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It’s always a delight to open a new book in a long-enjoyed series and visit with friends. Such is the case with BISCUITS AND SLASHED BROWNS, the fourth book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. The protagonist, Robbie Jordan, is a no-nonsense, can-do type of young woman. Not only is she a great chef at her restaurant, Pans ‘N Pancakes, in South Lick, Indiana, but she is also a skilled carpenter. Robbie has a keen intelligence, solving the hardest crossword puzzles (in ink, no less!) and creates her own crossword puzzles when trying to figure out murder mysteries. I’ll be honest here, the ability to do crossword puzzles completely eludes me and I greatly admire anyone who can get even a few answers on the easiest of puzzles! When I “retired” from a day job many years ago, I read that doing crossword puzzles keeps your mind sharp. I tried a few in the newspaper and quickly gave up. Then I came across the book Crossword Puzzles for Dummies… I had to use the answers in the back more than solving any puzzles on my own so I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t my cup of tea so to speak. Anyway, this is about Robbie and not me… Robbie is an admirable character who cares for not only her friends but the townspeople and visitors alike and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her with each book. The town of South Lick is preparing for the fifth annual National Maple Syrup Festival and Robbie is gearing up by creating maple themed dishes. The fact that Indiana has forests of maple trees and produces maple syrup was news to me and I enjoyed doing a bit of research on the subject. (Here is the link if you’re curious: Indiana Department of Natural Resources)

When a visiting professor is found murdered after arguing with Robbie’s assistant’s father, Robbie knows she needs to get involved. Even when the family appears to be hiding something and clearly does not want her help, Robbie is driven to find the truth. She feels a compelling urge to protect her town especially when it appears the local law enforcement is on the wrong track. I love how the community rallies behind each other, pitching in to help each other no matter what. The local colloquialisms are quaint and adds to the charm of both the characters and the setting. Ms. Day captures the essence of a small mid-west farming community perfectly, and I could see and experience it all as I read. There are plenty of viable suspects provided to keep you guessing and a suspenseful, dangerous climax wraps the story up for an exciting ending.

Robbie, being such a great cook, serves up lots of delectable dishes at Pans ‘N Pancakes, often with an ethnic culinary theme involved. She creates Chocolate Almond Biscotti for her Italian day and fortunately for the reader, the author includes several recipes at the back of the book including the biscotti. There are so many reasons I love biscotti and this recipe is no exception: It’s sturdy and packages up extremely well, so it’s perfect for gift giving; you don’t have to eat it within a day or two of baking since it stores well in an airtight container; it adds to the enjoyment of a cup of coffee or tea on a chilly morning! I loved the combination of chocolate with the added crunch of almonds while the drizzle of chocolate was pure bliss. Buona mangiata! 

Amazon Synopsis

For country-store owner Robbie Jordan, the National Maple Syrup Festival is a sweet escape from late-winter in South Lick, Indiana—until murder saps the life out of the celebration . . .
 
As Robbie arranges a breakfast-themed cook-off at Pans ‘N Pancakes, visitors pour into Brown County for the annual maple extravaganza. Unfortunately, that includes Professor Connolly, a know-it-all academic from Boston who makes enemies everywhere he goes—and this time, bad manners prove deadly. Soon after clashing with several scientists at a maple tree panel, the professor is found dead outside a sugar shack, stabbed to death by a local restaurateur’s knife. When an innocent woman gets dragged into the investigation and a biologist mysteriously disappears, Robbie drops her winning maple biscuits to search for answers. But can she help police crack the case before another victim is caught in a sticky situation with a killer?

 A special thanks to Maddie Day for providing one winner with a signed copy of BISCUITS AND SLASHED BROWNS! Contest ends Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) 

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Chocolate Almond Biscotti

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups sliced almonds, toasted and divided
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips optional
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips optional
• 2 teaspoons shortening optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
   

   
   

2. Lightly grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper. Set aside.

   
   

3. Place 3/4 cup of toasted almonds in a food processor and pulse until ground. 

4. Beat butter in large bowl for 30 seconds, then add sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; beat until combined.

   
   

5. Beat in eggs and almond extract.

6. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with mixer.

