Cookies & Bars Archives - Page 17 of 32

Cranberry Walnut Cookie Balls

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HAVE YOURSELF A BEARY LITTLE MURDER by Meg Macy is the third book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. Any book with a tag line of shamelessly adorable and a most darling book cover will grab my attention. Ms. Macy stays true to that promise by penning an adorable cozy mystery. The stage is set at the family owned Silver Bear Shop and Factory at Christmas time. The protagonist, Sasha Silverman, and her family are actively involved in the Silver Hollow annual tree light and Festival of Lights Parade. This highly popular village event gives the author plenty of opportunities to make the reader feel the spirit of the Christmas holiday with the various festivities, costumes, food, and fun, which I greatly enjoyed. The only downside, for me, is that too many characters were introduced because of the festival, and I had a hard time keeping track of who was who for a time. However, once Sasha got involved in trying to figure out who would want to murder the polar Santa-bear-costume-wearing mayor, the pace picked up and got back on track.

While on the surface the mayor seemed to be beloved by all, Sasha digs deeper and finds he had another side that was hidden from his constituents. This opens her investigation to many suspects, prompted, for once, by her own mother to find the villain. There were clues planted throughout which kept me guessing and turning pages until the heartwarming ending. I greatly enjoy how Sasha has a close relationship with her entire family and they work together to support and encourage each other. This, along with (need I say it again?) the adorable teddy bear shop brings a delightful cheer to an endearing holiday cozy read.

One of the events Sasha and her family are hosting during the festivities is a cookie competition. One of the entries is a Cranberry Walnut Cookie Balls and Ms. Macy was kind enough to provide the recipe for me to share. I loved the crunch of the walnuts in the cookie along with the tart sweetness of the cranberries. Easy to mix up and festive with the red cranberries dotting the shortbread-style cookie rolled in fluffy mounds of powdered sugar, this will be sure to add holiday cheer to any cookie platter!

Amazon Synopsis

This holiday season, teddy bear shop manager Sasha Silverman must solve the slaying of Santa Bear . . .

Sasha and her sister Maddie are thrilled that the Silver Bear Shop and Factory has won the Teddy Bear Keepsake Contest, which means they get to produce a holiday specialty toy, a wizard bear named “Beary Potter.” Promising to be just as magical is Silver Hollow’s annual tree-lighting ceremony and village parade. Only one hitch: the parade’s mascot, Santa Bear—played by Mayor Cal Bloom—is missing.

After a frantic search among the floats, Bloom is found dead. When the outfit is removed, it’s clear the mayor’s been electrocuted. Who zapped hizzoner and then stuffed him into his Santa Bear suit? While the police investigate the grisly crime, Sasha attempts to track down the murderer herself, with some help from the Guilty Pleasures Gossip Club. Can they wrap up this case in time for Christmas—or will Sasha meet her own shocking end?

A special thanks to Meg Macy for providing one winner with a copy of HAVE YOURSELF A BEARY LITTLE MURDER. Contest ends Sunday, September 29, 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!)

Cranberry Walnut Cookie Balls

Ingredients

1 cup butter softened
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped into small pieces
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).
Beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the flour and salt and mix just until blended.
Stir in walnuts and dried cranberries.
Using a small cookie scoop, roll dough into 1" balls and place on ungreased baking sheet, or on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Keep at least 1 inch space between cookie balls.
Bake for 15-18 minutes. The bottoms should be lightly browned.
While cookies are baking, pour confectioners' sugar into a shallow bowl or pie plate.
Roll 4-5 hot cookie balls at a time into the confectioners' sugar until each cookie is well coated.
Place the coated cookies onto a wire rack to cool completely.

