Blueberry Lemon Bread

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MURDER AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL is the third book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah. I think this series just gets better and better with each book and this newest release captivated me. Throw in a lighthouse bakery, a blueberry festival being derailed by pranksters, a mysterious Viking boat containing a dead Viking, and a bedazzled “unicorn” goat, named Clara… stir it up, and you’re left with an entertaining, laugh-out-loud escapade that has protagonist Lindsey Bakewell up to her eyeballs in shenanigans. With witty dialog, the humor highlights the characters’ personalities, both human and animal alike. I especially enjoyed Clara, along with Lindsey’s Newfoundland dog, Wellington. They both stole each scene they were featured in. Another bonus is the close, caring relationships the core characters have with each other. And now that Lindsey’s parents are living in town, there’s another avenue to getting to know her and her family even better.

Of course, this is a murder mystery, although it takes place much later in the book than typical cozy mystery fashion. However, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story since there was so much going on to keep me entertained. Once the body is found and Lindsey begins investigating (after law enforcement states they’re not sure it’s murder or not), the plot kicks into high gear. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing and several twists that touched on an all too familiar heart wrenching reality for so many families. Ms. Hannah uses a sensitive touch with the inclusion in the story and with an ending I didn’t see coming, leaves the reader with thoughtful reflections.

Running a bakeshop plus being involved in the blueberry festival means there are SO many scrumptious mentions of food throughout the story. Luckily for the blueberry-loving reader, there are several recipes at the back of the book to try at home. I couldn’t wait to try the author’s recipe for Blueberry Lemon Bread with lemon glaze. I appreciated the author’s tip for keeping all the blueberries from sinking onto the bottom of the loaf pan when cooking. The lemon provides a refreshing contrast to the sweet bread and the plump juicy blueberries studded throughout keeps the bread tender and moist. This delectable bread is a summery treat for breakfast, snacks, or even dessert!

 

Blueberry Lemon Bread is a delectable tender and moist bread with plump juicy blueberries studded throughout and a sweet-tart lemony glaze. Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL.

 

Amazon Synopsis

After a career on Wall Street, Lindsey is making a different kind of dough in a pretty lakeside village, and the upcoming blueberry festival—including the pie-eating contest her bakery is hosting—is the highlight of the summer. But soon Beacon Harbor runs into a patch of trouble.

A local real estate agent gets pranked. A parade float gets pelted with water balloons. It’s all laughed off until the stunts start escalating—and looking more like sabotage. As the event turns into a debacle complete with rampaging goats, Lindsey’s sweetheart, a former SEAL, starts investigating. But the juicy mystery takes a bitter turn when a man—dressed up as a Viking—is found dead in a boat, and it’s no longer mischief but murder . . .

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Darci Hannah for providing a print copy of MURDER AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL. Contest ends August 3, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

Blueberry Lemon Bread is a delectable tender and moist bread with plump juicy blueberries studded throughout and a sweet-tart lemony glaze. Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL.

 

Print
Blueberry Lemon Bread

Makes one 9x5 loaf pan

Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for blueberries)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (for blueberries)
  • 1 tablespoon flour (for blueberries)
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract (optional, but it does add a nice punch!)
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
For the glaze:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons (or more) lemon juice
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Prepare 9x5 loaf pan by either greasing and flouring it, or lining it with parchment, whichever you prefer.

  2. Put blueberries in a small bowl and add 1 tablespoon of each lemon juice, sugar, and flour. Give a good toss and set aside.

  3. In medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

  4. In large mixing bowl, whisk sugar, and eggs until blended. Gradually whisk in melted butter, followed by the lemon juice, lemon zest, and lemon extract.

  5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix, alternating with the milk until well blended.

  6. Stir in half the blueberries to the batter and quickly pour into prepared loaf pan. Gently spread the rest of the blueberries on top of the batter (this will prevent them from sinking to the bottom) and place in the oven. Bake for 50 - 60 minutes or until done. Remove from the oven and cool for 30 minutes.

For the glaze:

  1. Whisk together powdered sugar, melted butter, and lemon juice. Pour glaze over cooled loaf and let sit until the glaze is set. Enjoy!

