I have been a fan of the Candy-coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco since her first book released a few years ago. I was delighted to find out that she was releasing a new one this summer so I made sure I secured a copy. ALL YOU NEED IS FUDGE is the fifth book in this series and it’s as delectable as the recipes Nancy includes with her book.

Synopsis

Allie McMurphy is in her first year of running her grandparents’ historic hotel and fudge shop on MacKinac Island. She’s not finding it easy to be accepted by the locals and it doesn’t help that her adorable bichonpoo puppy, Marshmallow (or Mal for short) keeps finding dead bodies. With the beginning of yacht club race week on the island, no one is happy when Allie and Mal come across another body. The murdered young woman, Carin Moore, is from a prominent, very wealthy MacKinac Island family but has the reputation for being mean. Most of the islanders know about Carin’s long-time rival with Paige Jessop and several people witness a very verbal argument between the two women the day before the murder.

Paige just so happens to be one of Allie’s good friends and the sister of Trent…the man Allie is dating and falling in love with. When Paige is arrested for the murder, Trent and his family completely shut Allie out. She’s not a local and to make matters worse, Trent tells her to leave the investigation alone and go back to making fudge. Only Allie can’t do that. She must show that she belongs on the island and can be a part of Trent’s family by helping prove Paige is innocent. Will she be able to work things out with Trent or will the hunky cop, Rex, finally get a chance with Allie? Can she get the locals to open up to her and help her find information to solve the murder and clear Paige’s name?

My Review

ALL YOU NEED IS FUDGE starts off with a bang from the very first page and the mystery had enough twists and turns with several suspects for an enjoyable who-dun-it read! The undercurrent of relational subplots added to the book’s appeal. I enjoyed how Allie’s best friend and event planner, Jenn, seems to be making friends and fitting in with the islanders and how she nudges Allie to do the same. It creates scenes that make Allie move out of her comfort zone and gives more insight into other people living on MacKinac. Her other friends, elderly Frances Wentworth who manages the McMurphy reception desk, and Douglas Devaney, the handyman, also force Allie to see that she hasn’t done her part to really get to know them. It gives Allie a chance to grow and not be so focused on herself and her business.

While the book has some scenes of making fudge (which I thoroughly enjoyed and made me want to make candy right then and there!) it doesn’t detract from the pace of the story. Nancy offers numerous delectable recipes, including those for fudge, and she graciously allowed me to share one of them with you. Since I had a house full of guests coming and going this summer, I chose to make her Fudgie Cheesecake Brownie recipe with the help of my niece, Nicole. (Thank you, Nicole!) A super chocolatey, decadent brownie base is topped with rich and creamy, fluffy cheesecake, which is then topped with dark chocolate candy…a chocolate lover’s dream dessert! Trust me, my dinner guests swooned!

 

 

 

 

A very special thank you to Nancy Coco for providing an autographed copy of ALL YOU NEED IS FUDGE for one winner. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest is open to U.S. residents only and ends Monday, August 29, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

Fudgie Cheesecake Brownie

Ingredients

Brownie

1/2 cup butter, melted
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup flour

 

 

Cheesecake

1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

 

 

Topping

2 cups dark chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter

 

 

Instructions

Brownie

Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).

Butter an 8-inch round pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt.

Stir the eggs and vanilla into the butter, sugar, cocoa mixture. Do not over beat the eggs.

Gently add the flour and stir until all lumps are gone.

Pour into the pan and bake for 20 minutes until center is set.

Remove and cool.

Cheesecake

In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese and powdered sugar.

Pour the heavy whipping cream into a clean, cold bowl and whip until stiff peaks form.

Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture and spread over cooled brownie.

Refrigerate for at least an hour. Longer is better.

Topping

In a microwavable bowl, add the chocolate chips and the butter.

Microwave on 50 percent power for one minute. Stir until smooth.

Pour over the chilled cheesecake covered brownies and spread.

Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Slice and serve. Enjoy!

