Friday, April 24, 2020

Blueberry Pound Cake and #giveaway

Maddie Day here. We're all baking more, it seems. I know I am. 


Some of you have heard the very sad news that our great friend Sheila Connolly has died. We will honor her with a group post on Monday. She was a personal friend and a role model for how to work hard at writing mysteries while still having fun.

I slid into her second and fourth Friday slots here a few months ago. Sheila was an excellent baker, among other culinary skills, so it seems apt to post a recipe for blueberry cake.



Blueberry Pound Cake


Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup white sugar
2?¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups fresh blueberries
¼ cup all-purpose flour


Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 10-inch tube pan with 2 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle pan with 1/4 cup sugar.

Mix together 2 3/4 cups flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. 
















Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Dredge blueberries with remaining 1/4 cup flour, then fold 
Pour batter into the prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 70 to 80 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.









What's your favorite use of blueberries? How about your favorite Sheila Connolly book? 

My next book is Nacho Average Murderwhich comes out June 30 and is the seventh Country Store Mystery. I am happy to send one of you an ARC!






Robbie Jordan is temporarily leaving Pans ’N Pancakes, her country store in South Lick, Indiana, to visit Santa Barbara, California—where wildfire smoke tinges the air, but a more immediate danger may lie in wait . . .


I hope you'll visit my alter-ego Edith Maxwell and me on our web site, sign up for our monthly newsletter, visit us on social media, and check our all our books and short stories.

Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell) is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in Linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha-nominated and bestselling author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau north of Boston, where she’s currently working on her next mystery when she isn’t cooking up something delectable in the kitchen.

34 comments:

  1. I am shocked to read about Sheila Connolly. I am currently reading "Fatal Roots" and enjoyed all her books set in Ireland. She had the ability to make you feel like you were really there. I also enjoyed her apple orchard books. I will miss her immensely.
    I love blueberries and try to eat that super fruit every day. I usually have them raw, but your pound cake sounds like a winner.

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  2. I love Sheila Connolly books. I have not read all of them yet, and I will savor them all the more as I read them.

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  3. It's been extremely sad hearing about the passing of Sheila Connolly. I take comfort in knowing she's free of pain and in a better place.

    We definitely love blueberries! Before we moved, I had a friend who was gracious to share their blueberries with us. After they and all the friends and family picked all they wanted, I could go in and pick the excess to give to my Mom and all the elderly widows that lived around them. One year in particular, I picked over 100 pounds of blueberries. Doesn't sound like much until you consider the size and weight of each blueberry. In one day I picked a bushel basket full to giveaway to those that could no longer do the picking. You know that made the ones I picked for us taste all the sweeter. :)

    Now that we have moved, I was worried I'd not have access to fresh blueberries. Found out about the blueberry orchard just down the road from us.

    One of my favorite blueberry recipes is for BLUEBERRY LEMON BREAD WITH LEMON GLAZE. Here is the recipe.
    INGREDIENTS
    2 cups all-purpose flour + 1 tablespoon, divided
    2 tsp. baking powder
    ½ tsp. salt
    ½ cup. oil (coconut, vegetable, or canola)
    2 tsp. vanilla extract
    2 eggs
    1 cup granulated sugar
    1 cup plain greek yogurt (or sour cream)
    Zest & juice of 1 lemon
    1 cup blueberries
    Lemon Glaze
    ¾ cup confectioners sugar
    1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    INSTRUCTIONS
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x5 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
    In a small bowl, toss the blueberries with 1 tablespoon of the flour and set aside (this helps to prevent the blueberries from sinking).
    In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups of flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
    In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, vanilla, eggs, sugar, greek yogurt, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
    Combine the wet and dry ingredients, just until smooth. Do not overmix or your bread will come out tough.
    Lightly fold the blueberries into the batter.
    Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes. The bread will be finished when a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.*
    Once bread is finished, remove from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes in the loaf pan. Remove from loaf pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
    Once bread has cooled, whisk together the confectioners sugar and lemon juice. Start with one tablespoon of lemon juice and whisk well. If your mixture is too thick, slowly add up to one more tablespoon of lemon juice. You want the glaze to be thin enough to drizzle, but thick enough to set up on the bread.
    Using a spoon, drizzle the glaze on top of the bread. The glaze should harden up a little more after about 15-20 minutes.
    NOTES
    *If bread begins to brown too much on the top, tent with aluminum foil. I used some foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking,
    *Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to five days. Bread will freeze well for up to two months.

    Can't wait for the opportunity to read NACHO AVERAGE MURDER!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  4. I am so sad to hear of Sheila Connolly’s passing. She will be missed. Her Orchard series is one of my favorites. Prayers for Sheila’s family and friends.