 

Blueberry Lemon Bread is a delectable tender and moist bread with plump juicy blueberries studded throughout and a sweet-tart lemony glaze. Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Blueberry Lemon Bread is a delectable tender and moist bread with plump juicy blueberries studded throughout and a sweet-tart lemony glaze. Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

Blueberry Lemon Bread is a delectable tender and moist bread with plump juicy blueberries studded throughout and a sweet-tart lemony glaze. Recipe shared with permission granted by Darci Hannah, author of MURDER AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL.

 

 

 

 

Candy Cane Cookies

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PEPPERMINT BARKED is the long anticipated sixth book in the Spice Shop Mysteries by Leslie Budewitz. With its festive cover, the reader is enticed into settling in, with a mug of hot cocoa, and enjoying the spirit of the holidays. The tempting descriptions of protagonist Pepper Reece’s Spice Shop and the surrounding shops in Seattle’s Pike Place Market delighted my senses. The author makes each scene come alive as the market gears up for the themed “A Dickens of a Christmas” celebration from decorations to costumed carolers to gaily wrapped packages. I especially love Pepper’s shop, with the fragrance of spices and the friendly, close-knit employees. Ms. Budewitz has done an admirable job in creating characters a reader can connect with and care about. It’s been a pleasure watching them change and grow over the course of the series

Except, everything’s not all sugar and spice for Pepper and her employees when a neighboring shop assistant is brutally attacked and left for dead. You can always count on Ms. Budewitz to create intricate and well-plotted mysteries, and Peppermint Barked is no exception. Not only are there suspects galore, but the reader is left to guess—just like Pepper—if the young woman was even the intended victim. This adds another layer to peel back in the quest to find the truth. As Pepper makes her way through the market talking to shop owners and picking up gossip, half-truths and secrets are discovered. Fitting the clues together will test the armchair detective’s skills and, as I headed toward the suspenseful conclusion, I found myself turning pages faster and faster. With a tidy wrap up of the plot threads running through the story, there’s a hint of future changes to come… and I can’t wait to find out what’s next!

Running a spice shop, Pepper immerses herself in food throughout the book, so be prepared to be hungry for Christmas goodies while you read. And, as usual, you can count on Ms. Budewitz sharing several mouthwatering recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try out. It was difficult to pick out just one to try but, if you’ve followed my blog for long, you’ll know I love cookies… especially Christmas cookies. And nothing is more festive than peppermint-flavored Candy Cane Cookies! The colorful twists of the peppermint and red cookie will add a delicious and jolly look to your holiday cookie platter, or use them to decorate your organic Christmas tree!

 

 

The colorful twists of the peppermint, and red Candy Cane cookies will add a delicious and jolly look to your holiday cookie platter! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of PEPPERMINT BARKED.

 

Amazon Synopsis

As the holiday season lights up Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market, Pepper Reece’s beloved Spice Shop is brimming with cinnamon, nutmeg, and shoppers eager to stuff their stockings. Add to the mix a tasty staff competition—a peppermint bark-off—along with Victorian costumes for this year’s Dickensian Christmas theme, and Pepper almost forgets to be nervous about meeting her fisherman boyfriend’s brother for the first time.

But when a young woman working in her friend Vinny’s wine shop is brutally assaulted, costumed revelers and holiday cheer are the last things on Pepper’s mind. Who would want to hurt Beth? Or were they looking for Vinny instead?

The vicious attack upsets everyone at Pike Place, but none more than Pepper’s own employee, Matt Kemp. At first, Pepper is baffled by his reaction, but his clandestine connection to Beth could hold the key to the assailant’s motive. Or perhaps it’s Vinny’s ex-wife who knows more than she’s letting on . . . and what about the mysterious top-hatted man with whom Pepper saw Beth arguing that morning?

As the secrets of the market come to light, long-held grudges, family ties, and hidden plans only further obscure the truth. Is it a ghost of the past rattling its chains, or a contemporary Scrooge with more earthly motives? As Pepper chases down a killer, someone is chasing her, and in the end, the storied market itself may hold the final, deadly clue.

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Leslie Budewitz for providing a print copy of PEPPERMINT BARKED. Contest ends July 27, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colorful twists of the peppermint, and red Candy Cane cookies will add a delicious and jolly look to your holiday cookie platter! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of PEPPERMINT BARKED.

 

Print
Candy Cane Cookies

Food and memory are closely intertwined, especially at the holidays. Stoic Matt gets a little weepy as he remembers making these with his mother, who hung a few on the tree--and pretended to be surprised when they disappeared!

Makes 4 dozen.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
Peppermint Glaze (optional)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons water
Instructions

  1. Using your mixer, beat the butter until softened. Add the powdered sugar and beat until fluffy.

  2. Add the egg, vanilla, and peppermint, and beat well.

  3. Add flour and salt and mix thoroughly.

  4. Divide dough in half and mix food coloring into one half. Shape each half into balls, cover, and chill about 30 minutes.

  5. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.

  6. Roll the plain dough, about a teaspoonful at a time, into a 4-inch rope. Repeat with the red dough. Place a plain and a red rope side by side and twist together, then pinch the ends to seal. Shape twisted ropes into canes and place 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

  7. Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until done; bottoms of the cookies will be lightly browned. Remove and cool and on a wire rack.

For the glaze:

  1. Mix the powdered sugar, peppermint, and enough water to make a think glaze; brush on cooled cookies.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes:

  1. Since I made these during the hot summer, I found the dough needed to be kept refrigerated and removed a bit at a time to work with. After forming the candy cane cookies and placing them on baking sheets, I chilled for ten minutes before baking as directed.

  2. I used scraps of the leftover cookie dough to marble together then formed candy cane cookies.

  3. The glaze adds another delicious layer of peppermint flavor, however it does partially cover up the vivid red color of the cookie. You can brush the underside of the cookies with the glaze and leave the tops intact, or pipe thickened glaze in decorative patterns on top of the cookie.

 

The colorful twists of the peppermint, and red Candy Cane cookies will add a delicious and jolly look to your holiday cookie platter! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of PEPPERMINT BARKED.

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

The colorful twists of the peppermint, and red Candy Cane cookies will add a delicious and jolly look to your holiday cookie platter! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of PEPPERMINT BARKED.

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

The colorful twists of the peppermint, and red Candy Cane cookies will add a delicious and jolly look to your holiday cookie platter! Recipe shared with permission granted by Leslie Budewitz, author of PEPPERMINT BARKED.

 

 

 

 

 

Spicy Cucumber Salad

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DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA is the first book in the brand new LA Night Market series by Jennifer J. Chow. There is so much that captivated me from the very start, from the surprising setting of Los Angeles, which Ms. Chow manages to make feel like a small community, to the food—oh my, the food!—to the protagonist’s family and culture, to the intriguing murder. With fascinating characters and action packed into the story, I couldn’t help but turn pages to find out what happened next. The protagonist, Yale Yee, is one of those characters who seem shy, withdrawn, and full of self-doubts in the beginning (what twenty-something-year-old eschews cell phones and social media and instead immerses herself in a failing bookstore and Jane Austen?). But, as the stakes mount, she finds the inner strength to overcome the obstacles that face her. I appreciated the character growth over the course of the book, especially when Yale is faced with her super successful, famous cousin, Celine. Charged with entertaining and then working with her cousin at a night market food stall representing her father’s restaurant, the theme of ‘family is everything’ is woven throughout, despite Yale’s misgivings.

The attention to cultural details in the book and to the well-plotted mystery makes the story flow. The reader is taken on a culinary journey as Yale tries to make sense of a murder after someone consumes her cousin’s bubble tea concoction. I greatly enjoyed how Yale uses food to entice (or perhaps coerce) potential suspects to reveal their secrets as she tries to prove her cousin’s innocence. Despite their polar opposite personalities, the two cousins work to find common ground and understanding in their quest to find the murderer. This adds a depth of emotion to the story and you can’t but hope that the tragedy will help the two cousins find lasting friendship and that future books in the series will continue to feature them both. The unique murder weapon was well thought out and added intrigue to the plot, making it difficult to guess the culprit from the myriad of suspects. With a hair-raising conclusion, the clues fell into place, along with a desire to find out what happens next to Yale and her family!

