Cinnamon and Sugar

Mabel’s Chocolate-Covered Cherry Bonbons

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PLAYING WITH BONBON FIRE, the second book in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series by Dorothy St. James is a sweet addition to a yummy series! Protagonist Charity “Penn” has been in Camellia Beach for five months, learning to make the decadent chocolates her maternal grandmother was famous for. Except it’s not as easy as it appears and Penn is struggling to become the chocolatier her deceased grandmother wanted her to be. Penn has had an emotionally devoid life having been abandoned as a newborn by first her unwed mother (and the mystery of who her mother is, is a theme that runs through both book one and two) and then her young father. Raised by her wealthy paternal grandmother who wanted nothing to do with her, Penn has learned to protect herself with a prickly exterior and hasn’t ever made friends. However, being in Camellia Beach has softened her some and the townspeople are teaching her to open up and accept their friendship and help. But she obviously has lots of baggage and I’m glad to see that the author is allowing Penn to grow.

Penn is also getting involved in her town’s inaugural Summer Solstice Beach Music Festival. She has convinced her half-sister’s ex-boyfriend, Bixby, to headline the music show but trouble seems to have followed him in to town. When one of the town’s older band singers is found murdered, Penn is sure Bixby was the target. After all, he has a stalker that has followed him across country. With the success of the town’s festivities on the line and her determination to keep Bixby alive, Penn starts asking questions, trying to find out who killed the singer. As she digs deeper, a forty-year-old mystery comes to the forefront that might shed light on who her mother is. But so many of the older townspeople are closing ranks and hiding secrets that Penn feels like an outsider again. With time running out and her chocolate shop a target for vandals, can Penn find the truth? There were plenty of viable suspects and I enjoyed how the old mystery was woven into the current day mystery. I loved getting to know the characters surrounding Penn and the southern sayings they throw out. The sayings puzzle Penn and I have to admit me too, but there’s always someone willing to translate and clarify what was meant… that provided some laugh out loud moments. The finale was a surprise and the author pulls the various threads together and answers the questions Penn has, yet leaves a door open for more changes coming to Penn’s life. I’m anxious to find out what happens next and if Penn’s chocolatier ability will blossom.

While Penn may be struggling with the art of chocolate, there are several townspeople who were each taught a recipe by Penn’s grandmother and they in turn are trying to teach her. There are so many delectable chocolates and truffles mentioned… it will be difficult for a die-hard chocoholic to read through the book without having a few pieces of chocolate close by. Fortunately, Ms. St. James includes several recipes at the back of the book. Chocolate-Covered Cherry Bonbons are quintessential to any assorted candy box so I couldn’t wait to try these and share with family and friends. I found them even easier to make than I thought they would be after reading the recipe. And while I’ve never been a huge fan of this type of candy (I’m more of a dark chocolate with nuts and crunchy stuff type of gal and typically skip the chocolates with fruit) Mabel’s Chocolate-Covered Cherry Bonbons converted me! Maybe it’s the freshness of the fondant covered cherries that are enrobed with chocolate, or the fact that the fondant isn’t chemical laden but instead relies on sweet butter and corn syrup. Whatever the reason, I’m happy that this recipe is now a part of my repertoire of candies and I’ll be making them again and again for special occasions or to treat myself!

Amazon Synopsis

Chocoholic Charity Penn must smoke out the killer to stop her newly inherited beachside chocolate shop from going up in flames in Dorothy St. James’ decadent follow-up to Asking for Truffle.

Chocolate shop owner Charity Penn is finally settling into life in the quirky South Carolina seaside town of Camellia Beach cooking up chocolate treats. She’s even helped organize the town’s lively beach music festival which has brought rollicking crowds eager to dance the Carolina shag. That is, until one of the band’s lead singers is found dead beside a beach bonfire.

While also trying to balance the amorous attention of music star Bixby Lewis, in town for the festival, and her quest to perfect a new hot flavored bonbon, Charity dives into the investigation. Though it’s more spice than sugar when she discovers a threatening note, comes across decades of age-old secrets, and Bixby comes into the line of fire when a gas grill explodes on the deck of a beachfront house.

Now Charity must turn up the heat and catch the killer before her chance melts away in Playing With Bonbon Fire, the delightful second Southern Chocolate Shop mystery served up just right.

