Leslie K. here, happy to present Nancy Herriman, author of the acclaimed A Mystery of Old San Francisco and Bess Ellyott series, with a scrumptious recipe and terrific giveaway! Take it away, Nancy:
Happy New Year!
The most recent release in my San Francisco series, set in 1860s San Francisco and featuring nurse Celia Davies and Detective Nicholas Greaves, is NO DARKNESS AS LIKE DEATH. My sleuth’s Scottish housekeeper serves up tea and biscuits whenever trouble strikes, which usually happens when Celia has stumbled upon another dead body. I’m not certain what she might think of this recipe, but I personally am always looking for simple desserts to make. This recipe fits the bill. More a dense cake than a pie, it can be made with either fresh or frozen blueberries.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 1 Tb granulated sugar, divided
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup salted butter, melted (if using unsalted butter, add 1/4 tsp salt to dry ingredients)
2 large eggs
1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups plus 1/4 cup blueberries, divided (if using frozen, thaw and drain first)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a 9-inch round glass pie dish and set aside.
If using frozen blueberries, thaw in a strainer, allowing them to drain off excess water. Gently pat dry with paper towel
In a large bowl, add flour, ¾ cup of sugar, cinnamon, and whisk to combine.
Pour the melted butter into a medium bowl. Allow the butter to cool some then add the eggs and vanilla extract. Combine with a fork.
Pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir to combine. Add 2 cups of blueberries and stir to combine. The batter will be fairly thick.
Pour batter into the pie dish, slightly leveling with a spatula or spoon. Sprinkle ¼ cup of blueberries over the top. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar over the top. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until edges are slightly brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow pie to cool before slicing and serving. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if you’d like!
THE PROCESS
I thawed and strained my frozen blueberries so that the finished dessert didn’t end up soggy. If using fresh, skip this step.
Sprinkle the residual blueberries and sugar on top, then pop it into the preheated oven. Baking times may vary, depending on the dish you use, so start checking around 35 minutes or so. (See photo at top for finished result.)
Thanks again to everyone at Mystery Lover’s Kitchen for hosting me. It’s been a delight to be here! Happy 2022 to everybody!
And now for the GIVEAWAY! Readers: We’ve hit the depths of winter in Ohio, and my thoughts turn to comfort food (and sweets). Do you have any go-to desserts that you reach for when the weather turns dreary?
One lucky commenter will receive the book of their choice from my two series. (USA only--sorry!) Please include your email address, so we can contact the winner!
About No Darkness As Like Death: Few in San Francisco are upset that Ambrose Shaw has been found dead at a local health institute—the prominent banker had recently turned to politics and rapidly made enemies. But when Celia Davies learns his death is considered suspicious and that evidence implicates a friend, she must prove the woman’s innocence.
Teaming up with Detective Nick Greaves, Celia discovers there’s no shortage of suspects, including the victim’s political opponents, his discontented son, and even the dead man’s fellow patients at the institute, whose founder promises miracle water cures but has been covering up thefts from his well-to-do clients.
The case is murky at best, forcing Celia and Nick to navigate an endless trail of false clues and dead ends to reach the truth behind a perplexing murder . . .
Nancy Herriman retired from an engineering career to take up the pen. She hasn’t looked back. Her work has won the Daphne du Maurier award, and Publishers Weekly says her ‘A Mystery of Old San Francisco’ series “…brings 1867 San Francisco to vivid life.” Her most recent release is NO DARKNESS AS LIKE DEATH. Book 5 in the series, NO REFUGE FROM THE GRAVE, will be out in April of 2022. She is also the author of the Bess Ellyott Mystery series set in Tudor England. When not writing, she enjoys singing, gabbing about writing, and eating dark chocolate. She currently lives in central Ohio.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nancyherriman.mysteries
Twitter: @Nancy_Herriman
This looks yummy, Nancy, and easy! I love this series and can't wait for the new book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for loving my series, Edith! :-) And yes, this is SO easy!
DeleteI love desserts and have so many that I make from time to time. My Mother's chocolate pudding recipe is one of my favorites. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing better than homemade chocolate pudding. I'm sure it's delicious!
DeleteThank you for the delicious sounding recipe. We always have blueberries on hand - either fresh or frozen - and they are one of my go to ingredients for something yummy to eat.
ReplyDeleteWe love Blueberry Crunch which has so many yummy ingredients from the blueberries to pineapple and pecans.
Since I can't copy and paste the recipe here (and too lazy to retype it this early Sunday morning), I will post it on the Facebook post.
Shared and hoping to be the very fortunate one selected to receive a copy of one of your books. Thank you for the chance!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
I love a good blueberry crunch, too! I'm all about easy desserts!
DeleteDreary days call for chocolate brownies, because chocolate makes everything better. Thank you for the chance to win one of your books. 3labsmom(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteYou can never go wrong with chocolate anything! And it is a very dreary day here today...
DeleteWelcome and happy Sunday. Thank you for sharing this recipe. It looks wonderful. I like to make up gluten free brownies, cookies, bars and freeze them in the summer. When winter hits or when I need a little something sweet they are at my fingertips. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
ReplyDeleteVery smart to bake ahead and freeze them! I'm always on the lookout for good gluten-free dessert ideas, since I like to reduce the amount of gluten I eat.
DeleteMy family isn’t big on dessert except my husband and he is trying to cut out so many desserts. Probably brownies is my go to when I need desserts.
