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BAYOU BOOK THIEF is the first in the brand-new Vintage Cookbook Mystery series by Ellen Byron and every bit as charming as I’d anticipated! From captivating diverse characters to dastardly deeds to iconic New Orleans locales, the author pens a vivid tale featuring protagonist, Ricki James. From the very first page, I couldn’t read fast enough as I wanted to get to know the quirky characters and their backstory. Keeping a firm grasp on the pacing of the mystery, Ms. Byron prudently doles out those details, which only made me more intrigued. Ricki is a compelling protagonist in that she was born in New Orleans, then adopted at birth by her NICU nurse and then grew up in Los Angeles. After the demise of her husband and a scandal concerning her previous employer, she returns to New Orleans. Despite her tragic life, Ricki has a sense of humor and a strong sense of justice, mostly in thanks to the couple who raised her. I was pleased that while they’re not physically with Ricki, having retired to Mexico, their long-distance relationship is strong and loving. This gives the book a balance of community and family that can often be missing in mysteries.

Starting over is never easy, but Ricki lands a job operating Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware gift shop at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for the body of a former employee who she’d accused of stealing to show up and wreak havoc on her new life and new venture. As Ricki delves into the life of the victim and starts asking questions to figure out who there are twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Ms. Byron pens a tightly plotted story peppered with secrets, lies, and betrayal. With a tempting teaser to close out the book, I cannot wait until the second book releases!

With several vintage cookbooks mentioned throughout the story, it was a pleasure to find out that several recipes from actual vintage cookbooks are included at the back of the book. Ms. Byron includes an introduction to the cookbooks featured on how she came to collect the vintage cookbook. I was drawn to the recipe for Old-Fashioned Gingerbread from the Country Fair Cookbook: Every Recipe a Blue Ribbon Winner (1975). Reminiscent of time spent at my grandmother’s home, this highly flavorful cake brought back memories. I loved Ms. Byron’s addition of diced crystallized ginger, which added a depth of delicious flavor, and with the ease of mixing up, I’ll be baking this again whenever I crave a snack cake. Served on its own or with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar or a dollop of whipped cream, this is a delicious treat!

Amazon Synopsis

Twenty-eight-year-old widow Ricki James leaves Los Angeles to start a new life in New Orleans after her showboating actor husband perishes doing a stupid internet stunt. The Big Easy is where she was born and adopted by the NICU nurse who cared for her after Ricki’s teen mother disappeared from the hospital.

Ricki’s dream comes true when she joins the quirky staff of Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, the spectacular former Garden District home of late bon vivant Genevieve “Vee” Charbonnet, the city’s legendary restauranteur. Ricki is excited about turning her avocation – collecting vintage cookbooks – into a vocation by launching the museum’s gift shop, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware. Then she discovers that a box of donated vintage cookbooks contains the body of a cantankerous Bon Vee employee who was fired after being exposed as a book thief.

The skills Ricki has developed ferreting out hidden vintage treasures come in handy for investigations. But both her business and Bon Vee could wind up as deadstock when Ricki’s past as curator of a billionaire’s first edition collection comes back to haunt her.

Will Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbooks and Kitchenware be a success … or a recipe for disaster?

A special thanks to Ellen Byron for providing a print copy of  BAYOU BOOK THIEF. Contest ends June 15, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

Author's Note: My family owned a cottage on a lake in Connecticut, and one of my favorite activities was attending the local town and county fairs. I was so excited when I found this cookbook at our local library book sale. I love gingerbread, and this book includes almost half a dozen delicious recipes for it. I couldn't resist including a recipe inspired by the one described as "deep, dark gingerbread like Grandmother used to make." Country Fair Cookbook: Every Recipe a Blue Ribbon Winner (1975)

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup dark molases
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/2 cup diced crystallized ginger (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.

2. Sift or stir the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt together.

3. In another bowl, cream the shortening and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well, then beat in the molasses.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the shortening mixture, alternating with the hot water. Beat the batter well after each addition to combine the ingredients. Stir in the crystallized ginger if using.

5. Pour the batter into the greased 9-inch square baking pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until the cake is done. This can be determined by either pressing the top to see if it bounces back or inserting a toothpick that comes out clean.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

1. I made this twice, but the second time I used my mini Bundt pans to bake. Reduce the baking time to 20 minutes, then start checking every 2 minutes for doneness.

