Shelley Freydont is the
author of the Liv Montgomery Celebration Bay Mysteries published by Berkley
Prime Crime. Her mysteries have been translated into seven languages. Shelley
also writes women’s fiction as Shelley Noble. A
former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the
films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. Learn more about
Shelley and her books at her website.
It’s
only October and you may be thinking it’s a little early to start thinking
about Christmas dinners. But not in Celebration Bay. Because in Celebration Bay
Every Day’s a Holiday. And though the pumpkins and apple cider are making the
rounds, the townspeople are already planning for the next big festival.
In Silent Knife, former Manhattan event planner, Liv Montgomery and
her Westie, Whiskey, are looking forward to their first Christmas in
Celebration Bay and enjoying an old fashioned Christmas dinner with her
landladies, Miss Edna and Miss Ida Zimmerman.
Unfortunately murder has struck
at the heart of Celebration Bay’s Tree Lighting Festival. So while Ida and Edna
are planning the dinner and checking their guest list, Liv is up to her elbows
in murder.
It started with a feud
between two Santas . . . .
Liv intends to have the case
tied up with a ribbon before dinner is served. Miss Edna and Miss Ida are
always willing to help, and they know she’ll need her energy to solve this one.
It’s a good thing they just finished a batch of their Great Aunt Patsy’s
Christmas Divinity Candy.
Great Aunt Patsy’s Christmas Divinity
A couple of Musts before
beginning:
Divinity MUST be made on a
dry day or it won’t harden. Do not attempt on a humid day. The egg white
mixture MUST be beaten continually once you begin. It’s easier if you have two
cooks, one to hold the electric mixer and one to heat the syrup. Miss Edna and
Miss Ida always work together.
Ingredients:
2 cups
sugar
½ cup
Karo Light Corn Syrup
1/3 cup
water
2 egg
whites
1 teaspoon
vanilla
1 cup
chopped cecans
Wax
Paper
Place
sugar, syrup and water in a heavy pan. Boil sugar, syrup and water until sugar
is dissolved and liquid is clear.
In a
large bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff. Add 1/3 of hot
liquid to egg whites, beating constantly. (Remember, egg whites must be beaten
continuously through the rest of the process.)
Return
liquid to heat and cook until it spins a good thread. Add 1/3 more of hot
liquid to egg whites, beating constantly. Continue beating and return liquid to
heat and cook until it makes a hard brittle ball when dropped in cold water. Pour
remainder of liquid into egg whites and continue beating. When it thickens,
continue to beat by hand. When the mixture begins to hold its shape, add vanilla
and nuts. Quickly drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper before the mixture hardens.
Can be garnished with a pecan half if so desired. Let set. It will melt in your
mouth.
Enjoy!
Silent Knife
Tis the season, but
no one in Celebration Bay is feeling jolly. The local holiday store has been
taken over by the new Trim A Tree store. Their products are lewd, crude and
plastic, not at all in keeping with the town’s tasteful, traditional
celebration. The manager, Grace Thornsby, gives new meaning to the name
“Grinch”. And worst of all, she’s hired her own Santa to compete with the
town’s official and beloved Santa.
But not for long . . . .
someone is determined to get the town back to its good old fashioned values if
it kills him . . . or anyone who stands in his way.
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4 comments:
This sounds like a wonderful read - any time of the year, not just Christmas! and, thanks for the recipe that looks heavenly!
Sounds like an enjoyable read with a delicious treat. Thanks for the recipe.
It may only be October, but anytime is a good time to read a Christmas mystery. Looking forward to the book, Shelley.
Margaret Franson
Thanks all, and I"m sure you'll enjoy the divinity. I sure did.
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