Sunday, April 30, 2017

Welcome our guest Hannah Dennison + book #giveaway!

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British transplant Hannah Dennison is the author of The Vicky Hill Mysteries (Constable Crime) and The Honeychurch Hall Mysteries (Minotaur), both set in the wilds of the Devonshire countryside. Hannah originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. Hannah has served on numerous judging committees for Mystery Writers of America and is currently serving on the MWA board for 2016-2018. 



Now living in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two insane Vizsla dogs, Hannah’s heart remains in England. She is a passionate supporter of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the Historic Houses Association, and the National Trust. She enjoys all country pursuits, movies, theater and seriously good chocolate. 





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Don't miss Hannah's giveaway below!


Lemon Drizzle Cake (Without The Drizzle)


It’s great to be back at Mystery Lover's Kitchen once again. 

I hope your readers will enjoy the recipe for my quintessentially English Lemon Drizzle Cake—although the moment my American husband spied it cooling in the kitchen he asked, “Where is the frosting?”  He has a good point. If you make this cake the traditional old-fashioned way, there is no frosting. But of course you can always sprinkle it with confectioners sugar (we call it “Icing Sugar” in the UK) or even whip up some sugar, butter and a tiny bit of milk to make a buttercream frosting if that’s what suits your fancy.

I picked Lemon Drizzle Cake in honor of Jane Wynne, who owns Dundridge Stables in Harberton, Devon. That’s the setting for Iris Stanford’s carriage house that is featured in The Honeychurch Hall Mysteries. Jane invited me to tea and baked the most delicious Lemon Drizzle Cake, and I’ve never forgotten it.


I have to say however, that the recipe here comes from Warren Williams, a fellow Brit whose fabulous technique ensures that the lemon syrup soaks into the cake itself, which is why this one really does not need any frosting. Yum!



Ingredients for the cake
6oz self-raising flour (it really is available in the USA if you look)
1 level tsp. of baking powder
6oz of softened butter
6oz of caster sugar (i.e. superfine, not powdered)
3 medium eggs
2 tbsp. of semi-skimmed milk
The finely grated rind of 3 lemons—must be finely grated

Ingredients for the Lemon syrup
The juice of 3 lemons, strained
4oz of caster sugar (i.e. superfine, not powdered)

Method
Sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl, add the remaining cake ingredients and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. I cheated and used my Cuisinart.

 Spoon the mixture into a greased and base-lined 2lb loaf tin. You really want to line it with parchment paper otherwise the cake can stick to the bottom and it will be hard to get out.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180C or 350F for 1 hour or until cooked. You’ll know when it’s done when the cake seems to come away from the sides of the tin.

Keep the cake in the tin to cool whilst you make the syrup. Basically you’re just going to gently warm the lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan until the sugar has dissolved.

Next, use a skewer to pierce the top of the cake (still in the loaf tin) with deep holes. Pour the warm syrup over whilst the cake is still warm. Let it cool in the tin. This helps keep the syrup in the cake until it has all cooled down.

Turn out onto a wire tray.

When completely cool, slice and serve.

I had planned on garnishing my effort but the moment my back was turned … my husband cut a slice.

Enjoy!



Remember to line the pan with parchment paper.


GIVEAWAY

I am offering  a trade paperback of DEADLY DESIRES AT HONEYCHURCH HALL, 
the first Honeychurch Hall mystery, to one commenter. Leave your email so I can get in touch!  And tell me, do you enjoy history or mysteries set in historical places?


Learn more about Hannah on her website, and follow her on all her social media places!


Links:


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84 comments:

  1. Yes I do! It makes it seem real to me.I love learning as I read the story. Thank you for the chance to win a awesome sounding book.donamaekutska7@gmail.com

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    1. I loved studying history in school. It's fun to incorporate historical facts in my writing. Thanks for leaving a comment!

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  2. I definitely enjoy reading history and mystery books set in historical places - makes the plot that much more engaging and fun to read! EMS591@aol.com

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    1. It's also fun researching --there is so much available on the Internet now too. Thanks for entering!

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  3. I actually enjoy both history and mysteries set in historical places; stories are so much more fun to read and interesting. Thanks for the chance :)
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

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  4. Historical fiction, mysteries are always welcome. Love to read. Love the recipe as well. Lemon is another of our favorite flavors. For those who need self-rising flour, it is cheaper to make your own 1 cup of all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon fine salt. Thank you so much for the heads up on a new author and read Della at deepotter (at) peoplepc (dot) com

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    1. Dee, I didn't know about making your own self-rising flour. Thanks for the tip! ~ Daryl

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    2. This is a terrific tip. It's not always easy to find SF flour. Thanks!

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  5. Hi Hannah!

    I will definitely be baking this cake in the very near future (it looks so yummy that I won't be able to wait long, so it'll probably be this week!!!). :-)

    I do enjoy mysteries set in historical settings, and love your Honeychurch Hall series - so much so that I already have all of the books so please don't enter me into the drawing!

    Happy Sunday!
    Nicole :-)

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    1. Ha, Nicole, you and me both. I have all the books. Love the series. Like minds. ~ Daryl

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    2. It was great to meet you yesterday at Malice Nicole!

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  6. I'm excited to learn about a new series. Yes, I do enjoy mysteries set in a historical setting. They add a lot to the scenario and the characters. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net

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  7. I love mysteries or any book that is set in a historical place. I guess that is why I majored in history at college and teach it at the community college.
    worwichistory101@hotmail.com

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    1. If I had my life again, I would definitely study history at college. The older I am the more I really want to learn!

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  8. Your cake looks great! I hope to give it a try.

    I enjoy history somewhat, but don't have a particular fondness for mysteries set in historical locations. I will read them, but that setting doesn't particularly help draw me in.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win a book - I havent has the pleasure to read any of your works thus far. Michelle_english_major(at)hotmail.com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Michelle. It's always interesting to me to know what draws a reader to a book - especially if they are unfamiliar with the series.

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    2. Michelle, you've won the giveaway (by random number selector). I'll put you and Hannah together by email. Congrats. ~ Daryl

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  9. I do enjoy mysteries set in historical locations, makes them more real. Thanks for the chance to win.
    [mybeach52(at)yahoo(dot)com]

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for leaving a comment. Settings fascinate me in whatever genre.

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  10. I enjoy both mystery and mystery set in historical places. Love recipes of different dessert.
    judytucker1947@gmail.com

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    1. I LOVE desserts of any kind :) Thanks for stopping by.

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  11. I love history, historical mysteries and fiction. Thanks for the chance. Janngrogan@yahoo.com

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  12. Love historical mystery.
    Thank you for the chance.
    lady(dot)janel(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  13. I love history. They are stories of the past. I love stories set in historical places.

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    1. I'm always fascinated by old houses ... "if only these walls could talk!"

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  14. Love historical mysteries. Thanks for the lemon cake recipe!

    jtcgc(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. It really is super easy to make and lasts a long time if you wrap it in saran wrap (we call it cling film I think)

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  15. Yes! I love history! I like to read mystery in a historical storie. Thank you for the giveaway! crossxjo @hotmail. com

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  16. I do enjoy historical mysteries. Before I got hooked on mysteries/thrillers I read only historial fiction. I like that there are some historical cozies for me to enjoy. Thank you for the giveaway. pgenest57 at aol dot com

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    Replies
    1. I started out reading historical fiction and loved it.

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  17. I like mysteries set in historical places. Dutchcyclone@gmail.com

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  18. I like historical mysteries sometimes. Especially when I know the author has done research and there are facts mixed in with the story. jawdance@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. I love incorporating real historical events into my mysteries.

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  19. Historical mysteries are captivating and wonderful. I enjoy them greatly. Stories set in historical settings are unforgettable. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  20. I enjoy both history and mysteries

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  21. I love historical fiction. And lemon flavored anything. Are the ounces weight or volume? patdupuy@yahoo.com

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    1. Thank you for asking - it's oz as in weight on scales.

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  22. Actually I like both. If it sounds interesting I'm ready to read. lsum1258 (at) aol (dot) com

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  23. I love having a bit of realism in my mysteries...a historic place, a historic era, or a historic event, all of which I tend to google and enrich my experience. I like going beyond just a 'cozy' plot line, I love getting a bit of an education.
    kat8762@aol.com

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    1. Kathleen - I feel the same way. I enjoy learning more about a location so adding in historical facts AND a murder makes it all the more intriguing.

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  24. I love historical mysteries and history is very meaningful and profound. Lemon is my favorite flavor for treats. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. It's a toss up between lemon and chocolate for me ...

