This past weekend I had the chance to meet up with author Catherine Bruns while at the Malice Domestic conference in Maryland. She is just as delightful in person as she is on-line, and her personality shines through in her brand new release, FROSTED WITH REVENGE! This fourth book in her Cookies & Chance Mystery series had me laughing out loud one moment then gripping my tablet the next, on edge, waiting to see what was going to happen to Sally Muccio. Catherine also captures the angst brides can feel trying to appease their mothers with all the planning while trying to retain their own vision of what they want for their wedding. I’ve always loved Sally’s quirky parents and the author aptly describes them as “loud, proud, and march to the beat of their own drum.” But this time we see a different side to Sally’s mother and come to know her, along with Sally, on a deeper, emotional level. It adds to the appeal of the story.
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The murder plot has so many twists and turns, making the reader feel like they’re on a wicked roller coaster ride. Catherine builds on the initial shock with tension-filled scenes until I was dying to find out if Sally does make it to the church on time. Fortunately, sandwiched in between the tension are moments of humor thanks to Sally’s best friend, Josie, and Sally’s dad, Father Death blogger extraordinaire! Both of these characters bring support to Sally and add to the overall enjoyment of the book. Even though this is the fourth book in the series, it is easily read as a stand-alone…but if you haven’t read any of the proceeding books, you’re going to want to go back and catch up with this delightful series!
Owning a cookie shop, Sally is always baking up lots of yummy cookies that will have you drooling. Fortunately, Catherine provides several recipes at the back of the book. As soon as she mentioned that the traditional Middle Eastern Maamoul Cookies (reminiscent of Italian Wedding Cookies) were from an old family recipe handed down from her aunt, I knew I had to try them. Shortbread style dough is stuffed with dates and/or walnuts (both staples in my house) then formed in beautiful molds. Catherine has provided instructions for making these without using a mold, but I found an inexpensive sturdy plastic one on Amazon, so used that. However, the traditional molds are made with beautiful and intricately carved wood and I’ll have to admit, I had a hard time passing those beauties up. If I had a place to display the carved maamoul molds along with my carved springerle molds and rolling pins, I’d be one happy woman! But back to these delectable cookies… they were a bit time consuming to form, but once I started making them, the time flew by and I enjoyed the creativity of the process along with the gorgeous, delicious results!
Amazon Synopsis
Sally Muccio’s walk down the aisle might be her last. The some-time amateur sleuth and full-time bakery owner is finally marrying the man of her dreams. But during a last minute taste testing of their wedding cake, Sally and her fiancé are witnesses—and almost victims!—of a random shooting. At least they think it’s random, until an original fortune cookie message proves otherwise. Is someone after Sally? And why does the mysterious shooter want to ice the baker? Sal tries to proceed with caution, but when someone close to her is attacked, all bets are off. She’ll do whatever it takes to bring this monster to justice, even if it means sacrificing herself in the process. Can Sal make it to the church on time…and alive?
A huge thank you to Catherine Bruns for providing winner’s choice of print or e-book copy of FROSTED WITH REVENGE for one winner. Contest ends Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)
For a short time the e-book copy of FROSTED WITH REVENGE is on sale for $2.99. The author isn’t sure how long this special release price will last so grab the book while you can!
Ingredients
- 4-1/2 cups (21.3 ounces) all-purpose flour (scoop & level method of measuring)
- 1 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 8 ounces walnuts, finely chopped
- 6 ounces chopped dates (or whole seedless dates can be used instead)
- 1/2 jigger rye whiskey (approximately 3/4 ounce)
- 1/2 teaspoon rose water (or substitute vanilla or orange extract)
- Confectioner’s sugar
Instructions
- Beat 1/2 cup sugar and butter together.
- Add in egg, mixing well.
- Add flour a little bit at a time, until a stiff dough forms. I mixed in 3 cups of flour, then turned out onto a floured surface and kneaded additional flour in until dough was no longer overly sticky. You may not need to use the entire amount.
- In a separate bowl add nuts, 2 tablespoons of sugar, rose water, and rye whiskey.
- Coat your mold with flour to prevent sticking.
- Add dough, flatten it out in the mold, add a teaspoon of nuts or a date, (or a combination of them both) and close over with more dough.
- Coat your hand with flour to prevent sticking.
- Take a dough ball about the size of a walnut, flatten it slightly, and lay in it the palm of one hand.
- Take a date and flatten it slightly then lay it on top of the dough.
- Finally, take a smaller dough ball, about one inch in diameter, flatten it slightly, and place it on top of the date filling. (Basically the palm of your hand becomes the mold.)
- Gently press the dough on top into the dough on the bottom so the date filling is completely covered.
- Shape the cookie into a slightly flattened circle.
- Use a fork to make a decorative cross-hatch pattern on the top.
- Bake at 325°Fahrenehit for 20 to 25 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned around the edges and light on top.
- Cool for five minutes before dusting lightly with confectioner’s sugar.