A special thank you to Dorothy St. James for providing one lucky winner a hardcover copy of PLAYING WITH BONBON FIRE! Contest ends Monday, March 19, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Mabel's Chocolate-Covered Cherry Bonbons

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 pinch salt
2 cups 10x powdered sugar
36 maraschino cherries
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Combine butter, corn syrup, and salt. Add sugar and mix until smooth. This makes a fondant. Chill in refrigerator for 1/2 hour.
Drain cherries and let dry on paper towels.
Flatten a small amount of fondant in your hand and wrap around a cherry (completely cover the cherry or juice will leak out and make dipping difficult). Repeat with remaining fondant and cherries. Refrigerate fondant-covered cherries and let harden.
Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave. (To melt in microwave: In microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate in batches on 50% power for 2 minutes. If not melted, continue to heat for 30-second intervals. It won't look completely melted. Stir until smooth.)
Dip fondant-wrapped cherries into melted chocolate. Coat completely. (Gently reheat chocolate as necessary if it thickens too much while dipping.)
Set on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Makes about 36 bonbons.

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Sinfully Chocolate Tea Bread

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Congratulations and happy release day to Laura Childs! It’s always a pleasure visiting Charleston, South Carolina on the pages and catching up with Theodosia Browning and the crew at the Indigo Tea Shop! From the inviting cover of PLUM TEA CRAZY, the nineteenth book in the Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs, to the very last page, this brand new release kept me entertained and reading late into the night. This latest installment finds Theodosia and her good friend and tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, participating in the city’s Gaslights and Galleons Parade event. Sailing ships from around the world are converging on Charleston and the pair have a bird’s-eye view at one of the spectacular mansions situated on the route. When a gruesome tragedy happens during the event, Theodosia jumps in right away. She is a take charge type of gal and the action starts right off the bat. When it’s determined that it was a murder and not a horrible accident, Theodosia gets involved in solving the case after her host begs her to.

Her hunt takes her on searches for antique weapons, high society fashion shows, a Japanese art gallery, and a “Hair Ball” black-tie event benefiting homeless cats. Theodosia is one busy woman with all the special events going on all over the city along with hosting several events at the Indigo Tea Shop, including the Plum Blossom Tea event! I enjoyed the descriptions of the events and could envision the settings perfectly. Theodosia’s supportive friends are there to help her out from Drayton to Haley, the talented shop’s chef, and Haley’s young nephew, Jamie. The supporting characters are well thought out and add fun to the storyline. Theodosia’s relationship with Detective Pete Riley is progressing and I find it refreshing that he doesn’t demand that she stop snooping. He accepts her for who she is… although I wish he’d tell her to stop running down dark alleys late at night! The exciting, suspenseful reveal surprised me with how it played out but it wrapped up the plot and subplots nicely. I was greatly entertained by this newest installment in this series and look forward to the next one!

Ms. Childs provides several delectable tea time recipes at the back of the book along with Tea Time Tips and links for Tea Resources (which you’ll want to bookmark). She has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for Sinfully Chocolate Tea Bread. This super easy to mix up quick bread is a delightful treat and perfect with a pot of tea! I loved the crunch of the walnuts with the dark chocolate bread. The use of cake flour kept the crumb nice and light along with a judicious hand on the butter. Not only is this a yummy afternoon tea time snack, I decided that Sinfully Chocolate Tea Bread is delicious toasted and enjoyed at breakfast too.

Amazon Synopsis

While viewing the harbor’s Gaslights and Galleons Parade from the widow’s walk of Timothy Neville’s Charleston mansion, local banker Carson Lanier seemingly tumbles over a narrow railing, then plunges three stories to his death. But a tragic accident becomes something much more sinister when it’s discovered that the victim was first shot with a bolt from a crossbow.

At the request of the mansion owner, Theodosia investigates the tragedy and is soon neck deep in suspects. An almost ex-wife, a coworker, a real estate partner–all had motives for killing the luckless banker, but one resorted to murder to settle accounts.

A special thank you to Laura Childs for providing one lucky winner a hardcover copy of PLUM TEA CRAZY! Contest ends Monday, March 12, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Sinfully Chocolate Tea Bread

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup powdered cocoa, unsweetened
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

Cream together butter, sugar, and egg.
Sift the cake flour, baking soda, salt, and powdered cocoa.
Gently stir in the flour and cocoa mixture, the buttermilk, and walnuts.
When ingredients are well mixed, pour into a greased loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until silver knife comes out clean.
Yields one large loaf.

Optional Drizzle

If you wish to drizzle a glaze over the Chocolate Tea Bread, mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons water until smooth. Drizzle and let set for 15 minutes before slicing.

Note

You may also bake the batter in mini loaf pans. Divide the batter between 3 mini pans and bake 35 - 40 minutes.
I think some mini chocolate chips would be yummy in this recipe too!

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Lucy’s White Almond Cookies

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It’s a pleasure to be hosting HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE by Tina Kashian with the Great Escapes Blog Tour! This first book in the brand new Kebob Kitchen Mystery series is a delightful insider’s view into a first generation American growing up in the household of immigrant parents and their Mediterranean restaurant in Ocean Crest, New Jersey. Lucy Berberian “escaped” from her upbringing after earning a law degree. While she loves her family she also felt the need to get away from their traditional views, especially on marriage, after her failed relationship with Azad Zakarian while in college. But after losing her job in Philadelphia, she ends up back in her family’s restaurant, put back to work the minute she returns. She’s never been able to tell her parents “no”. It doesn’t take long for Lucy to have a run-in with the new health inspector, who just so happens to be her high school nemesis. When the health inspector dies shortly after eating at the Kebab Kitchen, Lucy’s father begs her to clear their name and save the family business, because “family helps family”.

HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE is a story about coming home and discovering yourself. It’s a story about finding happiness where you least expect it. And a story about accepting your family for who they are and not for who you’d like them to be. I enjoyed learning about the different culture that Lucy grew up in and I loved all the mentions of Armenian and Mediterranean foods! Lucy and her family have good character development and made me want to spend time with them to get to know them better. Lucy’s best friend, Katie, is a worthy side-kick and provides great support. The mystery was well plotted and had a good pace. There were several people who had good reason to want the health inspector dead and the author explores the potential of each suspect. With an exciting finale, each of the threads of the plot and subplots are woven together leaving the reader well satisfied.

The author, Tina Kashian, actually grew up in her family’s Armenian restaurant. She shares several of her family’s recipes at the back of the book, all which sound fabulous. Of course being the cookie type of person I am, I was drawn to Lucy’s White Almond Cookies. These shortbread-style cookies only have 4 ingredients, plus whole almonds for garnishing and are a breeze to mix up. I was lucky enough to have been the recipient of fresh-roasted almonds from one of the staff at my granddaughter’s school (his family owns an almond orchard in Northern California!) and I loved the extra crunch they provided to the cookies. If you wanted to make these “all white”, blanched almonds would be nice too. Don’t miss out on trying these melt-in-your-mouth White Almond Cookies!

Amazon Synopsis

When Lucy Berberian quits her Philadelphia law firm and heads home to Ocean Crest, she knows what she’s getting—the scent of funnel cake, the sight of the wooden roller coaster, and the tastes of her family’s Mediterranean restaurant. But murder wasn’t on the menu . . .

Things are slow in the off-season in this Jersey Shore town, but Lucy doesn’t mind. She doesn’t even mind waitressing at the Kebab Kitchen. Her parents have put in a new hummus bar, with every flavor from lemon to roasted red pepper. It’s fun to see their calico cat again, and to catch up with her old BFF, who’s married to a cop now.

She could do without Heather Banks, though. The Gucci-toting ex-cheerleader is still as nasty as she was back in high school . . . and unfortunately, she’s just taken over as the local health inspector. Just minutes after eating at the Kebab Kitchen—where she’s tallied up a whole list of bogus violations—she falls down dead in the street. Word on the grapevine is it’s homicide, and Lucy’s the number one suspect.

A special thanks to Tina Kashian for providing one winner with a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE. Contest ends Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The contest is administered by the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour and the winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Lucy's White Almond Cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup (6 ounces) unsalted clarified butter (ghee)
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1-1/4 cups sugar
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Almonds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 275 degrees (F).
Combine butter, shortening, and sugar and mix.
Add flour and mix well.
Take two full teaspoons of dough and roll into a rope, then make a circle and pinch the seam together.
Lightly press an almond into the seam. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Arrange on cookie sheets and bake for 20 minutes until lightly golden on the bottom.
Transfer cookies from baking sheet to cooling racks to cool.

Notes

Makes about three dozen cookies

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 26 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 26 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

February 27 – The Self-Rescue Princess – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 27 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

February 28 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW

February 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

February 28 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT

March 1 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW

March 1 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW

March 2 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

March 3 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

March 3 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

March 5 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

March 5 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

March 5 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – GUEST POST

March 6 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

March 6 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

March 6 – Mysteries with Character – INTERVIEW

March 7 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

March 7 – Book Babble – REVIEW

March 7 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST

March 8 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

March 8 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 9 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

March 9 – Varietats – REVIEW

March 10 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

March 10 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

March 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

March 11 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

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

Cinnamon Roll-Overs Dog Treats

I am so happy to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour and sharing PAWPRINTS & PREDICAMENTS with you!

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While I love to read and read quite voraciously, certain stressful situations make it difficult for me to concentrate so I typically don’t even try to pick up a book… such as flights and having the flu with a fever. One year ago when Bethany Blake released her first book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series, I just happened to start reading it shortly before I boarded a flight. Imagine my amazement when I continued reading throughout the entire five hour flight and barely noticed my discomfort! I experienced a similar situation earlier this month with Ms. Blake’s newest release, PAWPRINTS & PREDICAMENTS, the third book in the series. I came down with that dreadful flu making the rounds and took two trips to urgent care. Armed with an advance copy of this new release on my iPad, I immersed myself in Sylvan Creek’s festivities and barely took notice of my surroundings or my achy, feverish body! I find the protagonist, Daphne Templeton, highly entertaining and Ms. Blake writes with a terrific sense of humor that had me chuckling out loud on several occasions. People might mistakenly think that Daphne is a ditzy blonde, but beneath her bohemian exterior is a highly intelligent young lady with a generous heart. The predicaments Daphne alludes to throughout the book about her trips that have gone awry during her previous nomadic life have me hoping the author expounds on them in future books… just her small mentions had me laughing at the scenes I envisioned. Not only are the human characters well-developed and entertaining, but the pet characters are equally so. I adore Daphne’s dog, Socrates and her trying cat, Tinkleston. They truly have their own personalities that greatly add to the story.

A strong, smart, funny protagonist is great but the key to a terrific book is a strong plot and Ms. Blake delivers that as well. She ties an old local legend surrounding a Saint Bernard ghost, a recluse living deep in the woods, and a Polar Bear Plunge that ends in murder together into one cohesive story that had me turning pages and ignoring my illness. There are suspects galore but clues to point the vigilant reader in the right direction. I’ll admit I decided to just go along for the entertaining ride and didn’t try to figure it out, but I wasn’t in the least bit disappointed. In fact, I was glued to the book until the very last page was read and then started wondering how soon the next book will be available!

In addition to pet sitting, Daphne is opening a pet bakery called Flour Power. She creates many delicious, healthy treats for her pets and the author has included several recipes at the back of the book. Ms. Blake has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for Cinnamon Roll-Overs. She says that “…most dogs will roll over for one of these treats! Not Socrates. But most dogs.” I can attest that my grand-puppy, Piper, was more than happy to roll over for one of these treats! And my granddaughter thought they looked so yummy she had to take a nibble too… which is okay because they’re full of whole-grain goodness with just a little honey and cinnamon for sweetness.

Amazon Synopsis

The Tail Waggin’ Winterfest is the highlight of the season in the famously pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. But despite attractions like an ice sculpture display, a dogsled race, and gourmet hot chocolate, Daphne Templeton finds herself annoyed by TV producer Lauren Savidge, who’s filming the festivities. She’s critical, controlling, and as chilly as the January air. Daphne would like to tell her to go jump in a lake—and as a matter of fact, that’s exactly what they’re both going to do . . .

It’s the first-ever polar bear plunge in Lake Wallapawakee, and Daphne and Lauren are among the eighty or so people who charge into the frigid water to raise funds for animals in need. Daphne makes it back to shore—with the help of a mysterious St. Bernard—but Lauren is dragged out stone cold dead. Now, with her trusty basset hound Socrates at her side, Daphne intends to assist Detective Jonathan Black in his investigation—whether he wants her to or not.

