Tag: cookies

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A Baking Cozy Giveaway!

Folks, I’m delighted to announce I’ve joined a friendly lot of mystery writers for a special free chance to win more than two dozen new mystery books!

Just click here and take a look at some of the great mysteries one lucky contestant will get their (oven) mitts on, and sign up for your free chance to win!

You’ll start to get updates from myself and cozy authors like me, who just want to share entertaining mysteries where the murders happen off-page, the bad guy answers for their crimes, and everything wraps up nicely with a few cookies and a cup of something hot. (Lately I’ve been baking chocolate-chocolate chip w/ salted peanuts, to go with a lovely decaf latté.)

Now, Margot Parish’s first mystery ‘A Tisket A Tasket A Biscuit A Casket’ is still being polished, and the unlucky exploits of Leonard Lake are still in the drawing board stages. Here’s where I could really use your help:

What would you like from me as a giveaway? I never want to waste my reader’s time, which means sending you things you’ll actually enjoy. Would you like…

  • Baking Recipes Perfected in Margot’s (and My) Kitchen?
  • Character Profiles on the fascinating residents of Fletcher’s Crossing?
  • Cozy Recaps of Favorite Mystery Series and the Great Detectives?
  • A Snapshot of My Writing Process?
  • Sketches for Upcoming Mystery Covers?
  • Something I haven’t thought of!

Put your best answers in the comments, and I’ll make sure you get nothing but the best I can give.

Lots of interesting developments in the works that I can’t wait to share. Stay tuned for more updates soon!

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Margot’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Primordial cookie dough!

No comfy kitchen is complete without the wafting aroma of fresh chocolate chip cookies!

Part of my mission as a creator of cozy delights (stories, treats, and affirmations that yes, you’re doing enough) is to bring you the best version of these delights that I can. We start with the basic building blocks and well, build. (I’m also excited to share my secret cookie cheat with you.)

My amateur sleuth Margot Parish feels most at home in the kitchen, just like me. Chocolate chip cookies are her go-to comfort food to get suspects talking; now you can taste why for yourself! 

The alchemy of turning crude ingredients into cookie-fied perfection does not happen immediately, but overnight. Let’s start with what we need!

Ingredients                                                  Gear!

  • 13 Tbsp Unsalted butter
    (or 2 sticks, minus 3 Tbsp)
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 1½ cups brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 11 ½ ounces all purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¾ tsp cinnamon
  • Kick of nutmeg!
  • Chocolate chips
  • M&Ms, Pretzels, etc
  • Standing Mixer
  • Medium-big bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Baking sheets
  • Ice Cream Scoop
  • Parchment paper

Gooey Cookies

Directions

  1. Melt butter. We want to break it down before we build back up, so melt your butter to a golden brown, then chill in a bowl ’til solid.
  2. Add butter to mixer with white and brown sugar, mix ’til combined.
  3. Add two eggs one at a time, and re-mix.
  4. In your medium-big bowl, whisk flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and nutmeg. You’re in for a treat.
  5. Add half of dry ingredients to buttery sugar and mix. Scrape down the mixing bowl, add 2nd half. (Don’t over-mix, we’re trying to avoid too much gluten buildup.)
  6. Add cookie toppings, lightly mix w/ spatula. Chill for an hour or two, up to 2 days.
  7. Pre-heat oven to 350°F, ready baking sheets w/ parchment. Scoop your dough into walnut-sized lumps, with room to spread out.
  8. Bake for seven minutes. Make last-minute touch ups w/ extra toppings!
  9. Bake for seven more minutes.
  10. Cool, serve, and soak up compliments for your amazing cookies!
New Hotness

Did you notice my secret baking cheat, of pulling the cookies out at the half-way mark, to give them one last touch-up? This never would’ve occurred to me. You have the last word on how your cookies turn out, so make ’em beautiful.

I also enjoy an efficient kitchen, so while my cookie dough’s in the mixer, I clean my medium-big bowl for storing the finished dough in the fridge!

The original recipe is courtesy of Andrew Rea, mastermind behind Binging with Babish! You can find his recipe here.

Baking is such a thoughtful, delicious way to show a loved one we care. (Even self-care.) Like my favorite things in life: coffee, great music, fresh-baked treats, or a good story, none of them happen by accident. I invite you to try out, tweak, and personalize this recipe to your taste buds, as I did!

I’m going back to work on my new cozy mystery, A Tisket A Tasket A Biscuit A Casket. In the meantime, you can catch up with my podcast, Cozy Cozies! Say good night, Smibbons!

“Good night, Smibbons.” Did I do it right?