Showing posts with label Dixie Cupp Diner Mysteries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dixie Cupp Diner Mysteries. Show all posts

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Pumpkin Spice and a Body on Ice - Willow Monroe, Author


Starla's Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

1 cup self rising flour
3/4 cup of rolled oats
1 and 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spices
1 Tbsp. powdered orange drink (Tang)
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup applesauce
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup walnut pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 12-count muffin pan with cupcake liners or spray with nonstick spray.  This recipe makes 14 cupcakes, so you will have a couple of cupcakes to bake in a 2nd batch.  In a large bowl, toss the flour, oats and spices together until combined.  Set aside.  In a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar and eggs together until combined.  Whisk in the pumpkin, oil, applesauce, milk, vanilla and honey until combined.  Do NOT over mix the batter.  Gently fold in walnut pieces.  Spoon the batter evenly into 14 cups; fill the unused cups one-third full with water to prevent warping.  Bake for 17-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool completely before frosting. 

Pumpkin Spice and a Body on Ice - Review by Martha A. Cheves

Police Chief Roby Whitt entered the diner, somehow managing to walk through the door without rattling the jingle bells on the handle.  The men in the room stood or sat up a bit straighter while the women just collectively seemed to...well, there's o other word for it; swoon.  Gladys was seventy-five years old and still pretty attractive when she remembers to put her teeth in.  A few weeks earlier Gladys accidently caught her apron on fire while trying to ogle Chief Whitt and make an omelet at the same time.  This had earned the diner a visit from the entire Sugar Hill Volunteer Fire Department, who were actually having a slow week and also hoping for free coffee and cupcakes. 

Welcome to the Dixie Cupp Dinner owned by myself Starla Cupp and my partner Poppy Wendell.  We are not only noted for our very tasty food but also for my cupcakes.  My blue velvet cupcakes are light, sweet and melt in your mouth.  They have won me the blue ribbon in the cupcake competition at the annual Sugar Hill Dessert Festival five years in a row.  But this year may be a different story.  It appears that our new police chief Roby Whitt will be judging the cupcakes and believe it or not but he is a health nut.  My cupcakes are far from being healthy!  So, maybe I should just back out this year.  Or should I.

When I first started reading Pumpkin Spice and a Body on Ice I knew it was going to be good.  It's light hearted, contains humor and even a murder to bring it all together.  It's Book 1 in the Dixie Cupp Diner Mysteries and you can bet I'll be reading Book 2.  If you want a book that is actually fun to read, check this one out.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 
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