Ivy is a struggling photographer who takes a baking class at her favorite bakery. At this class she finds her first murder and a cozy mystery series is born. Ivy has many hobbies that you could relate to and her novel includes two wonderful bread recipes inspired by the bread class.
Book #1 in A Bread Shop Mystery Book series. Jump in for a fun ride of multicultural characters and a clever mystery. Ivy is back in her hometown of Santa Sofia helping her family and makes fast friends at Yeast of Eden’s baking class.
Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer
Gruyère and Black Pepper Popovers
from a cozy mystery novel
Kneaded to Death
by Winnie Archer
Book Outline and Tone:
One of the best things about cozy mysteries is finding a main character, who has similar hobbies as you. Ivy Culpepper has many hobbies. She is described as a struggling photographer, but she is also getting into baking and other fun hobbies. In this, the premier novel of the series, Ivy has come home to Santa Sofia to live with dad after a tragic and strange accident to her mom’s life far too early and left Ivy feeling at a loss creatively as well.
In search of her creative side, Ivy decides to take a baking class at Yeast of Eden (I just love a good pun!). This is where the mystery begins as one of her classmates is discovered dead in the parking lot of the bakery.
Ivy’s family home happens to be in an historic district that Ivy loves. She dreams of owning a home on the street where she grew up. There is one problem (other than the non discussed cost of living in such an area) and that is the HOA Karens. If you live in an area that is governed by an HOA, then you know what I am talking about. I am fully in favor of responsible rules to maintain the beauty of neighborhoods, but this takes a ruler to the height of someone’s grass and all I can think of, do they have nothing better to do?
Could one of these HOA Karens be responsible for the murder victim? Could it be someone from Yeast of Eden? Is there a more sinister problem than 4 inch tall grass and underproofed bread? Have faith in this best selling author and unravel the mystery.
The Best Quote:
What I lacked in a plan, I oozed in determination. Chapter 29
Point of View:
The novel is written in first person from the perspective of Ivy Culpepper.
The Author: Winnie Archer
Winnie Archer was a middle school teacher, but is now living the dream as a full time writer and she started WriterSpark Academy for blooming writers. To find out more about her, you need to realize that Winnie is actually a pseudonym. Winnie Archer is actually Melissa Bourbon who is a best selling author of over 40 novels. Like her main character, Ivy, Ms. Bourbon likes food. She lists recipes from her book on her website. You can learn more about her and download her novel booklist so you can check off her books as you read them.
What is not to like?:
The novel does a great job pulling in the reader and establishing Ivy as a relatable character. However, since it is the first book in the series, the relationships are young and therefore a bit shallow. I look forward to seeing all of these characters grow.
The verdict:
Please follow the modification I added to the recipe. The popovers fall extremely fast when made following the recipe. But if you add a little bit of baking powder and poke a small hole in the top immediately after taking them out of the oven, they will maintain their shape better.
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).
Gruyère and Black Pepper Popovers
Assemble the Ingredients
Place the oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F.
Prepare the popover pans or muffin tins (with enough wells to make 16 popovers) by placing a dot of butter in the bottom of each of the 16 wells.
Heat the pans or tins in the oven while you make the popover batter.
Warm the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. It should be hot, but do not bring it to a boil. Remove from the heat.
Easy to read measure marks on inside of cup. Dishwasher safe.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the salt and black pepper until smooth.
Stir in the reserved warm milk.
Add the flour to the egg mixture and combine. The batter should have the consistency of cream. A few lumps are okay!
OXO Good Grips 3- Piece Plastic Mixing Bowl Set LInk
Remove the popover pans or muffin tins from the oven. Spray the 16 wells generously with nonstick cooking spray. Pour about ½ cup of the batter into each well.
Place several Gruyère and Black Pepper Popovers cubes of cheese on top of the batter in each well.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Bake the popovers until the tops puff up and are golden brown, about 40 minutes. Remember not to open the oven door while baking. You don’t want the popovers to collapse!
Remove the popovers from the oven and turn them onto a wire cooling rack right away to preserve their crispy edges.
Using a sharp knife, pierce the base of each popover to release the steam. Sprinkle grated Gruyère over the finished popovers, if desired, and serve immediately.
Makes 16 popovers
Baker’s Secret Must Do!
These popovers will fall fast once you take them out of the oven. Here are 2 things to do that will help them maintain their height.
- Add 1/2 tsp of baking powder to the batter when you add the flour
- Use a sharp knife and poke a hole in the tops as soon as you take them out of the oven and before you remove them from the pan.
Gruyère and Black Pepper Popovers
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 large egg
- 1½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ½ tsp baking powder (optional, but can help them keep shape after baking)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- butter for greasing the popover pans
- ¾ cup Gruyère cheese (5) ounces), cut into small cubes, plus grated
Gruyère cheese for garnishing (optional)
- nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Place the oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Prepare the popover pans or muffin tins (with enough wells to make 16 popovers) by placing a dot of butter in the bottom of each of the 16 wells. Heat the pans or tins in the oven while you make the popover batter.
- Warm the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. It should be hot, but do not bring it to a boil. Remove from the heat.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the salt and black pepper until smooth. Stir in the reserved warm milk.
- Add the flour to the egg mixture and combine. The batter should have the consistency of cream. A few lumps are okay!
- Remove the popover pans or muffin tins from the oven.
- Spray the 16 wells generously with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour about ½ cup of the batter into each well.
- Place several Gruyère and Black Pepper Popovers cubes of cheese on top of the batter in each well.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
- Bake the popovers until the tops puff up and are golden brown, about 40 minutes. Remember not to open the oven door while baking. You don't want the popovers to collapse!
- Remove the popovers from the oven and turn them onto a wire cooling rack right away to preserve their crispy edges.
- Using a sharp knife, pierce the base of each popover to release the steam. Sprinkle grated Gruyère over the finished popovers, if desired, and serve immediately.
What would I do differently next time?
The first time I made these, they fell fast! So the second time I added 1/2 tsp of baking powder and poked the holes before I took them out of the pan and they held their shape better.
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Cheesy Biscuits from Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day
