Small Town Spooky (Cozy Mystery Anthology)
Page 22
“It will be so good to see Denidra again!” Mrs. Dollner exclaimed, clapping her hands. “I’m glad she decided to make the drive from Minneapolis.”
“Me too. We don’t see her nearly enough,” I sighed, getting up and walking to the window.
I glanced outside for any sign of my mother’s car, but all I saw were plump rose bushes and slender tulips in bloom. Gazing at the prism of colors, I became immersed in a daydream and thought of Ramiro. Justice for the murdered man was slow to come, but it was surely on the way. Jury selection for Nancy Norton’s trial had begun and she was being held in jail without bail. Even if the judge allowed her to be released on bond, Nancy would never be able to practice nursing again. She had been permanently barred from the profession following the allegations against her.
Dahlia had surprisingly remained in contact, picking up a cup of coffee at Espresso Magic from time to time and reminiscing about her brother. Each anecdote she shared made me wish that Ramiro and I had been given a chance to blossom. Since that one ill-fated date, I hadn’t been out with any other man, although I was open to future possibilities. As for Captain Davis, he had kept a respectful distance and not given me any more trouble.
Penelope had eventually opted to move into a one-bedroom apartment rather than deal with the hassle of a roommate. In the end, we had discovered that Grace’s big secret was that she was unemployed and on the verge of homelessness. Her desperate financial situation had caused her to appear maniacal in her quest for a roommate, but she was actually pretty normal.
Whisked away from my daydream, I watched as my mother’s car pulled into the parking lot. “She’s here!” I announced happily.
“Oh good!” Penelope jumped out of her chair and wiped her mouth on a napkin.
I swung the door wide open so my mother wouldn’t have to ring the bell. The sound of her footsteps ascending the staircase was comforting. “Hi Mom!” I cheered as soon as she reached the top of the stairs.
“Marisa, mi amor,” she replied affectionately. “And Penelope!” We joined in a group hug as Mrs. Dollner tip-toed over to us and gave my mother a kiss on the cheek.
“So good to see you again, Denidra! How have you been?” Mrs. Dollner asked.
Depositing a bouquet of fragrant flowers in my hands, Mom answered, “I’ve been well, thank you, Mrs. Dollner. How have you been?”
“Just fine. But things have been quite chaotic lately…”
“Let’s not talk about that now,” I said quickly, not wanting to upset my mother the moment she walked in. “How’s Dad? Any news from home?”
“Your father is fine. As for news from home…” Mom paused meaningfully and reached into her purse.
“What’s that?” Penelope asked, eyeing a wrinkled greeting card-size envelope.
“An invitation from Spain,” my mother revealed with glittering eyes.
“Really? From who?” I asked curiously.
“From your cousin, Elena. She wanted to send this to you girls but didn’t have your new addresses, so she wrote to me.” Mom placed the envelope in my hands.
I noted the fancy calligraphy and elegant tissue paper as I opened the envelope. “It’s a wedding invitation! Elena is getting married!” I said excitedly.
“Yes and she wants you girls to fly to Andalusia to be at her wedding,” my mother said with a smile. “It’s really about time you saw my homeland anyway. This will be the perfect opportunity.”
“Oh how exciting!” Mrs. Dollner purred. “But do you girls have passports?”
“No, we don’t,” I said glumly, reading the date on the invitation. “Oh, but the wedding is in June, so we should have more than enough time to get passports! This is so exciting!”
“I know!” Penelope grinned. “Mom, aren’t you excited to be going home again?”
My mother’s expression visibly darkened as she replied, “I can’t go. Your father can’t fly with his heart condition and I need to stay here with him.”
“Oh what a pity!” Mrs. Dollner lamented.
“Well, look on the bright side. I can run Espresso Magic for a week or so while you girls are away. So you won’t lose any profits!”
“Mom, you don’t have to do that,” I protested.
“But I want to! Retirement can be so boring. It will be fun to run a coffee shop for a week!” She enthused. “And Mrs. Dollner, if you’d like, you could go with the girls to Spain!”
“Me?” Mrs. Dollner squeaked. “Oh I’d love to, but…”
“But what? Do you not have a passport?” I asked.
“No I do! But I haven’t used it since I was 78.”
“You traveled out of the country when you were 78?” Mom marveled.
“Yes, I took a Caribbean cruise. It was delightful! We docked in Cozumel and the Cayman Islands and…”
“That’s wonderful, Mrs. Dollner. So are you coming to Spain?” I jabbed her playfully in the shoulder.
“You don’t have to twist my arm! I’m going to come! Maybe I could even look up my old love, Santos,” she sighed dreamily. “I never saw him again after he moved back to Spain.”
Biting my tongue, I refrained from mentioning the likelihood that Santos was no longer living. Instead, I said jubilantly, “Then it’s settled! The three of us are going to Spain!”
***
Amazon.com: Spells Like Coffee (Gypsy Sleuths, Book 4) eBook: Emma Blackcliff: Kindle Store
*RECIPES*
SPRINKLE A LITTLE MAGIC INTO A DISH…
Mocha Mystique Layer Cake
1 box moist chocolate cake mix
1 ¼ cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp coffee liqueur
4 eggs (organic, cage-free)
Can of mocha frosting
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Spread batter into 2 round 8-inch cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or according to directions on the cake mix box. Let cool. Slather with frosting and enjoy a slice. Taste the mocha mystique!
Wickedly Indulgent Pecan Pie
1 1/2 cups pecan pieces
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup light or dark corn syrup
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (9-inch) deep-dish frozen unbaked pie shell
Spread pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted. Stir together eggs and all other ingredients. Pour filling into pie shell. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until set. Serve warm or cold.
Chocolate Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg (organic, cage-free)
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream butter and sugar. Sift dry ingredients together. Beat in egg, oats and dry ingredients. Stir in raisins, walnuts and vanilla. Drop onto a greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 350. These cookies taste delicious with a hot cup of chai tea!
Midnight Clouds Marble Cake
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
Dash of salt
½ cup softened butter
2 eggs (organic, cage free)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk
2 tsp cocoa powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a round cake pan. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, butter or margarine, eggs, vanilla, and milk in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Reserve 3/4 cup batter; pour remainder into pan. Stir cocoa into the 3/4 cup reserved batter. Drop by
spoonfuls over top of white batter. Using a knife, swirl the cocoa batter into the white batter to create a magical marble effect. Bake for 30 minutes.
A Charming Tea Party
Selection of teas: orange, mint, rose, chamomile, etc.
Assorted scones: blueberry, cranberry, vanilla bean, etc.
Devonshire cream to spread on scones
Clotted cream
Mini muffins: chocolate chip, cappuccino chip, etc.
Pitcher of ice water
Arrange your tea party ingredients on a table set with a lace tablecloth and porcelain dessert ware. Special touches like a vase of fresh flowers (not dahlias!) and place settings with swan-shaped napkins are recommended. Invite some friends over (Mrs. Dollner says she wants to come; you can find her in her cottage ;). Clink your tea cups and enjoy the elegant spread!
Espresso Magic Cupcakes
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons coffee extract
1 cup boiling water
1 cup milk
Can of dark chocolate frosting
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare cupcake pans with liners. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, oil, milk, vanilla and coffee extract; beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into cupcake pans lined with liners. Bake 18 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Enjoy with a hot cup of coffee!
Penelope’s Cappuccino Chip Muffins
2 cups flour
¾ cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons espresso powder
½ cup butter
1 egg
½ cup baker’s chocolate chips
Coffee beans
Preheat oven to 375. Grease 12 muffin cups. Melt butter in a saucepan on low heat. In a mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar; set aside. In a measuring cup, add milk, egg, vanilla extract and coffee granules. Stir until coffee is dissolved. Pour coffee mixture onto the flour/sugar and add the melted butter. Stir. Fold in chocolate chips. Divide batter among muffin cups. Sprinkle with coffee beans and sugar granules (if desired). Bake for 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and Abracadabra! You have a breakfast to please the whole family!
Smooth as Silk Coffee Pie
2 tablespoons of butter
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
12 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 eggs, separated
2 cups of heavy cream
1 1/2 tablespoon of instant coffee granules
1/3 cups of confectioner’s sugar
Baked pie shell
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Heat chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons butter, stirring until melted and smooth. Cool; beat in yolks. Set aside. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Set aside. Beat cream with coffee until soft peaks form. Beat in sugar. Save 1 cup whipped cream for garnish. Stir 1/2 cup cream mixture into chocolate mixture, then fold in remainder. Fold in beaten whites. Pour into baked pie crust. Garnish with reserved whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Freeze 8 hours. Defrost 30 minutes or until soft and edible. A very smooth dessert that goes well with a glass of cappuccino!
Winter Hot Cocoa Escapade
Warning: This may be the richest hot cocoa your taste buds will EVER experience
Belgian block of dark chocolate (60% or 70% cacao)
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Whipped cream for topping
Chocolate shavings (from the Belgian bar)
Jar of Maraschino cherries (why not splurge with a cherry on top!)
Melt 8 blocks of the Belgian chocolate in a saucepan. Stir in heavy cream. Add 2 cups of boiling water. Serve immediately in mugs with a puff of whipped cream, a sprinkle of chocolate shavings, and a cherry on top just for fun. (PS: This Winter Hot Cocoa Escapade can also be enjoyed in Spring, Summer, and Autumn!)
Tropical Java Journey
1 cup iced coffee
Chocolate syrup
Whipped cream
Flaked coconut
Pour iced coffee into a tall glass. Spray on some chocolate syrup and mix in. Drizzle additional chocolate syrup on top followed by a dollop of whipped cream. Scatter coconut flakes on the whipped cream and get ready for a taste of paradise!
Mint Magic Coffee
1 tbsp chocolate syrup
2 tbsp peppermint baking chips (melted)
½ cup hot coffee
Chocolate chip mint ice cream (optional)
Stir together the 3 ingredients in a coffee mug. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Serve warm. Or, if you prefer a cold drink, add a scoop of chocolate chip mint ice cream to make a coffee float!
Coffee + Chocolate = Liquid Perfection
1 ½ cups cold coffee
1 ½ cups chocolate or vanilla ice cream
1 cup crushed ice
Chocolate syrup (to taste)
Whipped cream
In a blender, combine coffee, ice cream and chocolate syrup. Blend until silky smooth. Pour over crushed ice. Spray on some whipped cream and delight in this refreshing beverage!
Bittersweet Espresso Tiramisu
3 egg yolks
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups Mascarpone cheese
24 ladyfinger cookies
1 ½ cups warm coffee
2 tbsp cocoa powder
In a bowl, beat yolks with sugar and vanilla until smooth. Fold mascarpone into yolk mixture. Set aside. Dip ladyfingers in coffee and arrange 12 of them in an 8x8 inch dish. Spread half the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers. Make a second layer with remaining cookies and mascarpone. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Sprinkle with cocoa powder to satisfy your chocolate cravings!
If you enjoyed CUP OF CHARM,
Check out the other installments in the series:
ESPRESSO MAGIC
Book 1
Espresso Magic (Gypsy Sleuths, Book 1) - Kindle edition by Emma Blackcliff. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
SIP OF MALICE
Book 2
Sip of Malice (Gypsy Sleuths, Book 2) - Kindle edition by Emma Blackcliff. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
SPELLS LIKE COFFEE
Book 4
Spells Like Coffee (Gypsy Sleuths, Book 4) - Kindle edition by Emma Blackcliff. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
ROASTED & RECKLESS
Book 5
Roasted & Reckless (Gypsy Sleuths Book 5) - Kindle edition by Emma Blackcliff. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Titles in the Gypsy Sleuths series
ESPRESSO MAGIC, Book 1
SIP OF MALICE, Book 2
CUP OF CHARM, Book 3
*CAFFEINATED CRIMES, Books 1-3
SPELLS LIKE COFFEE, Book 4
ROASTED & RECKLESS, Book 5
BOOKS & BREWS, Book 6
*Partial series anthology
About the Author
Emma Blackcliff lives in Portland, Maine, where she tries to keep cozy like her mysteries in the chilly long winters. She enjoys steaming cups of tea, hot apple cider, and intriguing mysteries. Currently, Emma is working on her next mystery, in between walks on the rugged, windswept beach with her adorable Beagle named Brownie.
Watering
Canned
Debbie Delancy
Chapter 1
Lemondrop Hills, Iowa
Betsy’s Green Garden Shoppe
The scent of fresh blueberry scones drifted through the bakery. Wiping my muddy sneakers on the welcome mat
, I greeted Marjory and Janine, two of my most loyal staff members. “Good morning, ladies. Something smells good in here!”
“Just getting things ready for the Blueberry Festival next week,” Marjory beamed as her freckled nose wrinkled charmingly and her pure white hair blew in the breeze from the oven fan. “Want to try one?” She handed me a piping hot scone and scooped a dollop of creamy butter onto it.
“It’s irresistible!” Janine promised, but I didn’t need convincing.
“Oh wow!” Pastry crumbles stuck to my rosy-cheeked face as I pushed my cropped bangs out of the way. “Nobody’s going to buy anything from the garden shoppe with you two baking like Julia Child in here!”
My quaint country business complex included the garden shoppe where I sold everything from rakes to leaf blowers. Then there was the hothouse where I kept a gorgeous inventory of plants and blooms that didn’t stand a chance of growing in the normal Iowa climate. And finally there was the crown jewel in my decade-old business: the bakery. Ah, the bakery where I tip-toed daily to sneak a taste of whatever confection the talented ladies had chosen to whip up.
“Thank you,” Marjory smiled proudly. “It’s my own special recipe with just a hint of sage.”
“Sage?” I mumbled as I scarfed down the rest of the fruity carb delight. “Never would have guessed!”
“We’re aiming to win first prize at the Blueberry Festival this year,” Marjory declared.
“That’s right. With Marjory’s scones and my pie, we’ll be a shoe-in! Think of the wonderful press it will bring to the shoppe,” Janine tossed her shoulder length flaxen waves as she filled a glass jar with jam.