Vicki here and I’m delighted to welcome back my good friend Melodie Campbell. Melodie and I met when she was the ED of the Crime Writers of Canada and I was on the board, and we’ve remained friends even now that we’ve both left those august positions.
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Lady Lucy Revelstoke, star of The Silent
Film Star Murders, may be a titled English gal now, but she didn’t start out that
way. Daughter of a Canadian mobster, her
roots are firmly Sicilian, as are mine. When she is famished from missing meals
while investigating murder, this is what she craves. A trip to the kitchens on the Victoriana Ocean
Liner will usually satisfy this.
The book takes place in 1928, but these
ricotta tarts have been in my family for long before that. Probably, these are best described as Italian
cheesecake baked in little muffin cups. They
are crustless, low in sugar (only ¼ cup of sugar for 12) and can be eaten as
is, as a protein rich snack, or dolled up with a dollop of lemon curd, the
traditional way. I also use homemade
raspberry jam on top for a different taste.
These are so easy, you can involve kids and
grandkids in the making! My five-year-old
grandson calls these ‘Grandma Tarts’, and they are a family imperative.
Easy Ricotta Tarts
1 tub fine or extra fine ricotta cheese
(about 2 cups)
3 eggs
¼ cup sugar
1 teas vanilla
2 T flour
2 T cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all ingredients together well. Then spoon into muffin cups – I use an ice cream scoop.
Bake at 350 degrees for 24 minutes. Let cool slightly (although they are very good warm!)
Note that the tops will be dished. This is perfect for the final step!
Spoon lemon curd (I use MACKAYS from Scotland) or jam into the dished tops, if desired.
These are good warm or cold, and can be
frozen (before adding topping.)
About The Silent Film Star Murders
1928, at Sea: Lady Lucy Revelstoke and her
pickpocket-turned-maid Elf are once again embarking on a Transatlantic
crossing. Also on board, are Renata Harwood, star of the silver screen, and her
former understudy, Stella Burke. Roy
Armitage may be Renata’s husband now, but he used to be Stella’s man. Everyone expects delicious drama at dinner,
and they are not disappointed. But before long, Lucy and Elf are faced with
another high society murder, featuring rival film stars, resentful ex-lovers,
and renegade snakes!
About Melodie Campbell
Compared to Agatha Christie by The
Toronto Star, Melodie Campbell writes golden age mysteries. Winner of ten awards for mystery fiction,
including The Derringer (US) and the Crime Writers of Canada Award of
Excellence, Melodie has 18 books and over 60 short stories, but she got her
start writing stand-up.
Melodie would love to give a signed paperback (or ebook) copy of The Silent Film Star Murders to one lucky reader who can answer the following question: Can you name another writer of cozies who is Canadian?