 

 

Tips

To easily remove the Fudgie Cheesecake Brownie from the pan for serving, line the cake tin with parchment paper, overlapping sides to make “handles” to help lift from the pan.

The chocolate topping is a wonderfully thick slab of dark chocolate. To cut, dip a chef’s knife in very hot water, dry, then slice. Repeat with each cut.

Half of my guests loved the thick topping while the other half thought it was a bit much for the delicate cheesecake. The next time I make this I will try using only 1/3 cup of the dark chocolate chips melted together with 2 teaspoons of butter and then drizzle lightly over the top, Jackson Pollack style.

 

 

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I love stories that are centered around bakeries and especially bakeries that specialize in cookies! The Cookie Monster from Sesame Street has always been my favorite character too. 🙂 When I had the opportunity to read and review TASTES LIKE MURDER, the first book in the Cookies & Chance Mystery series by Catherine Bruns, I jumped at the chance. I knew I would find a good read and some terrific cookie recipes!

Synopsis

Sally Muccio has moved back to Colwestern, New York to get away from her cheating ex-husband, Colin, who still lives in Florida. She opens her dream bakery, Sally’s Samples, and hires her best friend, Josie, as the baker.  To set her bakery apart from other businesses, Sally offers a free fortune cookie with any purchase. Her offering attracts many clients including her high school nemisis who grew up to be the woman who stole Colin away from her: Amanda Gregorio. Beautiful and wealthy, Amanda is still nasty to Sally and those around her, including her own cousin. Sally would like to kick Amanda out of the bakery, but Amanda threatens to create bad publicity and close down Sally’s Samples if she doesn’t serve her.

Not long after closing her shop for the night, Sally finds Amanda dead on the front porch of the bakery, her partially eaten cookies still in the box. The rumor mill of the small town goes into overdrive and most people believe Sally killed Amanda, not that they blame her. But business at the bakery drops off and Sally can barely afford to stay open. She decides she must prove her innocence and find the real killer in order to keep her dream bakery operating. When her main suspect is murdered after eating her cookies she realizes the murderer has set her up to take the fall and she must solve the case or lose all that she holds dear.

My Review

TASTES LIKE MURDER is a clever start to a terrific series! I love how the fortune cookies had messages that seemed tailored for the recipient and gives a glimpse into the characters through the messages. Sally is not only caught up in trying to prove her innocence and keep her business afloat, but she is learning to come to terms with a failed marriage. She has a lot of self doubts and issues which makes her seem more relatable to me. She has been given room to grow, to learn to let go of the past and move forward. Sally’s parents, along with Josie, are such fun characters, providing plenty of laughs and entertainment, while her Italian grandmother, Rosa, provides wisdom and stability. The plot was well paced and provided plenty of red herrings. I thought I knew who the culprit was but then a twist was thrown in that kept me guessing along with Sally.

Of course a bakery must have baked goods and Catherine has kindly allowed me to share her recipe for Josie’s Genettis. These soft, cake-like traditional Italian cookies are fun to make and kids will enjoy helping roll thin logs of dough and shaping them into beehives. Topped with a super easy frosting and colorful nonpareils, these cookies are tasty and festive! My niece, Nicole, was visiting me for a couple weeks this summer and we made these cookies together. Thanks for all your help in the kitchen, Nicole!

 

 

 

A very special thank you to Catherine Bruns for providing the winner with a choice of either a print copy or e-book copy of TASTES LIKE MURDER. Print copy limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Monday, August 22, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

 

 

 

Josie’s Genettis

Ingredients

Cookies

6 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoon anise extract*
4 cups flour

 

 

Frosting

1/2 cup Confectioners’ sugar
Water
Nonpareils

 

 

Instructions

Cookies

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Whisk together eggs, and then add vegetable oil, sugar, baking powder, and anise extract to the mixture.

Stir together and then add the flour by small amounts until mixture is no longer sticky.

Roll out into a rope and then break out into six-inch long sections that should be about the thickness of a pinky finger.

Wrap coils upward like a beehive and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 12 minutes or until the bottom is golden.

