
A very warm welcome to Darci Hannah, whose new series A VERY CHERRY MYSTERY launches June 8th with CHERRY PIES & DEADLY LIES! Darci loves to bake for her family, and rumor has it she's a big coffee drinker, too!
Don't miss her giveaway below!
Thank
you, Krista, for having me as a guest on the Internet’s most scrumptious, and
cozy, website! Like the wonderful hosts of this blog, there’s little that gives
me more joy than sharing one of my favorite recipes with a friend, or being
able to tell them about a great book. Well, today’s my lucky day, because I get
to do both.
Cherry Pies & Deadly Lies (available June 8th),
is my first book in the new A Very Cherry Mystery series. And for this
cherry-loving Midwesterner, setting a cozy mystery in the heart of cherry
country (the beautiful Door Peninsula in Wisconsin) is basically a dream come
true. I grew up sampling the region’s signature dish, the classic Door County
cherry pie, and although I now live in Michigan, the largest producer of tart
cherries in the US, there’s just something so special about Door County that I couldn’t
help myself from writing about it. Whitney Bloom, my resourceful, millennial
heroine, is also very glad that I did.
It’s
late May and Chicago baker Whitney Bloom knows that the cherry orchards in
Cherry Cove, Wisconsin, are in full bloom. She grew up on an orchard there, and
her parents own the iconic Cherry Orchard Inn. Whitney also knows it’s the
weekend of the inn’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, a fun-filled three-day
extravaganza of cherry-centric events, culminating with the highly competitive
Cherry Pie Bake-Off. Whitney’s grandma Jenn wins it nearly every year. This
year, however, Whitney keeps “forgetting” to return her mother’s calls. She knows
that her parents could really use her help at the inn, just as she knows that
her mother wants her to enter her signature deconstructed cherry pie in this
year’s bake-off, something Whitney is hesitant to do. Sure, she believes that
her delicious cherry creation is up for the test. But returning to Cherry Cove
would put her in the same town as Tate Vander Hagen, the former love of her
life, and she just isn’t prepared to do that. Tate (aka Vanderlicious) is her
kryptonite. Worse yet, her mother still adores him. It’s a dangerous
combination any way Whitney looks at it. Nothing can break her resolve to stay
in Chicago and focus all her energies on her cherry-centric online bakery, Bloom ‘n’ Cherries!—nothing, that is,
until she learns that there’s been a murder in the orchard. Her resolve is
further shattered when she learns that all fingers are pointing to her dad as
the culprit.
Of
course, I just couldn’t resist sharing one of my favorite cherry pie recipes!
This one isn’t in the book, but it’s a show-stopper. I mean, really, who
doesn’t want their own cherry pie?
Individual Door County Cherry Pies
Ingredients:
Unbaked pie crust for
two pies, (I cheat and use refrigerated pie crust for this recipe, but you’re
welcome to make your own!)
6 cups frozen tart
cherries (Although I recommend Door County cherries any Montmorency cherries
will do. Most grocery stores carry them in the frozen fruit section.)
1 cup sugar
4 Tbs. corn starch
1 tsp. lemon juice
3 Tbs. butter
For the topping:
¼
cup butter (1/2 a stick)
½
cup flour
½
cup brown sugar
Instructions:
1.
Preheat
oven to 375º
2.
Prepare
muffin pan by spraying each cup with nonstick spray (I use a giant muffin pan
for this recipe!)
3.
Roll
out pie crust. Find a cup or bowl large enough to cover the cups of the muffin tin,
and cut out dough circles. Line individual muffin cups with pie dough, crimping
the top of the crust. Set aside.
4.
Place
frozen cherries in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the teaspoon of lemon
juice, cover and stir occasionally. After a few minutes, the cherries should
start releasing juice. Keep covered and remove from heat.
5.
In
a small bowl mix sugar and cornstarch together until combined. Pour mixture
into the warm, juicy cherries and mix well.
6.
Return
cherries to the stove and cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until
the liquid loses its cloudy appearance and becomes thick and bubbly. Remove
from heat and stir in the butter.
7.
Make
crumble topping. Place flour and brown sugar in small bowl. Cut in the butter
until small crumbs form. Set aside.
8.
Fill
prepared muffin cups with warm cherry filling. Top with crumble topping and put
in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until done.
9.
Remove
from oven and let cool. Before serving remove the individual pies from pan and
top with your favorite vanilla ice cream and a dollop of freshly whipped whip
cream.
Enjoy!
Darci is giving away a copy of CHERRY PIES AND DEADLY LIES to one person who leaves a comment.
Don't forget to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win!
Hi Darci!
ReplyDeleteTotally looking forward to checking out your book and definitely making some cherry pie! Yum! Good luck on your release!
My email is jerseygirl51582@gmail.com.
What a great new series and I am looking forward to reading it! This idea for individual pies is one I am going to be using! Thank you for the recipe! The cover of the book cracks me up!
ReplyDeletedebprice60@gmail.com
I would love to win a copy! Thanks for that recipe! I will definitely have to try it:)
ReplyDeleteanitaparis48@gmail.com
This sounds amazing. Thank you for the delicious recipe too. I can't wait to dive in ❤
ReplyDeletelilyanngill56(at)gmail(dot)com
Cherry pie and ice cream! Yum!! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Memorial Day weekend.
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Love the title. Those mini cherry pies my husband would love but I'm not much of a baker. Thank you for this chance at the giveaway. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWould love to win. Thanks for recipe. pwtish171(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI enjoy new mystery series and eagerly look forward to reading Cherry Pies and Deadly Lies. What a unique idea, to make individual cherry pies. I plan to make this soon. Have not made a cherry pie in a long time. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of miniature pies. Great idea since I am the only pie eater and I can give gifts to friends! Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win acopy is a nice bonus!
