Popcorn has long been one of my favorite crunchy snacks since I was a kid. In fact back when I was single, I had popcorn for dinner about once a week. If I was in the mood to be a bit healthier, I’d eat a piece of fruit for dessert. Nowadays popcorn is saved for snacks and since I’ve discovered SkinnyPop, it’s one that I enjoy several times a week (I really do hate popping my own and having to clean up greasy pans and lids).
So when I met Kristi Abbott at Left Coast Crime and discovered her book, KERNEL OF TRUTH, I was smitten. KERNEL OF TRUTH is the first book in Kristi’s brand new Popcorn Shop Mystery series and is set at the gourmet popcorn shop, POPS, owned by Rebecca Anderson in Grand Lake, Ohio. Rebecca has moved back to her hometown from California after ending her marriage to celebrity chef Antoine Belanger. It wasn’t very easy coming “home” to the small town seeing how she had been a screw-up in high school after her parents were killed in an accident, and now it is perceived she has screwed up her marriage since Antoine is practically worshiped by everyone. Rebecca wants to live close to her sister, Haley, her brother-in-law, Sheriff Dan Cooper, and their young son. Opening the popcorn shop is met with skepticism by quite a lot of the townspeople, but once they taste her goodies she develops regular customers. One of her best friends and source of encouragement and mentoring is elderly but feisty, Cordelia “Coco” Bittles. Coco owns Coco’s Cocoas, a chocolate shop, next door to Rebecca and the two women collaborate on recipes and even plan on going into business together.
However, Coco’s vibrant life is ended much too soon, when a suspected burglary goes wrong. Jessica, Coco’s niece, finds her aunt dead one morning when she goes to open the chocolate shop. The young woman’s screaming brings Rebecca running to the shop, where she rushes through the crime scene to see if she can help Coco. With her mentor dead, Rebecca, pushes forward to secure some of the recipes they had worked on together. However, Jessica is insistent that she is the only heir and everything belongs to her. There’s long been tension and ill-will between Rebecca and Jessica, but with the death of Coco, it increases.
The police arrest one of the town’s pan-handling, “almost” homeless man, Jasper, after finding the stolen cash and chocolates from Coco’s shop in his humble abode. The town breathes a sigh of relief until another elderly shop owner is attacked while Jasper is sitting in jail. Perplexed, Sheriff Dan has no idea who the culprit is until someone starts suggesting it could be his sister-in-law, Rebecca. Unfortunately, there is incriminating evidence pointing to her at both the crime scenes. When she’s arrested twice for entering Coco’s business and residence without Jessica’s permission, most of the town thinks she could be guilty. Rebecca is determined to find out who’s out to frame her and why they’re targeting the elderly shop owners. When her questioning gets too close to finding answers the killer sets their sight on her. Rebecca must find the truth before she becomes the next victim but in order to do so she must overcome the town’s prejudices against her, proving her innocence and proving she does belong.
KERNEL OF TRUTH starts out with a bang from the very first sentence and the action continues at a rapid pace throughout this well plotted story. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing while the characters were nicely developed. I loved how the author wove Rebecca’s old teenage insecurities in with her current life, trying to integrate with the small town’s population who had preconceived ideas of who she really is. What made this book really stand out though is Kristi’s cheeky wit that included several clever popcorn related similes, such as “a few old maids shy of a fully popped bowl”, that made me laugh out loud. Her humor added to the enjoyment of a well crafted cozy and I look forward to seeing what Kristi has in store for Rebecca and POP in the next installment!
A special thanks to Kristi for allowing me to share her Popcorn Fudge recipe from KERNEL OF TRUTH! Oh my… amazing crunchy caramel corn adorns a thick layer of creamy, rich fudge which boasts a hint of spiciness. The fudge is super easy to make and is practically fool-proof using four pantry staples. But it’s the caramel corn that elevates this candy to nirvana and next time I’ll be sure to make a double batch!
As a bonus for my readers I have an autographed copy of KERNEL OF TRUTH for one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest is open to U.S. residents only and ends Monday, April 25, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Winners will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Popcorn Fudge
Ingredients
Caramel Corn
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups popped corn
Fudge
1-1/4 cups sweetened condensed milk
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
Instructions
Caramel Corn
Preheat oven to 250 degrees (F).
Combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, while stirring.
Then hands off for four minutes! Serious, let it do its thing.
At the end of the four minutes, add in baking soda and vanilla, then pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn and combine well. You’ll have to use your hands, so grease ’em up and get in there.
Spread popcorn out on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes to an hour at 250 degrees. Check it every 15 minutes to avoid burning. The caramel corn should be light and crispy.
Once the popcorn is out of the oven, start making the fudge layer.
Fudge
Line a square pan with foil.
Combine the sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips either in a double boiler or in the microwave. Either way, stir often.
When everything is melted and mixed together, add in salt and cayenne.
Pour into prepared pan and press caramel corn into the fudge.
Refrigerate for two hours.
Turn out onto a cutting board and cut into squares.
Tips
I used SkinnyPop packaged popcorn to speed up the recipe.
Do yourself a favor and double the recipe for the caramel corn. If you sample it before you make the fudge, there won’t be ANY left for the topping 🙂
Popcorn definitely tops my list as my favorite crunchy snack!
Sounds like a fun new series…i love cozies and popcorn (especially dipped in salsa) so can’t wait to read!
My favorite crunchy snack – is Peanut Brittle!
My favorite is Snyders BBQ chips! I miss them! I moved to Oregon in September and I can’t get them here
I work in Davis where the author lives and hope to met her. I hear she is very funny in person
Popcorn is my go to crunchy snack. This book sounds great!!!
Popcorn is right up there as one my favorite crunchy snacks!
I used to be addicted to Tapatio Doritos. I love popcorn, but kind of went off it when a co-worker burnt some in the work microwave. The entire place smelled like burnt popcorn for weeks.
I love popcorn! I’m so excited to start this series. It sounds great!
Chips, nuts, whatever is handy in our pantry. But definitely this popcorn snack if I made it!
Buttered Popcorn is my favorite crunchy snack!
My favorite crunchy snack is popcorn. I never would have thought of mixing chocolate and popcorn. Thanks!
Thank you!!!
I alternate my snacks between skinny pop and rice crackers—both are low calorie.
Pretzels were my fav snack, now, I think I will try Popcorn Fudge and that will be my fav. 🙂
We alternate between well buttered popcorn and potato chips in the winter. But in the summer? Berries.
I have a fetish for things that are sweet but yet salty as well as crunchy. Caramel corn is one that I can’t get enough of. Another is a delicious crunch chocolate chip cookie. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
Sounds like a yummy new series!
I really love cheddar cheese popcorn!
Any sort of not, with cashews as my favorite.
That’s supposed to say nut…lol.
What is your favorite go-to crunchy snack? Oh, it has to be popcorn in many different variations…plain, salted, Parmesan-ed, cinnamon and sugared. I enjoy popcorn balls, caramel popcorn, and Cracker Jacks! It’s easy and ‘healthy!’
Caramel corn is my downfall. And how did we ever live before Skinny Pop? Thanks for the great review, recipe and giveaway.
Love popcorn. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of your book.
Popcorn curls – no hulls or old maids to bite into!
I really hate to have to reveal this, but I love wavy potato chips.
pretzels or popcorn
Carmel popcorn.
great book and a great giveaway!
Popcorn and Carmel corn are definitely 2 of my favorite crunch sneaks. Fudge is never refused. Kernel of Truth sounds like a great read.
Chocolate and Popcorn
Yummy! My daughter has a dairy allergy so I miss real butter-and-salt popcorn pretty badly but your fudge popcorn would be divine!
Popcorn!
Pretzels
Peanuts are wonderful!
I always love to find a new series…..
I like popcorn.
I like popcorn and I like trail mix for crunchy snacks.
Your book looks good enough to eat! Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks, especially caramel corn. Yummy! Hope that you continue to write your delightful cozy books so we can purchase and read them. Wishing you good luck. Thank you!
I have a lot of favorites, but pretzels and hummus are on the top of the list. Popcorn is always good, as well as carrots and celery and those veggie straws. Pistachios are great too! Thanks for the contest! 😀
Thanks. Always up for a good read.
This is a yummy series!!
I just love popcorn and when the kids were litttle it was so much fun going to the drive-in i would make popcorn and bring it and they would have it gone before they went to sleep. I used to also make popcorn as one of the toppings for tacos and for salads just love it, Now that I am disabled and the meds have taken most of my teeth the teeth that i have left i use those nothing is going to stop me from eating it ! This series looks so good and always up for a new author and a new series and to write a review on at least 2 sites plus announce what i am reading while i read the book so alot of publicity that you don;t have to worry about. So yummy!
I love carnel corn, fudge and cozy books!
I like the buttery flavored pretzels and of course popcorn!
I’m a big fan of popcorn with cayenne, garlic powder and cheese. Or pepitas, mini dark chocolate chips and dried cherries. Thanks for the opportunity.
You have some fantastic recipes!!
Chocolate covered popcorn is great! The fudge looks amazing too.
Popcorn is my absolute favorite crunchy snack. I had some last night. 🙂 This fudge looks amazing!
Cookies are my go-to crunch, but I LOVE POPCORN — unfortunately, I love those half-popped kernels,
and have broken several fillings – my dentist has forbidden me to eat popcorn, the spoilsport!! But I do
try to indulge a few times a year. Drizzled with chocolate, mmmm!
My favorite crunchy snacks are chocolate chip cookies (not soft ones!) and lightly salted popcorn, sometimes even together! ;-D
I like both popcorn and chips!
glad it’s not an e-book
popcorn of course..lol I was the one who brought a big movie style popcorn machine into the last company I worked for..and they all knew it was me who requested it…yum yum…