cakes using a skewer. Then drizzle half of the syrup over the holes. Turn the cakes over and drizzle the remaining syrup over the tops of the cakes. Smooth with the back of a spoon. Let cool.

For the frosting:

1. While the cakes cool completely, make the frosting. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice to make a smooth but thin frosting. Add more lemon juice or water, if necessary. Pour the frosting over the tops of the cakes and let the frosting firm up. Serve immediately or cool in the refrigerator.

Notes:

1. These cake do well in the freezer. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in freezer bags. 

2. Yield: 5 - 6 small loaf cakes or 10 - 12 mini loaf cakes

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MURDER ONCE REMOVED is the delightful debut novel by S.C. Perkins and I was fascinated by the premise of this first book in the Ancestry Mystery series! Protagonist, Lucy Lancaster, uses genealogy (combing through websites, library archives and DNA) to solve a long ago murder mystery while tracking down a current day killer. Lucy is the epitome of southern sassiness with a big ol’ side helping of creative intelligence. I adore her interaction with her best friends, Serena and Josephine along with the purported former drug lord turn restaurant owner, Flaco of Big Flaco’s Tacos (whose food descriptions will have you drooling). Their repartee gives opportunities for some humorous one-liners and laugh out loud moments which kept me highly entertained. Ms. Perkins has created great character development and descriptive voice even for minor characters. She effectively uses the flavors of food, language, and the historical sites of Austin to bring the setting to life and make the reader feel like they’re right there.

The book grabbed my attention from the very first sentence and kept me glued to the pages. The murder plots from both 1849 and current day are well entwined. I was fascinated with the amount of research the author obviously has done to understand and explain the process of genealogy, without making it complicated for the reader. Ms. Perkins also interjects some interesting history about the State of Texas without detracting from the pace. As the threads of the story are woven together and suspects are considered and then abandoned, Lucy finds herself working with the FBI, particularly a handsome agent who is also a history professor. This is a fun twist to a potential romantic attraction. The exciting reveal was fast paced, keeping me on the edge of my seat, yet never felt rushed. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this well-written debut!

While there aren’t any recipes included in the book, there’s a huge variety of food mentioned that had me craving tacos, cookies, casseroles and cupcakes! After finding the murder victim, Lucy and her best friend bake up casseroles and Chocolate Cinnamon Cake to take to the victim’s co-workers because “that’s what good Southern girls do”. Ms. Perkins graciously has allowed me to share her recipe for Spanish Chocolate Cake which is a delicious recipe passed down to her from her late Nana… which makes it all that more special! Cinnamon adds a warm, spicy touch to the rich, moist cake while buttery pecans add crunch to the fudgy frosting creating a delectable dessert to serve to family and friends.

Amazon Synopsis

Except for a good taco, genealogist Lucy Lancaster loves nothing more than tracking down her clients’ long-dead ancestors, and her job has never been so exciting as when she discovers a daguerreotype photograph and a journal that prove Austin, Texas, billionaire Gus Halloran’s great-great grandfather was murdered back in 1849. What’s more, Lucy is able to tell Gus who was responsible for his ancestor’s death.

Partly, at least. Using clues from the journal, Lucy narrows the suspects down to two nineteenth-century Texans, one of whom is the ancestor of present-day U.S. senator Daniel Applewhite. But when Gus publicly outs the senator as the descendant of a murderer―with the accidental help of Lucy herself―and her former co-worker is murdered protecting the daguerreotype, Lucy will find that shaking the branches of some family trees proves them to be more twisted and dangerous than she ever thought possible.

A special thanks to S.C. Perkins for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of MURDER ONCE REMOVED. Contest ends Sunday, March 24, 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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Spanish Chocolate Cake

My father’s side of the family has been making this cake since it was given to my grandmother in 1970. It’s basically a variation of the classic Texas Sheet Cake, but we’ve always called it Spanish Chocolate Cake due to its wonderful cinnamon kick.

Ingredients

Cake ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon to 3 teaspoons cinnamon, depending on your tastes (recommended: 2 teaspoons
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• Pinch of cinnamon if desired
• 6 tablespoons whole milk, half and half, or heavy cream
• 16 ounces powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup pecans, chopped into small pieces, plus extra for garnish if desired

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. If using a glass baking dish, turn the oven down to 325 degrees.
2. Use a 9 x 13 sheet pan, lightly buttered and floured, or lined with parchment paper.

Cake instructions:

1. Combine flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
2. Heat butter, cocoa, and water to a boil, and then pour over the flour mixture.
3. Add the buttermilk, baking soda, eggs, and vanilla.
4. Mix all ingredients and pour into prepared 9 x 13 pan.
5. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes.

