recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Orange Marmalade Filled Oatmeal Muffins

Raspberry Danish Murder

## Ingredients

* 1 and ⅓ cups all-purpose flour ***(pack it down in the cup when you measure it)***
* ¾ cup rolled oats ***(not instant—I used Quaker's Quick 1-Minute)***
* ⅓ cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar
* ¼ teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 large egg, beaten ***(just whip it up in a glass with a fork)***
* ¾ cup whole milk
* ¼ cup vegetable oil ***(I used Wesson Vegetable Oil)***
* 6 Tablespoons marmalade or jam (any flavor)

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 400°F, rack in the middle position. (That's four hundred degrees F., not a misprint.)
* Prepare a 12-cup muffin tin by spraying the cups with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray, or lining them with cupcake papers.
* Place the flour in a large bowl.
* Add the rolled oats and mix them into the flour with a fork from your silverware drawer.
* Add the white sugar and mix it in thoroughly.
* Use the fork to mix in the salt and the baking powder.
* In another bowl, combine beaten egg, whole milk, and vegetable oil. Mix them together thoroughly. ***(I used a whisk to do this.)***
* Add the wet ingredients ***(egg, milk, vegetable oil)*** in the second bowl to the dry ingredients ***(flour, oats, sugar, salt, baking powder)*** in the first bowl.
* Stir until the dry ingredients are moistened. ***Don't over-stir! This will make the muffins tough!***
* Drop 1 Tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup and spread it out with a rubber spatula to cover the bottom of the cup.
* Drop ½ Tablespoon of orange marmalade on top of the batter. Try to drop it in the center of the cup so that it is surrounded by the batter you spread on the bottom.
* When you have done this in every muffin cup, fill each cup with batter, distributing it as evenly as you can. ***(Lisa and I do this with a scooper down at The Cookie Jar.)***
* Gently run the blade of a table knife around the edge of the batter in each muffin cup to seal the orange marmalade in the center of the muffin. There may be some leakage, but as long as you used cupcake papers, you will be able to get the muffins out of the tin.
* Bake your Orange Marmalade Filled Oatmeal Muffins at 400°F for approximately 20 minutes or until they are a nice golden shade of brown on top.
* These muffins are best served warm. You can also bake them, store them, and reheat them in the microwave to warm them later.
* Make sure you have plenty of softened, salted butter for those who want it and lots of coffee or cold milk.

Yield: 12 delicious muffins. If you invite Mike for breakfast, you'd better mix up 2 batches!
Summer Gazpacho

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

*Vera Olsen contributed this recipe. It's called "Summer" Gazpacho, because she only makes it when tomatoes are in season.*

### Ingredients

* 1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
* 1 medium sweet onion, cut into chunks
* 6 medium tomatoes, peeled and seeded
* 1/2 cup flavorful olive oil
* 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
* 1 teaspoon garlic powder
* 3 Tablespoons wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 2 cans Spicy Hot V-8 *(for a total of 23 ounces)*\*\*\*
	+ \*\*\*Vera says if you don't have Spicy Hot V-8 Juice, you can use Bloody Mary mix, or regular tomato juice spiced with a little hot sauce.

### Directions

* Chop the cucumber and onion in small chunks and put them in the blender.
* Peel the tomatoes by dipping them, one at a time, in boiling water for a few seconds until the skin cracks, and then into a bowl of ice water. This will make the peel come right off.
* Seed the tomatoes by cutting them in quarters and poking out the seeds with your finger. Once that's done, chop the tomatoes up a little and put them in the blender with the onion and cucumber.
* Blend the chopped cucumber, onion, and tomato on the lowest speed as you add the olive oil, chili powder, garlic powder, vinegar, and kosher salt. Pour contents into a large pitcher and add the V-8 Juice. Stir well and refrigerate for at least 6 hours. *(Overnight is fine, too.)*
* When you're ready to serve, stir the gazpacho a final time and check for seasoning, adding more salt if needed. Pour the gazpacho into small bowls. Top with a generous dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with minced chives.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Pineapple Cranberry Jell-O Salad

Plum Pudding Murder

## Ingredients

* 6-ounce package raspberry Jell-O
* 1 and ¾ cup boiling water
* 16-ounce can jellied cranberry sauce
* 8-ounce can crushed pineapple ***(do not drain)***
* ¾ cup orange juice
* 1 teaspoon lemon juice ***(freshly squeezed is best)***
* ½ cup chopped walnuts

## Directions

* Dissolve the Jell-O in the boiling water. Stir for at least 30 seconds to make sure it's dissolved.
* Add the cranberry sauce and stir until well blended.
* Add the pineapple ***(with the juice)***, orange juice, lemon juice, and walnuts.
* Mix everything together and pour in a ring mold.
* Refrigerate until firm. This should take about 4 hours, but you can make it the night before your dinner party and keep it in the refrigerator until you're ready to unmold it and serve it.

