Welcome!
Would you like 5 copies of GRILLING THE SUBJECT for your book club? Read on for details.
What is your book club reading? Are you one of those groups that always reads the latest women's fiction? I started a book club when I lived in Charlotte. I wanted to read mysteries, and all my friends did, too. But soon, as the group grew, I was overruled, and the club started reading women's fiction. Now, don't get me wrong, an occasional women's fiction is fun to read, but I get tired of reading dramas with the tragic endings. I want lighter fare. I left the group and returned to reading my mysteries. I like happy endings. I like when the bad guy gets his "just desserts."
Speaking of desserts...
For Book Club Week, I thought I'd share one of my favorite and easiest cakes to make. Something I eat while writing (or reading). With tea or coffee, it simply satisfies the taste buds.
Banana cake with chocolate frosting.
There's something so fun about little squares of cake, sort of brownie-shaped, with just a hint of chocolate. These will go perfectly at any book club. And because they're so easy to make, you can double the recipe and have twice as many! A square pan makes 9 to 16 square servings. Or you can do tiny slices and get lots more servings. No matter what, enjoy and...
Savor the mystery!
Gluten-Free
Banana Cake with Chocolate icing
Ingredients:
4 tablespoon oil
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon gluten-free Vanilla
or Vanillin
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups gluten-free flour
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup chocolate chips or nuts (if desired)
icing recipe below
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line an 8”-square pan with parchment paper. Spray with cooking oil.
In bowl, mix oil, sugar, eggs, bananas, vanilla, milk, and vinegar.
Add in gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking
powder.
Stir well. If desired, add
chocolate chips or nuts.
Pour into 8- or 9-inch square pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool 20 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cool completely, at least
2 hours.
Frost with chocolate icing.
Best if served at room temperature.
(* If you want to make this using regular flour, switch out the GF flour with regular flour and omit the xanthan gum.)
Chocolate Icing
Ingredients:
3
tablespoons cocoa
2
tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup
powdered sugar
2-3
tablespoons warm water
½ teaspoon
vanilla
Directions:
In a small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. Remove
from microwave and add all other ingredients to the bowl. Using a hand-mixer,
stir on medium low until smooth. Add more water, if you want a thinner icing,
and stir again. Any unused portion, store in an airtight container in the
refrigerator.
BY THE WAY, DON'T MISS THE HEARTY BARBECUE "MUFFIN" RECIPE IN GRILLING THE SUBJECT. THEY WOULD BE GOOD FOR A BOOK CLUB, TOO!
***
BOOK CLUB GIVEAWAY
I'm going to give away 5 copies of GRILLING THE SUBJECT to ONE book club (or a library for a book club event). So leave a COMMENT and tell me today,
do you belong to a book club or a library that has a book club?
Have you read a mystery for your club selection?
Remember to leave your email so I can contact you if you win!
BLURB:
BLURB:
Where there’s
smoke...
As the Wild West
Extravaganza rides into Crystal Cove, California, Cookbook Nook storeowner
Jenna Hart is ready for the rodeo and BBQ. But when the body of one of her
father’s neighbors is found smoldering in a bonfire, the rodeo revelry is
extinguished. Now Jenna must clear her father’s name before the real killer
turns up the heat and rakes someone else over the coals...
HERE ARE A COUPLE OF BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS FOR GRILLING THE SUBJECT
1. When Jenna sees the fire
and speeds to her father’s house, did you find it believable that she would run
to the crime scene? There is no policeman stopping her.
2. Jenna’s relationship with
Rhett is solid. When a surprise visitor shows up, that throws a wrench into the
mix. Rhett storms off. Did you side with him or Jenna? Is Rhett the right man for her? Why?