recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Raisin Drops

## Ingredients

* 1½ cup raisins ***(I've used regular raisins, and also golden raisins—they're both good.)***
* 1½ cups water ***(right out of the tap is fine)***
* 3½ cups all purpose flour ***(don't sift—just scoop it out and level it off with a knife)***
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 cup softened butter ***(2 sticks, ½ pound)***
* 1½ cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Approximately ½ cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar for later

**Hannah's 1st Note**: *Hank, the bartender down at the Lake Eden Municipal Liquor Store, suggested that you could soften the raisins in brandy or rum, instead of water. (I used water.)*

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
* Put the raisins and the water in an uncovered saucepan. Simmer them on the stove until all the water is absorbed. ***(This took me about 20 minutes.)***
* Move the saucepan to a cold burner, or on a pot-holder on your counter, and cool the raisins for 30 minutes. ***(If you're in a hurry, you can speed up this cooling process by sticking the pan in the refrigerator until the raisins are approximately room temperature.)***
* In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. ***(I stir mine gently with a whisk so that everything's mixed together.)*** Set the bowl aside.

**Hannah's 2nd Note**: *I used an electric mixer for this part of the recipe. You can do it by hand, but it takes some muscle.*

* Cream the softened butter and sugar together until they're light and fluffy.
* Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until the mixture is a uniform color.
* Take your bowl out of the mixer and blend in the raisins and the vanilla by hand.
* Fold in the flour mixture carefully. The object is to keep the dough fluffy.
* Put approximately ½ cup of sugar into a small bowl. Drop dough from a teaspoon ***(or Tablespoon if you want large cookies)*** into the bowl of sugar. Form the drops into balls with your fingers and move them to a lightly greased ***(I sprayed it with Pam)*** cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet.
* Bake the Raisin Drops at 350°F for 9 to 10 minutes, or until just lightly browned.

Yield: 5 to 6 dozen deliciously soft raisin cookies.

**Lois Brown's Note**: *I bake just a few at first to make sure there's the right amount of flour. If they spread out too thin, add another Tablespoon or two of flour. I have been making this recipe for my family for 40 years.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

**Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder** is the twenty-fourth book in the *Hannah Swensen Mystery* series. It was released in February 2021.

## Short Summary

***Spring has sprung in Lake Eden, Minnesota, but Hannah Swensen doesn't have time to stop and smell the roses--not with hot cross buns to make, treats to bake, and a sister to exonerate!***

Hannah's up to her ears with Easter orders rushing in at The Cookie Jar, plus a festive meal to prepare for a dinner party at her mother's penthouse. But everything comes crashing to a halt when Hannah receives a panicked call from her sister Andrea--Mayor Richard Bascomb has been murdered...and Andrea is the prime suspect.

Even with his reputation for being a bully, Mayor Bascomb--or "Ricky Ticky," as Hannah's mother likes to call him--had been unusually testy in the days leading up to his death, leaving Hannah to wonder if he knew he was in danger. Meanwhile, folks with a motive for mayoral murder are popping up in Lake Eden. Was it a beleaguered colleague? A political rival? A jealous wife? Or a scorned mistress?

As orders pile up at The Cookie Jar--and children line up for Easter egg hunts--Hannah must spring into investigation mode and identify the real killer...before another murder happens!

## Main Characters

* Hannah Swensen
* Delores Swensen
* Andrea Todd
* Michelle Swensen
* Norman Rhodes
* Mike Kingston

## Side Characters

* Richard Bascomb
* Stephanie Bascomb
* Doc Knight
* Lonnie Murphy
* Bill Todd
Peanut Butter Melts

## Book Reference

Blueberry Muffin Murder

**Peanut Butter Melts** is the first recipe included in Blueberry Muffin Murder. It's based off the *Peanut Butter Melts* Hannah often makes. They're said to be Mayor Bascomb's favorites.

## Ingredients

* 1 cup melted butter
* 2 cups white sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1/8 cup molasses *(2 tablespoons)*
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup peanut butter *(either smooth or crunchy, your choice)*
* 2 beaten eggs *(just whip them up with a fork)*
* 2 1/2 cups flour *(no need to sift)*

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 190C (or 375°F), rack in the middle position.
* Microwave the butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl to melt it. Add the sugar, vanilla, and molasses. Stir until it's blended, then add the baking soda, baking power, and salt. Mix well.
* Measure out the peanut butter. *(I spray the inside of my measuring cup with Pam so it won't stick.)* Add it to the bowl and mix it in. Pour in beaten eggs and stir. Then add the flour, and mix until all ingredients are thoroughly blended.

* Form dough into walnut-sized balls and arrange them on greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. *(If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for a few minutes and try again.)*

* Flatten the balls with a fork in a crisscross pattern. *(If the fork sticks, either spray it with Pam or dip it in flour.)*

* Bake at 190C (or 375°F) for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.

## Trivia

*My niece Tracey's Favorite PBJ snack: Spread jam on one cookie and stack another on top. Mother likes PBFs better (that's fudge frosting between the cookie layers).*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Spinach Salad with Bacon and Sweet Cream Dressing

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder

## Ingredients

* 12-ounce bag baby spinach
* ½ pound regular sliced bacon ***(Don't use thick-sliced bacon because it doesn't crumble as well.)***
* ½ cup chopped red onion

## Directions

* Wash the baby spinach under cold water and remove the stems. (You can just pinch them off.)
* Remove the spinach leaves to a strainer or colander to drip dry.
* Fry the bacon slices until they are crispy.
* Let the bacon cool on a bed of paper towels to absorb the grease. When they cook enough to handle, crumble them in a small bowl.

