Cinnamon and Sugar

Daisy Carpenter’s Secret Potato Salad with Dill

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SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING MEWED, the fifth book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series by Bethany Blake, is another terrific addition to one of my favorite series in publication. A wedding planner out of control, competing mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom, adorable dogs galore, and a Harley-riding bridesmaid with a pet pig… Ms. Blake provides a rollicking tale that had me laughing out loud many times. Not only does she weave many humorous situations into a tightly plotted mystery, but she has a creative touch with pun-y business names and pet puns to fit the theme. In addition to an entertaining story, the author has endearing characters like protagonist Daphne Templeton. She’s a free-spirted young woman who holds a PhD in Philosophy, but she’s settling down and has opened a petsitting business and an organic pet treat bakery, Flour Power, in her home town. The characters are like catching up with old friends: both comforting and exciting to find out what’s been happening in their lives. Not only are the human characters well-developed, the four-footed furry friends are just as charming. I know I’ve said it before, but I adore the protagonist’s sidekick Basset hound, Socrates. He has a personality that is just as delightful as any human sidekick and I love each scene he is in.

When Daphne finds the wedding planner murdered on the eve of her sister’s wedding, she needs to step in and calm the bride and groom’s nerves. Except she finds out the groom doesn’t have an alibi, but his bride-to-be, Daphne’s sister, believes in his innocence. The author effortless weaves in the clues and subplots and kept me turning pages long into the night to find out “what happens next.” There were twists and turns in the mystery that I didn’t see coming along with the twists with Daphne’s romantic interest, Detective Jonathan Black. Yet in the end, the threads of the characters and the story are brought together into a satisfying, heartwarming conclusion…that once again has me waiting impatiently for the next book to release.

Ms. Blake includes several cat treat recipes at the back of the book along with a recipe for Daisy’s Secret Potato Salad which was served at the reception. Since my local family are dog people and there was a party coming up (Game of Thrones season opener!), I opted to make the potato salad recipe to share. It received rave reviews and was nicknamed ‘Prince O’Beryn’s Smashed Potatoes’ in keeping with the theme of the party. I liked the use of the red potatoes, which gave the salad a nice texture and some color. The combo of mayo and sour cream provided a nice creamy, tangy flavor which paired beautifully with the fresh dill. The recipe makes a large batch which is perfect for sharing at a gathering or cut the recipe in third to make for a small family dinner. Either way, this will be my new “go-to” potato salad from here on out!

Amazon Synopsis

Daphne Templeton’s sister Piper is getting married—and their mother is getting carried away. She insists on hiring Sylvan Creek’s top event planner, Abigail Sinclair, who proposes an Independence Day theme complete with Statue of Liberty-inspired bridesmaid dresses. With all the bickering among the families, Daphne’s glad her only duty right now is pet-sitting for Abby’s cat, Ms. Peebles. But there are some fireworks coming that aren’t part of the ceremony. The Poconos will never be the same . . .

At a tension-filled dress fitting, the abrasive wedding planner is found strangled by a garter—a weapon both borrowed and blue. Now Daphne’s services are required not just for organizing the big day, but for figuring out whether one of the in-laws is an outlaw . . .

A special thanks to Bethany Blake for providing one winner with a print copy of SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING MEWED & an original painting of Tinkleston the cat. Contest ends Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and limited to U.S. 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!)

Daisy Carpenter's Secret Potato Salad with Dill

Daisy doesn't normally share this recipe, but since I did help to get her cleared of murder and save her restaurant, which was literally "in a pickle", I guess she took pity on me after I kept licking my plate clean at the barn party. She's assured me I can share the recipe with friends, too. I guess the secret is out!

Ingredients

3 pounds red potatoes, unpeeled
3 eggs, hard-boiled and roughly chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons dried dill weed or 4 tablespoons fresh dill weed, minced
1 bunch scallions, chopped, white and green parts
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Boil the potatoes until they are just tender. You don't want them to be mushy. When cool enough to handle, cut them into bite-sized chunks.
Mix together the hard-boiled eggs, mayo, sour cream, vinegar, mustard, dill and white part of the scallions.
Add the potatoes and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle the dish with green scallion tops for a pretty presentation that will wow guests at your next summer picnic or party.

Hint:

If you love pickle flavor, skip the apple cider vinegar and add a few spoonfuls of pickle relish. Yum!