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  25. Yes, I like history a lot and find I sometimes learn a lot when books are set in an historical place or time. I love lemon, the cake looks great! Thanks for the chance to win!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. I was never a history buff as far as dates and things like that which we had in school. That said I do like historical figures like Henry VIII from watching Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. I do like books set in historical places or times. I love lemon and will try my hand at making this cake. Would love to win a copy of your book-haven't had the pleasure of reading any of your books yet. email address is joann_lord@excite.com

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    1. I think Masterpiece Theatre is terrific - their costume dramas are so fabulous. Loved Henry VIII. I wonder if they ate Lemon Drizzle cake in Henry VIII's day ...or something similar!

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  27. I enjoy reading historical mysteries. You are a new-to-me author...so happy to see you here & to read about your writings! Thanks so much for the recipe. I love anything lemony! sxygrndma48{at}yahoo{dot}com

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    1. I am excited I am new to you! Thanks for stopping by ....

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  28. I enjoy historical musteries since I can learn and be entertained at the same time.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  29. I enjoy historical mysteries.
    elainehroberson@gmail.com

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  30. Oh yes, I definitely do. It's like traveling to another country without paying a fee! Plus I think you learn so much if the author has done thorough research, and most of them do, It makes the reading more exciting!

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  31. Absolutely! I am a historical fiction reader at heart and have recently become a cozy mystery reader, so blending the two works perfectly for me!

    hobbit68@aol.com

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  32. I love historical mysteries. My son is a Civil War Reenactor so we love history. Lisamil46@gmail.com

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  33. I definitely love anything made with lemon. I also like mysteries with historical backgrounds because I always learn about something new.
    seffichinchilla@outlook.com

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  34. Historical novels are my first love! Now, I read whatever strikes my fancy, especially cozy mysteries and women's fiction, as long as it's not full of sex, violence or bad language! Those things totally turn me off! ljhallcps@hotmail.com

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  35. I'm a big fan of historical mysteries and fiction. I like to especially read about the historic places that I have visited. Would love to read "Deadly Desires at Honeychurch Hall". The lemon cake looks like a drizzle lemon cake my Mom used to make.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. Historical novels are my first love! Now, I read whatever strikes my fancy, especially cozy mysteries and women's fiction, as long as it's not full of sex, violence or bad language! Those things totally turn me off! ljhallcps@hotmail.com

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  37. I love mysteries with the historical background. Thanks for the chance. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  38. mgshepherd2003@yahoo.casApril 30, 2017 at 7:35 PM

    I do enjoy mysteries historical settings. It's fun to see how events we know about are incorporated into stories to be figured out - a combination of the real and fantasy. I look forward to reading your book! mgshepherd2003@yahoo.ca.

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  39. This looks delicious! I like mysteries set in historical places.
    Thank you for the chance!
    karen(dot)kenyon(at)rogers(dot)com

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  40. I enjoy a dose of history mixed in with a mystery. I visited England for a 3 1/2 week short-term course in January, 1973 and loved soaking up the sense of deeply seated history of your native land. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity! bskts4unme@hotmail.com

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  41. sometimes depends on the story - parkeremma2003 at yahoo dot com

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  42. mysteries with a bit of history are very interesting. thank you for the chance to read one of your books. embam1969@comcast.net

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  43. I love history & mysteries, so your series is a wonderful read for me. I have really enjoyed your previous books. Thanks for the great recipe & giveaway. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  44. I love mysteries and history and favorite settings are France and Ireland! Thanks for the great giveaway! My email address is Ethereal1062@yahoo.com

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  45. Especially enjoy historical mysteries and England is my favorite setting. cornwallst59athotmaildotcom.

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  46. I love historical mysteries. Really if you look at it Agatha Christie's set in the 30's could be called historical now couldn't they? thank you for the chance.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  47. I do like both.
    kckendler at gmail dot com

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  48. I love cozy mysteries and history so where ever they are set is great. Thank you so much for a print giveaway. ptclayton2@aol.com love to read and review on a few sites.

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  49. Congrats to Michelle M who won this giveaway (by random number selector). Thanks to all for chiming in. And thanks to Hannah for being such a super guest! ~ Daryl

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  50. Love mysteries in any way. This would be awesome to win. Thanks for the chance. Woodstock216@gmail.com

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  51. Historcal fiction makes me want to visit the site or can help me learn more about and event.Candykennedy45@gmail.com

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