Second Time Around

The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark

Marcia “Carley” DeCarlo is in on the story of the year. Nicholas Spencer, owner of Gen-Stone, creator of the supposed cancer vaccine has disappeared-plane crash in Puerto Rico.

Everyone was sad and disheartened about it, including Carley who met Nicolas Spencer once, as he is the husband of her recent stepsister, Lynn. She instantly liked Nicolas and admired his passion, especially as he expressed wanting to create things to help children such as hers, her son who was born with a hole in his heart and didn’t live long on the planet.

But then it turns out there is no vaccine, test results failed, millions are missing, the stock tanked, and investors are furious. Then Lynn’s home is burned down.

Carley starts investigating, being the only one who thinks Nicholas was not in on the theft/embezzlement. She questions everyone and a lot of people feel the same.

But then a doctor she questions is almost killed in a hit and run, the secretary who had information disappears, important records go missing, and Carley starts getting death threats.

It appears there is a lot more to this case then at first sight and Carley finds herself in the middle of the storm, hopefully she figures it out before she ends up dead.

Thoughts After Reading:

This book isn’t well written, meaning the sentence structure (she repeats herself a lot) but the story itself is a great mystery-I couldn’t wait to find out what happened.

For more from Mary Higgins Clark, go to The Cradle Will Fall

For more embezzlement mysteries, go to Psycho

There’s No Romantic Present for Wood

So with everything going on, I totally forgot to celebrate my fifth anniversary.

I know! How could I? Well we are a month late…

We’ve reviewed all kinds of books, mysteries, short stories, recipes…

The traditional gift for the fifth anniversary is wood. The gift of wood coupled with not having a celebration made me think of only one book:

I haven’t reviewed it yet, but plan to eventually. Otherwise Happy Anniversary and a very special thanks to all my readers!

Cheers!

For more anniversary posts, go to This Time There Had Been Flowers Scattered Over the Woman’s Body. Roses. Sweetheart Roses!

For more on Gone Girl, go to The Girl on the Train

For more by Gillian Flynn, go to Dark Places

Ginger Cardamom Meyer Lemon Crinkle Cookies

So a Miss Marple mystery was on Tuesday, we need something perfect for tea to go with it. Today’s recipe is borrowed from JaneAustenRunsMyLife.

Ingredients:

Cookies:

• 2 Cups + 2 Tbsps of Flour
• 1.5 Tsp of Ground Ginger
• 1.5 Tsp of Cardamom
• 2 Tsp of Baking Powder
• 3/4 Tsp of Salt
• 1 Cup of Sugar
• 4 Tbsp of Meyer Lemon’s Zest
• 10 Tbsp of Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
• 2 Large Eggs, Room Temperature
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 Tbsp of Meyer Lemon’s Juice

Topping:

• 1 Cup of Sugar
• 1 Cup of Powdered Sugar (Confectioners Sugar)

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cardamom, ginger, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl combine sugar and lemon zest. Rub the zest between your fingers until it is fully mixed in with the sugar.
3. Cream butter and sugar-zest mixture together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 mins.
4. Add eggs in one at a tim, mixing well.
5. Add in vanilla extract and lemon juice, and mix again.
6. Add flour and mix slowly until combined, do not over mix.
7. Chill dough 3-4 hours.
8. Preheat the oven 350 degrees F.
9. Place the sugar in one bowl and powdered sugar in the other.
10. Take the chilled dough and roll into 1.5 Tbsp sized balls.
11. Roll in sugar first, then roll in powdered sugar-making sure it is completely covered.
12. Place dough on prepared sheets about two inches apart.
13. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden.

Thoughts After Baking:

These were delicious!!! I loved them and couldn’t stop eating them.

For more Crinkle Cookies, go to Chocolate Crinkles

For more from JaneAustenRunsMyLife, go to Meyer Lemon Poppyseed Cake

For more cookies, go to King Arthur Fudgy Brownies

For more desserts, go to Meyer Lemon Poppyseed Cake

For more lemon recipes, go to Creamy Sour Cream Lemon Pie

The Blue Geranium

So I have been reviewing short stories from The Tuesday Club Murders AKA The Thirteen Problems.

I typically review short stories on Sundays, but decided as these are the Tuesday Club Murders, I’ll be posting on Tuesday!

“The Blue Geranium” from The Tuesday Club Murder by Agatha Christie

Plot Synopsis:

So Miss Marple is an elderly woman who has lived in her village St. Mary Mead all her life. But even though she grew up in a small town, she has the observational skills of a hawk.

One night there is a gathering at Miss Marple’s home with: Miss Marple; Raymond West, Miss Marple’s nephew and a writer; Joyce Lempriére, an artist; Sir Henry Clithering, former commissioner of Scotland Yard; Dr. Pender, the elderly clergyman of the parish; and Mr. Petherick, solicitor.

They are enjoying themselves, when Raymond starts talking about unsolved mysteries.

Joyce decides they should start a club and meet every Tuesday and present a mystery, one they know they answer to and call it: The Tuesday Night Club. 

Hmm…

Our seventh mystery takes place a year after the original club meetings. Colonel Arthur Bantry is having a party, of which Sir Henry Clithering is a guest of. Colonel Bantry and his wife, Dolly, are trying to decide on a sixth person, when Sir Henry suggests Miss Marple and astounds his hosts with tales of her powers of deduction.

That night they have a party with the Bantrys, Sir Henry, Miss Marple, an actress Jane Helier, and a Dr. Lloyd.

The Bantrys decide to set a case to Miss Marple, one that has been troubling the Colonel. He had a friend George Pritchard, who was married to a rude and cantankerous invalid wife.

She was extremely cruel to her nurses, them changing regularly until Nurse Copling came along. She out up with all amounts of horrid behavior.

Mrs. Pritchard loved fortune tellers and psychics and one day a fortune teller named Zarida came calling when George and the Nurse were out. When the two returned home, Mrs. Pritchard told them that Zarida declared the house to be evil and warned her to stay away from blue flowers.

Two days later a letter arrives from Zarida

Beware of the full moon:

• The blue primrose means warning
• The blue hollyhock means danger
• The blue geranium means death

Four days later one of the pink primroses in the wallpaper pattern turned blue in the middle of the night during a full moon.

A month went by and the same thing happened during a full moon to a hollyhock.

Then another month passed and the Nurse and George were worried while Mrs. Pritchard was frantic. The morning after the full moon Mrs. Pritchard was found dead, her smelling salts were in her hand, one of the geraniums was blue, and there was the smell of gas in the air.

Hmm…

Everyone suspected foul play, but could not figure out how it happened. They tried to investigate Zarida but she had disappeared without a trace.

Thoughts After Reading:

I figured out who did it, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how it was done. I was extremely stumped by Christie.

Later I watched the production on Acrorn’s Miss Marple, and I did not like it at all. I don’t recommend it for your viewing pleasure. Answer will be at the end of the post.

For more Miss Marple mysteries, go to The Thumb Mark of St. Peter

For more from The Thirteen Problems AKA The Tuesday Club Murders, go to The Blood Stained Pavement

For more Agatha Christie, go to Motive v. Opportunity

For more short stories, go to What Strange Creatures

For more strange occurrences at the full moon, go to Fool Moon

Amish Friendship Soup

So on Tuesday we had an Amish mystery, Where Hope Dwells, so of course we need an Amish recipe.

Who else thinks of these guys when they hear “Amish”.

This recipe comes from Recipelion.com. It can be made to eat or dry ingredients layered in a jar and given to a friend with written directions on how to prepare.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup of Dry Split Peas, Sorted & Rinsed
• 1/2 Cup of Dried Lentils, Sorted & Rinsed
• 1/3 Cup of Beef Bouillon, (I used Chicken as I didn’t have Beef)
• 1/4 Cup of Pearl Barley
• 1/4 Cup of Diced Minced Onion
• 2 Teaspoons of Italian Seasoning
• 1 Cup of Small Pasta Noodles
• 1lb of Ground Beef
• 3 Quarts of Water
• 1 28-oz Can of Diced Tomatoes, Undrained
• 2 Carrots , Chopped (optional)
• Spinach (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large pot, brown ground beef and drain.
2. Return cooked beef to to the pot.
3. Add peas, lentils, bouillon, pearl barley, onion, italian seasoning, water, carrots, and tomatoes.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 mins.
5. Add pasta and spinach and simmer for 20-25 mins, or until pasta, peas, lentils, and barley are tender.

Thoughts After Cooking:

So I thought this soup was pretty good, but not as good as some others I have made. The nice thing was that it was extremely easy to make.

For more Amish recipes, go to Amish Baked Oatmeal

For more Pinterest recipes, go to Healthy Baked Broccoli Tots

For more soup recipes, go to Lemon Tree Dwelling’s Minestrone Soup

Where Hope Dwells

Where Hope Dwells (Sugarcreek Amish Mystery #2) by Elizabeth Ludwig

It has been a while since I’ve reviewed one of these so quick recap. The Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries are part of the Christian Inspirational series, so they are clean mysteries. No murder, no swearing, no sex. Mysterious happenings and investigation.

In this series, Cheryl Cooper was ready for a change. Her boyfriend turned out to be a stuck up prig, she disliked her job as a banker in Columbus, Ohio; so when her aunt called her asking her to take over her shop in an Amish community while she goes overseas as a missionary-Cheryl jumped at the chance. She quickly falls in love with the Amish town and finds herself in the middle of a few mysteries.

Plot Summary:

After all the mysterious things that occurred in October (and the last book, Blessings in Disguise) things have calmed down and Cheryl has grown to deeply love Sugarcreek, made some friends, and hopes she gets stay here for a long time.

She also has grown to like Levi Miller, an Amish bachlor, but doesn’t want to cross lines that should never be crossed. So for now, she is just content to be his friend.

Now with it being November, Cheryl has been focusing on getting ready for the holidays. She also has been having to heavily stock her shop with baby items as it seems that everyone is having one, everyone except her.

From my sister blog JaneAustenRunsMyLife

One morning a tourist rushes in the shop and buys a bunch of baby items, running away fast.

Cheryl thinks it is odd, but doesn’t spend a lot of time  thinking on it as Naomi Miller, her best friend and surrogate mother/aunt (also the stepmother of Levi who she is crushing on) has arrived with the blankets they will be taking to her new friend Rebecca.

Rachel was born an “Englisher” and met her Amish husband Samuel, later converting. She and Cheryl have become really close as both find it wonderful to be with someone like them.

Cheryl goes to visit Rachel and see her babies, fraternal twins boys, but while she is there one is snatched from its crib. Now Naomi and Cheryl are set on discovering who the kidnapper is.

Cheryl has three suspects:

1. The strange woman from her shop has been seen all over town buying up baby items even though she has no child with her. Always in a hurry. Could she have kidnapped the baby and trying to get supplies for him?
2. Rebecca and Jeremiah Zook lost their little boy recently to leukemia. First Rebecca vanishes without a word and then Jeremiah also takes off. Could one of them have stolen the child and run away with it?
3. The parents of Rachel disowned her after she left them for the Amish lifestyle. Even after hearing of the disappearance of their grandson they refuse to see her, and are planning on taking a vacation to Europe to adopt a child. Could they have stolen their grandson and are planning on pretending to “adopt it”?

Who could it be? Or is there another person involved they haven’t realized yet?

Thoughts After Reading:

This was not as good as the first one.

I liked Cheryl, Levi, and Naomi investigating together but in this Levi was missing from the whole book which threw the whole dynamic off.

This wasn’t as well paced as the previous novel as Cheryl happens on information rather than being able to actively investigate. The comedic and heartfelt moments were more on pointe in the other book as this one felt extremely rushed. Altogether, this was just too easily summed up and just not good.

I hope the next one is better.

For more Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries, go to Blessings in Disguise

For more Amish mysteries, go to The Lesson

For more kidnapping mysteries, go to What Strange Creatures

Meyer Lemon Poppyseed Cake

So we had a Pride and Prejudice themed mystery on Tuesday, we need something perfect for tea to go with it. Tuesday’s mystery I borrowed from my sister blog JaneAustenRunsMyLife, and I am borrowing today’s recipe from her as well.

Cake Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup of Unsalted Butter at Room Temperature
• 1 Cup + 1 Tbsp of Sugar
• 3 Large Eggs at Room Temperature
• 1.5 Tbsps of Meyer Lemon Zest
• 2 Tbsps of Meyer Lemon Juice
• 1.5 Tsp of Vanilla Extract
• 1.5 Cups + 2 Tbsp of Flour
• 1/2 Tsp of Salt
• 1/4 Tsp of Baking Soda
• 1/4 Tsp of Baking Powder
• 1.5 Tbsp of Poppyseeds
• 1/2 Cup of Plain Greek Yogurt at Room Temperature

Glaze Ingredients:

• 1 Cup of Confectioner’s Sugar (Powdered Sugar)
• 3-4 Tbsps of Whole Milk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray a 9 x 4 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
4. Use an electric mixer to beat the sugar and butter together.
5. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well after each egg.
6. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
7. With the mixer on low add some of the flour mixture, and mix.
8. Then add the yogurt and mix. Repeat alternating between flour mixture and yogurt.
9. Remove from mixer and mix in poppyseeds, but just until they are incorporated. Do not over mix.
10. Pour batter into pan and cook for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
11. Remove from oven and cool for 10 mins.
12. While cake is cooling, whisk confectioner’s sugar and milk together.
13. While cake is warm, spoon the glaze over the top.
14. Sprinkle with poppyseeds if desired.

Thoughts After Baking:

This was absolutely delicious!

Perfect for tea or to eat when reading a mystery.

For more recipes from JaneAustenRunsMyLife, go to Skinny Chai Tea Latte

For more lemon cake recipes, go to Lemon Meringue Chiffon Cake

For more cake recipes, go to Flag Cake

For more desserts, go to King Arthur Fudgy Brownies

North by Northanger (Or, the Shades of Pemberley)

 

North by Northanger (Or the Shades of Pemberley) [Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery #3] by Carrie Bebris

Thoughts Before Reviewing:

So this post is brought to you by JaneAustenRunsMyLife, my sister blog. I just took it and reworked it to focus on the mystery over Jane Austen. I’m not lazy, but as she has already done it, why not borrow it?

So it has been a while since we reviewed a Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mystery so quick review-

So in Pride and Prescience Mr. & Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy are roped into a paranormal mystery when Caroline Bingley gets married and starts acting strangely. Is she being possessed? Or is she being gaslighted?

Hmm…

Then in book two, Suspense and Sensibility, the Darcys are roped into another mystery when the young man, Henry Dashwood (Elinor and Marianne’s nephew), engaged to Elizabeth’s sister Kitty starts acting weird. Is he possessed by his great-grandfather’s spirit or just a rake?

Hmm…

In that book Elizabeth also discovers she is pregnant, which brings us to…

Plot Summary:

 

The Darcys are pleased at the news of their upcoming child, but at the same time Mr. Darcy is scared out of his mind as his mother died in childbirth. But childbirth isn’t what is foremost on Elizabeth’s mind. You see Elizabeth is sensitive to the supernatural and is convinced that Pemberley has a ghost, and not just any ghost…Lady Anne Darcy, Mr. Darcy’s mother.

Elizabeth doesn’t feel as if Anne is vindictive or angry, but feels her presence nonetheless. She has lived the year with everything exactly how it was, but has decided that the time has come to start doing things how she wants it. She decides to shift the writing desk from its corner so that she can look out the window. When she does a letter from Anne Darcy to Elizabeth falls out!

{An excerpt]

Pemberley

20 January 1796

Dear Mrs. Darcy,

Should this letter reach your eyes, it is because I no longer live to deliver its message in person. I know not who you are-what name you bore before taking that of Darcy. I know only that by addressing this letter to you, I write the woman who has wed my son. For that reason alone I entrust to you the stewardship of something most precious…I had at Fitzwilliam’s birth a…an heirloom from my own mother-I want it now, but it has become lost. If only I could find it, I would trust that I will be safely delivered. But I hid it too well, beyond my own reach. You-you must look if I cannot, for I want you to have it when…If you are my niece, my namesake Anne, know that I guarded myself from my sister, not from you-…Search for me…My daughter, the only one I may ever have, start with the knowledge that love conquers all. I am-

Your mother, 

Anne Darcy

This baits Elizabeth’s curiosity. What was the object? Why couldn’t Lady Anne find it? Where is it?

Treasure?

They visit Mr. Bingley and Jane and are headed home by way of Bath, to meet the famous Dr. Severn, the man Darcy wants to have assist Elizabeth in her birth. He supposedly is the best in the nation, and very hard to get. They also unfortunately run into Lady Catherine in Bath.

They also receive a note from a Captain Frederick Tilney:

Edgar’s Buildings

Bath, 6 October

Dear Mr. Darcy,

My discovery of your name in the Pump Room book prompts me to write. Though we are strangers to each other, I believe our families are acquainted. My late mother, Mrs. Victor Tilney, enjoyed the friendship of one Lady Ann Darcy, whom I believe to be your mother.

Though I understand Lady Anne has also passed away, I would take great pleasure in meeting her son. Unfortunately, my military duties obligate me to depart Bath this very day. However, I plan to return to my country home in Gloucestershire by 18 October, and shall remain there for some time. I would consider myself honored to receive you and Mrs. Darcy at Northanger Abbey as my guests for a se’nnight whenever you make your return to Derbyshire.

I hope your response names the date upon which I will enjoy the pleasure of your company. I am

Yours most sincerely,

Captain Fredrick Tilney

The Darcys are also intrigued and decide to go visit on their way home. They head to Gloucestershire but find it  and Northanger Abbey not as impressive as Catherine Morland did.

Bleh…

The weather is cold, gray, dismal, and stormy. The servants are strange and act like no servant they have ever known. They are given the late Mrs. Tilney’s rooms which haven’t been used in ages and there is jewelry and all her stuff in it. Their servants have disappeared and the housekeeper has no knowledge where they are, the food gross, their host never appears, the halls are cold and drafty, and the Darcys want to leave but are forced to stay the night.

After dinner, the housekeeper takes them to their host and the Darcy’s see a very bandaged, fat man, with only one eye and his mouth are exposed. Captain Tilney apologizes for not being able to greet them or sit at dinner. He has no qualms that the rooms are full of things and thoroughly questions grills them about Lady Anne, her friendship with Mrs. Tilney, and if they have any correspondence.

 

The Darcy’s are completely flummoxed as they didn’t even know of the friendship let alone bring anything with them.

Darcy and Elizabeth find themselves feeling extremely weirded out by everything and they decide to leave ASAP.

The next morning they leave, carefully maneuvering themselves out of any faux pas. They find their servants-who had taken ill (sounds like were slipped a Regency mickey). They stop for the night and then are come upon by a constable, as they were sent an anonymous note that the Darcy’s stole jewelry and riches from the Tilneys. They then are both arrested for theft.

WHAT!

What???!!!!!!!! But he’s Mr. Darcy??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know, right?

The constable searches Mr. Darcy’s cane and finds it opens up and reveals that it has the Tilney jewels in it.

Darcy tries to convince them it isn’t his cane but one that looks like it as his cane has an imperfection in the grain-this one does’t it is a replica, but they don’t believe him.

They then return to Northanger Abbey to speak to Captain Tilney about everything and when they reach the Abbey they see that Captain Tilney is not there but Mr. Henry Tilney. The Darcy’s want Captain Tilney to share what happened that night, but he can’t. He’s dead.

WHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT?????!!!!!!!!!

And that’s not all. Fredrick’s been dead for a while.

And that housekeeper they met? She doesn’t exist. She matches no description of any housekeeper that has ever been employed there and the most recent housekeeper was fired six weeks ago.

WHAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT?????

And the house has been shut up for a while.

Mr. Darcy

WHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT!!!!!!!?????

What is going on???

Is it ghosts? Or is there a human trying to frame the Darcys?

The local magistrate is being a bit of a jerk, enjoying the power he has over someone like Darcy and won’t release him. Darcy sends word to his solicitor, who unfortunately has been sent to France to take care of his cousin, but Elizabeth does the only thing they can do to free Darcy, call Lady Catherine.

Lady Catherine comes, throws her weight around, and this guy is no match for her. She gets Darcy released and he’ll be back later for the trial. But unfortunately, Darcy isn’t just released he is released into Lady Catherine’s care and she is coming to Pemberley with them.

This is going to be hard.

Mr. Tilney comes to speak to Mr. Darcy and Mr. Darcy shows them the letter they received from Captain Tilney and it is dated the day before he died in his own hand. However, when Tilney questions the Darcy’s the man could not be Fredrick (as he was dead on that date) but also the eye was the wrong color.

Hmm…

So who did this and why? What was their scheme? If they wanted the jewels why hide them in the walking stick? What could they have gained from delaying the Darcy’s and getting them caught up in this? Just trying to ruin their good name?

Tilney tried to get the lawsuit dropped, but the magistrate is just salivating over this and he will not do so. Ugh. The Darcys leave for Pemberley, while Mr. Tilney plans on remaining at Northanger and continuing the investigation there and getting the estate handled. So that is mystery number two, you guys are keeping track right?

Mysteries:

1. What is Lady Anne Darcy’s treasure and where is it hidden?
2. Who was the man pretending to be Captain Tilney and why did he and the housekeeper frame the Darcys?

 

So Lizzy, Darcy, and Lady Catherine return to Pemberley and find it polluted. Yes a pest infestation has taken root since they have been away. A giant rat called Wickham.

I’m so disappointed.

Lydia immediately accosts Elizabeth for money, and Darcy catches Wickham with a servant girl, Jenny.  Not the welcome home they had wished for. Elizabeth finds living with Lady Catherine to be extremely difficult, no surprise there, and tries to find ways of coping. Elizabeth has been curious over the correspondence with Mrs. Tilney and thought maybe there would be a clue to help find the missing heirloom. She asks for the correspondence to come downstairs from the attic, and discovers that there are NINE trunks!

They have the yearly Harvest Feast, and Elizabeth develops a slight nosebleed. The local midwife helps her, and talks to her about Lady’s Anne’s last pregnancy. She reveals that the object Elizabeth is looking for is a small Madonna and Child ivory statuette.

A CLUE!!!!

Darcy finds her and becomes so worried about the blood, calling for the horrible doctor. Dr. Severn’s arrival makes Elizabeth have to clean up her room, and all the trunks are removed without her being able to finish going through them.

This is going to be hard.

Later Elizabeth has even more fun talking to Lady Catherine and finds out that the statuette was from back in the day when the family was Catholic. Lady Catherine wants it back, but Elizabeth refuses to give it to her if she finds it, intending to keep it. It is a battle of wits as both are searching high and low, in and out, and all over Pemberley.

Treasure?

Elizabeth wants to read Lady Anne’s letter again but it has disappeared. Only later to reappear. That isn’t he only thing that is strange-is Elizabeth just having the pregnancy forgetfulness, is someone sabotaging her, or is there a spirit at play here?

So we have three mysteries:

1. What is Lady Anne Darcy’s treasure and where is it hidden?
2. Who was the man pretending to be Captain Tilney and why did he and the housekeeper frame the Darcys?
3. Why is Elizabeth’s items disappearing a reappearing? Is it a ghost? Pregnancy brain? Or a malicious person?

Hmmm…

Thoughts After Reading:

This was extremely enjoyable and a very good mystery. I loved it.

For more Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mysteries, go to Suspense & Sensibility (Or First Impressions Revisited)

For more Carrie Bebris, go to Pride & Prescience (Or a Truth Universally Acknowledged)

For more things borrowed from JaneAustenRunsMyLife, go to Skinny Chai Tea Latte

For more Northanger Abbey, go to The Strength of Their Attachment

For more paranormal elements, go to Paper Valentine

For more treasure hunts, go to High Sea Adventure

Healthy Baked Broccoli Tots

So I LOVE tater tots and when I saw this recipe I thought why not try it out? Plus I think now is the perfect time to post it as Stephanie Smothers from A Simple Favor would totally make this.

This recipe comes from Gimmie Some Oven.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups or 12 ounces of Uncooked or Frozen Broccoli
• 1 Large Egg
• 1/4 Cup of Diced Yellow Onion
• 1/3 Cup of Cheddar Cheese
• 1/3 Cup of Panko Breadcrumbs
• 1/3 Cup of Italian Breadcrumbs
• 2 Tablespoons of Parsley or Cilantro
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Grease a baking sheet with a thin layer of oil or line with parchment paper.
3. Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 1 min, then remove and shock with tap water to stop the cooking process.
4. Drain.
5. Chop broccoli finely and mix throughly with the egg, onions, cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, and seasoning.
6. Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of mix using an ice-cream scoop or your hands and gently press between hands to form a firm ball and shape into tater tot shape.
7. Place the prepared tater tot on the baking sheets.
8. Bake until golden brown and crispy, 18-24 mins.
9. Remove from oven and enjoy hot or with your favorite sauce.

I forgot to take a pic, oops! Sorry.

Thoughts After Cooking:

So these no way taste as good as tater tots, as nothing can, but they were very good. I loved them and gobbled them up.

For more from Gimmie Some Oven, go to Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

For more pinterest recipes, go to Super Easy Naan Bread

For more healthy recipes, go to Frozen Strawberry Yogurt Bark