- Makes about four to six dozen cookies, depending on size of mold.
- I love the combination of both walnuts and dates so mixed them together and used to stuff the cookies.
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I was provided an advanced copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Meeting up with Catherine at Malice Domestic 2017
An e-book copy would be fine. I do love a print copy but I have soooo many books lol. These cookies look amazing!
I like both. Ebooks and print. Right now I am collecting ebooks for a trip.
Love the recipe and that tea cup. Love that blue.
lady(dot)janel(at)hotmail(dot)com
Print, please. The cookies and book both look delicious!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I would prefer an e-book copy.
print. thanks for the chance
Great review of the book! I’m looking forward to trying this recipe (just have to Veganize it!) Btw… Print books are da Bomb Diggity!
Cheers-
Kelly Braun
I prefer a print copy. The recipe looks good & the story sounds interesting. Thank-you for the chance.
Print book, please. Love this series. Those cookies look delicious!
I would prefer a print copy. Those cookies sound wonderful—I love nuts and dates together.
Print copy please
I would prefer a print copy because I love the cover!
Have copied off the cookie recipe….they look so yummy!! I would love to win a print copy of your book. Thank you for the chance!
I would love a print copy.
I would like a print copy of the book.
The cookies look wonderful, and you make it sound so easy!!
Hard copy is preferred. Nice. Thoughtful. A lovely tribute to your Aunt. I will try this with all 3 ‘flavorings’. See which the family prefers. We are big on cookies here. They are easier to control portions with. That and cupcakes. But. cookies is preferred. I inherited several cookies molds from the mother of a friend. Her daughter wasn’t that big on cookies, so she gave them to me. For this recipe they are truly fitting.
Print book please. I can’t wait to read this series & try the cookies.
I am disabled so print is all i can do and thank you for offering it..I love cookies and these ones look so good with the powdered sugar on them yum. thank you for coming to our site and posting !
E-books are great. You can read them right away instead of waiting for the book to come in. They are easier to read because you can make the font bigger. And the biggest plus is I can have lots of books on my Kindke and not have to carry boojs around. But there is nothing like a signed copy from an author or the feel of a book as you turn the pages. Ok I like both.
jhdwayne(at)peoplepc(dot)com
I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about this book. I’d love to win a print copy! Thanks!
I would love a print copy of Catherine’s book. This series is entertaining and I have been hoping to get a copy of the
latest. Thanks for the chance. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ebooks are the best!
Ebooks are the best!
These cookies sound heavenly! I prefer print books. Thanks!
Wonderful recipe , the cookies look delicious! I prefer print books. Thank you!
I would love to have a print copy of Frosted With Revenge if it is signed. If not signed then would like to have a e-book copy. Thank you for the chance to win it.
I prefer a print copy. Cookies look amazing.
Print copy please!
These do sound tasty.
I read print as well as ebooks, but I prefer print.
By the way, you have an amazing collection of tea cups and tea pots. They are lovely and add a perfect touch to the pictures.
Thank you, Elizabeth! I’m lucky in that my family gifts me with so many lovely teacups and tea pots for birthdays and Christmas 🙂
Even though I have a Kindle, I still prefer print copies of books. There is something satisfying to me about reading a book and having it in my hands.
I prefer a print copy please, thanks for the giveaway!
I would prefer a Print copy, please. I like to read until I fall asleep at night and the print format holds up much better than the kindle if misses the nightstand. :-/
Print please great review can’t wait to read it. Thanks
Ebooks are fine, but I much prefer a print copy that I can hold in my hands. I love the smell of ink & paper.
I would love a print book as my first choice but would take either. 🙂
FROSTED WITH REVENGE sounds like an awesome book to read. The cookies look and sound to die for.
I prefer print and thanks for the chance!
An ebook would be great…not that I don’t still love print. Your cookies look delicious.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
i’d love a print copy!
I would love a print copy. Thank you for the chance!
OH those cookies look so yummy! You can send some along with an e-book 😉 😉
I still prefer a print copy but will read either.
Thank you !! Print please !
Looking forward to reading your latest book very much. I prefer print books but lately due to vision problems have been listening to books on CD which make reading so much h easier and enjoyable. But a print book works as I can wear head gear with a light and magnifer plus my glasses and I do get to read that way now. Where there is a will, there is a way for me. ? Thank you, Cynthia B.
I would appreciate a print copy. I just love the feel of the book in my hands. Also, I have to read ebooks on my phone, and it’s just too small. I am also now separated from my husband, and I took only want I could carry with me. Unfortunately, all of my books were left behind, so I am now trying to build my collection back up. Thanks for the chance ?
I love a book in the hand, so if I win, a print copy would be great! I enjoy Catherine’s books so much. Those cookies look delicious! I am a terrible baker, and I guarantee mine would never look like that, although maybe I could get the flavor right. Family recipes are the best.
I’m a print copy kind of girl, generally speaking, but either would be wonderful…or, you could just send me some cookies. They look beautiful!