**Hannah's Note: Andrea got this recipe from Sally Hayes.**
Rose's Zucchini Cookies

**Rose's Zucchini Cookies** is the eighth recipe featured in Apple Turnover Murder.

## Ingredients

* 1 cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar ***(pack it tightly in the cup when you measure it)***
* 1 cup softened butter ***(2 sticks, 8 ounces, 1/2 pound)***
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 large eggs ***(beaten)***
* 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 and 1/2 cups peeled and shredded zucchini ***(that’s about three 8-inch zucchini)***
* 1 cup chopped walnuts ***(or pecans)***
* 6-ounce bag chocolate chips ***(that’s 1 cup)***
* 4 cups all-purpose flour ***(don’t sift—pack it down in the cup when you measure it)***

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
* Measure out the white sugar and the brown sugar in a large bowl. Add the softened butter and beat with a wooden spoon until the mixture is nice and fluffy.
* Mix in the baking soda and make sure it’s evenly distributed.
* Beat the two eggs in a glass with a fork and then add them to your bowl. Add the vanilla extract and mix everything thoroughly.
* Peel the zucchini. Shred them with a cheese grater ***(I use an old, four-sided box grater and shred with the second to the largest grating side.)*** You can also shred the zucchini with the shredding blade in a food processor. Measure out one and a half cups, packing it down in the measuring cup, and then add it to your bowl.
* Stir until the shredded zucchini is thoroughly incorporated.
* Add the chopped nuts and the chocolate chips. Mix well.
* Add the flour in one-cup increments, stirring after each addition. When all the flour has been added and stirred in, the resulting dough will be quite stiff.
* Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Pam ***(or another nonstick cooking spray)*** or lined with parchment paper.
* This dough is soft. If you find it’s too difficult to work with, chill it for 20 or 30 minutes in the refrigerator and then try again. I used a 2-teaspoon cookie scooper and dipped it in water every three scoops or so.
* Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
* Cool the cookies on the cookie sheet for two minutes, and then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely. Rose says that after these cookies are cool, you can store them in a covered container and they’ll keep very well that way.
Spring Brook Cemetery

## Book Reference

Apple Turnover Murder

**Spring Brook Cemetery** near Lake Eden.

Delores had acquired several examples of grave art from the cemetery for Granny's Attic. These pieces were from the unclaimed family mausoleum section that was relocated and date back to the eighteen hundreds.

Some pieces needed restoration and she asked Bud if he could weld a metal walleye fish statue and restore it to it's original form.

Florence's family has four generations there in a pink granite mausoleum.
Triple Threat Chocolate Cheesecake Pie

Plum Pudding Murder

## Ingredients

* One 9-inch chocolate cookie crumb crust\*\*\*
	+ \*\*\*You can make your own crust from chocolate cookie crumbs, or buy one pre-made from your grocery store. It's just like it says in "The Three Bears"—an 8-inch crust will be a little bit too full (be careful carrying it to the oven,) a 10-inch crust won't be quite full enough (you can pile whipped cream on top after it's baked,) and a 9-inch crust will be just right!
* ½ cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar
* 8-ounce package softened cream cheese
* ⅓ cup mayonnaise ***(regular mayo, NOT Miracle Whip or sandwich spread)***
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup while chocolate chips ***(I used Ghirardelli)***
* ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup semi-sweet ***(regular)*** chocolate chips

## Directions

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

**Hannah's 1st Note: You can make this by hand, but it's a lot easier with an electric mixer!**

* Beat the sugar with the softened cream cheese until it's thoroughly blended. Add the mayonnaise and the eggs. Beat well.
* Melt the while chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 40 seconds. Stir them to see if they're melted. ***(Don't be fooled—chips may retain their shape even when they're melted.)*** If they're not melted, microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring after each attempt, until you can stir them smooth. Set the melted chips on the counter to cool for a moment or two.
* When you can comfortably cup your hands around the bowl holding the melted chips, mix them gradually into the batter. Then add the vanilla and mix well.
* Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips by hand.
* Spoon the pie batter into the cookie crust and smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
* Bake the pie at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes.
* Cool the pie on a wire rack and then refrigerate. Take your pie out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before serving. Serve with sweetened whipped cream on top.

**Hannah's 2nd Note: This pie is so deliciously rich, you have to serve it with strong coffee. I usually have a second pot all ready to go when the first one runs out.**
Neverfail Fudge Frosting

## Book Reference

Carrot Cake Murder Raspberry Danish Murder

**Use on Cocoa Fudge Cake**

## Ingredients

* ½ cup ***(1 stick, 4 ounces, ¼ pound)*** salted butter
* 1 cup white ***(granulated)*** sugar
* ⅓ cup heavy cream ***(that's whipping cream)***
* ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

## Directions

* Place the butter, sugar, and cream into a medium-size saucepan on the stove top.
* Turn the burner to MEDIUM-HIGH heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.
* Continue to stir and turn the heat down to MEDIUM. Stir for 2 minutes.
* Add the half-cup of chocolate chips. Stir them in, and then move the saucepan to a cold burner. Don't forget to turn off the heat on the original burner!
* Let the mixture cool, without stirring, for one minute and then stir in the vanilla extract.
* Pour the frosting on the top of the cake pan and spread it out quickly with a heat-resistant rubber spatula.
* Cool the frosting completely before you cut and serve. If you wish, you can place the pan in the refrigerator, uncovered until the frosting is cool and has "set".

