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Your Jokes Make Me Snicker-Doodle Cookies

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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!)

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

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
Grease or line cookie pans with parchment paper.
In a medium-sized bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar.
Add eggs, mixing after each one.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
Stir into the creamed mixture.
In a smaller bowl, stir together the 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon.
Roll the dough into balls, then roll in the bowl with sugar mixture.
Place cookies on prepared cookie pan, about 2 inches apart.
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 🙂

If you receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.

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

Butterscotch Brownies

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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!)

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

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).
Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with aluminum foil. Spritz with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until well combined.
Whisk in the egg, vanilla and salt.
Using a spatula, fold the flour into the sugar mixture, just until combined. Don't over mix.
Stir in the butterscotch chips, then spread in the prepared pan.
Bake 20 to 23 minutes. The top will look shiny and the edges will start to crack a bit. Don't over bake.
Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan, then using the foil, remove from the pan and place on a cutting board.

Drizzle

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.
Drizzle over the cooled brownies.
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.
Drizzle the butterscotch perpendicular to the chocolate drizzle or channel Jackson Pollock.
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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If you receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.

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

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Ginger

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE CRUST by Ellie Alexander is a worthy addition to a very enjoyable series! This seventh book in her Bake Shop Mystery series builds on the characters and strengthens the protagonist, Jules (Juliet) Capshaw’s ties to Ashland, Oregon. And yes, she was named after “that” Juliet. Ashland is known for its Shakespearean Festival each summer (it really is a real-life event!) and the setting provides so many opportunities for drama and small-town connections. Jules and her mother own Torte, a delightfully yummy bakeshop. I would dearly love to spend time in her shop every day, enjoying the close-knit banter between the staff, the incredibly decadent smells and tastes coming from the kitchen, and the sweet kindness from the proprietress. If I could describe this series in just a couple of words, it would be character connection. I love how Jules and her staff at Torte really are like family, despite their many differences. I think one of the things that can make a cozy mystery series successful is the connection the author can create between the reader and the characters. Ms. Alexander definitely brings the reader directly into Jules’ life and helps us experience Torte, Ashland, and the mystery first hand.

In ANOTHER ONE BITES THE CRUST, Jules’ friend, Lance, who is the artistic director of The Shakespeare Festival, has been arrested for murder of the leading man. There are several suspects since actors and actresses lend themselves easily to the drama of the situation. However, Lance himself seems to be hiding something, which brings tension to the plot. Jules finds out just how much her friendship to Lance means and gets involved to prove his innocence. Ms. Alexander brings an emotional level to this new book that hasn’t been quite so evident before. It begins by examining what friendship means, especially when a person’s presence has been taken for granted. Jules also begins to acknowledge her buried feelings about her mother’s pending remarriage and the feelings associated with her deceased father. This conveys a vulnerability and an emotional connection to the story. The ending brings a satisfying conclusion to the murder mystery but I will be impatiently waiting to see what’s next in store for Jules and her friends!

Spending any time reading about Jules at Torte will leave you drooling and ready to raid the pantry. Fortunately the author provides recipes at the back of the book so you can experience some of the treats at home. Ellie has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for her Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Ginger…. and let me be the first to say, “oh my”! This is decadently rich and was a huge hit with my step-daughter’s book club luncheon, even with ladies who never eat dessert! The cake is chock-full of carrots, nuts, spices, and citrus while the cream cheese frosting carries on the citrus theme with plenty of tasty zest from both a lemon and an orange. To top it off, fresh candied ginger garnishes the cake, tying in the flavor of freshly grated ginger used in the batter. This carrot cake is worthy of any special occasion or any reason to splurge and treat yourself to a very delicious dessert!

Amazon Synopsis

Torte―the beloved small-town bakeshop run by Jules Capshaw―is set to hit the stage. But who would have guessed that murder would makes a surprise appearance?

It’s the role of a lifetime for Jules. The Shakespeare Festival has returned to Ashland, Oregon, for the season and Torte has been cast as the supplier of Elizabethan-era treats for the main event. But on the eve of opening night, a brawl between Jules’s friend Lance, the artistic director, and a strapping young thespian named Anthony almost brings down the house. . .and the next morning, Anthony is dead. Jules knows that Lance loves his drama―and his just desserts―but she also knows that murder is way off-script for him. Now it’s up to Jules to cut through a bevy of backstage betrayals and catty co-stars who all have their own secrets―before the curtain drops on someone else. . .

A special thanks to Ellie Alexander for providing one winner with a signed copy of ANOTHER ONE BITES THE CRUST! Contest ends Sunday, January 7, 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!)

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Ginger

Ingredients

Ingredients for cake:

2 large eggs
1-1/4 cups canola oil
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon vanilla butter extract (or substitute vanilla)
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups grated carrots (use fresh grated carrots, not pre-packaged grated)
Juice of one lemon, reserve zest & 1 teaspoon juice for frosting
Juice of one orange, reserve zest & 1 teaspoon juice for frosting
Small piece of ginger root, grated
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Ingredients for candied ginger:

Fresh ginger root
1/4 cup sugar
water

Ingredients for frosting:

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon orange juice
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Zest of lemon and orange
3-1/2 to 4 cups of powdered sugar

Instructions

Directions for cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl add eggs, oil, buttermilk, sugar, vanilla, orange juice, and lemon juice. Beat together, then mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices. Fold in shredded carrots, grated ginger, and nuts. Spread into two greased nine-inch pans*. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes then turn out onto wire racks. Allow cakes to cool before frosting.

Directions for candied ginger:

Use a mandolin (or a vegetable peeler or sharp chef's knife) to slice thin pieces of ginger (with the bark removed). Place in a saucepan and simmer in 1/4 cup of water for 30 minutes or until ginger is tender. Remove from heat and drain water. Return ginger to pan, add 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup of sugar and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir until the syrup begins to look dry (almost as if it has evaporated). Remove from heat and allow ginger pieces to cool on a wire baking rack.

Directions for frosting:

Beat butter on high speed in an electric mixer for 5 minutes. Add cream cheese and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add vanilla, lemon and orange juice, plus zest and sift in powdered sugar one cup at a time until blended and creamy. Spread immediately on cooled cake. Top with candied ginger pieces.

Tips:

You will need 15 ounces (421g) of grated carrots so buy more than 1 pound to allow for peeling and trimming end pieces.
*I found that the cake stuck on the bottom. Next time I'll line my cake pans with parchment paper and spritz with non-stick cooking spray before adding batter. If you have non-stick pans you probably won't need the parchment paper.
To easily grate fresh ginger, peel the outer layer off with a vegetable peeler then freeze the ginger root in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Once frozen, remove as needed and grate on a rasp-style grater. The leftover ginger can be stored in the freezer to use for future recipes.

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

Tarragon Ricotta Gnocchi with Lobster Velouté

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STOWED AWAY, the sixth book in the Maine Clambake Mystery series by Barbara Ross will have you dreaming of warm summer weather while visiting the islands off the coast of Maine! Unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of enjoying this particular geographic location. However, Barbara paints such an inviting vivid picture of each scene, especially of Morrow Island, the Snowden’s family-owned island, that I feel I need to start planning a vacation to this area. While this book can definitely be enjoyed as a stand-alone, I have to opine that reading the series in order gives the reader the full effect of the author’s impressive character development, especially with her protagonist, Julia Snowden. I love how Julia has grown, discovering new things about herself and those around her through self-introspection and life experiences. The author carefully avoids the “information” dump but instead, reveals who Julia is in a natural way, over the course of the stories told over the years. I think strong, interesting characters, such as Julia, makes us readers long for new releases and keeps us coming back again and again. However, if you do jump in and start the series with this new book, you won’t be disappointed at all!

