Today, we are pleased to welcome the fabulous Ellen Byron to the Kitchen, with what looks to be a truly delicious dessert recipe. And there's a GIVEAWAY of Ellen's Golden Motel Mystery #1, A Very Woodsy Murder! Take it away, Ellen:
I have the high-class problem of two books launching on the same day in a trade paperback edition: A Very Woodsy Murder, Golden Motel Mystery #1 and French Quarter Fright Night, Vintage Cookbook Mystery #4. I debated which book I should highlight today at Mystery Lovers Kitchen. My Vintage Cookbook Mysteries are culinary cozies with recipes adapted from my own collection of vintage cookbooks. The Golden Motel Mysteries are not culinary-themed, but I always include a bonus recipe.
In the end, I went with a recipe that’s not in either book but leans toward A Very Woodsy Murder: Almond-White Chocolate Bars. The reason it’s more appropriate for that the book and series are set in California, which produces 80% of the world’s almonds. And since I consider the Golden Motel Mysteries a travel series and include Road Trip Tips with every book, I try to include recipes that will travel well. Your hands might get sticky from these bars, but that’s the only downside.
I originally made this recipe with all-purpose flour. But since I love almond flavor, I decided to go all in this time and substitute almond flour for regular. In addition to upping the almondy flavor, it makes the recipe gluten free. The bars do bake differently with almond flour. The center has more of a half-baked consistency. IMHO, that makes them even more delicious!
Almond-White Chocolate Bars
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup tightly packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons almond flavor
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cups almond flour
½ cup white chocolate chips
½ chopped roasted almonds
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C):
Lightly butter and flour an 8x8-inch (20 cm x 20 cm) pan.
Whisk together the melted butter and sugar in a bowl. Add the egg and almond extract and whisk to combine.
Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, and mix it all together. Add the chips and chopped almonds and mix well to combine. (Don’t whisk the batter at this point. It’s took thick and will get stuck in the whisk.)
Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly.
Readers: For an chance to win a copy of A Very Woodsy Murder, answer this question: What food do you consider essential for a road trip? (Sorry, US only.)
BRIEF SYNOPSES:
A Very Woodsy Murder: Struggling sitcom writer Dee Stern impulsively quits her crummy job on the Kidz Channel sitcom “DUH!” and buys a rustic retro motel in a small California Gold Rush town, where she finds herself juggling two new careers - motelier and amateur sleuth - when her very first guest is offed. BUY LINK: A Very Woodsy Murder
French Quarter Fright Night: It’s Halloween in New Orleans and Rick James-Diaz, quirky proprietor of Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop at Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, has created a wonderfully spooky haunted house tour. But Halloween fun turns to fear when Bon Vee’s fake tomb becomes a real one for a nasty neighbor. BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1448316502/?
BIO:
Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly Odd Parents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart. Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter at: NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP | ellen-byron-author
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