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

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THE DIVA SAYS CHEESECAKE, the fifteenth book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis, hits all the right marks for capturing my attention and keeping it throughout the entire book. And if you haven’t read any in the series, this can be read as a standalone. However, with the memorable and relatable characters that populate the series, it’s been a pleasure reading from the first and watching the character growth and the changes over the years. Protagonist Sophie Winston is one of those people you’d love to have as your best friend. She’s kind, she loves to share her baked goods, and she’s ready to jump in and help whenever someone has a problem. The author weaves a puzzling mystery into the charming setting of Old Town Virginia, set against the backdrop of A Midsummer Night’s Dream festivities. Her descriptive voice makes the words come alive on the pages so that the reader feels like they’re right there experiencing everything Sophie does. Another favorite aspect of each book is the advice column question, to either Sophie or her nemesis, Natasha, and the corresponding answer that begins each chapter. These are entertaining all on their own!

When Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake’s husband is found murdered, she begs Sophie to solve the crime. Adding to the urgency, the police have named one of Sophie’s close friends, Bernie, as the prime suspect. I love the loyalty that Sophie and her friends show toward each other and they all pitch in to help Sophie sleuth. I also enjoyed that with the spotlight turned on Bernie, the reader has an opportunity to know him better and find out some of his closely held secrets. There are plenty of suspects for Sophie to sift through, and the clues are woven in for an armchair detective to collect. I’ll admit I was thrown off scent by some of the twists and turns, but it made the story even more intriguing as it unfolded.

Did someone say cheesecake? With the title and theme of the book, Ms. Davis does an admirable job of weaving in mouthwatering descriptions of cheesecake throughout the book and includes several delectable recipes. I was intrigued by her Blackberry No-Bake Cheesecake recipe. It sounded like a refreshing for a summer dessert with no need to turn on the oven. I loved that it needs to be made the day before serving, which frees up time when entertaining guests. While it had a lighter consistency than baked cheesecake, it was creamy and oh-so-yummy and I’ll be making this again and again, whenever blackberries are in season!

Amazon Synopsis

Old Town’s midsummer festivities are getting a tasty addition this year. To coincide with a public performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake, has hired Sophie to organize a dinner with a dessert buffet on the waterfront. Bobbie Sue’s homegrown company is thriving, and since her baking dish overfloweth, she wants to reward her employees.

Bobbie Sue has only one menu demand: no cheesecake! But her specialty isn’t the only thing missing from the evening—Tate, Bobbie Sue’s husband, is too, much to her annoyance. Next morning, however, Tate’s dead body is discovered. Bobbie Sue insists she didn’t kick her spouse to the curb, and begs for Sophie’s help finding the real killer. Digging in, Sophie discovers an assortment of Old Town locals who all had reason to want a piece of Tate. Can she gather together the crumbs the killer left behind in time to prevent a second helping of murder?

A special thanks to Krista Davis for providing a print copy of  THE DIVA SAYS CHEESECAKE. Contest ends June 8, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

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Blackberry No-Bake Cheesecake

This is a lovely, creamy not overly sweet cheesecake for hot days.

Ingredients

• 9 graham crackers (one pack)
• 1/4 cup butter, melted + 1 tablespoon for greasing the pan
• 2 cups (around 12 ounces) blackberries, plus some for decorating
• 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 (8-ounce packages) cream cheese
• 1 cup heavy (whipping) cream

Instructions

1. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9- or 10-inch springform pan. You can use parchment paper around the sides if you like.

2. Placed the graham crackers in a food processor and pulse until fine. While it's running, pour in the melted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of the springform pan and set aside. Wipe the bowl and blade of the food processor clean.

3. Cut cream cheese into 8 chunks and place in food processor.

4. Place sugar and cornstarch in a heavy bottomed pot and stir with a whisk to blend and get rid of chunks. Do not heat yet. Add 2 tablespoons of water and whisk to combine.

5. Wash the blackberries and pour them into double paper towels so they won't be soggy. Add to the pot with the sugar mixture. Cook on medium high, stirring constantly, until they bubble. Turn the heat down and simmer stirring for 1-1/2 minutes. Pour through a sieve into the food processor on top of the cream cheese. Pulse four or five times, then push on and mix together until no white spots show.

6. Whip the cream until it begins to take shape. Beat to a soft peak.

7. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese, 1/3 at a time, until mixed. Pour into the prepared springform pan and refrigerate overnight.

8. To serve, loosen the sides with a slim knife if necessary, and remove from the pan. Decorate with blackberries.

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

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DEATH PLANS A PERFECT TRIP is the sixth book in the Charlotte Adams Professional Organizer Mysteries by Mary Jane Maffini. While it may be the first I’ve read in the series, it certainly won’t be my last. I found this easily read as a standalone, but the captivating story makes me want to go back and read from the beginning. Ms. Maffini pens an enthralling mystery while catering to those with wanderlust with wonderful details and delectable descriptions. I enjoyed how she starts each chapter with a practical organizational tip relating to travel. And while I don’t have any trips planned, these tips alone are worth keeping. The protagonist, Charlotte Adams, is thoroughly likeable and had me cheering for her throughout the story. All the characters are fully developed and the descriptions are so vivid, I felt like I was right there alongside Charlotte, meeting and talking with them. I especially enjoyed “meeting” Charlotte’s two rescue dachshunds, Truffle and Sweet Marie. While they didn’t inhabit many pages, they still managed to shine.