***(Recipe for Sweet Cream Dressing follows this recipe.)***

**Hannah's Note: You can use a prepared dressing if you don't feel like making it from scratch, but it's very simple if you want to make Michelle's Sweet Cream Dressing. Any already prepared sweet dressing will work. Aunt Nancy says she sometimes uses honey mustard dressing, which is readily available in most grocery stores.**

* Pour the dressing you've made or chosen in the bottom of a large salad bowl.
* Pat the baby spinach dry with paper towels and place it on top of the dressing in the salad bowl.
* Scatter the bacon crumbles over the top of the spinach.
* Scatter the chopped red onion over the bacon.
* Place the salad bowl in the refrigerator. There's no need to cover it if you plan to serve it in an hour or so. If you've made the salad earlier than that, cover it loosely with foil. If you cover it right away, the bacon won't be crunchy any longer.
* When it's time to serve, simply mix the salad at the table and either leave it in the bowl so that the guests can serve themselves with salad tongs, or place each serving in salad bowls in the kitchen.
Pop In Your Mouth Chocolate Candy

Double Fudge Brownie Murder

**Pop In Your Mouth Chocolate Candy** is the eighteenth recipe featured in Double Fudge Brownie Murder

Do Not Preheat Oven—This Is a No Bake Recipe!

* 1 package Oreo Cookies ***(14.3 ounces by weight—about 36 sandwich cookies)***
* 8 ounces brick-style cream cheese ***(not whipped—I used Philadelphia Cream Cheese)***
* 1 cup ***(6-ounce by weight package)*** semi-sweet chocolate chips ***(I used Nestle)***

**Hannah’s 1stNote: This recipe is from Rhonda, who earmarked it for Tracey.**

* Crush the Oreo cookies with the steel blade in a food processor OR by placing them in a ziplock freezer bag and crushing them with a rolling pin.
* Unwrap the cream cheese and soften it by placing it in a microwave-safe bowl and heating it on HIGH for 1 minute.
* Add the crushed Oreo cookies to the bowl and mix them up thoroughly.
* Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least one hour so that the mixture will firm up. ***(Longer than one hour is fine, too.)***
* Using impeccably clean hands, roll pop-in-your-mouth size balls from the cookie and cream cheese mixture.
* Stick a toothpick into each ball and place the completed balls on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. ***(The toothpicks will make it easier for you to dip the balls in melted chocolate chips once they’ve firmed up in the refrigerator again.)***
* Place the cookie sheet with the Pop in Your Mouth Chocolate Candy in the refrigerator for another 1 to 2 hours. ***(Overnight is even better.)***
* Once your balls have chilled again and you’re ready to dip them in chocolate, place one cup of chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. ***(I used a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup.)***
* Heat the chocolate chips on HIGH for 1 minute. Let them sit in the microwave for an additional minute and then stir to see if the chocolate chips are melted. If they’re not, continue to heat in 20-second increments until they are.
* Take the cookie sheet with the balls out of the refrigerator and set it on the counter. Using the toothpicks as handles, dip the balls, one by one, in the melted chocolate and then return them to the cookie sheet. Work quickly so that the balls do not soften.
* If you want to decorate the balls with sprinkles, sprinkle them on while the chocolate coating is still wet.
* Return the cookie sheet with the Pop in Your Mouth Chocolate Candy to the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
* When you’re ready to serve, remove the candy from the refrigerator, arrange the balls on a pretty plate or platter, and remove the toothpicks.

**Hannah’s 2nd Note: If you plan to serve these at a party, use pretty toothpicks when you make the balls and leave them in place so that your guests will have a way to pick them up off the platter without getting chocolate on their fingers.**

Yield:  Approximately 100 Pop in Your Mouth Chocolate Candies depending on the size of the balls.
Raspberry Danish Murder

**Raspberry Danish Murder** is the twenty-first book in the *Hannah Swensen Mystery* series. It was released in February 2018.

## Short Summary

*Thanksgiving has a way of thawing the frostiest hearts in Lake Eden. But that won’t be happening for newlywed Hannah Swensen Barton—not after her husband suddenly disappears...*

Hannah has felt as bitter as November in Minnesota since Ross vanished without a trace and left their marriage in limbo. Still, she throws herself into a baking frenzy for the sake of pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving-themed treats while endless holiday orders pour into The Cookie Jar. Hannah even introduces a raspberry Danish pastry to the menu, and P.K., her husband’s assistant at KCOW-TV, will be one of the first to sample it. But instead of taking a bite, P.K., who is driving Ross’s car and using his desk at work, is murdered. Was someone plotting against P.K. all along or did Ross dodge a deadly dose of sweet revenge? Hannah will have to quickly sift through a cornucopia of clues and suspects to stop a killer from bringing another murder to the table...

## Characters

### Main Characters

* Hannah Swensen
* Delores Swensen
* Andrea Todd
* Michelle Swensen
* Norman Rhodes
* Mike Kingston

### Minor Characters

* Doc Knight
* P.K. Alesworth
* Pinkie
* Sally Laughlin
* Dick Laughlin

## Trivia

* This is the first danish title in the series.
Vera Olsen

**Great Niece**: Lucy Richards

## Bio

**Vera Olsen** is the great-aunt of Lucy Richards

## Chronology by Novel

### Strawberry Shortcake Murder

"...*Lucy lived rent-free in the attic apartment of her great-aunt, Vera Olsen*..."