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Mulberry Thumbprint Cookies

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I’m delighted to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book tour, introducing MULBERRY MISCHIEF! This fourth book in the Berry Basket Mysteries by Sharon Farrow is a berrylicious addition to an entertaining series. The protagonist, Marlee Jacob, is a sweet young woman who has close friendships with her employees and gives of her time to make the town’s numerous events a success. As owner of the yummy Berry Basket shop, Marlee is well-versed in the properties of a multitude of berries. I enjoyed the bits and pieces of health benefits available by consuming berries that is shared in the story. While facts are woven in, they never detract from the pace of the tale.

The town is gearing up for the Haunted Halloween Harvest Health Fair, showcasing top celebrities in the fields of health and beauty. With the volunteers in costume and the decorations celebrating the spookiness of the season, the author captures the spirit of the holiday and the event. The town’s eccentric woman, Leticia, the Lady of the Lake, requests Marlee to sell her bags upon bags of mulberries to protect her and her “ghost”. This adds an element of Halloween as Marlee tries to find the ghost. As the story unfolds, an influential family and a long ago murder converges with a falsely accused teen and a new murder caused by a mulberry wood arrow. There were plenty of suspects that kept me guessing and plenty of action to keep me turning pages. As Marlee closes in on the identity of the killer, the suspense ratchets up until the final, edge-of-your-seat conclusion is reached.

Marlee’s Berry Basket chef, Theo, bakes all sorts of berry and mulberry-themed treats, such as Mulberry Thumbprint Cookies. When Ms. Farrow sent the recipe to me, I was excited. I’d never tasted mulberries, much less cooked with them and I was anxious to try. However, here in California I couldn’t find mulberries, no matter the season. I didn’t realize how regional this fruit is. Fortunately, I found some mulberry jam online and bought a jar. What I found is that while mulberries look very similar to blackberries, they are much sweeter. The mulberry jam pairs beautifully with the shortbread-style cookie dough and provides an enticing dark purple jewel in the middle of the baked cookie. Rest assured that if you don’t have access to mulberry jam, any of your favorite flavors will work in this recipe.

Amazon Synopsis

Autumn has arrived on the shores of Lake Michigan, but Marlee Jacob, proprietor of The Berry Basket, is feeling a chill for other reasons …

With the Harvest Health Fair in full swing, Marlee makes sure to stock up on elderberry products for cold and flu season. But this year there’s also a run on mulberry when an eccentric customer wants to use the dried berries to ward off evil forces. True, it’s almost Halloween, but something else seems to be spooking Leticia the Lake Lady, Oriole Point’s oddest resident. She believes someone plans to kill her—and the ghost. Only mulberries can protect them. Marlee doesn’t take her fears seriously until a man named Felix Bonaventure arrives in the village, asking questions about a mysterious woman.

The next day, Marlee finds Bonaventure dead on Leticia’s property—shot through the heart with an arrow made of mulberry wood. And Leticia has disappeared. Marlee soon learns the Lake Lady has a deadly past that is connected to the famous Sable family who are in town for the health fair. A bunch of clues start to come together—and figuring out what’s going on puts Marlee in a real jam …

A special thanks to Sharon Farrow for providing six giveaway copies of MULBERRY MISCHIEF. Contest ends September 8, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and limited to U.S. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and the winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Mulberry Thumbprint Cookies

As cookie fans know, thumbprint cookies are a longtime favorite at Christmastime. However, I love thumbprint cookies so much, I’d happily eat them year round. And in MULBERRY MISCHIEF, Marlee’s baker Theo makes mulberry thumbprint cookies for the festivities leading up to Halloween. Using The Berry Basket’s own mulberry jam, naturally. Of course, this classic recipe can be used with any number of berry jams, not just mulberries.

