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Salted Chocolate Brownies

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THE COLORING CROOK is the second book in the Pen & Ink Mystery series by Krista Davis. I greatly enjoyed examining the cover, which is meant to be used as a coloring page. The details of the line drawings includes clues and pieces of the story… kind of like a “Find the Picture” type of layout, which brought back fond memories of solving those types of puzzles and coloring with my granddaughter. I wish I had a few spare moments to join the coloring hobby for relaxation but, unfortunately, I already have more hobbies than I know what to do with, lol! For those who do like to color, this is a great addition to the book. 

Once the reader opens the book, Ms. Davis provides some intriguing historical information in the acknowledgements about a famous adult coloring book that was created in the 1700’s! Then the reader is introduced to the protagonist, Florrie Fox. Florrie is a very sweet, slightly old-fashioned, young woman whom I find charming. In her free time she designs and publishes adult coloring books. She also manages the Color Me Read bookstore. With the author’s strong descriptive voice, Color Me Read is a place I can see in my mind and a place that I would dearly love to hang out at.

Tragically one of the elderly ladies who has joined the book store’s coloring club, Hues, Brews, and Clues, is murdered. Florrie then discovers a mysterious skeleton that has been hidden behind a walled in bookcase in the murdered woman’s attic. The plot is fast-paced once the murder takes place and there is a slew of characters and suspects. I appreciated the list of “Cast of Characters” at the front of the book which helped keep them straight. The wrap-up holds a satisfying reveal but felt a bit rushed. Overall THE COLORING CROOK is an entertaining read with a delightfully artistic protagonist!

Florrie and her friends enjoy several yummy treats in the book and Ms. Davis includes several recipes at the back of the book to indulge any sweet tooth. I was drawn to her recipe for Salted Chocolate Brownies because, well… chocolate! I’ve also noticed that salt really brings out the flavor of chocolate and enhances the enjoyment. I love that these brownies don’t use a lot of flour and instead are more fudgy than cake-y, which is the type of brownie my family prefers. The richness of each bite will melt in your mouth and honestly, these are the perfect bars to serve as the base for a brownie sundae!

 

Fudgy & gooey, flaky sea salt enhances the intense chocolate flavor in Salted Chocolate Brownies. Perfect on their own or use as a base for a sundae!

 

Amazon Synopsis

Life is looking rosy for Florrie Fox, manager of the Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. She’s working on an adult coloring book of gardens, her romance with Sergeant Eric Jonquille has entered a new chapter, and the bookstore’s weekly coloring club is a source of friendship and entertainment. No member is more vibrant than Dolly Cavanaugh. Dolly likes to say she was blessed with beauty and cursed with lousy husbands, but at least she has a grown daughter and a stunning brownstone to show for it!
 
When Dolly’s love of garage sales results in her showing up at Color Me Read with a rare book in hand, Florrie is astounded. The Florist, the earliest known coloring book, was first published in 1760. An original copy would be worth a fortune—and someone else knows it. That same evening, Florrie finds Dolly dead on the floor of her apartment, a corner of a coloring book page clutched in her hand. As Florrie delves into Dolly’s past and her personal effects, she discovers a skeleton in the closet—literally—and a whole lot of shady suspects. One of them is an expert in the fine art of murder, but can Florrie draw the right conclusion?

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Krista Davis for providing a winner with a print copy of THE COLORING CROOK. Contest ends Monday, December 3, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!) 

 

 

 

Fudgy & gooey, flaky sea salt enhances the intense chocolate flavor in Salted Chocolate Brownies. Perfect on their own or use as a base for a sundae!

Print
Salted Chocolate Brownies

(makes 20 brownies)

Ingredients
  • 1 8-by-8-inch baking pan
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing pan
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour, plus extra for greasing pan
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • Flaked sea salt like Maldon
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour the baking pan.

  2. Melt the butter. (Krista does this in a glass Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave.) When melted, add the chocolate chips and stir until they melt. Set aside.

  3. Beat the eggs with the sugar until thick and cream-colored. Beat at least 2 to 3 minutes.

  4. While they are beating, mix together in a separate bowl the flour, the 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, and the baking powder. Set aside.

  5. Alternate adding the flour mixture and the butter mixture to the eggs. (Hint: After adding flour, beat at low speed.) When they are incorporated, add the vanilla. Beat well.

  6. Pour into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with two pinches of flaked sea salt. Holding a knife tilted at an angle, gently swirl the salt into the batter. Bake 25 minutes. The edges should look firm. The middle should be firm enough not to quiver when gently shaken. Place on baking rack to cool. (Hint: It's easier to cut them while they are still slightly warm.)

  7. Serve warm or cold. These freeze well. Those with midnight cravings might even find them quite delicious frozen.

Fudgy & gooey, flaky sea salt enhances the intense chocolate flavor in Salted Chocolate Brownies. Perfect on their own or use as a base for a sundae!

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

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Fudgy & gooey, flaky sea salt enhances the intense chocolate flavor in Salted Chocolate Brownies. Perfect on their own or use as a base for a sundae!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.

 

 

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

 

Fudgy & gooey, flaky sea salt enhances the intense chocolate flavor in Salted Chocolate Brownies. Perfect on their own or use as a base for a sundae!

 

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64 thoughts on “Salted Chocolate Brownies”

  3. Aw, shucks. We didn’t get your entry. Plz try again. rafflecopter is having some problems this is what I get when trying to enter.

  13. No I don’t. I’m an avid reader and I do discuss books with friends of mine who are avid readers also..
    Thanks for the chance to win!

  15. I’m only in book clubs on Facebook. The clubs the two libraries near me have never read cozies. I would love to belong to an in-person cozy book club, would be awesome!

  17. Thanks for sharing the recipe for brownies. They look really good. I’m looking forward to reading The Coloring Crook.

  19. No, I don’t belong to any bookstore or library clubs.
    I do enjoy visiting many libraries in my area.

  21. What an awesome combination – reading “THE COLORING CROOK” and Salted Chocolate Brownies. Now that is the dynamic duo for sure!

    Live in a very small town, so my answer is no, I don’t belong to any book clubs since there are none and there are no clubs associated with our little bitty library. 🙁

    Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this great book by a wonderful author. Can’t wait to read it and try the recipe.

  31. I belong to some fun Facebook book clubs, but no local book club or library book club. I’m really looking forward to reading The Coloring Crook and eating those brownies!

  32. This shows up under Krista Davis’ so hopefully I’m in the right spot. Anyhoo no I don’t belong to any clubs although I have looked at a couple, so maybe one day.

  33. Yes at the public library in Seymour Wisconsin and on line a few. The brownies sound delicious. Thank you for the opportunity.

  37. “Do you belong to any bookstore or library clubs?” Mmm, not really. Years ago a B. Dalton clerk tried to sell me on their yearly club–sort of a non-online circa 1995 version of Amazon Prime–and I said, no, thanks. I don’t want good deals if it just means more tracking of me at real-world stores.

  38. Depends what you mean by club! I’m B&N member and Amazon Prime and I donate to 2 library systems in New York.

  41. Yes, I use to belong to a book club at one of the libraries my kids and I are members of. Both of the libraries offer craft & coloring times.
    I try to go to the craft nights when I can, I’ve made wine cork pumpkin, and tons of other crafts.

  43. That recipe looks delicious! Unfortunately I don’t belong to any clubs as I don’t have the time but wish I could!

  45. Yes, I belong to a few Library groups! They’re fun, usually free & generally a hoot! Looking forward to this newest book ??
    Cheers,
    Kelly Braun

  46. I don’t belong to any library or bookstore clubs. Sometimes I wish I did, but it is often hard for me to get out so I enjoy reading and reviewing for a few different places. This looks like a good mystery, and I’m looking forward to reading it!

  48. I don’t belong to any book store or library book clubs, but I am in a book club. Thanks for the chance to win, I loved the first book in this series!

  53. Only online Book clubs right now. I don’t have much access to a vehicle but would like to check our library. Of they don’t have a cozy one, I would like to start one!

  57. Yes! I belong to a coloring club on Mondays at my local library. I also learned how to make bookmarks in a workshop they held.

  58. I don’t belong to any of these organized groups since I became very immobile and not able to drive anymore as I cannot lift my mobility scooter etc. I miss being in a book club too but real life changes as we all know. But I read at home all the time and enjoy doing so very much.

    Congratulations on your release.
    Thank you for the chance.

    Cynthia

  60. I belong to our local library and a couple of pages on facebook
    Thank you for this opportunity.

  61. I belong to our local library and a couple of pages on facebook where we read books and review them
    Thank you for this opportunity

  62. No I don’t belong to any clubs or libraries. I follow some blogs on facebook but otherwise, I’m all on my own.
    Thanks for the opportunity. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

  64. I don’t belong to any library or bookstore clubs, but I do belong to some Facebook reading groups.

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