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THE DIVA COOKS UP A STORM by Krista Davis is the newest release in the Domestic Diva Mystery series and one that I, and so many fans, have been long waiting for with great anticipation! Sophie Winston, event planner, is a delightful protagonist and dare I admit it, could be one of my role models! Sophie’s attention to detail and style is both elegant and casual at the same time. She has no problem whipping up amazing meals for last-minute drop-in guests and serving them on thoughtfully-chosen plates and linens. That attention to detail is what helps her solve murder mysteries. She also has a generous, caring heart which is exhibited when she befriends the young widow of the murder victim. Most of the town shuns the young woman because she was that “other woman” who broke up a marriage and even suspect her of being the murderer. Yet Sophie manages to see below the surface and uncover the truth. I also love how the author starts each chapter with an advice column. It gives insight into the characters via their answers.
The wonderful characters are what draws readers in but it’s the well-developed plot that keeps us turning pages. The action starts right from the very beginning: ‘killer’ bees swarming and attacking a man (enjoyed the facts provided about bees!); a husband worried about being poisoned; a pending summer hurricane; and even an underground dinner (sounds like fun!). Ms. Davis effortlessly weaves the story together which kept me turning pages late into the night. The exciting conclusion wove each piece of the story together into one satisfying read!
With all the entertaining Sophie does, she’s always preparing dishes to share. Fortunately, Ms. Davis provides several mouth-watering recipes at the back of the book. I was drawn to the Chocolate Truffle Tart with Strawberries… pure nirvana! And it’s such an elegant dessert to serve which makes me feel like I’m channeling Sophie. A flaky, buttery crust provides the base for a decadently, rich Chocolate Truffle Tart that is garnished with juicy, red strawberries and sweetened whipped cream. Chocolate and strawberries are the perfect combination to impress your family and friends!
Amazon Synopsis
When a trendy, underground dinner club leaves some guests six-feet-under the table, entertaining professional and amateur sleuth Sophie Winston hopes she has all the right ingredients to put a murderer on ice in New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis’s new Domestic Diva mystery . . .
Domestic diva Sophie Winston can whip up an elaborate event in her sleep, but as the hippest hostess she rarely gets to enjoy the full guest treatment. Which is why her best friend Nina Reid Norwood loops her in to the latest culinary craze: a pop-up gourmet dinner party. The celebrity chef, the epicurean menu, and the high-profile attendees are all a surprise, turning the decadent dining experience into the hottest ticket in Old Town. But Sophie’s just pleased as punch that she finally has an opportunity to join her fellow foodies in some fun.
The posh party proves to be a recipe for disaster when Hollis Haberman sours spirits by bringing his own hot new dish—his young trophy wife. With Hollis’s son and ex-wife in attendance, there may be more heat at the table than in the kitchen. But by aperitifs, Sophie discovers Hollis swallowing his last bits of air, and she must scramble to stop a killer before the swanky supper becomes anyone else’s last meal.
A special thanks to Krista Davis for providing a winner with a print copy of THE DIVA COOKS UP A STORM! Contest is limited to U.S. residents only and ends Tuesday, June 5, 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!)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3/8 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup very cold water
- 1-1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
- 12 ounces 55% to 60% semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- or 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips & 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1-1/2 pounds small strawberries
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
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Place flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor and pulse about four times to combine.
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While running the food processor, pour cooled melted butter into the mixture slowly. Pulse several times.
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Add cold water while running. Pulse until it sticks together in small bits. Remove from food processor and press into an ungreased tart pan.
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Bake 18 - 20 minutes until it begins to pull away from the edge and is a light golden color.
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Heat the cream until very hot but do not bring to a boil.
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Add the chopped chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted.
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Pour in the vanilla and stir to mix.
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Pour chocolate mixture into the prepared tart pan. Set aside until cool and then refrigerate to set.
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Wash and hull strawberries. Cut in half lengthwise. Place on top of the set chocolate tart in a pleasing pattern.
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Beat the cream. When it begins to take shape, add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until fairly stiff.
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Pipe decoratively around the top edge of the tart. Place the rest of the whipped cream in a bowl and pass it when you serve the tart.
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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I like to serve my guests a dish I make which contains pineapple, mandarin oranges, extra sharp cheddar cheese, flour, sugar, Ritz crackers, and butter. This dish goes great with ham or really any other meat.
I enjoy serving desserts, especially my 3 inch tall apple pie and rum cake
I am so glad it is strawberry season! That tart looks so good!
Yes. My guests love creole shrimp and sausage.
Yes. My guests love creole shrimp and sausage.
No not really.
I like serving guests cookies.
I like serving cookies or cake or ice cream .
Stir fry chicken and vegetables
Steak or Turkey
I love serving my squash recipe during the summer.
I hosted a BBQ for 20 after traveling 700 miles to go to a wedding. The BBQ was the easy part!
I love to make and serve lemon apricot cake. It was my dad’s favorite and it always makes me think of him.
I love making Oreo dessert for get togethers, warm weather or cold it’s always a hit. Excited to have a chance to win this book!
I love to serve my guest lots of goodies from the kitchen. With summer fast approaching and the heat arriving way ahead of it, if I were serving guest today I’d probably do a BBQ. Hubby does an awesome smoked shoulder to make pulled pork sandwiches with. Add to that my baked beans, potato salad and my Mom’s great recipe for slaw and lots of ice tea would make a fabulous supper. Then after that settles some I’d bring out dessert of my Three Day Coconut Cake with fresh berries. Love this cake because literally you make it three days minimum before you can eat it which leaves time closer to guest arrivals to tend to other things and it’s absolutely delicious. Plus the longer it sets the better it gets so you don’t have to worry about it drying out. Never had that problem cause once I cut into it, it seems to disappear. Sometimes I fix some homemade ice cream to go with it as well.
pineapple cake
I love making chicken and dumplings for guests. It’s also a favorite of my husband’s. Congratulations on the new release!
HAPPY to see this series again!!!
I like making a “shortcut” ice cream cake in the summer…made with ice cream sandwiches, hot fudge, crushed oreos, and whipped cream. So good!
I don’t have guests over enough to make a special dish.
Tropical cheesecake. I usually make it without a crust.
During the holidays, I make Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake, and the rest of the time Chocolate Dr. Pepper Cake ~
Sticky Toffee Pudding is always a hit at our house. I love serving it warm with vanilla ice cream.
I just showed this recipe on Mystery Lover Kitchen to my husband. We both agree that it is (as they say in Maine) wicked good!
I can’t say that I have a favorite dessert dish that I serve. Dinner I like to serve pork and spaetzli, appetizer or something to munch on either black bean salsa or artichoke dip.
Raspberry cake is my favorite to make.
I like to serve strawberry shortcake this time of year.
The dish I like to serve to guests is my homemade caramel corn. It is a great snack and gets rave reviews each time I make it!
I prefer making appetizers!
I’m big on making desserts!
Love desserts. Especially pie
Everyone loves my devil eggs. Thank you for a chance to win a print copy of The Diva Cooks Up A Storm.
I love to bake homemade dinner rolls from scratch!! They are so good and easy!!!! Am so happy there is a new edition to the Diva series!!!!!!!!
Depending on the time of year, I like to serve tomato salad (from the garden) in the summer.
I make rum cake in the winter, and ice box pies in the warm weather.
Thanks for the opportunity.
“Do you have a particular dish that you like serving to guests?” Potato chips! They never eat just one!
With a small apartment, I don’t do much entertaining in our home. I enjoy making different seasonal desserts. Thanks for delicious recipe and a chance to win!
I love to bake so it’s going to be a dessert of some kind that I would serve. My favorite brownies, red velvet cake, or almond joy cake would usually be one of the choices.
When we have a family celebration we very often do fondue for the whole meal. We do a cheese fondue first and the grandkids love dipping bread and raw veggies. Then we move to the hot oil cooking chicken and beef along with mushrooms. I also have a separate pot of oil for the vegetarians with their vegetables. Then for dessert we do a chocolate fondue and dip pineapple, strawberries, marshmallows and Angel cake as well as other fruit and cakes and everyone just adores this meal. It’s a great way for family to chat and interact together. I have also done a fondue of shrimp, scallops, etc. for those who don’t want meat. All are great.
I love to prepare homemade spaghetti and meatballs for anytime we have company. It’s something most people enjoy and
you can make a huge quantity and not be afraid you will run out.
I like to make a pound cake.
I make a quick five layered appetizer that everyone always asks for
My son is better at baking than me. I’m his personal tester. We have a Saturday Farmer’s Market near my home. Good place to get fresh strawberries.
I enjoy serving my chicken cutlets! I use my mom’s recipe.
Whenever we have a family get together it always seems like our branch is on dessert duty. No-bake cookies, pies, rice krispie treats, sour cream cakes, etc. There may be another dish or two brought, but it always seems to come down to the desserts for us. Thanks for the chance to win.
I don’t have a name for the dish, but take puff pastry sheet – roll out so it’s thin, spread thin layer of goat cheese, layer with thin sliced ham, asparagus and swiss, then roll up tight and bake
I like serving spaghetti! I also like to bake all kinds of desserts!
I love to bake so dessert is my thing. Not one in particular, I like to try new ones.
My husband makes a delicious lasagna from scratch, and he love to whip up different flavors of waffles.
I don’t have a lot of guests over. Cookies usually suffice.
I am not a good cook, so they have to settle for chips and dip or store bought cookies
This recipe looks great and ty for the giveaway. Cherries in the snow is a recipe that guests always love.
No not really
I love to serve my pistachio torte. It goes down so easy. Thank you for the chance.
I don’t have a special dish, I do like to serve fresh garden vegetables when they’re in season.