Click on book to visit Amazon
KNEE DEEP IN DOUGH, the tenth book in the Cookies & Chance Mysteries by Catherine Bruns, is another terrific addition to a long- enjoyed series! While this can be read as a stand-alone, the author’s strength is in her character development over the course of the series. The protagonist, Sally Muccio, and her husband, dreamy Mike Donovan, are celebrating their third wedding anniversary and life couldn’t be better with their eight-month-old daughter, Cookie, by their side. Not only has the protagonist grown and changed (like we all do in life) but the core cast of characters have as well. Sally’s parents are still a hoot and not only is her father still blogging as Father Death but he now owns a mortuary and Sally’s mother is designing a funerary clothing line. Ms. Bruns knows how to create scenes for maximum hilarity and Knee Deep In Dough doesn’t disappoint. While some of the characters are quirky, there’s never a doubt that Sally and her family are loving, kind, and deeply supportive of each other, and never more so with this new book. I’m always tentative about a cozy mystery series where the protagonist is a mother and there’s a baby or child involved. Ms. Bruns handles the situation with sensitivity and, given the support Sally receives from her family, it put my mind at ease so I was able to sit back and enjoy the story as it unfolded.
The murder mystery starts out early and when Officer Brian Jenkins, a longtime friend of Sally’s, becomes the main suspect, she feels the need to come to his assistance. Afterall, Brian had saved Sally’s life on more than one occasion and she feels she owes him a debt. Plus, the victim was a friend of Sally’s from high school days before she moved away. As Sally begins to ask questions, it’s obvious the victim and Brian were/are hiding secrets. Uncovering the truth isn’t easy and it doesn’t take long before she’s attracted the attention of the killer. The clues are sprinkled throughout the story and with a fast-paced plot, I didn’t want to put the book down. It certainly proved to be a “just one more chapter” read until I’d finished the very last page. With a heart pounding reveal, and a couple surprising twists I didn’t see coming, Ms. Bruns has proven once again to be an accomplished storyteller!
Sally owns her cookie bakery, Sally’s Samples, and so many delectable goodies are mentioned on the pages. I had the honor of providing a recipe for the book and when I found out the season in the book was summer, I wanted to have something that was reminiscent of summertime treats from my childhood. My family made s’mores around a campfire after a long day spent hiking in the woods or on a lake boating with my cousins and the memory appealed to me. But in all honesty, the last time I had a s’more a few years ago as an adult, I was disappointed. The marshmallows were overburnt, the chocolate didn’t melt, and the graham crackers were too dry. Instead, I decided to create a S’mores Cookie Bars so that the perfect ration of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows could be had and no campfires were required. My husband took a stack of the S’mores Cookie Bars to share with his golf buddies and the overwhelming consensus was, they were one of the very best treats I’d had them taste so far!
Amazon Synopsis
For once, baker Sally Muccio’s life isn’t a recipe for disaster. She’s happy to be out celebrating her wedding anniversary… that is until she spies her friend Officer Brian Jenkins with a gorgeous blonde who is not his newlywed wife. The woman’s name is Kelsey Sherman, and it turns out she once dated Brian. Which doesn’t make Sal feel any better about the situation, but she decides to mind her own business and enjoy her evening.
Only before the night is over Kelsey is dead from a gunshot wound, and Brian is found standing over her body. To make matters worse, the bullet is confirmed to have come from his own gun. Brian swears he had nothing to do with the murder, and Sal believes him, even if the rest of the town’s convinced that he’s a total crumb. With nowhere else to turn, Brian asks for help to prove his innocence. But when the tables turn and someone tries to kill Sal as well, she might come out of this mess battered for life.
A special thanks to Catherine Bruns for providing a winner with a print copy of KNEE DEEP IN DOUGH! Contest ends Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 6 (1.55-ounce) Hershy's Milk Chocolate bars, divided
- 1 (7-ounce) container marshmallow creme
- 3/4 cup mini marshmallows
-
Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).
-
Create a foil sling for a 9-inch square baking dish. Fold 2 long sheets of foil to fit the inside of the baking dish then place them perpendicular to each other, allowing extra foil to hang over the edge of dish. Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.
-
Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter with the granulated and brown sugars, and salt, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
-
Stir in the flour, graham cracker crumbs, and baking powder. The mixture will be crumbly.
-
Reserve 1 cup of the dough and press the remaining dough into the prepared baking dish to form the crust.
-
Cover the crust with 5 chocolate bars, breaking bars as necessary to cover evenly. (Try to leave the bars as whole as possible.) Coarsely chop the remaining chocolate bar and set aside.
-
Spray a spatula with non-stick cooking spray and use to spread the marshmallow fluff over the chocolate bars.
-
Sprinkle the marshmallow fluff with mini marshmallows and the reserved cookie dough mixture.
-
Bake for 22 - 24 minutes or until the top looks golden brown. Remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle with the chopped chocolate bar.
-
Allow the bars to completely cool until the chocolate has set, about 4 hours. Do not refrigerate.
-
Using the foil sling, remove the S'mores Cookie Bars from the dish and place on a chopping board. Peel off the foil and cut into bars with a knife spritzed with non-stick cooking spray.
Pin to Pinterest:
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Both! Even a smoldering charcoal grill. Anywhere, anytime–the bars look delicious and look like a good ootion!
Yes, I have made s’mores over a campfire or bonfire. They are yummy!
Everyone talks about making them all their lives, but I’d never heard of them until I was an adult. Of course, I’ve been working hard ever since to make up for lost time. 🙂 We love them!
Thank you for the S’mores Cookie Bars recipe which will most definitely be made – and soon. It’s not right to get my sweet taste buds at such full attention so early in the morning, but that they are.
Yes, many times I have made smores over a campfire. Most often at church camps. SO YUMMY! Those Smores bars look scrumptious!
I’ve made s’mores over campfires, bonfires, in the microwave, and on the grill. I just love s’mores.
Thank you for the chance to win the book and for the recipe!
We love making s’mores over a campfire! I also have a propane fire pit on the patio that we will sometimes use.
I make s’more over a campfire.
Campfire and bonfire are both the best. A friend from work who has small children recommended using Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies(chocolate sides together) in place of separate graham cracker and chocolate and this makes them much easier to handle!! You just have to watch out for the hot marshmallow dripping through the hole in the center.
I’ve never made S’Mores over a campfire – just over a gas stove! Thanks for the chance to win!
I have made them over a campfire. They are too sweet now.
Yes! I love S’mores! Those look delicious!
Thank you for the twist on the recipe.
I like to get together with friends in the summer and make Smores over the fire.
This is definitely one to make for the grandkids! Thank you!
Yes. Whenever we go camping we always make s’mores .
I like them best over a campfire.
I believe I had S’mores when I was really young at family get-togethers in the local park near to where I lived. I haven’t had any (that I can recall) in my adult life other than at restaurants or already made by friends before visit. I would love to try them again, but alas, no longer can have the sugar! Doesn’t mean I would love to read about them!!! Thank you for the chance!
Many times. As a Girl Scout, as a leader, and as a soldier.
I’ve had many s’mores in my day.
I sometimes get an urge for one, but without a campfire, it’s challenging!
Yes I have had Smores over a campfire so yummy. Thanks for your great generosity.
Had them when I was young. Would love one now lol. Thanks for the chance.
Yes I have over a camp fire. Thank for the recipe. Donakutska7@gmail.com Thank you for the chance I’d love to read it!
Yes, we always make them when we have a bonfire.
Yum!! S’mores!! And would so like to read the book.
Yes I have enjoyed many when I was younger.
I have never made Smores over a campfire but I have a similar recipe to the one posted on this Website, made in a 9×13 pan.
Yes and they were amazing!
Yes I have. It is so much fun. Thank you for this chance.
Oh yes, I love making smores! Over a fire or in the microwave. Yummy yummy!
Yes, I have and they are one of my favorite things!!
Yes, I have made S’mores over a campfire.
It’s funny that you mention s’mores because up until this past February, I had never made one. I’ll be 51 this year. LOL! When my nieces and nephew were visiting, the hotel where they were staying lit a fire pit every night and set out supplies for the kids to make fresh s’mores. We had so much fun! Thank you for the giveaway!
Yes! Made them many times at Girl Scout camp and functions back in the early 50s!
We made them over a fire pit last fall nd it was actually the first time I had eaten one. Much too chocolatey for me. I liked the marshmallow, though.
Yes, I have done it over a bonfire before. Yummy but very messy.
Yes we do when we go camping or sometimes we use our fire pit!
Oh goodness yes smores are a must when you go camping. That is something that my grandgirls love when my son takes the family camping they keep asking is it smore time yet right when they set up the tent… So cute and so fun to go camping plus an added bonus if you get the marshmallows the perfect color.
Oh yes many a time. Yummmmm!
I have made smores over a campfire.
Many years ago, we made s’mores over a campfire. It was fun and delicious
Yes! I have done them both ways. I ❤them!
Never cared for them. Enjoy.
I love s’mores. I even toast the marshmallows over the gas burner on my stove, to have nice, toasty ones.
And, yes, I make them over campfires whenever I can.
When I was young I made them over a campfire. Now I use the grill or microwave.
Yes. I have made and still do make smores over a campfire. They are fun and a tasty treat.
Yes, we have made Smores over the fire. These snore bars look delious. Looking forward to making rhem and reading your book ..thanks for a chance.
I’ve never made them over a campfire. We always just roasted hot dogs.
love s’mores!!!!!! thanks for the recipe…………..
love s’mores!!!!!! thanks for the recipe!!!!!!!!!!
never but would love to someday! thanks for the chance!
I have made several S’mores and your’s looks absolutely delicious!!!!
We’ve made them by stove. Never outdoors. Always wanted to. We canp almost every summer. But somehow S’mores never came up.
I enjoyed them, but haven’tmade them since I was a teen. I haven’t been camping in 40+ years.
Making s’mores is the best part of the camping trip. I’ve made them at home but it just isn’t the same.
Yes! Smores were great when we camped in Lake Tahoe, every year! I never liked my marshmallow burned though!
My family does them over the bonfire. One of my favorite desserts!