Sunday, April 15, 2018

Murder, She Knit






Some of you may not know that a number of us go way back together to the days when we were members of the Guppies, unpublished and struggling to get published. I'll date us by saying it was back in the age before self-publishing. So when  I saw this adorable cover and clever title, I was thrilled to see my friend Peggy Ehrhart was the author. Please join us in welcoming Peggy!
And don't miss her giveaway of a copy of MURDER, SHE KNIT!




My sleuth, Pamela Paterson, usually bakes her goodies from scratch, especially when the Arborville knitting club, Knit and Nibble, is meeting at her house and it’s her job to supply the nibbles. But sometimes a person gets busy and needs to come up with a sweet treat fast. Here’s a version of the classic thumbprint cookie that uses readymade sugar-cookie dough from the supermarket refrigerator case. I call them “fingerprint cookies” because the dough is very soft and a thumbprint-sized depression will make your jam sink all the way through to the cookie sheet.
Shortcut Fingerprint Cookies
You’ll need a roll of readymade sugar-cookie dough and a small amount of good jam—whatever kind you like, also optional powdered sugar. A 16.5 oz. roll of dough will make 32 of these cookies.
Cut your roll of dough in half lengthwise.
Slice each half into 16 slices. If you don’t want 32 cookies all at once, you can freeze half the dough to use later. Roll each slice into a ball.
Use the tip of your index finger to make a shallow hole in each ball.
Put a tiny scoop of jam—less than ¼ teaspoon—in each hole.
Arrange the filled dough balls on cookie sheets, leaving lots of space between them. The balls will flatten as the cookies bake and if they start out too close together, you’ll end up with one giant cookie. To bake 16 cookies I used two 15” x 10” cookie sheets and put only 8 dough balls on each. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for about 14 minutes, but check on them after 12 minutes. When they’re done they won’t look very brown but they’ll continue to bake a bit on the hot cookie sheets after you take them out of the oven. Loosen them with a spatula while they’re still warm. They become quite crisp when they cool and can break if you loosen them then.
Here is one sheet of baked cookies.
You can sprinkle powdered sugar on the cookies for a special touch. Put a spoonful of the sugar in a small sieve and shake it over the cookies while they’re still warm.
Arrange the cookies on a pretty plate to serve.

The second book in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series, DIED IN THE WOOL, comes out at the end of August and is now available for pre-order.


Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address to enter to win a copy of MURDER, SHE KNIT!

56 comments:

  1. This actually looks like a recipe even I can follow. Thanks for the instructions, and I love your book covers! mbradeen@yahoo.com

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  2. I love thumbprint cookies! I have been wanting to make some and try lemon curd in them.
    Congratulations on the new book!
    Thank you for the chance to win a copy!
    debprice60@gmail.com

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  3. The cookies look delicious! I love the cover of Murder, She Knit and would really like to win a copy. Thanks for the chance to win. patwalkerp@gmail.com

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  4. Thanks for the wonderful idea for a quick cookie recipe. When it's my turn to present an author at my mystery book club, called Sleuth Hounds, I often find myself scrambling to get treats together. I also would love a copy of your book so here's my email address: lynne.baxter075@sympatico.ca

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  5. Love the covers! Thanks for the contest. ckmbeg@gmail.com

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  6. I have days when that's my idea of a sweet fleet treat . . .thank you. I'd love to win, so I could donate it to my LYS (Local Yarn Store) after I read it. pjcoldren(at)tm.net Thank you!

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  7. Thanks Peggy for sharing the recipe and a chance to win a book. Life can't get much better when you are reading, nibbling a sweet cookie and sipping tea. Congratualtions on this series I can't wait to start reading.
    bcollin981(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Yum thanks for the recipe but my luck I will burn them. I can’t make any cookies. They always end up yucky. Thanks for the chance. Melissamcd79@gmail.com

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  9. These cookies would be perfect for my grandchildren who would devour them. Thanks for this great book giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. Your book covers look absolutely adorable. I love having a shortcut in my back pocket for days I need to pull a little something together and do not have the time/energy. Thanks for the idea.
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  11. Great recipe and I'd definitely love to read the book! EMS591@aol.com

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  12. Thanks for the delectable cookie recipe. My little ones would love them. Your book sounds captivating and special. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  13. Those look great! I love the quick and easy shortcut. Your covers are adorable. Are those aardvarks on the second cover? Too cute! Thank you so much for the chance to win!
    magicgirl2357@yahoo.com

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  14. What a fun recipe...easy and quick too! I would love to read your book, Died in the Wool. I am a knitter (though not very good, I can do easy stuff). The cover with the yarn and kitten is adoreable! dbahn(at)iw(dot)net

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  15. Thanks for an easy recipe and chance to win what sounds like a wonderful series. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  16. Looking forward to another good read! - mollie
    Iemercedez(at)aol(dot)com

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  17. Those cookies look good.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  18. Those cookies look scrumptious. Cookies, knitting, and a cozy mystery sounds perfect to me. I would love to check out your book.
    mmurphylee@gmail.com

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  19. First off, let me say that cover is adorable! I love it. I was unaware of this series and am adding it to my TBR pile. And the recipe-how easy and wonderful. Must give it a try. I especially love how you could get a variety of flavors in one batch simply by using a variety of jams!

    cozyupwithkathy @ gmail dot com

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  21. Thanks for the detailed instructions! Looking forward to reading the book! cheers (at) MarjimManor (dot) com

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  22. I love cats and reading your books. sweethomegrandma@gmail.com

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  23. Love the cover - Would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win. j.presler(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. What a cute cover! Sounds like a good cozy, thank you for the chance to win a copy.

    wfnren at aol dot com

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  25. Wow those cookies look amazing �� can’t wait to read your books. I love cozy mystery series...
    hwebb1221@gmail.com

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  26. Thanks for the recipe and this opportunity! Best wishes for a successful release! Dm_richards (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  27. I love EASY recipes and this one fills the bill---I actually think I could make these cookies! That kitty on the cover of the book makes me want to read it---cozies with critters are my favorite reading material.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  28. Looks like a great recipe. I'm no baker but I bet I could make those!! I'd also love to read that book! njcar22@aol.com

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  29. Thanks for the recipe. Love the cover. Thanks for the chance.
    im2early4u(at)gmail(dot)com

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  30. Your cover is so cute! Looks like a fun read. And I love shortcut recipes.
    RobinChase2010@gmail.com

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  31. Oh good! I love quick and easy recipes. My granddaughter was just visiting for her spring break and talked like she would like to learn to knit. Good luck on your series!
    patdupuy@yahoo.com

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  32. The cover is so darn cute! And, even I can't mess up this cookie recipe (I don't think).
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  33. I love to bake from scratch - and sometimes there just isn't time. Thanks for the recipe and the giveaway! The cover is really cute. aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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  34. Thank you for the cookie recipe and chance to win. Dmskrug3 at hotmail(dot)com

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  35. "Murder, She Knit" sounds like a great start to a new series. I like to knit when I'm not reading. Can't wait to read.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. Thanks for the recipe. Looks yummy. I would really like to win a copy of Murder, She Knit and Thanks for the chance to win.

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  37. Thank you for the recipe and the chance to win your awesome looking book! Donamaekutska7@gmail.com

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  38. Hi Peggy! What a coincidence seeing your post today, as we were just talking about you last night after watching videos of some great female guitarists like Debbie Davies, Ana Popovic, etc! I still make your Mango Tango Pie often and think of you every time. Would love to read your new series and introduce them to my mother, the knitter in the family.
    Those cookies are right up my alley for easy-peasy,so thanks for the idea. Great seeing you again & will try to catch up on FB. xo
    lola777_22 at hotmail dot com

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  39. Talk about easy! The hardest part is choosing the jam flavor.
    Love the book cover.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  40. Thank you for the recipe and the chance to win a copy of your book.
    cecilialyoung@gmail.com

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  41. These look delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe and for giving one of us a chance to win your book.
    Blessings!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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  42. Recipe looks yummy and the book looks good too!
    Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  43. Cookies look good and simple enough. Thanks. And thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book. kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net

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  44. Cookies look delicious and easy to make. Thanks for the recipe and giveaway.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  45. Love the cover and thanks for the chance at a new book.

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  46. Cover is great. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for chance

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  47. That has got to be the cutest cover ever! Thanks for the chance to win it. kristinlundgren@icloud.com

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  48. This is one of the cutest covers I have seen. I look forward to reading the story with it.
    browninggloria@hotmail.com

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  49. The cover is adorable. My mother was an awesome knitter. This book would remind me of she as she passed last March. I would love tu o read and review your book. I am definately going to make those cookies. We are snowed in and I need something to do. Thanks for the chance. Lamonicaks (at) gmail (dot) com

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  50. Love the cover. So cute! Thank you for the recipe. jmhansen2017(at)gmail(dot)com

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  51. Love trying out new recipes. Thank you for the chance to win this book! Looking forward to reading your books.
    ajrocks1229@hotmail.com

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  52. Would love to win the book. I love to knit and I love my Torbie cat. Email is lkrussell127@gmail.com

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  53. I would love to win this book, thanks for the great giveaway and recipe. lclee59(at)centurylink(dot)net

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  54. I have thought about joining that writing Organization the Guppies are connected with. How fun to see you go back to that...the cookies look delicious.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  55. I love these, they're beautiful! Adding Murder She Knit to my TBR, thank you. konecny7(at)gmail(dot)com

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  56. Hi, Marlene Ezell here. I love the cover on the book. Also thanks so much for the recipe and the giveaway.
    ezellmarlene(at)gmail(dot)com

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