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BEAR WITNESS TO MURDER, the second book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series by Meg Macy is the most adorable cozy mystery out there! Combining a teddy bear factory, and a Cran-beary Tea Party celebrating Octobear Fest while mixing in a close-knit family and a rekindled romance provides Ms. Macy with a delightful hit in this newest release! The beary-fun puns add humor and wit while the Silver Bear Shop and Factory provides a unique setting in the small Michigan town. Sasha Silverman is a likeable protagonist and I enjoyed seeing her interact not only with her family but also with people that she didn’t care for… like her sleazy ex-husband, Flynn, and her high school nemesis. Flynn seems to be cozying up to Sasha’s mom and the reader has to wonder just what it is he is trying to accomplish. The subplots bring an added complexity to the story while the author has allowed Sasha to mature and grow in the face of adversity. The murder of her ex’s girlfriend brings out numerous suspects, including Sasha’s cousin along with her ex-husband and I was kept guessing until the final suspenseful reveal. I loved the first adorable book and I was more than delighted with this second installment in the series!
While the book does not contain recipes there are so many adorable bear-themed treats on Pinterest. The author sent me a photo of Panda Macarons and I almost swooned over their cuteness… and decided I really had to try them out! Even though there are so many ways to flavor macarons, I sometimes prefer something simplistic that allows the filling flavor it shine, especially since I had already decided I wanted a subtle white chocolate filling. But simple and subtle definitely don’t mean boring! The crunch of the almond-flavored macaron is complemented by the sweet, rich creaminess of the white chocolate ganache which provides a hint of vanilla. If you feel you need a burst of flavor, by all means substitute semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for the white chocolate in the ganache. Either way, kids of all ages will be happy to eat these Panda Macarons!
Check out the free macaron piping guide I’ve included at the bottom of the page as a pdf download.
Amazon Synopsis
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is cozying up to the fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest—a too-cute celebration themed around teddy bears. She barely has a moment to agonize over the return of her former high school rival, Holly Parker, whose new toy and bookstore in town could spell big trouble for the Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore . . .
But when Sasha discovers Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body, the unpleasant woman suddenly looks like a real backstabber. So does Sasha’s ex-husband, rumored to have rekindled the fiery extramarital affair he once had with the victim. Now, before a gruesome homicide case takes the fun out of both the Fest and her personal life, Sasha must identify the true culprit from a daunting suspect list—or risk becoming as lifeless as one of her stuffed bears . . .
A special thanks to Meg Macy for providing a winner with a print copy of BEAR WITNESS TO MURDER! Contest is limited to U.S. residents only and ends Wednesday, May 30, 2018 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!)
It is important that you weigh the ingredients to obtain good results.
- 200 grams confectioners' sugar (1-1/2 cups + 1-1/2 tablespoons)
- 110 grams almond meal (1 cup)
- 90 grams egg whites, room temperature (from 3 eggs)
- 50 grams granulated sugar (1/4 cup)
- Pinch cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon white food color (optional)
- Black food coloring
- 254 grams premium white chocolate chips (1-1/2 cups)*
- 90 ml heavy cream (6 tablespoons)
- Pink petal dust (optional)
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In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the almond meal and confectioners' sugar until it becomes a fine powder, about 30 pulses. Sift the almond meal mixture into a large bowl. If small chunks of almond remain in the sifter, process the chunks in the food processor and sift back into bowl. Set aside.
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Add the egg whites to the bowl of a standing mixer. Whip the eggs with the whip attachment on medium-low speed. Once soft peaks start appearing (2 – 3 minutes) add the cream of tartar and then slowly sprinkle the granulated sugar onto the egg whites while the mixer is still running. Increase speed to medium high and whip until stiff peaks appear.
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Using a spatula, fold in the white food coloring (if using) and about 1/3 of the almond and sugar mixture until combined. Fold in another third of the almond mixture until combined, then repeat with remaining almond meal mixture and fold until batter is fully mixed. Batter should easily drop from the spatula but shouldn't be runny. Be cautious to not overmix though.
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Remove 1/3 cup of the batter and place into a small bowl. Add black food coloring, a little at a time and thoroughly mix until desired shade is reached. Place into a piping bag fitted with a size 3 round tip. I like to use a coupler so I can change out tips if needed, such as using a size 2 tip to pipe the mouth of the panda.
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Place the remaining batter into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (I used a size 10). Pipe the batter onto the parchment paper, making 1-inch to 1-1/2-inch circles. (You can do this free hand or have a template placed beneath the parchment paper.) Leave 1 – 2 inches between the cookie circles to allow for spreading.
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Using the black batter, pipe the panda face details: eyes, nose, and ears on half the macarons. On the remaining macarons, pipe a round tail. If desired, switch to a smaller round tip and pipe mouth details.
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Once baking sheets have been filled, firmly tap the sheets on the counter 2 times to release any air bubbles in the batter. Let the cookie shells rest on the counter for 30 to 60 minutes, until the tops feel dry. They should NOT feel sticky or tacky. This will prevent the tops from cracking when baked.
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Preheat the oven to 315 degrees (F) and position the rack in the lower third of the oven.
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Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, for 15 – 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time.
They will be done if the cookie lifts fairly easy from the parchment. If it sticks or separates from the bottom, cook a minute or two longer.
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Remove baking sheet from oven and allow the cookies to cool completely before removing from parchment paper.
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Combine the white chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl.
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Heat in the microwave, on full power, for 1 minute. Remove and whisk until melted and smooth. If needed return bowl to microwave and heat an additional 15 seconds, being very careful to not overheat.
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Once melted, place the bowl in the refrigerator until it cools. Stir often until it becomes a spreadable consistency that won't drip off the macaron. If the ganache is too firm, reheat in the microwave for 5 seconds and rewhisk. If it becomes too thin, re-chill until spreadable.
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Place the ganache in a piping bag fitted with wide, round tip.
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Match up the cookie shells into face and tail pairs. Pipe a layer of white chocolate ganache onto the bottom side of one cookie and then add the top cookie, creating a “sandwich”. Press the cookies together to spread the ganache to the edges. If desired, brush pink petal dust onto the cheeks of the panda macarons.
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Immediately serve. Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days.
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Use blanched almond meal for lighter-colored macarons.
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I didn't stir my batter long enough so it was too thick as I piped it. The batter should easily drip from the spatula. It resulted in having to bake the macarons longer than necessary which made them extra crunchy instead of slightly chewy. My husband actually preferred them this way!
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*Feel free to substitute semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for the white chocolate.
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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Click here for the free pdf template to use beneath parchment paper: Macaron piping template
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OH MY!!! Those are SOOOOO DARLING! and my daughter might just make those, since her friend is allergic to regular chocolate. They do love making macarons. Thanks for showcasing my book, Kim. You rock!
How did you know macarons were my all time favorite?
Yes we have an Oktober Fest here locally. It is so much fun!
I don’t go to any kind of October fesr. But these are just darling!
No I don’t attend any Octoberfest events since there aren’t any locally. Meg Macy’s books are near and dear to me since the
plot revolves around teddy bears of which I am a collector. Thank you for including Ms. Macy and her book on your blog.
None here, so no I don’t attend.
No I don’t usually attend an October fest. We do have a big family birthday celebration. My sister, her son, and I all have birthdays in October.
These are so cute!! No, we don’t attend any October fests.
No, I don’t. But I did attend Oktoberbest when we visited Germany in 1987.
None here
Those cookies are so darling! I have been to an Oktoberfest, and of course, regular Halloween festivities ~ Thanks so much for featuring Bearly Witness to Murder on your blog!
I don’t attend Oktoberfest celebrations. I probably should check some out, as fall is my favorite time of year. Thanks for the giveaway and the recipe!
No. There aren’t any Octoberfest activities near me.
These are totally adorable. Even tails!!!
I’ve been to a great Oktoberfest on Mount Desert Island in Maine.
They are so cute but I wouldnever make them (I don’t bake successfully). But if anyone’s willing to make them and send me one I’ll be glad to taste it. ?
No I don’t attend any special October Fest celebrations at this time. Thanks for the giveaway & recipe.
If down town Riverside has anything going on this year my daughter and I will go, Great review I’m looking forward to this. thanks Penney
We have a town not far away that has a big Oktoberfest celebration every year. It’s been forever since we’ve been but it’s a big deal around here.
Not really, there aren’t any where we live. Sometimes we go down to Denver and take our grandsons to a fall harvest fair and go through a corn maze and pumpkin patch.
The last October Fest I attend was when we lived in Dunedin near Clearwater. They combined it with a Halloween Celebration for the kids.
No, I haven’t attended any October Fest type festivals.
These macarons are adorable. I’ve never attended any type of October fest.
this year I did take my grandchildren to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch event
No never attended an October fest type of celebrations. Thank you for a chance to win a print copy of Bear Witness To Murder.
I used to but my arthritis keeps me away. And I hate crowds lol
I did when lived in IN. That was so much fun. Since my mother is from Germany, it was always wonderful to see all the good food I grew up with.
I have not attended any Octoberfest celebrations. Cookies look great!
The cookies are adorable! My aunt lives in New Braunfels, Texas, an old German town. They have Wurstfest every year in early November, and I’ve attended several times. It’s a lot of fun. I was also lucky enough to attend Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany several years ago. That was a wild experience!
I don’t usually attend any October Fest celebrations.
“Do you attend any October fest type of celebrations?” This has never happened in my life, alas!
No, not really. I don’t know of any in my area.
No, but I attend fall festivals with the kids. Thanks for the chance to win this book.
No, I don.t.
No, I don’t – I think it is much more popular back home (Michigan, also). The pandas are adorable, and I love the cover of this mystery! Looking forward to reading this series.
I don’t think we have any Oktoberfest kind of festivals around here. I do love these books!
Yes, here in Ohio we have the Circleville Pumpkin Show and not far from me is the Roscoe Village Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival.
No have not attended any festivities in October. Thanks for the chance. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com
I think the closest thing we have is a craft fair in the fall. I can’t wait to read this book! Thank you so much for the giveaway!
I think the closest thing we have is a craft fair in the fall. I can’t wait to read this book! Thank you so much for the giveaway!
We don’t have any local celebrations, but I’ve gone to one a few hours away. We had a great time!
We do, I love Oktoberfest, it’s huge here in Utah. It runs from August (yes, August…that’s how much we like it, Lol) through the middle of October at Snowbird Ski Resort. There’s crafts, games, drinks, food and fun things to buy. What a clever way to incorporate bear! Oktobear Fest, I love it!
I love October and it’s one of my favorite times of the year.
We love Salem MA . My boys live there and we go quite often. October is one of our biggest and most sacred rituals, Samhain.
Beary cute!
We don’t have any October fest events in our area. We live in a very rural area. We do have the Bean Fest and Outhouse Races in October. Can you tell we live in the Ozark Mountains? 🙂
The Panda Macarons with White Chocolate Ganache Filling are adorable and sound delicious. I will be giving them a try soon.
I’ve never been to an Octoberfest. I think it would be fun though.
My wife and I are both having trouble with our knees. Outdoor events are a bit hard for us to do. BUT I’m strongly thinking about attending the Holloween Parade in Manhattan this year. If we get there early enough we can find a good spot and put out some folding chairs.
Sadly we don’t.
I love October and our town of Dahlonega, Ga, has a huge festival the 3rd weekend in Oct every year called Gold Rush. (Dahlonega was the location of the first gold rush in the US.) It attracts 150k people for the weekend. I haven’t been able to go for the past 4 years due to my work schedule, but I find that I like crowds less the odef I get. ?
Correction to my comment above: should have been “the older I get”.
When I lived in Germany I did attend the Oktoberfest activities.
Love autumn events!!!! Just adorable your recipes!!!!!
No but I have always wanted to
When I lived in PA, I did attend several. But, since I moved back home to Florida, I haven’t been to any. Tell the truth, I don’t know where they have them. 🙂
These are adorable! I have attended an Octoberfest in Helen, GA! So much fun!!
Omgosh! These are super cute! Thank you! As for October fest type of activities, I don’t regularly attend anything specific, but I try to get out and support the community when I can. There’s always something going on somewhere, making it a perfect opportunity to step out and get some fresh air! Thank you so much for the chance…this sounds awesome! Congrats! 🙂
I’ve never been to a October Fest type of activity.. October is such a busy month for us, my bday (11th) my wedding anniversary (16) husbands bday (18) and our sons bday is halloween.. yep we are crazy busy. We did dress up as Disney’s The Incredibles twice as a family.. that was so much fun.
These are very cute! Thanks for sharing! 🙂