It’s always a pleasure revisiting the town of Cranberry Cove from Peg Cochran’s Cranberry Cove Mystery series! The newest release, DEAD AND BERRIED grabbed my attention from the very first page with its tightly written riveting plot and colorful characters. The heavily Dutch populated town of Cranberry Cove is preparing for Vlaggetjesdag Celebration…Netherland’s Flag Day. I enjoyed the tidbits of information the author provides about Dutch food and customs, along with how they celebrate their holiday. The setting of the Sassamanash Cranberry Farm is eye-opening. The author’s descriptions had me feeling like I was right there. I loved the words she used to paint the picture of seeing the cranberries in bloom, with their delicate pink blossoms. It makes me want to see them for myself! She also brings to life the hard work being a cranberry farmer. The reader learns, right along with protagonist Monica Albertson, some of the things required to produce a successful crop, such as renting bees to pollinate. Peg weaves into the story the plight of the Honeybee due to pesticides, loss of habitats, disease and climate change.
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When another murder happens on Sassamansh Farm, the cranberry farm Monica Albertson’s brother owns, Monica’s determination to find the truth is put to the test. Especially when her employee’s husband, beekeeper Rick becomes the suspect. The victim, Lori, was Rick’s assistant, and as Monica starts asking questions around town, she finds that Lori had made a lot of enemies, including her own boss. There are plenty of suspects and I didn’t see the surprising, suspenseful ending coming! There are also subplots that Monica finds herself involved in. I had to chuckle out loud when she’s horrified to find out the town has a betting pool going on when she’s going to get engaged. But that’s part of the charm of a small town setting…everyone knows everyone else’s business. The author also touches on the heartbreaking situation of elderly people, especially those with dementia, being taken advantage of. This subplot was artfully woven into the plot while bringing to light something that happens much more frequently than we think.
I love browsing through the many cranberry recipes Peg Cochran includes at the back of the book. I want to try them all! In the end I chose to make Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies… an amazing combination of flavors and textures! Semisweet chocolate enhances ruby red tart cranberries, while the crunch of walnuts rounds out the texture of the soft and chewy cookies. I sent a large container of these cookies with my husband and his friends while on a golf trip. He said they disappeared in record time, even though we both thought I had sent more than enough! I’ll be making these again, soon!
Amazon Synopsis
It’s June in Cranberry Cove and Monica Albertson’s plan to sell cranberry relish to chain stores is taking off. The cranberry bogs are in bloom, and local beekeeper Rick Taylor and his assistant Lori Wenk are bringing in bees to pollinate the blossoms. When a fatal prick fells Lori, the buzz is that Rick is to blame.
In trying to clear her friend’s name, Monica discovers that more than a few people in Cranberry Cove have felt the power of Lori’s venom, and it looks as if this time she may have agitated the hive a bit too much. With the fate of the farm on the line, Monica must get to the bottom of the crime before another victim gets stung.
A huge thank you to Peg Cochran for providing a signed copy of DEAD AND BERRIED for one winner. Contest ends Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. 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!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 1-1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons hot water
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chunks
- 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Don't preheat oven yet as dough needs to chill first.
- Cream softened butter, white sugar and brown sugar until light and smooth.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, along with vanilla extract.
- Dissolve baking soda in hot water and add to batter along with salt.
- Mix in flour and cream of tartar.
- Stir in chocolate chunks, cranberries and walnuts.
- Chill batter for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).
- Drop by tablespoon onto cookie sheet leaving room for cookies to expand.
- Bake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
- Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes then remove and finish cooling on a wire rack.
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I was provided an advanced copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have seen where cranberry bogs are, but never in bloom. I bet the chocolate with tart cranberry made a great cookie! Thanks!
No, I’ve never seen a cranberry bog in bloom.
Thank you for hosting Peg Cochran and her latest book on your blog. I’m all in it to try this recipe too.
Cranberry and mysteries!!! Love the combo!!!!!
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
I’ve never seen a bog in person. But pictures of them are great!
I have never seen cranberry bogs in bloom. Thanks for this very generous giveaway.
I’ve seen cranberry bogs, but only when they were full of fruit, not blooms.
no I have never seen cranberry bogs. Thanks for the chance.
I’ve never seen a cranberry bog. I think they have some south of where I live but I’ve not noticed them when we drive that way. Thanks for the yummy recipe. I’m on a cranberry kick these days. We found a salad mix with them in it and these cookies just sound too perfect to go with that too.
I have never seen a cranberry bog! I sure love cranberries in the jell form and a huge thank you for the recipe i will pass to my husband as this one he should love to make. He is the major cook in the family as i am disabled and fingers are deformed so it is hard to cook but i try to help. Thank you for coming to the site and offering a print book!
I’ve never seen cranberry blog in bloom but love cranberries.. I eat them everyday. This cookie recipe sounds wonderful
Never, but I would love to.
No, I’ve never seen cranberry bogs in bloom. I think it’d be fun to though.
I have never seen cranberry bogs but it is on my Wish List!
No, I’ve never seen a cranberry bog in bloom, I would like to some time.
I have not seen cranberry bogs but I think it would be a very interesting learning experience
No, unfortunately, I have never seen cranberry bogs in bloom before. I was born and raised in the city of Philadelphia. The closest I came to real fresh fruit, was from the little store that my grandparents owned on the street called the Italian Market.
I’ve never seen cranberry bogs in bloom, and it wasn’t until the commercials came out that I even understood how cranberries grow and are harvested. There are a weird little berry and not appreciated by me until I was an adult…now they are my favorite go-to juice not just for the flavor, but for the health benefits. Yeah! Cranberries!
I’ve never seen a cranberry bog, not even one that isn’t in bloom!
No I haven’t seen cranberry bogs in bloom. But thank you for a chance to win a print copy of Dead And Berried.
I have never seen a cranberry bog. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book.
Hi Kim! Nope, I’ve never seen a cranberry bog ‘cept on the Ocean Spray commercials on t.v..
Thanks for a chance to win Dead and Berried!
No, I’ve never seen a cranberry bog , but I absolutely love cranberries in any shape or form! Thanks for a chance to win!
I have never seen a cranberry bog or one in bloom.
I’ve never seen one. I’m in Wisconsin. Thank you
I’ve never seen a cranberry bog at all so definitely haven’t seen one in bloom. I need some of those cookies, yum!
I have never seen cranberry blogs in bloom, but I bet they are gorgeous! I love cranberries, especially the fresh ones. I pick up four to six bags of cranberries when they are in season & freeze them for the off season when I am craving cranberry nut bread or some other cranberry treat.
I never seen them in bloom! I love them, I drink cranberry juice all the time. Thanks for the recipe.
Penney
We have a few here in Oregon. A beekeeper a couple miles down the road had offered his bees a few years ago. Remember laughing with him about it. Was telling him how I learned about cats and cranberries. When I was a teen we had decided that that year we would make all the Christmas tree decorations by hand. So us 4 kids, and Mom, set about making paper chains. Stringing popcorn and cranberries. Making cookie candy canes and gingerbread men to hang. We happened to come down one morning to note that one of the string garlands of cranberries had been pulled off the tree and there were pieces of cranberries strewn from the tree to behind the couch. There we found out cat eating the cranberries. With help from our doxie who had also helped herself to some shelled nuts. Shells all over the place. Ginger really liked nuts. During the winter months Mom kept a bowl full of nuts, along with a nut cracker by the couch. We tried that bowl in several different positions. Ginger always managed to grab a few nuts. and we would find the shells, usually behind the couch.
I live in New England and I’ve traveled to the areas of MA where there are cranberry bogs. They are amazing when they are in bloom, so pretty.
I have never seen a cranberry bog except on the cranberry commercial. Interesting!
Wisconsin cranberry bogs are beautiful!
Cranberry bogs are beautiful!
We had a wild cranberry bog on our farm where I lived as a child. Those wild cranberries are even tastier than the ones we buy. Cute tiny white flowers,too.
I have had the pleasure when I was younger to see it; amazing.
I haven’t had a chance to see a cranberry bog in bloom but I love cranberries and these cookies sound delicious!
Thanks for sharing!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
no I have never seen cranberry bogs in bloom. thanks for the chance
I have never seen them at all! I live in the Deep South.
I have never seen a cranberry bogs in bloom
I’ve only seen the cranberry bogs while watching a video
I’ve never actually seen a cranberry bog, although I love cranberries.