Pans ‘n Pancakes dinner and gift shop gets a new fryer. Residents of Salt Lick, IN are excited for the possibility of fries instead of chips. Robbie is not as excited and the fryer sits and sits unopened. Finally, her employees lend a hand and create some tasty side dishes. One of the new offerings is Cheese Fritters. The recipe is included and directions include either frying or baking these perfect cheesy sides.
This is book #12 in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. The author has created a realistic setting of a small midwest town. The people are friendly and caring. Main character, Robbie, is smart and wise. She is delightedly pregnant in this book, but she stays true to herself and even though she keeps denying that she is investigating, everyone knows she is. Even local law enforcement questions Robbie, not as a suspect, but for what she knows!
Deep Fried Death by Maddie Day
Cheese Fritters
from a cozy mystery:
Deep Fried Death
by Maddie Day
Book Outline and Tone:
As we, the reader, learned in the previous novel, Robbie is excited to be pregnant. Her ‘delicate condition’ affects what she is willing to do in this edition. Never have I read of a main character so adamant that she is not investigating a murder. Robbie spends most of the book investigating from a distance and insisting that the local police force not use her restaurant to interview her or anyone else. Robbie is in good standing with Chief Buck Bird, but she seems to be pushing all other law officials away. The novel finally picks up pace in the last quarter of the book and then I was making guesses as to who the guilty party was and what it would mean to Robbie and her family.
Consistent with all of the books in this series, the characters seem true to their setting. Many of the locals speak in a broken English grammar style that would be typical of a midwestern small town. But beyond that, the characters are endearing. Robbie’s support system of her diner workers, family, and neighbors are protective of Robbie without being intrusive to her independent style. I am anxious to see how the dynamics change when Robbie has her baby.
One of the great things that author Maddie Day includes are touches of realism in her fictional town. In this novel, Robbie’s family enjoys some takeout of pork tenderloin sandwiches (a truly mid-western tradition). The characters rave about how great the sandwiches are and discuss that they came from a gas station/restaurant in Nashville, IN. Knowing Ms.Day likes to add realism, I did a quick internet search and sure enough, Gnaw Mart exists in the real Nashville, Indiana. For those who have not tried a pork tenderloin, they are a sandwich that features a massively oversized, hand-pounded, and deep-fried pork loin that completely dwarfs its standard-sized hamburger bun. https://www.facebook.com/Gnawmart/
The Best Quote:
“I know as how we normally ask you to keep out of our investigations, Robbie. And we don’t never want you to be in danger. But I would like to ask you the favor of keeping your eyes and ears open and passing along any intel you pick up. I have to admit, this case is tougher than the back of a armadillo crossed with a tortoise.”
Point of View:
The novel is told in first person point of view from the perspective of main character, Robbie Jordan.
The Author: Maddie Day
Maddie Day is one of my favorite authors to follow on social media. She posts regularly on Twitter @edithmaxwell. She also has a large following on Instagram and Facebook. Like so many authors, Maddie Day is a pseudonym for Edith Maxwell. She has at least six book series that can all be found on her website which is elaborate and has inside information and reviews for all of her books.
What is not to like?:
I love the characters and all of the potential guilty parties, but the action was a slow build up.
The verdict:
While you could not jump into this novel without reading some of the previous books in this series (the characters and their relationships would not make complete sense), I loved reading how pregnant Robbie was balancing her life.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Cheese Fritters
Assemble the Ingredients
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Shred the Swiss, Cheddar, and Mozzarella Cheese
Combine dry ingredients except Panko breadcrumbs in a large bowl.
Make a well in the middle and lightly whisk in the eggs.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Scoop golf ball-sized balls onto the baking sheet.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or freeze for half an hour.
Place Panko crumbs in a bowl.
Roll a ball in your hands to firm, then roll in the crumbs and return to the baking sheet. Repeat for all the balls.
To deep-fry:
Heat oil to 350. Lower fritters into oil with a slotted spoon and fry until golden.
Drain on brown paper on a wire rack.
To bake:
Preheat the oven to 425 before you remove the balls from the refrigerator. Bake about 12 minutes, turn all, and bake about 5 more minutes, until golden and crisp.
Transfer parchment paper to a wire rack to cool.
Either way you cook the fritters, enjoy it warm with soup or as an appetizer with the sauce.
Cheese Fritters
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups flour (self-rising might help them puff more)
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 eggs
- ⅕ cup sour cream
- 1½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Swiss cheese, shredded
- ½ cup green onions, diced
- 1½ cups Panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine dry ingredients except Panko breadcrumbs in a large bowl.
- Make a well in the middle and lightly whisk in the eggs.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
- Scoop golf ball-sized balls onto the baking sheet.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or freeze for half an hour.
- Place Panko crumbs in a bowl. Roll a ball in your hands to firm, then roll in the crumbs and return to the baking sheet. Repeat for all the balls.
To deep-fry:
- Heat oil to 350. Lower fritters into oil with a slotted spoon and fry until golden.Drain on brown paper on a wire rack.
To bake:
- Preheat the oven to 425 before you remove the balls from the refrigerator. Bake about 12 minutes, turn all, and bake about 5 more minutes, until golden and crisp.Transfer parchment paper to a wire rack to cool.
- Either way you cook the fritters, enjoy it warm with soup or as an appetizer with the sauce.
What would I do differently next time?
The recipe suggested serving with a honey mustard sauce, but I served them with some jalapeno jelly and I liked that combination better.
Summer Corn Casserole from Death of a Cookbook Author by Lee Hollis
Lemon Cornbread from Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs
Asiago, Bacon, and Caramelized Onion Dip from Death of a Wedding Cake Baker by Lee Hollis
Cheesy Polenta with Vegetables from Death with all the Trimmings by Lucy Burdette
