Parchment and Old Lace

by Laura Childs

  “But . . . who?” Ellie asked. “Who was it?” She tried to smile bravely, but started crying at the same time.

  “It was Bobby Prejean,” Babcock said.

  “Isabelle’s boss?” Ellie was stunned.

  “That’s right,” Carmela said. “Edward and Vesper may be crackpots, but they’re not killers.”

  “And Naomi is a terrible blogger,” Ava said. “And event planner . . .”

  Carmela smiled gently. “But she’s not a killer, either. And neither is Julian Drake.”

  “Then how . . . Why?” Ellie asked.

  “Isabelle was a whistle-blower,” Babcock said. “She was investigating Prejean from the inside out. Seems he was negotiating with drug dealers and bribing certain city officials. Even a judge.”

  “So she died doing what she’d vowed to do,” Ellie said slowly.

  “I suppose you could look at it that way,” Carmela said.

  “But how . . . how did . . . Wait, you said Carmela apprehended him?” Ellie looked confused. “How on earth did that happen?”

  “Carmela figured the whole thing out,” Ava said. “She kept asking questions and found out all about the lace and parchment invitation to an open house at one of Prejean’s properties.”

  Ellie looked stunned. “Goodness.”

  “And then she came after Bobby Prejean at the casino party,” Ava said. “But he kidnapped me and dragged me into the old fun house. I thought I was a goner, but Carmela came running in and saved the day by shooting him.”

  “You killed him?” Ellie asked. She touched a shaking hand to her heart. “Shot him dead?”

  “Not exactly,” Carmela said. “I shot him with a paintball gun.”

  “But it probably hurt like crazy,” Ava said. “Maybe even broke a rib or two?” She looked eagerly at Babcock.

  “Maybe,” he said. “If you want to put that kind of positive spin on it.”

  “That’s . . . that’s just amazing.” Ellie took a step back. “You’d all better come in. I think I need to hear the whole story on this. Would you . . . can I fix you a cup of coffee or . . . ?”

  “You got any Chardonnay?” Ava asked. “Or Merlot would be okay, too.”

  Ellie smiled. “Why . . . I suppose.”

  While Ellie went off to get the wine, Babcock put his arms around Carmela and pulled her close to him.

  “There’s something I need to ask you,” he said.

  Uh-oh. A warning bell sounded in Carmela’s head as she gazed up at Babcock and sighed. She loved this man. Yes, she did. She loved him with all her heart. But please, please, please, she thought to herself, don’t ask me that one particular question. Because, truth be told, she just wasn’t ready for a full-time commitment. Edging toward it, surely. But just not there yet.

  “What did you want to ask me?” Carmela stammered. Her heart was in her throat.

  Babcock suddenly looked as serious as he’d ever looked in his life. He licked his lips and then said, “What I want to know is . . . are you ever going to listen to me?”

  Carmela’s blue eyes gleamed and a smile flashed across her face as Ava looked on with approval.

  “Yes!” Carmela cried. “Of course! Just give me a little more time.”

  Babcock furrowed his brow, puzzled by her response. “Wait a minute, did I . . . ? Did you . . . ? Are we talking about the same thing here?”

  “You two,” Ava grinned, “are totally on the same page.”

  Scrapbook, Stamping, and Craft Tips from Laura Childs

  Prestige Soap

  Small soaps that you purchase at outlet stores or craft fairs look like a million bucks when you wrap them up in fancy paper. Just find some paisley or patterned paper at a craft store and wrap them up like tasty little gifts. Be sure to add a gold medallion sticker or tie them with elegant gold cord or ribbon. Your soaps will look lovely in any bathroom or serve as a nice hostess gift.

  Bottle Cap Charms

  If you have a taste for funky jewelry, bottle cap charms are perfect. Start by placing your bottle caps, ridge side down, on a sturdy surface. Flatten each one using a wooden or rubber mallet until the ridges are completely flat and form a kind of frame. Punch a hole through the flattened rim of each bottle cap. Now cut out your images (or photos) in about a 1” circle to fit inside the frames. Glue the images in and seal with your favorite sealant or glaze. Use jump rings to attach each bottle cap charm to a chain necklace. (Hint: think thematically. Comic book charms, vacation charms, floral charms, grandkids, etc.)

