Robbie Jordan bakes up some tasty dishes with an Indian influence thanks to her new kitchen helper. She also needs to find which of the many likely suspects actually killed a dislikable character. Enjoy the tasty, maple-y, curry biscuits while you read this page turner.
This is book number 4 in the Country Store Mystery Series featuring Robbie Jordan and her café Pans ‘N’ Pancakes. This novel features a murder mystery that takes place at a Maple Festival. A quick search will show that southern Indiana is in fact home to some great maple syrup festivals.
Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day
Cozy Mystery Novel Series with Recipes
Book Review
Outline and Tone:
One of the best things about reading is you always learn new things. In `book #4 of the Country Store Mystery series, Robbie Jordan’s small town in southern Indiana is hosting a maple syrup festival. A maple syrup festival in Indiana? I was skeptical. It did a little bit of research (Googled it) and it turns out that there is indeed an active maple syrup industry in Indiana. If you are interested, check this out: Indiana Maple Weekend.
Back to the cozy mystery. Robbie Jordan is a strong, clever, and multi-talented owner of Pans and Pancakes. A breakfast and lunch cafe that also sells antique cooking utensils. New to the list of characters is a kitchen helper, Turner Rao. He is the son of an Indian immigrant who bought and runs a nearby maple farm. Turner provides Robbie with great help and inspiration. Robbie makes Curry Biscuits to enter into a local baking contest. These are the biscuits highlighted in the recipe below. I vote for them to be the winner!
Of course the novel isn’t a cozy mystery if it is just syrup and baking contests so when a murder victim is found, Robbie begins to investigate again. The plot contains many plausible murderers and kept me guessing up to the reveal. Maddie Day does a great job twisting and turning the story to keep the reader turning the pages.
The author:
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?:
Robbie is a very independent person and I admire that; however, I still would enjoy more relationship aspects in the plot. She has what seems to be a delightful boyfriend, give me more!
The verdict:
Fun mystery, interesting new characters, lovable protagonist, and yummy recipe. My verdict is to read it, enjoy it, bake it, and then get the next book.
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).
Flaky Maple Curry Biscuit Recipe
Assemble the Ingredients
Directions
Mix the dry ingredients.
This recipe does not require a stand mixer. A large bowl like the one in OXO Good Grips 3- Piece Plastic Mixing Bowl Set works great because of the silicone bottom that keeps it from moving around as you cut in the butter.
Good Grips, no slip when mixing. Each bowl has a spout for easy pouring. Dishwasher safe.
Cut butter into the flour mix until mostly pea-sized pieces.
Make a well in the middle and add the eggs, 1/4 cup syrup, and milk, mixing with a fork in the well.
At this point I want to recommend OXO Good Grips 7-Piece Nesting Measuring Beaker Set which I love because I can measure multiple liquids in one recipe easily. And the OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Adjustable Measuring Cup for any thing sticky like maple syrup or honey or even shortening. This cup twists and scrapes the sides for you.
Stir all with a fork until liquid is just blended with the flour. Do not overmix.
Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface and on the dough. Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto the surface, rubbing flour around the inside of the bowl until clean. Lightly knead the dough until it comes together.
Whenever I have dough to knead or roll out, I always use a silicone pastry mat like this one.
Roll the dough to a half-inch thickness. Fold in thirds, rotate 90 degrees. Roll, fold, and repeat several times. This is important because it created the flaky layers of the biscuit.
Cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter or drinking glass and position on a baking sheet.
You don’t need more than half an inch in between. Brush tops with maple syrup.
Bake for about ten minutes or until risen and golden brown on top.
I served them for dunking into Butternut Squash Curry Soup and as a side sandwich with ham. The flavor combination was wonder and a hit with my family.
Maple Curry Biscuits from: Biscuits and Slashed Browns a cozy mystery novel with recipes
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour, plus extra for kneading
- 1 cup unbleached white flour
- 1 tsp curry powder
- ½ tsp salt
- dash ⅛ tsp cayenne or hot chili pepper
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup maple syrup, plus 2 Tbsp (Option: if you like a sweeter biscuit, omit the milk and use ½ cup maple syrup)
Instructions
- Mix the dry ingredients.
- Cut butter into the flour mix until mostly pea-sized pieces.
- Make a well in the middle and add the eggs, 1/4 cup syrup, and milk, mixing with a fork in the well.
- Stir all with a fork until liquid is just blended with the flour. Do not overmix.
- Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface and on the dough.
- Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto the surface, rubbing flour around the inside of the bowl until clean.
- Lightly knead the dough until it comes together.
- Roll the dough to a half-inch thickness.
- Fold in thirds. Rotate 90 degrees.
- Roll, fold, and repeat several times.
- Cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter or drinking glass and position on a baking sheet. You don't need more than half an inch in between.
- Brush tops with maple syrup.
- Bake for about ten minutes or until risen and golden brown on top.
What would I do differently next time?
The biscuits were so tasty, I wanted more. More flaky goodness. So next time, I will roll them out to a thicker biscuit before baking.
Try these other fantastic recipes from Maddie Day’s cozy mystery novels.
Cheese Grits from When the Grits Hit the Fan, Hot Mama Frittata by Laura Childs in Bedeviled Eggs, and Cheese Biscuits from Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day
