recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Difficult

**Difficult** is the 8th episode of Season 7 and the 66th over all.

## Plot

Ally, Hayley and Ryan find out something and don't know how to handle it.

## Songs Featured

Best Friend's Brother by Victoria Justice

## Main Cast

Kelli Berglund as Ally Lynch

Gregg Sulkin as Ryan Vega

Ryan Newman as Hayley Vegaz

Isabela Moner as Kayla Santiago-Lynch

Dove Cameron as Sina Trace

Ciara Bravo as Irina Schneider

## Recurring Cast

Challen Cates as Daniella Vegaz

unknown as Chloe Vegaz

Gracie Dzienny as Mia Denzing

Audrey Whitby as Chanel Brown

## Background Information

* This marks the first appearence of Chanel Brown
* It's revealed that Chanel knows Danny Hunter

## Trivia

* Sina watches the kids, while Ryan spends time with his sisters
* Hayley leaves early because she is tired
* Ally thinks Hayley has changed, but Ryan says it's nothing to worry about
* Daniella tells Hayley that her biological father died
	+ Hayley didn't care, because she hates him and always will. She says if it would be her choice, he would have died years ago
	+ Ally starts crying and doesn't know why, because she hates him
	+ Ryan says that he hates him and that he got what he deserves
* Kayla asks if Ally ever thinks about "her father" and she says no
* It's revealed that the Syan family moved into the old Rally House
* Ryan says that "his father" is the one that gave him away
* Ryan tells Sina not to call him "his father"
* Irina is still confused about Ryland
* Chanel thought that Irina is over Ryland
	+ Irina thought so too, until she saw him at H2C
* Irina still hasn't met Ally's kids
* Ally is doing online college since the twins were born
* According to Chanel, Ally and Danny are in text contact
* Irina says that going back to Germany was the biggest mistake of her life
* Irina wasn't in America for 2 years
Chip Chip Hooray Cookies

Blackberry Pie Murder

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

## Ingredients

* 1 and 1/2 cups softened butter ***(3 sticks, 3/4 pound, 12 ounces)***
* 1 and 1/4 cups white ***(granulated)*** sugar
* 2 large egg yolks ***(Save the whites in a small, covered plastic container to make Angel Kiss Cookies or Angel Pillow Cookies)***
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour ***(pack it down in the cup when you measure it)***
* 1 and 1/2 cups finely crushed plain regular potato chips ***(measure AFTER crushing--I used Lay's, put them in a plastic zip-lock bag crushed them with my hands)***
* 3/4 cup white chocolate chips ***(I used Nestlé Premium White)***
* 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ***(I used Nestlé)***
* 1 cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar for dipping

## Directions

**Hannah's 1st Note: Use regular potato chips, the thin salty ones. Don't use baked chips, or rippled chips, or chips with the peels on, or kettle fried, or flavored, or anything that's supposed to be better for you than those wonderfully greasy, salty old-fashioned crunchy potato chips.**

**Lisa's Note: I made these for the 4th of July picnic at Eden Lake and rolled them in a combination of white, red, and blue sugar.**

* In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg yolks, salt, and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy. ***(You can do this by hand, but it's a lot easier with an electric mixer.)***
* Add the flour in one-half cup increments, mixing well after each addition.
* Add the crushed potato chips and mix well.
* Take the bowl out of the mixer and add the white and semi-sweet chips by hand. Stir them in so that they are evenly distributed.
* Form one-inch dough balls with your hands and place them on an UNGREASED cookie sheet, 12 to a standard-sized sheet. ***(As an alternative, you can line your cookie sheets with parchment paper.)***
* Place the sugar in a small bowl. Spray the flat bottom of a drinking glass with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray, dip it in the sugar, and use it to flatten each dough ball. ***(Dip the glass in the sugar for each cookie ball.)***
* Bake your cookies at 350 degrees F., for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are starting to turn golden at the edges. ***(Mine took the full 12 minutes.)***
* Let the Chip Chip Hooray Cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes and then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely. ***(If  you used parchment paper, all you have to do is pull it over to the wire rack and let the cookies cool right on the paper.)***

Yield: Approximately 6 to 7 dozen crunchy, shortbread-like cookies, depending on cookie size.
Doll Face Cookies

Peach Cobbler Murder

Preheat oven to 375°F, rack the middle position.

* 1/2 cup melted butter *(1 stick)*
* 1 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
* 1/2 cup molasses *(Measuring molasses will be easier if your spray your measuring cup with nonstick cooking spray before pouring it in.)*
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon lemon juice
* 1/2 cup milk
* 2 1/2 cups flour *(no need to sift)*
* 1 cup *(approximately)* golden raisins, regular raisins, or currants to decorate

### Directions

* Preheat oven to 375°F, rack the middle position.
* Melt butter in a large microwavable bowl. When the butter has cooled to room temperature, stir in the brown sugar and molasses. Add the soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix it all up. Mix in the teaspoon of lemon juice.
* Add half the flour to your bowl and mix it up. Slowly pour in the milk, a little at a time, and mix as you go. Add the rest of the flour and stir until it's thoroughly incorporated.
* Drop the dough by rounded teaspoon onto UNGREASED cookie sheets, 12 to a standard-size sheet. Put three raisins on top of each cookie, two for the eyes and one for the mouth.
* Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 375°F. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: 4 to 5 dozen, depending on cookie size.