Vera uses Lucy's computer to engage in an internet romance.

### Sugar Cookie Murder

Vera's internet romance comes to Lake Eden and attends the community banquet with her. They soon become engaged and later marry.

## References

1. ↑ Strawberry Shortcake Murder (pg. 46) epub edition
Stephanie Bascomb

'*Sister*: Margaret

## Books

She is mentioned in just about every Novel* Apple Turnover Murder
* Banana Cream Pie Murder
* Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

**Stephanie Bascomb** Wife of Richard Bascomb.

## Bio

Her sister Margaret, who lives with their father and takes care of him. Margaret and Stephanie are close and Stephanie calls her whenever she gets upset with her husband.

She buys a new expensive wardrobe, every time she suspects her husband's eyes are roving again. Sugar Cookie Murder.

## Chronology by Novel

### Apple Turnover Murder

Stephanie is the chair for the Lake Eden Combined Charities drive. When their chocolatier cancelled their order just days before they were needed, Stephanie and the mayor descend on Hannah and Lisa to bail them out.

This year’s theme for the Charity fund raiser is “Turn Over a New Leaf”. ‘’I want everyone who attends to turn over a new leaf and pledge twice the amount they pledged last year.’’”

### Banana Cream Pie Murder

Ever since Delores married Doc Knight and moved to the penthouse condo at the Albion Hotel Stephane has come to tea on occasions. With the help of Hannah they question Stephanie about the Mayor's whereabouts and discovers that he has an alibi for the time of Victoria's death.

### Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

Stephanie was more than willing to answer any questions that Hannah had that would help her solve her husbands, murder.

At the end of the book, the city council asked Stephanie to finish out the Mayor’s term before elections.

## References

1. ↑ Apple Turnover Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 13) (p. 33). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Walleye Fishing Tournament

## Description

First Walleye Fishing Tournament held at Lake Eden Inn

A fishing tournament held at the Lake Eden Inn. Hosted by Sonny Bowman, the star of Wally’s televised fishing show, and by Wally Wallace and sponsored by “Wallace Watercraft” and Sporting Good stores. Held one week prior to the opening of Fishing season.

*Wally had managed to obtain early fishing licenses for everyone who had signed up for his Walleye Fishing Tournament. The early, temporary fishing licenses were only good for the duration of the competition and were limited to fishing on Eden Lake*.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Caramel Pecan Roll Murder: A Delicious Culinary Cozy Mystery (A Hannah Swensen Mystery Book 25) (pp. 17-18). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Shrimp Louie Spread

Plum Pudding Murder

**Hannah's Note: This is best served well chilled with a basket of crackers on the side.**

## Ingredients

* 8 ounces softened cream cheese
* ½ cup mayonnaise
* ¼ cup chili sauce ***(I used Heinz)***
* 1 Tablespoon horseradish ***(I used Silver Springs)***
* ⅛ teaspoon pepper
* 6 green onions
* 2 cups finely chopped cooked salad shrimp\*\*\* ***(measure AFTER chopping)***
	+ \*\*\*It's best to use frozen cooked salad shrimp that you've thawed according to package directions and dried on paper towels. You can also use canned salad shrimp, but they will be more salty, which is why you should salt to taste after everything is mixed up together.
* Salt to taste

## Directions

* Mix the cream cheese with the mayonnaise. Add the chili sauce, horseradish, and pepper. Mix it up into a smooth sauce.
* Clean the green onions and cut off the bottoms. Use all of the white part and up to an inch of the green part. Throw the tops away.
* Mince the onions as finely as you can and add them to sauce. Stir them in well.
* Chop the salad shrimp into bits. You can do this with a sharp knife, or in a food processor using the steel blade and an on-and-off motion.
* Mix in the shrimp and check to see how salty the spread is. Add salt if needed.
* Chill the spread in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. You can make it in the morning if you plan to serve it that night.

Yield: Makes approximately 3 cups.
Nancy Schmidt

## Books

* Cream Puff Murder
* Plum Pudding Murder
* Apple Turnover Murder

Nancy Schmidt (Dr. Love)

## Bio

Real name Nancy Schmidt, Dr. (Phd. in psychology), a psychology professor at the Lake Eden Community College, ex-husband Larry Jaeger.

### Doctor Love

*Nancy moonlights as Dr. Love, the Love Guru on KCOW talk radio. No one at the college knew and the few who did were careful to protect her alter-identity*.

On almost every show she mentions the “Lunatic”,
“*The Lunatic,” Hannah said with a smile. “The worst husband a girl ever had. He taught Dr. Love everything she knows about what a husband should never do in a marriage*.”

## Chronology by Novel

### Cream Puff Murder

Nancy makes an appearance at Delores’ launch party, but she is there ad Nancy Schmidt, not as Dr. Love. Deloris has become friends with Nancy as she has helped her get over Winthrop.

### Plum Pudding Murder

But Larry wasn’t her ex anything, they hadn’t divorced so they were still married. They had never divorced because she couldn’t find him for the past fifteen years to serve the divorce papers. She tells Delores and Hannah about how when she was still in college she had to work to support him as he couldn’t hold on to a job.

When she came home from work one day their apartment was completely empty except for her clothes and books and Larry had disappeared along with neighbor, Brenda, who had money and didn’t work. He also cleaned out their joint bank account. She found out that Brenda and Larry had been going to a casino most days and Brenda was financing his gambling. The main problem was that he was good at gambling and didn’t lose that often.

After everything was settled, Courtney and Nancy found the books for all of Larry’s past schemes that had a full list of who invested and for how much. There was enough money in Larry’s estate to pay everyone back.

### Apple Turnover Murder

It is mentioned that she is the new department head.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 16) (p. 102). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Plum Pudding Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 12) (p. 193). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Pink Grapefruit Cake

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder

This recipe is from Lois Brown.

## Ingredients

* ½ cup ***(1 stick, ¼ pound, 4 ounces)*** salted butter, softened to room temperature
* 2 cups white ***(granulated)*** sugar
* 8 ounces light cream cheese ***(Neufchâtel)*** softened to room temperature
* 3 large eggs
* ½ cup vegetable oil
* ½ cup whole milk
* 1 Tablespoon grated pink grapefruit zest ***(just use the colored part)***
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 cups all-purpose flour ***(pack it down in the cup when you measure it)***

**Hannah's 1st Note: You will be using pink grapefruit zest in the cake recipe and pink grapefruit juice in the glaze recipe. Zest the pink grapefruit first and juice it later, when it's time to make the glaze.**

## Directions

* Prepare a Bundt cake pan by spraying it with Pam, or another nonstick cooking spray, and then coating the insides with flour. To do this, sprinkle some flour in the bottom of the Bundt pan, stand over your kitchen wastebasket, and turn the cake pan so that the flour touches the sides and coats them. Don't forget to coat the outside of the crater in the middle of the pan. When you're through preparing your pan, hold it upside down over the wastebasket and shake out the excess flour.
* Place the softened butter in the bowl of an electric mixer.
* Add the white sugar and the softened cream cheese. Beat everything together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
* Mix in the eggs. Beat until they are thoroughly incorporated.
* Drizzle in the vegetable oil and continue to beat until the oil has been incorporated.
* Add the milk and the pink grapefruit zest. Mix them in thoroughly.
* Mix in the vanilla extract, the baking powder, and the salt. Mix well.
* Add the flour in half-cup increments, beating after each addition. The object is to create a smooth, well-mixed cake batter.
* Pour the cake batter into the prepared Bundt pan.
* Bake at 325°F for 45 minutes or until the top surface of the cake does not indent when touched with a finger. Be very careful not to overbake the cake.
* Let your Pink Grapefruit Cake cool for 15 minutes before taking it out of the pan.
* To do this, place a platter on top of the Bundt plan and turn the platter and the pan upside down on your kitchen counter. When the cake has cooled enough, it will fall out of the Bundt pan and onto the platter.
* When the cake is completely cool, glaze it with Pink Grapefruit Glaze. **The recipe follows.**
Razzle Dazzle Brownies

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder

## Ingredients

* **For the Brownies**
	+ Make a **double batch** of your own favorite brownie recipe in a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan OR this shortcut: 1 family-size box of brownie mix ***(enough to  make a 9-inch by 13-inch pan of brownies--I used Betty Crocker)*** and the rest of the ingredients listed on the box of the brownies you bought.

* **For the Glaze:**
	+ 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

* **For the Frosting:**
	+ 1/2 cup ***(1 stick, 1/4 pound, 4 ounces)*** salted butter
	+ 1 cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar
	+ 1/3 cup cream
	+ 1/2 cup chocolate chips ***(approximately 1/2 of a 6-ounce package)***
	+ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

## Directions

* **Step 1:**
	+ Preheat oven to whatever it says on the box of brownie mix you bought.
* **Step 2:**
	+ Spray the bottom of a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. Alternatively, you can line the pan with aluminum foil and spray that.
* **Step 3:**
	+ Mix the brownies according to the package directions.
* **Step 4:**
	+ Bake the brownies 2 minutes longer than it says on the package directions.
* **Step 5:**
	+ After the brownies have baked, let them cool on a cold stovetop burner or on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
* **Step 6:**
	+ After the brownies have cooled for 10 minutes, put the jam in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it on HIGH for 30 to 45 seconds or until it liquefies.
* **Step 7:**
	+ Pour the jam over the top of the brownies and quickly spread it out with a rubber spatula.
* **Step 8:**
	+ Refrigerate the brownies and jam glaze for at least 30 minutes. An hour is even better. Overnight is fine, too.
* **Step 9:**
	+ Take the pan out of the refrigerator and place it on the counter close to the stovetop.
* **Step 10:**
	+ Make the frosting by placing the butter, sugar, and cream into a medium-size saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil at MEDIUM HIGH heat, stirring constantly. Then lower the heat to MEDIUM and cook for 2 minutes.
* **Step 11:**
	+ Add the half-cup chocolate chips, stir them in, and then remove the saucepan from the heat and slide it onto a cold burner.
* **Step 12:**
	+ Stir in the vanilla extract. ***(Be careful--it may sputter.)***
* **Step 13:**
	+ Pour the frosting over the glaze, grab the cake pan, and tip it so that the frosting covers the whole top.
* **Step 14:**
	+ Stick the pan back into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before you attempt to cut and serve your Razzle Dazzle Brownies.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Christmas Cupcake Murder

## Ingredients

* 1/2 cup ***(1 stick)*** softened, salted butter
* 8-ounce ***(net weight)*** package softened, brick-type cream cheese ***(I use Philadelphia in the silver package)***
* 1 Tablespoon strawberry jam
* 4 to 4 and 1/2 cups confectioners' ***(powdered)*** sugar ***(no need to sift unless it's got big lumps)***
* Fresh strawberries to decorate ***(Alternatively, you can sprinkle red decorators sugar on top of each frosted cupcake if desired)***

## Directions

* Mix the softened butter with the softened cream cheese.
* If your strawberry jam has big pieces, cut them into small pieces with a sharp knife. Then add the strawberry jam and heat until the mixture is smooth.

**Hannah's 1st Note: Do this next step at room temperature. If you heated the cream cheese or the butter to soften it, make sure it's cooled down to room temperature before you continue.**

* Add the confectioners' sugar in half-cup increments until the frosting is of proper spreading consistency. ***(You'll use all, or almost all, of the powedered sugar.)***
* Using a frosting knife ***(or rubber spatula, if you prefer)***, spread frosting from the center of your cupcakes out to the edges.
* If you managed to find fresh strawberries, cut off the tops and place one, cut side down, on top of each cupcake. Tell everyone that they're Santa Hats. If you couldn't find fresh strawberries, sprinkle your cupcakes with red decorators sugar and call it good.
* Let the frosting "set" at room temperature. After it "sets," cover your cupcakes loosely with foil and then refrigerate them.
* If you have frosting left over, spread it on graham crackers, soda crackers, or what Great-Grndma Elsa used to call *store-boughten* cookies. This frosting can also be covered tightly and kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. When you want to use it, let it sit on the kitchen counter for an hour or so until it reaches room temperature and it is spreadable again.
* You can also color this frosting with a drop or two of food coloring. If you make these cupcakes at Halloween, a drop of yellow and a drop of red will make a nice orange frosting. On Valentine's Day, use just one drop of red and your frosting will be pink. Use green for St. Patrick's Day, and alternate between red and green for Christmas.

**Hannah's 2nd Note: This frosting also works well in a pastry bag.**
Vanilla Cream Glaze

Lake Eden's Cookbook

Used on Mincemeat Cookies.

2. Fill the quarter-cup measuring cup with heavy cream and set it on the counter.
3. Measure 3 cups powdered sugar and place them in a small bowl. Do not pack it down in the cup when you measure it, but do level the top off with a table knife.
4. Whisk the vanilla and cream into the bowl with the powdered sugar until it's well blended.
5. Cover the glaze with plastic wrap and set it aside to wait for the cookies to be baked. Then brush the warm cookies with the glaze and let them cool completely.

**Yield**: Approximately 3/4 cup glaze.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Sally's Radish Soup

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

*This is the soup I always order when I go out to the Lake Eden Inn. Sally says you need a blender to make this soup. She also says that if you don't have one, borrow one.*

### Ingredients

* 4 bunches red radishes *(approximately 12 radishes per bunch)*
* 2 medium onions, cut into large pieces
* 42 ounces chicken broth *(about 5 1/2 cups)*
* 6 Tablespoons butter
* 6 Tablespoons flour
* 4 cups Half & Half *(or light cream)*
* 6 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
* 3 Tablespoons horseradish sauce *(I used Heinz)*\*\*\*
	+ \*\*\**If you can't find horseradish sauce, mix 1 Tablespoon ground horseradish with 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise*.

### Directions

* Clean the radishes *(cut off the tops and the bottoms and wash them)* and place them in a large saucepan. Add the onions. Pour the chicken broth over them and simmer for 35 minutes.
* Let the contents of the saucepan cool slightly and then puree in a blender. *(You'll have to do this in batches - it won't all fit at once.)* Transfer the puree to a large bowl and cover it to keep it warm.
* Put the large saucepan back on the burner. Melt the butter on medium heat and sprinkle in the flour. Stir until bubbles appear. Keep stirring and cooking for one minute. Add the Half & Half *(or light cream)* and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture has thickened. This should take about 5 minutes or so.
* Add Worcestershire sauce, salt, white pepper, and horseradish sauce. Then add the radish puree and stir thoroughly. Return to the heat and stir until heated through.
* If you want to get fancy, get a few extra radishes, slice them very thinly, and float them on top of the soup bowls. You can also add fresh, minced parsley for color.

## Sally's Note

*Sally has a tip for you. If you want to bring this soup to a buffet dinner, don't return the saucepan to the heat after adding the spices at the end. Instead, transfer the soup to a slow cooker sprayed with Pam or other non-stick cooking spray. When you get to the potluck dinner, plug in the crock-pot, set it on LOW, and go off and enjoy yourself. Sally says to tell you that this soup will hold for at least 3 hours on LOW and maybe even longer.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Otis Cox

**Daughter:** Janice Cox

## Bio

Upon his retirement, Otis and his wife built a new home just past the town's limits, on Old Bailey Road. They are both crazy about Dogs and wanted to be able to adopt and / or rescue as many dogs as they wanted to and not worry about the three dog limit that was set for in town residents.

Otis

## Chronology of Novels

### Blueberry Muffin Murder

Otis won the dog sled competition in the first annual Winter Carnival
Pineapple Casserole

Devil's Food Cake Murder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

### Directions

* Drain the pineapple, reserving the juice. You’ll use some of it in this recipe.
* Mix the sugar, flour, salt, and baking soda together in a small bowl. Make sure they’re well mixed.
* Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with Pam or another nonstick baking spray. Put the flour mixture in the bottom of the casserole dish.
* Add the drained pineapple to the casserole dish and mix it in.
* Add the grated cheese to the casserole dish and mix that in. (It’s okay to use your impeccably clean fingers.)
* Unwrap the stick of butter. Put it in a microwave-safe measuring cup that will hold at least one cup, and melt in the microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds.
* Drizzle about half of the melted butter over the mixture in your casserole dish. Mix it all up with your fingers or a spoon.
* Drizzle the top with 4 Tablespoons of the pineapple juice that you reserved.
* If you haven’t already done so, crush the cornflakes. You can do this in a sealed plastic bag with your hands. Measure out one cup of crushed cornflakes and sprinkle them on top of your casserole.
* Drizzle the remaining melted butter over the top of the crushed cornflakes.
* Bake your casserole at 350 degrees F. for 35 to 40 minutes.

**Yield**: This casserole serves 6 to 8 unless Herb comes to dinner. Then you’d better make two casseroles.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Pistachio Winks

Cream Puff Murder

Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.

* Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup. It'll take about 90 seconds on HIGH. *(You can also melt it in a pan on the stove if you prefer.)*
* Pour the butter into a mixing bowl and add the sugar. Mix well and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
* Mix in the beaten eggs. Add the molasses and mix well. *(If you spray your Tablespoon measure or your ⅛ cup measure with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray, the molasses won't stick to it when you measure.)*
* Add the salt, baking soda and vanilla. Stir everything together and then mix in the finely-chopped pistachios.
* Add the flour in one-cup increments, mixing after each addition.
* Form the dough into 1-inch balls with your fingers and place them on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. Form 12 dough balls for each standard-size cookie sheet.
* Spray the flat bottom of a water glass with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. Dip the glass in a bowl of white sugar and flatten the balls on the cookie sheet. Dip the glass into the sugar after every ball you flatten.
* Place a quarter cherry in the center of each cookie. Press the cherry down with the tip of your finger.
* Bake the cookies at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. Let the cookies set up on the sheet for one minute, and then remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

**Yield**: 8 to 10 dozen delicious cookies, depending on cookie size.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Reverend Knudson

**Grandmother:** Priscilla Knudson

## Books

Mentioned in almost every Novels

**Reverend Bob Knudson** is the local Lutheran Church pastor.

## Bio

He is the minister for the Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church.

He took over the ministry when his Grandfather passed away and asked his Grandmother to stay and help since he wasn't married.

"*He put himself through college by working part time as a dance instructor. Bob can tango better than anybody I know. He’s just wild*."

He later marries Claire Rodgers.

## Chronology

### Devil's Food Cake Murder

Claire Rodgers and the **Reverend** are on their honeymoon on a Hawaiian cruise and their is a substitute minister at the Lutheran church.

## Trivia

* Has a dog named “Vespers”. (Cherry Cheesecake Murder)

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 1) (p. 20). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 4) (pp. 160-161). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Sally's Corn Salad

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

## Ingredients:

* 4 cups white shoepeg corn ***(I used Green Giant . . .  three of the 11-ounce cans)***
* 1 green bell pepper, chopped ***(You can also use 1/2 red bell pepper and 1/2 green bell pepper.)***
* 8 ounces shredded Colby cheese and Monterey Jack cheese ***(I used the 8-ounce package.)***
* 1/3 cup finely chopped onion ***(I used a bunch of green onions, cleaned and chopped. Use up to 2 inches of the stem.)***
* 1 cup mayonnaise ***(I used Best Foods, which is Hellmann's in the East.)***
* 9.25-ounce package of Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips

## Directions:

* **Open** and **drain** the cans of white **shoepeg corn**. Place the corn in  a medium-size mixing bowl.
* If you haven't already done so, wash and cut the **green bell pepper** in half lengthwise. Take out the stem and the seeds. Then chop the pepper into small pieces. Add the chopped green bell pepper to your mixing bowl.
* **Sprinkle** the **shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese** over the top.
* Add the third-cup of finely **chopped onion** on top of the shredded cheese mixture.

* Measure out 1 cup of **mayonnaise** and spread it over the ingredients in your mixing bowl.
* Use a rubber spatula to **mix everything together**. Continue to mix until everything is well blended.
* **Cover** your mixing bowl with plastic wrap and **refrigerate** it until  you are ready to serve it.
* Immediately **before serving**, mix in the package of **Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips**. Toss them in until they are evenly distributed.

**Hannah's 1st Note: You don't mix in the Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips in  advance because they will get soggy. If you mix them in right before serving, they will still be fresh and crunchy.**

**To Serve:** You can either put salad tongs in the bowl, or let everyone serve themselves, or dish it up in individual bowls.

**Yield:** At least 6 servings.

**Hannah's 2nd Note: If you have leftovers, don't worry about it. Simple buy another smaller package of Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips to add to the leftover salad right before serving.**
Shawna Lee Quinn

## Books

* Fudge Cupcake Murder
* Sugar Cookie Murder
* Peach Cobbler Murder

## Biography

Shawna Lee Quinn is Mike's previous secretary from Minneapolis, who he talks into moving to Lake Eden where she gets a job as a secretary while Mike is acting Sheriff, after Sheriff Grant is killed.

She now works and lives close to Mike in Lake Eden and Hannah's not happy about that.

Shawna's a southern beauty queen who was once Miss Atlanta in Georgia, and that makes Hannah feeling a little unsure about her and Mike's relationship in Sugar Cookie Murder. Her sister is Vanessa.

