I finally had the opportunity to meet the lovely author, Marla Cooper, in Honolulu at Left Coast Crime last month. I had a very fun time listening to her play the ukulele for a group of us and chatting over drinks one evening. Smart, talented and humorous, Marla brings all of those qualities to her newest release, DYING ON THE VINE, the second book in her Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mystery series!
Kelsey McKenna is a destination wedding planner. Like her creator, Kelsey is also intelligent, artistic and funny, using those qualities while working with brides, wedding vendors and obnoxious wedding planners who feel like she’s the competition. When she finds the murdered body of one of her competitors, Kelsey suddenly discovers herself in the unwanted center of attention of the police. Worried that she will lose business she can ill-afford, Kelsey must solve the murder and clear her name. She readily admits that she really doesn’t know how to solve crimes and proves to everyone that it’s definitely not as easy as they make it seem on CSI reruns! This sets the stage for several laugh out moments along with the zingy little one liners Kelsey likes to throw in.
I adored the setting of Napa Valley for this destination mystery series! Having lived in Napa for a while in my early twenties, Marla perfectly captures the sights, sounds, and flavors of the valley. She also provides a little information on wineries and wine caves, which I found fascinating. Kelsey has a wonderful friendship with Brody, a wedding photographer, and her assistant, Laurel. They complement each other and the author has set up great dialog and repartee between the characters. The plot moved at a fast pace with plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing and concludes with an exciting, suspenseful scene which wraps the story up nicely.
While there aren’t any recipes included with the book, there is plenty of yummy food mentioned. After discussing with Marla, I decided to create a recipe for White Cake with White Chocolate Ganache Frosting, based on a scene in DYING ON THE VINE. Kelsey is given a 6-inch sample cake from a bakery wanting some of her wedding business, but I made it an 8-inch cake so there is plenty to go around for family and friends. My taste testers oohed over the rich moistness of the cake and the unbelievably creamy frosting. The white chocolate adds just the right amount of flavor that compliments the vanilla cake. While my homemade White Cake recipe is deliciously yummy, the star is truly the White Chocolate Ganache Frosting! I’ve included a look at how to make a fondant ribbon flower at the end of the video tutorial below. It’s a quick and easy way to dress up any cake for any occasion!
Amazon Synopsis
When wedding planner Kelsey McKenna goes to the Wine Country Wedding Faire, the last thing she expects to do is take on new clients. After all, she’s just there to help out her friend Brody and maybe score some free cupcakes. But when a young couple in a pinch asks for her help, she just can’t say no.
There’s only one problem: they’d been working with Babs Norton, the self-proclaimed Queen of Wine Country Weddings―and things did not end well. Kelsey wants to make sure there are no hard feelings, but unfortunately she never gets the chance. When she goes to Babs’ office, she finds the wedding planner dead on the floor.
Babs’ high-strung assistant Stefan knows exactly who killed Babs: Kelsey. At least, that’s what he very publicly accuses her of at Babs’ funeral. When Kelsey decides to do a little sleuthing to clear her name, she uncovers a myriad of secrets and lies. And when a second wedding planner is attacked, Kelsey begins to wonder if she might be next.
A special thank you to Marla Cooper for providing a hardcover copy of DYING ON THE VINE for one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Monday, April 10, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST. Print limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)
Ingredients
- 2 cups (9.6 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1-1/2 cups (10.5 ounces) granulated sugar
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 1-3/4 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 11-ounce package premium white chocolate chips (Ghiradelli works best)
- 5 cups (22.5 ounces) confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
- Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Mix the milk with the vanilla. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, cream the butter until smooth then mix in the granulated sugar.
- Beat 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- On low speed, slowly add half the flour mixture and mix just until combined.
- Add in half the milk mixture and beat until just combined.
- Repeat with the remaining flour and milk, then beat on low speed until smooth, about 30 - 60 seconds.
- Divide the batter between the two pans.
- Bake 32 to 35 minutes. The tops should be golden and a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake should come out mostly clean. A few moist crumbs are fine, but it shouldn't be sticky.
- Remove pans from the oven and allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes.
- Turn cakes out onto a wire rack and cool completely before frosting.
- In a small saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium heat just until it begins to steam and bubble around the edges, stirring frequently. Do not allow to boil.
- Place white chocolate chips in a heat-proof mixing bowl and pour the hot cream over the chips.
- Allow mixture to sit for 5 minutes then whisk until completely smooth.
- Allow ganache to cool to room temperature. Don't refrigerate as it may cause mixture to curdle. If this happens, gently reheat mixture until slightly melted and whisk until smooth.
- Once ganache reaches room temperature, use the whisk attachment on a stand mixer, beat on low and slowly add the confectioners' sugar.
- Gradually increase the speed to high and whip frosting for 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Slice each cake layer in half horizontally (torte), and place one layer on a cake platter.
- Spread a thin layer of the white chocolate ganache frosting and top with another cake layer. Repeat until the cake layers are stacked.
- Cover the top and sides of the cake with a light coat of frosting then refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Remove cake from refrigerator and cover top and sides of the cake with another thick layer of frosting and using any remaining frosting to pipe borders as desired.
- If the frosting seems too soft, add additional confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached, whipping well after each addition.
- You can also take a shortcut and use a boxed cake mix, jazzing it up by using milk instead of water, adding extra vanilla extract and maybe a handful of white chocolate chips.
- For more tips on making box mixes seem more homemade, check out my blog post: https://cinnamonsugarandalittlebitofmurder.com/2015/06/17-tricks-for-cake-mix/
- Magic strips help cakes bake level. You can see more at this Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-415-0796-6-Piece-Bake-Strip/dp/B00C1LU8SA
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Marla Cooper is an accomplished ukulele player and serenaded us on the beach in Hawaii!
