Fun New Detective Series – by Joanne Fluke

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is a fun book that came highly recommended, and free, from a friend. I don’t think I would have picked it up off the shelf, because I am ashamed to admit that I often base my book buying decisions on the cover art, and this one is sadly lacking.  It is a quick, easy read that is entertaining on a couple of levels.

I am still trying to decide if I liked the mystery or the included recipes best.  I really appreciate the main character, Hannah Swensen, as she is a strong, independent small business owner.  Hannah is not intimidating or overwhelming, and is therefore very believable as a main character from a small town.  Both the strong tie to the setting, Minnesota in this case, and the relationship between Hannah and her mother had me remembering my first Stephanie Plum mystery.  I haven’t tried any of the cookie recipes that were included throughout the book, but I do have plans to do so this weekend and will report back with pictures and a full review then.

For now, if you are looking for a cozy mystery to read at the beach or poolside, I would recommend this one for a quick and easy read.

Cafe Thursday – Rum and Coke Cupcakes

I saw a fantastic recipe last week for Rum & Coke Cupcakes over at the I Heart Cuppycakes blog and knew I had to try it right away.  DD and I had some events planned last weekend and we thought these little gems would be perfect.  They were.

The one word of caution I would add if you plan to try these is to BE SURE to follow the directions exactly for the frosting.  As you can see, her frosting is WAY cooler than mine.  Mind never firmed up.  I know why mine didn’t work.  You see, I broke my candy thermometer a while back and have been refusing to go get a new one.  I don’t have a reason, I just keep forgetting when I am out to pick one up.  So, I tried to predict when I hit the right stage instead of measuring it out and that clearly doesn’t work.  The taste however, made up for my silliness.  This is a wonderful recipe that everyone will like.

Finally Friday Fun – Food and First Editions

Food First

I mentioned in my last post that I was searching the web last week for  places in my home state of Michigan that sold organic food and how much fun I was having finding and testing food.  I found another little gem.  I received my first order from a store called Food For Thought on Wednesday and was quite pleased with my purchases.  Not only is their site and packaging adorable, their food is delicious.  Of the few things I ordered, my favorite item hands down was the Organic Cherry Salsa Atento, I could honestly eat it by the buckets!

First Editions

I ate this wonderful salsa while I did some research online to determine if I accidentally own a first edition, first print book.  I LOVE books, and love reading them even more.  I have been seriously considering starting a collection that would second as an investment and so I have been doing some reading up on buying first edition books.  I randomly picked up a book that I got mailed to me by a friend and as I was trying to determine its edition, realized I had a first edition.  So my collection has officially started.  This particular book is not very well known and my book isn’t worth much. . .but everyone has to start somewhere.

New Place to Buy Organic

I am having so much fun going mostly Organic and being more careful about what food I put in my body. I don’t think it should be this much fun, but it is. I have been searching the web for organic food that doesn’t cost a ton, and I found a great new place on Friday.  Eden Organic has many healthy options, but is especially good for pasta, soy sauce, and organic snacks.  I found them because I was searching for organic growers in my home state of Michigan and received my first order yesterday.

I have to say first of all that I shopped late Friday, and got my food on Tuesday, that turn around time for online purchases is hard to beat.  I ordered four different products and have tried three of them already: 

The popcorn was amazing. . .really!  I made it just as instructed on the back of the package and it tasted much better than any microwave popcorn I have had.

I used the udon noodles as spaghetti noodles and then mixed the crushed tomatoes with a jar of Trader Joe Bruschetta sauce, a bit of succant, some garlic salt and pepper for a wonderful spaghetti dinner.  The price on these items are very good, and you have the option to buy in bulk when you purchase them from the online store.  I will be buying plenty more popcorn and noodles this week.

Great New Recipe From a Great Site

I was in a hurry one day during the holiday madness to find a quick and easy dessert to make to share with co-workers at our annual Christmas Lunch and stumbled upon a site I had not been to before.  My Recipes is a great place to search for new dishes to try, and they have helped me plan several parties already in the few short weeks I have spent surfing their site.

There were quite a few amazing recipes to choose from for my party at work, but I finally settled on the recipe below.  Not only did this become my favorite new Christmas goody to make, but it makes a double batch, so you will have two tarts when you are done.  I froze one and used it a week later at a family gathering and got lots of compliments, in fact my sister-in-law was so anxious to have this recipe that she took the one I had used and couldn’t wait for me to email it later!  The other great thing about this recipe is that it is rich enough that you can cut it into very small fudge-like portions and make it go quite a long way.

Peppermint Brownie Tarts   

Ingredients

·         4  (1-ounce) unsweetened chocolate baking squares

·         1  cup  butter, softened

·         2  cups  sugar

·         4  large eggs

·         1  cup  all-purpose flour

·         1  teaspoon  vanilla extract

·         1  cup  semisweet chocolate morsels

·         1/2  cup  butter, softened

·         1  (16-ounce) package powdered sugar

·         1/3  cup  milk

·         1/4  teaspoon  peppermint oil

·         1  Chocolate Glaze

·         1/2  cup  crushed peppermint candy canes

Preparation

Microwave chocolate squares in a microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 1/2 minutes, stirring at 30-second intervals until melted. Stir until smooth.

Beat 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.

Add flour, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla and chocolate morsels. Spread batter evenly into 2 greased and floured 9-inch tart pans with removable bottoms.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely on wire racks.

Beat 1/2 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add powdered sugar alternately with milk, beating at low speed after each addition. Stir in peppermint oil.

Divide butter mixture between each tart, spreading evenly over cooled brownies in pans; cover and chill 1 hour or until firm. Divide Chocolate Glaze evenly between each tart, spreading over chilled butter mixture in pans. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy around outer edge of each tart

Cafe Thursday – Peanut Butter Cookies

And the mad dash of holiday baking at my house has now begun.  Every year I try to get the kids involved in some holiday baking.  Although they are teenagers, I find that with a little encouragement, both teens are actually happy to help make cookies as it is a bit of a tradition in our house and we all find comfort in the activity. 

DD and I made these peanut butter cookies already and they were delicious!  I tweaked a recipe that I found over at the Joy of Baking site.  I used her peanut butter cookie recipe, but added some peanut butter chips, and then drizzled melted white chocolate on top of the cookies.  They were super rich and warm and wonderful, and when paired with a glass of milk they are Heaven on Earth!

I think the next cookie on our list will be some chocolate mint cookies that are so rich and sweet you can only eat one.  Watch for that recipe in the next couple of days.

Thanksgiving Menu

Everyone has their own Thanksgiving traditions and menus, so I thought I would post mine as both an archive for me for next year, and just in case it may be interesting or helpful to anyone else who may be putting together a last minute list.

Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey soaked in William-Sonoma brine

Stuffing (my own recipe, but could use stovetop, add onions, celery, sausage and raisins)

Sweet Potato Casserole (I add a row of mini marshmellows to the top for DH)

Mashed Potatoes with gravy

Green Bean Cassarole

Corn

Rolls

Relish tray

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

Apple Crisp

More Baking Fun

DD and I have had some more fun baking our new favorite treat, cake balls! 

We needed to make a snack for a bake sale at school, and while the sale was a bust, we sure did make lots of friends happy with our treats.

Ours are not as cute as the ones over at Bakerella, but we did ok for our first time out I think.  They look more like mushrooms than cupcakes I think, maybe that is why no one bought any.  I made mine out of red velvet cake and next time I will use chocolate cake like Bakerella did.

Heavenly Ice Cream Cake

We had a birthday party here at work yesterday, and one of the ladies brought in a cake that was absoulutely amazing.  I wanted to share the recipe, and encourage you to try it, making modifications of your own.

24 ice cream sandwiches
chocolate syrup
caramel syrup
peanuts or toffee chips
1 large tub of whipped cream

Line a 13 x 9 pan with 12 of the ice cream sandwiches (lying flat in the pan) and top with a layer (1/2 of the tub) of whipped cream, then drizzle the chocolate, caramel and peanuts/toffee. Repeat a second layer of each item.

Cover and put in the freezer overnight. Remove dessert from the freezer about 15 minutes before serving. WARNING: This dessert is very rich, you may want to slice it into very small pieces.

Cafe Thursday – Don’t Get the Seafood

Normally to celebrate Cafe Thursday, I include a fun recipe.  Today, however, I can barely think of food so I thought I would use today as a caution to all my friends and family who do read this blog sometimes.  And just what is my tip today?  Don’t order the seafood!

I used to think that if you went to an overpriced joint that specialized in seafood you should be able to order anything off the menu and not worry. . .right?  Oh boy, am I a fool or what?  (DBs, that is rhetorical. . please don’t answer.)  After eating at a very nice, expensive chain restaurant the other night, both DH and I came down with a very yucky, yet mild case of food poisoning.  My advice from now on is to. . well. . what can you order these days?  And from where?

I just heard on the news, while in bed with food poisoning actually, that a popular food chain in my area is recalling ground beef because it has issues.  It seems that tomatoes and spinach and peppers are all a bit risky now days, and of course seafood is among the worst offenders.  So I ask, what can we eat?  Even my vegan daughter is not safe if she orders a spinich salad.  Between the dangers of eating anything with high froctose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils and the fear of food poisoning in meat and veggies, what are we left with?  What can we eat with confidence that it will nourish us instead of kill us?  Do we all have to become farmers and raise our own stuff?  And if we did, would it matter?  Good Grief what have we done?!

(picture here Charlie Brown with his arms raised in frustration)

I am not really giving any answers here, I am more asking the question. . .what do you do?  I myself am now leaning toward believing that there is not much we can do but make the best decisions we can and trust God for the rest. . .