Peach of a Murder
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Peach of a Murder
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A PEACH OF A MURDER (A Fresh-Baked Mystery)
A PEACH OF A MURDER introduces Phyllis Newsom and her friends, a group of retired teachers, as they become involved in a series of murders centered around the annual Peach Festival in the Texas town where they live. Rich in the colorful and sometimes deadly details of small-town life, this book and the ones that will follow it feature not only intriguing mystery plots and likable characters but also delicious recipes for a variety of baked goods.
PHYLLIS’S SPICY PEACH COBBLER 1 tablespoon cornstarch Preheat oven to 375º. Combine cornstarch, minced candied ginger, brown sugar, and water in saucepan. Cook until thickened and then add peaches. Cook until peaches are hot, about 5 minutes. Pour into buttered 9” pan making sure the ginger is evenly contributed. Basic Pie Crust for 1 (9-inch) pie crust. 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour Mix flour and salt in chilled bowl, then cut shortening into the flour with a pastry cutter, until mixture resembles the texture of tiny split peas. When the mixture is the right texture, add the ice water and combine with a fork. Quickly gather the dough into a ball and flatten into a 4-inch-wide disk. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Remove dough disk from refrigerator. If stiff and very cold, let stand until dough is cool but malleable. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough disk on a lightly floured surface until it’s bigger than the pan. Transfer dough by carefully rolling it around the rolling pin, lift and unroll dough, centering it over the fruit. Vent crust, and sprinkle granulated or turbinado (raw) sugar on top to give a delightful sparkling appearance. Bake cobbler for 50 minutes or until golden brown. The candied ginger gives this dessert a warm zesty taste.
Excerpt "Peach Cobbler killed Donnie Boatwright!" Donnie finished his cobbler and set the empty bowl on the table. "Mighty good, Phyllis, mighty good," he said, but then he gave a little shake of his head and put a hand on the table to steady himself. "Donnie, are you all right?" Phyllis asked. "Yeah, yeah, just a little dizzy. Must be the heat." He lifted his water bottle and drank what was left. "I’ll be all right in a—" But then he stopped abruptly, his eyes rolling up in their sockets. He lurched back a step, staggered into a half- turn, stiffened, and then pitched forward onto his face, toppling like a felled tree. Donnie hit the ground hard without any attempt to catch himself. Screams came from the crowd. Phyllis just stood there behind the table, shocked into motionlessness by the sudden collapse, but Mike’s emergency training took over and sent him hurrying to Donnie’s side. He rolled the old man onto his back and Phyllis recoiled in horror as she saw Donnie’s glassy eyes staring sightlessly up at the red, white, and blue canopy over the table. In the middle of all the sudden commotion and chaos, she heard Carolyn exclaim as plain as day, "Oh, my God! Phyllis’s peach cobbler killed Donnie Boatwright!" |