### Hannah's Note

*Immelda Giese, Father Coulta's housekeeper, ordered three-dozen Doll Face Cookies for Father's altar boys. When she came back in to pick up the order, one of the cookies looked just like Sister Theresa. (She thought it did, not me!) The last I heard, Immelda was trying to talk Father Coultas into displaying the cookie in a glass case at St. Peter's.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Boggles

## Book Reference

Fudge Cupcake Murder

**Boggles** is the first recipe featured in Fudge Cupcake Murder.

## Ingredients

* 2 cups melted butter *(4 sticks)*
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 2 cups white sugar
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 4 eggs, beaten
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
* 4 cups flour
* 3 cups dried sweetened cranberries *(Craisins are what I use)*\*\*\*
* 3 cups rolled oats *(uncooked oatmeal)*

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in large microwave-safe bowl. Add sugars and let cool a bit. Add eggs, baking powder, baking soda, salt, vanilla and spices. Add flour and mix. Then add the cranberries and oats and mix everything up. The dough will be quite stiff.
* Drop by teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a sheet.
* Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Remove to cooling rack until cool.

Yield: 10 to 12 dozen, depending on cookie size.

These freeze well if you roll them in foil and put them in a freezer bag.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Chocolate Drizzle

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder and Blackberry Pie Murder

## Ingredients

* 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ***(half of a 12-ounce bag)***
* 1 Tablespoon salted butter ***(⅛ stick, half of an ounce)***
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

**Hannah's Note: The easy way to measure a half-ounce of salted butter is to divide a stick of butter into 8 pieces and use only one piece. Put the rest back in your refrigerator.**

## Directions

* Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. ***(I used a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup with a pour spout.)***
* Add the half-ounce of salted butter on top of the chocolate chips.
* Add the vanilla extract on top of the butter.
* Heat the contents for 1 minute on HIGH in the microwave.
* Let the bowl or cup sit in the microwave for an additional minute.
* Remove the bowl from the microwave and attempt to stir the contents smooth with a heat-resistant spatula.
* If you cannot stir the contents smooth, heat the mixture for an additional minute on HIGH in the microwave.
* Let the bowl sit in the microwave for another minute.
* Take out the bowl and again, try to stir the contents smooth.
* Repeat the above steps as many times as it takes to achieve a smooth mixture of chocolate chips, salted butter, and vanilla extract.
* When the mixture is smooth, take the Ultimate Chocolate Butterscotch Bundt Cake out of the refrigerator and drizzle the liquid chocolate mixture over the top and down the sides of the cake.
* Don't forget to drizzle a bit of the chocolate mixture down the sides of the crater in the center of your cake.
* Return the cake to the refrigerator for an additional 30 minutes and then serve it to your guests.
Al Percy

**Daughter**: Unnammed

## Books

* Christmas Cake Murder
* Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
* Christmas Cupcake Murder
* Banana Cream Pie Murder

## Bio

**Al Percy** owner of Lake Eden Reality. Andrea Todd works part-time for him.
"*Al Percy?” Loretta Richardson suggested. “Everyone in town knows Al. He’s president of the Lions Club, he supports all the athletics at Jordan High, and he was the Grand Marshall of the Fourth of July parade last year*.”

Wife: Sally Percy

My daughter and her husband have invited us over for dinner,
Fluke, Joanne. Christmas Cupcake Murder: A Festive & Delicious Christmas Cozy Mystery (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) (p. 63). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.

## Chronology by Novel

### Christmas Cake Murder

Al shows Delores Swensen and her daughter Hannah the perfect place for Hannah's future bakery, The Cookie Jar and volunteers to help Delores with the recreation of the Christmas Ball at the Albion Hotel.

### Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

Mentioned that his business is located across the street from Hannah's bakery

### Christmas Cupcake Murder

Shows Delores and empty building that will serve well as her storage and refinishing place for her antiques.

### Banana Cream Pie Murder

Hannah and Norman are looking for a man that wears black tennis shoes with silver laces. During the Pie eating contest, Norman was working backstage and noticed Al’s shoes, they were black with silver laces.

Hannah never thought that the man with the black and silver tennis shoes was the murderer and Norman confirmed that Al had an airtight alibi for the time of death, because he was at the dentist office with Norman.

He was never interviewed concerning his relationship with Tori.

He was one of the contestants in the "Pie eating contest" to help raise money for the annual Christmas play.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Banana Cream Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery Book 20) (pp. 288-289). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Coffee Cake

Sugar Cookie Murder

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

#### The Filling:

* 3 cups chopped fruit *(or crushed berries—the fruit can be fresh, frozen, or canned\*\*\*)*
	+ \*\*\*If you choose to use drained canned fruit, make sure it's been canned in its own juice or in water
* 1/3 cup white sugar *(granulated)*
* 1/3 cup flour

#### The Crumb Topping:

* 1/2 cup brown sugar *(tightly packed)*
* 1/3 cup flour
* 1/4 cup softened butter *(1/2 stick, 1/8 pound)*

### Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
* Grease the inside of a 9-inch by 13-inch rectangular cake pan, or spray it with non-stick cooking spray.
* Mix the cup of soft butter with the white sugar until it's fluffy. Add the salt, vanilla, and baking powder. Mix thoroughly.
* Add the eggs one by one, mixing after each addition.
* Add the flour in one-cup increments, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
* Spoon one-half of the batter in the cake pan and spread it out with a rubber spatula. Leave the rest in the bowl for later.