ReplyDeleteMy email is teddi1961@arcemont.com
Thanks for joining us today at Mystery Lovers Kitchen, Hannah! We're thrilled to have you nd your pie looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to making these adorable pies and reading. Thank you for the chance to win. Dmskrug3 at hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous cover! Congratulations on you new series; it sounds great. I love the idea of individual pies. Thank you so much for the chanre to win!
ReplyDeletemagicgirl2357@yahoo.com
Sounds like a really great book! Thanks for this chance.
ReplyDelete1cow0993(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for visiting Mystery Lovers' Kitchen. Your new book sounds great, as does your recipe. I love the idea of individual cherry pies, and they look amazing. I'll have to see what kind of cherries I can find at our grocery store here in Colorado ~ bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is cherry pie. We actually we in that area of Michigan one summer long ago and got great pies from bakeries.Thanks for a new mystery and a chance to win.Candykennedy45@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteCherry pie is one of my favorites
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon(.)net
I love any series with food and recipes in it. As for that luscious cherry pie recipe I'll send it to my daughter who is the baker for most of us.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win a copy of your new book and add it to my food cozy collection.
NoraAdrienne (at) gmail (dot) com
Cherry anything is my favorite!!!
ReplyDeleteOneponychick66@hotmail.com
I would be honored to win a copy. I would post reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
ReplyDeleteagavigan@cox.net
The book sounds great, and the recipe looks delicious! Thank you for this chance! areewekidding(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Wisconsin. Your book sounds awesome. I get my books from the library so would love to win your book. trwilliams 69 at msn dot com
ReplyDeleteCherry Pie is my husbands favorite. Can't wait to read this cozy, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeletewfnren at aol dot com
As a kid my favorite pie was cherry. I’ve made it close to Door County over the years but never actually got there. This sounds like a winning start to a new series I want to read.
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
This sounds like a great new series. Welcome to one of my favorite posts. Who doesn't love Cherries!! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your new book. kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe cannot wait to read this abeachlifesc at Yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Kitchen, Darci! The book sounds as tasty as the pies!
ReplyDeleteYummy recipe! Your book sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeletececilialyoung at gmail dot com
I like the idea of individual pie(lette)s. Makes adjusting the recipe easy.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
These pies look delicious...and not too difficult to make. Will definitely need to try them out! And the book sounds great, too!
ReplyDeleteOh boy, that looks so good. I love cherries and am looking forward to a new mystery series!
ReplyDeleteclarksrfun at gmail dot com
I can't wait to read this book. Congratulations Darci Hannah! Unfortunately we will be out of town at the book launch at the library. Otherwise, we would have been there. Wishing you much success with this series! jgmiller32@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteYay! A new author! The cherry pies look great! Can't wait to try making them.
ReplyDeleteKnapp.MP@gmail.com
What a yummy recipe! And hearty congratulations on the new series. I hadn't heard of this series, so I will be putting it on my TBR list. aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThe new book sounds wonderful. Can't wait to read it. And the recipe is to "die" for" :) . ( nvictoria77@yahoo.com )
ReplyDeleteThese little pies are adorable & look really yummy.
ReplyDeleteturtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm drooling just looking at the pictures of those little pies. This might become a must-read series for me.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrellgmail.com
The new series sounds great. Not sure I would make the recipe. I'm not that good at baking.
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is perfect for this patriotic weekend! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to this book as well! Debbie(dot)Erickson14(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the delicious recipe! Book looks so good. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletefaithdcreech at gmail dot com
Delectable recipe for summer. Your book would be greatly enjoyed. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLove this delightful treat and the book is captivating. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThis looks like it will be a fun read and start of a great new series — the title is perfect for summer! Thanks for the chance! lgillettemartin (at) gmail (dot) com.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Michigan's orchard country and it's nice to be able to go right to the orchard to buy whatever fruit is in season. This looks like a recipe will try and I'm looking forward to reading the book.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Seems like it's going to be a great series. I should be prepared to preorder
ReplyDeleteLove the cover. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance. im2early4u(at)gmail (dot)
ReplyDeleteim2early4u(at)gmail(dot)com
DeleteYummy recipe! Would love to win the book. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot)com
ReplyDeleteThe recipe made me want to run out and buy cherries to make it. Thank you for the chance lamonicaks (at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good book
ReplyDeleteGood looking pie
ReplyDeleteThe recipe looks great & I love cherry pies. The book sounds like a delicious read. Thanks for your generosity. lindamay4852@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteOh that pie looks so good.I want to try that recipe. I absolutely love the name of this book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to try and win.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe - love cherries!
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
The pie looks delicious, and I really like the book's cover.
ReplyDeletebrowninggloria@hotmail.com
I'm looking forward to reading this book; it sounds like it will be a great read. And the recipe photos look great! I've enjoyed cherry pies since I was a child - and used to enjoy climbing my grandparents' cherry tree with my cousins (although we were told not to, but the temptation was too strong). dhins20155 at gmail dot com.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a cute cozy series!
ReplyDeleteAjf95@aol.com
I really want to read this book. The pie looks delicious. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteThe cherry pie recipe looks amazing. I can't wait to make it for my next party. Cherry is one of our favorites. Looking forward to the book too!!
ReplyDeletescarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com
Both your book and recipe sound/look delicious!
ReplyDeletekpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
The individual pie idea is awesome. Could I freeze them to selfishly keep for myself? I'd love knowing that I have a supply "just in case." Lol. Adding to my TBR, thank you! konecny7(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDelete