* * *
Yield: 3 dozen cookies
* * *
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Ingredients
1½ cups packed brown sugar
½ cup butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
* * *
Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC, Gas Mark 4). In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla until they’re just combined. Do not over mix them. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Then, mix the dry ingredients into the wet until a thick, brownie-like batter forms. Fold in the chocolate chips until they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter. Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan with butter or shortening. Spread the batter in the pan then pop it into the preheated oven. Bake the bars for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Take the baked bars out of the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, cut the bars and serve. Serve the cookie bars by themselves or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of hot fudge for an indulgent sundae.
* * *
Yield: 3 dozen cookies
* * *
Almond shortbread
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup raw almond flour, toasted
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla (or almond) extract
* * *
Whisk together both flours in a small bowl. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl, using a hand-held mixer), cream the butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the flours ½ cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add the salt and vanilla and mix for 30 seconds. Turn the dough out onto a cool surface and divide it into four pieces. Roll each piece into a log measuring 1-inch thick and 6-inches long. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap or waxed paper and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
* * *
Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC, Gas Mark 4). Slice the logs into rounds approximately ⅓-inch thick and place them on an ungreased large heavy baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets on cooling racks for 10 minutes. Using an offset spatula, transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week or transferred to freezer bags and freeze for up to 2 months.
* * *
Yield: 4 dozen cookies
* * *
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Ingredients
For the Topping:
½ cup brown sugar, packed
¼ cup sifted all-purpose flour
¼ cup salted butter (at room temperature)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
* * *
For the Cake:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
2½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 large egg (beaten)
¾ cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup melted butter (salted or unsalted)
½ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* * *
Preheat the oven to 325ºF (170ºC, Gas Mark 3). Butter and flour an 8-inch or 9-inch square or round layer cake pan. In a small mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of brown sugar with 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour and the cinnamon. Stir to blend, then work in the 1/4 cup of softened butter with a fork or your fingers until the mixture feels crumbly. Set the streusel aside.
* * *
In a medium bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour with the baking powder and salt; blend thoroughly with a whisk or spoon, then set it aside. In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the egg lightly and then beat in the sugar and the 1/3 cup of melted butter. Add the milk and vanilla and blend well. Stir in the flour and mix the batter on low speed until well-blended.
* * *
Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar streusel topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Partially cool it in the pan on a wire rack. Cut the coffee cake into squares while it's still warm.
* * *
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
* * *
Cinnamon Walnut Scones
Ingredients
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup finely chopped walnuts
4½ teaspoons granulated sugar
2¼ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup cold butter
2 eggs
⅓ cup whipping cream
¼ cup buttermilk*
* * *
Preheat the oven to 450ºF (230ºC, Gas Mark 8). In a bowl, combine the flour, walnuts, sugar, baking powder salt and cinnamon; cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine the eggs and cream; stir into the dry ingredients until just moistened. Turn onto a floured surface. Gently pat the dough into a 7-inch surface, ¾-inch thick. Cut into eight wedges. Separate the wedges; place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush the tops with the buttermilk. Let them rest for 15 minutes. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden brown.
* * *
Yield: 8 servings
* * *
No buttermilk? Take your ¼ of milk and add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for about five minutes before you add it to the recipe.
About Lorraine Bartlett
The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett’s pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent--whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett—that keeps her in the hearts of her readers. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series, the Tales of Telenia adventure-fantasy saga, and now the Lotus Bay Mysteries, and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the descriptions and links to all her works, and sign up for her emailed newsletter here: http://oi.vresp.com/?fid=aee11a8d64
Not familiar with all of Lorraine’s work? Check out A Cozy Mystery Sampler, which is FREE. Just click this link.
If you enjoyed A MURDEROUS MISCONCEPTION, please consider reviewing it on your favorite online review site. Thank you!
Find Lorraine on Social Media
www.LorraineBartlett.com
Also by Lorraine Bartlett
The Lotus Bay Mysteries
Panty Raid (A Tori Cannon-Kathy Grant mini mystery)
With Baited Breath
Christmas At Swans Nest
A Reel Catch
The Best From Swans Nest (A Lotus Bay Cookbook)
* * *
The Victoria Square Mysteries
A Crafty Killing
The Walled Flower
One Hot Murder
Dead, Bath and Beyond (with Laurie Cass)
Yule Be Dead (with Gayle Leeson)
Murder Ink (with Gayle Leeson)
A Murderous Misconception (with Gayle Lesson)
Recipes To Die For: A Victoria Square Cookbooks
* * *
Life On Victoria Square
Carving Out A Path
A Basket Full of Bargains
The Broken Teacup
It’s Tutu Much
The Reluctant Bride
Tea’d Off
Life On Victoria Square Vol. 1
A Look Back
Tea For You (free for download)
* * *
Tales From Blythe Cove Manor
A Dream Weekend
A Final Gift
An Unexpected Visitor
Grape Expectations
Foul Weather Friends
Mystical Blythe Cove Manor
Blythe Cove Seasons (Free for all ebook formats)
* * *
Tales of Telenia
(adventure-fantasy)
STRANDED
JOURNEY
TREACHERY (2020)
* * *
Short Women’s Fiction
Love & Murder: A Bargain-Priced Collection of Short Stories
Happy Holidays? (A Collection of Christmas Stories)
An Unconditional Love
Love Heals
Blue Christmas
Prisoner of Love
We’re So Sorry, Uncle Albert
Sabina Reigns (a novel)
* * *
Writing as L.L. Bartlett
The Jeff Resnick Mysteries
Murder On The Mind (Free for all ebook formats)
Dead In Red
Room At The Inn
Cheated By Death
Bound By Suggestion
Dark Waters
Shattered Spirits
* * *
Jeff Resnick’s Personal Files
Evolution: Jeff Resnick’s Backstory
A Jeff Resnick Six Pack
When The Spirit Moves You
Bah! Humbug
Cold Case
Spooked!
Crybaby
Eyewitness
A Part of The Pattern
* * *
Abused: A Daughter’s Story
Off Script
* * *
Writing as Lorna Barrett
The Booktown Mysteries
Murder Is Binding
Bookmarked For Death
Bookplate Special
Chapter & Hearse
Sentenced To Death
Murder On The Half Shelf
Not The Killing Type
Book Clubbed
A Fatal Chapter
Title Wave
A Just Clause
Poisoned Pages
A Killer Edition
Handbook For Homicide
* * *
With The Cozy Chicks
The Cozy Chicks Kitchen
Tea Time With The Cozy Chicks
About Gayle Lesson
Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee. She is currently writing the Kinsey Falls chick-lit/women's fiction series, the Down South Cafe cozy mystery series, and the Ghostly Fashionista cozy mystery series, and co-author of several Victoria Square Mysteries (with Lorraine Bartlett). Her book KILLER WEDDING CAKE won the Bronze Medal in the 20th Anniversary IPPY Awards.
Gayle lives in Southwest Virginia with her family and enjoys hearing from readers.
Visit her website to join her email newsletter list!
Also by Gayle Leeson
Writing as Gayle Leeson
Down South Café Mystery Series
The Calamity Café
Silence of the Jams
Honey-Baked Homicide
Apples and Alibis
* * *
Ghostly Fashionista Mystery Series
Designs on Murder
Perils and Lace
* * *
Kinsey Falls Chick-Lit Series
Hightail It to Kinsey Falls
Putting Down Roots in Kinsey Falls
Sleighing It in Kinsey Falls
* * *
The Victoria Square Mysteries (with Lorraine Bartlett)
Yule Be Dead
Murder Ink
A Murderous Misconception
* * *
Writing as Amanda Lee
Embroidery Mystery Series
The Quick and The Thread
Stitch Me Deadly
Thread Reckoning
The Long Stitch Goodnight
Thread On Arrival
Cross-Stitch Before Dying
Thread End
Wicked Stitch
The Stitching Hour
Better Off Thread
* * *
Writing as Gayle Trent
Daphne Martin Cake Decorating Mysteries
Murder Takes the Cake
Dead Pan
Killer Sweet Tooth
Battered to Death
Killer Wedding Cake
* * *
Myrtle Crumb Mysteries
Between A Clutch and A Hard Place
When Good Bras Go Bad
Claus Of Death
Soup...Er...Myrtle!
Perp and Circumstance
The Party Line (A Myrtle Crumb Prequel)
* * *
Stand-Alone Books
The Perfect Woman
The Flame
In Her Blood (as G. V. Trent)
Contents
Acknowledgments
Cast Of Characters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Tealicious Recipes
About Lorraine Bartlett
Also by Lorraine Bartlett
About Gayle Lesson
Also by Gayle Leeson
A Murderous Misconception Page 25