Did I mention the food? Not only does Ms. Chow showcase her Chinese cultural dishes but also touches on dishes from other ethnicities throughout the storyline. You’ll be drooling over all the descriptions and will leave you with the desire to take out your passport and book a culinary tour. There are a couple of recipes at the back of the book, one for bubble tea and the other for Spicy Cucumber Salad—both yummy! In the end, I decided to showcase the Spicy Cucumber Salad, which makes a great accompaniment to any roasted or sautéed meat entrée or whenever you want a refreshing way to showcase your bountiful garden harvest of cucumbers. I liked that it was easy to make and was also a step up from the typical garden salad fare often found at my dinner table, making for a nice presentation to whet your appetite.

 

Tangy and a touch of heat, Spicy Cucumber Salad makes a great accompaniment to any roasted or sautéed meat entrée or whenever you want a refreshing way to showcase your bountiful garden harvest of cucumbers. Recipe shared with permission granted by Jennifer J. Chow, author of DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA.

 

Amazon Synopsis

When Yale Yee discovers her cousin Celine is visiting from Hong Kong, she is obliged to play tour guide to a relative she hasn’t seen in twenty years. Not only that, but her father thinks it’s a wonderful idea for them to bond by running a food stall together at the Eastwood Village Night Market. Yale hasn’t cooked in years, and she hardly considers Celine’s career as a social media influencer as adequate experience, but because she’s just lost her job at her local bookstore, she feels she has no choice.

Yale and Celine serve small dishes and refreshing drinks, and while business is slow, it eventually picks up thanks to Celine’s surprisingly useful marketing ideas. They’re quite shocked that their bubble tea, in particular, is a hit—literally—when one of their customers turns up dead. Yale and Celine are prime suspects due to the gold flakes that Celine added to the sweet drink as a garnish. Though the two cousins are polar opposites in every way, they must work together to find out what really happened to the victim or the only thing they’ll be serving is time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Jennifer J. Chow and Berkley Publishing for providing a print copy of  DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA. Contest ends July 17, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tangy and a touch of heat, Spicy Cucumber Salad makes a great accompaniment to any roasted or sautéed meat entrée or whenever you want a refreshing way to showcase your bountiful garden harvest of cucumbers. Recipe shared with permission granted by Jennifer J. Chow, author of DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA.

 

Print
Spicy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
  • 6 Persian cucumbers (washed)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon black vinegar
  • 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili (I like to use Laoganma's Spicy Chili Crisp)
  • Salt to taste
Instructions

  1. Slice or use mandoline to cut cucumbers to approximately 1/4-inch thickness.

  2. Peel and mince cloves of garlic.

  3. Place cucumbers and garlic in a bowl.

  4. Add soy sauce, black vinegar, sesame oil, chili, and salt.

  5. Mix together and refrigerate for at least ten minutes before serving.

 

Tangy and a touch of heat, Spicy Cucumber Salad makes a great accompaniment to any roasted or sautéed meat entrée or whenever you want a refreshing way to showcase your bountiful garden harvest of cucumbers. Recipe shared with permission granted by Jennifer J. Chow, author of DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Tangy and a touch of heat, Spicy Cucumber Salad makes a great accompaniment to any roasted or sautéed meat entrée or whenever you want a refreshing way to showcase your bountiful garden harvest of cucumbers. Recipe shared with permission granted by Jennifer J. Chow, author of DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA.

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

 

Tangy and a touch of heat, Spicy Cucumber Salad makes a great accompaniment to any roasted or sautéed meat entrée or whenever you want a refreshing way to showcase your bountiful garden harvest of cucumbers. Recipe shared with permission granted by Jennifer J. Chow, author of DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA.

 

 

 

Darn Fine Blueberry Buckle

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MURDER IS NO PICNIC, the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series by Amy Pershing, is a delicious read with fun, engaging  characters! I’m always excited when I start a book and discover it has a holiday theme. In this newest release, the 4th of July is just around the corner and protagonist Samantha (Sam) Barnes is ready to delve into finding the perfect food to celebrate. As a Cape Cod food reporter, i.e. the Cape Cod Foodie, I greatly enjoyed how the author weaves Sam’s hunt for the very best blueberry buckle in the world with the murder of the woman who makes it. Except, authorities are calling it a tragic accident, but Sam is pretty certain there was foul play involved. As the pot is stirred to find suspects and the plot thickens as secrets are revealed, the police pounce on Sam’s boyfriend’s cousin. In an effort to prove his innocence, Sam steps up her investigation with the help of her close friends. Ms. Pershing writes a well-paced mystery and for those with sharp instincts, the clues will help you suss out the killer… or at least make you suspicious. I also loved how Sam and Detective Vivian Peters—Vivvie to her friends—have developed more of a friendship, as they bond over Sam giving the detective sailing lessons… which just might come in handy in the investigation.

