Saturday, August 15, 2026

Magic Coating Popsicles #Recipe Peg Cochran/Margaret Loudon

While randomly scrolling the Internet's various cooking sites, I came upon this idea and had to try it. Wrapping a Popsicle in a Fruit Roll-Up and putting it in the freezer creates a sort of "magic coating" like you get on a soft serve ice cream cone dipped in chocolate--crisp and crackly when you bite into it. This would be fun to do with kids on a warm, summer day. I used a strawberry roll-up and a piña colada Popsicle but the choice is yours. Note: the fruit roll-ups are very sticky and a little challenging to unroll but if you have a child in residence who has experience with them, I'm sure they could do it for you.

Ingredients:

1 fruit roll-up, any flavor or brand

1 Popsicle, any flavor or brand

One unrolled fruit roll-up

Place Popsicle on roll-up

Wrap roll-up around Popsicle

Place Popsicle in freezer and set a timer for 10 minutes

Bite into the Popsicle and listen to the coating crackle!

When a wealthy local benefactor is slain on the farm, Monica has to figure out who wanted to cash in on the killing . . .

As Sassamanash Farms hunkers down for the long winter, Monica agrees to let the local animal shelter host their Christmas-themed fundraiser there. The draw of the event—a chance to have your pet’s picture taken with Santa—brings in animal lovers from far and wide. But when the crackling fire dies down and the festive holiday props are all carted away, Monica discovers a very un-jolly sight next to the barn—the dead body of one of the shelter’s biggest donors. With the farm’s good name in jeopardy, Monica goes to work to root out the killer.

By all accounts the victim was a charming and generous supporter of the shelter, but Monica discovers that he was loathed by those who knew him for being tight-fisted and unscrupulous. Suspecting money might be the motive, she turns her sights on his stylish wife and her lavish lifestyle, along with the manager of the struggling shelter, who stood to collect a hefty bequest from his will. But as Monica closes in on one final clue, the culprit closes in on her. Caught unawares, she’ll have to survive the brutal winter weather, as well as a cold-blooded killer . . .

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Friday, August 14, 2026

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies @MaddieDayAuthor #giveaway

MADDIE DAY here, so excited that Murder at the Toy Soldier releases in a week and a half.

Here's the blurb:

Cape Cod bike shop owner Mac Almeida is extra busy during a cold, wet February as she and Tim do their best as working parents of a preschooler and a baby. With Ella’s fourth birthday approaching, Mac uses her lunch break to shop for a gift at the Toy Soldier. Behind the counter is Zia Carven, a young woman Mac recognizes. Mac finds a gift Ella will love and Zia offers to gift wrap it. Mac plans to pick it up after work, but when she returns, she finds Zia slumped over the counter, dead, dried blood on a toy rifle nearby.

Mac’s mother, Astra, confides that she’d been trying to help Zia, and now the police want to speak with her, which worries Mac. Then Mac discovers that Zia had been in town searching for her birth mother, which only multiplies the questions—and the suspects. One thing is certain: Mac and the Cozy Capers book group will have to double down to find a killer who isn’t playing around . . .

To celebrate, I'm bringing you one of the recipes included at the back of the book.

In this book, Mac Almeida and her husband Tim have legally adopted his almost four year old niece, Ella, and his nephew Luca, age ten months. One Sunday Mac's niece Cokey, age six is visiting, and the girls make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with Tim to bring to family dinner at Mac's parents' home.

It's an easy, yummy recipe. I made it even easier by turning the individual cookies into bars.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour 120g

1/2 tsp baking soda 3g

1/2 tsp salt 5g

1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature, 113g

1/3 cup granulated sugar 65g

2/3 cup light-brown sugar 140g, packed

2 tsp pure vanilla extract 10mL

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups rolled oats 135g

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 150g

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a two-cup measuring cup, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside.

Combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute.

Add flour mixture; mix until almost combined.

Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

Press the dough into a rimmed baking sheet. It might help to wet the back of your hand or use a damp rubbermaid spatula to spread the dough and even out the surface.

Bake until the the giant bar is light brown around the edges, but still soft in the center, 10-12 minutes.

Remove from oven to a wire rack, and let cool 1 to 2 minutes. Cut into 2" x 1" bars or whatever size you like and continue to cool in the pan.

Enjoy with the beverage of your choice.

Readers: What kind of cookie bars do you like? I'll send one commenter a code for the audiobook of Murder at Cape Costumers, the just prior book to Murder at the Toy Soldier!

🍪🍪🍪

A Poisonous Pour is out and available wherever books are sold!

Next up is Murder at the Toy Soldier, Cozy Capers Book Group #8, which releases in late August.

My most recent releases are Murder at Cape Costumers,

Scone Cold Dead, #13 in the Country Store Mysteries,

and A Case for the Ladies.