#### The filling:

* In another bowl, mix the fruit, sugar, and flour. *(If you've used chopped apples, peaches, or pears, add teaspoon cinnamon to the mix.)* Spoon the fruit mixture on top of the batter.
* Drop spoonfuls of the remaining hatter on top and spread them carefully with a rubber spatula. *(The fruit doesn't have to be covered completely—the batter on top will fill in as it bakes and the crumb topping will cover the rest.)*

#### The crumb topping:

* Mix the brown sugar and the flour in a small bowl. Add the softened butter and cut it in until it's crumbly. *(You can also do this in a food processor with chilled butter and the steel blade.)*
* Sprinkle the crumb topping over the pan as evenly as possible.
* Bake at 350°F for 45 to 60 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let the coffee cake cool on a wire rack.

*Andrea, Sill, and Bill's father like this served warm, right from the pan. Regina likes it thoroughly cool.*

*Regina told me that one time she wanted to make this coffee cake, but she didn't hare anything in the pantry except a can of cherry pie filling. Instead of mixing the ingredients for the filling, she just dumped in the whole can of pie filling and it worked just fine.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Beeseman-Herman Family Reunion

## Description

Lisa Herman and Herb Beeseman with the help of Marge Beeseman organize a joint family reunion in part to celebrate their union through Lisa's and Herb's marriage.

## Book Reference

### Books

Carrot Cake Murder

Marge and Patsy's older brother makes a surprise appearance at the reunion, no one had heard from him in over 30 years. Gus Kleins is not well liked and end up murdered. While Hannah works on solving the crime, the rest of the family our involved in many activities and having fun reconnecting with family members they haven't seen in awhile.
Chocolate Frosting

## Book Reference

Carrot Cake Murder

**Use on Cocoa Fudge Cake**

## Ingredients

* ½ cup ***(1 stick)*** butter
* 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder ***(I used Hershey's)***
* ⅓ cup milk
* 1 one-pound box of powdered ***(confectioners)*** sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

## Directions

* Place the butter, cocoa powder, and milk in a medium-size saucepan. ***(The one from before that you didn't wash.)*** Bring them to a boil, stirring constantly.
* Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla. Stir in the powdered sugar, a half-cup at a time, until the frosting is thickened, but still “pourable”. ***(If that's not a word, it should be.)***
* Pour the frosting on the hot cake and spread it out quickly with a spatula.

## Hannah's Note

*Interruptions happen and it's not always possible to finish the frosting at the same time you take the hot cake from the oven. For that reason, I've come up with an alternative fudge frosting, one that can be poured over a piping hot cake, a warm cake, or a stone cold cake. Here it is:*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Chocolate Crack

**Chocolate Crack** is the second recipe featured in Apple Turnover Murder.

## Ingredients

* 1 box graham crackers ***(I used Nabisco Honey Maid)***
* 2 sticks salted butter ***(1 cup, 8 ounces, 1/2 pound)***
* 1 cup brown sugar ***(pack it down when you measure it)***
* 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips ***(12-ounce package)***

## Directions

* Preheat oven at 350° Fahrenheit, rack in the middle position.
* Line a 10-inch by 15-inch cookie sheet with heavy-duty foil. If you have a jellyroll pan, that's perfect. If you don't, turn up the edges of the foil to form sides.
* Spray the foil with Pam or other nonstick cooking spray.
* Line the pan completely with a single layer of graham crackers. Cover the whole bottom. Set the cracker-lined jellyroll pan or cookie sheet aside while you cook the toffee mixture.
* Combine the butter with the brown sugar in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat on the stovetop, stirring constantly. Boil it for exactly five minutes, stirring it constantly. If it sputters too much, you can reduce the heat. If it starts to lose the boil, you can increase the hear. Just don’t stop stirring.
* Pour the mixture over the graham crackers as evenly as you can.
* Slide the pan into the oven and bake the cookies at 350 degrees F. for ten minutes.
* Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Give the chips a minute or two to melt and then spread them out as evenly as you can with a heat-resistant spatula, a wooden paddle, or a frosting knife.
* Slip the pan in the refrigerator to chill.
* When the pan has chilled, peel the foil from the cookies and break them into random-sized pieces.
Earl Flensburg

## Books

Plum Pudding MurderApple Turnover Murder

**Earl Flensburg** is Winnetka County's local tow truck driver.

## Bio

The Winnetka County tow truck and snowplow driver

## Chronology by Novel

### Plum Pudding Murder

"...*Earl’s father was a twin, and if I’m not mistaken, he married Earl’s mother’s sister. If they had children and they’re still in the area, they could resemble Earl*.”

Earl is Carrie’s mysteries date and the reason she has been evasive with the people in her life. Carrie wanted to keep it a secret until she talked to Norman.

It was Earl that Hannah saw meeting with Larry Jaeger, he tells Hannah that he met with Larry about an investment in a future project, but he didn’t like the business plan so told Larry no.

### Apple Turnover Murder

Earl and Carrie are married at the beginning of the book and leave for their honeymoon to Rome.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Plum Pudding Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 12) (p. 222). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Chocolate Highlander Cookie Bars

## Book Reference

Strawberry Shortcake Murder

**Chocolate Highlander Cookie Bars** is the seventh recipe featured in *Strawberry Shortcake Murder*

## Ingredients

* 1 cup softened butter *(2 sticks, 1/2 pound)*
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar *(make sure there’s no big lumps)*
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 2 cups flour *(no need to sift)*
* 4 beaten eggs *(just whip them up with a fork)*

* 1 cup melted butter, cooled to room temperature (*2 sticks, 1/2 pound)*
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 cup flour *(don’t bother to sift)*
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 2 1/2 cups chocolate chips *(measure BEFORE they’re melted)*
* 1/3 cup powdered *(confectioners)* sugar to sprinkle on top of the pan

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F rack in the middle position.
* FIRST STEP: Cream butter with 1/2 cup powdered sugar and salt. Add flour and mix well. Pat it out in a greased 9-inch by 13-inch pan with your fingers. (*That's a standard cake pan.)*
* Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. That makes the shortbread crust. Remove from oven. *(Don’t turn off oven!)*
* SECOND STEP: Mix eggs with melted butter and white sugar. Add baking powder, salt, and flour, and mix thoroughly. *(A hand mixer will do the job if you're tired of stirring.)*
* Melt the chocolate chips in a small double boiler, a pan over hot water on the stove, or nuke them for 3 minutes in the microwave on high. *(Be sure to stir--chips may maintain their shape even after they’re melted.)*
* Add the melted chocolate chips to your bowl and mix thoroughly.
* Pour this mixture on top of the pan you just baked and tip the pan so it covers all of the shortbread crust. Stick it back in oven and bake it for another 25 minutes. Then remove it from the oven and sprinkle on additional powdered sugar.
* Let it cool thoroughly and cut into brownie-sized bars.You can refrigerate these but cut them before you do. *(They’re pretty solid when they’re cold.)*

## Trivia

**Andrea said these were so rich, no one could eat more than one. (I watched her eat three at the wrap party.)**

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Baked Fish

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

*Geraldine Goetz contributed this recipe. Her husband goes fishing with Lisa's dad, Jack Herman.*

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

### Ingredients

* 9 to 12 fillets of fish *(any firm white fish will do)*
* Juice of one lemon
* 2 teaspoons Mrs. Knudson's Season Salt
* 2 teaspoons pepper (freshly ground is best)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced or mashed *(you can also use jarred garlic)*
* 1/2 cup dry white wine
* 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
* 2 Tablespoons chopped green onion
* 2 Tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
* 4 Tablespoons melted butter *(1/2 stick, 1/4 cup, 1/8 pound)*

### Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
* Rinse and dry fish fillets with paper towels. Rub with lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
* Sprinkle or spread minced or mashed garlic in the bottom of a greased baking pan *(a 9 x 13 inch cake pan will do fine.)*
* Place the fillets in the pan and pour the wine over the top. Sprinkle with parsley, green onion, and breadcrumbs. Melt the butter and spoon it on.
* Cover the pan loosely with foil.
* Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes. Take off the foil and bake 15 minutes longer.
* Pour off most of the liquid before serving.

*This fish is wonderful served with crusty bread and a tangy green salad*.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Aunt Kitty's Jamaican Rum Balls

## Book Reference

Peach Cobbler Murder

No Bake recipe

### Ingredients

* 4 cups finely crushed vanilla wafers *(a 12-ounce box is about 2½ cups crushed—measure after crushing)*
* 1 cup chopped nuts *(measure after chopping—I use pecans, but that's because I really like them—I've also used macadamia nuts, walnuts, and cashews)*
* 1/2 cup Karo syrup *(the clear white kind)*
* 1/2 cup excellent rum *(or excellent whiskey, or excellent whatever)*
* 2 Tablespoons Nestle's sweet dry cocoa *(I'm going to use Ghirardelli's sweet cocoa with ground chocolate the next time I make them)*
* 1 Tablespoon strong coffee *(brewed—liquid)*

#### Coating

* Dry cocoa
* Powdered *(confectioner's)* sugar
* Chocolate sprinkles

### Directions

* DO NOT preheat oven—these don't require baking!
* Crush the vanilla wafers in a food processor, or put them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Measure them and pour them into a mixing bowl.
* Chop the nuts finely with a food processor, or with your knife. Measure them and add those.
* Mix in the Karo syrup, rum *(or substitute)*, sweet dry coca, and strong coffee. Stir until thoroughly blended.
* Rub your hands with powdered sugar. Make small balls, large enough to fit into a paper bonbon cup. Dip the balls in cocoa, or powdered sugar, or chocolate sprinkles to coat them. Do some of each and arrange them on a plate—very pretty.
* Refrigerate these until you serve them. They should last for at least a month in the refrigerator. *(I've never been able to put this to the test, because every time I make them, they're gone within a week.)*

**Yield**: At least 5 dozen, depending on how large you roll the balls.

### Hannah's Note

Aunt Kitty's Jamaican Rum Balls make great gifts when they're packaged like fine candy. Most cake decorating stores stock a variety of frilly bonbon cups and decorative candy boxes for you to use.

*To make these non-alcoholic, use fruit juice in place of the rum. This should work just fine, but make sure you refrigerate them and eat them within a week. You'll have to change the name to "No Rum Balls," but that's okay. Choose a fruit juice that'll go well with the chocolate, like peach, orange, or pineapple.*

*Note: I've always wanted to try these dipped in melted chocolate. I bet they'd be fantastic!*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
German Chocolate Cupcake Frosting

Christmas Cupcake Murder

This frosting recipe is for the German Chocolate Cupcakes in *Christmas Cupcake Murder.*

*Hannah’s 1st Note: This frosting consists of two parts. Make the Cooked Pecan Coconut Frosting FIRST and let it cool WHILE you make the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.*

* Part 1 of 2 is Cooked Pecan Coconut Frosting. When both are completed, they will frost Hannah's delicious German Chocolate Cupcakes
* Part 2 of 2 of the **German Chocolate Cupcake Frosting** recipe.
Cashew Crisps

## Book Reference

Fudge Cupcake Murder

**Cashew Crisps** is the fourth recipe featured in Fudge Cupcake Murder.

## Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups melted butter *(3 sticks)*
* 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 1/2 cups finely ground salted cashews *(grind them up in your food processor with the steel blade--measure AFTER grinding)*
* 2 beaten eggs *(just whip them up with a fork)*
* 3 cups flour *(no need to sift)*

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
* Microwave the butter in your mixing bowl to melt it. Add the sugar, the vanilla, and the molasses. Stir until blended, then add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
* Grind up the cashews in your food processor. Measure AFTER grinding. Add them to the bowl and mix. Pour in the beaten eggs and stir. Then add the flour and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
* Let the dough sit for a few minutes to firm up. Then form dough into small walnut-sized balls and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. *(These dough balls spread out so make them fairly small. If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for a few minutes and try again.)*
* Flatten the balls slightly with a spatula or the palm of your hand, just enough so they won't roll off when you put them in the oven.
* Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Yield: Approximately 10 dozen, depending on cookie size.

## Hannha's Note

*Mother thinks I should put a small nugget of chocolate in the center of the balls, but she ALWAYS thinks I should add chocolate to my recipes.*

## Trivia

These are Nettie's favorite cookies, but her husband would never buy them for her.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Lake Eden Inn

## History

The lineage of the Lake Eden Inn. The original building had been in the Laughlin family for five generations. Built in the late nineteenth century, Dick’s great-great-grandfather had spared no expense to build his summer retreat. Franklin Edward Laughlin, a lesser-known iron ore magnate, had packed up his family, his staff, and any friends who wished to spend a few months at the lakeshore, and they’d all traveled by carriage to the forty-room mansion he’d modestly called “Lake Eden Cottage.”

F.E. Laughlin had established a fund to be used solely for upkeep on the property. The “cottage,” in pristine condition but never modernized, had passed from oldest son to oldest son until Dick had inherited it four years ago. F.E.’s iron ore fortune had been passed along, too, as part of the legacy, but it hadn’t fared as well. By the time Dick had inherited “Lake Eden Cottage,” the family coffers were very nearly depleted.

## The Inn

Owners Sally and Dick,

The full service gourmet restaurant in the small community of Minnesota is run by Sally. Dick has created animal topiaries for the grounds.

The Inn is usually closed for the winter, but in *Blueberry Muffin Murder* they opened it for the Winter Carnival events.

In Blueberry Muffin Murder it was said that F.E.'s ghost haunted the Inn and a news reporter printed a story which was picked up by the local TV news. The rumors of the Inn having a ghost increased their business.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fluke, Joanne. Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 2) (pp. 93-94). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Butterscotch Bonanza Bars

Devil's Food Cake Murder

## Ingredients

* 1/2 cup salted butter ***(1 stick, 4 ounces, 1/2 pound)***
* 2 cups light brown sugar***\*\*\* (pack it down in the cup when you measure it)***
* ***\*\*\* - If all you have in the house is dark brown sugar and the roads are icy, it’s below zero, and you really don’t feel like driving to the store, don’t despair. Measure out one cup of dark brown sugar and mix it with one cup regular white granulated sugar. Now you’ve got light brown sugar, just what’s called for in Leslie’s recipe. And remember that you can always make any type of brown sugar by mixing molasses into white granulated sugar until it’s the right color.***
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 beaten eggs ***(just whip them up in a glass with a fork)***
* 1 and 1/2 cups flour ***(scoop it up and level it off with a table knife)***
* 1 cup chopped nuts ***(optional)***
* 2 cups butterscotch chips ***(optional)***

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
* Grease and flour a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan, or spray it with nonstick baking spray, the kind with flour added. Set it aside while you mix up the batter.
* Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat on the stovetop, or put it in the bottom of a microwave-safe, medium-sized mixing bowl and heat it for 1 minute in the microwave on HIGH.
* Add the light brown sugar to the mixing bowl with the melted butter and stir it in well.
* Mix in the baking powder and the salt. Make sure they’re thoroughly incorporated.
* Stir in the vanilla extract.
* Mix in the beaten eggs.
* Add the flour by half-cup increments, stirring in each increment before adding the next.
* Stir in the nuts, if you decided to use them.
* Mix in the butterscotch chips if you decided to use them, or any other chips you’ve chosen.
* Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth out the top with a rubber spatula.
* Bake the Butterscotch Bonanza Bars at 350 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes. ***(Mine took 25 minutes.)***
* When the bars are done, take them out of the oven and cool them completely in the pan on a cold stove burner or a wire rack.
* When the bars are cool, use a sharp knife to cut them into brownie-sized pieces.