## Hannah's Note

*Marge says that this cake smells so good, you might have to keep it under lock and key until it's cool enough to cut.*

## Conversion Charts

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

## Book Reference

Lemon Meringue Pie Murder

**Walnuttoes** is the third recipe featured in Lemon Meringue Pie Murder

## Ingredients

* 2 cups chocolate chips *(a 12-ounce bag)*
* 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
* 3/4 cup butter *(1 1/2 sticks)*
* 4 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 cups flour *(not sifted)*
* 2 cups finely chopped walnuts
* approx. 1/2 cup additional white sugar in a small bowl

## Directions

* Do not preheat oven--dough must chill before baking.
* Melt chocolate chips with butter. *(Microwave on high for 2 minutes, then stir until smooth.)* Mix in sugar and let cool. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Add flour and mix well, then add nuts and mix in.
* Chill dough for at least 4 hours, overnight is even better.
* When you're ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
* Roll walnut-sized dough balls with your hands. *(This is messy--wear thin plastic gloves if you wish. If dough becomes too warm between rollings, return it to the refrigerator.)*
* Drop dough balls into a small bowl with white sugar and roll around to coat. Then place them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Smush them down with a greased spatula.
* Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then remove to wire rack. *(If you leave them on the cookie sheet too long, they'll stick.)*

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

## Trivia

*Delores says these cookies taste like the Walnetto caramels she loved as a child. She also told me that she likes the cookies better, because they don't pull out her fillings.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Rainbow Ladies

This page may contain incomplete or uncertain information. You can help Hannah Swensen Mystery Wikia by filling out missing content, fixing grammar, leaving comments, or expanding the article. click here to get started.

Once called the "Gray Ladies" for the color of their smocks, when Delores Swensen took over their management, she changed it to the "Rainbow Ladies".
They are an all volunteer group of women that help the patients with non-medical things, such as reading to them, visiting them if they do not have anyone else around, helping with paperwork and more.
Sauerbraten

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

**THIS RECIPE MUST BE STARTED 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE!**

*Marguerite and Clara Hollenbeck bring this to every Lake Eden Potluck dinner. People start lining up early so they're sure to get some.*

### Ingredients

* 3 1/2 to 4 pound boneless beef roast *(rump or sirloin tip preferred)*

#### Marinade

* 1 cup water
* 1 cup vinegar
* 2 limes, sliced with peels *(or 1 lemon)*
* 1 teaspoon ground cloves
* 10 whole green peppercorns
* 2 Tablespoons salt
* 2 Tablespoons sugar
* 2 Tablespoons molasses
* 1 teaspoon ground ginger
* 2 teaspoons ground Mexican oregano

#### 2 or 3 days Later

* 1 cup chopped onion
* 4 four-ounce cans mushrooms with the liquid
* One .88-ounce package beef gravy mix *(enough to make one cup of gravy)*
* 12 gingersnaps, crushed
* 16-ounce package wide egg noodles

### Directions

#### Marinade

* Place meat in a glass or ceramic bowl that's deep enough to hold it and leave two inches at the top.
* Mix marinade ingredients together in a large saucepan. Heat until almost boiling.
* Pour marinade over the meat, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours, turning the meat every 6 hours or so. *(Nobody's going to time you—you don't have to be exact.)* Or, you can borrow Clara's trick and make double the marinade so it covers the meat entirely and you don't have to turn it.

#### 2 or 3 days Later

* When the meat has marinated, place it in a greased crock-pot. Stir the marinade in the bowl and remove one cup of the liquid *(no lime slices.)* Pour this cup of marinade over the meat.
* Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
* Remove the meat from the crock-pot and toss out the marinade. Put in one cup of chopped onions and four 4-ounce cans of mushrooms *(stems and pieces are fine)* including the mushroom liquid. *(You can also use a large one-pound can of mushrooms, if you can find it or even 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup diluted with one can of water.)*
* Sprinkle in half of an .88-ounce packet of beef gravy mix, reserving the rest for later, and stir it all up. Then place the meat in the crock-pot, pour in enough water to just cover it, and cook it on LOW for an additional 2 hours.
* Remove meat to a carving platter. Stir the juices in the crock and turn the control to HIGH. Crush the gingersnaps and add them to the juice. Stir, cover, and let the"gravy" cook for 10 to 15 minutes. *([If it's not thick enough, add the rest of the beef gravy mix, whisk it briskly, and cook it for another minute.)*
* While the gravy is cooking, boil salted water and cook the egg noodles, according to the package directions. Drain them, butter them and serve them with the meat.
* Carve the meat *(if it needs carving—it may just fall apart and that's fine,)* arrange it on a serving platter, and pour some of the gravy over the top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve the remainder of the gravy in a gravy boat or bowl.
* Most people like to put the meat on top of the egg noodles and pour on a bit more gravy.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Praline Charlottes

## Book Reference

Lemon Meringue Pie Murder

**Praline Charlottes** is the fifth recipe featured in Lemon Meringue Pie Murder. Frost with Praline Frosting if you'd like.

## Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups melted butter *(3 sticks)*
* 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt *(decrease to 1/2 teaspoon if you use salted pecans)*
* 1 1/2 cups finely ground pecans *(grind them up in your food processor with the steel blade and 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, with rack in middle position.
* Microwave the butter in your mixing bowl to melt it. Add the sugar and vanilla. Stir until blended, and then add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
* Grind the pecans in your food processor. *(Remember to measure AFTER grinding.)* Add them to the bowl and mix. Pour in the beaten eggs and stir. Then add the flour and mix well until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
* Let the dough sit for a few minutes to firm up. Then form dough into walnut-sized balls and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. (If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chills 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 350°F. for 8 to 10 minutes or until they're golden brown around the edges. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then move to a wire rack to finish cooling. When they're cool, prepare the Praline Frosting and frost them..

Yield: Approximately 8 dozen, depending on cookie size.

## Hannah's Note

*These cookies, unfrosted, make a delicious "tea" cookie with a light, delicate flavor. The only changes you have to make are to roll the dough balls smaller and press them down with the heel of your impeccably clean hand. Bake them for about 8 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden. Andrea says they're EXCELLENT with hot chocolate,*

## Trivia

* This cookie recipe was developed because Lisa's Aunt Charlotte brought her some Pralines when she visited Lake Eden from New Orleans, and Lisa wondered if she could capture the flavor in a cookie.
* After they perfected the recipe, Hannah overnight mailed some of their cookies to Charlotte .

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Cool Whip Lemon Frosting

## Book Reference

Christmas Cake Murder

This recipe is made in the microwave.

### Ingredients

* 1 heaping cup (6 to 7 ounces by weight) of white chocolate or vanilla baking chips (I used Nestle)
* 1 ripe lemon large enough to produce
	+ 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest (just the yellow part of the peel, finely grated) and
	+ 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 8-ounce (by weight) tub of FROZEN Cool Whip (Do not thaw! Leave in the freezer.)
	+ **Hannah's 1st Note:** *Make sure you use the original Cool Whip, not the sugar free or the real whipped cream.*

### Directions

* Start by chopping your white chocolate or vanilla baking chips into smaller pieces or placing the chips in a food processor with the steel blade and processing in an on-and-off motion to chip the chips into smaller pieces.
* If you haven't done so already, zest your lemon and measure out 1/2 teaspoon of zest.
* Juice your zested lemon and measure out 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) of lemon juice.
* Place the Cool Whip in a microwave-safe bowl.
* Add the white chocolate or vanilla baking chips to the bowl.
* Sprinkle the lemon zest on top of the chips.
* Drizzle the lemon juice on top of the zest.
* Stir everything up with a heat-resistant rubber spatula.
* Microwave the contents of the bowl on HIGH for 1 minute and then let it sit in the microwave for an additional minute.
* Take the bowl out of the microwave. Stir to see if the chocolate chips are melted. If they're not, heat them in 30-second intervals with 30-second standing times on HIGH in the microwave until you succeed in melting the chips.
* Once the chips are melted, let the bowl sit on the countertop or on a cold burner for 15 minutes to thicken the icing.
* When the time is up, give the bowl a stir and remove your cake from the refrigerator. Frost your Ultimate Lemon Bundt Cake with the frosting and don't forget the sides of the crater. That's almost impossible. Just frost an inch or so down the sides of the crater.
* Return your cake to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before cutting it and serving it to your guests.

**Yield**: This frosting will frost a batch of cookies, a 9-inch by 13-inch cake, a Bundt cake, or a round two-tier layer cake.

### Hannah's 2nd Note

*You can also use this icing on cookies. Simply frost and let your cookies sit on wax paper on the kitchen counter until the frosting has set and is dry to the touch.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Vanessa Quinn

**Sister**: Shawna Lee

## Books

Peach Cobbler Murder

**Vanessa** is Shawna Lee's sister. Lives in Georgia. Married to an octogenarian in Sugar Cookie Murder. Married to an octogenarian.

## Biography

Vanessa was a physical therapist when she met Neil Roper who was very wealthy, in his 80’s, in a wheel chair due to a broken ankle and a member of the board of Pretty Girl Cosmetics. After only ten months, he died, leaving everything to Vanessa. His death happened just before Sugar Cookie Murder

## Chronology

In Peach Cobbler Murder, Vanessa opens the "Magnolia Blossom Bakery" with her sister Shawna Lee and is planning on underwriting the business for a year.
Regency Ginger Crisps

## Book Reference

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

**Regency Ginger Crisps** is the second recipe in *Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder*. Hannah was making *Regency Ginger Crisps* for Lake Eden's Regency Romance Club.

## Ingredients

* 3/4 cup melted butter *(1 1/2 sticks)*
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 1 large beaten egg *(or two medium, just whip them up with a fork)*
* 4 tablespoons molasses *(that's 1/4 cup.)*
	+ To measure molasses, first spray the inside of a measuring cup with Pam so that the molasses won't stick to the sides of the cup.
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons ground ginger
* 2 1/4 cups flour *(not sifted)*
* 1/2 cup white sugar in small bowl *(for later)*

## Directions

* DO NOT preheat oven--dough must be chilled before baking.
* Melt butter and mix in sugar. Let mixture cool and then add egg(s). Add soda, molasses, salt, and ginger. Stir it thoroughly. Add flour and mix it in. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour. *(Overnight is even better).*
* When the dough has chilled, preheat oven to 375°F, rack in the middle position.
* Roll dough into walnut-sized balls with your hands. Roll the dough balls in white sugar. *(Just dump them in the bowl with sugar and shake bowl softly to coat them.)* Place them on greased cookie sheets, 12 to a standard sheet. Flatten them with a spatula.
* Bake at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until nicely browned. Cool on cookie sheets for no more than 1 minute, and them remove to wire rack to finish cooling. *(If you leave these on the cookie sheets too long, they'll stick.)*

Yield: 6 to 7 dozen, depending on cookie size.

## Trivia

*Served these at Mother's Regency Romance Club. They asked me for something from the Regency Period. Why not?*

*(Tracy loves these as a bedtime snack with a glass of milk!)*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Candy Cane Bar Cookies

Candy Cane Murder

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

* Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute 30 seconds on HIGH. Set it on the counter to cool.
* Place the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer *(you can also do this by hand, but it'll take some muscle,)* add the egg, and beat it until it's a uniform color.
* Add the peppermint extract, salt, and finely crushed miniature candy canes. Mix it all up.
* Add the 6 drops of red food coloring. Mix it in thoroughly.
* Feel the bowl with the butter. If you can cup your hands around it comfortably, you can add it to your mixing bowl now. Mix it in slowly at low speed. *(You don't want it to slosh all over!)* If it's still too warm to add, wait until it's cooler and then do it.
* Add the flour in half-cup increments, beating after each addition.
* Take the bowl from the mixer and stir in one cup chocolate chips by hand.
* Spread the batter evenly into a greased *(or Pammed)* 9-inch by 13-inch pan. Bake it at 350°F for 25 minutes or until it feels firm on the top.
* Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle it with the remaining two cups of chocolate chips. Immediately cover the pan with a piece of heavy-duty foil or a cookie sheet. *(That keeps the heat in.)* Let it sit for three minutes. Then take off the cookie sheet, or foil, and spread out the melted chips like frosting with a rubber spatula or frosting knife.
* Cool completely and then cut into brownie-sized pieces.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Rhonda Scharf

## Books

Chocolate Chip Cookie MurderLemon Meringue Murder

**Rhonda Scharf** is a character in the *Hannah Swensen Mystery* series who made a minor appearance in Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.

## Bio

### Personality

Rhonda is generally nice but has no problem showing her disdain or annoyance by things. She easily worries, expressing disbelief and fear after hearing about Ron LaSalle. She has a flirty personality with good-looking men, despite being almost fifty, and there are rumors she dates a lot.

She is also known as a makeup conneseuir, not only handling the orders and supply where she works, but she is also able to identify various detail and can recognize where a specific shade might be from. She takes pride in her own appearance and can easily be persuaded for information if one was to boost her ego first.

### Appearance

Rhonda is described as being plump and middle aged with short black hair Hannah theorizes is coated in hairspray. Her appearance is heavily implied to be "fake", with her wearing overly thick makeup, violet contacts, manicured nails, and false lashes. She prefers wearing tight or flashy attire.

## Relationships

### Bill Todd

She is shown flirting with him despite knowing he is married. However, he is almost half of her age and it is possible that while she flirts, she wouldn't necessarily do anything with him. He is nice to her despite being uncomfortable with her nature, and he was able to use this to get answers from her.

### Jon Walker

Her boss at the Lake Eden Neighborhood Pharmacy. Jon had to fired her just before she left on her vacation, because she was indiscreet concerning one of the pharmacy's customers.

### Ken Purvis

Rhonda was having an affair with the School principle, Ken Purvis. He broke it off just before she was murdered.

## Chronology by Novel

### Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

When Hannah and Bill tried to track down a specific lipstick shade to find out who was with Ron LaSalle on the day of his murder, they went around town to check various makeup counters, eventually stumbling upon her. Rhonda insisted she didn't carry the specific shade, insulting its color before deducing Luanne Hanks would probably have it.

### Lemon Meringue Murder

Rhonda sells the old lake side house that she inherited to Norman. She tells everyone that she is off for a two week vacation in Europe and only wants a few keepsakes from the house. When Norman, Delores and Hannah visit the house to see if there was anything for Granny's Attic, Delores finds the murdered Rhonda in the basement.
Rodney Paloma

## Books

Wedding Cake Murder

**Rodney Paloma** was a contestant Food Channel’s *Dessert Chef Competition‎‎*

## Bio

Rodney’s mother was a dessert chef in Chef Duquesne’s restaurant. He over worked her and was always overly critical. He barely paid her enough to survive on with her young son. His mother became sick and died and Rodney always blamed Chef Duquesne.

## Chronology by Novel

### Wedding Cake Murder

A dessert chef in the Food Channel’s *Dessert Chef Competition‎‎*. He tied with Hannah for fist place in two of the challenges, Cake and free-for-all.

The night of the cake competition he baked his mother’s cake with candied violets and then invited Chef Duquesne to have a glass of his favorite wine.

Then the chef told Rodney he would show him what he tought of his cake, and took a bit of Hannah’s cake. Saying that Rodney’s cake was pretty but it had no taste and that he was a lousy baker just like his mother. Rodney then picked up the cake knife and stabbed him.
When Hannah figured it out, he tried to kill her. She got away from him by hiding in the dump truck that was picking up the dumpster’s at the Lake Eden Inn. He figured it out and was arrested at the dump site by Lonnie and Rick Murphy.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Wedding Cake Murder: 19 (Hannah Swensen) (p. 349). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Quick Pickle Salad

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

*This is Reverend Knudson's recipe. He says to tell you that if you make these pickles in the morning, you can serve them at suppertime. He also says they're even better the next day, but he bets they won't last long.*

### Ingredients

* 2 seventeen-ounce cans sliced beets
* 1 cucumber, peeled, sliced, and cut into half-inch slices
* 1 small onion, thinly sliced
* 2 teaspoons whole pickling spices\*\*\*
	+ \*\*\**Pickling spices are a mixture of cinnamon, allspice, mustard seeds, coriander, ginger, chilies, cloves, black pepper, mace, cardamom, and bay leaves. The Reverend says that if you don't like one of those spices, you can mix your own pickling spices and just leave out the one you don't care for.*
* 2/3 cup white vinegar
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 2/3 cup beet juice *(reserved from canned beets)*

### Directions

* Drain the beets and reserve 2/3 cup of the liquid. Place the drained beets, sliced cucumbers, and sliced onions in a large saucepan on the stove. Stir them gently with a wooden spoon the mix them.
* Tie the pickling spices in a square of cheesecloth and drop them in on top of the pickle-to-be in the saucepan.
* Measure out 2/3 cup white vinegar and put it in the saucepan.
* Measure out 2/3 cup sugar *(white granulated)* and put that in the saucepan.
* Add the 2/3 cup beet juice you reserved from the canned beets and stir everything around until it's mixed.
* Heat over medium heat, stirring often, until the liquid boils. Immediately take off the heat, transfer to a glass or ceramic bowl, cover tightly with a cover or with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
* Remove the pickling spices before serving.

## Hannah's Note

*The Reverend also says to tell you that you can do this whole thing in the microwave if you like. (That's the way he does it.) Just put everything in a microwave-safe bowl, heat it on FULL power for approximately 12 minutes, or until it boils. Stop the microwave every 4 minutes to stir it. When it's ready, cover the bowl and refrigerate the pickles, just like you'd do if you made them on top of the stove.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Oodles of Noodles

Sugar Cookie Murder

Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
*This is Gail Hansen's recipe. It's really wonderful!*

*(I added a cup of cranberries to this dish when I made it for Thanksgiving—everyone loved it that way.)*

### Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
* Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan with Pam. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the salt and sugar until they're a uniform yellow color. Add the sour cream, whipping cream, milk, and vanilla and whisk it all up.
* Dump the uncooked noodles in the cake pan. Pour the egg mixture over the top. If there isn't enough liquid to cover most of the noodles, add more whole milk until only a few are sticking up.
* Crush the cornflakes by putting them into a baggie and squeezing them with your hands. *(When they're crushed, they should be approximately a 1/2 cup in volume.)* Sprinkle the crushed cornflakes evenly on top of the noodles and liquid.
* Melt the butter in a microwave-safe container and drizzle it over the top of the cornflakes.
* Bake, uncovered, at 350°F for approximately an hour and a half, or until the top is golden brown.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Sally's Banana Bread

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

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

*Regina Todd got this recipe from her cousin, Sally, who got it from her brother's neighbor, Connie. Regina tried to teach Andrea to bake it, but that was a lost cause and she gave up.*

### Ingredients

* 3/4 cup softened butter *(1 1/2 sticks)*
* 1 1/2 cups white sugar *(granulated)*
* 2 beaten eggs *(just whip them up in a glass with a fork)*
* 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas *(3 or 4 overripe bananas, the ones with lots of black spots on the peel)*
* 2 cups flour *(no need to sift)*
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup buttermilk
* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans *(optional)*

### Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
* Mix the butter and sugar together until they're nice and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs and stir it all up.
* Peel and mash the bananas. *(You can do this with a fork if they're ripe enough.)* Measure out 1 1/2 cups of mashed banana and add it to your mixing bowl. Stir well.
* In another bowl, measure out the flour and mix in the baking soda and salt.
* Add half of the flour to your mixing bowl. Stir well. Add half of the buttermilk *(you don't have to be exact)* and mix that in. Add the rest of the flour, stir well, and then mix in the rest of the buttermilk. Stir thoroughly.
* Mix in the nuts at this point, if you decided to use them.
* Coat the inside of a loaf pan *(the type you'd use for bread)* with non-stick cooking spray. Spoon in the banana bread batter and bake at 350°F for approximately one hour, or until a long toothpick or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
* You can also bake this in 3 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.

## Hannah's Note

*Regina usually sends this banana bread home with Bill.* (*I guess she figures it's the only way her son will get anything homemade.*) *Andrea likes it sliced, toasted, and buttered for breakfast*.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Victoria Bascomb

## Books

* Christmas Caramel Murder
* Banana Cream Pie Murder

**Mayor Bascomb’s sister a renowned stage actress that has retired and move to Lake Eden to be close to the only family she has.**

## Bio

She got her big break on Broadway when she was the understudy for the star, Laine Warner, of a play. Laine became sick before opening night and Victoria stepped in and starred. She received rave reviews and claim. She ended up with a long career on stage and won many awards.