Check out all my writing.

We hope you'll visit Maddie and her Agatha Award-winning alter ego Edith Maxwell 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 Award-winning 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 and sweet cat Martin north of Boston, where she’s currently working on her next mystery when she isn’t cooking up something delectable in the kitchen.

Thursday, August 13, 2026

HOMEMADE LEMONADE #recipe @vmburns

VMBURNS: It's summer, and it's hot down here in the South! I know, it's hot everywhere, but it's REALLY hot and humid in Georgia. So, when I venture outside in the sauna that is my life, I need something cool to drink. Nothing taste better than homemade lemonade in the summertime.

I like to try different flavors when making lemonade and one of my favorite is blackberry lemonade. Since peaches are in season, I thought about making peach lemonade, but that seemed like a lot of work. Plus, my niece was visiting with her family\ which included small kids. Knowing how picky kids can be, I kept this simple. If you're feeling adventurous, try pureeing 1 cup of strawberries, blackberries, peaches or watermelon to add to your basic lemonade. You'll need to strain the fruit well before adding it to the lemonade (I use cheese cloth). You can also try using limes to make a lemon/limeade. The possibilities are endless.

HOMEMADE LEMONADE

INGREDIENTS

1 12 Cups sugar
1 1/2 Cups water
1 1/2 Cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 Cups cold water
2 Cups ice

INSTRUCTIONS

Add sugar and 1 1/2 cups water to a small pan and bring to simmer. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely then remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
Juice the lemons and add to a pitcher.
Add the simple syrup to pitcher and 4cups of water, and stir.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, and then add ice and serve.

READERS: Are you a lemonade purist, or are you open to new flavors? If so, what's your favorite lemonade flavor? Let me know in the comments below.

MURDER AT FIRST SLICE (ARC)

As Maddy’s wedding day approaches, friends and family descend on the little town of New Bison, Michigan, to celebrate—so much so that Maddy wonders if there might be another happily-ever-after in store for her widowed father and innkeeper Mrs. Law. Unfortunately, she also has to deal with an unhappy couple: feuding cousins Hannah and Dorothy, who haven’t spoken in decades. Maddy can only hope the spectacular wedding cake crafted by her head baker doesn’t wind up as ammunition in a food fight.

But she doesn’t have to wait long for a wedding disaster to strike. When the imperious Dorothy crashes the rehearsal dinner—with several uninvited guests in tow—and starts battering everyone with constant complaints, the drama reaches reality-show levels. And the next day, Dorothy is dead . . . with Hannah standing over the body, bloody rolling pin in hand.

Nobody in town believes Miss Hannah could commit murder. But a detective newly relocated from New York doesn’t know the sweet, memory-challenged Hannah the way the locals do—and the evidence seems open-and-shut as an oven. Now, with her sous-sleuths the Baker Street Irregulars, the bride-to-be is busy digging into Dorothy’s past to catch a killer before she cuts the cake . . .

BUY LINK

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Simple Summer Italian Salad #recipe by @LeslieKarst

I was asked to bring a salad to a dinner party recently where pasta would be the main course, and given all the gorgeous tomatoes that are now arriving in gardens and grocery stores, I decided that needed to be the star of my dish. And then I hit upon the idea of a take on a Caprese Salad, with the addition of cucumber and substituting chives for the basil.

Not only was the salad a snap to make, but it was delicious and gorgeous to look at! I’ll for sure make this again. (Be sure to use the more flavorful tomatoes you can find, as well as good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar, for the best result.)

Simple Summer Italian Salad

Ingredients

more or less equal amounts of:

fresh tomatoes (preferably heirloom or homegrown)

cucumber

mozzarella cheese

salt and freshly-ground pepper

extra virgin olive oil

balsamic vinegar

chopped chives (or green onions)

Directions

Peel the cucumber, if you like. Or, as I did, peel it partially, so that thin lines of green remain. Then cut the cucumber, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese into thin slices.

Arrange the tomato, cucumber, and cheese slices on a serving platter, alternating them to make a pretty pattern.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

The salad can sit in the fridge at this point for several hours. Shortly before service, drizzle the salad with olive oil.

Then drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Coarsely chop the green onions and scatter them over the salad.

I told you it was easy!

Buon appetito!

🌱 🍋 🌿

Just Released!

Orchid Isle Mystery #3

MURDER, LOCAL STYLE

Available for purchase here.

"The beauties and customs of Hawai‘i provide a striking backdrop for a murder with an unexpected motive."

Kirkus Reviews

🍍 🌴 🍹

Out now in paperback!

Orchid Isle Mystery #2

WATERS OF DESTRUCTION

Buy link here.

2026 Lefty and Agatha Award Finalist

for Best Mystery/Contemporary Mystery!

