Blythe transferred the muffins from the tray to a wire rack to finish cooling. “Would you like a cup of coffee and a muffin before you leave for work?”
“Sure. Could you spare a few moments to join me?”
“I’m sure I could.”
“Great. Because I was hoping you could make another recommendation.”
“A real estate agent?”
Dolly smiled. “Are you psychic?”
Blythe shook her head.
Dolly sighed wistfully. “Yeah. There’s something about Martha’s Vineyard….” But then she had no words to define the complex emotions she felt about the place.
Blythe didn’t seem to need such an explanation. “I know,” she said with just the hint of a smile. “I know.”
The women looked out the big picture window that overlooked the gardens beyond. The morning light was different in early September compared to when Dolly had arrived a little more than a month before. And she marveled at how her life had changed in those short weeks.
“So, is Josh going to call me?” Dolly wondered aloud.
“Should I give him your cell number?” Blythe asked.
Dolly turned to her new friend and smiled. A world of possibilities was now open to her. “I wish you would.”
Recipes
Blueberry Cobbler
Ingredients
6 cups blueberries
1/3 cup granulated sugar
Zest of 1 large lemon
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the cobbler topping:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsalted cold butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup cold buttermilk
Heavy cream or milk, for brushing
Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
vanilla ice cream (optional)
whipped cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC, Gas Mark 5). Place the blueberries in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and lemon zest. Rub together with your fingers until scented. Add the sugar-lemon mixture to the blueberries. Add the brown sugar and cornstarch. Gently stir until the blueberries are well coated. Let the mixture sit while you prepare the cobbler topping.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture. Mix until the butter pieces are pea-sized. In a small bowl, whisk the cold buttermilk and vanilla together, then pour mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula until the mixture comes together. Don’t over-mix; the dough will be sticky.
Pour the blueberry mixture into a 9x13-inch pan. Drop pieces of the cobbler topping on top of the blueberries. Don’t fret if there’s space between the cobbler topping. Lightly brush the cobbler topping with heavy cream or milk. Sprinkle the turbinado sugar over the cobbler topping. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until the cobbler topping is golden brown and the blueberries are bubbling. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
Note: Store cobbler, covered, in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Can be reheated in the microwave.
* * *
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
* * *
Blueberry Crisp
The filling
Ingredients
4 cups blueberries (about a quart)
½ cup granulated sugar
juice and finely grated zest of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
The topping
Ingredients
½ cup butter
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
¾ cup quick cooking oatmeal
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
whipped cream (optional)
vanilla ice cream (optional)
* * *
Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC, Gas Mark 4). Butter a 13x9-inch baking pan. Combine the berries, sugar, lemon juice and zest, and flour in a large bowl.
Arrange the blueberry mixture in the baking pan. For the topping, melt the butter and stir in the sugar, oatmeal, flour, and cinnamon until well mixed. Sprinkle over the blueberries. Bake for 45 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the berries are soft. Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a side of vanilla ice cream.
* * *
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
About the Author
The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett’s pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent--whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett—that keeps her in the hearts of her readers. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series, the Tales of Telenia adventure-fantasy saga, and now the Lotus Bay Mysteries, and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the descriptions and links to all her works, and sign up for her emailed newsletter here: http://www.lorrainebartlett.com
If you enjoyed Grape Expectations please consider reviewing it on your favorite online review site. Thank you!
Find Lorraine on Social Media
www.LorraineBartlett.com
Also by Lorraine Bartlett
The Lotus Bay Mysteries
Panty Raid (A Tori Cannon-Kathy Grant mini mystery)
With Baited Breath
Christmas At Swans Nest
A Reel Catch
* * *
The Victoria Square Mysteries
A Crafty Killing
The Walled Flower
One Hot Murder
Dead, Bath and Beyond (with Laurie Cass)
Yule Be Dead (with Gayle Leeson)
Recipes To Die For: A Victoria Square Cookbook
* * *
Life On Victoria Square (A companion series to the Victoria Square Mysteries)
Carving Out A Path
A Basket Full of Bargains
The Broken Teacup
It’s Tutu Much
* * *
Blythe Cove Manor
A Dream Weekend
A Final Gift
An Unexpected Visitor
Grape Expectations
* * *
Tales of Telenia (adventure-fantasy)
THRESHOLD
JOURNEY
TREACHERY
* * *
Short Stories
Love & Murder: A Bargain-Priced Collection of Short Stories
Happy Holidays? (A Collection of Christmas Stories)
An Unconditional Love
Love Heals
Blue Christmas
Prisoner of Love
We’re So Sorry, Uncle Albert
* * *
Writing as L.L. Bartlett
The Jeff Resnick Mysteries
Murder On The Mind
Dead In Red
Room At The Inn
Cheated By Death
Bound By Suggestion
Dark Waters
Shattered Spirits
* * *
Jeff Resnick’s Personal Files
Evolution: Jeff Resnick’s Backstory
A Jeff Resnick Six Pack
When The Spirit Moves You
Bah! Humbug
Cold Case
Spooked!
Crybaby
Eyewitness
A Part of the Pattern
* * *
Other Stories
Abused: A Daughter’s Story
Off Script
* * *
Writing as Lorna Barrett
The Booktown Mysteries
Murder Is Binding
Bookmarked For Death
Bookplate Special
Chapter & Hearse
>
Sentenced To Death
Murder On The Half Shelf
Not The Killing Type
Book Clubbed
A Fatal Chapter
Title Wave
A Just Clause
Poisoned Pages
A Killer Edition
* * *
With The Cozy Chicks
The Cozy Chicks Kitchen
Tea Time With The Cozy Chicks
Grape Expectations Page 4