Murder at Jade Cove (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Book 2)

by Dianne Harman

  2 sticks unsalted butter

  4 tablespoons cocoa

  1 cup water

  2 eggs, lightly beaten

  ½ cup buttermilk

  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  Stir together the flour, sugar, and baking soda. Set aside.

  Combine the butter, cocoa, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add the melted butter mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Use electric beater to combine ingredients thoroughly. Lightly grease a 9” x 13” baking dish and dust with flour. Pour the mixed ingredients into the dish. Bake for 20 minutes. If the middle of the cake is wiggly, continue baking. Check every five minutes. Baking time varies with ovens. Don’t over bake.

  CHOCOLATE ICING

  1 stick unsalted butter

  4 tablespoons cocoa

  6 tablespoons buttermilk

  16 oz. box powdered sugar

  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  Optional – chopped nuts

  Combine the butter, cocoa, and buttermilk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Beat in sugar, vanilla, and nuts if desired. Pour evenly over the hot cake and let cool. Enjoy!

  CARAMEL OVERNIGHT ROLLS

  1 15 oz. package frozen dinner roll dough

  1 large package dry butterscotch pudding (not instant)

  ½ cup packed brown sugar

  ½ stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

  Optional: chopped pecans

  Lightly grease a 10-12 cup Bundt pan.

  Arrange individual balls of dough in the pan, evenly stacking one on top of another. Sprinkle each layer of the balls of dough first with the dry pudding mix, then the brown sugar.

  Pour melted butter over the top and scatter with chopped pecans, if desired.

  Cover with a towel and let rise overnight, unrefrigerated.

  When ready to cook the rolls, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Cook for 30 – 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for five minutes. Place a plate on top of pan and flip over. Slide the pan up and off the rolls. Cut or pull off individual rolls and serve. Enjoy!

  BREAKFAST TART

  1 sheet frozen puff pastry dough, thawed

  1 egg, lightly beaten combined with 1 teaspoon water (egg wash)

  3 ounces crème fraiche (if you can’t find it, substitute 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup plain yogurt

  2 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded (I often substitute Jarlsberg or

  Swiss because it’s cheaper)

  Salt and pepper to taste

  8 bacon slices, cooked until crisp

  4 eggs

  10 fresh chives, cut on the bias into ½” lengths

  Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet with raised sides.

  On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pasty to approximately a 1/2” thickness and cut into a 10” x 8” rectangle. Place the pastry on the prepared baking sheet. Using a paring knife, lightly score the border ½” in from the edge of the pastry. Using a fork, prick the center of the pastry about 10 times. Brush the border with the egg wash and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

  In a small bowl, combine the crème fraiche and the cheese. Season with the salt and pepper.

  Spread crème fraiche mixture on the pastry, keeping the border clean. Lay the bacon on top and slightly overlap the slices. Bake the tart 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Using a fork, prick any large air pockets on the pastry. Crack the eggs onto the tart, spacing them about 2” apart. Bake until egg whites are set and yolks are still soft, approximately 7 – 10 minutes. Transfer the tart to a platter and garnish with the chives. Serve and enjoy!

  *****

  Here's an incredible book that turned my life upside down, literally. I wish I'd read it 40 years back. It would have saved me a lot of heartache and made life so much easier. I've never come across something this good in recent times, and boy do I read a lot. The author (http://www.vivekrajanvivek.com) has been endorsed by Brian Tracy and T Harv Eker.

  The Best Book on Money and Success That'll Take You to the Top

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 1

  A New Beginning

  It was the first week of March and Spring was just around the corner, eager to burst forth and bless everyone with life and warmth once more. A beaming sun and blue skies dotted with white fluffy clouds greeted all those who had assembled. Smiles abounded, and even those who were grouchy couldn't help flashing their pearly or not so pearly whites.

  The organization catered to those who needed someone "to listen" to them in their moment of crises, and in the long run steer them away, tactfully, from committing suicide. It had been in existence for decades, tucked away in a quaint house in a leafy neighborhood in the suburbs. What these callers didn't realize was that loneliness was killing them, slowly and softly.

  Those who called the helpline came from all walks of life and over the decades the clientele included shop owners, taxi-drivers, cashiers, celebrities, office clerks, fast food workers, engineers, nurses, waiters, waitresses, CEO's, customer service reps, truckers, actors, actresses, loaders, baggage handlers, authors, directors, producers, janitors, warehouse workers, journalists, secretaries, bookkeepers, teachers, maids, pilots, maintenance people, lawyers, hoteliers, government officials, pimps, hookers, bankers, ex-convicts etc.

  Twice a year the organization would hold a get-together where the Chairman would host a feast for the volunteers who were educated, compassionate, eclectic, enthusiastic and inspiring. The Chairman was a wise and generous man revered for his wisdom, both, from a monetary and spiritual angle. He wanted to share his secrets, "real secrets of life", with them.