Cool on a wire cooling rack.

Cookies can be frozen in an airtight container to be frosted at a later time.

Frosting

Mix 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar with a few drops of water. Keep adding a few drops at a time until it is the desired consistency.

If glaze is too runny, just add more sugar.

After spreading the glaze over the tops of the cookies, sprinkle nonpareils before the glaze sets.

Makes approximately three dozen cookies.

 

 

Tips

* Our family isn’t a fan of anise flavoring so I substituted lemon extract. Vanilla would be another good substitute option.

The dough should feel a bit tacky and not overly dry. If you add too much flour and your cookies are on the dry side, allow them to set overnight after applying the frosting and they will moisten up.

When making the beehive shape, roll one end of the 6-inch piece thinner than the other end. Use the thicker side as the base and wrap the thinner side up for the beehive.

 

 

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Coming October 11, 2016, the next book in the Cookies & Chance series, BURNED TO A CRISP by Catherine Bruns!

Just when things appear to be going well for baker and sometime sleuth, Sally Muccio, life turns up the heat again.

It’s summertime, and the living is easy for the Muccio clan. Sal’s wedding to her beloved fiancé is rapidly approaching, Mom’s won a beauty contest, and sister Gianna is now a licensed public defender. But when the bakery Sal’s worked so hard for goes up in smoke—along with her dreams!—she’s not sure how much more she can stand. Even worse, the man found dead in the bakery’s back room is none other than Gianna’s latest client, Bernardo Napoli.

The dough really hits the fan for Sal and Josie when they’re forced to temporarily relocate their bakery to the crazy Muccio home. Trouble is quickly stirred up as the best friend team must now contend with Sal’s father and his new mortuary business “undertakings,” a middle aged mother parading around customers in bikinis, and an Italian family hell bent on revenge. For Sal, several questions demand answers. Where has Gianna disappeared to? What role did she play in Bernardo’s death? What secret is Sal’s fiancé hiding from her? Sal is determined to find answers…before she gets burned once again!

 

 

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

I was excited when I was offered the chance to review DEATH AT THE DAY LILY CAFE, the second book in the Rosalie Hart Mystery series, by Wendy Sand Eckel. I had not read the first book…but definitely plan to. However, this second book is easily read as a standalone and I had no problems getting to know the characters or figuring out the references from the first book.

Synopsis

After being blindsided by a divorce, Rosalie Hart moved to the small town of Cardigan and into an inherited 200-year-old farm house. She settles in and opens the Day Lily Cafe, serving fresh, organic food, some of it supplied from her own farm being managed by Tyler. Within minutes of her grand opening, one of her friends, Doris Bird, rushes in and begs Rosalie to help clear her sister, Lori, of murder. Lori’s husband of 31 years, Carl, has been shot to death and the local sheriff is determined to prove Lori guilty.

Rosalie feels obligated to Doris because of her past help, plus Rosalie doesn’t like how the sheriff is bullying Lori. As she begins asking questions around town, she finds Lori has secrets from her past that are better off left hidden. Lori’s husband was also keeping secrets and the more she searches for answers the more people she finds had motives for murdering Carl. Can she piece the puzzle together before the sheriff convicts Lori and still keep her inaugural cafe running? Or will the killer set their sights on her and her family before she solves the crime?

My Review

DEATH AT THE DAY LILY CAFE was a good mystery with a great protagonist. Rosalie Hart, in her forties, decides to grow and better herself instead of wallowing in self-pity after an unforeseen divorce. The book delves into relationships: between parents and children and between spouses, and Rosalie provides plenty of introspection. The author seemed to genuinely portray Rosalie’s relationship with her college-aged daughter and the difficulties of wanting to hang on but knowing you must let go and let them make their own decisions. It added to the appeal of the book and made Rosalie seem relatable.