   
   

7. By hand, stir in remaining flour, the ground almonds and the remaining 3/4 cup of sliced almonds.

   
   

8. On pieces of wax paper, shape dough into two 14 inch long rolls.

   
   

9. Place rolls on prepared cookie sheet at least 5 inches apart, flatten slightly.

   
   

10. Bake 25-30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near centers comes out clean.

    
    

11. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 hour.

    
    

12. Cut each roll diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices.

    
    

13. Place slices, cut sides down, on ungreased cookie sheets (or cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper).

    
    

14. Bake 8 minutes.

    
    

15. Turn slices; bake 7 to 9 minutes more or until cookies are dry and begin to crisp (do not overbake).

    
    

16. Remove from cookie sheets to wire racks.

    
    

17. Cool completely.

    
    

18. If desired, to make glaze or drizzle, place semi sweet chips and white chips in separate small microwave safe bowls.

    
    

19. Add 1 teaspoon of shortening to each bowl.

    
    

20. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, stirring once; stir. If necessary, microwave an additional 15 seconds or until chips are melted and mixtures are smooth when stirred.

    
    

21. Dip biscotti into mixtures or drizzle over tops.
    

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I’ve been aware of the Brilliant Minnesota Mystery series by Julie Seedorf for some time and have loved reading other bloggers’ reviews of the books. I’ve intended to read the books but somehow they’ve gotten lost in the shuffle on my Kindle… one of the downsides of reading digital books I suppose. When Lisa Kelley of Lisa K’s Book Reviews asked me to schedule this blog post I was more than willing to do so since it meant I would finally read them. Just as Julie’s Fuchsia Minnesota Mystery series contains memorable, quirky characters, so does her “new” series. My review is for THE DISCOMBOBULATED DECIPHERERS, the second book in the Brilliant Minnesota series, which is easy to jump in and read as a standalone. The protagonist, Jezabelle Jingle, owns Brilliant Bistro and is a caring person. She is surrounded by close friends who love to solve puzzles which also extends to the puzzle of solving murder mysteries, much to the chagrin of the town’s Chief of Police. When Santa’s elf is killed in their village, Jezabelle and her friends start asking questions around town. They also find a puzzle left by the town’s founding fathers (who disappeared long, long ago) and the clues the author sprinkles throughout the book intrigued me and kept me turning pages. Along with an entertaining plot that moves quickly, there is much humor and laugh out loud moments.

One of the fun surprises in the book are the recipes the author includes. I’m very happy to share the recipe for Lemon Love Notes which is a refreshing, delicious end to any meal! I love Julie’s introduction to the recipe: Jezabelle and I would like to thank Gladys Johanson and her family for letting us use her recipe for Lemon Love Notes in the Brilliant Bistro. Gladys celebrated her 100th birthday on October 19, 2017. She fed 14 children with her fabulous cooking. Thank you for sharing love through your baking. And thank you, Julie, for sharing your delightful stories and recipes with us readers!

Amazon Synopsis

It’s Christmas in Brilliant, Minnesota, and Brilliant is known for its glitzy Christmas traditions. A world-renowned Christmas pageant, the town square decked out with Santa’s Village and a live nativity scene bring visitors to Brilliant each year. Just as the tourists arrive, Jezabelle Jingle and her mystery writer friend, Miranda, find the body of Ernest the elf dead and wrapped in a bundle of Christmas lights in the town square. Is Ernest part of a new holiday puzzle the Discombobulated Decipherers need to solve? Or is dead Ernest part of a bigger plot? Will Jezabelle decipher the clues so Brilliant can celebrate Christmas in peace? Or will Jezabelle be the next gift-wrapped box under the village tree?

A special thanks to Julie Seedorf for providing one winner with a  chance to win an e-book copy of THE DISCOMBOBULATED DECIPHERERS. Contest ends Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) 

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Lemon Love Notes

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter

Filling

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 grated lemon rind
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Frosting

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 teaspoons milk (depending on if you want to spread the frosting or drizzle it)

Instructions

Crust

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

2. Mix all the crust ingredients together and pat into a 9" square pan. (I used a 7" x 11" pan.)

3. Bake for 15 minutes then remove from the oven and cool.

Filling

1. Blend all the filling ingredients together and pour over baked crust.

2. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes at 350 degrees then remove from oven and cool.

Frosting

1. Mix the frosting ingredients together until smooth then spread over the lemon bars. 

Notes

From the author, Julie Seedorf:
Jezabelle and I would like to thank Gladys Johanson and her family for letting us use her recipe for Lemon Love Notes in the Brilliant Bistro. Gladys celebrated her 100th birthday on October 19, 2017. She fed 14 children with her fabulous cooking. Thank you for sharing love through your baking. 

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Details at the bottom of the page.

SILENCED BY SUGAR, the fifth book in the Cookies & Chance Mystery series by Catherine Bruns finds protagonist, Sally Muccio Donovan, celebrating six months of blissful marriage to Mike. This newest book shows a more emotional side to Sally, with a different focus than previous books. Instead of detracting, it reflects the natural progression in real life and adds to the story. I love how the author has allowed Sally to grow over the course of the series and how she now exhibits an inner strength that wasn’t apparent at the beginning. Even her best friend, Josie, notices. And that’s saying a lot because Josie is quite the spitfire!

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Sally’s strength and determination are soon put to the test when Josie is arrested, accused of murdering her former nemesis. I loved how, in addition to Sally getting involved in trying to prove her friend’s innocence, her entire family rallies behind Josie. It’s just one example of the close-knit relationship Sally and her family have, despite the hijinks of her parents… who, by the way, are quite a hoot! Sally’s investigation into the murder turns up lots of suspects. So many people could have wanted the witch (with a capital B) dead! Sally must sift through a lot of clues to find the truth and I’ll have to admit, I didn’t see the suspenseful ending coming. Ms. Bruns provides enough twists and drama (the good kind!) to keep the reader turning pages until the very last word is read.

Sally owns the bakery, Sally’s Samples, where Josie bakes up all sorts of delectable cookies. I had the honor of providing a recipe for Lemon Crinkles for the book, that Sally serves to their customers. These tart-sweet treats are a bit crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. My youngest granddaughter is a huge lemon fan and these are one of her favorite cookies. In fact she’d be happy if these Lemon Crinkles made it onto our Christmas cookie platter annually, and for Valentine’s Day, and birthdays, and… well, you know what I mean! Fortunately they are easy to mix up and since the dough must be chilled, you can make them a few days in advance of baking them. I’ve included directions on how to freeze for long-term storage so you can enjoy spur-of-the-moment freshly-baked cookies when you need them. I hope you enjoy these cookies as much as we do!

Amazon Synopsis

Full-time baker and sometime-sleuth Sally Muccio is enjoying life as a new bride and only wishes that sales in her bakery would pick up. So when popular TV host Donna Dooley invites her and best friend, Josie, to be guests on Someone’s in the Kitchen with Donna, it’s the answer to their prayers. The pair is excited about the opportunity until they discover Donna’s new assistant is none other than Josie’s former nemesis from culinary school, Kelly Thompson. 

Like cookies in a hot oven, temperatures rise, and their animosity escalates into a food fight during the taping—which then goes viral! But when a dead body is then discovered on the set, fingers immediately point to Josie, and Sal’s usual sassy partner is at a loss of how to defend herself. Sal’s world is once again plunged into chaos as she attempts to keep her friend out of jail, control a blast from the past that threatens to harm her marriage, and keep her crazy parents at bay as they film a commercial for a funeral home. Already knee deep in dough, Sal discovers a possible link between the current murder and an unsolved one from the past. But she’ll have to work fast because a killer is on her trail and determined to silence Sal…forever. 

A special thanks to Catherine Bruns for providing one winner with a print copy of SILENCED BY SUGAR!  Contest ends Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) 

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Lemon Crinkles

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup (7.1 ounces) granulated sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon lemon extract, depending on how lemony you want
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1-1/2 cups (7.2 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

For rolling dough

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Don't preheat the oven yet. The cookie dough will need to chill first.

   
   

2. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

   
   

3. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.

   
   

4. In the bowl of a standing mixer, whip the butter and granulated sugar together until fluffy, about 2 minutes on medium speed.

