Cinnamon and Sugar

Eoin’s Irish Stew

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MURDER IN AN IRISH BOOKSHOP, by Carlene O’Connor, is the seventh book in the Irish Village Mysteries. While I haven’t had the time to keep up with the entire series, I have read several. Without a doubt, each new book keeps getting better than the last… which is hard to do since I think they’ve all been terrific reads from the very first! Protagonist, Siobhán O’Sullivan, isn’t your typical cozy mystery heroine either. Over the course of the series she’s gone from an amateur sleuth trying to run her family’s Irish restaurant (while raising her younger siblings after the untimely death of their parents), to becoming a professional garda, aka The Guardian of the Peace. It’s been a particularly satisfying character arc to watch as Siobhán, along with the supporting characters, grows both personally and professionally. I had the good fortune to visit Ireland last year and I appreciate how Ms. O’Connor captures the setting of Ireland along with the words and mannerisms of the citizens. It made me feel like I was still there, experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this endearing country, especially as she portrays the small Irish village where Siobhán resides.

Ms. O’Connor sets up the mystery to capture the imagination of the reader and the intrigue starts from the very beginning. I was charmed by the new bookstore in town and how the owners showcase Irish writers. The author does an admirable job weaving several mentions of notable authors and their works into the plot without detracting from the pacing. When one of the visiting authors is murdered in the bookshop, surrounded by a group of people, Siobhán and her fiancé, Macdara Flannery find they have a complex mystery to solve. Ms. O’Connor’s attention to detail and the multifaceted clues that were revealed as the story progressed, had me glued to the pages from the very start of the book until I’d read the last word. I can’t wait for the next book in the series and the opportunity to be transported to the Emerald Isle for another captivating mystery!

Siobhán’s family owns Naomi’s Bistro in the village of Kilbane, Ireland. They serve up all sorts of mouthwatering dishes and treats and I was happy to see that Ms. O’Connor included a recipe at the back of her book for Eoin’s Irish Stew. While my husband thought there could’ve been a larger meat to potato ratio, I appreciated the emphasis on vegetables instead of meat. Despite his wish for more beef (he was raised in the midwest after all), we both found Eoin’s Irish Stew to be hearty and chock full of flavor. This warming bowl of stew is the perfect dinner for a chilly night or a simple reheat for a filling lunch the next day!

Amazon Synopsis

Between training the new town garda and trying to set a wedding date with her fiancé, Macdara Flannery, Siobhán O’Sullivan is feeling a bit overwhelmed. She’s looking forward to visiting the new bookshop and curling up with an exciting novel—only to discover the shelves contain nothing but Literature with a capital L. The owner not only refuses to stock romances, mysteries, and science fiction, but won’t even let customers enter his store unless they can quote James Joyce or Sean Hennessey.

Despite the owner deliberately limiting his clientele, he’s hosting a reading and autographing event featuring up and coming Irish writers who will be taking up residency in Kilbane for a month. Among them is indie author Deirdre Walsh, who spends more time complaining about the unfairness of the publishing industry and megastar bestsellers instead of her own creative works, causing a heated debate among the writers. She seems to have a particular distaste for the novels of Nessa Lamb.

Then Deirdre’s body is found the next day in the back of the store—with pages torn from Nessa’s books stuffed in her mouth. Now, Siobhán must uncover which of Kilbane’s literary guests took Deirdre’s criticisms so personally they’d engage in foul play . . .

A special thanks to Carlene O’Connor for providing a winner with a print copy of MURDER IN AN IRISH BOOKSHOP. Contest ends Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)

Eoin's Irish Stew

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds stewing beef - cut into chunks
1-1/2 ounces (1/3 cup) flour
1/4 cup oil (extra virgin olive or vegetable oil)
2 beef stock cubes dissolved in 1 pint of water
3 minced garlic cloves
1 cup Guinness Extra Stout
1 cup heavy red wine
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon brown sauce (A1 Original Steak Sauce)
2 tablespoons Irish butter
3 carrots and/or parsnips, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 - 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons fresh cut parsley

Instructions

Brown the beef:

Sprinkle salt and four on the beef pieces.
Heat the olive oil in thick-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook beef in batches, browning meat on both sides.

Simmer:

Add garlic and saute, then add beef stock, Guinness, wine, tomato paste, thyme, sugar, brown sauce, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
Lower heat and simmer for 1 hour, stirring a few times.

Add the vegetables:

In another pan, melt butter. Saute onions and carrots/parsnips until golden (approximately 15 minutes).
After stew has simmered for 1 hour, add the onion/carrot/parsnip/butter mix. Add potatoes.
Simmer for 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves and spoon off excess fat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley.

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Aunt Jack’s Peppermint Candy Ice Cream

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A GAME OF CONES, the second book in the Ice Cream Parlor Mysteries by Abby Collette, is a sweet addition to a delightful series. From scrumptious frozen concoctions to a close-knit family to a charming town, Ms. Collette brings visual appeal to the book with her descriptive voice. The protagonist, Bronwyn “Win” Crewse, has revived her family’s ice cream shop, Crewse Creamery, and business is booming. The shops around town are thriving which makes a tempting target for a developer to swoop in and build a mall. When the developer’s representative is discovered murdered by one of Win’s friends visiting from New York, Win and her close circle of friends come together to provide support. The author builds on the theme of friendship, whether it’s from a friendship developed over a few decades from childhood on, or based on a shared interest and trust developed through a mutual employer. I also greatly admire the close family bond the author has developed for Win. Her Pop-Pop is a wonderful source of wisdom and advice while her parents support her every step of the way.

While most cozy mystery protagonists are eager, or at least compelled, to investigate murders, Win is quite the reluctant sleuth… which makes her seem more relatable. Her best friend, Maisie, on the other hand, is a wildcard and goes off on tangents based on watching mystery shows on Acorn TV. While Win provides a calming influence, Maisie still manages to drag her into all sorts of situations in her quest for finding the killer and despite her lack of focus, the two women manage to collect clues. As they investigate, there are a large number of town characters introduced, and all are potential suspects. I didn’t have the time to sit and read the book all at once, so I sometimes got a bit confused on who the minor characters were when I had a chance to pick up the book for a short while. Perhaps a list of characters at the front of the book might be helpful to those who find themselves unable to keep track. Other than that, this was an enjoyable read and once the surprising reveal came, the collected clues fell into place with a satisfactory conclusion.

Win’s family’s ice cream shop serves all sorts of mouthwatering creamy treats and Ms. Collette kept my tastebuds tempted with her tantalizing descriptions. I was so happy to see that she includes a few recipes at the back of the book… and they all sound fantastic! Since I had some leftover candy canes from the holiday season, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try Aunt Jack’s Peppermint Candy Ice Cream. (Star mints work just as well as candy canes.) Plus, one of my granddaughters is a huge candy cane fan so I knew this would be a hit with her. I must take this moment to say a huge thank you to my granddaughter as well, since she made this recipe for me! I’ll be honest, I am not fond of mint in any form. However, once I sampled the frozen concoction, especially drizzled with chocolate magic shell, (at my granddaughter’s suggestion) I’m a convert! This was some of the best ice cream I’ve eaten in a long, long time! Given the rich ingredients, I’ll relegate this recipe to special holidays but I’ll certainly be making it again.

Amazon Synopsis

Bronwyn Crewse is delighted that Crewse Creamery, the ice cream shop her family has owned for decades, is restored to its former glory and serving sweet frozen treats to happy customers in the picturesque small town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. But when a big city developer comes to town intent on building a mall, a killer with a frozen heart takes him out.

After literally stumbling across the body, one of Win’s closest friends becomes the prime suspect, and to make things worse, Win’s aunt has come to town with the intention of taking command of Crewse Creamery. Even though Win has a rocky road ahead to help her friend and keep her ice cream shop, it’ll take more than a sprinkle of murder to stop her from solving the crime and saving the day.

A special thanks to Abby Collette for providing a winner with a print copy of A GAME OF CONES. Contest ends Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)

Aunt Jack's Peppermint Candy Ice Cream

Ingredients

2 vanilla beans
2-1/2 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
8 large egg yolks
1/2 cup crushed candy canes or star mints

Instructions

With a knife, halve vanilla beans lengthwise. Scrape seeds into a large heavy saucepan and stir in heavy cream, milk, sugar, and salt. Bring mixture just to a boil, stirring occasionally, and remove pan from heat. Add peppermint extract.
In a large bowl lightly beat egg yolks. Add hot cream mixture to eggs in a slow stream, whisking, then return custard mixture to pan. Cook custard over moderate heat, and do not let it come to a boil. Stir constantly until mixture reaches 170 degrees (F).
Pour custard through a sieve into a clean bowl and cool. Chill custard, its surface covered with wax paper, in refrigerator until cold, about three hours.
Add cold mixture to ice cream maker and proceed according to manufacturer's instructions. Just before ice cream is set, add crushed candy to ice cream and continue mixing until combined.
Place ice cream in an airtight container and freeze until fully set, at least two hours. Enjoy!

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

Banana Bread

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SHUCKED APART, the ninth book in the Maine Clambake Mystery series by Barbara Ross, is another delightful return to Busman’s Harbor, Maine. As with the previous books in the series, the author does an admirable job in building on the strengths of her character development while interjecting an aspect of Maine’s industry which I find thoroughly captivating! Each book can easily be read as a standalone, but be prepared to want to backtrack and devour the previous books. In this newest release, protagonist Julia Snowden finds herself helping out her boyfriend’s friend, Andie, an oyster farmer, after someone stole mind boggling expensive buckets of oyster seed from her. It doesn’t take long for the same oyster farmer to be found murdered and Julia feels a sense of responsibility in finding the killer. I was fascinated by the oyster farming industry as described in the book. I had absolutely no idea how extensive it was or the dedication it entailed to bring oysters to market, and Ms. Ross effortlessly weaves those details into the plot without slowing down the pace of the mystery.

As the mystery unfolds and Julia begins delving into the bitter feelings between oyster farmers and lobster fishermen, a slew of suspects crop up. The clues strongly point in their direction since Andie’s oyster farm had been sabotaged several times in the weeks and months leading up to her death. Thrown in for good measure is an ex-husband, wealthy summer residents who don’t want any type of industry in their backyard, and rival oyster farmers. Julia is a deliberate amateur sleuth and I appreciated the care she took when asking questions around town and talking to potential suspects. It was enjoyable watching the scenes unfold and following the clues, and while I didn’t guess correctly, I was thoroughly gratified with the way the threads of the plot came together in a cohesive reveal.

Another delight of this series is the way the author showcases recipes containing Maine’s agricultural ingredient featured in the book. There have been blueberries, clams, lobsters, and of course this book contains oyster recipes. I’ll admit… I am not a fan. However, the author’s descriptive language concerning this bivalve makes me tempted to try them again, provided I have the opportunity to get to Maine one of these days. While we may have some type of oyster here in California (not that I’ve paid attention to the availability) I opted to skip the oyster recipes (if you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy the offerings) and make Ms. Ross’s mother-in-law’s recipe for Banana Bread – always a hit in my family! Easy to mix up, the moist sweet bread is delicious all on its own or slathered with sweet cream butter. Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert!

Amazon Synopsis

The Snowden Family Clambake Company has a beloved reputation in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. Almost as famous is the sleuthing ability of proprietor Julia Snowden, which is why an oyster farmer seeks her out when she’s in trouble.

When Andie Greatorex is robbed of two buckets of oyster seed worth $35,000, she wonders if somebody’s trying to mussel her out of business. Could it be a rival oyster farmer, a steamed former employee, or a snooty summer resident who objects to her unsightly oyster cages floating on the beautiful Damariscotta River? There’s also a lobsterman who’s worried the farm’s expanding lease will encroach on his territory and Andie’s ex-partner, who may come to regret their split. Before Julia can make much headway in the investigation, Andie turns up dead, stabbed by a shucking knife. Now it’s up to Julia to set a trap for a cold and clammy killer . . .

A special thanks to Barbara Ross for providing a winner with a print copy of SHUCKED APART. Contest ends Monday, March 1, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)

Banana Bread

From Barbara Ross: This is my late mother-in-law's recipe for banana bread. She never really adjusted when all her kids grew up and moved out. She shopped, until she died, for a family of eight. As a result, she always had way too many bananas to consume before they went soft, and therefore, she almost always had banana bread on hand when her grandkids came to visit it. They loved the banana bread and I love that they still make it according to her recipe.

Serves 6 to 10.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten lightly
1 cup mashed bananas (3 large, ripe)
1-1/2 tablespoons light cream
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups sifted flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
Cream butter and sugar and add eggs.
Add cream and lemon juice to mashed bananas, then combine with the butter, sugar, and eggs mixture.
Add sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and finally the nuts. Stir only enough to blend.
Bake in a greased loaf pan at 350 degrees for 45 - 55 minutes. A wooden skewer inserted into center should come out mostly clean.
Cool in loaf pan for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

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

Cannoli Cake

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LONG ISLAND ICED TINA, is the long anticipated second book in the Catering Hall Mystery series by Maria DiRico (aka award-winning author Ellen Byron). The author proves her writing prowess once again by penning a laugh-out-loud cozy featuring protagonist Mia Carina, daughter of a “recovering” mobster. This alone sets the scene for plenty of opportunities for things to go hilariously wrong when the “Family” is hovering in the shadows and Mia is determined to keep her dad on the straight and narrow. Ms. DiRico enthralls the reader with vivid descriptions of Queens along with other notable New York locations. Using all five senses, the reader feels like they’re experiencing it all – the good and the bad – alongside Mia. Besides the well-developed protagonist, the author has plenty of other supporting characters who are equally appealing and zany providing entertainment all on their own. The quintessential interfering Italian grandmothers, who spout off Italian phrases, give a feeling of authenticity. (And don’t worry, there is plenty of context so you know exactly what they’re saying without knowing a foreign language.)

Combining a murder with a baby shower celebration isn’t a scenario I’ve come across and I have to say, Ms. DiRico does a marvelous job of setting up the crime. It’s not much of a surprise when Mia stumbles across the victim who was hated by so many. When the soon-to-be mom’s mother and grandmother are implicated, Mia steps in to investigate. Adding to the murder mystery is a multifaceted plot involving art theft, a suspicious competing venue owner and chef, and an employee who seems intent on sabotage. As the story progresses the threads come together into a cohesive story and I turned the pages faster and faster to find out what happened next. While the action-packed reveal provided tension, the author interjected just the right dose of humor to keep it cozy light which I appreciate. With the final last page read, I’m back to counting down the days until the next book in this highly entertaining series is released next year!

The theme of running a banquet hall and Mia having an Italian grandmother who loves to cook, there is food galore mentioned throughout the story. I was pleased to see that there are a number of recipes included at the back of the book, especially one for Cannoli Cake. Oh. My. Word. It just doesn’t get much more decadent than this! Starting with a boxed cake mix (yay for making this dessert easier), the combination of rich ricotta, mascarpone cheese, and cream cheese in the luscious filling and frosting, takes the taste to the stratosphere when paired with chocolate chips. I changed the addition of the chocolate chips just a bit, to use in between the layers and then use as a garnish, instead of mixing directly in the frosting. However you choose to include, this dessert is one that you’ll love to serve for special occasions or when you feel the need to spoil yourself or a loved one.

Amazon Synopsis

Mia Carina is back in the borough of Queens—in charge of the family catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor, and keeping her nonna company. But some events—like murder—are not the kind you can schedule . . .

Mia’s newly pregnant friend Nicole plans to hold a shower at Belle View—but Nicole also has to attend one that her competitive (and mysteriously rich) stepmother, Tina, is throwing at the fanciest place in Queens. It’s a good chance for Mia to snoop on a competitor, especially since doing a search for “how to run a catering hall” can get you only so far.

Mia tags along at the lavish party, but the ambience suffers at Nicole’s Belle View shower when a fight breaks out—and then, oddly, a long-missing and valuable stolen painting is unwrapped by the mom-to-be. Tina is clearly shocked to see it. But not as shocked as Mia is when, soon afterward, she spots the lifeless body of a party guest floating in the marina . . .

A special thanks to Maria DiRico for providing a winner with a print copy of HERE COMES THE BODY, the first book in the Catering Hall Mystery series. Contest ends Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)

Cannoli Cake

NOTE: Step one is draining the ricotta so that your filling doesn’t end up watery. I wrap mine in cheesecloth, then place it in a strainer that fits over a mixing bowl. I set a heavy can on top of the cheesecloth-wrapped ricotta and let it drain overnight in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

Cake

1 package white cake mix
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water

Filling and Frosting

1 (16 ounce) tub ricotta drained (see above instructions)
1 (8 ounce) container mascarpone cheese (doesn’t have to be drained if it has the consistency of cream cheese)
1 (8 ounce) container cream cheese (regular or light)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon orange juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup to a 1 cup of mini chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.

The Cake:

Beat the cake mix with the yogurt, oil, and water – slowly at first to combine the ingredients, then on medium speed for two minutes. Pour the batter into two 8” cake pans.
Bake for 25-35 minutes — until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool completely.

The Filling and Frosting:

Beat the ricotta, mascarpone, and cream cheese together until thoroughly blended. Add the vanilla, orange juice, almond extract, cinnamon, salt, and powdered sugar until all are well combined. (NOTE: add the sugar one cup at a time and mix slowly at first so that powdered sugar doesn’t go flying out of the mixing bowl. Trust me, it happens!)
Gently fold the chocolate chips into the filling mix. Start with half a cup of chips. Add more if desired.

Assembly:

Flip the first cake layer out of its pan onto a plate upside down, so that the flat bottom is on the top. Add a heaping amount of filling and spread it. Place the second layer on top and frost the top and sides with the filling. (NOTE: add the second layer right-side up, so that the flat bottom of it sits on top of the first layer.)
Serves 8-16, depending on the size of the slices.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes:

To duplicate my design:
Mix cake batter as directed, but add in 2 eggs for a firmer cake texture. Bake and cool as directed.
Before making the frosting, line a baking sheet with 2 layers of heavy duty paper towels. After draining the ricotta overnight, spread the ricotta in a thin layer on top of the paper towels. Allow to sit for 15 minutes. Scoop the ricotta into a mixing bowl and proceed with the frosting recipe. Discard the paper towels.
Mix 1-1/2 cups frosting with 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips. Use as the filling between the two layers of cake.
Beat in an additional 1 – 2 cups powdered sugar into the reserved frosting, until fairly stiff. Spread a thin coat (crumb coat) of frosting over the cake and refrigerate until set. Spread a heavy layer of frosting over the crumb coat. Press 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips around the base of the cake, to make a 2-inch border. Using a large star tip, use the remaining frosting to pipe swirls or rosettes over the top of the cake. Refrigerate until firm.

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Thanks to Carnival Books and Ellen Byron, I’m thrilled to be moderating this delightful and humorous panel of amazing culinary cozy authors! I hope you’ll be able to join our FREE zoom event!

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Book Carnival is inviting you to a FREE Zoom event.

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Time: Feb 23, 2021 5:00 P.M. (PST), 7:00 (Central), 8:00 (EST) (US and Canada)

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Cannoli Cake starts with a simple boxed cake mix but when paired with the combination of rich ricotta, mascarpone cheese, cream cheese, and chocolate chips in the luscious filling and frosting, the results are spectacularly decadent! Recipe shared with permission granted by Maria DiRico, author of LONG ISLAND ICED TINA.

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

Sam’s Thin and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

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A SIDE OF MURDER is the first book in the brand new Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series by Amy Pershing. Starting an inaugural book of a new series sometimes leaves me with trepidation since I don’t know the characters and often there’s too much backstory which can slow down the plot. However, Ms. Pershing hit this one out of the ballpark and I was captivated from the very first page! The author exhibits a great sense of timing with her zingy one-liners and the humor starts from the opening scene. Protagonist, trained chef Samantha Barnes, who loves to laugh, made me laugh right alongside which quelled any trepidation I might have had before starting the book.

Fleeing New York after an altercation with her ex went viral on YouTube, Samantha returns to her childhood home of Cape Cod. Moving into the falling down house she’s inherited from her Aunt Ida… along with a huge, untrained puppy named Dioge (D-O-G), she tries to decide what to do with her life. Her good friend (who’s editor of the Cape Cod Clarion) ropes Samantha into writing a restaurant review column. I love that Samantha’s parents were the editor-in-chief and senior journalist for the paper before they retired to Florida. This allows the reader to get a glimpse into her family even if they appear offstage. The setup also showcases the town and contributes to the appealing setting of Cape Code. Since Samantha grew up in the area, she still has close friends. They are equally well-developed, including Dioge, with their own quirks adding to the humorous interaction.

Samantha discovers the body of a former waitress (and all around mean person) at the restaurant she’s reviewing. She doesn’t believe law enforcement’s theory that it was an accidental drowning. Appearing on scene and giving support to her observations is the handsome harbormaster (and teen crush), Jason. Except he doesn’t want her to get involved so she channels her mother’s journalistic skills and ignores him. As evidence and clues pile up, the suspect list gets longer and longer. Ms. Pershing does an admirable job providing plenty of red herrings that kept me off track and guessing as the story progressed. With the final suspenseful reveal, all the clues popped into place and left me with a satisfied grin on my face!

Being a Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series, you can count on there being loads of food mentioned. What I enjoyed even more was the author’s tips interjected on dishes the protagonist fixed and ate during the book. The tips are helpful and are provided in a breezy manner that made me feel like I was sitting in the kitchen watching a friend cook. Ms. Pershing also includes several recipes at the back of the book. If you’ve followed my blog for long, you’ll know I’m a HUGE fan of cookies and you can never have too many recipes for chocolate chip cookies. I was intrigued with the author’s recipe for Sam’s Thin and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies which relies on high-fat butter, such as a French or Irish Brand. Plus, the butter needs to be super soft which contributes to the spread and chew of the cookie. These cookies did not disappoint and they were gobbled up just as quickly as they cooled down. I’ll be adding this recipe to my cookie baking rotation to share with family and friends!

Amazon Synopsis

Beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is known for seafood, sand, surf, and, now…murder.

Samantha Barnes was always a foodie. And when the CIA (that’s the Culinary Institute of America) came calling, she happily traded in Cape Cod for the Big Apple. But then the rising young chef’s clash with another chef (her ex!) boils over and goes viral. So when Sam inherits a house on the Cape and lands a job writing restaurant reviews, it seems like the perfect pairing. What could go wrong? Well, as it turns out, a lot.

The dilapidated house comes with an enormous puppy. Her new boss is, well, bossy. And the town’s harbor master is none other than her first love. Nonetheless, Sam’s looking forward to reviewing the Bayview Grill—and indeed the seafood chowder is divine. But the body in the pond outside the eatery was not on the menu. Sam is certain this is murder. But as she begins to stir the pot, is she creating a recipe for her own untimely demise?

A special thanks to Amy Pershing for providing a winner with a print copy of A SIDE OF MURDER. Contest ends Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)

Sam's Thin and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

The trick here is to use high-fat butter, which usually means a French or Irish brand. Many supermarkets carry Irish Kerrygold butter, which works beautifully. Make sure the butter is really room temperature, which means so soft you can poke a finger through it. Also, if you use salted butter, you may want to skip adding any more salt to the batter.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients

10 ounces high-fat French or Irish butter, softened to room temperature
1-1/4 cups dark brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon table salt like Morton's)
2 large eggs
1-3/4 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour (plus another 2 tablespoons of flour set aside to coat chocolate chips)
1 teaspoon baking soda
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
Combine butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt in a bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs and mix on medium speed until blended, about 2 minutes.
Whisk the flour and baking soda together in separate bowl, then mix into the dough at medium speed until well combined.
In another bowl, combine the chocolate chips with the extra 2 tablespoons flour. Use a spatula to stir the flour-coated chips into the dough by hand.
Drop the dough by slightly rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets, preferably lined with parchment paper. To allow for spreading, 12 cookies per sheet works well.
Bake until golden brown, 8 - 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note

Bake a test cookie before baking the entire batch. If they spread out too thin for your liking, mix in 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dough. Repeat with another test cookie.

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#giveaway & Virtual Zoom Launch Celebrating Long Island Iced Tina!

Thanks to Carnival Books and Ellen Byron, I’m thrilled to be moderating this delightful and humorous panel of amazing culinary cozy authors! I hope you’ll be able to join our FREE zoom event!

Culinary Cozies – Deliciously Deadly Fun!

VIRTUAL EVENT LAUNCH HOSTED BY BOOK CARNIVAL

ON FEBRUARY 23, 5:00 P.M. (PST), 7:00 (Central), 8:00 (EST)

WITH FOUR AUTHORS

in conversation with KIM DAVIS

See the Zoom link below

Click on graphic to visit Book Carnival

I have a $20 gift card to Book Carnival for 1 lucky winner! Contest ends Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. Please be aware that the winner may need to phone the bookstore to redeem the gift card (if you opt to purchase books not listed on the event page), but a toll-free number will be provided. Use the Rafflecopter box located below the zoom information to enter the contest. 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!)