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Biscotti

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SECRET IN THYME is the second book in the Rita Calabrese Mystery series by Maureen Klovers but the first I’ve had a chance to read… and it certainly won’t be my last. I was delighted to find that the characters and setting were easy to get to know without knowing the backstory, so this second book can be read as a standalone. Ms. Klovers brings a strong Italian matriarchal protagonist to the pages via Rita Calabrese. I can’t help but cheer that a competent, vibrant woman of a “certain age” is the heroine of the story. Rita has raised her children, grows an enviable garden, is a cook extraordinaire, and manages to work as an investigative reporter for the Morris County Gazette. Even local law enforcement admire her intellect and investigative skills.

I also admired how the author captures the ebb and flow of Rita’s forty year marriage to Sal. It’s not all champagne and roses especially when Rita’s former flame comes to town, flouting his huge success as a notable historian and author. It causes Rita and Sal to take stock of their lives and their marriage to remember and find what’s important. This brings an emotional element to the story, especially as Rita struggles with her son’s impending nuptials to a woman she doesn’t care for. Ms. Klovers has created memorable characters, each with distinct personalities, and each fitting into the story perfectly. She also weaves in snippets of Italian phrases, helping the reader feel the flavor of that nationality. The author does an admirable job of making the meaning of those phrases quite clear without giving a literal translation.

The murder mystery is set against the backdrop of Acorn Hollow’s three hundred year founding celebration. When the body of a man missing for fifty years is found in the town’s time capsule (which was actually a coffin that the funeral home couldn’t sell) Rita starts asking questions, looking for news to impress her young newspaper editor. Little does she know that she will have to peel back decades of secrets and lies to find the truth. There were suspects galore and instead of trying to guess, I relaxed while I read and let the story unfold. The twists and turns along with the final reveal left me stunned. All I can say is kudos to Ms. Klovers for thinking up such a creative scenario and writing it in such a believable manner. I’m all set to catch up on the first book and look forward to reading future installments in this entertaining cozy mystery series!

Rita is quite the accomplished cook and baker. Not only does she provide mouthwatering meals for her family, she also bakes treats to tempt her interviewees to spill their secrets. One of her favorite tempting recipes is Chocolate Peanut Butter Biscotti and although Rita might share a lot with her friends, she also manages to eat several pieces herself. It’s too good to pass up. A super crunchy, twice baked cookie that is made to dip in coffee, tea, milk, or dessert wine. The addition of the layer of chocolate makes it impossible to resist. I loved that it makes enough to generously share and it can easily be made ahead of time and stored until ready to gift or served to friends who drop in for coffee and gossip.

Amazon Synopsis

Rita Calabrese thought she had mastered her second act. Long acknowledged as Acorn Hollow’s best cook and most lovable (or, as a few ignorant souls might say say, overbearing) Italian-American matriarch, she has more recently become its most celebrated journalist and sleuth too.

But on the eve of Rita’s fortieth wedding anniversary—and the town’s tercentenary—the sudden arrival of two very different men threatens Rita’s comfortable existence. First, her husband’s shady cousin shows up on their doorstep. Then, Rita’s old high school beau suddenly returns after a fifty-year absence, and Rita is assigned to interview him. Stefano’s a successful historian now and he’s still bellissimo—but he’s also hiding something.

When the town’s time capsule is flung open to reveal a toothless skeleton, Rita hopes that solving this cold case will be just the diversion she needs. But if identifying the victim proves difficult, managing the men in her life becomes nearly impossible. A cagey ex-flame and boorish, cigar-smoking houseguest are enough to deal with, but it’s another thing entirely when her husband, normally so skeptical of Rita’s nose for crime, begins insisting his recently deceased grappa-swilling, red-meat-loving septuagenarian friends did not die of heart attacks, but were murdered. Only one thing’s certain—if she can survive it, this will be an anniversary to remember.

A special thanks to Maureen Klovers for providing a winner with their choice of either print or an e-book copy of A SECRET IN THYME. Contest ends Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and print is limited to U.S. 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 Peanut Butter Biscotti

Biscotti was the Roman Empire’s version of hard tack—its legions marched to battle with bellies full of biscotti—which is proof positive that Italians do everything better! In modern-day Italy, they are generally referred to as “cantucci”— “biscotti” is a broader, more generic term for a hard cookie or bread.