Ingredients

1 -1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup mulberry jam

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.
In another bowl, beat sugar and butter until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients to the sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla mixture. Stir until blended.
Shape dough into small 1-inch balls. Place on cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
If the dough is too sticky, refrigerate 45 - 60 minutes before shaping into balls.
With your thumb, indent each cookie center about 1/2-inch deep.
Spoon jam or preserves into each thumbprint.
Bake 13-14 minutes, or until cookie edges are golden. Makes 3 dozen.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
August 26 – I Read what You Write – SPOTLIGHT
August 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
August 27 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
August 28 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
August 28 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – GUEST POST
August 28 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
August 29 – Curling Up by The Fire – REVIEW
August 29 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 30 – The Avid Reader – READER
August 30 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
August 31 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
August 31 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
September 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 1 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
September 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
September 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 3 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
September 4 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
September 4 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 5 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE
September 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 6 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
September 6 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT
September 7 – Teresa Watson’s Blog – REVIEW
September 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
September 8 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
September 8 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kiflis (Dessert Crescents)

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DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY, the first in the new Hungarian Tea House Mystery series by Julia Buckley, is a delightful introduction to the author’s Hungarian culture. It’s packed full of mystery, folklore, and three generations of strong women who run Maggie’s Tea House. The protagonist, Hana Keller, along with her mother, Maggie, and grandmother, Juliana, are known for serving European High Tea and specialty events with a Hungarian flair. Ms. Buckley did an outstanding job capturing the essence of the Hungarian community through the use of vernacular and accents added to speech between the characters. Her introduction of Hungarian heritage via myths and legends, along with amazing food descriptions, added to the authenticity of the setting. The characters are well-developed and I enjoyed the touch of paranormal, especially with Grandma Juliana and her tea leaf readings.

When a woman is murdered with poisoned tea served from Hana’s special butterfly tea cup during one of the Tea House events, she gets involved in the investigation to help clear the Tea House’s reputation after clients start cancelling. Detective Wolf, the investigator, pulls Hana, her mother, and her grandmother into the interviews, to help translate the Hungarian spoken by the event’s attendees. These scenes add some light humor as the women help the detective understand their culture, plus it gives Hana an insider’s opportunity to sort out the clues from the witnesses. As the book progresses, so does Hana’s involvement with the detective, and a romance blossoms. Clues were liberally sprinkled throughout the plot but instead of trying to guess, I sat back and enjoyed the story as it unfolded until I’d read the very last page.

Hana’s grandmother is quite the accomplished cook and I was excited to see the author includes recipes for several of her own family’s Hungarian dishes. I was excited to try her recipe for Kiflis, or Dessert Crescents, which are basically a rich cookie dough rolled out and filled with a variety of sweet fillings. I was unfamiliar with the lekvar filling (your favorite jam can be substituted) but I managed to find some apricot lekvar on Amazon. Apricot jam is my favorite and the lekvar is even better! It tastes like eating fruit straight from the tree without being diluted with sugar, as is the case in jam. I also used some raspberry jam and blackberry jam I had on hand, and my taste testers liked that too, especially those with a sweet tooth. These cookies are a rich and flaky pastry that are delicious and elegant looking too.

Amazon Synopsis

Hana Keller serves up European-style cakes and teas in her family-owned tea house, but when a customer keels over from a poisoned cuppa, Hana and her tea-leaf reading grandmother will have to help catch a killer in the first Hungarian Tea House Mystery from Julia Buckley.

Hana Keller and her family run Maggie’s Tea House, an establishment heavily influenced by the family’s Hungarian heritage and specializing in a European-style traditional tea service. But one of the shop’s largest draws is Hana’s eccentric grandmother, Juliana, renowned for her ability to read the future in the leaves at the bottom of customers’ cups. Lately, however, her readings have become alarmingly ominous and seemingly related to old Hungarian legends…

When a guest is poisoned at a tea event, Juliana’s dire predictions appear to have come true. Things are brought to a boil when Hana’s beloved Anna Weatherley butterfly teacup becomes the center of the murder investigation as it carried the poisoned tea. The cup is claimed as evidence by a handsome police detective, and the pretty Tea House is suddenly endangered. Hana and her family must catch the killer to save their business and bring the beautiful Budapest Butterfly back home where it belongs.

A special thanks to Julia Buckley for providing one winner with a print copy of DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY. Contest ends Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and 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!)

Kiflis (Dessert Crescents)

Adapted from a traditional Hungarian recipe.

Ingredients

6 cups flour (unsifted)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup sugar
1 pound butter
5 egg yolks
1/2 pint sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Choice of filling:

Raspberry, strawberry, or apricot lekvar; or almond paste, nut blend, or sweet cheese.

Instructions

In a large bowl (my grandmother recommends glass, for some reason), mix together the dry ingredients. Cut in the butter, then add the remaining ingredients (through the vanilla extract). Mix well, using your hands if necessary.
Divide the dough into 2 portions, then refrigerate for 1 hour.
Flour a board and roll out each dough portion. Cut the dough into 3-inch squares, and spoon the filling onto the center of each square. Roll straight and put on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Optional: After rolling kiflis, brush top with milk and dip into a mixture of ground nuts and sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until light brown. Cool and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Serve with coffee or tea.

Tip:

Substitute thick fruit jam for the lekvar if necessary.

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Pumpkin Chai Spice Snickerdoodles

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CHAI ANOTHER DAY, the fourth book in the Spice Shop Mystery series by Leslie Budewitz, is a welcomed and long anticipated addition to a delightful series! The author whets the appetite of the reader from the beginning, by providing a list of characters. I love referring back to the list as I read through the book, to get an added sense of the author’s descriptions and relationships between the characters. From there, the reader is treated to a variety of quotes which start each chapter off. I enjoyed trying to see how they tied in to the theme of the chapters. Ms. Budewitz creates a sensory-filled story that manages to bring the tastes, smells, sounds, and sights of Pike’s Place Market, located in Seattle, to life. I especially love protagonist, Pepper Reece, and her darling Spice Shop and her adorable dog, Arf. I would dearly love to spend time in her store, exploring the spices, perusing the recipes and books, and chatting with the staff members. The author truly brings the charming setting to life while including bits and pieces of interesting spice facts and spice pairings.

The reader is treated to a well-plotted mystery with a multitude of subplots woven in to provide growth for the characters alongside warm, human relationships. Pepper’s character is a caring, empathetic friend and employer. She’s also brave and is willing to step in and help her friends out in dangerous situations. I appreciated the author’s portrayal of racial discrimination and bullying. It’s a social issue that is often overlooked by fiction writers but is important nonetheless. Pepper uses her people skills to ask questions and piece together the clues to find justice for victims of all types of crimes, not just murder. Ms. Budewitz writes a tight mystery that provides enough suspects and clues to keep the reader guessing while providing characters and settings that invite the reader in and makes them want to stay.

Pepper is an accomplished cook and she often creates dishes to serve to her friends and family. She also has several friends, including a chef at her favorite restaurant, who all create delectable meals. And lastly, she allows her staff at the Spice Shop to develop recipes based around seasonally themed spice blends. The author includes a collection of these recipes at the back of the book and I was drooling over the descriptions as I read the many recipes. With chai being the central theme of the book, I was intrigued by both the base recipe for chai along with the many applications the author developed. The spices in chai are warming and remind me of cool autumn days and falling leaves. I was immediately drawn to Ms. Budewitz recipe for Pumpkin Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles because I think pumpkin, along with chai, is the epitome of autumn. And well… it’s cookies… my favorite treat to make. These are softer than your typical snickerdoodle, but so much more flavorful. It may seem like a lot of ingredients to start out, but the multiple spices measure out quickly and after that the cookies mix up swiftly and once baked, disappear into grateful mouths just as fast.

Amazon Synopsis

Seattle Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece probes murder while juggling a troubled employee, her mother’s house hunt, and a fisherman who’s set his hook for her.

As owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market, Pepper Reece is always on the go. Between conjuring up new spice blends and serving iced spice tea to customers looking to beat the summer heat, she finally takes a break for a massage. But the Zen moment is shattered when she overhears an argument in her friend Aimee’s vintage home decor shop that ends in murder.

Wracked by guilt over her failure to intervene, Pepper investigates, only to discover a web of deadly connections that could ensnare a friend – and Pepper herself.

A special thanks to Leslie Budewitz for providing one winner with a print copy of CHAI ANOTHER DAY. Contest ends Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and limited to U.S. 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!)

Pumpkin Chai Spice Snickerdoodles

Using turbinado sugar instead of granulated white sugar gives the spice mix a great crunch. The pumpkin makes the cookie softer and moister than a typical snickerdoodle.

And admit it. You love saying "snickerdoodle."

Extra canned pumpkin can be frozen and used later; pour off any liquid that forms in your container. Taste-test your sugar-and-spice blend to make sure it's got enough sweetness and crunch for you.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough:

2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chai Spice Sugar

1/3 cup turbinado sugar (substitute granulated sugar if you must)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

Heat oven to 375 degrees (F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and nutmeg.
Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla and beat until combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just fully combined.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cardamom, and cloves.
Roll the dough into balls, about 1-inch across, and roll in the sugar mixture. Place on baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake about 10 minutes, until the cookies are starting to set around the edges and are a light golden in the center. They should still be slightly soft in the center.
Cool slightly on baking sheet before transferring to a rack to cool completely.

Tip

If dough is too sticky to roll, chill in refrigerator for 30 - 60 minutes.

Notes

Makes about 3-1/2 dozen.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Biscotti

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SECRET IN THYME is the second book in the Rita Calabrese Mystery series by Maureen Klovers but the first I’ve had a chance to read… and it certainly won’t be my last. I was delighted to find that the characters and setting were easy to get to know without knowing the backstory, so this second book can be read as a standalone. Ms. Klovers brings a strong Italian matriarchal protagonist to the pages via Rita Calabrese. I can’t help but cheer that a competent, vibrant woman of a “certain age” is the heroine of the story. Rita has raised her children, grows an enviable garden, is a cook extraordinaire, and manages to work as an investigative reporter for the Morris County Gazette. Even local law enforcement admire her intellect and investigative skills.

I also admired how the author captures the ebb and flow of Rita’s forty year marriage to Sal. It’s not all champagne and roses especially when Rita’s former flame comes to town, flouting his huge success as a notable historian and author. It causes Rita and Sal to take stock of their lives and their marriage to remember and find what’s important. This brings an emotional element to the story, especially as Rita struggles with her son’s impending nuptials to a woman she doesn’t care for. Ms. Klovers has created memorable characters, each with distinct personalities, and each fitting into the story perfectly. She also weaves in snippets of Italian phrases, helping the reader feel the flavor of that nationality. The author does an admirable job of making the meaning of those phrases quite clear without giving a literal translation.

The murder mystery is set against the backdrop of Acorn Hollow’s three hundred year founding celebration. When the body of a man missing for fifty years is found in the town’s time capsule (which was actually a coffin that the funeral home couldn’t sell) Rita starts asking questions, looking for news to impress her young newspaper editor. Little does she know that she will have to peel back decades of secrets and lies to find the truth. There were suspects galore and instead of trying to guess, I relaxed while I read and let the story unfold. The twists and turns along with the final reveal left me stunned. All I can say is kudos to Ms. Klovers for thinking up such a creative scenario and writing it in such a believable manner. I’m all set to catch up on the first book and look forward to reading future installments in this entertaining cozy mystery series!

Rita is quite the accomplished cook and baker. Not only does she provide mouthwatering meals for her family, she also bakes treats to tempt her interviewees to spill their secrets. One of her favorite tempting recipes is Chocolate Peanut Butter Biscotti and although Rita might share a lot with her friends, she also manages to eat several pieces herself. It’s too good to pass up. A super crunchy, twice baked cookie that is made to dip in coffee, tea, milk, or dessert wine. The addition of the layer of chocolate makes it impossible to resist. I loved that it makes enough to generously share and it can easily be made ahead of time and stored until ready to gift or served to friends who drop in for coffee and gossip.

Amazon Synopsis

Rita Calabrese thought she had mastered her second act. Long acknowledged as Acorn Hollow’s best cook and most lovable (or, as a few ignorant souls might say say, overbearing) Italian-American matriarch, she has more recently become its most celebrated journalist and sleuth too.

But on the eve of Rita’s fortieth wedding anniversary—and the town’s tercentenary—the sudden arrival of two very different men threatens Rita’s comfortable existence. First, her husband’s shady cousin shows up on their doorstep. Then, Rita’s old high school beau suddenly returns after a fifty-year absence, and Rita is assigned to interview him. Stefano’s a successful historian now and he’s still bellissimo—but he’s also hiding something.

When the town’s time capsule is flung open to reveal a toothless skeleton, Rita hopes that solving this cold case will be just the diversion she needs. But if identifying the victim proves difficult, managing the men in her life becomes nearly impossible. A cagey ex-flame and boorish, cigar-smoking houseguest are enough to deal with, but it’s another thing entirely when her husband, normally so skeptical of Rita’s nose for crime, begins insisting his recently deceased grappa-swilling, red-meat-loving septuagenarian friends did not die of heart attacks, but were murdered. Only one thing’s certain—if she can survive it, this will be an anniversary to remember.

A special thanks to Maureen Klovers for providing a winner with their choice of either print or an e-book copy of A SECRET IN THYME. Contest ends Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and print is limited to U.S. 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!)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Biscotti

Biscotti was the Roman Empire’s version of hard tack—its legions marched to battle with bellies full of biscotti—which is proof positive that Italians do everything better! In modern-day Italy, they are generally referred to as “cantucci”— “biscotti” is a broader, more generic term for a hard cookie or bread.

As the name suggests, biscotti are twice-cooked (“Bis” meant “twice” in latin, and “cotto”—the singular of “cotti”—means “cooked” in modern Italian), and this recipe requires you to do just that. The upside is that you end up with a wonderfully crunchy cookie to dip in your cappuccino or dessert wine, and they will last far longer than your typical chewy American cookie.

Peanut butter and chocolate are not particularly authentic flavorings, but this is one of my favorite recipes and--judging by all of the information I’ve extracted from neighbors I’ve plied with these biscotti—one of Acorn Hollow’s favorite recipes too!

Ingredients

2-3/4 cups flour
1-3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup water
4 cups dark chocolate chips, divided

Instructions

Combine eggs, peanut butter, and water in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then add dry ingredient mixture to wet ingredients, stirring to fully incorporate. Then stir in one cup of chocolate chips.
Line cookie sheet with buttered parchment paper. Divide dough, which should be sticky and relatively dry for cookie dough, into two halves. Form each half into a log, approximately three inches in width and one-half inch in height, on the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with back of spoon.
Bake logs at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Then remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes. Turn down oven temperature to 300 degrees. Slice logs on the bias (diagonally) into 3/4 inch thick slices. Then arrange slices, cut side up, on the cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip sliced biscotti so that the other side gets toasted and bake another 10 minutes at 300 degrees.
Let biscotti cool on a wire rack. Once biscotti have cooled somewhat, melt 3 cups of chocolate chips in a double boiler (or microwave according to package directions), stirring constantly. Then dredge one side of each biscotti in the melted chocolate (or drizzle over twice-baked cookie) and return to the wire rack to dry. Let harden overnight.

Tip

Spritz your hands with non-stick cooking spray before forming dough into logs.
I used mini chocolate chips in the dough and regular chips for dipping.

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Marygene’s Berry Crumb Bars

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SOUTHERN SASS AND KILLER CRAVINGS is the first book in the brand new Marygene Brown Mystery series by Kate Young. I enjoyed being introduced to the protagonist, Marygene, and her family, along with spending time with them at The Peach Diner in Peach Cove Island. The author captures the southernisms and Georgia setting realistically and had me hearing, smelling, and thinking I was right there, visiting Peach Cove. This new cozy mystery is a bit different than most cozies in that the author tackles the difficult subject of domestic abuse by making Marygene a survivor. She handles the portrayal with great sensitivity without detracting from the overall mystery. Ms. Young effectively shows how Marygene grows and develops while dealing with the aftermath. Despite the subject matter and the murder of the town’s lothario, there is plenty of humor provided through the ghost of Marygene’s mother showing up to make amends. Marygene’s best friend, Betsy, also brings a lightheartedness, which makes me appreciate the care the author has taken to develop her protagonist and the supporting characters.

When Marygene’s sister, Jena Lynn, is accused of murder by poisoning one of their diner’s customers, the family must pull together to clear her name. I enjoyed that despite the status of being a half-sibling to both her brother and sister, Marygene jumps in with complete support. Marygene is also finding her way with her biological father, Eddie, whom she has been on the outs for a long time. As sheriff, Eddie doesn’t want his daughter to get involved, especially when danger seems to be moving in. It was heartwarming to see that despite the danger, Marygene does all she can to show her love by investigating. As she starts asking questions, it becomes clear that many people had reasons to hate the man. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and the exciting conclusion, which includes Marygene’s mama, was an edge-of-your-seat read!

As owners of The Peach Diner, Marygene and her sister bake and serve mouthwatering dishes. Ms. Young provides several recipes at the back of the book, and they all sound delicious. I tried her recipe for Marygene’s Berry Crumb Bars and oh my goodness, they were oh so yummy! An easy to make dough serves as both the crust and crumb topping, while a generous amount of juicy berries provide a jammy filling. The addition of a bit of lemon juice, zest, and cardamom gives the dessert a boost in flavor. My test tasters all gave this two thumbs up as they went back for seconds!

Amazon Synopsis

Life has always been sweet on Georgia’s Peach Cove Island, but a case of murder has Marygene Brown down in the pits . . .

For generations, the women of the Brown family on Peach Cove Island have been known for their Southern sass and sweet homemade desserts at their beloved Peach Diner. Since their mother’s passing two years ago, Marygene has been stuck in Atlanta while her sister Jena Lynn has been running the family business. Now Marygene has left her husband and returned to her hometown, where she can almost feel Mama’s presence.

But all is not peachy back home. Marygene has barely tied on an apron when a diner regular drops dead at the counter. When it turns out the old man’s been poisoned, Jena Lynn is led away in handcuffs and the family eatery is closed. Now, to save her sister and the diner, Marygene must find the real killer. With some startling assistance from her Mama’s spirit, Marygene will be serving up a special order of just desserts . . .

The author is hosting her own giveaway:

A PRE-ORDER CONTEST with fabulous prizes! A Coach Bag with matching wristlet and $120 in gift cards plus autographed copies of the book!

Click on the link to visit the contest site:

– https://www.kateyoungbooks.com/pre-order-contest.html

* Grand Prize Winner receives a gorgeous Coach Avenue Tote and Coach wristlet (value $450) and a $100 gift card to either Amazon or B&N.

* 2 Runners up will receive a $10 gift card to either Amazon or B&N and an autographed paperback copy of Southern Sass and Killer Cravings.

Marygene’s Berry Crumb Bars

Ingredients

For the dough

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and diced
Zest of 1 lemon
1 egg, lightly beaten

For the Filling

5 cups berries (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 × 13 inch baking pan.
In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter until it resembles cornmeal. Then add the egg and lemon zest. The dough will be crumbly. Pat half of the dough into the prepared pan. Place the pan and the remainder of the dough in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
In a bowl, mix gently together berries, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla extract. In a large Ziploc bag or bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. Pour over the berries and fold gently.
Spread the berry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble the remaining dough over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares. Refrigerate leftovers.