January 29, 2016

For Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames - Review/Guest Post and Two Giveaways

I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: February 2, 2016
Number of pages: 320
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Cheese Shop Mystery #7

Synopsis:
In the new Cheese Shop Mystery from the Agatha Award-winning author of As Gouda as Dead, an extra-sharp tongued cheese critic is cut down during a summer cheese festival.

It’s time for the annual Cheese Festival in Providence, Ohio, and Charlotte Bessette’s cheese shop is packed with homemade specialties. Meanwhile, her friend Erin is prepping her dairy farm and inn for cheese makers, marketers, journalists, and one surprise guest—Lara Berry, pretentious cheese whiz, pompous bestselling author, and pungent critic whose extra sharp tongue can crumble a reputation.

Even though any love for Lara by her friends curdled long ago, Charlotte is surprised when the foodie is smothered to death in her room at Erin’s inn. Accusations start flying, but the one laying blame on Erin strikes Charlotte as a crock. Now, to clear her friend’s name, Charlotte has to sift through Lara’s ex-lovers, former business partners, and unforgiving enemies to find a killer before Lara’s past casts a tainted pall on the festival’s future.

RECIPES INCLUDED

What did I think of this book:
This book was another great addition to a fun series that I have been enjoying from book one. I enjoyed hearing about the week long cheese festival and wish I could attend as it sounds like fun. The way the author writes you feel as if you could almost taste the cheeses she is talking about. Then her descriptions of the town make you want to stop in for a visit. Of course then we have a murder on our hands to help Charlotte solve. There are so many people who did not like Lara that this seems like an undaunting task. Just when you think you may have it figured out then there is another twist. I had fun following Charlotte as she tried to clear her friend's name while at the same time trying to work on the cheese festival. If you are looking for a good mystery for a raining day then I suggest you pick this one up. 

About the author:
Avery Aames is the Agatha Award–winning author of The Long Quiche Goodbye and six other titles in the Cheese Shop Mystery series. As Daryl Wood Gerber, she is the nationally bestselling author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, including Fudging the Books, Stirring the Plot, Inherit the Word, and Final Sentence. Like her protagonist, Avery is an admitted foodie. Prior to writing, Avery (aka Daryl) acted on stage and television, including on Murder, She Wrote. Don’t forget to sign up for her fan club so you can be entered in all her contests! You’ll find that fan club on her website! Visit her website at www.darylwoodgerber.com.

Author Links
www.darylwoodgerber.com
www.facebook.com/darylwoodgerber
www.twitter.com/darylwoodgerber
www.twitter.com/averyaames
www.goodreads/darylwoodgerber
www.goodreads/averyaames
www.pinterest/darylwoodgerber
Blog: www.mysteryloverskitchen.com (Blog Wednesdays)

Giveaway #1
This giveaway is for one print copy of For Cheddar or Worse. The giveaway is open to the US only. Once the winner is randomly chosen they will be notified via email and have 24 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. One requirement is to leave a comment on the post and this will be verified. If no comment is left you will be disqualified. Thank you and good luck.


Guest Post:

Apple Pie Cheddar Ice Cream

There’s Nothing Like Homemade Ice Cream! By Avery Aames aka Daryl Wood Gerber

There's a rule of thumb that says you "shouldn't" freeze cheese. Here's the reason. Artisanal cheeses are delicate. Their molecular structure will weaken in the freezer. When they defrost, the structure breaks down and the cheese can become crumbly and dry. Still, I wanted to try.

So I decided to make an apple pie ice cream and use a Cheddar cheese.

SIDE NOTE: My father LOVED apple pie with Cheddar cheese. I love apple pie with ice cream. This was a no-brainer experiment!

By the way, Cheddar is firm and not as airy as other cheeses so the experiment…

Was a success! Not just because of the cheese, but also because the flavors of apple and cinnamon and BROWN sugar are simply luxurious.

The cheese, which held up under the frozen conditions, was an added bonus. It provides a yummy texture. Caveat: the cheese didn't have the same flavorful tang as a fresh sharp cheese. Still, I absolutely loved the result and will make it again. I hope you will enjoy.

Say cheese!

Do you experiment when you cook?

APPLE PIE AND CHEDDAR ICE CREAM
*I use a Cuisinart Counter top Mixer.

Ingredients:
3 egg yolks
1 c. sugar
1 c. half and half
1 c. whipping cream
1 c. (8 oz.) mascarpone cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 apple, Pippin is my choice, peeled and diced
2 oz. Cheddar cheese, cubed into teensy cubes
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
In a sauce pan, over low heat, mix apples, brown sugar, water and cinnamon. Cook for 10 minutes, until tender. Set aside and let cool completely.

In a separate sauce man, stir together yolks and sugar and cook, 30 seconds on low.

Add half and half, cook 1 minute on low. Stir and cook 1 more minute. Stir and cook 1 additional minute. [Total 3 ½ minutes.]

Turn off heat. Add whipping cream, mascarpone, and vanilla.

Stir and let cool to room temperature. 

Chill 1-3 hours in refrigerator

Then: 
Start counter top mixer. Add cream mixture. Whip, per counter top mixer instructions, 20-25 minutes.

Add apples and Cheddar cheese cubes to ice cream mixture. 

Whip 5 more minutes until goodies are incorporated.

Pour into clean containers and freeze. About three hours later, it’s a perfect consistency.

Yum!

Giveaway#2



Tour Participants

January 25 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway

January 26 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

January 27 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

January 28 – Mallory Heart Reviews – Review

January 29 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review, Giveaway

January 30 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

January 31 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

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