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It’s always a delight to open a new book in a long-enjoyed series and visit with friends. Such is the case with BISCUITS AND SLASHED BROWNS, the fourth book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. The protagonist, Robbie Jordan, is a no-nonsense, can-do type of young woman. Not only is she a great chef at her restaurant, Pans ‘N Pancakes, in South Lick, Indiana, but she is also a skilled carpenter. Robbie has a keen intelligence, solving the hardest crossword puzzles (in ink, no less!) and creates her own crossword puzzles when trying to figure out murder mysteries. I’ll be honest here, the ability to do crossword puzzles completely eludes me and I greatly admire anyone who can get even a few answers on the easiest of puzzles! When I “retired” from a day job many years ago, I read that doing crossword puzzles keeps your mind sharp. I tried a few in the newspaper and quickly gave up. Then I came across the book Crossword Puzzles for Dummies… I had to use the answers in the back more than solving any puzzles on my own so I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t my cup of tea so to speak. Anyway, this is about Robbie and not me… Robbie is an admirable character who cares for not only her friends but the townspeople and visitors alike and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her with each book. The town of South Lick is preparing for the fifth annual National Maple Syrup Festival and Robbie is gearing up by creating maple themed dishes. The fact that Indiana has forests of maple trees and produces maple syrup was news to me and I enjoyed doing a bit of research on the subject. (Here is the link if you’re curious: Indiana Department of Natural Resources)
When a visiting professor is found murdered after arguing with Robbie’s assistant’s father, Robbie knows she needs to get involved. Even when the family appears to be hiding something and clearly does not want her help, Robbie is driven to find the truth. She feels a compelling urge to protect her town especially when it appears the local law enforcement is on the wrong track. I love how the community rallies behind each other, pitching in to help each other no matter what. The local colloquialisms are quaint and adds to the charm of both the characters and the setting. Ms. Day captures the essence of a small mid-west farming community perfectly, and I could see and experience it all as I read. There are plenty of viable suspects provided to keep you guessing and a suspenseful, dangerous climax wraps the story up for an exciting ending.
Robbie, being such a great cook, serves up lots of delectable dishes at Pans ‘N Pancakes, often with an ethnic culinary theme involved. She creates Chocolate Almond Biscotti for her Italian day and fortunately for the reader, the author includes several recipes at the back of the book including the biscotti. There are so many reasons I love biscotti and this recipe is no exception: It’s sturdy and packages up extremely well, so it’s perfect for gift giving; you don’t have to eat it within a day or two of baking since it stores well in an airtight container; it adds to the enjoyment of a cup of coffee or tea on a chilly morning! I loved the combination of chocolate with the added crunch of almonds while the drizzle of chocolate was pure bliss. Buona mangiata!
Amazon Synopsis
For country-store owner Robbie Jordan, the National Maple Syrup Festival is a sweet escape from late-winter in South Lick, Indiana—until murder saps the life out of the celebration . . .
As Robbie arranges a breakfast-themed cook-off at Pans ‘N Pancakes, visitors pour into Brown County for the annual maple extravaganza. Unfortunately, that includes Professor Connolly, a know-it-all academic from Boston who makes enemies everywhere he goes—and this time, bad manners prove deadly. Soon after clashing with several scientists at a maple tree panel, the professor is found dead outside a sugar shack, stabbed to death by a local restaurateur’s knife. When an innocent woman gets dragged into the investigation and a biologist mysteriously disappears, Robbie drops her winning maple biscuits to search for answers. But can she help police crack the case before another victim is caught in a sticky situation with a killer?
A special thanks to Maddie Day for providing one winner with a signed copy of BISCUITS AND SLASHED BROWNS! Contest ends Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
- 1-1/2 cups sliced almonds, toasted and divided
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 2/3 cup cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips optional
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips optional
- 2 teaspoons shortening optional
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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Lightly grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
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Place 3/4 cup of toasted almonds in a food processor and pulse until ground.
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Beat butter in large bowl for 30 seconds, then add sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; beat until combined.
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Beat in eggs and almond extract.
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Beat in as much of the flour as you can with mixer.
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By hand, stir in remaining flour, the ground almonds and the remaining 3/4 cup of sliced almonds.
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On pieces of wax paper, shape dough into two 14 inch long rolls.
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Place rolls on prepared cookie sheet at least 5 inches apart, flatten slightly.
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Bake 25-30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near centers comes out clean.
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Cool on cookie sheet for 1 hour.
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Cut each roll diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices.
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Place slices, cut sides down, on ungreased cookie sheets (or cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper).
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Bake 8 minutes.
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Turn slices; bake 7 to 9 minutes more or until cookies are dry and begin to crisp (do not overbake).
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Remove from cookie sheets to wire racks.
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Cool completely.
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If desired, to make glaze or drizzle, place semi sweet chips and white chips in separate small microwave safe bowls.
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Add 1 teaspoon of shortening to each bowl.
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Microwave on high for 45 seconds, stirring once; stir. If necessary, microwave an additional 15 seconds or until chips are melted and mixtures are smooth when stirred.
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Dip biscotti into mixtures or drizzle over tops.
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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Another new-to-me author! Thanks, Kim for the review of this book and the recipe. I’ve never made biscotti. I now see I must try this one!
I always like finding out more about a subject, like your research into Indiana and maple trees!
And yes, I like crossword puzzles!
Thanks for posting my recipe, Kim!
It’s always a pleasure hosting your terrific books and delicious recipes on my blog! Thanks for sharing!
This series is one of my favorite!! Cozy mysteries with food and pets, my #1 choice!!!!!!!!
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Terrible at crosswords
Edith Maxwell aka Maddie Day is one of my favorite authors. Her mid-wife series is such an attention holder. Yes I do enjoy crosswords. Not sure I can say I enjoy the hard ones but I do love a slight challenge when working on one. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for recipe. Looks great. Looking forward to reading another book
Looking forward to reading another of your books
The chocolate biscotti looks so good. I’ve already added Biscuits with Slashed Browns to my TBR list. Congrats on the new book release.
I’ve done crossword puzzles in the past. They never really interested me so I didn’t give them any real thought. Then my wife would take 30 seconds and finish up.
I love crosswords! There are a few of us that team up at work and try to finish it each day on our breaks and at lunch. It’s really fun! I’m looking forward to this read! Thanks for the chance to win.
I do a daily crossword puzzle. I am not so good with the very challenging ones but I will try them. I get the occasional word filled in. I won’t stress over them, though.
I love crossword puzzles although I haven’t done one in awhile. I like them challenging but not impossible, I like them to keep my word knowledge fine tuned.
My mother liked crossword puzzles. She knew I didn’t, but would suddenly ask, “What’s a 5 letter word for ____?” Without realizing what I was doing, I’d begin racking my brain for the answer. Then I’d catch myself and tell her to leave me alone.
I often do crossword puzzles but must admit not as many as I did before FB
I do the crossword puzzles in People Magazine and Women’s World.
I LOVE this series! I have been to Brown County so I can “see” the area.
Word puzzles yes but not crosswords.
I’m not a fan of crossword puzzles. I prefer word games and Sudoku. The recipe looks delish and the book sounds really good.
My husband is the crossword person in our house, I’m not good at them at all.
I like the word search puzzles. Than you for a change to win a signed copy of Biscuits and Slashed Browns.
I occasionally do crossword puzzles.
I don’t do many crossword puzzles.
I’m not too good at crossword puzzles, especially the hard ones.
I do love crosswords but I’m a pencil kind of gal. Hubby does his in ink and does the more complicated ones than me.
Love them. Get the variety crossword puzzle books regularly. I use the bus for transpo & carry a novel & crossword book with me everywhere
Thank you for the recipe. I am looking forward to reading this book! Thank you for this opportunity!
I am a fan of crosswords!! and an even bigger fan of the Maddie Day series!! thank you for the chance!
I do like crossword puzzles but not the Daily Telegraph Cryptic Crosswords. I just don’t get those!
I like crossword puzzles a lot, as long as they’re not so hard that I can’t ever solve them.
Sounds like great cozy mystery.
i like crossword puzzles, although I don’t do them a lot
Thanks for the giveaway. I’m not good with crossword puzzles but I try
I’ll do crossword puzzles every once in awhile, but I wouldn’t consider myself a fan.
Oh I am not good at crosswords at all. Wish I could figure them out tho lol
not very good at Crosswords so don’t enjoy the challenging ones.
i LOVE collecting crossword puzzle books. grew up watching my grandmother do them.
I honestly haven’t done a crossword puzzle in a few years, but now I sort of want to again <3.
I’m not very good at doing crossword puzzles but I will try sometimes. I do have books with crossword puzzles in them I wouldn’t consider myself a fan. I don’t like to even try the ones in the New York Times.
I’m awful with crossword puzzles, but I do enjoy them from time to time. Thanks for the awesome review, recipe, and giveaway! Best of luck everyone – this looks like a perfect book for a cozy winter evening!
I love crossword puzzles. My father was a great fan.
I do easy crossword puzzles, so no challenges.
Always love the recipes, although I am not the best cook, I am not the worst either.
“Are you a fan of crossword puzzles? If so, do you enjoy the really challenging ones?” I like crosswords OK, but I don’t concentrate on the hardest ones.
I love crossword puzzles. I actually love all kinds of word puzzles. It keeps my brain sharp! 😉
No and no. I like word search!
First—-congratulations to Edith/Maddie.
Great blog post and interview as always, Kim.
My husband does one or more crossword puzzles a day to keep his mind sharp as he says.
I have never been much of a crossword person. I might sometimes try my hand, but overall I do not like crossword puzzles. Never have. My grandmother liked them, and did well on them. And I had a high school friend who created crossword puzzles – and had them published.