  Wine Gift Bags

  Instead of paying for wine gift bags at the stationery store, why not make your own? Find plain white or brown kraft paper bags at a craft store and decorate them yourself. You can enhance them with decoupage, rubber stamping, freehand painting, or gluing on photos or other images.

  Get a New Slant on Your Page

  Why not try a scrapbook page that has your entire composition set at a slant? Start with your photos set at about a 40 degree angle, then build around them. Use postcards, stickers, paper mementos, and all the elements you usually use on one of your scrapbook pages. When your composition is arranged, just glue it carefully. The neat thing is, when you tilt your composition, you achieve a sense of movement that makes your page feel fresh and fun.

  Spatter Backgrounds

  Have a little fun à la the artist Jackson Pollock. Start with a plain sheet of paper (color is great, too) and spatter on paint. And I mean really spatter it on. Or if you’d rather drizzle your paint, then have at it. Just go wild with the pattern and your design. Once it dries, you’ve got a nifty one-of-a-kind background page to highlight all your “action” photos. For example: kids splashing in water, dirt bikes, race cars, soccer games, puppies in the mud, etc.

  Anniversary Keepsakes

  To make an anniversary memento to celebrate a milestone anniversary, start with an elegant piece of paper that has an antique gold or silver pattern. Lay down your photo of the anniversary couple and frame it with lace or gossamer ribbon. In the lower left-hand corner, add an elegant silk bow, some golden leaves, some tiny mementos (keys, charms, etc.), and perhaps the word Celebrate or Anniversary. Now frame your entire composition, but leave off the glass (you want your 3-D effect to shine through).

  Matchless Matchboxes

  Small or even large matchboxes go from ugly to glam when you cover them with pretty paper. Then add embellishments such as lace, beads, wax seals, or ribbon. You can do Christmas-themed matchboxes as stocking stuffers, or even Valentine-themed matchboxes with a “Light My Fire” theme.

  Favorite New Orleans Recipes

  Pecan Pie Mini Muffins

  1 cup brown sugar, packed

  ½ cup flour

  1 cup chopped pecans

  ⅔ cup butter, softened

  2 eggs, beaten

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a mini muffin tin (18). In medium bowl stir together brown sugar, flour, and pecans. In separate bowl, beat butter and eggs together until smooth. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir until just combined. Spoon batter into muffin tin, making sure cups are approximately ⅔ full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Yields 18 mini muffins.

  Pasta Primavera

  ½ cup olive oil

  ½ cup carrots, chopped

  ½ cup celery, chopped

  8 oz. chopped spinach

  ¼ tsp. basil

  ⅛ tsp. garlic powder

  1 lb. fettucini noodles

  ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

  Cook pasta according to directions. Heat olive oil in frying pan, then add carrots and celery and cook until tender. Add chopped spinach and cook until just tender. Add basil and garlic powder. Toss cooked fettucini into frying pan with vegetable mixture and stir, heating all the way through. (You may add a little extra olive oil if needed.) Serve immedi
ately in bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese. Yields 4 servings.

  Caramel Shortbread Bars

  1 cup butter, softened and divided

  ¼ cup sugar

  1¼ cups flour

  ½ cup brown sugar, packed

  2 Tbsp. light corn syrup

  ½ cup sweetened condensed milk

  1¼ cups chocolate chips

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl mix together ½ cup butter, sugar, and flour until crumbly. Press into a 9-inch square pan and bake for 20 minutes. In a 2-quart saucepan, combine ½ cup butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and condensed milk. Bring to boil and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and beat vigorously with a spoon for 3 to 4 minutes. Pour mixture over baked crust (crust can be warm or cool), and let cool. Place chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1 minute. Stir and continue to heat and stir every 20 seconds until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over firm caramel layer and spread evenly. Chill for 30 minutes and enjoy. Yields 20 small bars.

  Big Easy Butter Chicken

  2 eggs, beaten

  1 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers

  4 small chicken breasts

  ½ cup butter, cut into pieces

  salt and pepper to taste

  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place eggs and cracker crumbs in 2 separate bowls. Dip chicken in beaten eggs and then dredge in cracker crumbs. Arrange coated chicken in a baking dish. Place pieces of butter on top of and around the chicken. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 40 minutes. Serves 4. (Tip: serve with rice or pasta.)

  Sweet Potato Casserole

  3 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed (canned okay)

  1 cup white sugar

  2 eggs

  ½ cup butter, melted

  1 tsp. vanilla extract

  ½ stick butter

  1 cup brown sugar

  ½ cup self-rising flour

  1 cup chopped pecans

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour into a buttered baking dish. For topping, melt ½ stick butter and stir in brown sugar. Add the self-rising flour and pecans and mix together until crumbly. Spread this topping on the sweet potato mixture. Bake for 30 minutes. Yields 4 to 6 servings.

  Easy Apple Fritters

  2 cups Bisquick

  ⅔ cup milk

  1 egg

  2 cups apples, chopped well

  oil for frying

  powdered sugar to sprinkle on top

  Mix Bisquick, milk, and egg together. Add in apples and stir. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into hot oil. Turn and fry until golden brown on each side. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve hot. Makes 24 fritters.

  Creamy Rice Pudding

  1 cup uncooked rice

  2 cups milk, divided

  ½ cup sugar

  ¼ tsp. salt

  1 large egg, beaten

  ⅔ cup golden raisins

  2 Tbsp. butter

  ½ tsp. vanilla extract

  Bring 1½ cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add rice and reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes. In a separate saucepan, combine 1½ cups cooked rice, 1½ cups milk, sugar, and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, about 15 minutes. Stir in remaining ½ cup milk, beaten egg, and raisins. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Yields 4 servings.

  Bourbon Street Cocktail Sausages

  1 pkg (16-oz.) miniature smoked sausages

  ½ cup brown sugar, packed

  ½ cup ketchup

  ½ cup bourbon

  In a large skillet, add sausages, brown sugar, ketchup, and bourbon. Heat mixture and simmer until sauce is bubbly and sausages are heated all the way through.

  Old English Crumb Cake

  2 cups brown sugar, packed

  1½ cups flour

  ½ cup butter (softened)

  1 tsp. baking powder

  1 tsp. baking soda

  1 cup buttermilk

  2 eggs

  1 tsp. vanilla extract

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium-sized bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour, butter, baking powder, and baking soda. Reserve 1 cup of this mixture to use for topping. Now add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture in the bowl. Stir well, then pour into greased cake pan (about 9-by-11-inch). Sprinkle crumbs over top of cake batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. (Hint: delicious with a fruit topping or fruit on the side.)

  Sassy Jalapeno Popper Spread

  2 (8-oz.) packages of cream cheese, softened

  1 cup mayonnaise

  1 (4-oz.) can chopped green chilies, drained

  2-oz. can jalapeno peppers, drained and diced

  1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

  Stir cream cheese and mayonnaise together in a bowl until smooth. Stir in green chilies and jalapeno peppers. Pour mixture into a microwave-safe serving dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Microwave on High until hot and bubbly, about 3 minutes. Serve with crackers and chips. Yields about 2½ cups.

  Keep reading for a special preview of Laura Childs’s next Tea Shop Mystery . . .

  Devonshire Scream

  Coming March 2016 in hardcover from Berkley Prime Crime!

  CRUSTED with emeralds, diamonds, rubies, and amethysts, the butterfly brooch glittered enticingly before Theodosia Browning’s eyes. Perched in its own glass case, looking as if it had just landed on some tasty, succulent flower, the butterfly’s lithe wings were a virtual aurora borealis of precious gems.

  The piece was whimsical yet spectacular, Theodosia decided. Like something the Duchess of Windsor might have pinned to the lapel of her chic Dior suit in an earlier, headier era. Or perhaps this bejeweled treat had belonged to the infamous duchess. After all, this Jewelry Extravaganza, which had just kicked off with a black-tie party, was intended to showcase antique and collectible gems and jewelry from the previous century.

  Tiffany, Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels. The names ticked through Theodosia’s brain in a litany of jewelry ateliers. These were the finest and most respected designers and purveyors of diamonds and gems in the entire world. And what a privilege to have been invited to this amazing event.

  Of course, her invitation had come compliments of Brooke Carter Crockett, her good friend and the proprietor of Heart’s Desire Fine Jewelry here in Charleston, South Carolina. Brooke had negotiated with major jewelers and private collectors, dickered with two museums, and pretty much moved heaven and earth to bring this stunning show to fruition in her shop.

  Theodosia adored feasting her eyes on fine jewelry (what woman didn’t?), but her immediate goals and dreams tended to be a bit more practical in nature. She knew she’d have to sell about a million scones and serve another million cups of Darjeeling tea to even begin to afford one of these tasty baubles. And, with or without the adornment of pricey jewelry, she was quite content to do what she’d set out to accomplish in life. That is, create a romantic, relaxed environment at her Indigo Tea Shop, enjoy the company of Drayton and Haley as they served and soothed their customers, and still, knock on wood, manage a decent living.

  Still, a girl could dream.

  Theodosia’s eyes bounced from the butterfly about to take flight to a tilted mirror that sat on the glass counter. As she caught her own reflection her lips twitched in a fey smile and she immediately glanced away. Her inheritance was in her looks. High cheekbones and an almost porcelain complexion gifted from distant English ancestors, sharp blue eyes, full lips, a fine-boned oval face, and an abundance of curly auburn hair that she found problematic, but that any reasonable woman would have killed for.

  As champagne corks popped and bone china teacups clinked, Theodosi
a continued to take in the crowded shop. Well-dressed ladies on the arms of well-dressed titans of business drooled over Tahitian pearls and diamond rings, ruby earrings and emerald necklaces. Yes, the hoi polloi of Charleston had turned out en masse this crisp November evening for a little pre-Christmas shopping. And why not? Who didn’t love a blingy little trinket on Christmas morning? French perfume being so last year.

  “Find something you like?” a cheery voice asked.

  Theodosia turned to find Haley, her young baker and chef extraordinaire, smiling at her.

  “Everything,” Theodosia laughed. “It’s all gorgeous.”

  Haley was accompanied by Kaitlin Crockett, her friend Brooke’s twenty-year-old niece. Brooke and Kaitlin both traced their ancestry back to the Crockett clan of Kentucky. The Crockett clan.

  “How are the scones holding out?” Theodosia asked. She and Haley had baked eight dozen scones earlier today just for this occasion. In fact, Haley had come up with a special recipe for what she called jeweled scones—that is, cream scones studded with colorful bits of red, green, and gold candied fruit.

  “We’ve got plenty of scones in reserve,” Haley said. “As well as Drayton’s fabulous Devonshire cream to accompany them.”

  “Our customers are mostly drinking champagne right now,” Kaitlin smiled. “But when that runs out and they’re ready for a nosh . . .”

  Theodosia touched a hand to Kaitlin’s cheek and gently pushed back a strand of her dark hair. “What are you wearing there? Diamond ear bobs?”

  Kaitlin nodded eagerly. “Aunt Brooke said it was okay. They’re almost like the ones Scarlett O’Hara wore. You know, in Gone with the Wind? The diamonds that belonged to Scarlett’s mother?”

  “Well, they look very glamorous on you,” Theodosia told her.

  Haley twisted a strand of her stick-straight blond hair and grinned. “I mean, duh. Who wouldn’t look good in diamond earrings that probably cost fifty grand?”

  “That’s retail, not wholesale,” Kaitlin said.