When she decided to retire, she moved to Lake Eden to be near her only remaining family, Richard Bascomb.
She bought the condo at the Albion Hotel and lived one floor down from Delores and Doc. Delores and Tori became friends and Delores heard the gun shot that killed her.
Since moving to Lake Eden she became the director of the Lake Eden Players annual Thanksgiving production and she director the Jordan High School play. She also gave private acting lessons.

## Personality

Many people admired her for her acting ability but no one claimed to be her friend or admired her for her personality.
“She was the same person who’d put the drugs, or whatever it was, in my soup. She hadn’t changed at all! Tori had always been a selfish, scheming person and she still had all those traits.”

## Chronology by Novel

### Christmas Caramel Murder

She had just moved to Lake Eden and was direction her first play with the Lake Eden Players when Mrs. Claus was murdered.

### Banana Cream Pie Murder

She is murdered early in the book. Delores heard noises from the condo below her's and the gunshot. Since they were friends, Delores had a key and went down to see what the problem was. She found Tori's body.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Banana Cream Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery Book 20) (p. 373). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
Piccadilly Cheese Mini Muffins

Raspberry Danish Murder

**Hannah's 1st Note: Do not mix up these mini muffins with an electric mixer. Any time you make muffins, they should be mixed by hand for best results.**

**Hannah's 2nd Note: This recipe can be doubled, but only use one egg, not two.**

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
* Prepare your baking pans by filling 2 mini muffin pans ***(6 cups apiece)*** with mini muffin papers.
* Measure out one and a half cups of biscuit mix and place it in a medium-size bowl. ***(Press it down in the cup when you measure it.)***
* Sprinkle the sharp grated cheddar cheese on top of the biscuit mix.
* Sprinkle on the garlic powder.
* Sprinkle on the onion powder.
* Sprinkle on the quarter-teaspoon of salt.
* Sprinkle on the Tablespoon of sugar.
* Sprinkle on the dry mustard.
* Mix all the dry ingredients together with a wooden spoon.
* Pour the whole milk in a small bowl and add the beaten egg. Mix with a fork ***(you can use the same fork you used to whip up the egg)*** until they are thoroughly blended.
* Pat the dill pickle relish with paper towels to get off some of the moisture. Then add it to the bowl with the milk and egg. Mix well with the fork.
* Pour the contents of the small bowl ***(the wet ingredients)*** into the medium-size bowl ***(the dry ingredients)***. Mix them with the wooden spoon just until they are blended. Do not overmix. There are supposed to be some small lumps.
* Using a small melon baller, or a teaspoon from your silverware drawer, fill the mini muffin cups almost but not quite to the top of the cups.

**Hannah's 3rd Note: These mini muffins don't rise very much, just enough to get rounded on the tops.**

* Bake your Piccadilly Cheese Mini Muffins at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown on the tops.
* You can test your mini muffins for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes out without sticky dough clinging to the sides, your mini muffins are done.

**Hannah's 4th Note: You can also make this recipe as regular-size muffins using a cupcake pan. If you do this, you'll need to bake your larger muffins for 20 to 25 minutes.**

Yield: Approximately 3 dozen mini muffins
Simple Powdered Sugar Frosting

For Hot Cross Buns

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

## Ingredients:

* 1/4 cup salted butter ***(1/2 stick, 2 ounces)***
* 1/4 cup milk
* 2 pounds powdered sugar ***(no need to sift unless it has big lumps)***
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

**Hannah's 1st Note: You can make this frosting with any liquid in place of milk. I've done it with orange juice, pineapple juice, and apple juice. If you choose to use a juice that's sweet, your frosting will be sweeter.**

**Hannah's 2nd Note: You can also replace the vanilla extract with any other flavor of extract. I've sued, coconut, raspberry, strawberry, and rum extracts.**

## **To Make the Simple Powdered Sugar Frosting:**

* Heat the **salted butter** and the **milk** together in a saucepan over MEDIUM heat. Alternatively, heat the butter and milk together in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Do this on HIGH for 30 seconds.
* Place the **powdered sugar** in a medium-size bowl.
* **Remove** a half-cup of the powdered sugar from the bowl and **set it aside** to use it, if necessary, to create the consistency of frosting that you desire.

* **Pour** the heated butter and milk mixture over the powdered sugar in the bowl.
* Add the **vanilla extract** to the bowl.
* Use your favorite mixing spoon and **stir** until the mixture is smooth.

* Let the frosting **cool** a bit and check it for consistency, If it's **too thick**, add a bit more milk or fruit juice. If it's **too thin**, add some of the powdered sugar you reserved.
* **Beat** the frosting thoroughly. Then **make a cross** on your Hot Cross Buns.