I’m always impressed when an author can juggle a current day mystery while weaving in a mystery from long ago. Ms. Maffini expertly writes such a story in this newest release. She carefully doles out clues from Charlotte’s mysterious childhood, which adds to the layers of intrigue surrounding the current day disappearance of her famous author mother. The fast-moving plot kept me turning pages to find out what happened to Charlotte as a child and what happens to her next as she transverses Europe hunting for her mother. As the pages flew by, the suspense mounted and I couldn’t put the book down. I’ll admit, I was quite stunned with the reveal, having no inkling of who the culprit was. And then there was a twisty-turvey curveball thrown that had me gasping. While I catch up with the previous books in the series, I’ll be waiting with bated breath for the next in this highly entertaining series!

As Charlotte and her boyfriend, Jack, scour European cities in search of her mother, Jack makes sure they take the time to sample the local cuisine. Not only is the book an armchair traveler’s and armchair detective read, it’s also caters to foodies with mouthwatering descriptions. The author includes a recipe for biscotti at the back of the book, which sounds quite delightful. Ms. Maffini is also sharing her recipe for Portuguese Yogurt Cake with us today. I just adore the simplicity of a Bundt cake, yet the cake still seems so festive. The cake itself is moist with a delicate flavor. As suggested by the author, I added a swirl of raspberry jam, which my taste testers loved. With a quick sprinkle of powdered sugar and a handful of fresh raspberries for garnish, this makes a delicious dessert to serve on any occasion.

Amazon Synopsis

When her mother disappears, professional organizer Charlotte Adams will have to take off on a very disorganized trip across Europe to save her life . . .

It’s not unusual for Esme Adams to dash off overseas with no warning, but when weeks pass and Charlotte still hasn’t heard from her, she begins to worry that her mother’s in danger and has gone into hiding. Before she can even begin to guess where to start looking, though, Charlotte finds her own home ransacked and then set ablaze. Determined to escape a more serious attack while the police investigate, she sets off for Europe, hoping to track down her mother at one of her secluded getaway spots.

As Charlotte follows a winding trail of clues through Paris, Lisbon, Milan and beyond—narrowly missing her mother in each city, and just as narrowly eluding her pursuers—secrets begin to emerge about her mother’s shadowy past. A history of ties to criminal organizations, an infamous bank heist, and a gentleman thief who may have been her one true love all raise questions about her mother’s true identity and the peril she faces. As Charlotte processes the dizzying implications about her mother, her own childhood memories, and the father she never knew, she’ll have to work fast to catch up with her mother, before her mother’s past catches up with them all . . .

A special thanks to Mary Jane Maffini for providing winner’s choice of either an ebook or print copy of  DEATH PLANS A PERFECT TRIP. Contest ends May 26, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and print is limited to U.S. and Canadian residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

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Portuguese Yogurt Cake

From author Mary Jane Maffini: We were served this simple and delicious cake for breakfast on a visit to Lisbon to research Death Plans a Perfect Trip. We fell in love with it and had to include it in the book. The proprietor of our B & B used an old family recipe and declined to share it, although he was very generous with servings of the cake in various versions. This is the recipe I reconstructed through research and trial and error. It’s pretty close to the original and it’s always a big hit. This cake is excellent plain with a dusting of icing sugar. You can vary it by swirling in your favorite jam or preserves or even chopped chocolate, fifteen minutes into baking. Sliced fruit would work too. It’s a very flexible cake.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unflavored whole milk Greek yogurt. Don’t use low fat! You can use flavored yogurt though if you want to switch it up. I like vanilla-bean flavor.
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 extra-large eggs, room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups unbleached sifted white flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon good quality vanilla or 1/4 teaspoon almond flavoring or both!

Optional:

• 1/2 cup chopped chocolate or chocolate chips or sliced fruit or jam or preserves.
• Icing sugar for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).

2. Grease and flour a tube pan. Be generous! You don’t want it to stick.

3. In a stand mixer, cream yogurt and butter until smooth. Add eggs one by one beating well. Add vanilla and or almond flavoring if using.

4. Add sugar slowly, mixing well as you go.

5. Add flour and baking powder to the mixture until blended.
6. Pour into greased tube pan.

7. Bake 45 minutes at 375 degrees (F).

8. Fifteen minutes into baking, swirl in chocolate, fruit or jam if using. Then continue to bake until tester comes out clean. Sometimes it takes longer! When cool, remove from pan and dust with sifted icing sugar. You could ice this cake if that’s how you roll.

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