LESLIE: I met today's guest, Lynn Cahoon, last fall at Bouchercon in New Orleans, where we shared a panel talking about food in mysteries. She writes the Tourist Trap mysteries, featuring Jill Gardner and the crew from South Cove, CA, and the brand new Cat Latimer mysteries, set in small town Aspen Hills, Colorado, where Cat runs a B&B and writers' retreats The second Cat Latimer mystery, FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT, comes out on Tuesday!
Leave a comment below for a chance to win the first in the series, A STORY TO KILL!
LYNN: Muffins. They were the first thing we made in Intro to Home Economics my freshman year. We learned not to stir this batter too much as it loses the air that keeps muffins light and fluffy. Yet, you have to stir them just enough or you’ll get a mouth full of baking powder.
It took a lot of practice but I played with muffin recipes after school until I could mix up most anything into a batter. This one I call the kitchen sink recipe.
When I started writing my versions of a bed and breakfast mixed with a writer’s retreat in the Cat Latimer mysteries, my enjoyment of different breakfast breads came in handy. I’d love to be Shauna and be able to try out new recipes to wow the guests.
Shauna’s Special Chocolate Chip Muffins
Pre-heat oven to 400. Grease 12 muffin tins (or use spray oil).Mix into a large bowl
· 2 cups all-purpose flour
· 1⁄3 cup light-brown sugar, packed
· 1⁄3 cup sugar
· 2 teaspoons baking powder
· 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
In a separate bowl, mix
· 2⁄3 cup milk
· 1⁄2 cup butter, melted and cooled
· 2 eggs, lightly beaten
· 1 teaspoon vanilla
Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix together, but don’t over mix.
Add
· 2 cups (one 12-ounce package) semi-sweet chocolate chips
· 1⁄2 cup walnuts, chopped
· 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Pour into prepared muffin tin and bake for 15-20 minutes. Let cool. Enjoy!
Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win the first book in the series, A STORY TO KILL, by midnight Monday, Feb 27. (US addresses only, please.)
From the cover of FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT:
Cat Latimer’s Colorado bed-and-breakfast plays host to writers from all over. But murder is distinctly unwelcome . . .
To kick off a winter writing retreat, Cat and her handyman boyfriend, Seth, escort the aspiring authors to a nearby ski resort, hoping some fresh cold air will wake up their creative muses. But instead of hitting the slopes, they hit the bar—and before long, a tipsy romance novelist named Christina is keeping herself warm with a local ski bum who might have neglected to tell her about his upcoming wedding.
Next thing Cat knows, her uncle, the town sheriff, informs her that the young man’s been found dead in a hot tub—and Christina shows up crying and covered in blood. Now, between a murder mystery, the theft of a rare Hemingway edition, and the arrival of a black-clad stranger in snowy Aspen Hills, Cat’s afraid everything’s going downhill . . .
Lynn Cahoon is the author of the NYT and USA Today best-selling Tourist Trap cozy mystery series. GUIDEBOOK TO MURDER, book 1 of the series, won the Reader's Crown for Mystery Fiction in 2015. She's also pens the Cat Latimer series. A STORY TO KILL, and FATALITY IN FIRELIGHT are available in mass market paperback. She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies. Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com and find her on Facebook and Goodreads.
Ah, so now we know the secret of Kat's muffins! Yummy!
ReplyDeleteMuffins look so easy, but they are tricky little buggers. :)
DeleteSounds so very good!!!! Yummmo!
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteThe muffins sound delicious; and I would LOVE to read the book! EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteLord, I love muffins! And I love the name of the book! Injennius@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteReading and baking are my two most favorite things!
ReplyDeleteI need more muffins! I already own this book, but wanted to say that it is a fantastic read. I can't take the agony of waiting until Tuesday for the next book! Lol. Thank you for your generous giveaways. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the muffin recipe! Sounds yummy! Love your books! Looking forward to the new series. Dspinlexo@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI like the addition of cranberries and nuts. Guess it's muffins for breakfast today! amysue511(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, In a perfect world, muffins are always on the menu.
DeleteYum Muffins...this would be good to me for breakfast.Nothing wrong with chocolate right? The book sounds great too...thank you for the contest.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Well I am ready to bake a d be booked in Lynn's contest.
ReplyDeleteI love any kind of muffins, thanks for the secret to making them great. I love your mystery books they are always a great read. Thanks as always for your generosity. lindamay4852@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI like muffins but I've never tried making them
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon(.)net
Muffins in the morning for me! Thanks for the recipe and a chance to win a fun new book! We don have any if your books in our library, if I win, this will be the first!