Wendy also provides some humorous moments to break the tension. I loved some of the scenes between Rosalie and her want-to-be love interest, Tyler, and one scene in particular had me laughing out loud. The friends she has surrounding her also brought entertainment and thought-provoking enrichment to the story. The mystery itself had me guessing right along with Rosalie, as she sifted through all the suspects that paraded across the pages and the book had a satisfying conclusion.

Of course it wouldn’t be a cafe if there wasn’t food and the author provides plenty of mouthwatering descriptions and recipes! Since my eleven-year-old granddaughter, Emory, and her cousin, Alex, were spending the day with me recently, they voted to try Kevin’s Key Lime Bars. The recipe was easy enough for them to follow and make with minimal input from me. Kevin’s Key Lime Bars combines tart key lime filling with a flaky shortbread crust to create a dessert that will make you feel like you’re in the tropics and was the perfect dish to start the summer off with. Thank you to Wendy and Minotaur Books for allowing me to share the recipe with you!

 

 

 

 

A very special thank you to Minotaur Books for providing a hardcover copy of DEATH AT THE DAY LILY CAFE! (U.S. residents only.) Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Monday, August 8, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

 

 

 

Kevin’s Key Lime Bars

Ingredients

Crust

6 tablespoons chilled butter
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 organic egg yolk (save the egg white for the filling)
1/2 teaspoon Mexican vanilla
1 cup flour

 

 

Filling

1-1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour, packed
4 organic egg whites
Juice from 3 to 5 key limes (enough to make 6 tablespoons of juice)
Powdered sugar

 

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

Crust

Blend the butter, sugar, and salt on low speed in a mixer until creamy.

Add the yolk and vanilla, and blend until combined.

Add the flour and mix again.

Spread into an 8″ x 8″ baking dish and tamp down with your fingers and the palm of your hand until it is evenly spread and firm.

Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until starting to brown a little around the edges.

Remove from oven and let cool completely.

 

 

Filling

Whisk flour and sugar together.

Add egg whites and lime juice and whisk for another minute or two.

Pour over crust and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool.

If filling isn’t quite set, refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

Sift the powdered sugar over the cooled filling and slice into squares.

 

 

 

 

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I have eagerly been waiting for the release of CAUGHT BREAD HANDED, the newest installment in the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander! The last book in her series introduced Juliet Montague Capshaw’s (aka Jules) estranged husband, Carlos, and I wanted to know more about him. If you are new to this series you might be wondering about Jules’ name. Yes, she was named after THAT famous Juliet because her parents were into Shakespeare and opened their bakeshop, Torte, in Ashland which is home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. A great setting with a terrific story!

Synopsis

CAUGHT BREAD HANDED picks up with Carlos, a very talented chef, who is in Ashland for three more days before he has to leave for his cruise ship job. He desperately wants to make his marriage work and Jules feels like she might be ready to move beyond what she considered his betrayal. However, instead of spending as much time together as they’d like, Jule’s finds Mindy Nolan lying in a pool of blood. It doesn’t take long for the police to find out she was murdered and Jules is caught up in the investigation. She just can’t seem to keep herself from asking questions.

Mindy was a real estate developer and had recently taken over Alan Matterson’s jester-themed restaurant. She angered the other business owners by turning it into a garish fast food joint, going against the Shakespearean themed shops and buildings. Alan was also livid after losing his restaurant and blamed Mindy for it. Town gossip has it that there were numerous people Mindy crossed and it doesn’t help that her cook has a mysterious unsavory past. Can Jules learn to mind her own business or will her snooping put her in danger again? Will she find time to resolve her relationship with Carlos or will he sail off into the sunset without her?

My Review

CAUGHT BREAD HANDED was a very enjoyable read. It is much more character driven than preceding books and I truly loved having Carlos involved in the story. He adds a depth to Jules that seems to have been missing in the earlier books in this series (or else I’m just totally crushing on him 🙂 ) There has always been a very strong food theme in Ellie’s books, but her descriptions of preparing and eating are almost poetical with Carlos on the scene, which brings a much stronger connection. I have always held the belief that food and emotions are intricately connected and the author definitely captures that in this book. The mystery is satisfying with twists and turns to the plot and the subplots of Jules’ mother and the Professor’s relationship along with Jules and Carlos were woven into the mystery nicely without being distracting.