In cozy mysteries, the mystery goes hand-in-hand with both characters and the setting, and Ms. Pershing has those in spades! With witty dialog and humor to lighten the scenes, Sam and her friends have great chemistry. Their get-togethers to talk over clues and suspects always include plenty of mouthwatering food. And, as in previous books, her adorable, goofy dog, Dioge, steals each and every scene. And who can resist the charm of Cape Cod? From the beaches, to the open water, to the dunes, to the weathered houses, the strong descriptions make it all come to life, making me want to visit, and since that’s not possible at the moment, makes me yearn for the next book in the series!

As the Cape Cod Foodie, Sam’s life revolves around food, all for the betterment of readers. Be prepared to be hungry as you read! Thankfully, the author includes several recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try. And, of course, there’s a recipe for Darn Fine Blueberry Buckle, which lives up to its name! I wasn’t familiar with “Buckle” but according to Ms. Pershing, the term comes from the way the streusel topping buckles when you cook it. My taste testers loved the thick, crunchy streusel topping, which enhances the sweet vanilla cake studded with fresh blueberries. With a dollop of freshly whipped cream, this really is darn fine!

 

Blueberry Buckle has thick, crunchy streusel topping which enhances the sweet vanilla cake studded with fresh blueberries. With a dollop of freshly whipped cream, this really is darn fine! Recipe shared with permission granted by Amy Pershing, author of MURDER IS NO PICNIC.

 

Amazon Synopsis

The Fourth of July is coming, and for professional food lover Samantha Barnes, it’s all about the picnic. Okay, and the fireworks. And the parade. But mostly the picnic. What could be better than a DIY clambake followed by the best blueberry buckle in the world? Sam has finally found the perfect recipe in the kitchen of Clara Foster, famed cookbook author and retired restaurateur, and she’s thrilled when Clara agrees to a buckle baking lesson.

But when Clara dies in a house fire blamed on carelessness in the kitchen, Sam doesn’t believe it. Unfortunately, her doubts set in motion an investigation pointing to the new owner of Clara’s legendary restaurant—and a cousin of Sam’s harbormaster boyfriend.  So, in between researching the Cape’s best lobster rolls and planning her clambake, Sam needs to find Clara’s killer before the fireworks really start….

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Amy Pershing for providing a print copy of  MURDER IS NO PICNIC. Contest ends July 10, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blueberry Buckle has thick, crunchy streusel topping which enhances the sweet vanilla cake studded with fresh blueberries. With a dollop of freshly whipped cream, this really is darn fine! Recipe shared with permission granted by Amy Pershing, author of MURDER IS NO PICNIC.

 

Print
Darn Fine Blueberry Buckle

Far be it from me to claim this is the world's best blueberry buckle, but it's pretty darn fine! If you can find huckleberries, that's great, but regular blueberries are fantastic in this recipe. A couple of tips: Squeeze the streusel before breaking it up in clumps for the topping. Also, tossing the blueberries with a bit of flour before folding them into the batter will keep them from clumping. And finally, placing your cake pan on a small baking sheet can help keep the bottom of the cake from overbrowning.

Serves 8

Ingredients
Streusel:
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons butter, cut into 8 pieces and softened
  • Pinch of salt (if using unsalted butter)
Cake:
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 10 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 pint (about 2 - 2-1/2 cups) fresh blueberries
Optional:
  • Whipped cream to serve alongside
Instructions
To make the streusel:

  1. Using a mixer at low speed, beat the flour, both sugars, cinnamon, and salt (if using) to combine and break up any brown sugar lumps.

  2. Still on low, add the softened butter and beat for 2 - 3 minutes until the mixture looks like wet sand.

To make the cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).

