LUCY BURDETTE: Today we welcome our pal Ellen Byron to the blog! She’s off today at the book launch for her new book, but she’ll be stopping in the next few days to answer comments. She’s giving away a copy of her first book in this series, Bayou Book Thief to one lucky commenter. Welcome Ellen!
ELLEN BYRON: My fourth Vintage Cookbook Mystery, Crescent City Christmas Chaos, launched this past Tuesday. I impulsively decided to throw myself a launch party on November 16th at a really cool bookstore that opened nearby.
I decided to make things easy on myself and offer several types of cookies as treats at the event. Ironically, even though this series contains recipes adapted from my own collection of vintage cookbooks, I’ve yet to adapt a cookie recipe. So in addition to chocolate chip and spice cookies, I’m utilizing a recipe that will be in my third Golden Motel Mystery, All Aboard for Murder, which will be out next summer. It’s a super easy recipe that travels well and is so delicious it’s addictive!
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8th tsp. salt
6 cups cornflakes
Instructions:
Grease a 9”x13” pan with cooking spray, or place a piece of parchment paper over a 9”x13” sheet pan.
Pour the cornflakes into a large mixing bowl.
Place the peanut butter, corn syrup, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a medium-size saucepan and turn the heat to medium. Cook until all the ingredients dissolve, stirring frequently. The mixture is thick, so I use a wooden spoon to stir.
Pour the peanut butter mixture into the cornflakes and stir well to combine, making sure all the cornflakes are coated. Transfer the mixture to the 9”x13” pan or sheet panand gently press to fill the pan.
Chill for at least an hour, then cut into squares. They’ll be sticky, so it takes some sawing to cut them. Bits may fall off as you cut – enjoy them yourself! 😉
Servings: 16 or more, if you cut smaller squares.
SYNOPSIS:
It's Christmas. It's cozy. It's culinary. It's chaos! It's the fourth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron. Have yourself a merry little . . . murder? Ricki James-Diaz gets the best present ever when her parents arrive in New Orleans for the holidays. Not only is it a chance to catch up, it’s also an opportunity to jog her mom Josepha’s memory about Ricki’s adoption. The details have always been shrouded in mystery. And Ricki understands why when she learns her mother was blackmailed for years, simply for not wanting to lose her precious daughter. But digging into the past soon lands the James-Diaz clan in water hotter than a big pot of gumbo! When the woman who extorted Ricki’s mom is found dead at her home, Josepha becomes the primary suspect. Now Ricki has another murder to solve, and tracking down a killer in Crescent City is going to take a miracle. Luckily, ‘tis the season! And Ricki has all the staff at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum on hand to help. Can she prove her mother’s innocence and have the case wrapped up in time for Christmas?
PURCHASE LINKS:
Barnes & Noble: Crescent city christmas chaos | Barnes & Noble®
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 an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart. Sign up for her newsletter at NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP | ellen-byron-author
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