There is drama brewing in Lake Eden as Larry Jaeger opens “Lunatic Larry Jaeger’s Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot”. Larry’s tree lot has rides, toy stores, decorating stores and Hannah’s cookies in the snack area. It seems like he is making money hand over fist. Is that why he is found murdered? Hannah begins a new investigation.
This is book #12 in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. Set in December in Minnesota, someone has killed the owner of the Christmas tree lot. Not many feel sympathy for this man, but Hannah is still determined to find the killer.
Plum Pudding Murder by Joanne Fluke
Find the deluxe, newly-released collector’s edition on Amazon. The description says “Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Joanne Fluke’s bestselling culinary capers, a deluxe collectors’ edition featuring sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, designed endpapers, reversible dust jacket, foil stamped cloth binding, and a brand new recipe!”
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder: Deluxe Collector’s Edition by Joanne Fluke
Orange Julius Cookies
from a cozy mystery novel:
Plum Pudding Murder
by Joanne Fluke
Book Outline and Tone:
I read somewhere that an orange in a Christmas stocking was considered good luck. I believe this came from a time when fresh fruit in the winter was something only the rich could afford. Regardless of where the tradition came from, my kids always found an orange Christmas morning. Now that I live in Florida, I wonder if the original tradition was created because December is the start of Orange picking season.
Before Hannah and her extended family and friends can enjoy Christmas Eve dinner together, there is a mystery to be solved. Lunatic Larry is owner and operator of an extravagant Christmas tree lot he calls the “Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot.” If this were a real place, it would be a sight to behold. There are carnival type rides, stores, snacks, employees dressed as elves and, of course, trees. Even though Lake Eden is a small town, it is easy to imagine everyone would stop by this extravagant lot.
Lunatic Larry’s girlfriend is starting to get suspicious that Larry is not on the up and up with his books. There are receipts for items in cash that remain only half filled out. An ex wife nearby who has seen Larry fixing the book in the past. So when Larry is murdered, the suspect list is long and complicated.
The Best Quote:
“…Hannah guessed that the larger, more expensive trees were housed in the closer tents. On the way they passed the Crazy Elf Toy Shop, the Crazy Elf Ornament Center, and the Crazy Elf Tree Stand Store. And all the while We Wish You a Merry Christmas was blaring out over the speakers.”
Point of View:
The story is told in 3rd person through Hannah’s perspective.
The Author: Joanne Fluke
Joanne Fluke published her first Hannah Swenson novel, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, in 2001. Since then she has been a New York Times bestselling author several times. She is a popular guest on her local television station and she always uploads her interview to her Youtube Channel. She even has many interviews organized by the book. Some of her books have been made into movies on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel. Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery can be found https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/. Joanne Fluke will interact with fans on her X and her Facebook accounts.
What is not to like?:
Hannah investigates and investigates. She creates lists and slowly crosses suspects off her list. But when she finally figures it out, the climax and resolution happen quickly. Sometimes I prefer a bit more suspense and a will she/won’t she be able to solve the mystery.
The verdict:
Following the fresh oranges on Christmas morning, I always make a large batch of Orange Julius for my family to enjoy at breakfast.
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).
Orange Julius Cookie
Assemble the Ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
Prepare your cookie sheets by using a nonstick silicone baking mat or spraying them with Pam (or another nonstick cooking spray.) You can also use a parchment-lined cookie sheet if you prefer.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Stir well and set aside.
In another bowl, beat the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.
Add the beaten egg to the bowl with the butter and the sugars. Stir it all up.
Then stir in the grated orange zest.
Stir in the flour, salt and baking soda mixture and mix well.
Stir in the white chocolate chips.
I also squeeze the juice from half of the orange. It adds just a bit more perfect orange flavor.
Drop by teaspoonfuls on a prepared cookie sheet, 12 cookies to a standard size sheet. Flatten the cookies in a crisscross pattern with a fork, the way you’d do for peanut butter cookies.
Ooops! I forgot to do the crisscross pattern. Oh well, there were still delicious.
Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes. (Mine took 11 minutes.)
Leave the cookies on the cookie sheet for a minute or two, and then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Yield: 5 to 6 dozen cookies, depending on cookie size.
Orange Julius Cookies
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups flour (don't sift—pack it down in the cup)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- 2 sticks (8 ounces, ½ pound) softened butter
- ½ cup white (granulated) sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 beaten egg
- 3 tsp grated orange zest (that's the orange part of the peel)
- *optional the juice of half the orange
- 12 oz bag white chocolate morsels (2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
- Prepare your cookie sheets by using a nonstick silicone baking mat or by spraying them with Pam (or another nonstick cooking spray.) You can also use a parchment-lined cookie sheet if you prefer.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Stir well and set aside.
- In another bowl, beat the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.
- Add the beaten egg to the bowl with the butter and the sugars. Stir it all up.
- Then stir in the grated orange zest.
- Stir in the flour, salt and baking soda mixture and mix well.
- Stir in the white chocolate chips.
- Drop by teaspoonfuls on a prepared cookie sheet, 12 cookies to a standard size sheet. Flatten the cookies in a crisscross pattern with a fork, the way you'd do for peanut butter cookies.
- Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes. (Mine took 11 minutes.)
- Leave the cookies on the cookie sheet for a minute or two, and then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Yield: 5 to 6 dozen cookies, depending on cookie size.
- Hannah's Note: Delores thinks these cookies taste just like the drinks from the Orange Julius stand at the mall.
What would I do differently next time?
Nothing. These are perfection!
Minnesota Peach Cobbler from Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke
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