As the name suggests, biscotti are twice-cooked (“Bis” meant “twice” in latin, and “cotto”—the singular of “cotti”—means “cooked” in modern Italian), and this recipe requires you to do just that. The upside is that you end up with a wonderfully crunchy cookie to dip in your cappuccino or dessert wine, and they will last far longer than your typical chewy American cookie.

Peanut butter and chocolate are not particularly authentic flavorings, but this is one of my favorite recipes and--judging by all of the information I’ve extracted from neighbors I’ve plied with these biscotti—one of Acorn Hollow’s favorite recipes too!

Ingredients

2-3/4 cups flour
1-3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup water
4 cups dark chocolate chips, divided

Instructions

Combine eggs, peanut butter, and water in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then add dry ingredient mixture to wet ingredients, stirring to fully incorporate. Then stir in one cup of chocolate chips.
Line cookie sheet with buttered parchment paper. Divide dough, which should be sticky and relatively dry for cookie dough, into two halves. Form each half into a log, approximately three inches in width and one-half inch in height, on the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with back of spoon.
Bake logs at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Then remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes. Turn down oven temperature to 300 degrees. Slice logs on the bias (diagonally) into 3/4 inch thick slices. Then arrange slices, cut side up, on the cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip sliced biscotti so that the other side gets toasted and bake another 10 minutes at 300 degrees.
Let biscotti cool on a wire rack. Once biscotti have cooled somewhat, melt 3 cups of chocolate chips in a double boiler (or microwave according to package directions), stirring constantly. Then dredge one side of each biscotti in the melted chocolate (or drizzle over twice-baked cookie) and return to the wire rack to dry. Let harden overnight.

Tip

Spritz your hands with non-stick cooking spray before forming dough into logs.
I used mini chocolate chips in the dough and regular chips for dipping.

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Marygene’s Berry Crumb Bars

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SOUTHERN SASS AND KILLER CRAVINGS is the first book in the brand new Marygene Brown Mystery series by Kate Young. I enjoyed being introduced to the protagonist, Marygene, and her family, along with spending time with them at The Peach Diner in Peach Cove Island. The author captures the southernisms and Georgia setting realistically and had me hearing, smelling, and thinking I was right there, visiting Peach Cove. This new cozy mystery is a bit different than most cozies in that the author tackles the difficult subject of domestic abuse by making Marygene a survivor. She handles the portrayal with great sensitivity without detracting from the overall mystery. Ms. Young effectively shows how Marygene grows and develops while dealing with the aftermath. Despite the subject matter and the murder of the town’s lothario, there is plenty of humor provided through the ghost of Marygene’s mother showing up to make amends. Marygene’s best friend, Betsy, also brings a lightheartedness, which makes me appreciate the care the author has taken to develop her protagonist and the supporting characters.

When Marygene’s sister, Jena Lynn, is accused of murder by poisoning one of their diner’s customers, the family must pull together to clear her name. I enjoyed that despite the status of being a half-sibling to both her brother and sister, Marygene jumps in with complete support. Marygene is also finding her way with her biological father, Eddie, whom she has been on the outs for a long time. As sheriff, Eddie doesn’t want his daughter to get involved, especially when danger seems to be moving in. It was heartwarming to see that despite the danger, Marygene does all she can to show her love by investigating. As she starts asking questions, it becomes clear that many people had reasons to hate the man. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and the exciting conclusion, which includes Marygene’s mama, was an edge-of-your-seat read!

As owners of The Peach Diner, Marygene and her sister bake and serve mouthwatering dishes. Ms. Young provides several recipes at the back of the book, and they all sound delicious. I tried her recipe for Marygene’s Berry Crumb Bars and oh my goodness, they were oh so yummy! An easy to make dough serves as both the crust and crumb topping, while a generous amount of juicy berries provide a jammy filling. The addition of a bit of lemon juice, zest, and cardamom gives the dessert a boost in flavor. My test tasters all gave this two thumbs up as they went back for seconds!

Amazon Synopsis

Life has always been sweet on Georgia’s Peach Cove Island, but a case of murder has Marygene Brown down in the pits . . .

For generations, the women of the Brown family on Peach Cove Island have been known for their Southern sass and sweet homemade desserts at their beloved Peach Diner. Since their mother’s passing two years ago, Marygene has been stuck in Atlanta while her sister Jena Lynn has been running the family business. Now Marygene has left her husband and returned to her hometown, where she can almost feel Mama’s presence.