ReplyDeleteSo many folks are trying to cut back on desserts, which is very sensible. If I do make desserts, I usually cut way back on the amount of sugar I add.
DeleteA family favorite is Marble Cake. So soothing and a cake from my past which beings me fond memories. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMarble cake is my oldest son's favorite cake, and we always make sure he gets one for his birthday. Definitely delicious
DeleteWhen I think of the desserts I grew up with and enjoyed I miss those treats. My grandmother had such wonderful baking skills and I cannot replicate the mandelbrot, lemon squares, or delectable babka. Wish I could enjoy them now. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI feel the same about my mother's cooking. She is still alive but can no longer prepare the traditional German meals I enjoyed as a kid. I've tried to cook some of her recipes, but the food never comes out the same
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ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe. Add a cup of hot tea and it sounds like just the thing for a blustery winter day. Brownies are my go-to dessert when it isn't a special occasion. For something a little more special, I make a mixed berry (strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry) cobbler - served warm. cindystamps(at)juno(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThis dessert is perfect on a cold day! You might be able to adapt it to make it a mixed berry crustless pie. And I love cobblers.
ReplyDeleteOK I admit it--my mouth is watering for a bite (or two or three) of this cake!
ReplyDeleteSadly, when I give in and make goodies like this I am the primary eater and too often at least part of it goes to waste. (Case in point, I just threw out three popovers that had "gone by.")
libbydodd at comcast dot net
I completely understand. This dessert does refrigerate well, and you might even be able to freeze a portion and reheat later!
DeleteThat is tempting!
DeleteApple crisp but this recipe sounds delicious! I love blueberries.
ReplyDeleteBlueberries are definitely my go-to fruit ingredient!
DeleteIt’s dreary here so my boyfriend made his vegan chocolate cake this morning. The house smells so good.
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon dot net
A vegan chocolate cake sounds delicious!
DeleteGorgeous weather or dreary, I'm always in the mood for something with cream in it, such as crème brûlée or cheesecake!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting the Kitchen today, Nancy, and congrats on the new book--huzzah!
Thank you for having me!
DeleteThanks for the recipe - sounds delicious! Brownies are a favorite dessert year round.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
I have to cut back on chocolate because of my migraines, and I do miss a good brownie :-)
DeleteWe have sun today, but we have snow on the ground topped with ice. The driveway is like a skating rink. I like that you made a crustless pie. Mt mother used to make a crustless apple pie with a streusel topping. I wish I could find my copy of the recipe, I would love to make it now.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
A crustless apple pie with streusel sounds pretty fabulous. And ugh on the ice.
DeleteI'm thinking coffee cake and the Sunday papers are perfect when the weather is grey (or anytime)!
ReplyDeletejsmith[delete brackets]3may[delete brackets]2011
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yahoo[dot]com
I haven't had a good coffee cake in ages! I need to rectify that :-)
DeleteI may just have to dust off the baking pans for this . . . fuel for more reading.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a chance to make it! :-)
DeleteWhen the weather turns dreary, I reach for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Of course, if someone offered me a warm freshly baked brownie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, I wouldn't turn it down!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Never turn down a warm brownie with ice cream! :-)
DeleteYum. That looks good! I like warm peach or berry cobbler with cream. The kind of cobbler that is cake-like made with a batter.
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
Peach cobbler is so good in the summer when peaches are ripe!
DeleteDark chocolate. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteI like anything with oats for a base, like oatmeal cookies or anything with warm oats like a crumble, etc.
ReplyDeletelindalou64(@)live(dot)com
I really enjoy oatmeal in my desserts, too
DeleteMy go to winter desert is coffee cake and brownies.
ReplyDeleteBrownies are very popular (and coffee cake) with the folks replying to my post today! Two of my all-time favorite comfort food desserts
DeleteMy go to dessert is chocolate pudding or chocolate ice cream, I love my chocolate. also, another go to desert is cheesecake. Who am I kidding I love sweets and desserts but Cheesecake, ice cream and pudding are my go to desserts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for recipe.
Books sound like great read, Would love to read & review in print format
We're lucky that my oldest son's girlfriend makes incredible cheesecakes and gifts us with them at the holidays
DeleteGood luck and thank you for thinking the book sounds like a great read! :-)
Right now I am dieting but when I really need a pick me up I make some fudgy brownies. cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteMy go to desserts are brownies and either an apple crisp or strawberry! Thanks so much for the chance!
ReplyDeletejarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot)com
You're welcome and good luck!
DeleteOur favorite comfort food dessert is a slice of apple pie fresh from the oven with vanilla ice cream. I add pecan pieces to my apple pies. lnchudej@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of pecan with an apple pie. Sounds good!
DeleteMy go to desert is cherry cheesecake. But it's not exactly easy to make. Your recipe for the crustless Blueberry Pie sounds easy and I'm anxious to try it. Would love to read one of your books. I'm always looking for new mystery writers. conney.parkhurst@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is super easy! Good luck!
DeleteSince I've had to cut down/out chocolate from my diet :-(, my new favorite is cherry pie.
ReplyDeletewskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com
I've also had to cut back on chocolate because of migraines. Which is why I appreciate desserts with fruit instead
DeleteThanks for sharing the recipe looks good! My favorite is carrot cake! tWarner419@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI tend to eat chocolatey desserts all year long! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDelete