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A Soufflé of Suspicion, the second book in the French Bistro Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber, pulled me in with its charming cover and then kept me turning pages until the very last word was read! The protagonist, Mimi Rousseau, owns both Bistro Rousseau and Maison Rousseau, the inn next to her bistro. All I can say is Mimi is extremely fortunate with her location, location, location! Set in Napa Valley, the author paints a gorgeous picture with words, describing views, tastes, and sounds, so that the reader will feel like they’ve been on vacation… except for the murder. When the Sweet Treats Festival organizer is murdered, Mimi finds herself pulled into helping solve the crime. The victim was Mimi’s chef’s sister and the festival is being held at Maison Rousseau. There are plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, including the victim’s abandoned husband who runs a chicken farm. The twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing and just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist changed my mind.

In addition to great story-telling, I love the way Ms. Gerber develops her characters. Mimi is kindhearted, treating her employees like family. It is refreshing to see the caring interaction she has with each of them. I also greatly enjoyed how Mimi’s relationship is blossoming with Nash. She’s had some emotional hurdles to overcome in her past, but the author allows Mimi to grow like a real person would which makes her relatable. I look forward to reading more in this highly entertaining series!

I am always amazed at the amount of recipes Ms. Gerber provides with her books and A Soufflé of Suspicion is no exception. Her mouthwatering French dishes are well written with easy to follow directions so I didn’t feel intimidated. I have never made a soufflé so I opted to challenge myself and try the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Soufflé à l’Orange. First off I liked that this recipe makes small, manageable portions. The airy, pillow-y souffle isn’t overly sweet and the orange flavor isn’t overpowering. I loved the lightness of the dessert and the added crunch of buttery sugar around the edges provided some additional texture. The only downside to soufflés in general (if you want to call it that) is once you take them from the oven, it will start deflating immediately. I felt the need to eat it right away and enjoy the airiness… but I didn’t mind at all and instead, whipped up another batch the next evening for dessert! 

Amazon Synopsis

The buoyant mood at Bistro Rousseau deflates when Chef Camille’s sister, Renee, turns up dead in the chef’s kitchen, and Mimi Rousseau must tease the real killer out of a mélange of menacing characters.

Crush Week in Nouvelle Vie is a madhouse—in a good way. Tourists pour into town for the pressing of the Napa Valley’s world-renowned grapes and all the town’s businesses get a nice lift, including Bistro and Maison Rousseau. Mimi is raising the ante this year with a Sweet Treats Festival, a wonderland of croissants, cakes, tarts, and soufflés crafted with expert care by the area’s top talents. 

Chef Camille’s sister Renee is managing the festival with a cast-iron fist, upsetting everyone, including her sister. Which is bad for Camille when Renee turns up dead in the chef’s kitchen. Mimi is still building her business, so her first course of action is to whip up answers and catch the unsavory perpetrator before Camille takes a dusting and gets burned. 

A special thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing a winner with a choice of either print or an e-book copy of A Deadly Éclair! Print copy is limited to U.S. residents only and ends Sunday, July 15, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)  

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Soufflé à l'Orange

From Mimi: Give me an orange, eggs, and sugar, and I can whip up a soufflé in minutes. That's why I love this particular soufflé. So easy. So quick. So delicious. I use triple sec in this recipe, but you could use any of your favorite orange-flavored liqueurs.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter, for ramekins
• 1 teaspoon sugar, for ramekins
• 1 orange for 1 teaspoon orange zest and 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon triple sec
• powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F).

2. Brush 2 (4-ounce) ramekins or 1 (8-ounce ramekin with 1 teaspoon soft butter, then coat with 1/2 teaspoon sugar each or 1 teaspoon for the larger ramekin. Pour out extra sugar. Set ramekins aside.

3. Using a grater, grate the zest from the rind of an orange and reserve. 

4. Separate the 2 eggs and toss out one of the yolks so you have 1 egg yolk in a bowl and 2 egg whites in another bowl. Whisk the egg yolk with 2 tablespoons sugar and the cornstarch until smooth. Whisk in the 2 tablespoons orange juice.

5. Place the mixture in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add the orange zest and triple sec. Let this mixture cool.

6. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Gradually add 2 teaspoons sugar and keep whisking until they form stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the orange mixture and then pour the mixture into the prepared ramekin(s). 

7. Bake small ramekins for 15 - 17 minutes or bake the larger ramekin for 20 - 22 minutes, until soufflés are golden on top. 

8. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

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There are only 1-1/2 weeks until the launch of my debut suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT! In amongst all the things required to publish a book, I’ve been on the run with my normal chores, blogging, and staying with my granddaughter and grandpuppy for 10 days. While I love every minute of it, I am at times, exhausted. And when I get to that point, I crave chocolate! Now sitting around on the computer for hours each day and making all the delectable goodies for my blog makes me worry about my health just a bit, so I try to eat as healthy as possible. So when I started developing recipes for my new book, I knew I wanted to put a nutritional twist on at least a couple of them.

I’ve been making No-Cook Dark Chocolate Mousse for at least 20 years after adapting it from a Cooking Light recipe I came across. It fits the bill for providing super chocolaty flavor with a nice richness that doesn’t rely on heavy cream. Instead (and no one ever suspects this secret ingredient until I tell them) silken tofu is the base for the creamy substance! Even though my husband cannot consume dairy, he does not care for the taste and especially the texture of soy products at all. I gave him a bowl of this No-Cook Dark Chocolate Mousse and he ate the entire dish after making sure there wasn’t any dairy in it. And ate more even after finding out that there was tofu involved! Aside from satiating my chocolate craving, I love that this mousse is a breeze to whip up in a high powered blender or food processor, making it the perfect, healthier treat to indulge in when I have a chocolate craving! 

Amazon Synopsis

A father’s disappearance never solved, a mother’s secret taken to the grave, a daughter deceived…

Kathryn Landry thinks her life is just about perfect. She is the owner of a successful interior designer business in Newport Beach, California, and she has an attentive, supportive husband. But her world comes crashing down when her husband, Neil Landry, vanishes without a trace… in a situation almost identical to the disappearance of her father twenty years before.

With her father’s disappearance still a mystery, Kathryn is skeptical that the detective assigned to her case will be able to find her husband. Determined to uncover the truth, Kathryn is plunged into a world of politics, high-priced call girls and wealth. As she begins to search for her husband, a decades-old secret her mother took to the grave threatens to destroy all she holds dear. Caught up in a web of betrayals and deceit, and not knowing who to trust, Kathryn must find a way to survive as she discovers the past has a way of repeating itself.

Through August 15, 2017 100% of my net sales will be donated to rettsyndrome.org
and the e-book price will be discounted to $0.99!

Print copies will be available soon for pre-order.

Don’t miss out on this low price that will benefit a good cause! 

 I am happy to be able to provide winner’s choice of a print or an e-book copy of A GAME OF DECEIT for one lucky winner plus a universal power bank charger. Print copy and charger limited to U.S. residents only. International winner will be awarded an e-book copy and a $5 Amazon gift card. Contest ends Tuesday, July 25, 2017 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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No-Cook Dark Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients

Pudding

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or Chambord
• 1/4 teaspoon orange extract or raspberry flavoring
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 12.3 ounce package silken tofu, drained
• 1 12.3 ounce package reduced-fat silken tofu drained
• 3 ounces dark chocolate chopped

Garnish

• Whipped cream
• 1 small can mandarin oranges or fresh raspberries rinsed and patted dry
• Chocolate curls

Instructions

1. Place the chopped dark chocolate in a small microwave-safe heatproof bowl. Heat for 30 seconds at 80% power. Remove and stir. Repeat for another 30 seconds, remove and stir. If chocolate isn’t melted, heat in 10 second intervals, stirring until melted. Set aside.

2. Place sugar, cocoa powder, Grand Marnier or Chambord, extract, vanilla extract, salt, and tofu in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Process or blend until completely smooth.

3. Add the melted chocolate to the pudding mixture and process until completely incorporated.
4. Divide the pudding between 6 serving dishes and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

5. Just before serving garnish with whipped cream, orange wedges or fresh raspberries, and chocolate curls.

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If you’re wondering about my choice of the universal charger giveaway, my protagonist, Kathryn Landry, always seems to have issues with her cell phone. Often she forgets to charge it, or in this case just doesn’t answer…  I always like having a reserve power source on hand for my electronic devices so wanted to share one with you!

Excerpt

          The deep, gravelly voice of Detective Williams bellowed out, “Good evening, Mrs. Landry! I’ve had a heck of a time tracking you down. Don’t you believe in answering your cell phone?” 

 The detective strode to Kathryn’s car. John held his ground.

“What can we help you with Detective?” John asked, placing his hand protectively on Kathryn’s arm.

“My business is with Mrs. Landry so if you’ll excuse us, I’d like to have a chat with her.”

        Kathryn looked up at John. “It’s okay, I can handle this. I’ll call you tomorrow afternoon with the estimates.”

“Are you sure? I’ll stay if you want me to.”

“The lady said she was okay. You can leave now,” Detective Williams snapped.

        John gave Kathryn’s hand a squeeze, then slowly made his way back to his house. The detective waited until John was inside the house with the door closed before turning to Kathryn.

“Do you always ignore your phone calls?”

        Kathryn felt her face heat up. “No, but I’ve been having problems with my cell battery holding charges. That must be why I didn’t get your call.”

        Kathryn’s face turned a deeper red when her cell phone rang. She fumbled through her handbag, retrieved the phone, glanced at the caller ID and answered it.

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Purchase links:                                                                   

Amazon: https://goo.gl/8muPuf 

Nook: https://goo.gl/Q6uVZP 

Kobo: https://goo.gl/28Nsdo 

Apple: https://goo.gl/sVzo6B

The second book in the adorable Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery series by Laura Bradford, SILENCE OF THE FLANS is a solid, entertaining addition! Winnie Johnson is an engaging protagonist with a smart sense of humor and witty dialog. I love her interaction with her elderly friends who are more like family to her. One of the fun things about this series is the absolutely creative, whimsical names for desserts that Winnie bakes and delivers! The author enlisted the help of a couple of people to come up with the names in this book and I think it would be so much fun to see the variety they created before narrowing it down to a few. I am not a pun creative type of person which makes me appreciate and admire those who can. 

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Winnie has a heart of gold: taking in a cat that hates her (which provides some comedy) along with helping out a troubled college student, whose grandmother is dying. Even though she’s warned about the girl, she still feels like she needs to do her best to help. Winnie says, “How much trouble can 1 college girl really cause?” and from there the story takes off with a bang when another college girl drops dead after eating Winnie’s Fade to Blackberry Crisp. Becoming a suspect with her dessert the cause of the poisoning, Winnie’s business comes to a standstill. Winnie’s tenacious determination to keep her business going and prove to the town that she’s innocent propels her into tracking down the real killer. Besides being a fun, entertaining read the mystery had a good flow and I enjoyed seeing her find new suspects and then rethinking old suspects which made it believable. The reveal wrapped up the plot and subplots with a satisfactory conclusion and made me anxious to find out what happens next!

With all the adorable, pun-filled dessert names floating around the book, I am grateful that Laura provides several recipes for the reader to drool over! She has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for Apple Kootchy-Kootchy-Koo Kuchen with you. I’ve never had Kuchen before and was impressed with the yummy pastry crust, rich custard filling, and tart apples. There is just enough cinnamon to delicately flavor it without overwhelming or detracting from the overall flavor. I really like that it bakes up into a large casserole dish and serves a lot of people. Perfect for breakfast, a coffee break, or warmed up with ice cream for dessert…any way you serve it, your friends and family will thank you!

Amazon Synopsis

Baker Winnie Johnson does her best work when the heat is on. As owner of the Emergency Dessert Squad, she has a deft touch in the kitchen and a soft spot for lost causes. So when her business professor beau, Jay Morgan, expresses misgivings over having to fail one of his fourth-year students, Winnie cooks up a sweet solution.
 
She’ll offer an extra credit opportunity in exchange for a little help with her growing business. But when her protégé’s first dessert delivery poisons a student journalist, the publicity threatens to burn Winnie’s business to a crisp. Now the entrepreneur-turned-detective must uncover the ingredients behind a recipe for murder before she crumbles under pressure…

A special thanks to Laura Bradford for providing a signed copy of SILENCE OF THE FLANS for one lucky winner! Contest ends Friday, March 10, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST, and 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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I received a copy of this book and willingly provided a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Last November I highlighted the second book in the Cajun Country Mystery series by Ellen Byron even though I had not read the first book (which was sitting on my Kindle, somehow lost among the hundreds of books I seem to have collected). So I decided I should catch up and read PLANTATION SHUDDERS, and boy, am I glad I did! This debut cozy transports the reader to the bayou town of Pelican, Louisiana with the residents’ local customs, colloquialisms, and manners. I enjoyed the bits and pieces of history on the Cajun and Creole families that were woven into the book. Maggie Crozat is a smart and sassy protagonist while her Grand-Mère adds charming humor and a provides a wonderful sounding board for her granddaughter. I enjoyed the close-knit family life Maggie is fortunate to have. There’s a depth of emotion that is felt as you read about their tribulations and joys, both personal and in running their family plantation mansion turned bed-and-breakfast, throughout the story.

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The murder mystery is unique in that first, one of the guests, a cranky, elderly man, drops dead in the middle of the Crozat’s cocktail hour. Unfortunately, within minutes the man’s wife drops dead too. The author creates scenes with tension and a diverse set of characters, each realistically contributing to the list of suspects. Maggie has strong motivation for finding the killer. Pelican’s Chief of Police would love to see Grand-Mère take the fall for the murder since his family has had 150 years of enmity with the Crozats. He will do almost anything to see them fail. The murder investigation also places a huge financial burden on the Crozat family, who are still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina. The ending culminates with a suspenseful reveal that will have the reader wanting more!

Ellen also shares a few recipes at the back of the book, all which sound divine. She has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding, especially fitting for celebrating Mardi Gras! While PLANTATION SHUDDERS does not take place during Mardi Gras, the story does center around the town celebrating Fete L’ete, an event which honors the end of summer. This decadent dessert includes both bourbon and pecans which have a natural affinity for each other and is a fitting end to any special occasion! 

Amazon Synopsis

It’s the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family’s plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival–elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other–one from very unnatural causes– Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.

With the help of Bo Durand, the town’s handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron’s charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.

A special thank you to Ellen Byron for providing a signed copy of PLANTATION SHUDDERS and some awesome swag for one lucky winner! Contest ends Thursday, March 2, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST, and 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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I am very happy to help Tonya Kappes celebrate her new release, SCENE OF THE GRIND! This first book in her brand new Killer Coffee Mystery series is off to a buzzing start. I enjoyed reading from the start as the protagonist, Roxanne Bloom prepares to open her new coffeehouse, The Bean Hive, in Honey Springs, Kentucky, and begin a new chapter in her life. Too often I start a series in the middle or towards the end and have backtracking to do so it was a delight to find this series as it debuted. The first part of the book has a lot of details on Roxanne’s background, the struggles of getting her business ready to open, and being introduced to characters. I felt like the author was taking her time to set the stage not only for this particular book but also for future books. Some might think it’s a bit slow starting out, however, I like knowing backstory and having the chance to get to know the characters.

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Once the murder takes place, the mystery moves along quite nicely with plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. There is a heartwarming theme of pet rescues and adoptions and I loved the sweet scene where Roxanne finds the perfect match with Pepper, the dog meant for her. SCENE OF THE GRIND is sprinkled with darling Southern sayings and mannerisms, giving it an authentic feel. The author creatively uses adorable business names along the lake’s boardwalk….and made me want to have the chance to visit this charming location! 

The Bean Hive serves up tasty treats and Tonya Kappes has included several yummy recipes* at the back of the book. I decided to try the Chilled Coffee Souffle…it sounded so unique and refreshing…and it is! I was a bit worried while making the recipe because I really couldn’t envision what it was supposed to turn out like (I like a cooking challenge, what can I say?). I changed a bit of the recipe to make it easier with a more attractive serving presentation, which resulted in yum! I loved the foamy light coffee scented top layer which complimented the full-bodied sweet coffee bottom layer. It reminded me of a café latte, which is my favorite coffeehouse drink. (*Recipe submitted by Andrea Stoeckel who said, “This recipe is one of the first my grandmother taught me over fifty years ago!”)

Amazon Synopsis

Scene of the Grind is the first in USA TODAY bestselling author Tonya Kappes’ new A Killer Coffee Mystery Series. The series takes place in the cozy southern fictional tourist town of Honey Springs, Kentucky.

Roxanne Bloom (her friends, though few call her Roxie) quit her job as a lawyer, divorced her cheating husband, and moved to the quaint town of Honey Springs, Kentucky where she’d spent many of her teenage summers visiting her eccentric and fun-loving Aunt Maxi.

Roxy follows her dream and opens The Bean Hive, Honey Springs first coffee house on the town’s newly revitalized boardwalk. that opens just in time for Honey Springs annual Honey Festival.

Roxy’s life couldn’t be better. Business was booming, she’s reconnected with special people from her past, including her first teenage love, and visits The Crooked Cat book store, which is still her favorite shop in Honey Springs.

One problem, Aunt Maxi and Alexis Roarke, owner of Crooked Cat, aren’t on the best of terms. Alexis leases the book store’s building from Aunt Maxi and the rent is going up.

Roxy takes Alexis a fresh cup of coffee from The Bean Hive and a tasty pastry as a peace offering between the two women, but discovers the beloved book store owner murdered and Aunt Maxi is the number one suspect.

Gossip in Honey Springs is as hot at the coffee served at the Bean Hive and Roxy has to uncover who is behind the murder not only to save her shop, her aunt, but her life.

A huge thank you to Tonya Kaapes for providing  an e-book copy of SCENE OF THE GRIND for one lucky winner! Contest ends Thursday, January 26, 2017 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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Note: Eating raw or undercooked eggs poses a health risk to everyone, but especially to the elderly, young children under age 4, pregnant women and other highly susceptible individuals with compromised immune systems. Whole Food Markets sell pasteurized eggs or you can try this (unproven) method for pasteurizing eggs at home as provided by: Baking Bites.  Please use your discretion when eating undercooked items. 

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

A couple years ago I downloaded the first book in the Alvarez Family Murder Mystery series by Heather Haven and loved it. I purchased another two books in the series but they somehow got buried in my long list of to-read Kindle books and I never got around to reading them. By chance, I ended up sitting at dinner with Heather at the Left Coast Crime banquet in Phoenix this past February. As soon as I heard what she authored, I remembered how much I enjoyed her book and vowed to read more. Once I returned home from Phoenix, I started reading DEAD….IF ONLY, and immediately lost myself in this story that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Synopsis

With a black belt in karate, Lee Alvarez is the in-house Private Investigator for her family’s company, Discretionary Inquiries, in California’s Silicon Valley. Her impeccably dressed and well-mannered mother is the CEO while her brother, Richard, is the techie.  Richard’s pregnant wife, Vicki, is opening a new branch of her hat shop in New Orleans and except for Lee, the family has joined her for the grand opening. While trying, unsuccessfully, to enjoy the Calistoga mud baths, Lee receives frantic texts and phones calls from her brother telling her that Vicki will be arrested for murder.

The police would rather not look for any other suspects so Lee goes to New Orleans to clear her sister-in-law’s name. Once she arrives, Lee is faced with tracing the history of a brutal man declared dead ten years previously, who Vicki swears she saw roaming the streets of New Orleans. Vicki has reasons for wanting to make sure this man is dead for good and the police use that against her. Lee’s search intertwines with a decade old incident involving her now deceased father and corruption in the New Orleans police department. She doesn’t know who she can trust and when her questions hit home, her life is put into danger. A warning, in the form of a voodoo doll, makes her realize she needs to step up her game before it’s too late.

My Review

The Alvarez Family Murder Mystery series has a lot of action and at times is a bit dark, but it is interspersed with humor that had me laughing out loud on several occasions. Being a black belt in karate and a career private investigator, Lee isn’t your typical amateur. She knows how to do her job and while she takes risks, she’s confident of her skill to see her through…although her family often thinks her risks are too dangerous. Lee is highly loyal and the family motto is Honor Above All, which shows in how she views her cases. The close-knit Alvarez family has a unique dynamic that adds interest. Lee is just the opposite of her prim, properly dressed mother who doesn’t quite understand her daughter, and it adds levity to the book. But the humor does not detract from the well plotted mystery that kept me turning pages late into the night to see “what happens.” The story pulls you in with its twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat! I am looking forward to catching up and reading all the books in this series!

While Heather’s books don’t contain recipes, Lee’s uncle is a master chef and Heather was gracious enough to share one of his specialties: Flan de Naranja, aka Orange Flan. Oh my goodness…this is the epitome of decadence! Silky orange and vanilla scented custard that’s been spiked with orange liqueur and then garnished with candied orange peel. Tio’s Flan de Naranja is worthy of any special occasion, but be warned, you’re going to need to provide extra candied orange peel for your guests to take home along with the recipe for this Orange Flan. Thank you, Heather, for allowing me to share!

A very special thank you to Heather for providing 1 print copy AND 1 e-book copy of DEAD….IF ONLY! (Print copy for U.S. residents only.) Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Monday, June 20, 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!)

Tío’s Flan de Naranja
(Orange Flan)

Lee Alvarez, protagonist of the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries by Heather Haven, shares one of her uncle’s recipes:

I don’t mean to brag, but as the central character of the humorous Alvarez Family Murder Mystery Series, I get to eat a lot of terrific food. That’s because my uncle, better known as Tío, is the retired head chef of the world famous ‘Las Mananita’s’ Restaurant in San Jose, California. During his illustrious career, his recipes were often written up in gourmet food magazines. They’d throw in a few pics, too, as Tío is one elegant and classy-looking man. I have all the articles and pictures in a scrapbook I started in my early teens. That was before my PI days. I don’t have time to make scrapbooks anymore – too busy chasing bad guys over rooftops – but I always seem to find time to sit down at the dinner table and scarf down one of his culinary masterpieces.

Tío’s desserts undo me. While he’s creating a recipe, he makes it again and again until it reaches his idea of perfection. Meanwhile, lucky me gets to gobble up every version, as he strives for the ultimate. When Tío was working on his homemade mango and red plum ice cream garnished with fresh spearmint leaves, I must have gained six pounds. Worth every ounce.

Don’t ever tell him, but my favorite is his Flan de Naranja. His flan has gone down in song and legend. Tío even picks the oranges himself from our backyard and candies only the best. All I have to say is Olé!

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

5 egg yolks
1 cup white sugar
3 cups heavy cream
1 cup half-and-half cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 orange peel
1/2 fluid ounce orange liqueur (I used Grand Marnier)
2 ounces candied orange peel, grated

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). (If you use smaller ramekins, decrease the heat to 325 degrees.)

In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks.

Beat in sugar until smooth. Set aside.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cream, half-and-half, the vanilla bean and its scrapings, and the peel of one orange.

Heat until bubbles form at edges of liquid, reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

Remove orange peel and vanilla bean.

Allow cream mixture to cool for 10 minutes then beat into egg mixture, a little at a time, until all is incorporated. Be sure to whisk constantly so the eggs don’t scramble.

Stir in orange liqueur. Pour into 4 to 6 individual custard cups.

Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place cups on towel, inside roasting pan, and place roasting pan on oven rack.

Fill roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the cups.

Bake in preheated oven 45 to 60 minutes, until set. The center should still be a bit jiggly and if you have an instant read thermometer, the internal temperature should read 170 to 175 degrees (F).

Let cool completely.  Sprinkle candied orange peel on top of each cup before serving. Yum!

My Note: While Flan de Naranja is incredibly delicious on it’s own, the candied orange peel elevates the dessert! And trust me, this candied peel is yummy enough to eat long after the Flan is gone! My leftovers ended up in my husband’s office for him to snack on… not sure how I lost out 🙂

Tío’s Candied Orange Peel

Ingredients

6 thick-skinned Valencia or navel oranges*
4 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra for rolling*
1 1/2 cups water*

Great Latin music. (As Tío lets me help with the candying, I like to listen to Latin music while we work. Sets a mood.)

Instructions

Cut tops and bottoms off of the orange and score the orange into quarters, cutting down only into the peel and not into the fruit. Don’t cut yourself.

Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces, use the orange for another recipe.

Cut the peel into strips about 1/4-inch wide.

Put the orange peel in a large saucepan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Pour off the water. Repeat 1 or 2 more times depending up how assertive you want the orange peels to be. Tío likes his peel assertive, so he only does it once.

Remove the orange peels from the pan.

Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water.

(Put on another CD. I like some disco at this point, but that’s me.)

Bring sugar water to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minutes.

Add the peels and simmer gently, reducing heat to retain a simmer. Sing along with the music. Helps to pass the time.

Cook until the peels get translucent, about 45 minutes. Resist the urge to stir the peels or you may introduce sugar crystals into the syrup. If necessary, swirl the pan to move the peels around.

Drain the peels and cool for several seconds.

Roll the peels in sugar and dry on a rack, for 4 to 5 hours. Return to the sugar to store, unless you’ve eaten them all. In that case, back to square one. Been there, done that.

* I cut the recipe down to 2 oranges and used the following ingredients:

2 oranges
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water

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