**Hannah's 3rd Note: While my frosting is still warm, I pour it into a container with a nozzle so that I can drizzle the frosting over the top of the still-warm rolls. I use a bottle with a screw-on nozzle like the ones Rose uses for ketchup and mustard at Hal & Rose's Cafe in Lake Eden. Lisa say she uses a pastry bag or her cupcake injector to make the cross on each Hot Cross Bun.**

**Hannah's 4th Note: If you have any frosting left over, place it in a small container, cover it securely with a double layer of plastic wrap, and keep it in your refrigerator. Then all you  have to do to use it is reheat it for a few seconds in the microwave.**
Oatmeal Raisin Crisps

## Book Reference

Strawberry Shortcake Murder

**Oatmeal Raisin Crisps** is the third recipe featured in *Strawberry Shortcake Murder*.

## Ingredients

* 1 cup melted butter *(2 sticks--1/2 pound)*
* 2 cups white sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 large eggs, beaten *(just whip them up with a fork)*
* 2 1/2 cups flour *(no need to sift)*
* 1 cup raisins *(either regular or golden, you choose)*
* 2 cups GROUND dry oatmeal *(measure before grinding)*

## Directions

* Preheat oven to 375°F, rack in the middle position
* Melt the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add the sugar and mix. Then mix in the vanilla, salt, and baking soda.
* When the mixture has cooled to room temperature, stir in the eggs. Add the flour and stir it all up. Then mix in the raisins.
* Prepare your oatmeal. *(Use Quakers if you have it --the cardboard canister is useful for all sorts of things.)* Measure out 2 cups and dump it in the food processor, chopping it with the steel blade until it's the consistency of coarse sand. Dump it in your dough and mix it all up. *(This dough will be fairly stiff.)*
* Roll walnut-sized dough balls with your hands and place them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. *(If it's too sticky to roll, place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and try again.)* Squish the dough balls down with a fork in a crisscross pattern *(like peanut butter cookies).*
* Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

## Trivia

**Andrea likes these and she's never liked raisins--go figure.**

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Soda Bread

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

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

*This recipe is from Bridget Murphy. She makes it every year on St. Patrick's Day and many times in-between.*

### Ingredients

* 1/2 stick butter, at room temperature *(1/4 cup,1/8 pound)*
* 1 cup flour
	+ In a large bowl, with a fork, cut the butter into the cup of flour.

Add the following ingredients to the bowl:

* 3 more cups flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 cup white sugar *(granulated)*
* 1/2 teaspoon cardamom *(or coriander)*

In a separate bowl, mix the following:

* 1 and 3/4 cups evaporated milk *(or buttermilk)*
* 2 beaten eggs
* 2 cups golden raisins *(optional)*

### Directions

* Preheat oven to 375°F rack in the middle position.
* Add the milk and eggs *(and the optional raisins)* to the bowl with the flour and stir thoroughly. Turn out on a floured board.

*Bridget says to make sure this step doesn't scare you off. Anyone can knead bread. Just put some wax paper on your counter, and sprinkle it with flour.*

* Knead the dough *(punch it down, roll it around, it over on itself like you're playing with clay and mashing it down)* for 2 to 3 minutes. If the dough becomes too sticky for you to handle, sprinkle it with more flour. When your 2 or 3 minutes are up, shape it into a ball and cut it in two with a knife you've sprayed with Pam or other non-stick cooking spray. Shape each half into something resembling something round.
* Spray two 9-inch pie plates with non-stick cooking spray. Put the dough inside the pie plates, press it down, and use a sharp knife to cut an "X" on the tops a half-inch deep. *(Bridget says you might have to spray the if knife first to keep it from sticking.)*
* Bake the soda bread at 375°F for 40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack to room temperature, turn out onto a breadboard, and slice to serve.

## Hannah's Note

*This soda bread is especially good with John Brady's Quick Irish Chili, or Irish Roast Beast.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.
Quick Irish Chili

## Book Reference

Sugar Cookie Murder

*This chili will hold for hours in a crock-pot and it's perfect for halftime at football games - just make it the night before and refrigerate it in the crock. Four to five hours before you want to serve it, just put the crock in the slow cooker and turn it to LOW.*

### Ingredients

* 2 pounds hamburger *(don't use lean--it needs some fat in it)*
* 2 minced garlic cloves *(or one Tablespoon of jarred, chopped garlic)*
* 1 large onion, finely chopped
* 8-ounce can tomato sauce
* 3 whole cooked tomatoes, skins removed and cut into large pieces *(you can use canned)*
* 1 bottle Guinness stout *(12 ounces)*
* 3 teaspoons chili powder
* 3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper *(cayenne)*
* 2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 2 teaspoons whole green peppercorns
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 Tablespoon brown sugar

#### Toppings

* Chopped celery sautéed in oil, but still a bit crunchy.
* Chopped green onions.
* Shredded cheese.
* Chopped black olives.
* Sour cream.
* Chili beans *(but only if you must - real chili doesn't have beans)*

## Directions

* Brown the hamburger in a large skillet. Add the garlic and onion and stir until the onion pieces are translucent.
* Add the tomato sauce and the tomatoes. Stir well.
* Add remaining ingredients and heat everything up over medium heat, then cover, turn heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
* Fill bowls with chili and top with any or all of the above toppings.

This chili is especially good served with Bridget's Soda Bread.

## Hannah's Note

*Bridget says to tell you to back off a bit on the red pepper if your family doesn't like things spicy. A generous dollop of sour cream mixed into your bowl will also work to cut the heat from the pepper.*

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.