A special thanks to Bethany Blake for providing one winner with the entire set of the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries and some swag! Contest ends Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The contest is administered by the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour and the winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Cinnamon Roll-Overs Dog Treats

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk (or water if your pup is lactose intolerant)
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Get a small bowl and stir together the milk (or water), egg, and oil. Add this to the dry ingredients and mix gently, just until it forms a soft dough.
On a lightly floured surface, pat the dough into a rectangle measuring about 9- by 12-inches.
Drizzle the dough with honey and sprinkle on the cinnamon and nuts, then roll up the dough, starting at the long edge, and pinch the edge to seal it.
Using a sharp knife, cut the log into half-inch-thick slices and place them, cut side down, on the cookie sheet. If the knife gets sticky, dip it in water.
Bake the Roll-Overs for fifteen minutes. (I check at twelve to make sure they're not burning.)

Notes

You can make an easy cream cheese "frosting" for these by mixing about four ounces of cream cheese and milk or water. Add just enough liquid to thin out the cheese. You can also make a bunch of these at one time and freeze them. Socrates thinks they taste just as good thawed!

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February 21 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

February 21 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 21 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

February 21 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

February 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

February 22 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

February 23 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 23 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

February 24 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 24 – Readeropolis – INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

February 25 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 25 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

February 26 – Varietats – REVIEW

February 26 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 26 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

February 27 – The Power of Words – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

February 27 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW

February 28 – Mysteries with Character – INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

February 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

February 28 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

March 1 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 1 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT

March 1 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

March 2 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW

March 2 – A Cozy Experience – GUEST POST

March 3 – Book Babble – REVIEW

March 3 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

March 4 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

March 4 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW

March 5 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

March 5 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

March 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST

March 6 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

March 6 – Reading Authors – REVIEW

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

Sin-in-a-Cup Frozen Cheesecake Bites

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It’s been 1-1/2 years since the last release of a Cookbook Nook Mystery book by Daryl Wood Gerber and I am beyond happy that there is a new addition! PRESSING THE ISSUE, the sixth book in this delightful series, finds Jenna Hart and the town of Crystal Cove, California, getting ready for a Renaissance Fair. While I have never attended a “Ren Fair”, the author’s descriptive voice brings the sights, sounds, and yummy tastes to life and the reader will feel like they are right there. Ms. Gerber effectively uses “fair-speak” between the characters which adds to the festive atmosphere, providing fun entertainment. Jenna owns the Cookbook Nook, a shop I would dearly love to spend lots of time in. Not only does Jenna have plenty of Renaissance-themed decorations and period music for her shop but she has also located and stocked numerous medieval-themed cookbooks. I love the clever names assigned to these cook books and who knew there were so many out there?

Jenna is helping her good friend, Bailey Bird, plan her wedding, which is scheduled to be held at the Boldini Vineyards. When they find the winery’s owner murdered, Jenna’s curiosity and sense of justice drags her into getting involved. Plus she needs to find a resolution for the bride-to-be’s wedding venue. There are plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing and plenty of twists that kept me turning pages late into the night. Ms. Gerber includes a unique condition called “Face Blindness” in the book and I found the use intriguing! The chilling climax ties all the subplots together and provides a satisfying conclusion. I so enjoyed catching up with Jenna and the characters surrounding her. They have been allowed to grow and develop in their personal lives and relationships and it’s been a pleasure sharing their adventure!

The Renaissance Fair provides so many opportunities to indulge in yummy food and you will be drooling while reading the decadent descriptions. Fortunately for the reader, Ms. Gerber provides numerous recipes at the back of the book to indulge in! I was immediately drawn to Sin-in-a-Cup Frozen Cheesecake Bites for several reasons. First off, chocolate and cheesecake… yum! Plus since these are small individual portions that can be kept in the freezer I can indulge my cravings whenever they pop up instead of needing to finish off an entire batch right away. The addition of fresh raspberries and Grand Marnier put these little bites of heaven over the top and is one of the very few desserts I decided to not share with anyone else. It’s that good!

Amazon Synopsis

As the annual Renaissance Fair comes to Crystal Cove, Jenna Hart’s Cookbook Nook is packed with tasty treats and all things medieval, while her pal Bailey is ready to swoon over her upcoming nuptials at a local vineyard. But when the two friends discover the body of the vineyard’s owner bludgeoned by a winepress, all their merriment fades, along with their hopes for a vintage year.