ReplyDeleteFlirence dot Evans 60 at gmail dot com
Haven't had muffins n awhile will need to try. pwtish171@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to muffins with a new book. -mollie. IEMERCEDEZ@AOL.COM
ReplyDeleteGreat post book looks good would love to read. Recipe looks delish. Thanks for the recipe. And for a chance to get the book. Della at deepotter (at) peoplepc (dot) com
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Lynn! We're delighted to have you as our guest today. Now, pass one of those muffins through the screen to me, and all will be well!
ReplyDeleteWonderful recipe which I would love. Great post. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love all kinds of muffins and yours sound delicious! Thank you for a chance to win a book. Always looking for new authors. crossxjo @hotmail. com
ReplyDeleteThanks for this lovely recipe and great book. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love making muffins! They are yummy all day long, for any reason and great to share. Thanks for the recipe! I love your books!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAwilcox1182@gmail.com
Hi Amanda!!
DeleteThe muffins sound tasty. I took my first home ec class in 7th grade. Somewhere I still have my recipes hanging around. They were always simple but tasty. I would love to win a copy of A STORY TO KILL. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
Thanks for such an easy recipe & a great giveaway. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLove the recipe. Sounds like great cozy mystery.
ReplyDeletexzjh04@gmail.com
I love making muffins---must try this recipe.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
It's a great Sunday brunch recipe!
DeleteThe muffins look great. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of your book. elainehroberson@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThat recipe sounds delicious! And this series sounds like one I could definitely fall in love with! ericaplee@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThese muffins look very goos -- and easy. Thank you. I'd love to win your giveaway. Michele.vanepps@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteOh, yum! Those muffins sound delish.
ReplyDeleteThe muffins sound great and so does the book.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
mmm going to make these this weekend! would love a new book! aelinderman@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteYum!
ReplyDeleteSounds great. Haven't made muffins in a while so I will get on these soon lsum1258@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI love muffins and the ones with cranberries and nuts are my favorite.
ReplyDeletemarlene(dot)ezell(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a good snack to eat while reading the book!!!
ReplyDeleteDang it! I haven't had lunch yet and now I want muffins. Shoot. I shall console myself with reading and looking forward to more of your books :). Rbehling1916@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI took home ec too but my weird teacher did not have us bake muffins, darn it! So what is the secret to stir enough but not too much?
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
My email address is sandylip12@gmail.com always looking for a good author. I love doing reviews. Keep me in mind.
ReplyDeleteMuffins, coffee and a good book = best day of the week. cristinaalaska@gmail.com Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat looking muffins, will have to try them. This is a new series to me and I would really like to start it from the beginning.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
"Begin at the very beginning. It's a very good place to start! If you read you begin with ABC..." :)
DeleteFor this series, the beginning is A Story to Kill. :)
DeleteI am ready for muffins and a book now! Thanks for chance. Janngrogan@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMuffins with a fruit addition are often served for breakfast in our home. You are right;they can be touchy to make from scratch.Thank you for sharing your recipe.. servedogmomATyahooDOTcom
ReplyDeleteThese muffins look delish! Thank you for the chance to win. pgenest57 at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win! I didn't know NOT to stir muffins too much. I stir mine tons. Good to know now.
ReplyDeletenerdsrgood AT msn DOT com
Hello!! Yum, Yum! Thanks for the recipe! :-) I had Home Economics in 7th grade and made a sweatshirt....still have it! I've never worn it, but I still so proud of my "masterpiece!" Hehe! Thank you so much for this giveaway! I would love to win this...fingers crossed!
ReplyDeletetarafarah7(at)gmail(dot)com
Can't wait to read
ReplyDeleteThe muffins sound great, going to try making them tomorrow. Thank you for the chance to win a new book. excited!!! embam1969@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteGreat synopsis of the book. Putting it on my list to read. As for Home Ec, I can't remember what we first learned to cook, but I will give credit to Home Ec for teaching me how to sew. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteI've put this book on my list. The plot sounds great. As for Home Ec, I learned to sew in Home Ec. I'd already learned about muffins in 4-H dbahn(atiw(dot)net
ReplyDelete4H - we had it, but I wasn't part. I did get my Gold award for Girl Scouts though.
DeleteThe muffins sound delicious. Zeta(at)iwon(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI need to try making these muffins! Thanks! emmasmom69 AT gmail DOT com
ReplyDeleteWell, now I think I know what I will make for our next cozy book club treats! They look delicious. s_snively-at-hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThe muffins look like a perfect treat to go with reading a good mystery book!
ReplyDeletetraceyr1984@msn.com
Please enter me.
ReplyDeleteclarksrfun at gmail dot com
I love the recipe and also would love to win the print book that Lynn is giving away i am stalking her all over to get a print book. ptclayton2@aol.com disabled and can't use ebook etc or any tech so print is for me!
ReplyDeleteThe pancakes are delicious and I can't put your books down! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMwerb