Harlem Tea Room Baking Powder Scones

Thoughts Before Cooking:

So I was going to make scones for a tea party and pulled out this recipe I had clipped from an old O- the Oprah magazine.

The magazine article is about Patrice Clayton opening up a tearoom in Harlem. This article must be really old though because the website hasn’t been updated since the mid 2000s and on Yelp it appears that it has closed down. 😦 That’s too bad.

The article gives three versions of the recipe: Baking Powder Scones, Cheddar-Thyme Scones, and Raisin Scones. I only had the ingredients for the Baking Powder one, but I will test out the others and post when I do.

This recipe is designed to go with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Ingredients:

• 8 Tbsps (1 Stick) of Cold, Unsalted Butter, Cut into Small Pieces, Plus Extra for Baking Sheets
• 3.5 Cups of All-Purpose Flour, Plus Extra for Later
• 4 Tsp. of Baking Powder
• 1/2 Tsp of Salt
• 1  1/4 Cup of Milk
• 1 Egg, Beaten, or Milk for Brushing Scones

Directions:

1. Preheat the Oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Coat two baking sheets with butter.
3. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl.
4. Add butter, using fingertips to combine until mixture takes on texture of fine meal.
5. Add milk and stir until flour mixture is just moist and dough begins to stick together.
6. Gather dough into a ball and knead lightly until fully integrated.
7. Place dough on floured work surface and roll with a floured rolling pin to 3/4 inch thick.
8. Dip a 2-inch cutter into flour and cut out scones as close to one another as possible.
9. Place on prepared baking sheets with space in between.
10. Let stand ten mins, then brush tops with egg or milk.
11. Bake until golden brown, 10-12 mins.
12. Serve warm with butter, clotted cream, fruit preserves, or jam.
13. Makes about 1.5 dozens.

Thoughts After Baking:

I loved these. They were absolutely delicious.

They aren’t super sweet, as traditional scones are not, and went perfect with my tea.

I can’t wait to try out the other two recipes!

For more scone recipes, go to Crasins Scones

For more recipes, go to Ratatouille

A Study in Scarlet

A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes #1) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Thoughts Before Reading:

For those of you who don’t know, this month marks the 128th anniversary of this book. Published in July of 1888, these characters have found a way into all our hearts.

So Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorite literary detectives.

I’ve read almost all his stories, seen countless films and TV shows, and just all around enjoy his character. His massive intellect and keen observational skills are just so admirable, I can’t resist him.

So A Study in Scarlet is the first novel to have this brilliant detective. Many assume it is based on Edgar Allen Poe’s detective character that came out year’s before, Charles Dupin, but Doyle insisted that it was based on one of his professors.

So while the novel is split into two parts, in my opinion it is actually divided into three.

Part I: Mr. Sherlock Holmes

In this we are introduced to Dr. Watson. Shortly after he received his medical degree he was attached to the military as their assistant surgeon. He was sent off to India, where he was wounded and sent to a hospital. There he had even worse luck, catching a fever and becoming severely ill.

After that he was sent home, honorable discharge, where he decided to move to London. Staying in a hotel he quickly burned through his money and found himself in need of cheaper lodgings.

He runs into an old friend who tells him of an acquaintance that is also looking for a roommate, a Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

We are first introduced to Sherlock Holmes doing an experiment in which he has found a way to prove how old blood is and whether a stain is blood or not. He also knows that Dr. Watson has recently returned from Afghanistan.

Sherlock tells him about the rooms and when Dr. Watson and he look over the place and hear the rent price they find it most agreeable.

Sherlock Holmes is not a difficult way to live with.  He is quiet, had his own habits he stays firmly by, has extensive energy when interested in something, but would have moments when he was hit by a “mood” and wouldn’t get up for months. Watson notices at times he looks like he is under a drug (opium) but Watson cannot believe such a man devoted to cleanliness could do such a thing.

Sherlock knows nothing of contemporary events or anything that he feels does not relate to his studies. In fact Watson lists of everything he does and doesn’t know:

1. Knowledge of Literature — Nil.
2. Knowledge of Philosophy — Nil.
3. Knowledge of Astronomy — Nil.
4. Knowledge of Politics — Feeble
5. Knowledge of Botany — Variable. Mostly poisons, nothing of practical gardening.
6. Knowledge of Geology — Practical, but limited. Tells at a glance the different soils from each other.
7. Knowledge of Chemistry — Profound.
8. Knowledge of Anatomy — Accurate, but unsystematic.
9. Knowledge of Sensation Literature — Immense. Knows every detail of ever horror perpetuated in the century.
10. Plays the violin well.
11. Is an excellent singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman.
12. Has a good practical knowledge of British law.

Sherlock is also a keen observer and tells Watson how he knew of his time in Afghanistan. He also shares about how he often helps the police solve crimes. And at that very moment, a Marine comes with a note that Sherlock is wanted.

Interesting

Part II: The Lauriston Garden Mystery

Sherlock receives a note from Detective Gregson to come to Lauriston Gardens as they are at a loss to how the crime was committed and by who?

Sherlock invites Watson to come along, and the duo are off. When they arrive on the scene, Sherlock surprises Watson as he doesn’t rush inside the house to search it, but spends a long time looking at everything, from the ground, to the sky, to the house’s outside, etc.  He notices that a cab has been there. but neither Gregson or Detective Lestrade or their men know anything about that.

The victim is about 43 or 44. He is dressed well in a heavy broadcloth frock coat and waistcoat. . His hands were clenched and arms thrown abroad while his lower limbs were interlocked as though he went through a struggling death. A look of hatred on his face and blood everywhere, but no wound on the corpse. A woman’s wedding ring is also found, along with the word “RACHE” painted on the wall.

The detectives believe the word to have been Rachel but cut off. Sherlock points out that the murderer was male, over six feet high, smoked a trichinopoly cigar, had a florid face, long fingernails on the right hand, killed the man by poison, and that rache is German for revenge.

The two them head down to the first officer on the scene, John Rance. They learn from him that there was a drunk there that night, but they just sent him off. Sherlock berates the man as this drunk was clearly the murderer, a cabdriver which explains the cab marks left behind.

You let him get away!

Sherlock sends out advertisements in the newspapers about a found wedding ring knowing that by using it, it will be the perfect bait for the trap.

Meanwhile, the detectives have discovered that their victim was acting ungentlemanly toward his landlady’s daughter. Her brother was on shore leave, and is known for a temper. They know the two got into it and to make it worse, just like in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, they discovered the brother with a bloody walking stick.

Sherlock of course doesn’t believe that and is set on his way. To his surprise, he is approached by a woman saying it belongs to her daughter. Sherlock follows her, but looses her in the crowd. Is Sherlock wrong?

Part III: The Country of Saints

Here we get our killer’s backstory and reasons for poisoning these people. Back in Utah, John Ferriar’s wagons traveling west have been destroyed and everyone is dead except for him and a young girl, Lucy. With all gone, John adopts the young girl.

As they are dying of thirst, they come upon some Mormons who allow them to join their group and save them from death. Over ten years layer, John’s farm has prospered and Lucy has grown into a fine, beautiful woman. All the young Mormon men want to add her to their families and John’s land to their own. But both John and Lucy don’t want to become ingrained with the Mormons, in fact Lucy falls for Jefferson Hope, silver miner and son of John Ferriar’s old friend.

With the Mormons threatening the group, Hope and Ferriars hatch a plan to escape.

However, the plain is foiled and Hope is left stranded in the desert. When he gets back to the area he discovers that both Ferriar and Lucy have died.

He decides to avenge their death and tracks them down all the way to England to kill them.

Thoughts After Reading:

I really loved the first two parts of the novel when we are introduced to Sherlock and his investigation.

Amazingly well written and a definite winner.

However, I didn’t really care for the Utah backstory. It was boring.

The book would be better without it, but even with it it is still good.

For more on classics, go to The Unsolvable Mystery: The Mystery of Edwin Drood

For more private investigators, go to Decked

Ratatouille

Thoughts Before Cooking:

Ever since I watched the movie Ratatouille, I have wanted to make Ratatouille.

I actually got this book The Wooden Spoon: Book of Home-Style Soups, Stews, Chowders, Chilis, and Gumbos for free. When I was leafing through I found Ratatouille and decided to make it.

Ratatouille is an interesting dish that can be classified as a soup, salad, and casserole.

Now you can do it two different way: layer it like Remy in Ratatouille; or cook it in a pot on the stove. I went the stove route as it was waaay to hot to be using the oven.

“Ratatouille is a marvelous all-vegetable stew, featuring eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes. It requires a rather large casserole or pot for layering the ingredients, but it cooks down to less than  half the original volume. Serve with crusty bread and a variety of cheeses. Leftovers can be served cold as a salad or side dish.”

Ingredients:

• 5 Quart Stovetop-to-oven casserole or stockpot
• 6 Tablespoons of  Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 Yellow Onions, Thinly Sliced
•  2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
• 1 Eggplant, Peeled and Cubed
• 3 Small or 2 Medium Zucchini, Sliced
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, Seeded and Cut into Strips
• 4 Red-Ripe Tomatoes, Peeled and Sliced
• 1/4 Cup of Coarsely Chopped Fresh Basil (Do Not Use Dried)
• 1 Tablespoon of Chopped Fresh Oregano, or 1 Teaspoon Dried
• 1 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Pepper

Directions:

Oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Warm 3 tablespoons of oil in the casserole over medium heat.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Layer the vegetables in the casserole, using half of each vegetable in each of two layers.
5. Sprinkle layers with basil, oregano, salt, and pepper; until all are used.
6. Sprinkle the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil over the top
7. Cover and bake for 1 hour.
8. Uncover the casserole and gently move the contents with a wooden spoon so that they settle.
9. Serve in flat soup plates.

Stovetop:

1. Warm 3 tablespoons of oil in the casserole over medium heat.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Layer the vegetables in the casserole, using half of each vegetable in each of two layers.
4. Sprinkle layers with basil, oregano, salt, and pepper; until all are used.
5. Sprinkle the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil over the top
6. Simmer on stovetop for 1 hour, using a wooden spoon to gently move the contents from time to time, but without actually stirring.
7. Simmer, uncovered, on the stovetop for 10 to 15 mins to thicken the sauce.
8. Serve in flat soup plates.

Thoughts After Cooking:

I really enjoyed it. It came out great and was delicious.

For more soups, go to Italian Wedding Soup

For more casseroles, go to Brussels Sprouts, Turkey Sausage, & Pesto Pizza Casserole

For more salads, go to Garden Pasta Salad with Bocconcini

For more low-calorie dishes, go to Bulghur Salad

For more vegetarian dishes, go to Happy 4th of July Triple Berry Salad

For more recipes, go to Green Tea Frappuccino

The Alchemy of Murder

The Alchemy of Murder (Nellie Bly #1) by Carol McCleary

So this is a historical fiction mystery, with the main character being based on the real life reporter Nellie Bly.

The year is 1889. The place, Paris France;  the capital of Europe. Paris is hosting the World’s Fair, having unveiled the Eiffel Tower, (at the time thought ugly but then became a permanent part of the skyline and one of the biggest tourist destinations.)

But while people are celebrating man’s accomplishments, a serial killer stalks the area and a plague is striking Parisians by the thousands.

Nellie Bly is convinced that both the killings and the epidemic are connected. She travels down to Paris to hunt this killer, “The Alchemist” as she calls him.

Along her search, she enlists the help of Jules Verne, Oscar Wilde, and Louis Pasteur.

Thoughts after Reading:

I bought this book a couple of years ago as the synopsis intrigued me. Historical fiction, mystery, some of my favorite literary writers. I thought it would be like Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder: A Mystery, but this book was horrible.

I know it is supposed to be in the Victorian era, but having your main character be cold and emotionless isn’t endearing to the reader. It was horrible to get into and boring. I need my character to have character.

Not only was Nelly bland, but she seemed so out of tune with her time period, not that she was from the future or past, but just as if she didn’t belong.

For me it fell flat.

For more historical fiction mysteries, go to The Harlot’s Tale

For more books featuring investigative reporters, go to A Change of Fortune

Green Tea Frappuccino

Thoughts Before Making:

So while Annie Laurence, from Death on Demand, loves her coffee, I am not a fan. I like the smell, but not the taste; I’m a tea girl through and through. Yep, hot or cold I will always drink it.

From my sister blog janeaustenrunsmylife.wordpress.com

But there is one other thing besides tea that I will purchase, a Green Tea Frappuccino. I got this recipe from Eugenie Kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup of Ice Cubes (Less than 10)
• 1 Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream
• 1 Cup of Milk
• 1 Tablespoon + 1 Teaspoon of Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons of Matcha Green Tea Powder
• 1/8 Teaspoon of Vanilla or Vanilla Extract
• Xanthan Gum (Optional)
• Whipped Cream (Optional)

Directions:

1. Add all the ingredients in a blender.
2. Pulse and blend on high until thorough
3. Add whipped cream if you want.

Thoughts After Reading:

I thought this was fantastic and just like the one you would get from Starbucks.

The Matcha Green Tea is expensive, but much cheaper than buying the drinks from Starbucks as you get waaay more to drink.

You can also substitute the ice-cream with custard, vanilla yogurt, plain yogurt, greek yogurt, etc. If it is plain or greek you might want to add more sugar.

But I thought this was soo good I have made it over and over.

For more drink recipes, go to Virgin Appletini

For more recipes, go to Garden Pasta Salad with Bocconcini

Death on Demand

Death on Demand (Death on Demand #1) by Carolyn G. Hart

Thoughts Before Reading:

So I started this series with the book Deadly Valentine (Death on Demand #6) when I picked up an autographed copy at a library book sale. I love book sales.

I really enjoyed that book and decided to start the series from the beginning, and let me tell you I wasn’t disappointed with it. While at times it may be predictable the character and stories always leave me coming back for more.

Plot Synopsis:

So the book starts off strong with our murderer listing out the items they need to kill their intended victim:

1 Pair of Doctor’s Rubber Gloves

1 Spool of Black Extra-Strong Button-and-Carpet Thread

A Handful of Assorted Keys

Clear Fingernail Polish

Polish Remover

1 Dart

And just one more, the most important of all…

We can’t reveal that just yet. The murderer needs a little more mystery.

So Annie Laurence inherited the mystery bookstore, Death on Demand on Broward’s Rock, when her uncle died a few months ago.

Aw…

Annie loves the store, as she has always been a book lover and mystery aficionado.

She loves everything about the bookstore, except this upcoming Sunday. There are quite a few writers who reside on Broward’s Rock, south Carolina, giving Annie the idea to create a writer’s night in which they take turns lecturing or planing a program.

It had been going well until mean, nasty Elliot Morgan dropped a bomb that he was going to blow apart the next meeting with his new book, all about the famous writers living on the island. Why does he have to go and ruin everything?

WHY!

To further her anxiety, her old boyfriend is on his way.

Annie met Max Darling after college when she was trying to strike it big on stage in New York. She was an actress, while Max was one of the producers. Max Darling is from an extremely wealthy family, so wealthy that he doesn’t need to work. Annie left him as she felt it wouldn’t work out as she was born in a lower economic scale and was only able to go to college on a scholarship.

Max however is not one to give up on something he believes in and has tracked her down to Boward’s Rock using his charm, wit, and acting abilities.

That day the store is closed, but Annie goes in for some inventory to settle her nerves as she contemplates what will happen tonight.

Tonight will be horrible!

Max decides to stay that night and assist Annie with her writer’s group. The writers all enter in at their own pace. Captain Mac is a retired cop who moved to Broward’s Rock and was a friend of Annie’s uncle. He’s also been a big help to Annie after her Uncle Amos’ death. He’s not a writer, but participates in giving insight into police procedure and criminal experience.

Emma Clyde is a mystery queen, and author of the famous Marigold Mystery Series.

Janis and Jeff Farley; Jeff the writer of children books while Janis is the illustrator.

Fritz Hemphill who does green beret shoot ’em up war books.

Kelly Rizzo who did psychological thrillers.

And Elliot bringing up the rear.

Hate him.

Just then Harriet Edelman comes in bursting with news that the vet Jill Kearney was murdered the night before.

She went in to look on an animal recovering from a procedure and interrupted a robbery. She was smacked in the head and because of her thin skull, died from it.

Suddenly Elliot announces his newest non-fiction book. Titles Criminal Minds, all about the horrible, scandalous things done by the authors who reside here on Broward’s Rock.

Just then the lights go out, a scream rings, and when the lights come on Elliot dead by a poison dart.

Chief Frank Saulter believes that Annie is the murderer, having first killed her uncle for her inheritance and then Elliot when he threatened to reveal it all in his book.

With Annie racing against the clock, it is up to her and Max to do some private detecting to figure out who the real killer is.

As they start looking into what dirt Elliot had on the bunch this is what they find out.

• Captain Mac admits that he was involved in a paternity suit.
• Annie tells Max how she helped a friend escape a bad marriage and save their child by having the friend be admitted to a hospital under her name and give the baby up for adoption.
• Kelly has had crimes of animal killing following her all over. She says her sister is the one that does it and she is just protecting her, but is that the truth?
• Hal Douglas’ wife disappeared. Many believe he killed her, but he insists that he is innocent.
• Harriet supposedly stole a story and printed it under her own name.
• Jeff beats Janis.
• Emma’s husband was cheating on her and then just happened to “fall overboard”.

Who is the killer? And will Annie figure it out before he strikes again? Or worse, she is put on trial for murder.

Thoughts after reading:

So I love this book and the way Carolygn G. Hart writes the characters. Annie and Max are just fantastic!

Annie is not only lovable but intelligent and able to out the pieces together quite nicely.

I also love how sweet Max is and how he stays in the end to open his “private detective agency that isn’t a private detective agency.”

*Spoiler Alert*

I only have two issues with the book:

1. If Max has so much money, why didn’t they just buy a laptop to read Elliot’s disk instead of sneaking into Elliot’s house and Annie getting injured. You think that would be much easier for them right?
2. I figured the mystery out really early on. Her uncle died and was investigating two places, where guess what Captiain Mac was the only person involved with one of them. I mean, come on. A paternity suit, you know it had to more than that Annie. Also, how could a police officer retire and afford an expensive house like he does. It’s obvious he’s dirty.

But to tell the truth I really didn’t care about either one as I just loved the characters and decided to read the whole series.

And as I love this series you will be seeing a lot more reviews on them in the future!

For more books from library book sales, go to A is for Alibi

For more mystery reviews, go to A Pinch of Poison

 

Garden Pasta Salad with Bocconcini

Thoughts before cooking:

So I was looking though the recipes in this magazine and I spotted this one. It  sounded absolutely delicious and I couldn’t wait to make it.

Ingredients:

Dressing:

• 1 Clove of Garlic
• 1/2 Cup of Cherry Tomatoes (preferably mixed colors)
• 3 Tablespoons of Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/4 Cup of Fresh Basil
• 1/3 Cup of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Salad

• Salt
• 8 oz Campanelle or Fusilli Pasta (~4 Cups)
• 1 Small Zucchini
• 1.5 Cups of Halved Cherry Tomatoes
• 1 Cup of Halved Bocconcini (Small Mozzarella Balls)
• 1/4 Cup of Slivered Almonds or Pine Nuts, Toasted
• 1/2 Cup of Basil, thinly sliced
• Pepper

Directions

1. Bring a small saucepan of water to boil; add the garlic and cook for two minutes.
2. Remove the garlic and place in a blender with the cherry tomatoes, vinegar and basil; puree until smooth.
3. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady, stream and blend until smooth.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Bring a large pot of water to boil, adding the pasta and cooking until al dente.
6. Drain and rinse under cool water, shaking off the excess.
7. Transfer the pasta to a bowl and toss with the dressing.
8. Shave the zucchini into strips with a vegetable peeler or mandoline; halve the strips crosswise and add to the pasta.
9. Add the tomatoes, bocconcini, pine nuts or almonds, and basil.
10. Toss.
11. Season with salt and pepper.
12. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, up to 6 hours (bring to room temperature before serving.)

Thoughts After Cooking:

It was phenomenal.

I loved it!!!

I took it to a potluck and it was gobbled up in like five mins.

For more from Food Network Magazine, go to Broken Lasagna with Zucchini-Tomato Sauce

For more salad recipes, go to Happy 4th of July Triple Berry Salad

For more recipes, go to Mini Lemon Pancake Cookies

A Pinch of Poison

A Pinch of Poison (A Hemlock Falls Mystery #3) by Claudia Bishop

So we haven’t talked about the Quilliam sisters since I started the blog, so let me do a quick review.

In the first book, A Taste for Murder, we are introduced to the Quilliam sisters. Sarah “Quill” Quilliam is an artist in New York City, known as the next Georgia O’Keefe. She is starting to hit the big time, when she is stalled and has a block on what to paint next. Her younger sister, Meg, is an amazing chef who is also living in NYC. Around the time that Quill starts having trouble with her paintings, Meg’s husband is killed in an automobile accident. Both women need a change of scene and travel up north to rural New York. While visiting the cute, country town; the two discover a historic inn for sale. They decide to buy it, run it, and take on this new path of life. But things are far from ideal, as the sisters find themselves having to battle unruly guests, deal with the town’s Historic Days festival, and complexities of trying to fit in in a small town. To make matters worse: someone is sabotaging the inn, a murder occurs, Quill’s friend flees and is accused, Meg is poisoned, and much more.

Now in book two, A Dash of Death. the sisters have cemented themselves a bit more into country life. Both have recovered from near misses in their last adventure, and are looking forward to the future. Unfortunately, the inn has not quite recovered as they are in need of a boost in guests and money. The group thinks they have found their salvation in TV sensation Helena Houndswood, star and creator of the show, It’s a Beautiful Life. Sadly for them, she turns out to have a major ego and becomes a huge headache for all parties. She comes to present the prize to the winner of the contest she ran, only to discover that instead of one winner, there are five. All are blue-collar women and workers at the local paint factory. And all five are nowhere near what Helena views as classy. In fact she would rather they decline and remain anonymous than set foot on being her show. When the winners start disappearing and having “accidental” deaths, Quill starts investigating as to who could be behind it all. Is it the jealous and abusive husband of one of the women? Could one of the women be getting rid of the others in order to increase her share? Could Helena be getting rid of them so they won’t “taint” her “beautiful” show? Or is someone else behind all this? Quill starts searching for the truth, but finds herself joining the ranks of the hunted.

So now for A Pinch of Poison.

Hedrick Conway has just moved to Hemlock Falls and has really started “something.”

He and his family bought the newspaper in which Conway turned into a yellow tabloid, full of half truths, rumors, and what Conway feels is “news”.

Conway starts looking into the local mini mall that is about to sprout, the same one that the Quillam sisters and their employees sunk a bunch of their capital in.

Uh-oh

As Hedrick starts investigating both his sister and mother end up dead.

Who would want to kill them?

Once again the Quilliam sisters are on the case.

I was very disappointed in this book.

It started out promising but became very boring.

I mean there is a whole chapter on sewage!

Who wants to read about that?

I also didn’t like that the characters seemed to not learn from their past investigations and they made the same mistakes again.

I say two out of five stars.

For more Hemlock Falls Mysteries, go to A Dash of Death

For more books on tabloids, go to The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime That Scandalized a City & Sparked the Tabloid Wars

For more mystery reviews, go to Cream Puff Murder

Happy 4th of July Triple Berry Salad

Happy 4th of July!

Thoughts Before Cooking:

Happy 4th everybody! I don’t know about you all, but where I’m at it is going to be one HOT, HOT, HOT day.

So I was looking for something that would be tasty and cool to eat/cook.

I got this recipe from The Kitchen is My Playground and the original title is Triple Berry Salad with Simple Vanilla Syrup.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 ounces of Strawberries
• 6 ounces of Blueberries
• 6 ounces of Raspberries
• 1/4 Cup of Sugar
• 1/4 Cup of Water
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Directions:

1. Place sugar and water in small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Bring mixture to a simmer (there will be small bubbles), and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Remove from heat and cool for 5 mins.
4. Stir in vanilla extract.
5. Chill completely in fridge.
6. Rinse the berries.
7. Hull the strawberries and slice into 2-3 pieces.
8. Place all the berries in one bowl.
9. Just before serving, drizzle the berries with the vanilla sugar syrup.
10. Toss gently.
11. Serve.

Thoughts After Cooking:

I thought this was amazing!

I will be making this again and again and again!

For more 4th of July recipes, go to With the 4th of July comes Apple Pie

For more salad recipes, go to Bulghur Salad

For more dessert recipes, go to Mini Lemon Pancake Cookies

For more Pinterest recipes, go to Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups

For more holiday posts, go to Where Are You Now?

Mini Lemon Pancake Cookies

Thoughts prior to cooking:

So this recipe comes from Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen #11). The actual name of the recipe is Lois Brown’s Lemon Cookies, but after making them I changed the name (more on that later). The main reason why I wanted to make these cookies was because it is one of the few lemon desserts that actually use a lot of lemon. Most only want the zest, but this one actually used the juice.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup of Softened Butter (1 stick)
• 3/4 Cup of Granulated Sugar
• 1 Egg, beaten
• 1 Tablespoon of Lemon Zest (lemon zest is the yellow peel being finely grated.)
• 2 Teaspoons of Lemon Juice
• 1 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1 2/3 Cup of Flour
• 1/2 Cup of Milk

Topping:

• 1/4 Cup of Lemon Juice
• 3/4 Cup of Granulated Sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven at 350° F
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy.
3. Add the egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix it all together.
4. Mix in the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well.
5. Mix in one cup of flour and 1/4 a cup of milk. Stir everything up.
6. Add in the remaining 2/3 cup of flour and 1/4 a cup of milk. Mix well.
7. Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Make the cookies small.
8. Bake for 8 mins.
9. Topping: Heat the lemon juice for a bit in the microwave. Add the sugar and stir it all up.
10. When the cookies come out of the oven, brush the topping onto the hot cookies.
11. Yields 4 dozen cookies.

Thoughts after cooking:

These cookies came out tasting like a mix between lemon cupcakes and pancakes. They also look a lot like pancakes as they are flat and creamy just like them. I thought they were amazing, and since they are so small, I consumed a ton of them. It’s just so hard to stop once you get started.

For more Hannah Swensen mysteries, go to Breakfast Omelet

For more lemon recipes, go to Lemon Bars

For more cookie recipes, go to Wookie Cookies

For more dessert recipes, go to King Arthur Carrot Cake or Cupcakes