## Yield

Approximately 40 bars, but that all depends on how large you cut the squares.
Holiday Squash Soup

Plum Pudding Murder

## Ingredients

* 2 ten-ounce packages winter squash ***(the kind that’s in a solid block and already pureed)***
* ½ cup chopped onion
* 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon beads ***(or whatever measure it gives to make 2 cups of chicken broth)***\*\*\*
	+ \*\*\* You can use a can of condensed cream of chicken soup instead of the bouillon beads, but then you'll have to reduce the cream to one and a half cups. You can also use the bouillon cubes, but you'll have to mix them with a VERY small amount of hot water and mash them before you put them into the blender.
* 2 cups heavy cream
* ¼ teaspoon pepper
* 8-oz package cream cheese, unwrapped and softened in the microwave for 1 minute
* sour cream and/or parsley for toppings

## Directions

**Hannah's 1st Note: If you don't have a large enough blender to do this all at once, blend half of it at a time and stir it all together when you get it in the crockpot.**

* Cook the squash according to package directions, drain it and put it in a blender.
* Add the chopped onion and the chicken bouillon beads.
* Add the heavy cream.
* Zoop it up in the blender and make sure all the onion pieces are pureed and the mixture is smooth.
* Add the pepper and the softened cream cheese.
* Zoop it up again until it’s all smooth and then dump it in the crockpot you’ve sprayed with Pam.
* Once your soup is in the crockpot, give it a final stir and taste a little bit for seasoning. If it needs more salt, DON’T ADD IT. Add another teaspoon of bouillon beads instead to make it really chickeny. If you want to make your soup sinfully rich, this is the time to cut a half-stick of butter ***(4 ounces, ¼ pound)*** into little pieces and throw them in the crockpot.
* Turn the crockpot on LOW and cook for 4 hours. ***(This can go an hour or two longer if your company doesn’t arrive on time.)***
* Check for seasonings again right before serving. When you dish it into the bowls, you can top it with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh parsley if you like.

Yield: approximately 4 cups

**Hannah's Note: If your soup gets too thick in the crockpot, thin it with a little chicken broth.**
Little Snowballs

Image from Cooking Classy

## Book Reference

Blueberry Muffin Murder

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

*Hannah made these **Little Snowballs** to replace Connie Mac's cake for the banquet*.

### Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups melted butter (*3 sticks, 3/4 pound*)
* 3/4 cup powdered sugar (*that's confectioners' sugar*)
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (*freshly ground is best*)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 1/2 cup flour (*no need to sift*)
* 1 cup finely chopped nuts (*measure after chopping*)

### Directions

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

* Melt the butter. Mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt. Add the flour and mix thoroughly. Stir in the nuts. (*If you work quickly, while the butter is still warm, the dough will be softer and easier to mix*.)

* Form the dough into one-inch balls (*just pat them into shape with your fingers*), and place them on an UNGREASED baking sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Bake them at 350°F for 10 minutes, until they are set but not brown.
* Let the cookies cool for 2 minutes then roll them in powdered sugar. (*You must do this while they're still warm*.) Place them on a wire rack and let them cool thoroughly.
* When the cookies are cool, roll them in powdered sugar a second time. Let them rest for several minutes on the rack, and then store them in a cookie jar or a covered bowl.

### Hannah's Notes

*Mother likes these with chopped walnuts. Andrea prefers pecans. I think they're best with hazelnuts. Tracey adores these when I substitute a cup of flaked coconut for the nuts and form the dough balls around a small piece of a milk chocolate bar or a couple of milk chocolate chips.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Lorna Kusak

**Son:** Christopher**Daughter:** Lindsay

## Bio

**Lorna Kusak** ex-wife of Ernie Kusak. After twenty years of marriage, they were divorced and neither one of them is talking about the reasons. After the divorce they sell the house and with her share she buys a condo in the same complex Hannah Swensen is in.

### Appearance

*She was a short, curly-haired brunette in her mid-forties..*

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne; Levine, Laura; Meier, Leslie. Joanne Fluke Christmas Bundle: Sugar Cookie Murder, Candy Cane Murder, Plum Pudding Murder, & Gingerbread Cookie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery Book 1) (p. 1259). Kensington. Kindle Edition.
Fettuccini "Porcini" (Australian Fettuccini)

Blackberry Pie Murder

**Trudi’s 1st Note: We just returned from a trip to Australia. This is my version of a recipe we experienced in Sydney. It’s easy to make and a wonderful flavor.**

## For the Pasta:

* Prepare a package of your favorite brand fettuccini pasta as instructed on the package. Use the size that serves 4. When the pasta is cooked, drain it, give it a stir to keep it from sticking together, cover it loosely with foil and set it aside on a cold burner to wait for its yummy sauce.

## For the Sauce:

* ¼ pound bacon (regular sliced, not thick)
* ½ pound (8 ounces) fresh mushrooms sliced, or chopped
* ½ cup chopped onions (regular yellow onions or green onions—if you use green onions, you can use up to 2 inches of the stem)
* 4-inch square of fresh salmon filet
* 15-ounce (approximate—if it’s a bit more, that’s okay) jar of prepared Alfredo sauce

## Directions

* Pan fry the bacon until it’s crispy and lift it out of the fat with a slotted spoon to drain it on paper towels.
* Use the remaining bacon fat in the pan to fry the mushrooms until they are very well done.
* Add the onions to the pan and continue to fry until the onions are translucent and fully cooked.
* Cut the raw salmon into cubes and add it to the pan. Fry it until the salmon is fully cooked.
* Add the drained bacon pieces to the pan and add the Alfredo sauce. Stir everything together until it’s well-combined and heated through.
* Arrange the pasta you’ve cooked on 4 plates. Ladle the delicious mixture in the frying pan over the pasta and serve to rave reviews!

**Trudi’s 2nd Note: The porcini is in quotes because I’m sure the restaurant used them, but regular mushrooms work just as well and are easier on the budget.**

**Fresh salmon works great but since it sort of falls apart in the cooking anyway, you probably could use canned or packaged salmon and get the same results.**

**If you prefer, you could also use packaged Alfredo sauce mix and prepare it yourself.**
Lars Swensen

**Daughters:*** Hannah Swensen
* Andrea Swensen Todd
* Michelle Swensen

**Brother:** Ed

## Bio

Before Lars married Delores, he had a good job and lived at home. It took most of his paycheck and invested in stocks, that over time did very well.

He made enough money to buy the hardware store, which is what he really wanted to do. When each of his daughters were born, he opened a college fund for them, which he invested and made sure that there would be enough money for each of them to get their Doctorates if that is what they wanted to do. The fund was enough to cover their living expenses, too.

After his death, Delores learned just how much money he had saved for not just their daughters, but for their retirement, plus how well his investments had dome.

Hannah – When she left college after her Masters in English Lit. there was enough money available in her fund to open The Cookie Jar.

Andrea – Since Andrea chose not to go to college, her fund held enough money to pay off their house.

Michelle – Is still in college.

After his death, Delores sold the Hardware store to Cliff Schumann who had been working for Lars and someone that Lars respected.

## Trivia

* One of the other books states that the hardware store was owned by Lars' father before him.
Guac Ad Hoc

**Guac Ad Hoc** is the twenty-second recipe featured in Red Velvet Cupcake Murder.

## Ingredients

* 2 ounces cream cheese
* 4 ripe avocados (I used Haas avocados)
* 2 Tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best)
* 1 clove garlic, finely minced (you can squeeze it in a garlic press if you have one)
* 1/8 cup finely chopped fresh oregano leaves **[1]**
* 1 Italian (or plum) tomato, peeled, seeded, and chopped
* 4 green onions, peeled and thinly sliced (you can use up to 2 inches of the green stem)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 10 grinds of freshly ground pepper (or 1/8 teaspoon)
* 1/2 cup sour cream to spread on top
* Bacon bits to sprinkle on top of the sour cream
* Tortilla chips as dippers

## Directions

* Heat the cream cheese in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl for 15 seconds on HIGH, or until it’s spreadable.
* Peel and seed the avocados. Put them in the bowl with the cream cheese and mix everything up with a fork. Mix just slightly short of smooth. You want the mixture to have a few lumps of avocado.
* Add the lemon juice and mix it in. It’ll keep your Guac Ad Hoc from browning.
* Add the minced garlic, chopped oregano leaves, tomato, sliced green onion, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together.
* Put your Guac Ad Hoc in a pretty bowl, and cover it with the sour cream. Sprinkle on the bacon bits. If you’re NOT going to serve it immediately, spread on the sour cream, but don’t use the bacon bits. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until time to serve. Then sprinkle on the bacon bits. (**My bacon bits got a little tough when I added them to the bowl and refrigerated it. They were best when I sprinkled them on at the last moment.)** **[2]**

## Yield

This amount of Guac Ad Hoc serves 4 unless you’re making it for a Super Bowl game. Then you’d better double the recipe.

## Hannah's Notes

[1] *This is Howie's guacamole recipe.*

[2] *Mike and Norman like this best if I serve it with sliced, pickled Jalapenos on top. Mother won’t touch it that way.*

## Howie's Note

[1] *I use chopped oregano because Florence doesn’t always carry cilantro at the Lake Eden Red Owl. This guacamole is equally good with either one.*
Cheesy Garlic Crescent Rolls

Raspberry Danish Murder

## Ingredients

* 2 eighteen-ounce (by weight) cans of refrigerated
* Crescent Dinner Rolls ***(I used Phillsbury)***
* 2 teaspoons crushed garlic
* 2 Tablespoons salted butter ***(1 ounce, ¼ stick)***, softened to room temperature.
* 1 large egg, beaten ***(just whip it up in a glass with a fork)***
* 2 ounces finely shredded cheese ***(I used Kraft Cheddar)***

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 375°F, rack in the center position.
* While your oven is preheating, prepare your baking sheets by spraying them with Pam or another nonstick baking spray or lining them with parchment paper.

**Hannah's 1st Note: Parchment paper works best.**

* Open the cans according to package directions and unroll the dough on a lightly floured surface. DO NOT separate the rolls into triangles quite yet. Leave them in sheets for now.
* Mix the crushed garlic together with the softened salted butter in a small bowl.
* Spread the garlic and butter mixture evenly over the surface of the dough.
* Mix the beaten egg with 2 ounces of finely shredded cheese.
* Spread the egg and cheese mixture in a thin layer over the butter and garlic layer.
* Separate the rolls into triangles and turn them so that they are point up, facing away from you.
* Roll each triangle up from the base to the point and curve the resulting roll into a crescent shape.
* Place your Cheesy Garlic Crescent Rolls on your prepared baking sheet.

**Hannah's 2nd Note: If you'd like darker brown rolls, brush the tops of each crescent roll with melted salted butter.**

* Bake your rolls at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until they are golden brown.
* Leave the rolls on the baking sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer them to a napkin-lined basket and cover them with another napkin.
* Serve your Cheesy Garlic Crescent Rolls warm.

