The Must-Read Cozy Mystery Series

Book no. 13 is out today!

You know those nights when you can’t sleep? Maybe you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep. Or perhaps you can’t shut your mind off to go to sleep in the first place.

The solution for me is to lose myself in the world inside a book. By visiting a different place and wrapping myself in the lives of characters who feel like friends, I am able to escape the troubles and fears of my own life long enough to relax and believe everything will be okay.

And my number one author of choice is cozy mystery writer Krista Davis.

One warning: Her books can cause one-more-chapter syndrome! The phenomenon where you'll stop reading after one more chapter. 

If you’re a fan of food, friendship, and mystery, then Davis’s Domestic Diva series needs to be on your list. Her latest edition, Diva Spices It Up, was released today, but I was lucky enough to win an advanced copy through a drawing on her Facebook page. 

The book didn’t disappoint. In fact, I think it may be the best one in the series! The two recipes I made from it didn’t disappoint, either.

In this book, Sophie Winston, event planner and food advice columnist, takes on ghostwriting a cookbook for a former actress when the previous writer disappears. Is the missing ghostwriter in hiding, or was she murdered? And what about all of the suspicious spy activity Sophie keeps witnessing in her Washington D.C. suburb?

I devoured this story like a fudgy piece of chocolate cake! The plot was intriguing, and the solution was not what I expected.

This was my favorite Davis book to date!

Plus, it was a joy to spend time in Sophie’s world for a while. I like Sophie. Her friends, including an ex-husband, love to gather in her kitchen to solve murders and enjoy good food. Sophie never thinks twice about whipping up a tasty meal or snack for whoever shows up. That skill connects with my own enjoyment of feeding good food to the people I love.

Like all of Davis’s books, there are recipes from the story included at the end. I tried out:

Cornbread with a Corny Twist, which was so good I ate three pieces in spite of each one being 11 points on my WW purple plan!

Roasted Parmesan Chicken Breast, which was crispy and perfect alongside some whole-grain linguini primavera. This photo doesn't do the recipe justice, but I was in a hurry to start eating!  (7 points on WW purple)

Both recipes will make regular menu appearances.

To learn more about Davis, visit her website here. She also has a Paws and Claws series that is perfect for animal lovers, and a Pen and Ink series for the artist in all of us.

You don’t have to read the Domestic Diva series in order, but if that’s your style, the first one is The Diva Runs Out of Thyme.

Trust me, you’re going to love it!

Already a Diva fan? What's your favorite book? Character? Who should Sophie choose for a love interest? 

Steeped is a Handy Way to Satisfies Coffee Cravings

Disclaimer: The nice people at Steeped Coffee sent me free samples to try. However, the opinions expressed here are my own. I will only tell you about the products I use and enjoy!

I hate the Monday afternoon energy slump, but it seems to show up every week. You know the kind, where your brain won’t function and the thought of a stroll in the fresh, spring air requires more energy than you can muster.

My solution was a coffee jolt. However, I didn’t want to brew a partial pot, and anyway, I was craving an iced version. That’s when I remembered the box of Steeped Coffee sent to me quite a while ago. Now seemed like the perfect time to give it a try.

Steeped Coffee is brewed just like a cup of tea. However, unlike some other coffee-in-a-bag brands, this is made with premium beans to give the beverage a coffee-shop flavor. Each Steeped Pack contains hand-roasted, ethically sourced, Direct Trade coffee that’s precision ground to showcase the distinctive flavor profile of every crafted blend. The coffee comes in single-serve bags that are nitro-sealed, which removes oxygen and stops the clock on flavor loss. The packaging made using compostable and renewable materials and non-GMO filters. All it takes to brew a perfect cup is hot water and a few minutes. An added plus, there are no wasteful plastic pods accumulating in waterways or landfills.

I grabbed two bags of the Steeped Coffee Driftwood Blend, which is an extra dark French roast. I poured 16 ounces of hot water over the top and let the bags sit. The instructions say five minutes, but I got busy, so it was more like 15 minutes before I got back to it. I added a little sugar, poured the coffee into a glass filled with ice, and topped it off with a little non-fat milk.

Perfection! The coffee flavor was bold and rich, not harsh or bitter. In fact, it was so smooth I could probably skip the milk next time. And believe me, there will be a next time!

I could see Steeped Coffee bags come in handy on a trip or even when you go to a restaurant that serves sub-par coffee. Just ask for hot water!