Ellie also provides several amazing recipes at the back of the her book. It was very difficult for me to choose which one to showcase with my review but in the end, Chocolate Molasses Crinkles won out. I’m a huge fan of ginger crinkles with all their warm spices. I never would have thought to add chocolate to spiced cookies but oh my, it’s a party in your mouth! The author adds very generous amounts of spices to a chewy cookie base and then loads up on chocolate chips. As soon as the Chocolate Molasses Crinkles come out of the oven, they are dipped in granulated sugar, giving them a festive, sparkling appearance with some added crunch. These will definitely be making an appearance in my annual Christmas goodie bags! Thank you, Ellie, for allowing me to share these incredibly yummy cookies!

 

 

 

A very special thank you to Ellie Alexander for providing an autographed copy of CAUGHT BREAD HANDED! (U.S. residents only.) Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Monday, July 18, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 Chocolate Molasses Crinkles

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 12-ounce package chocolate chips
1/2 cup granulated sugar in extra bowl

 

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream butter, sugar, and molasses together.

Beat in the egg.

Slowly incorporate dry ingredients and spices.

Once batter is firm, add chocolate chips and chill in the refrigerator for one hour.

Spoon batter into 1-inch balls and bake for 15 minutes.

Immediately roll in granulated sugar when cookies are hot from the oven.

Set on a wire rack to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 days.

 

 

 

 

 

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I am very happy to be a part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour with the first book in a brand new series, THE CALAMITY CAFÉ by Gayle Leeson! While it’s always comforting to sit down with a book where the characters are well known in a long running series, there’s something very exciting about getting to start a brand new series with the very first book right when the author releases it. It’s like I’m taking a journey with the author and have no idea where we might end up!

Synopsis

Amy Flowers, a culinary school graduate, dreams of opening her own café, Down South Café. In the meantime, she’s been working as a waitress for Lou Lou, a mean-spirited bully who steals half their tips and doesn’t even bother to pay them minimum wage. When Amy’s grandmother passes away, she leaves Amy a sizable inheritance. Amy decides to buy Lou Lou’s Joint and turn it into her dream. Lou Lou, however, has no intention of selling to Amy. Pete, Lou Lou’s son, has other ideas though and asks Amy to meet his mother along with Winter Garden’s only attorney after closing. Pete is sure he can convince his mother to sell. Amy arrives at the Joint and finds Lou Lou alone…and murdered.

The local sheriff shows up with a new deputy in tow, Ryan Hall. Deputy Hall is easy on the eyes and takes an interest in Amy. Amy feels, however, that she’s living under a cloud of suspicion and worries that too many people may think she killed Lou Lou. She was, after all, the one to find the victim, had a conflict over wanting to buy Lou Lou’s restaurant, and her missing necklace was found beneath the dead body. Amy determines that it wouldn’t hurt to ask a few questions and see if any of the answers provide clues to the murderer. Except the killer isn’t too happy with her digging into the past and may decide to put an end to her nosiness. Can she stay one foot ahead of the culprit or will she become the next victim?

My Review

This is a stellar start to the Down South Café Mystery series! Amy lives and works in a small Virginia town and it is heartwarming to find so many people rally around her after the murder and while she is trying to get her new café up and running. The “regulars” at Lou Lou’s Joint are true characters and I especially enjoyed getting to know Homer. Homer has a new hero every day, such as Henry Ford, past presidents, notable celebrities and authors, and always provides a thought provoking quote from his current hero. Homer adds to the heart of the story. Amy also has a kind, generous heart and is quick to take in strays, be it animal or in human form. The author deftly weaves an 80-year-old robbery and murder mystery that’s shrouded in gossip and folklore into the current day plot, which kept me turning pages. She provides many suspects since Lou Lou never met a person she didn’t offend and I was kept guessing up until the very end. I look forward to reading future books in this series!

Of course there wouldn’t be a Down South Café without delicious food! Gayle provides many recipes with her book and has allowed me to share her recipe for Preacher Cookies. When I received the recipe I was intrigued since I’ve never heard of them, so did a bit of research (the author also provides a brief background in her book as well). These cookies got their name from the “olden” days, when preachers would walk the countryside to visit their flock. A family would see the preacher in the distance heading their way and could whip these cookies up in no time, thereby providing refreshments by the time he made it to their porch. Using pantry and dairy staples, these delicious no-bake cookies can be made in bar form or as a drop cookie. Since I didn’t have to worry about a “preacher” or anyone showing up unexpected, I jazzed the recipe up some by creating both a plain peanut butter layer and a chocolate layer, then drizzling chocolate over the chilled bars, giving both visual appeal and an added depth of flavor. I’ve included a tip on how to make these gluten-free as well. Thank you, Gayle, for allowing me to share your yummy recipe!

 

Be sure to enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card, courtesy of Gayle Leeson and given away by the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. Please enter via the Rafflecopter located below the recipe.

 

 

 

 

Preacher Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup cream
3/4 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, your choice)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-1/2 cups quick oatmeal**

For chocolate cookies, add one to two tablespoons of cocoa.

 

 

Chocolate Drizzle

1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening

 

 

Instructions

The author provides super easy instructions. But because I can’t help myself, I’ve added my own detailed instructions for my variation below her directions, along with a video tutorial below the Rafflecopter.

Author’s Instructions

Mix and boil all cookie ingredients for 1-/2 minutes. Spread into greased pan. Refrigerate.

 

 

My instructions for peanut butter and chocolate layered Preacher Cookies with chocolate drizzle:

Cookies

Line an 8-inch x 8-inch baking dish with foil, allowing the ends of the foil to drape over the edges of the pan to create handles. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine the sugar, butter, and cream together in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil and cook for 1-1/2 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla, then add the oatmeal.

Once combined, spread half the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the remaining cookie mixture and stir until thoroughly incorporated.

Spread chocolate cookie mix on top of peanut butter cookie layer.

Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least one hour.

Using the foil handles, pull the cookies from the baking dish.

Chocolate Drizzle

Heat the chocolate chips and vegetable shortening in the microwave for 30 seconds on high power.

Stir and heat in additional 10 second increments, stirring each time, until mixture is smooth.

Place chocolate in a pastry bag or ziplock bag, snip the corner and drizzle over the bars.

Refrigerate 15 minutes to allow the chocolate to set and then cut into squares.

Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Tips

** I used gluten-free old-fashioned oats (I couldn’t find gf quick oats) so I could eat these but the end product was a bit on the chewy side. Still quite tasty though and I enjoyed them! Quick oats are the best choice if gluten is not an issue. If gluten is an issue, but sure to use gf vanilla.

The cookie mix can be made into individual cookies as well. Drop tablespoon-size dollops of hot cookie mix onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour then serve.

 

 

 

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Tour Schedule

June 7 – Moonlight Rendezvous – Review

June 7 – The Self-Rescue Princess – Character Interview

June 8 – Reading Is My SuperPower – Review, Giveaway

June 8 – Book Babble – Review

June 8 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Giveaway

June 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – Review

June 9 – Community Bookstop – Review, Giveaway

June 10 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – Review

June 10 – Books Direct – Guest Post, Giveaway

June 10 – Mystery Playground – Guest Post – Drinks and Reads

June 11 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review

June 12 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway

June 13 – A Holland Reads – Review, Character Guest Post, Giveaway

June 14 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my – Review

June 14 – Classy Cheapskate – Review

June 15 – Back Porchervations – Review

June 16 – The Book’s the Thing – Review

June 16 – Island Confidential – Interview

June 17 – Melina’s Book Blog –  Review

June 18 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

June 19 – I Read What You Write – Review, Interview

June 20 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Character Guest Post, Giveaway

June 20 – cherylbbookblog – Review

June 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

June 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review

 

 

I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

I have read and reviewed a couple of the books in A. Gardner’s Poppy Peters Mystery series and was delighted when I saw she had a new series, the Bison Creek Mysteries. I picked up ICED SPY, the second book in the series and was captivated!

