Cinnamon and Sugar

Hilda’s No-Fail Banana Bread

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QUICHE OF DEATH, the third book in the Sugar & Spice Mysteries by Mary Lee Ashford, is another delightful addition to this cozy series. Protagonist Sugar Calloway owns Sugar and Spice Cookbooks with her business partner and friend, Dixie Spicer. I love their business and the author’s descriptive voice makes each of their projects come to life from the mouthwatering recipes to the cookbook layouts to the professional food photos (taken by Sugar’s boyfriend, Max) to the choices of covers and paper. It makes me want to compile my family and in-law recipes and have Sugar create a cookbook for me! The character of Sugar is just as sweet as her name implies and I enjoyed her downhome manners and the cute sayings she pops up with inspired by her Aunt Cricket. Sugar is the type of person you’d want as a lifelong friend: always there for you with a kind word and a willingness to provide a helping hand. She even fostered the victim’s spoiled toy poodle, much to Sugar’s cat’s dismay! This added a bit of humor along with Sugar’s obsession with her fitness activity tracker and how many steps she was getting each day. I had to chuckle because it just might have hit close to home, lol!

The story begins with Sugar and Dixie staying at a B & B with the Arbor family in order to work on the family cookbook featuring their famous Arbor Family Foods Quiche Lorraine, which made their fortune. As Sugar and Dixie soon find out, the Arbor family is dysfunctional. It’s not long before Sugar stumbles over the body of Collette, the flaky new fiancée of the Arbor family grandson. Since the family wasn’t happy with his choice of spouse, could one of them have taken matters into their own hands and killed her? While Sugar may be sweet, she’s also intelligent. Using observation skills and the ability to get people talking, she delves into family secrets and starts uncovering the truth about what happened. But as secrets are ferreted out, violence toward members of the family and Sugar escalates. I had no idea who the killer could be so I sat back and enjoyed the unfolding of the story instead of trying to figure it out. While the ending was a bit rushed, it still provided a satisfying conclusion which wrapped up the loose ends and has me eagerly waiting for the next book in the series to release.

There are many mentions of mouthwatering treats and dishes served at the B & B, along with the Arbor family’s famous recipes throughout the story. I was happy to see that Ms. Ashford includes several recipes at the back of the book. I just had to try Hilda’s No-Fail Banana Bread because 1) I always have too many ripe bananas on hand; 2) I love anything that is touted as no fail; and 3) My family loves banana bread! This recipe was easy to mix up since instead of dragging out an electric mixer to cream butter, you melt it. Using a fork to mash and stir, the bread came together quickly. It didn’t take long for a sweet aroma to fill the air as the bread baked. Sliced warm with a pat of butter, Hilda’s No-Fail Banana Bread hit the spot for a delicious treat!

Amazon Synopsis

When editor Sugar Calloway and baker Dixie Spicer went into business creating cookbooks, they found a sideline as amateur sleuths. Now a bitter family grudge could leave a fatal aftertaste…

At Sugar & Spice Community Cookbooks, the friends and business partners have secured a tasty new commission: producing a cookbook for the Arbor family. The Arbors have made their fortune in quiches, and Sugar and Spice have been invited to a weekend gathering where all the siblings, along with crusty matriarch Marta, will be in attendance. But it’s soon clear that this trip will come with a hefty slice of drama.

Theo, the only grandson, arrives with his flaky fiancée, Collette, who quickly stirs up trouble . . . and is found dead the next day. As the investigation unfolds, secrets—and recipes—are shared, and Sugar and Spice realize just how messy and murderous the situation may be. As another family member falls ill, can they solve the case without getting egg on their faces . . .and a target on their backs?

