
A warm welcome to Julia Buckley, who brings us the first Christmas recipe of the year. That must mean the holidays can't be too far behind!
Julia's latest book, CHEDDAR OFF DEAD, the second Lilah Drake Undercover Dish mystery, hits shelves on September 6 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon now.
Don't miss her giveaway. Leave a comment with your email address below so she can notify you if you win!
In my latest book, CHEDDAR OFF DEAD (the second in Berkley’s UNDERCOVER DISH mysteries), Lilah Drake continues her career as a secret chef while she also maintains two day jobs that involve cooking and baking. Lilah has a flair for creating food to suit her clientele, and the list of her customers is growing as the series progresses.
The book is set at Christmastime, and Lilah is working to make a variety of holiday foods, some of it for her own family.
In the excerpt below, Lilah Drake is staying at her brother’s house for protection, since a murderer may be looking for her. She is surrounded by her brother and his lovely Italian wife, Serafina, a police-appointed bodyguard named Wendy, and her sometime-boyfriend, Detective Jay Parker. (She also has the non-human support, as ever, of her loyal Labrador, Mick. In the photo below, the part of Mick is played by my own Labrador, Digby, wearing the Christmas garb that Mick must wear). This unlikely group is sharing one of Lilah’s breakfast concoctions:
“I focused on my casseroles. The key to a delicious gingerbread is getting the right

By the time I slid them into the oven, Serafina finally appeared, looking rumpled and sexy in a little red robe. It was official: there was no occasion in which Serafina did not look attractive. “Lilah? You’re up so early!”
“Yes. I had to get started on some food deliveries, but I’ll have breakfast for you and Cam. Is he at work?”
“No—he’s in bed. We were up late, talking and talking.”
Now it was Serafina who didn’t make eye contact, but it was clear enough what she and my brother had been doing into the wee hours. “Oh. Well, hurry up and take your shower, and I’ll make you both some coffee.”
Forty minutes later they were all at the table and being regaled with Christmas songs from Serafina’s iPod. I watched as Parker, Cam, and Serafina dug in to the still-warm gingerbread casserole. Cam slathered his with additional syrup and butter, although I had already topped the dish with fresh whipped cream. They started to eat, and I held my breath until I heard the first “Ah,” which came from Parker. He certainly was a loyalist about my food.
“Lilah, this is delicious!” Serafina said. “Such a wonderful way to start the day—warm food to warm the heart.” Her words were highlighted by Perry Como, who was singing “Home for the Holidays” in his rich, reassuring voice.”
Despite the dangers Lilah finds herself in over the course of several mysteries, she always feels cheered by the food she makes, and by the appreciative responses from the people who eat it. Food warms the heart and the stomach, and for Lilah, food is a way to show love.
With her holiday gingerbread casserole, she does just that.
Lilah’s French Toast Casserole with Gingerbread Flavor(Adapted for Christmastime)
Ingredients:
1 loaf of soft French bread (or soft rolls)
8 large eggs
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Salt to taste
Streusel Topping:
(This can vary, but here’s one option)
2 sticks (one pound) butter
¼ cup molasses
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves
Slice bread into 20 slices (or separate ten rolls) and lay out in buttered baking dish.
Blend all of the ingredients and pour them over the slices of bread, making sure that the wet mixture gets under and in between the slices, and that all of the bread is saturated.
Cover the mixture with tin foil and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, spread the Streusel mixture on top of the saturated, chilled bread, and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
(Gingerbread tastes delicious topped with whipped cream).
Serve with pats of butter and maple syrup.
Be ready for a delicious surprise to share with friends or family! Toby’s five children love this recipe, but adults love it, too!
Julia Buckley is a Chicago writer. Her recent titles, A DARK AND STORMY MURDER (Berkley, July 6) and CHEDDAR OFF DEAD (Berkley, Sept 6) are available in stores and on Amazon. She lives in a busy house with her husband, two sons, four cats and a big Labrador. Her European mother raised her to believe that Food is Love, and she has followed that philosophy all her life.
