Karen Rose Smith, Cozy Mystery Author Full of Comfort Cooking.

Facebook, sometimes I have to thank it for helping me establish contact with some amazing people.  I had joined a page called, "Chatting About Cozies", and through it found out about so many authors I didn't know existed.  Now I've told you on here before that I love reading mysteries, and what has been termed, "cozy mystery"; just an average person solving mysteries while going about an average life.  I so want to do this!  I sort of do actually, on my travel blog where I give details about places to visit that aren't in a typical tourist guide, plus photos of course.

Anyway, one author I discovered was Karen Rose Smith; I learned about her books and bought all the "Caprice De Luca" ones; a bonus, besides a good mystery, are the recipes included.  One day I received a friend request from Karen and gladly accepted; at the same time I became a little sad.  Karen lives in Hanover, PA; I used to live in Lancaster, PA; basically about an hour away from each other.  She and I have so much in common, and I have the feeling that if we'd met when I was in PA, we possibly would have become good friends in person, not just on Facebook.  Such is life, at least we finally met, in a fashion.

Once in a while Karen will post a recipe she's developed for the Caprice series, and one of these was from her newest, "Gilt by Association".  I decided I wanted to try it out, and write about it on this food blog.  However, I went one step further; from her recipe, I was able to develop one of my own, so thank you Karen for the inspiration.  Hint...maybe Caprice would like to make these in one of her stories one day?

Here goes, first will be "Caprice's Cran-Orange, White-Choco Cookies" which are light, airy, crispy and so delectable.  I told Karen that these were like a little piece of heaven.  Then will come my recipe for "Mary's Very Cherry Cocoa-Chip Cookies", again light, airy and crispy, but with a cocoa-cherry flavor and semi-sweet chips.  Now these I described to Karen as being a devilish style of cookie, while Caprice's were more angelic.  Now who doesn't enjoy a little heaven vs. hell in their baking?

Caprice's Cran-Orange, White-Choco Cookies

(Gilt by Association)

1/2 cup margarine (softened)

1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tablespoon grated orange peel  (I use one tablespoon fresh--   about 2 navel oranges grated--and 1 tablespoon dried.    Adjust for your taste!)
1/2 cup Rice Krispies®
1 cup dried cranberries (I use Ocean Spray Craisins®)
1 cup white chocolate chips

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 375̊

Mix softened margarine and butter.  Cream with sugar.  Add eggs and mix well.  Add baking powder, baking soda, salt and vanilla.  Mix in.  Add flour 1/2 cup at a time.  Mix in orange peel.  Stir in Rice Krispies®, dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips.

 

Cream butter, margarine, sugar

Add Eggs

Add flour 1/2 cup at a time

Smooth Batter

Add Rice Krispies, Craisins, White Chocolate Chips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drop by rounded tablespoonful onto lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake about 12-13 minutes until golden brown and set. 

Ready to Bake

After Baking

Cooling on Baking Rack

Makes 3 dozen.

Karen Rose Smith

(2015)

Now comes my new recipe...

Mary’s Very Cherry Cocoa-Chip Cookies

(Inspired by Karen Rose Smith, author of “Gilt by Association”, and her recipe, “Caprice’s Cran-Orange White-Choco Cookies”)

 Ingredients:

1/2 cup margarine (softened)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp.  baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. unsweetened Dutch cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
1/2 cup Cocoa Krispies®
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 Preparation:

 Preheat oven to 375̊

 Mix softened margarine and butter; cream with sugar.  Add eggs, mix well.  Add baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt; mix in.  Add flour 1/2 cup at a time.  Stir in Cocoa Krispies®, dried cherries, and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Cream butter, margarine, sugar

Add powder, soda, salt, cocoa powder

Smooth Batter

Add Cocoa Krispies, Dried Cherries, Semi-Sweet Chips

 

Drop by rounded tablespoonful onto lightly greased cookie sheet, or Airbake sheets.  Bake about 12-13 minutes until golden brown and set. 

Ready to Bake

After Baking

Cooling on Baking Rack

 

Makes 3 dozen.

Mary Cokenour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now on a side note, I love giving out new creations to my favorite guinea pigs; unbiased opinions are a great help.  Everyone loved both of these cookies, but the overall winner was my "Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies" which I had made on the same day.   So Karen, you might want to try out this recipe too.  *wink*  It will be posted on another day soon.

 

Mary Cokenour