Synopsis

Essie Stratter is the lead fitness trainer at Pinecliff Mountain Resort in Bison Creek. Her younger sister, Joy, along with Joy’s ex-husband (and now back to being a boyfriend) are her roommates. Joy decides she needs to test her maternal instinct and brings home a Cocker Spaniel puppy, Miso. Somehow as the resort prepares for the Sugar Mountain Bake-off, Essie is left caring for the puppy. While on a walk, Miso gets away from her and runs towards the lake. He leads Essie towards a body, half buried in the snow. The victim is Sarah Henson, one of Essie’s clients. It’s apparent she’s been murdered and her two dogs have disappeared into thin air.

The local Sheriff has hired Essie as a consultant to bring him all the town’s gossip to help solve crimes. However, the mayor has hired his young nephew as the new detective, who is at odds with Essie and doesn’t want her involved. When Essie finds that Sarah had been spying on the town’s residents and logging all the juicy details in journals, she realizes the suspect pool could be huge. To make matters worse, both the mayor and his wife’s escapades are in the discovered journals. When Essie is attacked and left for dead, Miso comes to her rescue and saves her life. Essie realizes she’s getting close to the truth but can she find the killer before they strike again? Can she trust the new detective or will he hinder the investigation to protect the reputation of his family?

My Review

I loved this new series and the characters pulled me in! Even though I started with the second book it was easily read as a stand-alone. There is an underlying mystery surrounding Essie, who was adopted as a very young child, that appears to run throughout the series…and it certainly has piqued my curiosity! The murder mystery provided plenty of suspects and red herrings, which kept me guessing until the very end. The premise of “rooming” with her sister and ex-husband lent itself to some humorous, laugh out loud moments while Miso, the adorable Cocker Spaniel puppy, made the story more endearing. The author is setting up some romance for Essie which, in my opinion, will add to the story in future books. Book 3, FROSTED BAIT, is already available on e-book and is on my to read list!

The author always has amazing recipes included with her books and ICED SPY is no exception! I chose to make Anne’s Mississippi Mud Bites…a brownie-like cake chock-full of chocolate chips and pecans, then topped with baked marshmallows and a decadent chocolate buttercream frosting. The author “warned” me that these were rich and to serve in very small pieces… I made them for my granddaughter’s school for Teachers’ Appreciation Week and I think a few teachers swooned! Thank you, A. Gardner, for allowing me to share these very delicious bars!

 

 

Thank you to A. Gardner for providing an e-book copy of ICED SPY for one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Monday, May 23, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

 

 

 

 

Anne’s Mississippi Mud Bites

A sweet southern treat! This dessert is very rich, and best served in bite-size squares after sitting in the refrigerator overnight.

Ingredients

Chocolate Squares

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s natural cocoa)
1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup chocolate chips
3 cups mini marshmallows

 

 

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa, but regular is fine)
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk

 

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

Chocolate Squares

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.

Add the eggs, and vanilla extract, and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.

Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, and stir until it forms a chocolate batter.

Stir in the pecans and chocolate chips.

Pour batter into a large, greased casserole dish (9″x13″), and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 – 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Place the mini marshmallows on top, and bake for an additional 3 – 5 minutes.

Let the dish cool completely before frosting.

 

 

Chocolate Frosting

Whisk together butter, and half the powdered sugar.

Add the cocoa powder, milk, and the rest of the powdered sugar, and mix until smooth.

Gently frost over the melted, cooled marshmallows, and set the dish in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Cut into small squares and serve.

 

 

Tips

Remove the pan from the oven before adding the marshmallows to the top of the bars and then return the pan to the oven for additional baking. I will neither confirm nor deny whether a small fire may or may not have occurred when a few marshmallows fell on the bottom of my hot oven.

 

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