To check out all of the Steeped Coffee offerings, pay a visit to 

their website here. FYI: They are offering free shipping on all U.S. orders right now!

Apricot and Lavender Mini Almond Cakes

Is there someplace in the world you’ve always wanted to visit? For me, it would be the Provence region of France. Ever since I first read A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle, I’ve dreamed of smelling lavender fields, exploring the market in Apt on a Saturday morning, and sipping a pastis cocktail in a summer courtyard filled with vibrant flowers.

This is why I fell in love with Elizabeth Bard’s Picnic in Provence: A Memoir with Recipes. While I enjoyed her first book, Lunch in Paris, where she details her move to the City of Lights and falling in love with her French husband, this second book mirrored my own dreams of being an American adapting to life in a small Provence village. Ah, the warmth. Ah, the beautiful scenery. Ah, the luscious food!

Okay, it’s the food that attracted me the most. Especially the fresh produce and cheeses. Oh, and bread still warm from the boulangerie. And, of course, the wine!

Bard’s book is full of recipes I will spend the next few months exploring, especially when there is an abundance of produce at the farmer's market this summer. In the meanwhile, I enjoyed my French “trip” through the pages of her book while being stuck at home thanks to the pandemic currently harassing our world.

I did make her Apricot and Lavender Mini Almond Cakes for Easter dessert! My pantry had a container of culinary lavender purchased for just such an occasion, and I used canned apricots since fresh aren’t in season. 

These cakes were a lovely treat for the holiday! They were also very easy to make. A perfect south-of-France indulgence to enjoy here in northeast Kansas.

Yield: 12 cakes

Author: Linda Ditch

Apricot and Lavender Mini Almond Cakes

Adapted from a recipe in Picnic in Provence by Elizabeth Bard

Ingredients

• 7 tablespoons room temperature unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 eggs at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups ground almond flour (I used King Arthur brand)
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 teaspoon culinary lavender grains, plus a few for garnish
• 12 small apricot halves (I used canned, drained and patted dry with a paper towel)
• Light brown sugar, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven for 400 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with 12 foil cupcake liners. (Must be foil because paper will stick!) Spray each liner with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whip the butter and sugar together until combined and fluffy. (I used a hand mixer.) Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Mix in the almond and vanilla extracts.
3. Fold in the almond flour until combined. Mix in the salt and lavender grains.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the 12 cupcake liners, about 1 1/2 tablespoons per liner. Lightly press one apricot half, skin-side down, into each cup, followed by a small pinch of brown sugar. Top with 2 or 3 grains of lavender. (Be careful not to go overboard with the lavender or the cakes will taste like soap.)
5. Place the muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove and set on a wire rack to cool. Serve with whipped cream.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Family Recipe File Crazy Chocolate Cake

(Update March 25, 2020: Who knew when I posted this in 2011 we would be going through a pandemic 9 years later! What's great about this recipe? You don't need eggs or milk, which can be hard to find right now! And we all need chocolate, right?)

This has to be the easiest chocolate cake to make—ever! As I was looking through my Mamaw’s recipe box to find another recipe to share with you, I came across this Crazy Chocolate Cake recipe. I remember making it growing up, so my mom must have the recipe too, though I don’t know if Mamaw gave the recipe to Mom or vice versa. This is one of the few times Mamaw didn't write where she got the recipe on the card.

What is great about this cake is you mix it together in the same pan in which you bake it. No mixer. No bowl. Just the baking dish and a fork. And no eggs or milk, either! The vinegar in the mix helps the cake rise. From what I’ve read, this recipe (and many others similar to it) was developed during the Great Depression as a cost-effective way to make a chocolate cake without expensive ingredients.

The cake is tasty without frosting—moist, rich and chocolaty. I just dust it with powdered sugar. But feel free to top it with your favorite frosting. Enjoy!

Author: Linda Ditch

Crazy Chocolate Cake

A Great Depression-era cake made without eggs and milk, mixed and baked in one pan.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar
• 1/2 cup cooking oil
• 1 1/2 cups water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift the dry ingredients into a 12 x 7 1/2 x 2-inch baking pan.
2. Mix together and make 3 indentations in the dry ingredients. Into one hole, put vanilla, into another put vinegar, and into third put cooking oil. Pour water over all and mix batter well with a fork.
3. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the center springs back to the touch. After cooling, dust the top with powdered sugar. (optional.)

Black Pepper Chicken

We are living in strange times, aren’t we?