"Immerse yourself in Hawaiian lore and savor the portrayal of the stunning landscapes
while enjoying the entertaining mystery."

Kirkus Reviews

Also available

in paperback!

MOLTEN DEATH

Orchid Isle Mystery #1

Buy link here

2025 Lefty Award Finalist

for Best Mystery!

“Karst’s first Orchid Isle novel is part murder mystery, part vividly evocative, colorful sketch of Hawaii and its history, geography, tradition, culture, food, language, and people. Armchair travelers and mystery aficionados alike will find it entertaining.”

Booklist

This first book in my brand-new Orchid Isle mystery series features retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen who, on a trip to the Big Island of Hawai‘i, swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions when a hike to an active lava flow turns deadly.

Praise for MOLTEN DEATH:

“a compelling read that will enlighten, engage, and entertain, leaving readers longing for their next trip to the Orchid Isle.”

--New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay

“a terrific debut to a series that will go on my must read list!”

--USA Today bestselling author Deborah Crombie

A SENSE FOR MURDER

2024 Lefty Award Finalist

for Best Humorous Mystery!

This newest Sally Solari mystery

is available for purchase here !

Praise for A SENSE FOR MURDER:

“[Sally is] sassy, irresistible company... Culinary cozy fans will be in heaven.”

--Publishers Weekly

“An enjoyable read for mystery mavens and foodies alike.”

--Kirkus Reviews

Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops,

the Law, and Cooking for RBG

is the 2024 Silver Medal Winner for both the

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award

and the IPPY Award!

Buy link here

Praise for Justice is Served:

"a suspenseful, exhilarating memoir; Karst relays her determination to serve the 'perfect' meal to RBG alongside an uplifting, enlightening portrayal of one of the most admired justices in the history of the Supreme Court."

-Foreword Reviews (starred review)

"[This] book is a romp from cover to cover—and, just like a great meal, left me ready for more."

-Karen Shimizu, executive editor, Food & Wine-

All of the Sally Solari Mysteries (as well as my other books) are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Air Conditioning in a Glass: My Easy Virgin Lime Rickey by author Cleo Coyle

From Cleo Coyle: The heat is on across the country. Here in NYC we've been in the upper 90s with our high humidity putting the real-feel temperatures around 100. But my husband and I have a remedy. To borrow a phrase from Washington, DC, bartender Derek Brown, Chief Spirits Advisor to the National Archives, this baby is...

"Air conditioning in a glass"

Our Virgin "Gin" Lime Rickey is a sweet-tart marvel. This recipe is close to the classic version with a few shortcuts to make it especially easy, because on hazy days, we're lazy, even when it comes to making drinks.

You can adjust the ingredients to you taste, and we'll even show you a non-virgin version that's just as good. Either way, we hope you find this summer drink as refreshing as we do. Now let's start pouring...

Cleo Coyle writes two
bestselling mystery
series with her husband.
To learn more, click here.

🍈 A Note from Cleo

The "gin" in this virgin version of a lime rickey is ginger ale, and the shortcut we use is "Simply Limeade." Look for this tartly refreshing beverage in your grocery store's refrigerated section. If your local store doesn't carry it, you can make your own by stirring sugar syrup into fresh lime juice (sweeten to your own taste).

To download a free PDF
of these recipes that
you can print, save
or share, click here.

Click here for recipe PDF.

🍈 Cleo's Lazy Virgin

"Gin" Lime Rickey

Ingredients:

1 fresh lime

Ice
Simply Limeade (or see my *note below)

Ginger ale (regular or diet)

Directions: Cut the lime in half. Slice off a "lime wheel" (see photo below) and set it aside. Pour ice into a chilled glass (tall or short, your choice). Fill one third of the glass with chilled limeade. Pour in cold, freshly opened ginger ale, stopping short of the top. Squeeze the juice from half of the lime over the ginger ale. For a more tart drink, use the juice from the remaining half, as well. Stir gently, float the lime wheel on top, and enjoy!

*Note: As a substitute for Simply Limeade, stir sugar syrup into freshly squeezed lime juice (sweeten to your own taste).

🍈 Cleo's Lazy Gin
Lime Rickey

Ingredients:

1 fresh lime

Ice

Gin
Simply Limeade (*or see my note above)

Ginger ale (regular or diet)

Directions: Cut the lime in half. Slice off a "lime wheel" (see photo above) and set it aside. Add ice to a chilled glass. Pour in the gin--as far as amounts, I like a splash while my husband goes for a full shot, your choice. By pouring the gin in first, you're giving it a nice chill before you build the drink.

Now add the chilled limeade until the halfway mark. Top with cold, freshly opened ginger ale, stopping short of the rim. Squeeze the juice from half of the lime over the ginger ale. For a more tart drink, use the juice from the remaining half, as well. Stir gently, float the lime wheel on top, and...

Stay cool out there!