by Jessica Beck
“You’re going to keep me, I hope,” I said with a grin.
“There’s no doubt about that. Are you ready to go home?” he asked.
“Could we make one stop along the way?” I asked.
“Sure, but there’s nothing between here and our cottage.”
“I didn’t say that it would be a direct route, but if you don’t mind, I’d still like that ice cream.”
He laughed heartily. “We’ll buy you one of every flavor in stock,” he said.
“Don’t make promises you aren’t willing to keep, sir,” I told him with a grin.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied.
We didn’t buy every flavor they had on hand, but we did manage to put a dent in their inventory. It was a nice evening, and I didn’t have to go to bed for at least an hour, so we sat out on our front porch eating ice cream and chatting about nothing, just being together.
The two of us had what Clint Harpold had so desperately wanted, but I couldn’t feel sorry for him.
Instead of looking for someone who could love him back, he’d decided to eliminate his main rival, at least in his mind, and the result had been pure and utter chaos.
It was no way to find love, but it was surely a perfect path toward ruin, and I was glad once again that I had Jake in my life.
I loved and was loved in return, I had a job I thrived at and that I was good at, and my family and friends were nearly too many to count.
In every way that mattered, I was the wealthiest woman alive, and I knew it.
And in the end, it was truly the only thing that mattered.
Recipes
Cherry Cheating Donuts
The reason these are called cheating donuts is because some folks don’t think they are donuts at all due to their simplicity to make and the lack of many ingredients. I don’t draw that particular line of distinction just because I use a few simple items to prepare them. For me, the true test is in the taste, and trust me, these things are fantastic! In fact, they are better than some of the recipes I make from scratch, but don’t tell my family and friends I said that! Fillings are easy enough. Just grab your favorite jam or preserve and you’re all set.
This is a fun way to start getting used to making fried goodies, and if they aren’t to your liking, all you’ve lost is a little bread, some filling, a few simple ingredients, and the oil used to fry them in. I’m willing to bet that you’ll enjoy them as much as we do though, and a dusting of powdered confectioners’ sugar at the end makes the perfect topping.
Ingredients
For the Batter:
— 1 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
— 3⁄4 cup milk (whole or 2%)
— 1 egg
— 2 teaspoons baking powder
— 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
— 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients:
— 4 to 6 slices of bread, any kind you prefer (we use white for this)
— Fruit-based jam or preserves (use your favorite; cherry is our go-to choice)
— Cinnamon sugar or confectioners’ sugar
— Canola oil for frying
Directions
Heat enough canola oil to fry your treats to 365 degrees F.
While you’re waiting for that to come to temperature, grab a medium mixing bowl and sift the dry ingredients together. Then, in a larger bowl, beat the egg and add the milk. Add the dry mix to the wet, and stir it in well to make a dipping batter.
Next, cut the crusts from the bread and make jam sandwiches with the fruit-based filling of your choice. Cut the sandwiches into four equal pieces, sealing the edges with your fingers, or you can use a ravioli maker to cut out round shapes and seal the edges as well.
Dip each small segment into the batter and then add to the fryer, turning until both sides are golden brown.
Dust with confectioners’ sugar or cinnamon sugar, and enjoy!
Makes 8 to 12 treats
Lemon Wow Donuts
I freely admit that I go through phases where I just can’t get enough of the cool, refreshing taste of lemon. Summer in particular is my favorite time of year to make these treats. There are several ways of enhancing the lemon taste in a basic cake donut recipe, but I’ve found over the years that a donut too tart for one person is too mild for the other. This is one of those recipes where experimenting is the order of the day. Don’t be afraid to play with the proportions of lemon juice, lemonade, and lemon zest that you use. That’s half the fun, in my opinion.
Ingredients
— 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
— 1 teaspoon baking soda
— 4 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
— Dash of salt
— 1 egg, beaten
— 1/4 cup milk (whole or 2%)
— 1/4 cup lemonade (sweetened)
— 2 teaspoons lemon juice
— Lemon zest (one lemon)
— Four crushed lemon candies, about 1 tablespoon (entirely optional)
— Canola oil, enough to submerge the donuts
Directions
Heat enough canola oil to fry your treats to 365 degrees F.
While the oil is heating, in a medium-sized bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, confectioners’ sugar, and salt together. Set it aside, and in a larger bowl, beat the egg, then add the milk, lemonade, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir to combine the ingredients, then slowly add the dry mix to the wet, stirring thoroughly as you go, adding the candy pieces last. Use two tablespoons, one to scoop the batter and the other to slide it off into the oil once it comes to temperature. Cook each drop for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown, and then remove from the oil and place on a paper towel. A dusting of confectioners’ sugar is optional, but we always do it at my house!
Makes approximately 12 lemon drop donuts
Baked Cherry Delights
Sometimes I like to bake my donuts instead of deep-frying them. Not only are they healthier, but the cleanup is quite a bit easier. Baked donuts are surprisingly tasty, and I’ve converted several of my standard fried donuts to baked versions over the years. You can use your oven, or if you find yourself making more and more baked donuts, you might want to buy an electric donut baker. The rings are already in the equipment, and it works on much the same principle as a countertop waffle maker. These donuts are quite good, and I find that I’m making them quite often by request, something that’s always a good sign with my crew!
Ingredients
— 1 egg, beaten slightly
— 1⁄2 cup milk (whole or 2%)
— 1 tablespoon butter, melted (Contrary to most bakers, I use salted butter.)
— 1⁄2 cup granulated white sugar
— 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
— 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
— 1 teaspoon baking soda
— 1 teaspoon baking powder
— 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
— 3/4 cup dried fruit (any combination of fruit bits like raisins, cranberries, apples, apricots, or cherries will work just fine)
Directions
Set your oven to 375 degrees F, or turn on your donut maker and let it come to temperature.
While you are waiting, grab a medium mixing bowl and sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside, and take another bowl, beating the egg first, and then mixing in the milk, melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mix, stirring until it’s all been mixed in well. Don’t overmix here, as it might make for tougher treats than you bargain for.
Add the batter to your donut pan for the oven or your maker and bake for 7 to 11 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out cleanly from the donut and it’
s reached a golden hue.
Remove to a cooling rack, and then coat with a basic sugar glaze (milk, vanilla extract, and confectioners’ sugar) or just dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar.
Makes 5 to 8 donuts, depending on the pan size.
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Other Books by Jessica Beck
The Donut Mysteries
Glazed Murder
Fatally Frosted
Sinister Sprinkles
Evil Éclairs
Tragic Toppings
Killer Crullers
Drop Dead Chocolate
Powdered Peril
Illegally Iced
Deadly Donuts
Assault and Batter
Sweet Suspects
Deep Fried Homicide
Custard Crime
Lemon Larceny
Bad Bites
Old Fashioned Crooks
Dangerous Dough
Troubled Treats
Sugar Coated Sins
Criminal Crumbs
Vanilla Vices
Raspberry Revenge
Fugitive Filling
Devil’s Food Defense
Pumpkin Pleas
Floured Felonies
Mixed Malice
Tasty Trials
Baked Books
Cranberry Crimes
Boston Cream Bribes
Cherry-Filled Charges
The Classic Diner Mysteries
A Chili Death
A Deadly Beef
A Killer Cake
A Baked Ham
A Bad Egg
A Real Pickle
A Burned Biscuit
The Ghost Cat Cozy Mysteries
Ghost Cat: Midnight Paws
Ghost Cat 2: Bid for Midnight
The Cast Iron Cooking Mysteries
Cast Iron Will
Cast Iron Conviction
Cast Iron Alibi
Cast Iron Motive
Cast Iron Suspicion