## Chronology

In Fudge Cupcake Murder, she makes her first appearance when Hannah sees Shawna Lee and Mike at the local pizzeria. Hannah learns that Shawna Lee is living in the same apartment complex as Mike and that Mike is spending a lot of time with her, though he denies that anything is going on between them.

In Sugar Cookie Murder, Shawna Lee leaves to go to her sister in Geargia as her sister's rich octagareon husband just passed away. Hannah is hoping that Shawna Lee stays away.

In Peach Cobbler Murder, Shawna Lee returns to Eden Lake and with her sister opens a bakery, right across the street from The Cookie Jar and undercuts Hannah's prices, stealing all of their catering business and 90% of their regular customers. When Hannah finds her dead in her kitchen, she also discovers that their home made "Peach Cobbler" is from a "Coffee Shop" chain in the south and that they aren't making their own products.

Shawna was mistaken for Vanessa and murdered by Bobby Joe Peters.
Three Cheese Bacon Ball

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

(This is a no-bake recipe.)

**Ingredients**

* 2 and ½ cups crumbled bacon (I used Hormel Real Crumbled Bacon)
* 8 ounces brick cream cheese, softened (I used Philadelphia in the silver package)
* ¾ cup crumbled blue cheese
* 8 ounces finely shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
* 1 teaspoon brown sugar
* 3 drops hot sauce (I used Slap Ya Mama)

**Hannah’s 1st Note**: If you can’t find finely shredded cheese, you can do it yourself with the food processor or with a box grater.

1. Measure out the 2 and ½ cups of crumbled bacon and put it in a shallow bowl.
2. Unwrap the cream cheese and put it in a microwave-safe mixing bowl.
3. Microwave the cream cheese on HIGH for 1 minute.
4. Let the bowl cool for 1 minute in the microwave.
5. Take the bowl out of the microwave and set it on the kitchen counter.
6. Measure out the blue cheese crumbles. If there are big pieces of blue cheese, use your impeccably clean fingers to break them into smaller pieces.
7. Mix the blue cheese crumbles into the bowl with the cream cheese. Continue to mix until the two cheeses are thoroughly combined.

**Hannah’s 2nd Note**: If the shredded white cheddar cheese is not finely shredded, use a knife to chop the shreds into smaller pieces.

8. Mix the finely shredded white cheddar cheese into the bowl with the 2-cheese mixture. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined.

9. Sprinkle in the teaspoon of brown sugar and mix it in well.

10. Mix one cup of the finely chopped bacon bits into the bowl with the 3-cheese mixture. Stir until everything is well combined. Add the hot sauce, and stir it in thoroughly.

11. With your impeccably clean hands, shape the cheese mixture into a ball and place it on a piece of wax paper.

12. Roll the cheese ball in the rest of the crumbled bacon to coat the outside of the ball.

13. Move the ball back to the sheet of wax paper and press it down slightly to flatten the ball on the bottom. This will enable it to sit nicely in the middle of a cheese plate, surrounded by an array of assorted crackers.

14. Move the cheese ball to the freezer for at least 30 minutes to firm it up. You can also move it to the refrigerator for 3 hours.

15. Once your cheese ball has firmed up, wrap it in plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator until 15 minutes before you plan to serve it.

**Yield**: One 3-cheese ball that will serve as an appetizer for 4 to 6 guests. It is excellent with red wine, white wine, or champagne.

**Hannah’s 3rd Note**: I served this cheese ball at Mother’s dinner party. Everyone asked for the recipe, even Andrea! Even though Andrea doesn’t like to cook or bake, I think she’ll actually make this recipe because it doesn’t call for an oven or a stovetop.
Peach Bread

## Ingredients

* ¾ cup softened butter ***(1½ sticks)***
* 1 package ***(8 ounces)*** softened cream cheese ***(the brick kind, not the whipped kind)***
* 2 cups white sugar ***(granulated)***
* 2 beaten eggs ***(just whip them up in a glass with a fork)***
* ½ teaspoon almond extract
* 1½ cups mashed peaches\*\*\*
	+ \*\*\*You can use fresh and peel and slice your own, or you can buy them already prepared in the ready-to-eat section at your produce counter, or you can use canned peaches.
* 3 cups flour ***(don't sift—pack it down in the cup when you measure)***
* ½ teaspoon baking powder
* ½ teaspoon baking soda
* ½ teaspoon salt
* 1 cup chopped blanched almonds

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.

**Hannah's 1st Note: This is a lot easier with an electric mixer.**

* Beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugar together until they're nice and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs and the almond extract, and mix them in.
* Peel and slice the peaches ***(or drain them and pat them dry if you've used prepared peaches or canned peaches)***. Mash them in a food processor with the steel blade, or puree them in a blender, or squash them with a potato masher until they're pureed. Measure out 1½ cups of mashed peaches and add it to your mixing bowl. Stir well.
* In another bowl, measure out the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix them together.
* Gradually add the flour mixture to the peach mixture, beating at low speed until everything is incorporated.
* Mix in the almonds by hand.
* Coat the insides of two loaf pans ***(the type you'd use for bread)*** with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon in the mango bread batter.
* Bake at 350°F for approximately one hour, or until a long toothpick or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top browns a bit too fast, tent a piece of foil over the top of the loaves.
* You can also bake this in 6 smaller loaf pans, filling them about half full. If you use the smaller pans, they'll need to bake approximately 45 minutes.
* Cool on a wire rack in the pan, loosen the edges after 20 minutes and turn the loaf out onto the wire rack.

Yield: Makes two bread-sized loaves, or 6 small loaves.

## Hannah's 2nd Note:

*This bread is also good toasted. Mother loves it toasted with honey butter on top.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Sweet orange pie

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

**Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F., rack in the middle position.**

## The crust

* Make your favorite graham cracker or cookie crumb crust **(or buy one pre-made at the grocery store -- *I used a shortbread crust)***

## The filling

* 6 eggs
* 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
* Zest of 2 large oranges
* 1/2 cup sour cream
* 1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
* 1/4 cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar

## Directions

* Crack **one whole egg** into a medium-size mixing bowl.
* **Separate** the remaining 5 eggs, placing the 5 yolks into the mixing bowl with the whole egg.

* *Put the **egg whites** in a covered bowl in the refrigerator and add them to scrambled eggs in the morning. Alternatively, you can use them to make any of the "**Angel"** cookie recipes in previous Hannah books.*

* **Whisk** the whole egg and the egg yolks until they're a uniform color.
* Stir in the can of **sweetened condensed milk**.
* Add the **orange zest** and the **sour cream**. Stir it all up and set the bowl aside.

* Place the half-cup **frozen orange juice concentrate** in a bowl.
* Add the 1/4 cup **white sugar** to the orange juice concentrate. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
* **Now** add the sugared orange juice concentrate to the bowl with your egg mixture and whisk it in.

* **Pour** the filling you just made into the graham cracker or cookie crust.
* **Bake** the pie at 325 degrees F. for 30 to 35 minutes.
* **Remove** the pie from the oven, let it cool to room temperature on a wire rack, and then refrigerate it if you wish.
* This pie can be **served** at room temperature, or chilled. It will be **easier** to cut and serve it if it's chilled.

**Hannah's Note: If you want an easy way to dress up your Sweet Orange Pie, use one of the recipes for Orange Crème Fraîche that follow.**

**Hannah's Whipped Crème Fraîche for Sweet Orange Pie**

**Edna's Shortcut Whipped Orange Crème Fraîche**
Trivia

Various things that come up in the different books and their meanings.

*Illegitami non carborundum*.
Illegitimi non carborundum is a mock-Latin aphorism, often translated as "Don't let the bastards grind you down". The phrase itself has no meaning in Latin and can only be mock-translated.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Blueberry Muffin Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 3) (p. 249). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Rose's Restaurant Turkey

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

Preheat oven to 275°F, rack in the bottom position.

*This is the turkey that Rose uses at the cafe for her hot turkey sandwiches with the mashed potatoes and gravy on top, and her turkey salad.*

*Note: DO NOT put stuffing in this turkey!!! The cavity must be empty except for gizzard, neck, & liver if you want to use them.*

### Ingredients

* One uncooked *(doesn't that sound better than "raw?")* turkey, thawed, rinsed, and patted dry.
	+ If you want to roast the gizzard, liver, or neck, sprinkle them with salt and pepper and place them inside the largest cavity of the turkey.
* A roaster big enough to hold the turkey
* A meat rack big enough to hold the bird & small enough to fit in the roaster

### Directions

* Preheat oven to 275°F, rack in the bottom position.
* Spray the rack and roaster with Pam or other non-stick cooking spray.
* Spray the turkey with non-stick cooking spray. Salt and pepper the outside of the turkey. Place the turkey BREAST DOWN, *(Rose knows this is unusual, just do it)* on the rack of the roaster.
* Roast turkey at 275°F, uncovered, for 23 minutes per pound.
* Remove the turkey from the oven. Cover it loosely with foil and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
* Carve in the kitchen.\*\*\*

*Rose says this turkey doesn't at all resemble that gorgeous brown centerpiece turkey that wives carry out and place on the table for their husbands to carve. This turkey must be carved in the kitchen, and you'll find the meat practically falls off the bone. You'll also find that the meat is moist and delicious and much better than meat from a bird that looks gorgeous.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

## Ingredients

* 2 cups melted butter *(4 sticks)*
* 2 cups powdered *(confectioners')* sugar *(not sifted)*
* 1 cup white *(granulated)* sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 teaspoon lemon zest *(optional)*
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon cream of tartar *(critical!)*
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 4 1/4 cups flour *(not sifted)*
* 1/2 cup white *(granulated)* sugar in a small bowl *(for later)*

## Directions

* Do not preheat oven yet--dough must chill before baking.
* Melt butter. Add sugars and mix. Let cool to room temperature and mix in the eggs, one at a time. Then add the vanilla, lemon zest, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Mix well. Add flour in increments, mixing after each addition.
* Chill dough for at least one hour. *(Overnight is fine.)*
* When you’re ready to bake, preheat oven to 325°F and place rack in the middle of the oven.
* Use hands to roll dough in walnut-sized balls. Roll dough balls in a bowl of white sugar. *(Mix white sugar 2 to 1 with colored sugar for holidays—green for St. Pat’s Day, red and green for Christmas, multicolored for birthdays.)* Place on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Flatten dough balls with a greased spatula.
* Bake at 325°F. for 10 to 15 minutes. *(They should have a tinge of gold on the top.)* Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a rack to finish cooling. They can be decorated with frosting piped from a pastry bag for special occasions or left just as they are.

Yield: 8 to 10 dozen, depending on cookie size.

## Trivia

*Used these for the chorale's fund-raiser decorated with music notes in fudge frosting--rave reviews!*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.