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  5. It's hard to say what our favorite use is. We make smoothies, desserts, plain as a snack (which happens to be my fave) Was really glad to see this post. I went to bed wondering what to do with the 2 quarts of blueberries I set out yesterday. Seeing this post gave me an idea. Think I will do a blueberry, cream cheese cobbler. As for Sheila Connolly. I was partial to her Museum Series and the Orchard Series. Hard to pick one specific one. We have tried some of the recipe ideas and found a couple faves. Even my daughter liked them. Congratulations on your upcoming release of NACHO AVERAGE MURDER! bessdeepotter84 at gmail dot com

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  6. How sad to hear of Sheila Connolly's passing. Her books will be missed. This recipe for blueberry pound cake is making my mouth water. Can't wait to try it. Thanks for the giveaway. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. My condolences to all Sheila Connolly's family, friends, to all the The Mystery Lovers' Kitchen authors. I know she will live on in memories & her wonderful books! It is hard to pick just one of Sheila's books, there are many to love & enjoy! I love blueberries plain with a bit of sugar or blueberry cobbler..yum! nani_geplcs(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. Welcome today. Congrats on your soon to come out book. Ohh but this recipe looks fabulous. Thanks for sharing. I love to use blueberries in so many things. I once tried them in sugar cookies. LOL they came out looking so lumpy and funny looking. But they tasted wonderful. I love baking with them and eating them raw. I have made blueberry compote and preserves. We go to MI yearly to get a lot of fresh blue berries and we bring them home and I freeze them so we have them until next summer. quilting lady 2 at comcast dot net

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    Replies
    1. Lori, you are the winner of the ARC! Please send your snail mail address to me at edith@edithmaxwell.com. Thanks.

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  9. Sending condolences to Sheila Connolly's family and friends. I love her Orchard Mystery Series.

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  10. Sad news. Good choice for the recipe, she did love to provide baking recipes for us.

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  11. I loved Sheila's books. I cannot decide on my favorite, loved the series set in Ireland. Thanks for a great recipe. I need to use up my frozen berries.ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  12. Condolences to Shelia Connolly's family and friends. Really liked her Orchard Mysteries. The blueberry pound cake looks delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. I just made a blueberry banana loaf cake -- but, my favorite is blueberry cobbler. I love all of Sheila Connolly's books, but my favorite series is the apple orchard one -- well, maybe the museum series - or - the Irish -- gosh, it is difficult to choose.

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  14. I was very saddened to learn of Sheila's passing. I can't say that there is a single book of hers that I love more than the others. What I can say is that for me, her County Cork mystery series was far and away my favorite of her various series.

    Love the recipe by the way. And though it isn't all that adventurous a notion, my two favorite uses for blueberries are in muffins or pancakes.

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  15. Sheila's passing in a significant loss to this group and the whole world of book lovers. I will miss "our" trips to Ireland. RIP, gentle soul.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  16. I like a simple fruit salad of blueberries and sliced strawberries. In regard to my favorite series of Sheila's it would have to be her County Cork mysteries. All of her series are wonderful, but this is my favorite. I will miss her posts from Ireland, so nice to take us along on her move.

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  17. I love a fruit salad of blueberries, strawberries and kiwi.
    Too hard to choose a favorite book - love Shelia's Orchard, Museum and County Cork mysteries.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  18. I just found a blueberry recipe from death of a Blueberry Tart- for Blueberry Cream Cheese bread. I added lemon zest and it is our new favorite thing. Thank you for the recipe and the giveaway and condolences to Sheila's family. aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. I really enjoy Sheila Connolly's apple orchard books. She was a great author. My condolences to her family and friends.
    As for my favorite use of blueberries, almost anything- pie,muffins,in salads,ice cream, etc.
    kathyclugston3@gmail.com

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  20. My first love of blueberries was in muffins, so I will stick with that. But, I love them plain with a little sweetened milk too.
    browninggloria(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  21. I am sorry for your loss. It is never easy to lose a friend.
    I love blueberries in my oatmeal every morning.
    Lisacobblestone(at)aol(dot)com

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  22. I've read a few of the County Cork series but am pretty behind. Loved them though. Such a loss, my condolences to all.
    My favorite use of blueberries is muffins.
    kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  23. I enjoyed reading An Early Wake by Sheila Connolly . Your recipe looks delicious. I also like blueberry muffins.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  24. I was sad to hear about the passing of Shelia Connolly! It is obvious that she was well loved! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. Blueberry Torte I really like all of Sheila connollys books. My favorite series is set at a tavern in Ireland. I really enjoy it.Thank you for the chance now we'll never know if the rooms will be rented out upstairs and if they will serve food to keep her helper.

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  26. I am so sorry to hear about Sheila Connolly's passing my condolences to her family. I don't really care for blueberries but this looks good. Thanks for the chance.


    Tighefan42atgmaildotcom

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  27. Sheila was one of my favorite authors. I read at least part of all her series. I enjoyed getting to know her characters. I don’t know that I have a favorite book of hers. There were so many good ones. suefoster109 at gmail dot com

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  28. Sad news. I read the Orchard and Myseum series. Blueberry muffins. Mmm. Wskwared at yahoo dot com

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  29. Love the recipe and I’d love to read this book too. legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  30. Yup Sad news. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  31. Very sad to hear about Sheila! My condolences to her family and friends.
    I always use blueberries in my muffins.
    maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  32. Random picked Lori Smanski as our winner. Congratulations, Lori! Please send your snail mail address to me at edith@edithmaxwell.com. And thanks to all for your condolences and for letting me know how you use blueberries. I wish I had an ARC for each of you. Be well.

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  33. Blueberry scones with homemade blueberry jelly.

    I would love to read your new book. With library closed I'm running down my stack of books very quickly

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