I’m always excited to find that a new series has just started especially one that’s centered around strawberries…my most favorite fruit! DYING FOR STRAWBERRIES, the first book in the Berry Basket Mystery series by Sharon Farrow, starts off with a bang and will keep you turning pages!
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Amazon Synopsis
Much has changed for Marlee Jacob since she returned to Oriole Point, Michigan, three years ago. Between running the Berry Basket, dodging local gossip, and whipping up strawberry muffins, smoothies, and margaritas to celebrate the town’s first annual Strawberry Moon Bash, the twenty-nine-year-old hardly has time for her fiancé, let alone grim memories of her old life in New York . . .
But unfortunately for Marlee, Oriole Point is muddled with secrets of its own. First her friend Natasha disappears after an ominous dream. Next the seediest man in town threatens to crush her business. Then an unknown person nearly kills her on the night of the Bash. When she discovers a dead body while searching for Natasha, Marlee realizes she’ll have to foil a killer’s plot herself—before the past permanently stains her future.
My Review
From the moment I saw the cover art on this new book and then heard that subsequent books would be centered around a variety of berries (the author shared that book two will be blackberries!) I knew Sharon Farrow had found a winning combination! I like how the protagonist, Marlee, is already established in town with her business, The Berry Basket, instead of starting brand new. This gives a wider variety of supporting characters to interact with and gives greater insight into who Marlee is. The author includes a bit of humor such as Marlee Jacob’s name, which is a riff on the character from A Christmas Carol. The mystery and subplots are nicely woven together which adds to the appeal of this book. Marlee is the only one who shows concern for the disappearance of her friend, Natasha, who was being abused by her husband. The author brings the issue of domestic abuse to the forefront and I admire how social issues are being addressed in books to bring awareness which will hopefully facilitate change for the better.
I was delighted to find out that not only was there a story centered around strawberries but the author includes several yummy strawberry recipes! Sharon graciously allowed me to share her recipe for Strawberry Smash Muffins. Lots of fresh, glorious strawberries go into an easy to mix up batter and bake up golden brown. I love how they are light on calories but heavy on deliciousness and make the perfect treat to grab for an on the go breakfast or snack!
A huge thank you to Sharon Farrow for providing an autographed copy of DYING FOR STRAWBERRIES for one lucky winner! Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe 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!)
Ingredients
- 1-2/3 cups fresh strawberries, rinsed and stems removed
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees (F).
- Line the cups of a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cups or grease the cups.
- Smash the strawberries in a large bowl with a fork.
- Stir in the sugar, oil, and eggs, and mix well.
- Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix until moistened.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the muffins are light golden brown or a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean.
- If fresh strawberries aren't in season, you can use frozen strawberries. Be sure to completely thaw them and thoroughly drain before using.
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I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I don’t have a favorite strawberry recipe but the Strawberry Smash Muffins sound wonderful. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
I haven’t met a strawberry recipe that I haven’t liked yet! However, fresh strawberry pie is definitely at the top of my list.
I never thought to use strawberries in muffins, but now I really want to give this a try! I pinned the recipe so I can make it once. I have a copy of Dying for Strawberries, but haven’t read it yet. It sounds like it a good read!
Strawberries are a natural for muffins. Just like blueberries. Hope you enjoy the recipe and my book!
I don’t have a favorite strawberry recipe; I enjoy anything with the berries. Strawberry bread, scones, chocolate dipped, pie, shortcake, etc. I’m an equal opportunity strawberry consumer.
My girls and I make strawberry syrup to use on pancakes, waffles, and ice cream
I have a Strawberry cake recipe that we all love. Strawberry cake, top with strawberry glaze. Sliced strawberries on top of the glaze. Then top it with lots of whip cream. Yummy. I would love a signed copy of Dying For Strawberries. Thank you for the chance to win it.
I love Strawberries Romanov ~
Anything with strawberries is great – plain, with whipped cream, pie. I recently found an easy muffin recipe and this looks like another good one. Thanks.
Strawberry cake with strawberry frosting is my favorite cake recipe. thanks so much for the chance!
I love anything with strawberries. The book sounds really and interesting. Thanks for the review, recipe and chance to be entered in this lovely giveaway!
I love anything with strawberries. The book sounds really and interesting. Thanks for the review, recipe and chance to be entered in this lovely giveaway!
My strawberry ideal is shortcake.
Sadly, it seems harder and harder to get strawberries that have that zowee taste I remember from the past.
Other than the traditional strawberry shortcake, I love strawberry scones. I made them for a family brunch, and they were a hit!
I don’t have any favorite strawberry recipes—I love to jut gobble them up raw or put them on my morning cereal.
I love strawberries but I don’t really like strawberry pie
I love strawberry pie ever since I was a little girl.
I can’t wait to try this new recipe! YUM!
I love strawberries and can’t think of anyway I don’t The one thing I do is Strawberry freezer jam because it’s easy and yummy.
Sounds delightful and delicious! I love strawberries with whipped cream on top, shortbread cookies on the side.
Strawberry jam – better than pie! <3
Love to make strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting.
Strawberry shortcake is my favorite strawberry dessert and there’s not a recipe for it. The strawberry smash muffins sounds amazing. Can’t wait to read “Dying for Strawberries”.
strawberry freezer jam. Taste so good.
My favorites are strawberry jelly and smoothies.
I don’t have a favorite strawberry recipe. I just like to eat strawberries by themselves or dipped in a little caramel or chocolate. Those muffins look good!
No recipes, but love strawberry shortcake!
My daughter makes us strawberry smoothies
Strawberry freezer jam, yum!
I love making buscuits and then putting the strawberries that have been soaking in sugar and other things then i top it with real whipped cream. So good love them!
Except for making jam, I really don’t. They are so good to eat on there own! I am going to give these muffins a try, thanks for sharing the recipe.
I don’t really have a favorite . I think anything strawberry is awesome. Thanks for the recipe. It doeslook good.
I don’t have a favorite strawberry recipe but, I do love strawberries.
I love strawberry’s,but do not have a favorite recipe. These muffins sound great.
My family loves strawberries. We have a couple of recipes that we like. I am definitely trying this recipe.
I don’t have a favorite recipe but i love strawberry shortcake.
I don’t have a favorite strawberry recipe. I”ve baked strawberry cake from a box. And I have made strawberry shortcake by actually baking the shortbread instead of using the little sponge cups. But I wouldn’t say any recipe is my ‘go-to.’
Our daughter grew up with the Strawberry Shortcake doll, and she liked all things strawberry. I’m not sure as an adult she still has the same feelings for strawberries, but I am going to have to make these Strawberry Smash Muffins for her.
And I look forward to reading the book as well.
The muffins sound amazing! I’ll have to tuck the recipe away until strawberry season next year. I don’t tend to cook with them, just add them fresh to top things off if they make it that far…we usually end up eating them out of the carton as we’re putting other groceries away.
I’m really looking forward to reading this book too!
Hope you enjoy both the muffins and my book!
My favorite way to eat strawberries is melting milk chocolate and dipping the strawberries!! Yummy!
The recipe sounds great but I will have to wait to try it. Strawberries are a little out of season and the ones we could get now are not the best. Thanks for the recipe!
I don’t have a favorite strawberry recipe. I don’t think I have ever used them to make anything.
I have many favorite strawberry recipes and my family asks for strawberry rhubarb pie each year when my daughter’s rhubarb is ready to pick and I can make some nice fresh pies of both fruit.
I myself love fresh strawberry shortcake with sweet homemade biscuits and lots of sweetened heavy whipped cream. But, I love the juice of the strawberries as much as the berries in this dessert. To me, that juice that soaks into the biscuits and makes it super delicious. Love that dessert.
I also love to make strawberry trifle with fresh strawberries too.
And the list goes on.
Cynthia E. Blain
I love muffins and I also love strawberries – this recipe sounds like a great combination!
I love strawberry milkshakes
I happened to have some fresh strawberries, so I have a batch of the muffins baking in the oven right now. I substituted my homemade gluten free flour mix, so I’ll see how that turns out. I usually make my own strawberry jam, fresh strawberry pie, and strawberry/rhubarb pie.