Icing Ingredients:

1. Using a saucepan on low heat, cook butter, cocoa, a pinch of cinnamon if desired, until blended. Add milk or cream and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. 

2. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and pecans, and mix to combine.

3. Once the cake has been cooled and iced, garnish with additional pecans if desired. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Tip

1. Make sure to spread the icing as soon as you make it. It sets up quickly. 

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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!) 

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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

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F).

2. Microwave chocolate on High 45 to 60 seconds, stirring once halfway through microwaving, until melted. Set aside.

3. Mix together cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.

4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Stir in liqueur.

5. Pour filling evenly over crusts.

6. Drop melted chocolate randomly onto filling. Let it sink, then with a knife, cut through chocolate and filling to swirl to marble.

7. Bake 1 hour, 10 minutes until set. Turn oven off and open door slightly. Cool cheesecake in oven 1 hour.

8. Remove from oven and cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Refrigerate 3 hours.

9. Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate if desired, right before serving. 

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STEAMED OPEN, the seventh book in the Maine Clambake Mysteries by Barbara Ross, captured my attention from the very beginning and held it until the very last word was read! I’ve been a long-time fan of this series and picking up this newest release was like sitting down and having a reunion with special friends that I haven’t seen in a year. Ms. Ross is tops in her league at creating memorable characters that readers feel can become close friends. And as happens (hopefully) in real life, these characters grow, change, and become better people from the events that shape them. Even though STEAMED OPEN is easily read as a stand-alone, I whole-heartedly recommend reading in order (if possible) to fully appreciate the skill Ms. Ross exhibits in creating her characters.

Protagonist Julia Snowden and her family own and operate a clambake on their family’s private island. It’s mid-August in Maine and the tourists are out in force. Ms. Ross paints a beckoning description of the town and the island during summer season, enticing the reader to take a virtual vacation. I would dearly love to visit this area in real life after reading this series! But, it’s not all fun in the sun for Julia and her family when a murder hits the town. The story is tightly plotted with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The subplots are riveting and adds an extra layer of intrigue to the book. I’ve been long curious (as has Julia) about her boyfriend’s past and his reluctance to open up. We’re finally given a glimpse into his secrets which makes him all that more meaningful to the story. I also appreciated the bits and pieces of information the author adds about clams, lighthouses, and the plight of seasonal fishermen and workers, and how difficult it is for them to make a living in the area. The author wove in the facts without ever detracting or slowing down the exciting story.

Julia, her family and friends, all enjoy lots of delectable food both on the island during clambake and in town. The descriptions will leave the reader hungry but fortunately Ms. Ross includes several recipes at the back of the book to satiate any appetite. I was drawn to the recipe for Ma’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake because it’s a recipe handed down from the author’s grandmother. What a wonderful keepsake! The fact that my taste testers told me this recipe is a “keeper” says it all! I loved that it bakes in a tube or bundt pan, which makes an elegant presentation for serving. Cinnamon and walnuts give a nice textural crunch, while the sour cream adds tang and moistness. Honestly this is a yummy breakfast or brunch treat but with a drizzle of an easy powdered sugar glaze, it’s perfect for dessert too!

Amazon Synopsis

It’s summertime in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and the clamming is easy—or it was until a mysterious new neighbor blocks access to the beach, cutting off the Snowden Family Clambake’s supply. Julia Snowden is just one of many townspeople angered by Bartholomew Frick’s decision. But which one of them was angry enough to kill?
 
Beachcombers, lighthouse buffs, and clammers are outraged after Frick puts up a gate in front of his newly inherited mansion. When Julia urges him to reconsider, she’s the last to see him alive—except the person who stabs him in the neck with a clam rake. As she pores through a long list of suspects, Julia meets disgruntled employees, rival heirs, and a pair of tourists determined to visit every lighthouse in America. They all have secrets, and Julia will have to work fast to expose the guilty party—or see this season’s clam harvest dry up for good. 

A special thanks to Barbara Ross for providing a winner with a print copy of STEAMED OPEN. Contest ends Sunday, December 23, 2018 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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Ma's Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Author's Note: This recipe is from a book of handwritten cards given to me by my grandmother the Christmas before she died. It is delicious and smells wonderful as it bakes.

Ingredients

For the cake

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 stick salted butter, softened (1 quarter pound)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 pint (8 ounces) sour cream

For the "topping"

• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).

2. Using a mixer, mix the ingredients for the cake until smooth and integrated.

3. Using your fingers, mix the "topping ingredients.

4. Pour one half of the cake mixture into a greased tube pan. Sprinkle one half of the "topping" over it.

5. Pour in the rest of the cake mixture. Sprinkle the rest of the "topping" over the top.

6. Bake for 35 minutes.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes

1. After baking, cool in pan for 10 minutes then invert onto a serving platter. Allow to cool at least another 15 minutes before slicing to serve. If desired, you can dust the top of the coffee cake with confectioners' sugar right before serving or drizzle with confectioners' sugar mixed with a little milk. 

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A SCANDAL IN SCARLET, the fourth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delany, is probably my favorite in the series so far! I’ve enjoyed watching the protagonist, Gemma Doyle, grow over the course of the stories and with this new release, she seems to have come into her own. She is still overly observant, but has learned to tone down her abruptness which makes her more relatable. Ms. Delany captures the spirit of Sherlock Holmes by developing Gemma’s orderly sense of intellect in noticing clues and helping to solve murders. I especially enjoyed the Sherlockian vibes portrayed with her foray into disguising herself in this book. I hope to see more of the disguises in future books, whether or not it helps Gemma find clues.

Not only is Gemma a terrific character but the author has also developed good supporting characters, such as Gemma’s best friend, Jayne Wilson. They have a great friendship and work relationship since Jayne is part owner in Mrs. Hudson’s Tearoom. I love how Jayne is willing to drop everything in order to protect and help Gemma out to solve the mystery while providing a bit of comic sidekick humor. Detective Ryan Ashburton is another welcome addition to the story, helping to bring out a tender side of Gemma. I’ve enjoyed watching their relationship blossom in a sweet manner while he’s learned to be more accepting of Gemma’s intellect and deducing skills. Ms. Delany intertwines a long ago, unsolved crime and a current day murder with great skill. She provides plenty of suspects for the crimes which kept me guessing. She also provides plenty of action with good pacing, keeping the reader engaged and turning pages. The exciting conclusion wrapped up the threads of the story and has me waiting impatiently for the next installment!

Ms. Delany has created two inviting settings with this series: Gemma’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and Jayne’s Mrs. Hudson’s Tearoom. I adore how Gemma offers Sherlock-themed book title recommendations to her customers and I’ve started reading some of those suggestions. It’s always fun to find new authors and new series! While A SCANDAL IN SCARLET does not have recipes, Jaynes serves all sorts of delectable goodies at Mrs. Hudson’s Tearoom, such as Strawberry Cake. Ms. Delany has graciously developed a recipe for this delightful cake for me to share. Tender, moist vanilla cake is topped with loads of fresh strawberries. Cut into wedges, this strawberry cake is as delicious as it is beautiful without having to rely on frosting. It’s the perfect treat to serve with a cup of hot tea or coffee any time of the day!  

Amazon Synopsis

Gemma and Jayne donate their time to raise money for the rebuilding of a burned out museum―but a killer wants a piece of the auction.

Walking her dog Violet late one night, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, acts quickly when she smells smoke outside the West London Museum. Fortunately no one is inside, but it’s too late to save the museum’s priceless collection of furniture, and damage to the historic house is extensive. Baker Street’s shop owners come together to hold an afternoon auction tea to raise funds to rebuild, and Great Uncle Arthur Doyle offers a signed first edition of The Valley of Fear. 

Cape Cod’s cognoscenti files into Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, owned by Gemma’s best friend, Jayne Wilson. Excitement fills the air (along with the aromas of Jayne’s delightful scones, of course). But the auction never happens. Before the gavel can fall, museum board chair Kathy Lamb is found dead in the back room. Wrapped tightly around her neck is a long rope of decorative knotted tea cups―a gift item that Jayne sells at Mrs. Hudson’s. Gemma’s boyfriend in blue, Ryan Ashburton, arrives on the scene with Detective Louise Estrada. But the suspect list is long, and the case far from elementary. Does Kathy’s killing have any relation to a mysterious death of seven years ago? 

Gemma has no intention of getting involved in the investigation, but when fellow shopkeeper Maureen finds herself the prime suspect she begs Gemma for her help. Ryan knows Gemma’s methods and he isn’t happy when she gets entangled in another mystery. But with so many suspects and so few clues, her deductive prowess will prove invaluable in A Scandal in Scarlet.

A special thanks to Vicki Delany for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of A SCANDAL IN SCARLET. Contest ends Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. and Canadian residents only. 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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Strawberry cake as served in Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room

This makes a coffee-cake like cake. It’s un-iced, and cut into wedges to be served. It's perfect with coffee.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch pie plate.
2. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl.

3. Mix butter and 1 cup sugar on medium-high speed in electric mixer until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low; mix in egg, milk, and vanilla.

4. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture. Transfer batter to buttered pie plate.

5. Arrange strawberries on top of batter, cut sides down and as close together as possible. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

6. Bake cake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake until cake is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 45 - 55 minutes. Let cool in pie plate on a wire rack.