Of course with a strong character there must be a riveting story to hold our attention. Barbara delivers on that premise as well. A reclusive murdered billionaire, a detested school roommate from long ago, and the fate of Julia’s ancestors’ half-destroyed family mansion are woven together to keep the reader turning pages long into the night. And just when I thought I had a handle on who the suspects were and narrowed down the culprit, the author threw in a doozey of a twist that completely changed the game! The satisfying, suspenseful conclusion wrapped up the murder mystery while a heartwarming scene sets the tone for future books.

Julia and her boyfriend, Chris, attend dinner on the billionaire’s yacht, shortly before he is murdered. Much to Julia’s surprise, her friend, Genevieve, is the chef on board. Genevieve prepares a delightful Tarragon Ricotta Gnocchi with Lobster Velouté for the second course. Fortunately for us readers, Barbara has thoughtfully included this recipe, along with others, at the back of the book. Traditional gnocchi is made with potatoes and can be quite time consuming to make. Substituting ricotta for the potatoes is brilliant! Super-fast to mix up, you can either roll the dough into a long rope and cut into a traditional gnocchi shape, or scoop the dough into the boiling water, such as you would for dumplings. Either way, when paired with the lobster sauce, this gnocchi is amazing! I thought a small serving made a delectable appetizer or larger servings would easily satisfy the heartiest of appetites if served as an entrée. Bon appétit!

Amazon Synopsis

It’s June in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and Julia Snowden and her family are working hard to get their authentic Maine clambake business ready for summer. Preparations must be put on hold, however, when a mysterious yacht drops anchor in the harbor—and delivers an unexpected dose of murder . . .

When Julia’s old prep school rival Wyatt Jayne invites her to dinner on board her billionaire fiancé’s decked-out yacht, Julia arrives to find a sumptuous table set for two—and the yachtsman dead in his chair. Suspicion quickly falls on Wyatt, and Julia’s quest to dredge up the truth leads her into the murky private world of a mega-rich recluse who may not have been all that he seemed . . .

A special thanks to Barbara Ross for providing one winner with an arc signed copy of STOWED AWAY! Contest ends Thursday, January 4, 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!)

$Tarragon Ricotta Gnocchi with Lobster Velouté starts with an easy-to-mix-up ricotta gnocchi that takes a fraction of the time as traditional potato gnocchi. Garnished with luscious lobster in a creamy sauce adds a delectable richness to this elegant dish.$

Tarragon Ricotta Gnocchi with Lobster Velouté

The yacht Garbo is in Busman's Harbor, Maine, so naturally lobster is on the menu. The velouté was one of the signature dishes at Genevieve's Portland restaurant, which is why it tastes so familiar to Julia.

Ingredients

For the Gnocchi

1 16-ounce container ricotta
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup Romano cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup all-purpose flour*
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, finely chopped

For the Velouté

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups lobster stock
1/3 cup heavy cream
4-6 ounces cooked lobster, chopped
Fresh tarragon or parsley for garnish

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees (F). Boil and salt 4 - 6 quarts of water in a pot. Grease a small baking dish with butter.

For the Gnocchi:

In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, grated cheeses, salt, pepper, tarragon, and eggs.
*Stir in the flour in 1/4-cup helpings until it reaches the consistency of a sticky dough. You may need to add more depending on how wet your ricotta is. Add an extra tablespoon of flour at a time until dough is sticky but workable.
**Using a tablespoon, drop rounded spoonfuls into the boiling water. When the gnocchi rise back to the top of the water, cook for about a minute more, then remove to the baking dish using a slotted spoon.

For the Velouté:

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir together to create a roux. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes being careful to not allow the roux to brown.
Whisk in the stock and cook until the velouté coats the back of a spoon. Stir in the cream and the lobster meat and cook for one minute more. Keep warm.

Putting it together:

Pour 1/2 cup of the velouté over the gnocchi, reserving the remainder in the pan.
Put the gnocchi in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce is barely bubbling.
To serve, put a puddle of the reserved velouté on a plate. Add 3 to 4 gnocchi and garnish with tarragon or parsley. Serve immediately.

Tip:

If you can't find lobster stock, boil 4 cups of water with lobster shells, along with 1/2 chopped carrot, 1/2 stalk celery, and a small slice of onion until reduced to 1-1/2 cups. Strain and discard solids. Allow stock to cool before using for velouté.
When cooking the gnocchi, cook in batches and don't crowd the pot.
**To form traditionally-shaped gnocchi, roll the dough into long, thin ropes on a well-floured surface. Cut into 1-inch to 1-1/2-inch pieces, then cook as directed above.

True story: I didn’t realize when I purchased my lobster tails that they were still in the shell with the digestive track still intact. Thank goodness for YouTube because I had no idea what I was supposed to do with it! My apologies to Barbara and lobster fishermen… I know I mutilated it. Next time I’ll know to check with the butcher to make sure it’s already done for me!

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Banana Nut Muffins with Streusel

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THE TROUBLE WITH MURDER by Kathy Krevat is the first book in the brand new Gourmet Cat Mystery series and a terrific start! The protagonist, Colbie Summers, is very likeable. Unlike the majority of cozy mystery heroines who are young, and footloose, Colbie is single, but also a mother to a pre-teen son. This brings a depth of reality and seriousness to the story along with a greater sense of danger when a child is threatened. It also adds to the depth of Colbie’s character with the interaction between her child and her father, whom they live with. The author also explores the difficult relationship that can often occur between a grown woman and her parents. She captures the essence of Colbie’s relationship with her father in this one sentence, “Why did every serious conversation with him have to be fraught with so many emotional landmines?”

I loved Colbie’s line of business, gourmet cat food, selling under the name Meow-io Batali Gourmet Cat Food – a great pun along with so many clever names for the pet food! Her cat, Trouble, is a character all to his own, and between him and the doorbell ringing chicken, they bring lots of smiles to the story! Ms. Krevat writes with a great sense of humor and lots of puns bringing laugh out loud moments. Yet when Colbie’s friend is killed with Colbie’s Meowi Chef Knife, the seriousness of the situation comes to light and the author creates a tight plot with lots of viable suspects. All in all this is a terrific start to a series that I can’t wait to continue reading!

In case you didn’t realize it, Kathy Krevat also writes the Chocolate Covered Mystery series under the name Kathy Aarons! While that series contains some awesome chocolate candy recipes, this new series doesn’t contain recipes. However, one of Colbie’s elderly neighbors bakes some banana nut muffins to comfort them after a body was found. So, I decided to share my own recipe for Banana Nut Muffins and added a walnut streusel to make it more enticing for holiday gatherings. Muffins are a staple in my family and the freezer at my granddaughters’ house often contains a wide assortment for a quick breakfast or on-the-go snack. One of my granddaughters isn’t a huge nut fan but decided that these muffins were still pretty awesome… in fact I was told that these Banana Nut Muffins made an appearance in her lunch for several days running. I hope your family and holiday guests enjoy them as well!

Amazon Synopsis

Colbie Summers has moved back in with her father, a place she left with no intention of ever returning. When her father grows ill, Colbie knows she has no choice but to pack up her 12-year-old son, their cat, Trouble, and her gourmet cat food business and go back to the tiny town of Sunnyside, CA.

While Colbie expected that things might be complicated, she certainly never expected the complications to lead to murder. When police suspect her of murdering one of the other women in the Sunnyside Power Moms trade show, Colbie realizes that in order to save her name, her business, and her son, she needs to find out who the real killer is and that might include getting into a little trouble!

A special thanks to Kathy Krevat for providing one winner with an e-book copy of THE TROUBLE WITH MURDER! Contest ends Thursday, December 21, 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!)

Banana Nut Muffins with Streusel

Ingredients

Muffins

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-1/4 cup ripe bananas, mashed (about 2 very large bananas)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk (2%, whole, or dairy-free)
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Steusel

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter, melted (can substitute dairy-free margarine)

Instructions

Muffins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a 12-cup cupcake tin with wrappers, or grease.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
Mix together the mashed banana, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, milk, egg, and vanilla until well combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir just until moistened.
Gently stir in 3/4 cup walnuts.