Which churlish varlet did the deed? Was it the victim’s errant brother, who stood to inherit the vineyards? Or the owner’s crestfallen ex-girlfriend? Mayhap it was the newly arrived comely wench, or her jealous husband. Fie on them all! Verily, Jenna can’t rest until justice is served, and she vows to track down the killer. But can she sniff out the truth before the villainous culprit strikes again?

A special thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing one winner with their choice of print books from the first 5 books in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series or an e-book copy of PRESSING THE ISSUE! Contest ends Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and print is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Sin-in-a-Cup Frozen Cheesecake Bites

These are easy but messier than all get-out to prepare. You'll want to lick your fingers a lot. Try not to or you will OD on chocolate. LOL. Also, don't be disappointed if the first few times you try to make them they don't turn out "pretty". Working with chocolate and ice cube trays isn't easy. But the result is divine. Remember, you'll want a square-shaped ice cube tray, not the rectangular kind. If you do use the rectangular kind, then forgo serving these little tasty treats in mini muffin cups.

Ingredients

8 - 12 ounces semi-sweet chips (8 ounces is probably ample)
1 tablespoon coconut oil
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon liqueur (I like an orange-based liqueur like Grand Marnier)
pinch of kosher salt
12 raspberries

You will need a 12-cube ice cube mold and, if desired, mini cupcake holders.

Instructions

In a medium bowl, microwave the chocolate chips and coconut oil for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave longer, if necessary, until just melted, about 15 - 30 seconds more. It's okay on this round of microwaving if the mixture is not completely smooth. Don't overcook.
Pour a teaspoon of the melted chocolate into each ice cube mold. Using clean fingers, press the chocolate around the sides of the mold completely. Freeze the mold until the chocolate is solid, about 10 minutes. If you feel you didn't get enough chocolate around the mold, remove from freezer and add more chocolate and repeat the pressing and freezing action. You'd like a nice "crust" to form.
Meanwhile, in another medium bowl, combine cream cheese and sour cream. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Add powdered sugar, liqueur, and salt, and mix until light and fluffy.
Remove the ice cube mold from the freezer and fill 12 cubes about half full with the cream cheese mixture. Press a raspberry into the center of each cube. Fill the rest of the cube with the cream cheese mixture and top with melted chocolate. (You might need to remelt the chocolate. Again, don't overcook. Zap in 15-second intervals. Do not overcook. You do not want the chocolate to seize.)
Freeze the mold until the mixture is solid, about 90 minutes.
Invert the mold to release the cubes. If you need to, twist the mold to make the treats pop out, or loosen each treat with a knife.
Serve in mini cupcake holders, if desired. Keep frozen whatever you don't eat.

Tip

Hard plastic ice cube trays work better than soft silicone style molds.

Notes

(Makes 12)

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

Vicki Delany’s Coconut Cupcakes, as served in Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room

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I have so enjoyed reading each book as they released in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delaney and have been waiting in anticipation for THE CAT OF THE BASKERVILLES! This third book in the series doesn’t disappoint and kept me glued to the pages as I caught up with protagonist Gemma Doyle. Gemma is such a refreshing, unique heroine. She lives in her own carefully organized world and doesn’t quite understand people who aren’t attuned to details like she is. Especially people like the police whose job it is to see details and solve crimes. This brings plenty of conflict with the investigating detectives when she finds herself in the midst of the murder of a famous actor in town to play the lead role in The Hound of the Baskervilles. With the town gearing up for the West London Theater Festival, the pressure is on to solve the case. And when all clues point to Gemma’s best friend’s mother, Leslie, Gemma ignores the detectives’ warnings to not get involved.

Jayne, Gemma’s best friend, runs Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room which is adjacent to Gemma’s shop, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. Jayne is darling and just a bit ditzy but a steadfast sidekick to Gemma’s intellectual investigations. They work well together and their interaction provides humorous fun to the book. Ms. Delaney writes witty banter and her descriptive use of language makes the reader feel and see everything that happens on the page. I loved Gemma’s use of British expressions (she’s a transplant from England) and the comparisons between U.S. English and British English words. It’s quite humorous! The mystery is well thought out with a nice pace while the conclusion was quite surprising. I never even considered the suspect!

While the book does not contain recipes, Vicki has allowed me to share a recipe for Coconut Cupcakes that she created. In the book, Jayne made over 100 cupcakes for a festival fundraising event and even got non-culinary Gemma to frost them for her. Supremely moist and full of flavor, I loved that the shredded coconut is pulverized in a food processor before adding to the batter. I thought this gave it great flavor without making the texture stringy or tough. A quick swirl of your favorite buttercream and a sprinkle of coconut on top will make this a hit with your friends and family.

Amazon Synopsis

When Jayne Wilson’s mother is accused of murder, Jayne and Gemma have to eliminate the impossible to reveal the true killer.

Legendary stage and movie star Sir Nigel Bellingham arrives on Cape Cod to star in a stage production of The Hound of the Baskervilles put on by the West London Theater Festival. When Sir Nigel, some of the cast, and the director visit the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop at 222 Baker Street, Gemma Doyle realizes that Sir Nigel is not at all suited to the role. He is long past his prime and an old drunk to boot.

The cast, in particular the much younger actor who previously had the role, are not happy, but the show must go on.

Before the play opens, Leslie Wilson, mother of Gemma’s best friend Jayne, arranges a fundraising afternoon tea to be catered by Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room. The tea is a huge success, but when it’s time to leave, Sir Nigel has gone missing―only to be found at the bottom of the rocky cliff, dead. Along with the dead body, Gemma finds evidence incriminating Leslie Wilson. When the police, in the presence of handsome detective Ryan Ashburton and suspicious detective Louise Estrada, focus their attention on Leslie despite the numerous other suspects, the game is once again afoot and it’s again up to the highly perceptive Gemma and the ever-confused but loyal Jayne to clear Jayne’s mother’s name.

A special thanks to Vicki Delany for providing one winner with a hardcover copy of THE CAT OF THE BASKERVILLES! Contest ends Monday, February 26, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. and Canada residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Vicki Delany’s Coconut Cupcakes, as served in Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup packed sweetened shredded coconut
6 ounces (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1-1/3 cups sugar
2 large eggs, plus 2 large egg whites
3/4 cup unsweetened full-fat canned coconut milk
1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1-1/3 cups large-flake unsweetened coconut

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Pulse shredded coconut in a food processor until finely ground, and whisk into flour mixture.
With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in whole eggs, whites and vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of coconut milk, and beating until combined after each.
Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling eat three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers come out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven; turn out cupcakes onto wire racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or freeze up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
To finish, use a small offset spatula to spread a generous dome of icing onto each cupcake, and, if desired, garnish with flaked coconut. Store at room temperature until ready to serve.
Icing: Use your favourite buttercream vanilla icing. I like to use a splash of coconut milk rather than plain milk. If you don’t normally add milk to your icing, you can cut down slightly on the butter and replace with coconut milk.

Notes

An easy buttercream recipe: Whip 1/2 cup softened butter until creamy then mix in 2 cups confectioners' sugar. Add 1 tablespoon milk or coconut milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix and then add an additional 2 cups confectioners' sugar and whip. Add an additional tablespoon of milk or coconut milk. Whip another minute and add additional milk as necessary to achieve your desired consistency. I like my frosting on the stiff side for piping swirls.

Here is a blurb from the book pertaining to Gemma’s attempt at frosting the cupcakes for the event. To clarify, Gemma is not an expert in the kitchen and typically leaves it all up to Jayne. I’ve personally found that a large star tip decorating tool is the quickest way to frost cupcakes.

“Gemma, you’ll have to finish the cupcakes.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. They need frosting.” One hundred and twenty-five tiny, perfect coconut cupcakes were cooling on a high shelf. The kitchen, as I have said, is small. We were running out of room to put all the food. “The frosting’s made. All you have to do is use an ice cream scoop as a measure. One scoop on each cupcake. Don’t worry about covering the tops to the edges. When that’s done, give the frosting a little swirl with a knife to make it look pretty and sprinkle coconut on top.” While she talked, Jayne mixed the dough for the next batch of scones. I set about icing coconut cupcakes in the same assembly-line fashion I had with the sandwiches.

“A swirl, Gemma. Just a swirl,” Jayne said. “If you’re trying to make a work of art out of each one, you’ll be here all day.”

I studied the cupcake at hand. I hadn’t been trying to re-create the London office tower nicknamed the Gherkin in coconut icing, but it did bear a slight resemblance.

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