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
No I haven’t, but a couple friends at work have. They sound fun and unique!
I have never been to a wedding like that.
No I haven’t. Not yet
I have – family wedding in San Diego, CA – several years ago! We loved San Diego, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, etc. The marriage didn’t last, but the memories of a fun and fantastic time remain!
Never been to a destination wedding. Cake looks great. Book looks even better. Thanks for hosting the giveaway
No, never a destination wedding. Thanks for the giveaway.
I have never been to a destination wedding, I imagine it would be somewhere terrific. I can’t wait to try this recipe it sure sounds yummy & I would love a chance to win this book. Thanks for your generosity.
Lovely photo of Marla playing her ukelele on the beach! I was great to meet both you and Marla at Left Coast Crime and to spend time with you at that fun cocktails and serenade in Hawaii!! I also love that Marla chose Napa Valley for the setting of her second book! And the white chocolate cake looks delish, Kim!
In the unlikely chance that I win a copy of Marla’s newest book (congrats Marla!) and swag, I do have a US mailing address 🙂
It was so nice meeting and getting to know you as well, Grace! By the way, the “swag” was a typo…oops; it’s a hardcover book only for the giveaway (I corrected the blurb). Good luck!
Sorry, I should have mentioned above that I have never been to a destination wedding! Thanks for the giveaway.
I have never been to a destination wedding.
Mine. Las Vegas!!!
This book sounds just wonderful and the author plays the ukelele how soothing and wonderful. I have been to several destination weddings as i used to live in the SF area and it seems that people like to get married in the Tahoe area and so I have been to those and then my currant husband we got married in Reno and it was a blast. Got married then went back to the house and packed , kicked squatters out of my house that had taken 45,0000 from me plus sold a lot of my things at a garage sale they had while i was back here in Iowa for 3 weeks. Anyway so looking forward to reading this in print and thank you for the chance to win! Thank you Kim for bringing a new author that I haven’t read
Some friends of ours got married in Wales we lived in London at the time and went to Wales to see the wedding, I loved it there and want to go back. Penney
I have never been to a destination wedding — that’s on my Bucket List — someplace wonderful like Bali, the Maldives, London, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, etc… I loved the cake recipe — my wedding cake was white chocolate with white chocolate ganache and white chocolate shavings on top. I must say, it was amazing!
All the Weddings I’ve attended have been local.But I’m older and Wedding’s were so different and I have attended some very nice ones.
Well, nothing exotic…I attended a wedding in the woods. The couple planned a Renaissance style wedding with the party dressed in delightful gowns with flowers in their hair and the men in pantaloons and swords. They served a mead and mutton…although traditional fare was provided, too. Guests were asked to join in, so I wore a long gown, too. Lots of fun!
I haven’t (yet!!!) but they sound like such fun!
p.s. The cake is lovely – I’ve been watching a lot of the Great British Baking Show and it’s definitely a showstopper! 🙂
I have NEVER been to a deatination wedding. It would be fun however. I would not want to ne the wedding planner for one however. That job sounds super stressful! I like wedding cake though. ‘Mmmmmm!
Never been to a destination wedding. Lovely cake!
I have been invited to a destination wedding, but I could not go. The cake is beautiful and sounds delicious.
No I never have. Sounds fun
No I never have. Sounds fun
I never have but it would be cool. And boy does that cake look awesome!
I have never been to any exotic designation weddings but sounds like fun. Thanks for the recipe & giveaway.
I have not been to a destination wedding. I don’t know that many people who have gotten married. My nephew did get married in Las Vegas last year but while that was a destination, it wasn’t an actual destination wedding in the way that I think of one and in any case, I couldn’t go since I had to stay home and keep an eye on my three grandsons and my dad who was sick. They did stream the wedding live and that was cool and felt like I was there (without the long drive!)
No I haven’t been to a destination wedding. Thank you for the chance to win a hardcover copy of Dying On The Vine.
I have never been to a destination wedding, but it sounds like a great reason to take a vacation.
No I have not had the opportunity to attend a destination wedding. They seem very special for the couples who
have shared pictures and stories about theirs.
never been to a destination wedding….sounds like a great time though!
I would love to attend a destination wedding but none of my friends or relatives are that creative LOL
I’ve never been to a destination wedding. Love the cake recipe. Going to try it out soon.
I’ve never been to a destination wedding. My son recently moved to California and he’s taking me to the Napa Valley Vineyards. I’m so excited. This book sounds very good. Thanks for sharing this cake recipe. It looks fabulous!
I have never been to a destination wedding. The closest I will ever be to one is in a book! That cake looks amazing. The book sounds like a good read. Thanks!
No, I’ve never been to a destination wedding, I know a couple people that have, now that I think of it, I haven’t been to any weddings in quite awhile, the last few eloped.
I have never been to a destination wedding. Waiting to be invited to one!
No I have not.
I officiated at a destination wedding in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Lovely view of the ocean from the terrace we were on.
Almost all of the weddings I have been to were at least a couple of hours away, but I wouldn’t really call that a destination wedding. 😉
No, I’ve never been to a destination wedding.
I haven’t been to any kind of wedding in years.
Yes, but it wasn’t too far away as it was on the coast of Maine and we live in MA. So it wasn’t hard to get to as some destinations are.
I used to think being a wedding planner would be fun…then I saw behind the scenes. No, thank you! This looks like a great book, I am adding it to my TBR list. Thank you for the wonderful recipe and giveaway.
My son and his wife got married in a suite in Las Vegas. It was really nice.
I have never been to a destination wedding.
No, but they sound like fun!
I’ve never been to a destination wedding, but friends have and from their comments they sound like fun.
I have never attended a destination wedding but it does sound fun