   
   

5. Add the egg and beat until fully incorporated.

   
   

6. Mix in the vanilla, lemon extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

   
   

7. With the mixer running on lowest speed, slowly add the flour mixture. Beat just until it is fully incorporated.

   
   

8. Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour or even overnight.

   
   

9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

   
   

10. Place remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a shallow bowl.

    
    

11. Form cookie dough into small balls, about a heaping teaspoon.

    
    

12. Roll the balls in the granulated sugar and place on the parchment-lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Don't crowd the cookies as they spread. You should have 12 cookies per baking sheet.

    
    

13. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. The edges should just be turning light golden and the tops should be crackled.

    
    

14. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.

    
    

15. Cool completely and store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

    
    

Tip

1. These cookies are ideal for making ahead of time and freezing for spur-of-the-moment freshly-baked cookies! Simply roll the dough balls in the sugar, then freeze them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. When solid, transfer the dough to a freezer-safe ziplock bag. When ready to bake, place the dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow to sit at room temperature while pre-heating the oven. You may need to bake an additional minute, depending on how chilled the dough is when you start baking. 
   

Notes

Makes 30 - 40 cookies depending on size.

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For anyone who purchases Silenced by Sugar, Catherine is giving away her original short story, Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud for FREE! This is a lighthearted mystery novella that’s a prequel to Tastes Like Murder and takes place on Sally’s fateful prom night. For details on how to obtain your copy, please click on the book below:

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

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DIAL M FOR MOUSSE, the third book in the Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery series by Laura Bradford, is just as adorably delightful as the very first book! The puns entertained me while the plot kept me speculating on ‘whodunnit’, and the characters warmed my heart. Protagonist, Winnie Johnson, is an extremely likeable young woman with a heart of gold. I so enjoy her close relationship with her elderly neighbors and how she is involved in their lives on a daily basis. They, in turn, are eager to help her out when she and her best friend, Renee, stumble across the body of the woman who hired them to provide desserts for five artists. Winnie’s business, Emergency Dessert Squad, is one of the cleverest business ideas I’ve come across. Winnie creates custom desserts and delivers them in a vintage ambulance that she inherited from an elderly neighbor (along with a cantankerous cat that does not like her new owner). What makes it even better are the super fun names Winnie creates for her desserts: Your Jokes Make Me Snicker-doodle Cookies; Apple Kootchy-Kootchy-Koo Kuchen; You’re A Peach Pie, to name a few.

Laura packs the story with so many clever scenes such as Winnie having a “conversation” with a mime and gives such vivid descriptions that you feel like you’re living the moment. Winnie’s budding relationship with single dad, Jay, might be hitting a snag when his teenaged daughter tries to drive a wedge between them. Can Winnie find a way to win over both the surly teen and her cat while finding a killer? I devoured this book until I finished the very last page and eagerly look forward to reading more of Winnie’s story!

Winnie creates so many delightfully clever desserts and luckily for the reader, Laura includes a couple recipes at the back of the book. I was drawn to Your Jokes Make Me Snicker-doodle Cookies for a couple of reasons. My mother-in-law used to make Snickerdoodle Cookies years and years ago. Unfortunately I don’t have her recipe and it’s a cookie my husband has fond memories of. Secondly, since he cannot consume dairy, it’s nice to find a recipe that doesn’t contain any butter so I didn’t have to do any adjustments so he could eat it. Then, of course, there’s the cookie itself: a bit crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. A burst of spiced flavor from the cinnamon and sugar on the outside giving way to a sweet cookie on the inside.  It’s a bite of comfort in a small package, bringing back wonderful memories and creating new memories with our granddaughters.

Amazon Synopsis

The Emergency Dessert Squad business is booming, with owner and baker Winnie Johnson working overtime to satisfy the emergency cravings of Silver Lake, Ohio. Her latest order, a plate of motivational desserts for an artists’ retreat, is just what she needs to keep her mind off her own relationship woes.
 
But Winnie’s problems seem like trifles when she discovers the body of retreat owner Sally Dearfield mere inches away from five oh-so-eccentric and viable suspects. Now, this baking detective must uncover the inspiration behind Sally’s murder before another creative genius is iced.

A special thanks to Laura Bradford for providing one winner with a print copy of DIAL M FOR MOUSSE!  Contest ends Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) 

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Your Jokes Make Me Snicker-Doodle Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).

2. Grease or line cookie pans with parchment paper.

3. In a medium-sized bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar.

4. Add eggs, mixing after each one. 

5. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.

6. Stir into the creamed mixture.

7. In a smaller bowl, stir together the 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon.

8. Roll the dough into balls, then roll in the bowl with sugar mixture.

9. Place cookies on prepared cookie pan, about 2 inches apart.

10. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

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If you watch the video, be on the lookout for my oopsie in starting my mixer… accidentally going full speed after adding the flour instead of gently starting it. Guess I was a bit distracted but it sure made my granddaughter laugh 🙂  

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

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ESCAPE CLAWS, the first book in the brand new Cat Lady Mystery series by Linda Reilly is a charming visit to Whisker Jog, New Hampshire and is chock-full of memorable characters, human and feline alike! I loved that the very beginning starts with a list of the feline cast with their adorable names and characteristics. The protagonist, Lara Caphart, is an admirable woman with a generous, thoughtful personality. After showing up to help her invalid aunt care for the eleven cats she has taken in, Lara finds her aunt is being harassed by the town’s wealthy bully, Theo Barnes. When Lara is led to Theo’s murdered body by Blue, the Ragdoll cat from her childhood, she realizes she needs to stay in town and protect her aunt. There is a subplot mystery woven around the murder mystery of why Lara had become estranged from her beloved aunt after being so close to her as a young child. The author explores familial relationships and how they can go awry. 

There is also an ongoing mystery of just who Blue, the Ragdoll cat is and where he came from, especially since Lara’s aunt claims she never had a Ragdoll cat. The murder mystery has plenty of suspects and the author provides enough clues to keep you guessing and turning pages. The reveal was a surprise that I didn’t see coming! I greatly admired that Ms. Reilly brings to light the plight of unwanted cats and the lack of facilities to humanely care for them. She provides a heartwarming conclusion to the story that will make you want to come back and read the next story in this series just as soon as it’s available. 

While the book didn’t have any recipes, Lara’s aunt used to make her Butterscotch Brownies when she was a child and this treat brings back precious memories. I love how food can connect us to our past and to those who are dear to us. I was honored to create a recipe for Butterscotch Brownies to share with you and hope that I captured the taste as Lara remembers them! 

Amazon Synopsis 

For the first time in sixteen years, Lara Caphart has returned to her hometown of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire. She wants to reconnect with her estranged Aunt Fran, who’s having some difficulty looking after herself-and her eleven cats. Taking care of a clowder of kitties is easy, but keeping Fran from being harassed by local bully Theo Barnes is hard. The wealthy builder has his sights set on Fran’s property, and is determined to make her an offer she doesn’t dare refuse.

Then Lara spots a blue-eyed ragdoll cat that she swears is the reincarnation of her beloved Blue, her childhood pet. Pursuing the feline to the edge of Fran’s yard, she stumbles upon the body of Theo Barnes, clearly a victim of foul play. To get her and Fran off the suspect list, Lara finds herself following the cat’s clues in search of a killer. Is Blue’s ghost really trying to help her solve a murder, or has Lara inhaled too much catnip?

 A special thanks to Linda Reilly for providing one winner with an e-book copy of ESCAPE CLAWS!  Contest ends Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) 

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Butterscotch Brownies

Ingredients

Brownies

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (4.5 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

Drizzle (optional)

• 2 tablespoons butterscotch chips
• 2 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, divided

Instructions

Brownies

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).

2. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with aluminum foil. Spritz with non-stick cooking spray.

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until well combined.

4. Whisk in the egg, vanilla and salt.

5. Using a spatula, fold the flour into the sugar mixture, just until combined. Don't over mix.

6. Stir in the butterscotch chips, then spread in the prepared pan.

7. Bake 20 to 23 minutes. The top will look shiny and the edges will start to crack a bit. Don't over bake. 

8. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan, then using the foil, remove from the pan and place on a cutting board.

Drizzle

1. In a small bowl melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil in the microwave. Start with 30 seconds, remove and stir the chips then heat in 15 second increments stirring each time until chips are fully melted.

2. Drizzle over the cooled brownies.

3. In a small bowl melt the butterscotch chips with 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil in the microwave. Start with 30 seconds, remove and stir the chips then heat in 15 second increments stirring each time until chips are fully melted.

4. Drizzle the butterscotch perpendicular to the chocolate drizzle or channel Jackson Pollock. 

5. Allow the drizzle to harden then slice into 16 squares. (You can place in the refrigerator to harden the chocolate more quickly.)

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 I am delighted to have Daryl Wood Gerber guest blogging today. Congratulations and happy release day on your new book, A DEADLY ÉCLAIR! Thanks for stopping by today, Daryl, and telling us a bit about your book, sharing your recipe for Orange Cardamom Madeleines, and offering THREE giveaways for readers! (One giveaway is on this page via Rafflecopter and the other giveaways are for Daryl’s newsletter subscribers and Facebook followers… see details below.) 

Feast with Your Eyes 

When you read a cozy that features food, how does it make you feel? Do you feast with your eyes? Do you lick your lips? Does your stomach growl? 

When I watch a TV cooking show, all of those things happen to me. When I read my friends’ cozy culinary mysteries, it happens, too.  

What do I do then? I raid the refrigerator, of course, although if I’m watching my figure, I pour a long glass of water. (Boring.) 

When you get to the end of the book, and you see the recipes, are you craving to make one…or all of them? Or do you simply browse them, think mm-mm, sounds good, and move along? Are you upset when you read the name of a delicious dish in a book and the recipe isn’t included? Have you ever written the author because of that? 

I had a fan write me after The Long Quiche Goodbye, the first Cheese Shop Mystery, came out.  She was very upset that I hadn’t included the five-cheese mac ‘n cheese recipe served at The Tavern. Now, just between us, I had a three-cheese mac ‘n cheese recipe that was a go-to staple for my family. I’d “made up” the other one for my story. Well, thankfully, I’m a cook, and quick as a wink, I created the five-cheese version and sent it to the fan. She loved it so much, she tweeted it, and the recipe went viral. 

Since that time, I’ve been worried that fans will contact me for all the fictional recipes I cite. Gee, I hope not. I can’t make them all. If I did, I’d never have time to write. Maybe I’d even have to become a full-time chef, and I’m too old to change careers…again. 

In A Deadly Éclair, the first in the French Bistro Mysteries, I mention tons of different dishes, but I include recipes for crème brûlee, chocolate éclair, eggs Benedict, French raspberry cream pie, onion soup gratinee, orange cardamom madeleines, steak au poivre, and Mimi’s rotisserie chicken spice. That should tide a reader over, right? Gosh, I hope so. 

So, in conclusion, sometimes an author simply references recipe because she wants you to “feast with your eyes” as you read. She wants you to lick your lips and savor the mystery. Can you do that? 

What do you eat when you read? Or do you drink a long, boring glass of water to tide you over until dinnertime? 

BY THE WAY, don’t miss out on the French Bistro-themed BOXES I’m giving away on my Facebook Author page or the set of books I’m giving away to someone who receives my newsletter! Sign up now.

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AMAZON SYNOPSIS

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It’s always been Mimi Rousseau’s dream to open her own bistro, but it seems beyond her grasp since she’s been chased back home to Nouvelle Vie in Napa Valley by her late husband’s tremendous debt. Until her best friend Jorianne James introduces her to entrepreneur Bryan Baker who invests in promising prospects. Now, working the bistro and inn until she’s able to pay it off and call it her own, Mimi is throwing the inn’s first wedding ever. 

The wedding will be the talk of the town, as famous talk show host Angelica Edmonton, daughter of Bryan’s half-brother, Edison, has chosen the inn as her perfect venue. Anxious, Mimi is sure things are going to turn south, especially when Edison gets drunk and rowdy at the out-of-towners’ dinner, but by the evening, things begin to look up again. That is until six AM rolls around, and Bryan is found dead at the bistro with an éclair stuffed in his mouth. And the fingers point at Mimi, whose entire loan is forgiven in Bryan’s will.

Now it’s up to Mimi to clear her name and get to the bottom of things before the killer turns up the heat again in A Deadly Éclair, the scrumptious series debut by Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber.

 AUTHOR BIO

Agatha Award-winning Daryl Wood Gerber writes the brand new French Bistro Mysteries as well as the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries.  As Avery Aames, she pens the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. A DEADLY ÊCLAIR, the first French Bistro Mystery, comes out November 2017. Daryl also writes stand-alone suspense: DAY OF SECRETS and GIRL ON THE RUN. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!

To see Daryl’s recipe for FIVE MAC ‘N CHEESE RECIPE, click on this link to visit Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen: http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2010/08/fan-request.html

  A very special thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing a lucky winner one print copy of their choice of any of her published books, including A DEADLY ÉCLAIR! Contest ends Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) 

Print

Orange Cardamom Madeleines

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (you may substitute nutmeg)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs

For the Glaze

• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons orange juice, no pulp

Instructions

1. Brush the molds of a madeleine pan with butter and set aside.

2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the honey and vanilla. Let cool about 10 minutes.

3. In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt; set aside.

4. In a medium bowl, stir together the sugar and eggs. Add in the flour mixture and stir until combined. Add the butter mixture and stir gently until butter is completely incorporated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F), setting the rack in the middle, while the batter is chilling.

6. Spoon the batter into the madeleine pan, filling each mold halfway. If necessary, use moistened fingers to press the batter into the mold.

7. Bake the cookies 7 - 8 minutes. They will have puffed up and the edges will become golden.

8. Remove the pan from the oven and let the cookies cool slightly. Unmold the cookies onto a wire rack and let them cool completely. This is very important.

For the Glaze

1. In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, orange zest, and juice until the glaze is smooth and thick. Using a pastry brush, coat the ridged side of each cookie with the glaze. Let set 15 minutes.

Tips

1. To make these gluten-free, substitute sweet rice flour (or your favorite gluten-free flour blend) for the all-purpose flour; substitute vanillin for the pure vanilla; add 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum to the dry ingredients. 

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MY REVIEW

I have been a longtime fan of the various books that Daryl Wood Gerber writes, be it her cozy mystery series or her suspense novels. When I found out that she was debuting the first book in her French Bistro mystery series, I counted down the days until I could read it. The evening A DEADLY ÉCLAIR hit my Kindle, I poured myself a glass of wine and settled in to immerse myself in Napa Valley and get to know Mimi Rousseau.

The author has created a lovely location for Mimi to own and run Bistro Rousseau and Maison Rousseau, the inn on her property in the northern part of the famous wine country. While the town is fictional, the area is real and I enjoyed the bits and pieces of history about the region woven into the story. Mimi is a likeable character who is struggling to overcome doubts about her ability to run her business along with being a self-taught chef instead of a classically trained chef. However, she is surrounded by supportive, talented people who she can rely on, especially her benefactor and mentor, Bryan Baker. If it wasn’t for Bryan backing her business, she never would have been able to open or stay in business. Not only did he financially back her new venture, he is emotionally supportive of Mimi, something she needs. Bryan is known for his motivational sayings and I enjoyed some that he shares with Mimi: “Big risks reap big rewards;” “Life’s too short to wait for anything.” It gives a screenshot into the man’s mind and how he lives his life.

Unfortunately, Bryan’s life is cut short in the early morning hours, right before his niece’s wedding, which was being held at Maison Rousseau… with one of Mimi’s eclairs stuffed into his mouth. Mimi is devastated at the loss of her mentor but even more so when she becomes the number one suspect in the murder investigation. As the story unfolds and as Mimi starts looking into who could have wanted her mentor dead, numerous suspects come to light. There were plenty of twists and turns to the plot and all the while Bistro Rousseau kept guests well fed with delicious food that had my mouth watering. This charming new series will have me waiting on pins and needles until the next release!

With all the mentions of delectable dishes and desserts throughout the book, I was quite happy to see that Daryl has included numerous recipes at the back of the book. They all sounded fabulous and I had a hard time narrowing down which to try out first! But in the end my granddaughter helped me choose by deciding she really wanted to make the Orange Cardamom Madeleines. Part cookie, part mini cake, these delicious treats are perfect for tea time snacks or serving with after dinner coffee. 

 I was provided a copy of this book with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.