I hope you enjoy the recipe, or the book, or both—and Merry Christmas in September. J I will choose a winner from among the comments under this post and send them a signed copy of CHEDDAR OFF DEAD, the sequel to THE BIG CHILI.
The book sounds wonderful and I love this French Toast recipe! EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz!
DeleteI love French toast but have never tried one with a gingerbread topping. Thanks for the recipe and chance to win your newest book! grace dot koshida at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteGrace, I love it, too! Sadly, I love all kinds of food. :)
DeleteThis sounds like the perfect breakfast for Christmas. suefoster109 at netzeronetzero.net
ReplyDeleteWhen is French Toast not the perfect breakfast? :)
DeleteSounds scrumptious! I will have to make this soon. Can't wait for the holidays. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteangelhwk68@yahoo.com
Barbara, I can't wait, either! But they are all right around the corner. :)
DeleteThis sounds like an amazing recipe for holiday brunches! Thanks for the recipe for the chance to win your new book! kimdavishb (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Kim!
DeleteThis does sound tasty.
ReplyDeleteWhat size pan do you use? 13X9?
Yes! My good glass pan recently exploded--no kidding--when my husband tried to heat its contents over a stove burner. Note to all--don't put a glass pan on top of the stove and heat it with flame.
DeleteMust make this thanks for sharing!!! Parkeremma2003 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteSure! Thanks for reading the post!
DeleteRecipe and book both sound delicious!
ReplyDeletekpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Thanks, Karen. FYI, my favorite teacher in grade school was named Mrs. Barnett.
DeleteLove Christmas recipes. Cozy Mysteries are one of my favorite.
ReplyDeletejudytucker1947@gmail.com
Agree on both counts, Judy!
DeleteI always like to try a few new recipes during the holiday season---this sounds like a good one. Thanks for the contest---the cover is just darling.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Thank you, Sue! I can't take credit for the cover, but I did create the doggy character, whose name is Mick.
DeleteRecipe sounds like a winner to me. Looks easy to make and sounds delicious. Thanks for the review and recipe. jmhinton@psci.net
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSounds like a great Christmas morning dish! Thanks for the contest...can't wait to read the book! 2boys4me (at) gmail (dot) com.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amanda! I hope you enjoy the book whenever you may read it.
DeleteMy daughter-in-law is a great cook and I know she would love this recipe. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donna! I hope she likes it.
DeleteFood and book both sound great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim! There are some other fun recipes in the book!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy husband would love that. With the cooler weather coming soon (boo) I'll have to make it for him. pgenest57 at aol dot com
ReplyDeletePaula, we are the yin and yang of weather. I LOVE the cooler weather and all that comes with it. But of course summer has many pleasures. :) I hope your husband enjoys it!
DeleteThe recipe would be greatly enjoyed as would the book. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the drawing, petite!
DeleteYum! Sounds like a great Christmas morning breakfast dish. I am looking forward to the new book, thanks for the chance to win!
DeleteJHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks, J Holden!
DeleteI'm excited to read this book! It would be awesome to win it!! Thanks for the chance!! lindaherold999@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLinda, you won it on the Lynn Cahoon/Mollie Cox book launch. It's on its way to you now! :)
DeleteLove Christmas stories!! Recipe sounds yummy! I love the Santa hat on the dog!!! jawdance@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteWho can resist putting a Santa hat on their dog at Christmas? :)
DeleteJust read The Big Chili while I was in hospital. Was so glad it came in time to take along. I can always read!!!! My favorite are culinary cozy mysteries because I love to cook. Will be trying this recipe as soon as I am well!!! Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better!
DeleteYes, food is love! It's fun to bake for friends and family all year long, but even more so at the holidays. I love gingerbread and French toast so this combination is a must-try.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
sallycootie@gmail.com
Agreed, GC! I hope you like it. :)
DeleteThis book sounds like such a great read. The recipe sounds really good. A friend's mom used to make the best French toast. She deep fried it so that it came out like a puffed pastry.
ReplyDeletemarlene.ezell@gmail.com
That sounds delicious, Marlene!
DeleteThis gingerbread French toast recipe sounds incredible, and the book sounds pretty delicious, also.
ReplyDeleterebarger@bellsouth.net