Mummified Meringues (25 page)
Read Mummified Meringues Online
Authors: Leighann Dobbs
Tags: #Mystery: Cozy - Bakery - Amateur Sleuths
Violet had moved into an expensive new house after Earl died.
Violet was an excellent pea-shooter and could easily have shot a dart at Earl …
Lexy jerked her head to look at Nans, remembering Nans’ words from the day before about the wig not being from the actual assassin.
Lexy shot her hand out and grabbed Nans arm. “I think I know who the real assassin is—”
“Shush, now.” Lexy’s eyes met Nans. Her grandmother was giving her ‘the look’. The one that meant she was deadly serious and Lexy should shut up and pay attention. That look had worked like gangbusters when she was a kid, and it worked now, too. Lexy shut her mouth.
“It won’t do to go around casting accusations now,” Nans said. “The case is closed. And some things from the past are better left in the past.”
Violet handed Lexy her half of the ribbon, winked and stomped off. Lexy stared after her.
Could Violet have been the real assassin and, if she was, should Lexy say something?
Lexy looked back at Nans, who shook her head sagely and put her index finger to her lips.
Lexy’s teeth worried her bottom lip as she weighed the situation. Nans was right. There was no sense in dragging that all up now, and if Nans thought she should keep her mouth shut, then that’s what Lexy would do. She’d always followed her grandmother’s advice before and it had never steered her wrong.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Ruth, who said, “Oh, Mona, here comes your new boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Nans swiveled in the direction of Ruth’s gaze where a tall, dapper, white-haired man in a bolo tie was scanning the room.
“Oh, that’s not my new boyfriend. That’s our new client.” Nans said waving her hand in the air to attract his attention.
Ida’s forehead creased. “But that’s the square-dancing guy you’ve been sneaking off to meet.”
“Yeah, I met him at the square dance. And we have been meeting,” Nans laughed. “You guys thought I was having a fling with him?”
Ida, Ruth and Helen nodded.
“Sorry to disappoint you. I’ve been meeting him about a
case
. His sister was killed and he fears the police botched the investigation.” Nans face turned serious. “And he greatly needs our help because he thinks he might be the killer’s next victim.”
“Oh, really?” Ruth’s brows rose with interest, and she whipped out her iPad and set it on the table. “I’m ready to take down the preliminaries.”
“Well, I’m glad to see you’re ready to tackle a case again, Mona,” Ida said. “You had us worried there for a while.”
“A new case would be very exciting.” Helen self-consciously patted the sides of her hair as she eyed the man approaching the table. “Introduce us to your friend.”
The introductions were made and Ida started peppering the man for information on the case while Ruth typed it all down on the iPad.
Lexy felt a sense of closure as she stared down at her half of the blue ribbon. Everything was going to work out okay. Nans was back to her old self and interested in cases, she had a lead on a buyer for Jacks house, her parents’ RV was running well again, and she had almost won first prize in the dessert contest.
And as for Violet Switzer being Earl’s real assassin … well, maybe Nans was right and some things from the past really were better left in the past.
The end.
***
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Meringue Cookies Recipes
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookie Recipe
These cookies have a double dose of chocolate from the batter and the chips.
You could vary them by using white chocolate chips, or not adding the cocoa powder to the batter … or both!
Why not try them with butterscotch chips?
You can also add chopped nuts.
Ingredients:
3 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Procedure:
Make sure egg whites are at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees(F).
Combine egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla. Beat until soft peaks are formed (about 4 or 5 minutes).
While still beating, slowly add sugar, then beat until mixture becomes glossy and stiff peaks are formed.
Fold in cocoa and chocolate chips.
Push batter onto parchment-lined cookie sheet and put in oven on middle rack. Reduce heat to 200 degrees(F) at once. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Turn off oven and let it cool before removing cookies.
***
Flavored Meringue Cookie Recipe
Meringue cookies can be made to any flavor by adding flavored extract. You might have to experiment with extract amounts, though. Food color can make them fun colors to go with your flavors!
Ingredients:
1/4 teaspoon extract (orange, maple, lemon, almond … whatever extract you want)
3 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup granulated sugar.
Procedure:
Make sure egg whites are at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees(F).
Combine egg whites, cream of tartar and extract. Beat until soft peaks are formed (about 4 or 5 minutes).
While still beating, slowly add sugar, then beat until mixture becomes glossy and stiff peaks are formed.
Push batter onto parchment-lined cookie sheet and put in oven on middle rack. Reduce heat to 200 degrees(F) at once. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Turn off oven and let it cool before removing cookies.
A Note From The Author
Thanks so much for reading, “
Mummified Meringues”
. I hope you liked reading it as much as I loved writing it. If you did, and feel inclined to leave a review, I really would appreciate it.
This is book ten of the USA Today best selling Lexy Baker series. I plan to write many more books with Lexy, Nans and the gang. I have several other series that I write, too - you can find out more about them on my website
Also, if you like cozy mysteries with ghosts, magic and cats, then you’ll like my book “
Dead Wrong
” which is book one in the Blackmoore Sisters series. Set in the fictional, seaside town of Noquitt Maine, the Blackmoore sisters will take you on a journey of secrets, romance and maybe even a little magic. I have an excerpt from it at the end of this book.
This book has been through many edits with several people and even some software programs, but since nothing is infallible (even the software programs), you might catch a spelling error or mistake and, if you do, I sure would appreciate it if you let me know - you can contact me at:
Oh, and I love to connect with my readers, so please do visit me on facebook at
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About The Author
Leighann Dobbs has had a passion for reading since she was old enough to hold a book, but she didn’t put pen to paper until much later in life. After a twenty-year career as a software engineer with a few side trips into selling antiques and making jewelry, she realized you can’t make a living reading books, so she tried her hand at writing them and discovered she had a passion for that, too! She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix, Mojo, and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
Find out about her latest books and how to get discounts on them by signing up at:
Connect with Leighann on Facebook and Twitter
More Books By Leighann Dobbs:
Mystic Notch
Cats & Magic Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
Blackmoore Sisters
Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
––-
Lexy Baker
Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
Or buy the books separately:
––-
Kate Diamond
Adventure/Suspense Series
* * *
––-
Contemporary
Romance
* * *
––-
Dobbs “Fancytales”
Regency Romance Fairytales Series
* * *
***
Excerpt From Dead Wrong:
Morgan Blackmoore tapped her finger lightly on the counter, her mind barely registering the low buzz of voices behind her in the crowded coffee shop as she mentally prioritized the tasks that awaited her back at her own store.
“Here you go, one yerba mate tea and a vanilla latte.” Felicity rang up the purchase, as Morgan dug in the front pocket of her faded denim jeans for some cash which she traded for the two paper cups.
Inhaling the spicy aroma of the tea, she turned to leave, her long, silky black hair swinging behind her. Elbowing her way through the crowd, she headed toward the door. At this time of morning, the coffee shop was filled with locals and Morgan knew almost all of them well enough to exchange a quick greeting or nod.
Suddenly a short, stout figure appeared, blocking her path. Morgan let out a sharp breath, recognizing the figure as Prudence Littlefield.
Prudence had a long running feud with the Blackmoore’s which dated back to some sort of run-in she’d had with Morgan’s grandmother when they were young girls. As a result, Prudence loved to harass and berate the Blackmoore girls in public.
Morgan’s eyes darted around the room, looking for an escape route.
