by Peg Cochran
“I heard about what happened, and since you’re stuck here, I thought I’d bring you something to read.” He handed Monica a Book ’Em shopping bag. He gestured toward the gigantic bouquet Gina had dropped off. “I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t bring more flowers. Looks like you’ve got all of Birnam Wood here.”
Monica smiled at the reference to Shakespeare and peeked inside the bag.
“I thought you said you liked Peter Robinson.”
“I do. Thanks so much.” Monica ran a hand over the cover of the book. “I’ve been looking forward to reading this.” She thought about how she’d originally suspected Greg of murder, and she could feel her face getting warm. Maybe she should confess now so it wouldn’t be standing between them?
She cleared her throat. “I have something to tell you.”
Greg raised an eyebrow.
“At one point I . . . I . . . thought you might have murdered Sam Culbert,” she finally blurted out.
Greg threw back his head and laughed. It wasn’t exactly the reaction Monica had anticipated.
“I had the feeling that something like that was going on. But I can assure you I’m innocent of Culbert’s murder. Although I am planning a very different murder. . . .”
Monica straightened up. “You are?”
Greg nodded. “Promise not to laugh?”
Monica shook her head. “Promise.”
“I’ve started writing a mystery of my own. It’s not very good, I’m sure, but it’s a start. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“You think so? You don’t think it’s foolish of me?”
“Not at all.”
“I really am enjoying it.” Greg rubbed his hands together. “There’s a certain vicarious thrill in creating a bad guy and then killing him off.”
“I think that’s why we enjoy reading mysteries.”
“Probably. They’re a modern day morality tale.” Greg looked down at his hands. “I hope you’ll give it a read when I’m done. I would value your opinion.”
“You can count on it.”
“When do you get out of here?” Greg waved his hand around the hospital room.
“Hopefully later today. I’m waiting to hear from the doctor.”
“When you do, I hope you’ll let me take you to dinner.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
After Greg left, Monica lay back against the pillows, her mind drifting. Things were working out after all. Culbert’s murder was solved, the police had picked up Darlene, Gina had a new lease on life, Jeff and Lauren were patching things up and the cranberry harvest had been successfully completed despite all the odds.
And she had the promise of a date with Greg.
When she arrived in Cranberry Cove several weeks ago, she’d had the feeling that it was going to be both an adventure and a new start.
It was certainly turning out to be both.
Recipes
Sassamanash Farm Cranberry Coffee Cake
¼ pound butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ pint sour cream
2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups fresh cranberries roughly chopped
TOPPING:
½ cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
½ cup shredded coconut
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix topping ingredients in a bowl and reserve.
Cream butter and sugar together until light. Beat in eggs, vanilla and sour cream one at a time. Sift together dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to wet mixture one third at a time. Fold in chopped cranberries.
Spread half the batter in a greased and floured tube pan. Sprinkle with half the topping. Spread remaining batter on top and sprinkle with remaining topping.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan before removing.
Cranberry Butterscotch Bars
¼ pound butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 6-ounce package butterscotch bits
1 cup coconut
2 cups chopped fresh cranberries
1 6-ounce package chocolate chips
1 can sweetened, condensed milk
½ cup chopped pecans
Melt butter and add to graham cracker crumbs in a large bowl. Press mixture into bottom of an 8" x 8" pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Sprinkle butterscotch bits over graham cracker mixture. Top with coconut, a layer of cranberries and a layer of chocolate chips.
Spread the can of condensed milk over the top and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
Bake approximately 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
Cranberry Banana Bread with Streusel Topping
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 mashed, ripe bananas
1 ½ cups chopped cranberries
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped walnuts
STREUSEL TOPPING:
½ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Beat the sugar, butter and eggs until light. Stir in mashed bananas and cranberries.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Stir into the banana cranberry mixture until smooth. Stir in the chopped walnuts.
For the topping, combine flour, sugar, butter and cinnamon in a food processor and pulse until mixture is crumbly. Alternatively, use hands to crumble mixture.
Spread streusel topping evenly over top.
Pour into one large, greased loaf pan or four small ones. Bake approximately an hour for the large loaf pan and approximately 45 to 50 minutes for the smaller ones.
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