A special thanks to Mary Lee Ashford for providing one lucky winner with their choice of either print or an ebook copy of QUICHE OF DEATH! Print giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Hilda's No-Fail Banana Bread

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3 large, ripe bananas
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray or grease with butter and set aside.
Add the stick of butter to a large bowl and microwave for 1 minute, or until melted.
Add the bananas to the same bowl and mash with a fork.
Add the vanilla extract and egg to the bowl and use the same fork to mash and stir until no yellow streaks of egg remain.
In a second large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together with a spatula just until combined.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 45 - 55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

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

Juliana’s Palacsinta

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DEATH OF A WANDERING WOLF, the second book in the Hungarian Tea Room Mystery series by Julia Buckley, is an enchanting cozy mystery that captured my imagination! Protagonist Hana Keller is an engaging character and I love the bond she has with her mother and grandmother. Together, the three of them own and run Maggie’s Tea Room. The descriptive voice of the author makes me want to visit and experience the charming setting and delectable food. The intrigue starts early on in the book and I adored how Ms. Buckley weaves in Hungarian culture through food, art, and fairy tales.

Shortly after Hana purchases two paintings from a Hungarian artist, he is found murdered. Since she and her boyfriend, Detective Erik Wolf, had returned to the artist’s home just as his body was found, Hana feels the need to get involved. On top of that, she felt an unusual connection to the man she’d never met before that day. She also felt a connection to his paintings, particularly those painted in Hungary. The addition of the mystical abilities that Hana’s grandmother has and that Hana is slowly discovering added a layer of intrigue for me, especially as the past is intertwined with the present. I also appreciated that Det. Wolf doesn’t discount Hana and her grandmother’s abilities and instead supports her efforts to find the killer. As Hana’s questions close in on the identity of the perpetrator, her life becomes endangered. Here the author introduces the reader to Det. Wolf’s mysterious sisters, Thyra and Runa. They add a delightful flair to the story and I truly hope that they are featured in future books. With a heart pounding conclusion, this story wrapped up the threads of the plots and subplots and left me wanting more!

With so many mouthwatering Hungarian dishes mentioned throughout the story, I’m grateful that Ms. Buckley includes several recipes at the back of the book. Since my family is a huge fan of breakfast dishes (even for dinner) I was drawn to the recipe for Juliana’s Palacsinta (pronounced pahla-cheenta). These yummy sweet cheese-filled crepes are baked with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar after filling. Garnished with sour cream, fresh strawberries, and jam, this dish is perfect for a brunch gathering or a breakfast-themed dinner.

Amazon Synopsis

Hana Keller is enjoying a day off from serving up tea and delicious pastries at her family’s Hungarian Tea House when her downtime turns deadly….

The only thing Hana loves more than a good cuppa is finding a delicate porcelain treasure to add to her collection. She’s usually on the hunt for teacups but when she spots a rare wolf figurine at a local yard sale, she knows it’s her lucky day. Hana also knows the wolf is valuable and tells the seller that he’s charging too little for it. His reaction is peculiar–he says he received the wolf from someone he doesn’t trust and he just wants it out of his life.

Hana is inspecting her new prize when she finds a tiny microchip attached to the bottom of the porcelain wolf. When she shows the figure to her police detective boyfriend, Erik, Hana is shocked to learn that the chip is actually a tracking device. They decide to confront the seller about the sneaky sale but when they arrive at his house, they find him dead. Erik and Hana now must hunt a calculating killer who has no intentions of crying wolf when it comes to murder…

A special thanks to Julia Buckley for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of DEATH OF A WANDERING WOLF! Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Juliana's Palacsinta

(Pronounced pahla-cheenta)

You can fill these delicious crepes with jam or with the cheese filling described below.

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
4 eggs
2 cups milk
Butter as needed
Powdered sugar

Cheese Filling

1 pound dry curd (dry cottage cheese or sometimes called farmer's cheese.)
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
Vanilla to taste

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees (F).
Mix the flour, salt, and sugar. Beat eggs and mix in milk. Gradually add to the dry flour mixture until you have a thin pancake batter.
Melt butter in a skillet and pour a thin layer of the batter mixture and brown on both sides. This will take less than a minute.
Put the thin pancake on a plate and add your chosen filling. Roll up and place in a buttered baking dish. Repeat until the batter is finished. Sprinkle powdered sugar on the rolled crepes.
Bake 10 - 12 minutes.
Serve warm; top with sour cream, fresh strawberries, or strawberry jam. Apricot jam is also a popular choice.

Cheese Filling

Mix all of the ingredients, adding sugar and vanilla to the desired level of sweetness. Add to the cooked crepes as indicated above.

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Caramel Blondies

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A SPRINKLING OF MURDER, the first book in the brand new Fairy Garden Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber, is an enchanting tale that captured my fancy! With a charming setting in Carmel-by-the-Sea situated on California’s Monterey Peninsula, the reader can’t help but feel like they’re on vacation. I adored the fairy garden and tea shop, Open Your Imagination, owned by protagonist Courtney Kelly. It was a treat to learn some of the ins and outs of creating fairy gardens for personal home gardens as the story unfolded. This is one of the times I wish it were possible for pictures to be included within the text as I read along. (However, if you visit the author’s website, she has photos and YouTube videos posts on her “just for fans” page. https://darylwoodgerber.com/fanclub/index.php#fairy)

Sometimes first books in a series introduce a large cast to set the stage for future books and that happens here. However, the author provides a helpful list of characters at the front of the book for easy reference. I liked the protagonist Courtney. She is smart and curious but doesn’t come across as overly nosy or in-your-face. When she discovers the murdered body of her shop’s neighbor on her patio late one night and then becomes a suspect, Courtney knows she needs to get to the bottom of the crime and clear her name. Assisting her in sleuthing is the adorable fairy, Fiona, who is on probation after being expelled from fairy school for too many pranks. Fiona is a fun sidekick to Courtney with her penchant for shenanigans! The introduction of this surprising fantasy element brought a lightheartedness to the story which I greatly enjoyed. To tie in the magical fairy theme, the author also includes lovely “fairy” quotes from literature at the beginning of each chapter. I was tempted to page ahead to read them all before starting the story.

Ms. Gerber is well-known for her other cozy mystery books and her expertise in crafting a well-plotted mystery is on full display here. The pace was even and kept me turning pages wanting to see what happens next. The number of suspects and the way Courtney presented them as she asks questions made it difficult to guess who the culprit was. They all seemed entirely viable. With a surprising twist at the Agatha Christie-style reveal, I was left feeling highly satisfied and entertained!

While this may be a cozy mystery set in a fairy garden shop, they do serve tea and treats there. Courtney also frequents the Hideaway Café which is owned by her potential love interest, Brady, so there’s plenty of yummy food mentioned. True to Ms. Gerber’s love for creating delectable recipes, she’s included several at the back of the book. I couldn’t help but be drawn to the recipe for Caramel Blondies which use a layer of homemade salted caramel sauce… and all I can say is oh my goodness… these are incredibly decadent! And delicious! The blondies are easily mixed up and while the caramel sauce isn’t difficult, you do have to keep a close watch on it. I learned my lesson the hard way on the first go around when the sugar burned. Other than that, I’ll be making these again because there’s extra caramel sauce leftover to eat by the spoonful… err for topping ice cream after the blondies are gone!

Amazon Synopsis

Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly believes in inviting magic into your life. But when uninvited trouble enters her shop, she’ll need more than a sprinkling of her imagination to solve a murder . . .

Since childhood, Courtney has loved fairies. After her mother died when Courtney was ten, she lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, she rediscovered it when she left her father’s landscaping business to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business and teashop in beautiful Carmel, California. At Open Your Imagination, she teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes. Now she’s starting a book club tea.

But the light of the magical world she’s created inside her shop is darkened one night when she discovers neighboring dog-grooming business owner Mick Watkins dead beside her patio fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect Courtney of the crime. To clear her name and find the real killer, Courtney will have to wing it. But she’s about to get a little help from an unexpected source . . .

A special thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing one lucky winner with their choice of either print or an ebook copy of A SPRINKLING OF MURDER! Print giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Caramel Blondies

The biggest trick to baking with caramel is to let the baked goods cool completely after baking. Wait, wait, wait. Two hours at minimum. Also, make sure you don't overbake these blondies. Dry blondies are no fun.

Ingredients

Blondies:

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled a tad
1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup salted caramel sauce, prepared ahead, kept warm (recipe below)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or cashews
fleur de sel

Salted Caramel Sauce:

1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
6 tablespoons salted butter, cut into chunks
1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Instructions

Blondies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Butter a 9 x 9-inch baking pan or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in eggs, vanilla, and flour mixture. Mix until well combined.
Spread half of the mixture in the prepared pan and smooth.
Spread salted caramel onto the blondie batter using a spoon, leaving a bit of space around the edges. Top with the chopped nuts. Drop the remaining batter in spoonfuls over the caramel and spread with a spatula. Using a knife, swirl the blondie batter with the caramel. If desired, sprinkle with fleur de sel.
Bake 28 - 32 minutes until set in the middle and golden brown. A toothpick should come out clean. Do not overbake.
Make sure you cool completely, at least 2 hours, before cutting into squares. If necessary, place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to help the caramel set.

For the Salted Caramel Sauce:

In a 3-quart saucepan, add the sugar and water and cook at medium heat. Stir until combined. Do NOT stir again. Heat the mixture until a candy thermometer reads 350 degrees (F). Remove thermometer.
Carefully add the butter and whisk until butter is melted. Remove the pan from heat and slowly pour in the cream, whisking all the time until the cream is incorporated. Whisk in the sea salt and set aside to cool.
Allow to cool for about 5 minutes, then store in a heatproof, airtight container until ready to use. Refrigerate leftovers.

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Dutch Apple Cobbler in Cast-Iron Skillet

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STILL KNIFE PAINTING, the first book in the Paint & Shine Mysteries by Cheryl Hollon, is a good start to a brand new series. The reader is introduced to the introverted protagonist, Miranda Trent, who is just starting up her new business, Paint and Shine. This cultural adventure tour combines scenic painting, a traditional Southern dinner at her farmhouse, and a moonshine lecture and tasting, which all sound like fabulous ideas! I love this new twist for a cozy mystery setting. I was intrigued that the location is set in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural Kentucky. The author captures the feeling of the rural isolation (often no cell phone service… I can’t imagine!), the beauty of the land (great for scenic painting), and the food and moonshine libations of the area. The author begins the book with a lovely acknowledgement indicating her parents grew up in the area that the book showcases and she spent her summers there visiting her grandparents. I was a little uncomfortable how several of the characters came across as bumpkins. Being a Southern California gal myself, I’m not familiar with Kentucky or the attitudes/beliefs of the rural residents but I would hope that her portrayal was simply an artistic exaggeration.

As the mystery over who killed Miranda’s prickly Southern cook unfolds (even though the police rule that it was an accident) I enjoyed that Miranda uses her artistic abilities to record clues and her impressions of suspects. I also liked that she joins forces with Austin, the handsome park ranger and potential love interest, to solve the mystery. They work well together and he respects her talents and quest for justice. While I guessed early on who the culprit was (well, I wasn’t 100% sure) I had no idea what the motivation for murder was. Ms. Hollon pens some unique twists and adds in a couple subplots to keep the reader entertained. I was thrown a bit when the point of view switched from Miranda to the sheriff, and then switched again to the coroner (who happens to be the sheriff’s wife). The few switches are clearly marked with asterisks so I didn’t feel lost but it’s a technique that isn’t often used in cozy mysteries. On the plus side it does move the story along by providing information that Miranda, as the protagonist, wouldn’t have access to. The author wraps up the murder mystery with an exciting conclusion yet leaves the reader wanting to know more about what happens to Miranda and her fledgling business, which is the sign of a good read!

There are plenty of mouthwatering recipes included at the back of the book and I especially love that the author also includes several moonshine cocktail recipes to pair with the dishes. I just had to try her Dutch Apple Cobbler in a Cast-Iron Skillet recipe. While rustic looking, the flavors are scrumptiously delicious from the cinnamon-y tender apples to the buttery cinnamon sugar crunch coating the rich, biscuit-like topping. The recipe serves a large family (or plenty of leftovers for a few people). I decided to halve the recipe and use my 7-inch cast-iron skillet since there isn’t enough people to share with due to Covid-19 keeping friends and family apart. It worked perfectly and served warm with ice cream, this delectable dessert was pure down-home comfort!

Amazon Synopsis

Miranda Trent has set up a sweet life in a scenic corner of Appalachia—until she stumbles across the trail of a killer . . .

After inheriting her uncle’s Red River Gorge homestead in Eastern Kentucky—smack dab in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest—Miranda comes up with a perfect business plan for summer tourists: pairing outdoor painting classes with sips of local moonshine, followed by a mouthwatering sampler of the best in southern cooking.

To Miranda’s delight, Paint & Shine is a total success—until someone kills the cook. As the town’s outsider, suspicion naturally falls on Miranda. Murdering the best biscuit baker of Red River Gorge is a high crime in these parts. Miranda will have to prove her innocence before she’s moved from farmhouse to jail cell faster than she can say “white lightning” . . .

A special thanks to Cheryl Hollon for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of STILL KNIFE PAINTING! Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Dutch Apple Cobbler in Cast-Iron Skillet

Ingredients

Filling

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
4 pounds Granny Smith apples (about 8 - 10), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Topping

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Instructions

To make the filling:

Heat the oven to 375 degrees (F).
In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, lemon juice and flour, and cook until sugars dissolve, about 5 minutes. Add the apples and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples have slightly softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, and remove from the heat.

To make the topping:

In a medium bowl, use a fork to mix together the flour, 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar, the baking powder, and the salt. Gradually pour in the heavy cream, and using the fork, to bring mixture together into a sticky dough. Scatter pieces of the dough over the top of the apple mixture in the skillet.
In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and the cinnamon. Brush the top of the dough with the melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar.
Place the skillet on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips and bake until top is golden brown and both the filling and the topping are cooked through, about 40 minutes.
Serve warm, preferably with vanilla ice cream.

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Orange Scones

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NACHO AVERAGE MURDER, the seventh book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day, is a delightful visit to Santa Barbara, California! I was especially thrilled when I found out that the protagonist, Robbie Jordan, was making a trip from her Indiana residence back to her hometown. I grew up in the area and it was obvious that Ms. Day researched it thoroughly. She accurately captures the sights, sounds, flavors, and smells of the location, from the beaches to the mission grounds, to the restaurants and Latin-inspired food, to the quaint shops and the historical culture. I enjoyed how she infuses her story with our Southern California Latino heritage via the dishes Robbie ate and the Spanish phrases we use frequently, no matter our ethnic background. It added to the authenticity of the locale.

Robbie’s visit is instigated by her tenth high school class reunion, where the mean girls are still the mean girls. I liked that Robbie feels like she’s moved beyond the self-doubt they inflicted on her in high school and how she reaches out to try to connect. It shows an insight into Robbie and the growth of her character over the years. While in town, she finds some disturbing information that perhaps her mother’s untimely death might have really been a murder connected to her involvement with local environmental activism. It becomes even more suspicious when her mother’s friend dies in the same manner.

Ms. Day weaves an intriguing mystery that involves a possible cold case and questionable environmental agriculture practices. Robbie treads carefully as she begins to ask questions to find out what really happened to her mother and friend since her usual posse of friends and law enforcement isn’t there to back her up. I did feel that Robbie took a few too many chances walking in deserted areas on her own but the author’s tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of her foolhardiness brought some humor to the scenes. As the story develops it becomes clear that people are hiding secrets and as a result, there are lots of suspects to keep the reader guessing. Plenty of clues are sprinkled throughout and I fell for the misdirection thrown in several times. But as the reveal unfolds it all begins to tie together into a cohesive, entertaining read!

While Robbie may not be doing the cooking in this newest installment, she does partake of some amazing meals while in Santa Barbara. Always on the lookout for new recipes to add to her menu at Pans ‘N Pancakes in Indiana, she makes notes of the dishes and takes pictures. Ms. Day shares those recipes with a Southern California flair, at the back of the book. It’s not unusual to have orange trees dotting the backyards in most neighborhoods, so I was drawn to the recipe for Orange Scones. These flaky pastries are easy to mix up and the sweet, orange glaze boosts the wow factor. Scrumptious on their own, a smear of orange marmalade would make them even more delectable!

Amazon Synopsis

Robbie Jordan is temporarily leaving Pans ’N Pancakes, her country store in South Lick, Indiana, to visit Santa Barbara, California—where wildfire smoke tinges the air, but a more immediate danger may lie in wait . . .

While looking forward to her high school reunion back in California, Robbie’s anticipation is complicated by memories of her mother’s untimely death. At first, she has fun hanging out with her old classmates and reuniting with the local flavors—avocados, citrus, fish, and spicy Cali-Mex dishes. But then she gets wind of rumors that her mother, an environmental activist, may not have died of natural causes. With the help of friends, Robbie starts clearing the smoke surrounding the mystery—but what she finds could make it hard to get back to Indiana alive . . .

A special thanks to Maddie Day for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of NACHO AVERAGE MURDER! Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Orange Scones

Ingredients

Scones

1/3 cup sugar
Zest of one large orange
2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, frozen
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg

For the glaze

1-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice (from the orange you just zested)

Instructions

Scones

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F) and set oven rack to the middle position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, gently toss flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a separate small bowl, whisk sour cream and egg until completely smooth. Set aside.
In a large bowl, stir sugar and orange zest together until sugar is moistened and zest is evenly distributed. Pour in flour mixture and toss to combine.
Grate frozen butter into mixture using a medium grater. Using your hands, work in the butter until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Gently stir in sour cream mixture until just about combined. Do not overwork the dough.
Very gently press the dough against the sides of the bowl a few times and form a ball. The dough will be sticky at first but will come together as you form it.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and gently pat into an 8-inch circle about 3/4-inch thick. Use a very sharp knife to cut into eight triangles (like a pizza). transfer triangles onto prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between.
Bake scones for 15 - 17 minutes or until the tops begin to turn golden. Don't take them out too early or they will be too soft. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

For the glaze

While the scones bake, prepare the glaze. Melt butter in a glass dish in the microwave for 30 seconds. Whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange juice until smooth.
Once completely cooled, drizzle the glaze on the scone tops and sides with a spoon.

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Potluck Beans

I’m still celebrating the release of SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION with another giveaway and recipe from my book! Today I’m sharing the recipe for Potluck Rootin’ Tootin’ Beans which were served at a western-themed party my protagonist helped cater with her sister. My dear friend, Janet, always served these Potluck Beans as a side dish at her delicious barbecues where friends gathered to enjoy a fun evening or watch a major sporting event together. (I miss those days where it was safe to hang out with friends!) She kindly allowed me to share her recipe, which I’ve slightly adapted. My family loves to eat this as an entrée with warm cornbread muffins served alongside.

Amazon Synopsis

One glass of cheap California chardonnay cost Emory Gosser Martinez her husband, her job, and her best friend. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of her troubles.

Distraught after discovering the betrayal by her husband and best friend, Tori, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez allows her temper to flare. Several people witness her very public altercation with her ex-friend. To make matters worse, Tori exacts her revenge by posting a fake photo of Emory in a compromising situation, which goes viral on social media. When Tori is found murdered, all signs point to Emory being the prime suspect.

With the police investigation focused on gathering evidence to convict her, Emory must prove her innocence while whipping up batches of cupcakes and buttercream. Delving into the past of her murdered ex-friend, she finds other people had reasons to want Tori dead, including Emory’s own husband. Can she find the killer, or will the clues sprinkled around the investigation point the police back to her?

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SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION

One lucky winner will win their choice of either print or an e-book copy of SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION plus a Sur La Table cupcake kitchen towel and a $5 Amazon gift card. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, June 28, 2020 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!) For those outside the U.S., I’m happy to offer the winner e-book copies of both my books SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION and A GAME OF DECEIT via BookFunnel instead.

Potluck Beans

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef (or substitute ground turkey)
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
1 (3-pound) can pork & beans
1 (15-ounce) can chili beans
1 (15-ounce) can butter beans, drained
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Salt to taste (I don't add but some people might think it necessary)

Garnish Suggestions

Crisply cooked bacon, crumbled
Chopped red or green onions
Grated cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Sliced black olives
Pickled jalapeño slices

Instructions

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground meat with the chopped onion over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off any grease.
Add the remaining ingredients, except the salt, and stir until thoroughly combined.
Bring to a simmer then turn to low and cover the pot. Cook an additional 30 minutes, stirring often.
Remove from heat and season with salt before serving, if desired. Allow guests to garnish their bowl of beans with a variety of choices.

Notes:

If serving for a party, place hot Potluck Beans into a slow cooker and cook on the low setting to keep hot for several hours.
This recipe makes a large batch, enough for 10 guests as an entrée or 20+ servings as a side dish. When I prepare for our family, I divide the prepared beans and freeze half of the portion to enjoy for an easy meal later on. Be sure to thoroughly chill the beans in the refrigerator before placing in the freezer. Either defrost using the microwave option or in the refrigerator overnight. Never defrost at room temperature.

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Praise for Sprinkles of Suspicion:

“…there is enough action, including a few surprises – plus baking – to maintain a steady momentum. An engaging cozy best enjoyed with a plate of cookies.” – Kirkus Reviews

“You are going to love this delicious new cozy mystery! Kim Davis pens characters who come to life and a story you won’t want to put down, not to mention recipes that will make your mouth water.” – Paige Shelton, New York Times Best selling author of Farmer’s Market, Country Cooking School, Dangerous Type, Scottish Bookshop mysteries

“Sparkling prose, a deliciously twisty plot, and a colorful cast of characters make this debut cozy a surefire winner!” – Linda Reilly, author of the Cat Lady Mysteries and Deep Fried Mysteries

“Sprinkles of Suspicion contain all the necessary ingredients for a fun culinary read – a charming heroine, an intriguing mystery and recipes to die for.” – Catherine Bruns, USA Today Best Selling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries

“A delightful cozy with a cool California setting and an imminently likable heroine.” – Ellen Byron, Best Humorous Lefty Awards winner and author of the Agatha Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Cajun Country Mysteries and The Catering Hall Mysteries

“This very well-written first-in-a-series from Kim Davis is a great read, hard to put down, and filled with intense “comeuppances” and realistic family dynamics.” – Kathleen Costa, Kings River Life Magazine

“This story moves along at a great pace and doesn’t lag anywhere. There is always something happening, drama, twists, and yes, cupcakes. So well-plotted, I was totally taken in by the entire story and flabbergasted when the real killer was revealed.” – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

“A good first in a series, Sprinkles of Suspicion was a story that had me so absorbed that I didn’t even realize the sun had gone down until I could no longer see the words.” – Lisa Ks Book Reviews

“This book has all the qualities of a top notch cozy mystery.” – Karen Kenyon, Reviewer”…added ‘sprinkles of delight and flavor’ to this fun cozy-mystery and kept me hooked from the beginning to finish…!” – Diary of a Book Fiend

“This book started off with a bang… This is a well-written, fun mystery and the reader is bound to have a good time with this one!!” – Moonlight Rendezvous

“If you love cozy mysteries, murder stories, and a great plot, then Sprinkles of Suspicion is a must-read.” – Trudi LoPreto, Readers’ Favorite

Using canned convenience products, the ease of making Potluck Beans belies the savory deliciousness of this dish, whether served as a side dish or an entrée. Recipe from cozy mystery Sprinkles of Suspicion by Kim Davis.

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