  2. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake pan.

  3. In a small bowl, whisk flour and baking powder together.

  4. In another larger and heavier bowl, beat the softened butter, sugar, and salt (if using) at medium speed until light and fluffy, abut 3 -4 minutes.

  5. Add the vanilla and the egg, beating well.

  6. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk.

  7. Toss the blueberries in a separate bowl with 1 - 2 tablespoons of flour and then fold them gently into the batter with a spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and use the spatula to spread it into an even layer.

  8. Top with the streusel: Take a handful of the streusel and squeeze it into a clump. Break the clump into smaller pieces and sprinkle them over the batter. Keep this up until you've used all of your streusel.

  9. Bake the cake for about 40 - 45 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

  10. Transfer the cake pan to a wire rack to cool for about 15 - 20 minutes.

  11. Run a thin knife around the edge of the cake, top it with a plate, and gently invert the cake onto the plate, streusel side down. Using another plate, invert the cake again, so that it is streusel side up. (This is easier than it sounds.)

  12. Serve in wedges with whipped cream on the side (optional, but, really, who doesn't want that option?). Ta da!

 

Blueberry Buckle has thick, crunchy streusel topping which enhances the sweet vanilla cake studded with fresh blueberries. With a dollop of freshly whipped cream, this really is darn fine! Recipe shared with permission granted by Amy Pershing, author of MURDER IS NO PICNIC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Blueberry Buckle has thick, crunchy streusel topping which enhances the sweet vanilla cake studded with fresh blueberries. With a dollop of freshly whipped cream, this really is darn fine! Recipe shared with permission granted by Amy Pershing, author of MURDER IS NO PICNIC.

 

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

Blueberry Buckle has thick, crunchy streusel topping which enhances the sweet vanilla cake studded with fresh blueberries. With a dollop of freshly whipped cream, this really is darn fine! Recipe shared with permission granted by Amy Pershing, author of MURDER IS NO PICNIC.

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Crinkles

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A HINT OF MISCHIEF is the third book in the Fairy Garden Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. This charming and magical tale combines the best of cozy mysteries: a well-plotted murder, delightful characters, and an inviting setting. And I can’t overlook the cover… it’s magic all on its own. With a wide cast of characters, both human and fairy alike, the author thoughtfully provides a list at the front of the book for easy reference. But despite the number, Ms. Gerber does an admirable job with unique descriptions and the ability to make each character come to life on the pages. I also like how she opens each chapter with a literary quote about a fairy—who knew there were so many mentions out there?! The protagonist, Courtney Kelly, is owner of the adorable shop, Open Your Imagination, in Carmel-by-the-Sea in coastal California. The garden shop specializing in creating fairy gardens gives Courtney plenty of opportunities to teach customers how to craft their own fairy gardens, which readers can replicate at home. And stealing each scene she inhabits is Courtney’s adorable fairy, Fiona. Ms. Gerber’s detailed description of Fiona and all her fairy folk, brings magic to the pages and makes it entirely believable that fairies do exist.

While all the charming characters and the fairy garden shop might seem to make the reader forget that this is a murder mystery, the author starts the action from the very first page, which sets the pace for the book. She does an admirable job of weaving everyday work and play into the untimely death of a celebrity in town, who came to celebrate an old friend’s birthday. With the large gathering of sorority sisters for the birthday, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Except, fingers point toward a local young woman with a troubled past, who the celebrity gets into an altercation with. Courtney and Fiona jump into the investigation, intent on finding the real killer. Ms. Gerber expertly doles the clues out and leads the reader on a chase to find the truth. Courtney, at times, can be a bit overly forward in delving into the truth, but her tenacity is rewarded. Fiona is more actively involved in the investigation this time, which adds to the overall appeal and I’m happy to know that another Fairy Garden Mystery is in the works!

This might be a fairy garden book, but there are still plenty of mouthwatering dishes being served at the garden tea, at the birthday party, and at Courtney’s boyfriend’s restaurant. If you’ve read any of Ms. Gerber’s other books, you’ll know that she is an excellent cook and provides almost mini cookbooks with each mystery. A Hint of Mischief is no different with plenty of yummy recipes to choose from. I couldn’t help but want to make the recipe for Chocolate Crinkles. Sweet from the sugar included in the dough and then rolled into both granulated and powdered sugar before baking, these cookies are heavenly. The crisp edges and the chocolate fudgy texture make these cookies almost impossible to limit to eating only one or two.

 

Chocolate Crinkles are rolled into both granulated and powdered sugar before baking, giving the cookies a crisp edge and a fudgy interior cookie - heavenly! Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of A HINT OF MISCHIEF.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Courtney has thrown a few fairy garden parties—for kids. But if a local socialite is willing to dip into her trust fund for an old sorority sister’s fortieth birthday bash, Courtney will be there with bells on. To make the job even more appealing, a famous actress, Farrah Lawson, is flying in for the occasion, and there’s nothing like a celebrity cameo to raise a business’s profile.

Now Courtney has less than two weeks to paint a mural, hang up tinkling windchimes, plan party games, and conjure up all the details. While she works her magic, the hostess and her girlfriends head off for an indulgent spa day—which leads to a fateful facial for Farrah, followed by her mysterious death. Could the kindhearted eyebrow waxer who Farrah berated in public really be the killer, as the police suspect? Courtney thinks otherwise, and with the help of her imaginative sleuth fairy, sets out to dig up the truth behind this puzzling murder . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing a print copy of  A HINT OF MISCHIEF. Contest ends July 3, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Crinkles are rolled into both granulated and powdered sugar before baking, giving the cookies a crisp edge and a fudgy interior cookie - heavenly! Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of A HINT OF MISCHIEF.

 

Print
Chocolate Crinkles

Yield: 4 dozen

Ingredients
  • 8 ounces melted butter
  • 4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
  • 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1-1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup extra granulated sugar, for rolling
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

  2. In a large bowl, mix butter, chocolate, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Blend in the eggs and vanilla.

  3. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add mixture to the sugar mixture and mix well.

  4. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls, about 1 tablespoon. You might need to moisten your fingers.

  5. Pour extra granulated sugar into a pie tin. Pour powdered sugar into a separate pie tin. Coat each ball with granulated sugar and then with powdered sugar. Place balls about 2 inches apart on the parchment paper.

  6. Bake 10 - 12 minutes. These will look slightly gooey in the "cracks" when removed from the oven. That's fine. Do not overbake.

Chocolate Crinkles are rolled into both granulated and powdered sugar before baking, giving the cookies a crisp edge and a fudgy interior cookie - heavenly! Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of A HINT OF MISCHIEF.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chocolate Crinkles are rolled into both granulated and powdered sugar before baking, giving the cookies a crisp edge and a fudgy interior cookie - heavenly! Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of A HINT OF MISCHIEF.

 

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

Chocolate Crinkles are rolled into both granulated and powdered sugar before baking, giving the cookies a crisp edge and a fudgy interior cookie - heavenly! Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of A HINT OF MISCHIEF.

 

 

 

Cardamom Pecan Pie

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MUDDLED THROUGH by Barbara Ross is the tenth book in the Maine Clambake Mysteries. A long-time fan of this delightful series, I eagerly await with anticipation to find out what feature of Maine the author will reveal for the new release. In this newest addition, it’s mud season and I enjoyed the skillful way the theme was woven into the storyline. Of course, the setting of Maine isn’t the only thing that brings me back again and again to the series. With strong characters, unique settings, and tightly plotted mysteries, Ms. Ross continues to be a fan favorite. If you’re new to the series, you can read this as a standalone, but trust me, you’ll greatly enjoy starting at the beginning and following the journey of protagonist Julia Snowden, along with her family and friends. Julia is a strong young woman, but with the last book, life has thrown some challenges at her with the demise of her relationship to Chris, and losing both her apartment and her winter job running a supper restaurant. She’s still trying to figure things out but, in the meantime, murder strikes Busman’s Harbor again, this time affecting her sister, Livvie’s boss and friend, Zoey.