7. Cut into wedges to serve.

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A STEW TO A KILL, the fourth book in Callie’s Kitchen Cozy Mystery series by Jenny Kales, brings the reader to Crystal Bay, Wisconsin, just in time to get into the spirit of Halloween festivities. Protagonist Calliope “Callie” Costas owns Callie’s Kitchen, which is a Mediterranean-meets-Midwest eatery. She and her shop are actively (and very busily) supporting the town’s Halloween Walk and Gala, to raise both food and money for the local food pantry. I enjoyed the small-town dynamics between Callie, her employees and the other local downtown shops surrounding Callie’s Kitchen. Callie shows her caring personality by trying to help them be successful. When one of her friends finds an employee murdered in her shop, Tea for Two, Callie knows she needs to ask a few questions so her friend doesn’t lose any business. Callie is also drawn to helping find the real killer because her boyfriend, Detective Ian Sands, is in England and she’s not liking how the stand-in detective has their eye on her friend for the crime. The murder mystery plot is well-paced and Ms. Kales weaves in plenty of suspects and clues which kept me guessing. The exciting conclusion was a nail-biter and wrapped up the threads of the plot in a satisfying manner.

One of the things that keeps me anticipating and coming back to read this series is the character development. Callie has a wonderful family in her 11-year-old daughter, her widowed Greek father and his girlfriend. They are close knit and I’ve enjoyed seeing how they’ve grown from the first book through this fourth book. Ms. Kales also includes a bit of humor by including some Midwest personality and amusing references to the movie ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding.’ It gives the book a good feel of what Callie’s eatery is trying to accomplish with fun results. 

And speaking of Callie’s Kitchen, be prepared to drool as you read through the mouthwatering passages detailing Callie’s delectable treats coming out of her kitchen. Fortunately for the reader, Ms. Kales provides several recipes at the back of the book, with many being traditional Greek dishes. I was drawn to her recipe for Chai Spice Cake for several reasons. With autumn and the holidays here, warm spices seem to capture the season. Plus I really like that the recipe includes using individual spices to create the chai mix instead of having to track down and buy a specialty spice. And lastly, the cake is baked in a bundt cake pan which makes the cake seem festive with little effort. Ms. Kales includes a yummy cream cheese glaze for the Chai Spice Cake, but if pressed for time I think a sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar would be a simple alternative. I’ll definitely be adding this cake to my repertoire of “go-to” desserts for autumn-flavored sweets.     

Amazon Synopsis

When a new employee at a neighboring business, Tea for Two, is found dead, Callie is drawn into a murky brew of motives and murder suspects. It turns out that the seemingly mild-mannered victim might have a few skeletons in his closet. What’s more, the timing of the murder, just a day before Crystal Bay’s first annual Halloween Walk, has threatened to derail the town’s festive fall events, including a Halloween Gala benefiting the local food pantry, one of Callie’s favorite causes.

Callie’s already full plate is set to overflowing with the return of an old boyfriend who has his eye on developing a mall that will compete with and possibly destroy Crystal Bay’s small business scene. Could there be a tie between the mall and the murder?

Somebody has been stewing. Will Callie help find the unsavory killer before things reach the boiling point?

A special thanks to Jenny Kales for providing winner’s choice of print or an e-book copy of A STEW TO A KILL. Print copy limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winners 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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Chai Spice Cake

Bring out your best Bundt pan for this one and you will have one impressive cake to share at a fall gathering or the holidays. I use my Vintage Star Bundt pan for this, but any Bundt or tube pan will work. With its warm blend of spices, this cake could even grace the table at a special brunch. An easy glaze recipe is included, but you could also dust this cake with powdered sugar for a simple decoration. Either way, this cake is full of scrumptious flavor.

Ingredients

Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chai spice mix:

• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch finely ground black pepper

Cream Cheese Glaze:

• 1 tablespoon very soft cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 - 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

2. Spray a Bundt pan or tube pan with Pam baking spray (with flour).
3. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and chai spice in a medium bowl. Set aside.

4. Beat butter and cream cheese with sugar until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. 

5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended.

6. Add flour mixture in thirds, alternating with sour cream. Do not overbeat. 

7. Add the vanilla extract and mix until just blended.

8. Pour batter into Bundt pan and smooth the top. Bake for 38-40 minutes. Check for doneness by testing the center with a toothpick; it should come out clean. Be careful not to overbake.

9. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before unmolding to cool completely on a wire rack. Let cool a little longer before slicing the cake. It is best served warm.

Cream Cheese Glaze:

1. Whisk ingredients together until the glaze is smooth and pourable. Add a little more milk if the mixture is too stiff. Drizzle over top of cake.

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