But all is not peachy back home. Marygene has barely tied on an apron when a diner regular drops dead at the counter. When it turns out the old man’s been poisoned, Jena Lynn is led away in handcuffs and the family eatery is closed. Now, to save her sister and the diner, Marygene must find the real killer. With some startling assistance from her Mama’s spirit, Marygene will be serving up a special order of just desserts . . .

The author is hosting her own giveaway:

A PRE-ORDER CONTEST with fabulous prizes! A Coach Bag with matching wristlet and $120 in gift cards plus autographed copies of the book!

Click on the link to visit the contest site:

– https://www.kateyoungbooks.com/pre-order-contest.html

* Grand Prize Winner receives a gorgeous Coach Avenue Tote and Coach wristlet (value $450) and a $100 gift card to either Amazon or B&N.

* 2 Runners up will receive a $10 gift card to either Amazon or B&N and an autographed paperback copy of Southern Sass and Killer Cravings.

Marygene’s Berry Crumb Bars

Ingredients

For the dough

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and diced
Zest of 1 lemon
1 egg, lightly beaten

For the Filling

5 cups berries (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 × 13 inch baking pan.
In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter until it resembles cornmeal. Then add the egg and lemon zest. The dough will be crumbly. Pat half of the dough into the prepared pan. Place the pan and the remainder of the dough in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
In a bowl, mix gently together berries, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla extract. In a large Ziploc bag or bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. Pour over the berries and fold gently.
Spread the berry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble the remaining dough over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares. Refrigerate leftovers.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 18 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
May 18 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
May 18 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 18 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
May 18 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
May 19 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
May 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
May 19 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE POST WITH PICTURES
May 19 – Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW
May 20 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
May 20 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
May 20 – ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ – SPOTLIGHT
May 20 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
May 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
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May 21 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 21 – Books Direct – SPOTLIGHT
May 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
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May 22 – 4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ – SPOTLIGHT
May 22 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – RECIPE POST WITH PICTURES
May 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
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May 23 – ❧Defining Ways❧ – RECIPE POST WITH PICTURES
May 23 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
May 24 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
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May 24 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
May 24 – Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author – SPOTLIGHT
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May 25 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT
May 26 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
May 26 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
May 26 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
May 26 – That’s What She’s Reading – SPOTLIGHT

I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mojito Cookies

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A DEADLY FEAST, the ninth book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette, is like a tropical holiday vacation without getting on an airplane during the hectic Thanksgiving season. The author provides an amazing assortment of delectable dishes, a gathering of family, entertainment, a wedding, and …murder, all beneath the sunny skies of Key West, Florida. Protagonist Hayley Snow is preparing for her nuptials to Detective Nathan Bransford. Most brides would not be joining a seafood tour group in order to write one more article for her employer the week of Thanksgiving. And definitely not mere days before her wedding on top of trying to get her houseboat home remodeled so she and her groom have a place to live. But, Hayley is a hard worker and dedicated to her job and joins the group. Besides that, her groom is on a special case so Hayley isn’t able to spend time with him and wants her job to keep her mind off of her worries for his safety. I have so enjoyed watching Hayley’s journey and personal growth throughout the series and A DEADLY FEAST is my favorite of the bunch. While it can be read as a standalone, I highly suggest starting at the beginning in order to enjoy the character development that occurs, as in real life, with Hayley alongside her family and friends.

When a death occurs at the end of Hayley’s seafood walking tour, her natural investigative curiosity is intrigued. When one of the chefs on the tour asks Hayley to look into the death, worried someone might have deliberately killed the woman to sabotage her restaurant, she can’t help but get involved. Except her groom has asked her to stay out of any dangerous situations because there’s some bad stuff happening in town. I admire Ms. Burdette for how she creatively manages to keep Hayley on the fine line of honoring her groom’s concern while at the same time finding out information. In past books, Hayley has put herself in danger to find the truth, but she’s learned to using her intellect with less risk. Despite that, the author manages to put plenty of excitement into the story and provide enough suspects to keep the plot moving. There was a unique twist that I didn’t see coming and the heartwarming conclusion makes me want to book a flight for Key West immediately!