Streusel

Mix the walnuts, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together.
Stir in the melted butter then divide the mixture between the muffins, sprinkling on top.
Bake for 18 - 20 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. A few moist crumbs clinging to the skewer is fine.
Allow the muffins to rest in the pan for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove and cool on a wire rack.

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

Cinnamon Sugared Pecans

I’m very excited to have Paige Shelton guest blogging for me today! Congratulations on your new release, COMIC SANS MURDER! Paige is also very generously giving away a copy of her new book, so scroll down for the Rafflecopter link after the recipes.

Happy Holidays, everyone! Thanks to Kim for helping kick off my new book, COMIC SANS MURDER. You are amazing, Kim, and all your hard work and dedication are much appreciated! It’s an honor to be a part of your blog today.

So, here’s the scenario: Way back in 2003, we moved to a Sugarhouse neighborhood in Salt Lake City. We loved that neighborhood, and were very fond of our neighbors – still are, even though we moved to Arizona a few years ago. But those neighbors, as wonderful as they were, threw me for a loop. As that first December approached, we started to receive neighbor gifts. Now, I LOVE the idea of neighbor gifts, but we had never lived in a neighborhood that exchanged them. However, it took only one time of me panicking and reaching for some candy canes hanging on our tree to get my act together and be better prepared to give, or take the initiative and deliver a few gifts ourselves. It was so much fun, even if I did burn the banana bread one year.

Following are some of our favorite neighbor gifts. I took the pictures and the recipes directly from the internet, although Kim did recreate the recipe for Cinnamon Sugared Pecans, aka Awesome Meredith’s Pecans, and used her own photos (and made a video) for this particular recipe.

— It was only during the holiday season that Farr’s peppermint ice cream would show up at our local grocery store. The first year I saw it I thought – “Oh, a good neighbor gift. I’ll come back this evening and get some.” By that evening, though, the store was sold out. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought it looked good. I was never tricked again. In subsequent years, the second I saw it, I got a few quarts for gifts, and maybe one or two for us. It is delicious, but if it’s not available in your area, probably all peppermint ice cream is good.

— I have a knack for Rice Krispie treats. Anyone can have a knack if they just follow the recipe on the cereal box, although, I will say that I think the Costco butter in the blue box makes all Rice Krispie treats taste even better. I don’t think you can go wrong giving a gift of a plate of Rice Krispie treats as a gift, but I saw this pretty thing on Pinterest. I haven’t tried it yet, but it can’t be too hard. A little food coloring, some M&Ms. I think this is a perfect gift.

— This next one is something we came to crave every year. There were times we were brazen enough to ask each other if the Sorensons had brought over the Monkey Bread yet. Could we have made it on our own? Yes, the Sorensons weren’t trying to keep the recipe a secret. But it just wouldn’t have been the same, you know. Besides, they always wrapped it beautifully, with red cellophane and a holiday bow. It really is delicious, and here’s the recipe straight from the Rhodes site:

Monkey Bread

Ingredients
24 Rhodes White Yeast Dinner Rolls
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions
Thaw rolls until soft (about 1 hour at room temperature). Cut each roll in half. In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts together. Dip roll halves in butter then roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture until thoroughly coated. Arrange in sprayed bundt pan. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap. Let rise until double in size (2-3 hours). Remove wrap. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes. Cover with foil the last 5 minutes of baking. Immediately after removing from the oven, carefully release edges and center tube with a knife. Invert onto a serving plate. (Wrap in red cellophane and a pretty bow if you’re as awesome as the Sorensons.)

— Next up is close to the one I remember, but not it exactly. In fact, it wasn’t a neighbor gift, but a coworker gift. Erin and I worked together for three years and she would pack up cute red Solo cups with this good stuff and tie Christmas bows around them. She actually gave me the recipe, but, sadly, I lost it. And, when she left the newspapers to become a paralegal, I lost track of her.

Nevertheless, here’s something close to Erin’s Christmas Crack. I took it from the Mom For Real blog.

Erin’s Christmas Crack

Ingredients
3 Cups of Cheerios
3 Cups of Corn Chex
1 Bag of Pretzel Sticks or Small Pretzels
2 Bags of White Chocolate Chips
1 12.6 oz. Bag of M-n-M’s

Instructions
Start by melting the white chocolate chips in a double boiler or candy melting pot. In a large bowl, add all of the dry ingredients, including the M-&-M’s and mix them together. Once the chocolate is melted, fold into the dry ingredients, making sure to lightly coat all of it. Pour the mixture onto a large piece of wax paper and smooth out into a thin layer. Once the chocolate has hardened, break into pieces and serve or store.

— Finally, this is one that I was just introduced to last year when a sweet friend brought over a container. Inside said container were Cinnamon Sugared Pecans. This is a lovely and delicious gift, and truly not too difficult. We have dubbed them Awesome Meredith’s Pecans (both Meredith and the pecans are awesome, but Meredith is the most awesome).

Cinnamon Sugared Pecans

aka Awesome Meredith's Pecans

Ingredients

1 pound pecan halves
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (use gluten-free if necessary)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees (F).
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg white with the water and vanilla until very frothy.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon and salt.
Add the pecans to the egg white mixture and toss until evenly coated.
Pour half of the sugar mixture over the pecans and toss several times. Add the remaining sugar mixture and toss until evenly coated.
Pour pecans over a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Allow to cool then store in an airtight container.

Notes

Recipe was adapted from cookingclassy.com

Hopefully, this helps with some ideas, but I would love to know your favorite neighbor or coworker gifts. Thanks for letting me stop by and happy holidays!

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My Review

COMIC SANS MURDER by Paige Shelton, the third book in her Dangerous Type Mystery series starts out with a bang. The opening scene grabs your attention, putting your senses on high alert and then Ms. Shelton delivers a thrilling read! She expertly melds together a famous horror author, valuable antique typewriters, a reclusive wealthy business man, and a ski-boot clad foot missing its body. This eclectic combination is set against the backdrop of Star City, Utah during ski season. The author sets a well-developed stage to capture the full flavors of each scene bringing the reader into the story to experience it fully as the twisty-turvey plot unfolds.

Click on the book to visit Amazon

The protagonist, Clare Henry, is extremely likeable. She’s a sweet, caring person that I’d like to spend time with… well, except when she’s investigating a murder. Her relationship with geologist, Seth, is adorable. I greatly enjoyed the geology puns they throw around, bringing a chuckle or two to the read. Clare and her grandfather, Chester, own The Rescued Word, a charming shop that would draw me in and make me want to linger. I enjoyed learning about the Hooven typewriters, a brand I have never heard about. What makes them so special is that these are the first electric typewriters designed and was the birth of the first computers. As with the previous two books, COMIC SANS MURDER has me anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see what adventures Clare finds herself in next!

I’ll be brief about the Cinnamon Sugared Pecans… my husband, who is not a huge fan of nuts, has already asked me to make a second batch!!! I guess he thought I was eating more than my half, lol! So be prepared to make a batch (or two) for yourself if you plan on sharing any with friends, neighbors and co-workers.

Amazon Synopsis

The visit of quirky world-famous horror author Nathan Grimes to Star City is especially thrilling for Clare Henry and her grandfather Chester. As the owners of The Rescued Word, a charming boutique shop in town, Clare and Chester specialize in restoring old typewriters and repairing beloved books. They’ve invited Nathan to their shop to use their equipment for his next book.

But all plans to work on the book take a step in the wrong direction when a tourist discovers an abandoned ski boot on the slopes—and the only sign of the owner is the dismembered foot he left inside! Nathan’s writer’s curiosity for all things horror is further piqued after the body of Clare’s high school friend Lloyd Gavin is discovered sans one foot. When all toes point to a class reunion gone wrong, Nathan can’t help but join Clare and her best friend, police officer Jodie Wentworth, as they hurry to track down the killer before more former classmates become Most Likely to Be Killed.

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

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