Yield: 16 delicious rolls to serve with any entree.

**Michelle's Note: If you invite Mike, Lonnie, and Norman to dinner, you'd better double this recipe!**
Jamboree Muffins

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

	+ **Hannah’s 1st Note**: *This is a great recipe for using up all those jars of jam with little dibs and dabs in the bottom that are taking up too much room on your refrigerator shelf*!

### Directions

* Grease or spray the bottoms of 12 muffin cups with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. Alternatively, you can use paper cupcake liners.
* Use a muffin pan or a cupcake pan that has cups approximately 2 and ½ inches across the top and are 1 and ¼ inches deep. (That’s a standard size.)

**Hannah’s 2nd Note**: *Don’t use an electric mixer to mix up these muffins. Just stir everything up by hand. The muffin batter should be a little lumpy, like brownie batter, and not over-mixed*.

* In a medium-sized bowl, beat the egg with the milk until they are well combined. Stir in the vegetable oil and the white sugar.
* Measure out the flour in another bowl. Stir in the baking powder and the salt with a fork.
* Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture in half-cup increments, stirring after each increment, but only until the flour is moistened. The resulting muffin batter will be lumpy. That’s okay. It’s supposed to be.
* Fill the muffin cups half-full with batter.
* Get out your jam jars. You can use all one kind, or several different kinds of jam. It’s totally up to you. Use a teaspoon measure or a small-sized spoon from your silverware drawer to drop 1 teaspoon of jam into the center of each muffin.

**Hannah’s 3rd Note**: *I hope Mother never reads this recipe because I use one of the antique silver collector’s spoons she gave me to dish out the jam and drop it into the center of the muffin batter*.

* Cover the jam with muffin batter until the muffin cups are 3/4 full.
* Bake at 400 degrees F. for approximately 20 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown.
* Let the Jamboree Muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then serve them with plenty of butter. They’re good warm and they’re good cold. They also reheat well in the microwave.

**Yield**: 12 yummy muffins

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Lake Eden Boosters

**Lake Eden Boosters** is a nonprofit organization that supports the quality of life for others in Lake Eden in the interest of advancement of public interest. In Candy Cane Murder, they paid for the candy canes and little presents that Santa and his Elf gave to the kids who visited Santa and had their pictures taken with him. Hannah, the good sport she is, got to be Santa's right-hand-Elf even though she wasn't very pleased with having to wear the costume, especially the tights she squeezed into.
Kimberly Whiting

## Books

Plum Pudding Murder

*Miss Kimberly Whiting, CPA*

## Bio

Teaches at the Lake Eden Community College. Delores and Carrie had signed up for her class for Small Businesses. When Carrie cancelled out, Delores talked Hannah in attending.

She came to Lake Eden Community College as a visiting professor in September.

## Chronology by Novel

### Plum Pudding Murder

She shoots Larry Jaeger because of destroying her father, Salvatore Bianco with his schemes and taking his entire life savings.

When Hannah puts together Miss Whiting's name with the name of the man that committed suicide over Larry’s scheme in Madison, she realized that “Bianco” is Italian for "White". While at the Community College for their Christmas production, Hannah goes outside to find Miss Whiting’s car plates to see where she is from.

Miss Whiting drove into the lot right then but made it difficult for Hannah to see the plates. She pulls a gun on Hannah, who's only escape was on a slider and to go over the edge and down the hill. While Miss Whiting was firing her gun at Hannah, she missed. But when Hannah bailed from the slider and was trying to make her way to cover, Miss Whiting came down the hill and got close enough to Hannah to shoot her but Mike arrives and shoot's Miss Whiting instead.

Mike drove Hannah to the Hospital as she did receive scrapes from a thorn bush that she encountered
Laine Warner

## Books

Banana Cream Pie Murder

**Laine was a successful character actress but never gained the starring roles that she felt she deserved**.

## Bio

The actress that came down with the flu just before opening night for the play that should have catapulted her into the limelight, instead her understudy, Victoria Bascomb played the part and became a Broadway star.

She never did become a star though she had a solid career on stage and in film and was considered a success herself even though she never played the leading ladies, always in a supporting role.

## Chronology by Novel

### Banana Cream Pie Murder

Laine as Vivian Dickerson moved to the country near Lake Eden when she learned that Victoria was going to retire there.

She auditioned for a role in the play that Victoria was directing and was amused that she never recognized Laine.

She didn’t plan on killing Victoria until it was announced that she was going to win the STAG Award for lifetime achievement. She had to make sure she could never accept that award as Laine believed she didn’t deserve it.
Kirby Wells

## Bio

**Kirby Wells** The band teacher at Jordan High School. Originally from Browerville

## Appearance

He was a well-muscled bachelor in his middle twenties, and over half of the female population at Jordan High had visions of dating him.

## Chronology by Novel

### Sugar Cookie Murder

He fills in as drummer/percussionist when needed for the Jazz Ensemble Band.

He recognized Brandi Wyen as Mary Kay Hinklemeyer from Browerville. She wanted him to go with when she left that night, but he told her no, that he liked his job.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne; Levine, Laura; Meier, Leslie. Joanne Fluke Christmas Bundle: (A Hannah Swensen Mystery Book 1) (p. 54). Kensington. Kindle Edition.