Like many of you, I’m spending the majority of my time in my home, with a few breaks for walks outside to lift my spirits. My hands are chapped from washing them so many times during the day (any lotion suggestions?). I’m also becoming pretty adept at using Zoom, plus I’m setting up FaceTime coffee chats and outdoors walking times with friends to keep my sanity!

We have adjustments to make, but we’ve got this!

While we may have more time to spend in the kitchen, it doesn’t necessarily mean we want to! Here’s an easy, healthy dish to add some zip to your meal. This is a take on the Panda Express version. I saw the original recipe on   The Kitchn website here, but I made some adjustments to match what I had on hand. 

Remember: Seek joy, cherish love, stay curious, and eat tasty food!

And stay safe!

Black Pepper Chicken

Serves 4

Sauce:

1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon fish sauce

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Chicken:

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces

2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons cornstarch

4 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

3 green onions, white and part of green portion cut into 1/4-inch pieces

1 teaspoon minced garlic

Brown rice, for serving

To make the sauce, whisk together all of the ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, toss together the chicken, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, and then the chicken. Sauté until the chicken is nicely browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet onto a plate and set aside.

Add the celery to the skillet and cook until it starts to go tender. Then add the green onions and minced garlic, sautéing only about 30 seconds. Add the chicken back to the skillet along with the sauce. Bring to a boil, and then simmer until the sauce thickens—about 5 minutes.

Serve over brown rice.

Banana Nut Oatmeal Bread

I always tinker with recipes. This banana bread is one of them. I posted the original recipe here in the early years of this blog.

For this version, I cut the sugar from 1 cup to 1/4 cup, and I cut the butter in half and used Land O’ Lakes light butter. I also added some Greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce, which makes this bread super moist. If you want sweeter bread, you could up the sugar to 1/2 cup, but I like this less-sweet recipe instead.

I like to toast my piece in the toaster oven and then smear a little light butter on top. Yum!

Yield: 1 loaf

Author: Linda Ditch

Banana Nut Oatmeal Bread

A lighter version of traditional banana bread.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light butter (I use Land O’ Lakes)
• 1/4 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, sift together the flours, soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the yogurt, applesauce, and eggs, and whisk until blended. Then whisk in the bananas.
3. Next, stir in the flour mixture until just blended. Fold in the oatmeal and walnuts. Pour the batter into a loaf pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Remove from the pan and cool on a rack.

Twenty-four Hours in Memphis part 2—Graceland

When I was around 11-years-old, my dad came home from a business trip with presents that changed my life—2 Elvis Presley albums. Now, I don’t remember if I was a fan of his yet, but I do know I fell in love with him listening to his songs. I spent hours cranking up the volume on “A Little Less Conversation,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Return to Sender,” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” all the while pretending to be one of his backup singers. To this day I can still sing those harmonies should one of his songs stream on my phone.

So, of course, during my 24-hour Memphis stay, I had to visit Graceland. In fact, they were gracious in giving me a free pass to all the exhibits, and it was a surprise how huge the entire complex is to tour!

My first stop was Elvis’s house, which you get to via a small bus from the ticket office. It is an iPad tour narrated by John Stamos! The house is on the smallish side for a celebrity mansion but was probably considered pretty large for Memphis back in the 1950s and 60s.

I loved the living room…

And the TV room. You’re not allowed to go upstairs since that area is considered private and still used by his family.

In an exhibit area, I was thrilled to learn Elvis loved to read!

The meditation garden was lovely, with people leaving mementos at his grave.

Other exhibits at Graceland include one building dedicated to Elvis’s cars, including this cool pink Cadillac!

Another had his stage costumes and gold records.

I also took a tour of the Guest House at Graceland. Don’t be fooled by the name—this is a 400+ room hotel with restaurants, a huge theater, and numerous amenities.  You don’t have to visit Graceland to stay here. In fact, many companies hold business conventions at the property.

My favorite amenity was the peanut butter and jelly bar they offer each night between 10 and 11 p.m. Guest can go make their own PB&J with a wide selection of toppings! Since I love peanut butter sandwiches, I’d be there every night!

Before leaving, I had a BBQ lunch at Vernon’s Smokehouse on the property. This was the BBQ Sampler with brisket, sausage, chicken, ribs, and pulled pork. Yum!

My Graceland visit was amazing! Even though I’ve marked it off my travel bucket list, I plan to return when I have more time to explore even further!

Next stop…New Orleans!  

Disclaimer: While Graceland hosted me for this visit, the opinions in this blog post are entirely my own. They did not pay me to make this post.