A DEADLY FEAST is a drool-worthy book and Ms. Burdette provides the reader with recipes at the back of the book to make those drools a reality. Key West screams of mojitos so I was drawn to trying the Mojito Cookies. These (almost) shortbread-style cookies incorporate fresh mint and fresh limes, while a sweet, lime-infused icing is the proverbial “cherry on top”. I loved the light green color of the cookies and the refreshing flavor is perfect for warm summer days!

Amazon Synopsis

Key West food critic Hayley Snow scents-es something fishy when a customer falls stone-crab cold dead on a seafood tasting tour.

Thanksgiving is nearly here, and Key West food critic Hayley Snow has just one more assignment to put to bed for Key Zest magazine before she gets to celebrate with her family and her police officer fiancé, Nathan Bransford. Then, just days later, wedding bells will ring—if death doesn’t toll first.

The sweet potatoes and stuffing will have to wait when Hayley picks up a distraught phone call from her friend, Analise Smith. On the last stop of a seafood tasting tour run by Analise, one of the customers collapsed—dead. With the police on the verge of shutting down the tour—and ruining Analise’s business—Hayley can hardly refuse her friend’s entreaties to investigate.

As if wedding jitters and family strife weren’t enough for Hayley to worry about, there’s crusty pastry chef Martha Hubbard, whose key lime pie may have been the murder weapon—but did she poison her own pie or was she framed? As the hours to Turkey Day tick away, the pressure cooker is on for Hayley to serve up the culprit on a silver platter in A Deadly Feast, national bestselling author Lucy Burdette’s taste-tempting ninth Key West Food Critic mystery.

A special thanks to Lucy Burdette for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of A DEADLY FEAST. Contest ends Monday, May 21, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. 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!)

Mojito Cookies

These cookies are a lovely pale green and would be excellent as a spring dessert or as part of a Christmas cookie platter. You can make the icing or not, as you prefer. But Hayley's tasters loved the frosting with its subtle rum flavoring!

Ingredients

For the cookies:

1-1/2 teaspoons lime zest (from 1 lime)
1 bunch fresh mint, enough for one tablespoons chopped (or more to taste)
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder (low-sodium works fine)
Pinch salt

For the rum lime glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon light rum (I used silver rum to keep the glaze white)

Instructions

For the cookies:

Zest the lime, reserving the fruit for the icing. Wash and dry the mint and chop it into very small pieces.
Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the vanilla, egg, lime zest, and mint and mix well.
Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt together, and then add this to the butter/sugar mixture and mix on low speed only until combined.
On a sheet of parchment paper, shape the dough into a log, cover with the parchment, and refrigerate for two hours or more.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
Place a second sheet of parchment on a baking sheet. Slice chilled dough into 1/4-inch slices and transfer to prepared pan.
Bake 10 - 12 minutes, or until bottoms and edges are a light golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the rum lime glaze:

Mix the powdered sugar with the lime juice and rum. Beat until smooth. Ice the cookies once they are cool.
You can adjust the amounts of lime versus rum to please your palate. And add more sugar if it seems too runny.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes:

If you want a stronger mint flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon mint extract to the dough.
Use the method of lightly spooning flour into a measuring cup and leveling.

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Piled High Strawberry Pie

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THE DIVA SWEETENS THE PIE, the twelfth book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series, is a sweet, satisfying cozy mystery! I love how the author starts each chapter off with a pie advice column question. You can always count on the protagonist, Sophie Winston, to provide a great answer while her nemesis, Natasha (who claims to be top Diva) provides advice that is best not followed. Sophie is one of those sweet, caring women who anyone would love to call a friend. Natasha, on the other hand, is abrasive and self-absorbed. However, I’ll have to admit over the course of the series, she’s grown on me and made me more likely to overlook her faults. Ms. Davis has created several memorable characters which have made this such an endearing and enduring series to her fans!

With the annual Pie Festival in full swing, Sophie finds herself involved in yet another murder when the celebrity chef falls face first into a butterscotch cream pie. Her good friend, the organizer of the festival, wants the crime solved so that the show can go on. Ms. Davis weaves a tight tale of long ago slights, an old murder, a young girl who begs Sophie to free her mother from prison, and pies galore. The author draws the reader in and keeps you turning pages with well-sprinkled clues and suspects to keep you guessing. A suspenseful conclusion wrapped up the threads of the story with a satisfying and sweet ending!

If you’re a “people of the pie vs. clan of the cake” like I am, then this book is for you! Filled with mouthwatering descriptions of all sorts of pies, the author satisfies the reader’s cravings with several pie recipes at the back of the book, both dessert pies and savory pies. As I read through the recipes, I really wanted to make them all! In the end, I allowed my granddaughter to choose the pie to celebrate her half birthday which lands on Pi Day. We started the tradition when she was three and have continued for the last eleven years. Since strawberries are a huge favorite in her house, she chose the Piled High Strawberry Pie and it was the perfect choice for springtime. And she even took after Sophie and Nina by consuming the pie not only for dessert, but breakfast too. I loved the ease and the extra flavor and texture the graham cracker crust brought to the pie. The combination of both fresh and cooked strawberries added to the appeal, while sweetened whipped cream was the crowning touch to this beautiful jewel-toned Piled High Strawberry Pie. The perfect way to celebrate the best of spring!

Amazon Synopsis

Nothing heats up Old Town quite like the annual Pie Festival, and this year is no exception, especially since Sophie’s professional rival, Natasha Smith, is barred from participating. Sophie, meanwhile, has been asked to oversee the pie eating contest. But the drama really rolls out when celebrity judge, Patsy Lee Presley, host of television’s most popular cooking show, bites the crust during the competition, and Sophie’s friends are suspected of the crime.

As the folks of Old Town dish, the tough truth about Patsy’s meteoric rise to domestic stardom begins to leak. It turns out that Patsy’s sweet exterior hid a secret sour side, which alienated many of her closest allies, including a jilted ex-husband, a bitter ex-mentor, and a jaded ex-best friend. With the festival falling apart, and her friends in danger of being boxed up for murder, Sophie must cobble together the clues and stop a flakey fiend from serving up any more deadly desserts.

A special thanks to Krista Davis for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of THE DIVA SWEETENS THE PIE. Contest ends Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. 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!)

Piled High Strawberry Pie

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

1 8-inch pie pan
9 sheets honey graham crackers (or 4.8 ounces graham cracker crumbs)
4 tablespoons butter

Pie Filling

2 pounds strawberries
1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons cornstarch
1-1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Sweetened Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Graham Cracker Crust

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).
Melt the butter. Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until they are fine crumbs. With the food processor running, pour in the butter. Press into the pie pan with your fingers.
Bake 8 - 12 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

Pie Filling

Wash the strawberries, hull, and cut into quarters lengthwise. Place 2 cups of the strawberries in a heavy-bottomed pan, add the sugar, and mash with a potato masher, leaving some clumps of strawberries. Add the cornstarch and mix until dissolved. Stir in the water and lemon juice and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Cook at a simmer (you may need to turn the heat down a bit) and cook until it thickens and turns red, approximately 2 minutes.
Pour enough of the uncooked strawberries into the prepared pie pan to cover the bottom in a single layer. The should not be perfectly arranged. Some should be turned up and others down.
Ladle 1/3 of the hot strawberries over them. Add another layer of the uncooked strawberries, mounding them toward the center. Ladle another 1/3 of the cooked strawberries over them. Add the remaining uncooked strawberries, heaping them toward the middle. Ladle the remaining hot strawberries over top, slowly. (If you pour it too fast it may overflow.) Try to cover all the bare strawberries.
Refrigerate until completely chilled and set

Sweetened Whipped Cream

Beat the cream until it begins to hold a shape. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, and beat until stiff.
Serve the pie with sweetened whipped cream. If you're feeling festive, pipe the whipped cream around the edges for a knockout appearance.

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Lemon Tea Cakes

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SIFTING THROUGH CLUES, the eighth book in the Cook Book Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber, captures the spirit of all that is great about cozy mysteries. An engaging, amateur sleuth with a crime for her to solve; memorable characters; delightful settings; and mouth-watering food! The charming town of Crystal Cove, California is hosting the Book Club Bonanza week-long event and the protagonist, Jenna Hart, is preparing all sorts of displays, crafts, and food at her shop, the Cookbook Nook and Café. As so often happens when I’ve read the Cook Book Nook mysteries in the past, I end up having a list of books mentioned in the story that I want to buy. I love how Ms. Gerber weaves appropriate titles into the theme of events happening in the town. Jenna is surrounded by a good cast of family and friends and I enjoy how the author has not only developed the protagonist, but the supporting characters as well.

When a member of Jenna’s Mystery Maven book club is found murdered during their progressive dinner, everyone looks to Jenna to help solve it. The town’s Chief of Police, Cinnamon, happens to be Jenna’s good friend but Cinnamon doesn’t want her help, causing a strain on the friendship. But as Jenna hears people talk, she can’t help but start piecing the puzzle together and getting involved. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing with clever twists to the plot. The author provides an exciting conclusion and the wrap-up is heartwarming, bringing the story of family and friendship full circle.

All sorts of yummy goodies come out of the kitchen of the Cookbook Nook’s café and the author includes multiple recipes at the back of the book, both sweet and savory, and they all sound fantastic! Lemon is a favorite flavor in my family and I was drawn to the recipe for Lemon Teacakes, especially since we’ve had a bumper crop of lemons this year. I like that the batter is baked in small or mini loaf pans, so that this delectable treat can easily be shared. Quite some time ago I purchased a mini bundt cake pan which I (finally) used with some of the batter. I loved how elegant they turned out, but the mini loaf pans worked just as well. Lemon Tea Cakes have layers of bright, sunny flavor thanks to plenty of lemon juice and zest used in the sweet quick bread batter, glaze, and frosting. Summer in a dessert!

Amazon Synopsis

Book clubs from all over have descended on Crystal Cove to celebrate the library’s Book Club Bonanza week, and Jenna Hart has packed the Cookbook Nook with juicy reads and tasty cookbooks. But she’s most excited about spending an evening with the Mystery Mavens and their moveable feast, when they will go from house to house to share different culinary treats and discuss the whodunit they’re all reading. It’s all good food and fun for the savvy armchair detectives, until one of the members of the group is found murdered at the last stop on the tour.

As if that weren’t enough to spoil her appetite, Jenna discovers that all the evidence points to her friend Pepper as being the guilty party. And with Pepper’s chief-of-police daughter too close to the case to be impartial, Jenna knows she’ll have to step in to help clear her friend’s name before a bitter injustice sends her to jail. Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before Pepper’s goose is cooked . . .

A special thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing a winner with their choice of one of the following books: Final Sentence; Inherit the Word; Stirring the Plot; Fudging the Books; Grilling the Subject; Pressing the Issue; Wreath Between the Lines. Contest ends Sunday, April 28, 2019 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!)

Lemon Tea Cakes

From Jenna: As promised by Sweet Pea Bakery, the food truck that was serving high tea near Azure Park, I found this recipe on its website. It is moist and delicious and would make lovely gifts, wrapped in cellophane bags and ribbons. You can use small or mini loaf pans. If using the latter, be sure you reduce the baking time.

Ingredients

For the cake:

2 cups granulated sugar
5 tablespoons lemon zest, approximately 3 - 4 lemons
8 ounces unsalted butter, melted
4 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup lemon juice, no pulp, no seeds
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the syrup:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice, no pulp, no seeds

For the frosting:

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 - 4 tablespoons lemon juice, no pulp, no seeds

Instructions

For the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Spray 5 - 6 small loaf pans or 10 - 12 mini loaf pans with nonstick oil.
Put the sugar and lemon zest in a bowl and stir well to let the lemon oil mix with the sugar.
Cream the butter and lemon/sugar mixture. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat to combine.
In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In another small bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, buttermilk, and vanilla
Add half of the flour mixture to the eggs/lemon/sugar mixture and then add half of the buttermilk mixture. Repeat and beat until smooth.
Divide the batter evenly between the pans, filling about 2/3 full.
Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Reduce baking time if using mini loaf pans.
When the cakes are done, remove from oven and let cool for about 15 - 20 minutes before removing from pan.

For the syrup:

Meanwhile, while the cake is cooling, make the syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to simmer and cook until the syrup thickens, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
After turning the cakes out of their pans, set on a tray lined with parchment paper and poke holes in the bottom of the cakes using a skewer. Then drizzle half of the syrup over the holes. Turn the cakes over and drizzle the remaining syrup over the tops of the cakes. Smooth with the back of a spoon. Let cool.

For the frosting:

While the cakes cool completely, make the frosting. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice to make a smooth but thin frosting. Add more lemon juice or water, if necessary. Pour the frosting over the tops of the cakes and let the frosting firm up. Serve immediately or cool in the refrigerator.

Notes: