Back in October when I attended the Ladies of Intrigue conference in Huntington Beach, I had the pleasure of listening to a panel discussion that included author Linda O. Johnston. Later that day I had the opportunity to meet her and talk a bit about her books. Linda writes a couple of series but the book that caught my attention was TO CATCH A TREAT from her Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series. First off, I loved the play on the title since To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant is one of my favorite classic movies. Next, the adorable cover with the darling dogs and delectable showcase of goodies invited me in. And then as I began reading, the well crafted plot with the interesting and well-developed characters kept my attention as I turned the pages.
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The protagonist, Carrie Kennersly, is endearing with her close relationship to her brother. She is very protective and has become almost a mother to him after their parents divorced and went on to create new families. Carrie also has a soft heart when it comes to animals, working both as a vet technician in addition to owning a bakery that caters to pets (and humans too). The author weaves information into the story about pet rescue shelters with a plea to help find forever homes for these animals…which adds to the appeal of the book. The setting of Knobcone, California is a delightful, beautiful place. The descriptions of the mountains and lake have me curious if the setting was based on Big Bear, a mountainous community not too far from where I live and a location I have visited often. Even if not, it was still fun to imagine it as that location.
Since Carrie Kennersly owns two bakeries, one for pets and one for humans, it’s a natural that the author includes recipes for each at the back of the book. All the recipes sound delicious, both for myself and for our grandpuppy. A special thank you to Linda for allowing me to share the recipe for LA Lime Pie. Using three pantry/refrigerator staples for the filling, which is poured into a prepared graham cracker crust, this dessert is super quick and easy to make. However, the resulting creamy, custard-like sweet-tart filling tastes like it could be a labor intensive dessert and is oh so yummy! While it’s not a traditional holiday dessert, the cool, refreshing flavor is a nice change from heavily spiced fare and I know that LA Lime Pie will be highly requested in my family throughout the year.
Amazon Synopsis
Carrie Kennersly, veterinary technician and owner of the Barkery and Biscuits bake shop, agrees to a day of hiking with her brother Neal—mostly because she wants to meet and critique his latest romantic interest, Janelle Blaystone. But instead of judging her, Carrie feels only sympathy for Janelle, whose beloved black Labrador, Go, was recently dognapped.
Janelle thinks the culprit is Ada Arnist, a wealthy homeowner spotted at the dog park where Go was stolen. Soon after Janelle confronts Ada, though, the woman is found dead. With Janelle and Neal on the suspect list, Carrie must solve the mystery before the police bark up the wrong tree.
I am happy to be able to provide an autographed copy of TO CATCH A TREAT for one lucky winner! Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Thursday, December 22, 2016 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!)
Ingredients
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup, or a little more, lime juice, preferably fresh
- 1 9-inch prepared graham cracker pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
- Combine the condensed milk, egg yolks, and lime juice, and blend until smooth.
- Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust and bake for 8 - 10 minutes.
- Let the pie stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before refrigerating.
- Chill completely.
- You can put whipped cream on it, if you like, before serving.
- Also, you can garnish it with lime slices.
- If you want to make your own graham cracker crust mix 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (gluten-free is fine) with 1/4 cup sugar and 5 tablespoons melted butter. Pat into a 9-inch pie plate and chill for 30 minutes before adding the filling.
- If you are concerned about consuming under-cooked eggs in the filling, bake the pie 15 - 18 minutes until the filling reaches 160 degrees (F).
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Looks really yummy. Will have to try this one too. 🙂
My dog gets more treats and presents than anyone else in our family, children included.
I never baked a treat for any of my critters but my much loved aunt who I had to share with her dogs, always did. Aunt Jean always did a special birthday cake for them . She did wonderful things for me first puppy, first grownup dress and shoes,lipstick and she talked my mom into letting shave my legs. She never baked me a cake
I have made homemade treats for my friends dogs and grandoggies and I have made treats for my kitties. Love this series.
I’ve never baked any special treats for my fur kids—but I like to find special ones to buy for them. That pie recipe looks so easy that even I can try it!!
This pie looks great. Another thing that appeals to me is that it has just a few ingredients. I’m going to have to make this! The book looks good and I’m going to have to start following Linda. Thanks for the chance to be entered in this great giveaway!
I love anything lemon or lime. I will definitely try this and I’m sure it will be delicious.
Thank You!
I buy my cats treats, but I have never tried to make any for them. The pie recipe sounds great and your book would be a real treat for me. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
I buy dog treats all the time. One of my little yorkies has to have medicine in her eyes and she’s fine with that as long as she gets her treat afterward. Thanks!
That pie seems awfully easy…and my mom loves lemon and lime yummies. Maybe a new year’s treat. The book sounds fun too! I believe it’s already on my goodreads list.
Unfortunately, I don’t have pets. Away too much
This year for Christmas my kids want to make dog bisciuits for their Aunt and Uncle’s dog. I have never made them before so I have to get a recipe quick because we only have 6 hours to bake those, sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms and make chocolate truffles.
I have made treats for my dogs but not for a while now since my oven isn’t that reliable. I do buy them special organic or locally made treats when I find them.
The above recipe looks great. Can’t wait to make it for my hubby since he loves lime.
Thanks for the chance to win. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.
When we had our basset hound we would buy her special treats but I never made anything for her. The LA Lime pie recipe does sound very tempting. Thanks for the giveaway and the recipe. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
i buy czt treats and recently got a whole canister of them containing cat nip. we almost have to keep these Temptatiins under lock as she adores thbem and plays sleuth now trying to fin them.
Sorry for all my typos. i have cataracts plus the sun was on my screen. please excuse.
I don’t have any furry friends of my own, but my daughter & granddaughter do. But no, I don’t bake goodies for the fur babies – or the humans. lol
The closest I come to cooking for my girl is to soften in the microwave, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes. I also give her pears, apples, bananas. Sometimes I will mash the banana, dice an apple or pear, mix with a little egg, flour, and carob powder and bake until set. And “accidentally” drop on the floor for her to ‘find’. I put it on a plate she eyes it, looks at me as if to say “You for real?” don’t ask me! I have no idea what she’s thinking. So “accidents” do happen. Carob is a chocolate substitute that is safe for our doggies.
I don’t have a current “furry friend,” but when I did I always bought treats…special, high-end, organic, or just plain off the shelf. It was a while back, before too many of the ‘fads’ were popular. OOOh, I love the LA Lime Pie.
Oh my this recipe for l a lime pie looks wonderful I will definitely have to try it
my furbabies love when i cut up a sweet potato like french fries and bake them on low in the oven…..they love them!!
Love Key Lime Pie! But I don’t cook or bake anything for our kitties.
I buy treats for my dog Louie. He likes the beef sticks. He is always waiting for his treat.
I have bought special dog treats for my baby girls and I have baked them some bone shaped bone treats. I even bought a dog bone shaped cookie cutter. Sometimes I cook them a plain chicken breast too. They seem to be happy dogs. LOL
I am going to try this recie fly my mother in laws dogs!!!
I have never made any treats for my fur babies, but I do buy cat treats for my cat and dog treats for our neighbor’s dog.
Lovely! West Coast Key lime pie!
Some ground nuts in the crust are a treat.
Treats for my cats? If they aren’t eating and need tempting we try almost anything.
Oh goodness our furry friends are our family since our kids are grown and live in Ca. So happy to have 2 chihauhaus that love to be spoiled and they spoil me a lot as they know sitting on my lap while i read i can read a lot faster and better. The ourside furry ones gets treats and hot dinners just like the inside ones they are cats that keep making babies so we make a cat house that is their Christmas present and it a 2 story with rugs and everythuing a plave to keep their food warm. We just love living out here in a rural area.where we have everything coming thru.
The recipe looks GREAT! Merry Christmas! And I adore this series.
I don’t bake any special treats for my dogs but I’m sure they wish I would.
I buy special treats for my fur babies. Loved the blog! Linda O Johnston is a fav writer of mine! ❤?❤?????❤?❤
I really need to try out this recipe. It sounds amazing.
I did when I had a quadruped. 🙂
Yes, from the books! They love them!
Yes, I do. He loves to have treats with the rest of us, so when I bake special cookies I sometimes bake a batch for our Pug Pep.
Yum! the pie sounds good and easy!
off to put graham crackers on my grocery list!
My pup Citrine loves lemon cookies, i wonder if she’d like lime pie?
No special treats. But fixed food when one of them would be on a special diet.
2 furry little guinea pigs, Pinky and Taffy! We love them and they will be getting all sorts of great treats this year!!
I don’t make treats, but buy the special dental ones for my cats (I have 4, one is on a special diet).
weeee! the book arrived today!!!! thanks!