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I’m delighted to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour, presenting FOUR PARTIES AND A FUNERAL, the fourth book in the Catering Hall Mystery series. You can always count on the author, Maria DiRico, (aka Ellen Byron) to deliver an intriguing mystery, captivating characters, and her trademark humor, and in this newest release, she’s delivered in spades! With the laugh-out-loud set up of a casting call and filming of the reality show, Dons of Ditmars Boulevard, at Belle View catering hall, protagonist Mia Carina has her hands full. Ms. DiRico’s strong descriptive voice brought the characters and the setting to life, so it felt like I was there, experiencing all the zany chaos brought by the cast and crew. Mia is a compelling protagonist: strong and capable of handling any situation… like keeping her recovering mobster father on the straight and narrow. I also enjoyed the strong family relationships (both blood family and THE family) Mia has. Her crocheting-crazy grandmother is a hoot and THE family boss has Mia trying to manage his son and keep him out of trouble. Did I mention the humor?
While the reader might want to be sidetracked with all the comedy and goings on, Ms. DiRico deftly stays on track with the murder mystery. With such a large cast and crew on scene, there are more than enough suspects for Mia to question. The author pens twists, turns, and subplots to keep the reader on their toes. In the end, I still hadn’t figured out the culprit, and it came as a surprise, although with hindsight, the clues all made sense. This captivating book kept me turning pages late into the night to find out what happens next, all the while trying to keep my laughing quiet enough to not wake up the household. I, for one, can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Running a catering hall means there’s always food around… lots and lots of food. Ms. DiRico provides some recipes at the back of the book for home cooks to try out. I couldn’t wait to try out her recipe for Tricolor (Tre Colore) Cookies, aka Rainbow Cookies. More cake-like, these almond-flavored cookies hosts colorful layers with flavorful raspberry jam sandwiched between. A thin layer of chocolate provides the finishing touch, making these an elegant addition to any cookie platter or dessert tray.
Amazon Synopsis
The June events schedule at Belle View is busting out all over—proms, graduations, and of course, weddings. There are unexpected bookings too, including a casting call for the pilot of Dons of Ditmars Boulevard. But soon, Mia’s fears about the cheesy reality show are confirmed . . .
Belle View quickly becomes the site of a sea of wanna-be goombahs and phony girlfriends, and some of Mia’s friends insist on getting in on the action. The production company owner and his executive producer ex-wife—who’s also very minor British royalty—have assembled a motley crew that does as much infighting and backstabbing as the on-screen “talent.” Even so, it’s a shock when a dead body is found in the pool house of a local mansion rented by the show . . .
Murder might boost the ratings. But Mia intends to make sure the killer gets jail time, not airtime . . .
A special thanks to Maria DiRico for providing FIVE winners with a copy of HERE COMES THE BODY, the first book in the series! Contest is limited to U.S. residents only and ends April 12, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour and the winner will be announced on this page and notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
And a bonus giveaway – thanks to Kensington for providing an ARC of FOUR PARTIES AND A FUNERAL! Contest is limited to U.S. residents only and ends April 12, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST. Contest is administered by Cinnamon & Sugar. Please use the Rafflecopter box below the recipe to enter.
Servings: about 30 - 40 cookies
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 3-1/2 ounces almond paste, softened for 30 seconds in microwave and cooled slightly
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup butter, melted and cooled
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 6 - 8 drops red food coloring
- 6 - 8 drops green food coloring
- 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam or apricot jam
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening (more if needed)
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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In a stand mixer, preferably, beat the eggs and sugar together in a large bowl until the mix is thick and a pale yellow. Gradually add the almond paste. It's important it be softened; this will make it easier to mix. But it shouldn't be too warm because that will affect the eggs.
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Gradually add the flour, butter, salt, and extract. Make sure to space out the flour and butter, adding by 1/3- or 1/2-cup portions; otherwise the batter will splatter.
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Divide the batter into thirds. Tint one batch red and one green. Leave the third portion un-tinted. (These are the colors of the Italian flag!)
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Spread each portion in a separate, well-greased 11" x 7" baking pan. (If you don't have pans this size, you can use 8" x 8" or 9" x 9" pans. The batter may not spread all the way to the edge, but you only need a square, thin layer, so try to spread the batter in the shape of a square.)
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Bake each layer between 7 and 10 minutes. Check at 7 minutes because, being thin layers, they tend to cook fast. The center should be springy and the edges lightly browned. An inserted toothpick should come out clean.
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Cool the layers completely.
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Gently remove the red layer and place on waxed paper. Spread with half the jam. Place the plain layer on top of the red layer, and press down gently. Add the remaining jam, then the green layer, and press gently.
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To make the glaze, melt the chocolate chips with the shortening in the microwave, checking every 30 seconds. You don't want to nuke the chocolate too long because it will be clumpy instead of melty. If that happens, add more melted shortening to create a glazed consistency.
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Spread the glaze over the top layer, and refrigerate the whole assemblage until it hardens.
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Once the pastry has hardened, cut into thin, rectangular cookies about 1/2" by 2" long. A pizza cutter is a great way to cut through the hardened chocolate. A sharp knife will also work.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
These cookies look good! Looking forward to reading the new book.
Hope you enjoy it!
Good Morning from Crazy California,
This book looks wonderful and so do the cookies!
They’re delicious! (Both of them, wink wink)
Cannot wait to read it.
It’s funny – if I do say so myself!
Here Comes the Body sounds like a book I would enjoy reading!
I think you would!
These look so good!
They are!
Those cookies look amazing!
They’re delicious! And not as hard to make as you’d think
Thank you for this opportunity! I cannot wait to read your new book.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for both giveaways and for the chance to win 1 of the 5 print copies!
Good luck!
Cookie recipe looks great! Can’t wait to try it!
it’s delish!
Enjoy!
I just finished reading Four Parties and a Funeral and thoroughly enjoyed it. These cookies look so elegant, definitely a notch above the chocolate chip cookies I usually make.
They’re so good!
Sounds like a great read! Love the cover! Gotta try the recipe! Looks so yummy and pretty!
Wow. These cookies look like they are “to die for” 🙂 I shall try making them, and i hope they look and taste as delicious as this fabulous recipe.
Thank you so much for this glorious review!! AND for bringing the recipe to life in such a beautiful way!
You’re very welcome! And it’s always a pleasure hosting you on the blog!!
Those are some eye catching cookies!
the cookies look good – i think i will try to alter for a vegan version.
Looking forward to reading the new book! And I already had plans to make tricolor cookies today! I use my mother-in-laws recipe. Similar to yours, just a few differences. She whipped her egg whites and she always put chocolate on both the top and the bottom. I think doing it your way may make it easier to cut.
Oh my goodness! Your cookies look amazing! Thank you for your recipe!!!
Thank you for the recipe, and this chance to win.
Cookies look amazing!
This book sounds so good!
I’m going to copy the recipe for the rainbow cake.
Congratulation on your pub day!! Wow! These tricolor cookies are visual appealing and look yummy! I like the idea that it uses almond paste – that is interesting! The book title sounds feisty and suspenseful!
Thank you so much for sharing. The cookies look fabulous God bless you. Happy book birthday.
These cookies look so delicious!
No matter what name Ellen writes under,
the books are always good. thanks