I didn't go grocery shopping last night and need to go sometime today, but in the meantime I needed lunch. I figured I'd finally try that savory crab muffin recipe I'd bought ingredients for.

 

I was hoping they'd be a bit like crab cakes. The ingredients that seemed most likely to affect the flavor were the crab, sour cream, and Old Bay seasoning. I got a bit worried as I mixed the batter and realized it was going to be very strongly sour cream. I'm not a fan of sour cream, but I do have muffin and cookie recipes that I think taste amazing and that use as much of it as this recipe called for.

 

The end result: nice looking, but very bland, even though I added more seasoning than the recipe called for. I was right, the sour cream is what you taste more than anything. And now, since I don't like wasting food, I have to figure out how to serve these so that they're less sad and in-your-face sour creamy.

This book is another "If You Give" books. I love have the author matches the beginning sounds of the food and the main character (ex, moose and muffin).This book will have readers very engaged, because the readers would want to know what is the moose going to ask for next.  This book is another good resource for a cause and effect lesson. I would use this book for a cause and effect lesson. I would also bring muffins to go along with the lesson. I could also use this book in my classroom to show examples of sharing. 

RL:2.7

LS: GLE

Muffins as a Declaration of Intent - Jen... A bit too anticlimactic after that catchy start? As much as that is possible for a short story at least... Maybe. Hmm. Otherwise: sweet.

Second in the Chubby Chicks series. This story focuses on and is narrated by Bezu as she attempts to keep her family home by taking in boarders. One of the boarders is poisoned by eating her muffins  and Bezu, with help from Cat, must solve the crime.

 

Nice cozy mystery read through Kindle and listened through Audible using immersion reading. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the various characters to life. While some parts of the story strain credibility, it is overall an enjoyable read with captivating characters

I am pretty sure Tess suffers from "Jessica Fletcher Syndrome", cause she can't go anywhere without finding a dead body. Seriously, every event she attends!

This is a very entertaining and engaging series, despite reality issues. If you can suspend disbelief you will really enjoy the whole thing! I love Tess and her quirky gang of curious troublemakers. The family feel of this whole series.

The love triangle is going to annoy me, I hate when they have to choose between two great guys!! I read too many naughty romances where they never have to choose, yeah for erotic romances!!

The mystery this time is another stretch but not totally unreal. I do wish the people would stop acting like the police are incompetent or not doing their job. The detective is totally on the ball, he just doesn't get the small talk/gossip like Tess. People always want murders solved in a matter of days, these things take time.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Pamela Almand, who is terrific. She has a great pace that really helps the story move along. I love Lenny's tough guy accent, it really sells him. The women's voices are very similar but have enough of a change that you can tell who is speaking when the dialogue ping pongs back and forth. I really hope the series stays with Ms Almand, as she has a great feel for the characters and story movement!

This series is a not so guilty pleasure, I love the atmosphere of the mall town full of busybodies! I don't mind the recipes throughout but thought they would better serve folks if they were put at the end of the book. This way if a reader wanted to try one they did not have to go through the entire audio to locate the one they wanted. Not everybody is hip to the bookmark button on Audible.

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.