Recipe for Murder; Brownies to Die For

Leslie Meier's Bake Sale Murder

Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 13

(Paperback - December 1, 2007) 

ISBN-13:  978-0758207029

Things are changing in the tiny town of Tinker’s Cove, Maine, when contractor Fred Stanton puts up shoddy pre-fabricated homes near Lucy Stone’s farmhouse, bringing all sorts of new and sometimes difficult personalities to the neighborhood. Add in Fred’s meddlesome wife Mimi to the mix, with her mean spirited behavior creating trouble for everyone, and there is a recipe for murder. 

As the story opens, Lucy is making an effort to introduce the newcomers to her long-time friends by arranging a meeting for ideas to raise money for the school charity Hat and Mitten Fund. Cake and cookie batter aren’t the only things whipped up as the new group tries to develop strategies for a successful bake sale.
 

On the morning of the sale Lucy is sent to collect the missing Mimi and finds her murdered in her kitchen. One murder turns into two and who could be next? Lucy uses her part-time Pennysaver reporter skills to sleuth her way through finding the murderer.

I can recommend this cozy mystery because it is a quick read, includes recipes and it has the type of characters you may find living next door. It would be a good choice if you are looking for something that doesn’t contain offensive language. I did make the included recipe for Sue’s Better Than Sex Brownies and feel they would have been a great seller at the bake sale. They were very rich and I would suggest cutting them in small serving bites.

The author recommends reading Isis Crawford’s A Catered Murder (also contains recipes), A Grave Gourmet by Alexander Campion and Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murdered by Chris Cavendar.  

Other authors you may try are Joanne Fluke, Diane Mott Davidson, and Jill Churchill.

 

I would definitely make these brownies again but might try serving them with a little coarse sea salt sprinkled on top...

...or with a nice salty pretzel on the side.

Heat oven to 350°F.  Prep time is about 10 minutes.  Bake 30-35 minutes.

YOU WILL NEED:

1 cup unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup cocoa

4 eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped nuts

 

DIRECTIONS:

Butter 13 by 9 baking pan.

Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat.

Remove from heat and stir in sugar, vanilla and cocoa.

Add eggs (one at a time) beating well after each addition.

Add dry ingredients making sure everything is well mixed.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. 

Cool completely on wire rack before spreading frosting. 

INGREDIENTS:

6 tablespoons butter (softened)

6 tablespoons cocoa

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups confectioners sugar

2 tablespoons milk. 

DIRECTIONS:

In a small brown cream butter, cocoa, corn syrup and vanilla.  Add confectioners sugar and milk.  Beat to spreading consistency adding a bit more milk if needed.

Phyllis's Rating: 

Rated 5 out of 5 in all categories:
Ease of preparation, Time start to finish, and Taste