The action starts right from the very first page and continues with plenty of intriguing suspects. I appreciate the loyalty Julia shows to both Livvie and Zoey, despite circumstances and clues pointing at Zoey’s guilt over the death of her cantankerous shop neighbor. Thrown into the mix is a controversial pedestrian mall that is dividing the town. As Julia hunts for clues and talks to townspeople, it becomes apparent there are several people hiding secrets, including the prime suspect, Zoey. With a fast-paced plot, I quickly turned the pages to find out what happened next and with an edge-of-your-seat reveal I didn’t see coming, the threads of the story wrapped up into a memorable read.

As with previous books, there are recipes included that showcase the flavors of Maine and/or have a family connection to the author like the recipe for Mrs. Gus’s Cardamom Pecan Pie. In real life, the pie is a variation that the author’s sister-in-law makes for Thanksgiving. In the book, Mrs. Gus, wife to the owner of the townspeople only café, makes the pies to sell in the restaurant when local fresh fruit isn’t available during winter and early spring. I loved that the pie uses maple syrup instead of the usual corn syrup. With plenty of sweetness and a generous amount of pecans, the hint of cardamom elevates the flavor to scrumptious!

Cardamom Pecan Pie has plenty of natural sweetness thanks to maple syrup and a generous amount of pecans. The hint of cardamom elevates the flavor to scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Barbara Ross, author of MUDDLED THROUGH.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Mud season takes on a whole new meaning in the coastal town of Busman’s Harbor, Maine, when local business owners sling dirt at one another in a heated feud over a proposed pedestrian mall. Vandalism is one thing, but murder means Julia Snowden of the Snowden Family Clambake steps in to clean up the case . . .

When Julia spots police cars in front of Lupine Design, she races over. Her sister Livvie works there as a potter. Livvie is unharmed but surrounded by smashed up pottery. The police find the owner Zoey Butterfield digging clay by a nearby bay, but she has no idea who would target her store. Zoey is a vocal advocate for turning four blocks of Main Street into a pedestrian mall on summer weekends. Other shop owners, including her next-door neighbor, are vehemently opposed. Could a small-town fight provoke such destruction? When a murder follows the break-in, it’s up to Julia to dig through the secrets and lies to uncover the truth . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Barbara Ross for providing a print copy of  MUDDLED THROUGH. Contest ends June 29, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cardamom Pecan Pie has plenty of natural sweetness thanks to maple syrup and a generous amount of pecans. The hint of cardamom elevates the flavor to scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Barbara Ross, author of MUDDLED THROUGH.

 

Print
Mrs. Gus's Cardamom Pecan Pie

Mrs. Gus gets up at 4:00 every morning to bake the pies for her husband's restaurant. In the winter and spring when fresh local fruit is unavailable, Mrs. Gus gets creative with non-fruit options. In the real world this is a variation on the pie my sister-in-law, Maria Kent, makes every other Thanksgiving for the big Carito family gatherings. Though it seems like there are a thousand dessert offerings available at that feast, I always go for this one.

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients
Crust:
  • Make or buy your favorite single-crust pie crust
Filling:
  • 1 cup real maple syrup
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 4 tablespoons butter, cubed and softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 6 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups pecan halves
Instructions

  1. Roll out dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

  3. Toast the pecan halves by spreading them on a baking tray and baking them for 8 - 10 minutes. Allow them to cool.

  4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F).

  5. Combine maple syrup, light brown sugar, whipping cream, and molasses in a sauce pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Let cool 5 minutes. Whisk in butter, salt, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk in egg yolks.

  6. Spread pecans evenly over the crust. Pour syrup mixture over pecans.

  7. Place in preheated oven and reduce heat to 325 degrees (F). Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until filling is set and center giggles slighty when gently shaken.

  8. Cool completely on a wire rack.

 

Cardamom Pecan Pie has plenty of natural sweetness thanks to maple syrup and a generous amount of pecans. The hint of cardamom elevates the flavor to scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Barbara Ross, author of MUDDLED THROUGH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Cardamom Pecan Pie has plenty of natural sweetness thanks to maple syrup and a generous amount of pecans. The hint of cardamom elevates the flavor to scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Barbara Ross, author of MUDDLED THROUGH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

Cardamom Pecan Pie has plenty of natural sweetness thanks to maple syrup and a generous amount of pecans. The hint of cardamom elevates the flavor to scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Barbara Ross, author of MUDDLED THROUGH.

 

 

 

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