  There are principles and then there are tactics or techniques. Principles are few and far in-between whereas tactics range in the hundreds or thousands. He wanted to share his life-transforming principles (and a few techniques), the best of the best, with these good Samaritans; they deserved it. The possibilities were limitless once the foundation was laid.

  The chairman had a handsome forehead, deep-set eyes, lush eyebrows, an aquiline nose and a head covered with silvery-white hair. The volunteers could invite their family and friends, and the event was always a memorable one.

  The post lunch session was the most precious part of the day. By then everyone had melted into each other and the gathering resembled one big, complete, happy family. The Q&A session would begin where they could ask the Chairman absolutely anything. No topic was deemed inappropriate or juvenile, and they were free to go in any direction. The volunteers came from all walks of life and despite vast differences, both economic and social, they all shared a common thirst for love, money and happiness. Yet, at times, the intensity of that thirst seemed to get in the way of everything they yearned for.

  CHAPTER 2

  What do you want?

  “So what's the first question going to be?” asked the chairman, as he smiled magnanimously.

  “How do we make money? Lots of it?” asked one man.

  “Yeah, that's a good one. We’re not happy living like this," said an older man. "A fat bank balance is always welcome.”

  “Anything else other than money?” asked the chairman, with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Ooh, ooh, and happiness at all times,” said a young woman.

  “Yeah, and a stress free life,” said an elderly lady.

  “All three if possible,” said one girl.

  “That would be asking for too much, I guess,” said a young guy.

  “So money, happiness and a stress free life are your top three wishes for the year. That’s doable, although there are far more interesting ch
allenges in life,” said the chairman.

  “We’ve had enough challenges. There's so much pain and suffering even amongst the educated. A few on top shittin' on the rest of us,” said a man, in a slightly frustrated tone.

  “That’s understandable, so let’s start with money,” said the chairman. "Before we start, wouldn't it be nice to know the personality traits that the rich possess?"

  "We already know that. They're smart and intelligent and come from rich backgrounds…," an impetuous young man retorted before he was cut off by an older man.

  "We're here to listen and learn from him. I think there's more to it than meets the eye. Yes, we'd like to know the personality traits the rich possess," said the old man, sounding a little irritated.

  "They're not smart, not intelligent, not rich, not lucky, not talented, not beautiful, not privileged, not confident, not achievers, not the most popular, not likely to succeed, been laughed at the most and have failed more than most," said the chairman, much to the astonishment of all those gathered.

  "That gives us so much hope," said a young man. "You just described me perfectly."

  "That means you'll be rich, happy and stress free," a middle aged woman chimed in.

  All of a sudden the mood changed. There might be a chance after all, everyone thought. Something deep within them stirred. Really? Was it really true that most rich people came from such wretched backgrounds? Wow, who would have thought?

  "If that's the case then what about the things we see on TV and read in the papers?" asked a young woman, still not convinced.

  "The media gives people what they want. If they portrayed boring people who wore boring clothes and drove old, ugly cars and lived in modest homes then no one would watch the TV or read the papers anymore," said the chairman.

  "Makes a lot of sense," a young woman said. The rest nodded in agreement.

  "Moving on, does anyone know the First Law of the Universe?" asked the chairman. He scanned everyone's faces, waiting for an answer. When none came forth he replied.

  "Whatever you want will be yours!"

  "Then how come we don't get what we want?" a young man shot back.

  "Well, when I asked you what the first law of the universe was, you didn't reply," said the chairman with a smile. "Then how do you expect to get what you want?"

  "Also, when you ask for something there's a lack of clarity. Because of this lack of knowledge and lack of clarity, you ask feebly, and you get a feeble response, which, as we all know is not what you wanted, but you got what you deserved.

  "The first law of the universe is also the deadliest law of the universe. It's a double edged sword. Exercise caution - for the cosmos will indulge your every whim and fancy."

  "So let's get right to it," said the chairman.

  CHAPTER 3

  Plugging Massive Energy Leaks

  “Before we can even begin to talk about money or anything that we aspire for in life, it’s best to understand one simple fact - your ability to create is directly proportional to the energy resources at your disposal,” said the chairman.

  "In many cases the readiness to forge ahead exists, but the chains that bind you are still in place. So it's best to begin by taking a look at what's holding you back, break free from them, and then begin marching on the path to prosperity.

  “Most (99%) are stuck in a low energy realm and hence your ability to live the life of your dreams remains a dream.

  “Are you aware of the fact - that not only are you in a dream state while you sleep, you’re also in a dream state while you are awake. It’s one big continuous dream,” said the chairman.

  “How come we’re dreaming/sleeping while we’re awake?” asked one guy, scratching his head as he shifted around awkwardly.

  “How many of you daydream during the day?” asked the chairman.

  “All of us do that,” said one man.

  “And how many of you brood or get melancholy?” asked the chairman. “When I say brood, I mean to ‘blame, complain and criticize’, which happens to be the single biggest pastime you engage in.”

  “This tape that whirrs in your head for ever and ever until you go to sleep, exhausted,” said the chairman. “You see, more than 80 percent of the waking state is spent either day dreaming or brooding i.e. thinking about the past or the future.

  "Only the remainder is spent doing something fruitful; this is when you are fully awake and not leaking any energy,” the chairman said and then asked, “How many of you blame, complain and criticize on an hourly basis?”

  Everyone raised their hands, except for a young man up who had been busy daydreaming.

  “Now, how many of you are infatuated with celebrities? How many of you dream of marrying them or hanging out with them?” asked the chairman.

  The daydreamer suddenly realized that everyone had raised their hands and raised his hand slowly, so that no one would notice. Everyone noticed.

  “Infatuation sucks you bone dry on a daily basis, beware,” warned the chairman. “When you daydream you are projecting the future and when you are blaming and complaining (tape whirring) you are projecting the past.

  "So even when your eyes are wide open, your awareness 'is zero', since you are busy day dreaming(future) or brooding(past), hence the dream continues even when you are awake,” said the chairman.

  "Is dreaming at night a good thing?” a young girl asked innocently.

  “There are two things that happen while sleeping and it's important to make a distinction. When you are just about to wake up, you get flashes which last for a very short time and are normally forgotten by the time you are fully awake,” said the chairman. These flashes are helpful, they are symbols i.e. coded information that comes in the form of an image along with an emotion, and they point you in the right direction.

  "Nature by default is very lazy or super-efficient, call it what you may, so it always tries to do things using the least amount of energy in the shortest possible time period.

  “Dreams on the other hand go on for a much longer duration and are a massive energy leak. They take on two forms. In most cases you dream of things that happened to you during the day – as is. The second form also replays the same information, but in the form of symbols and emotions, so you feel that something new is being revealed but it's the very same thing.

  "For example, you run into a person you dislike and later on that night you dream of a snake that symbolizes the dread and dislike all rolled into one.

  "These dreams go on for a very long period of time whereas when it comes to intuition it only takes a matter of seconds. So dreams violate nature's law of 'doing things quickly by expending the least amount of energy.'

  “Once you stop daydreaming and brooding during the day, you will have no dreams during the night, and when you do get an intuitive flash you’ll remember it much more easily. You’ll wake up fresh and with lots of energy,” said the chairman.

  “I thought dreams were good stuff. Isn’t that what life is about, living your dreams?” asked one man.

  “Yeah, me too,” said a young gal, perplexed.

  "A daydream is a desire," said the chairman, "a desire for a better life. How long does it take for desire to take birth? Nanoseconds? So why do you need to dream or daydream for hours on end?

  "Once you have a desire, 'Act'. It's the fastest way to accomplish your desires. Once you focus on accomplishing the task at hand inspiration flows freely and abundantly, you progress towards your goals with lightning speed and the end result is bliss.

  "Instead, what do you do? You daydream. Stop dreaming and Act on your desires. Your inability to act is the single, biggest reason for failure. Take that first step immediately.

  “Watching a one hour movie on the big screen is a tiring process," said the chairman. "Now imagine how tiring an eight or ten hour movie can be? This is what you do every day - you mindlessly project the past or the future and blissfully forget about the present.

  “This is how disease and lifelo
ng sickness enter your body because your body is barely able to replenish itself while you sleep.

  “With all this happening, awareness goes for a toss. You dream and brood even more of the 'good life' or the lack of it, and the cycle repeats itself for eternities - your dream state continues unabated,” said the chairman.

  “Nize explanation,” said a young gun.

  “Yeah, it does make a lot of sense,” said a woman. The rest nodded their heads - none more vigorously than the young man awoken from his daydream.

  Chapter 4

  Empty Yourself First

  "Ok, let's move on," said the chairman as he gazed around the room. "Does anyone know the most important instruction one has to keep in mind if one has to move forward in life?” asked the chairman, with a quizzical look on his face.

  Everyone stared straight back at him, barely moving a muscle physically or mentally.

  “Empty yourself, empty yourself of your memories, your conditioning. Your inability to let go of the past poisons your body,” the chairman proclaimed.

  “Remember how you said 'That would be asking for too much',” as he pointed to our dear daydreamer, now almost fully awake. "That’s what I’m talking about, there’s too much memory, too much baggage, too much conditioning that keeps you chained to the same spot.

  "Before I go on I would like to add that we're specifically talking about your conditioning, your superstitions, your warped view of the world etc. We're not talking about erasing good memories."

  "Why is memory the culprit?" asked an elderly woman.

  "How many of you have seen 'the walking dead'?" asked the chairman.

  "What do you mean by 'the walking dead'?" asked a middle aged man.

  "Those who have suffered a set-back in the past and are emotionally scarred by it, to the extent that the incident controls them for the rest of their lives and they can't go past it," said the chairman.

  "My aunt suffered a terrible tragedy, she's alive but only physically," remarked a young girl.

  "So how many of you belong to this group called 'the walking dead'?" asked the chairman.