On the eve of her high school reunion, Hayley dreads seeing the trio of mean girls who used to torment her: Sabrina Merryweather, Nykki Temple, and former prom queen Ivy Foster. These days Ivy wears a different crown as the cupcake queen—and flaunting her success is just the icing on the cake.
A New Recipe from the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mystery Series
LEMON DROP CUPCAKES
2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking flour
1 ¼ sticks butter at room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2/3 cup milk
2 teaspoons lemon extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest from 1 lemon
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line two cupcake tins with cupcake liners.
In a mixing bowl combine your flour, baking powder, and salt.
In another mixing bowl, beat together your butter, sugar and eggs. Add the milk, lemon extract, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
Now add your flour mixture to the butter mixture.
Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in middle of cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool for about ten minutes then remove cupcakes from tin and let them cool completely before frosting.
LEMON DROP FROSTING
2 packages (8 oz) Cream cheese room temperature
1 ½ sticks butter room temperature
¼ cup fresh lemon juice with a splash of vodka added (you may omit this just my version of the lemon drop martini)
4 cups of confectioners sugar (more if needed)
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of one lemon to sprinkle on top (optional)
While your cupcakes are cooling combine the cream cheese, butter, and lemon juice and beat until smooth. Add your confectioners sugar, lemon extract, vanilla extract and a splash of vodka if desired.
Beat until creamy. If you need to thicken if up a bit just add a bit more confectioners sugar to desired consistency.
Place in the refrigerator until cupcakes are completely cooled.
When cooled frost your cupcakes and sprinkle with just a bit of lemon zest.
On the eve of her high school reunion, Hayley dreads seeing the trio of mean girls who used to torment her: Sabrina Merryweather, Nykki Temple, and former prom queen Ivy Foster. These days Ivy wears a different crown as the cupcake queen—and flaunting her success is just the icing on the cake.
But maybe the prom queen should have been voted Most Likely to Die. At the reunion, Ivy is found murdered, cupcakes scattered around her. Is a killer out to teach the mean girls a lesson? As Hayley tries to get the scoop, she’ll have to be careful…or someone may be writing this columnist’s obituary next.
LEMON TART
INGREDIENTS:
1 Sheet puff pastry
2 lemons
Zest of 2 lemons
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
¼ lemon juice (from the 2 lemons)
Pinch of salt
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
Place your rolled out puff pastry on a parchment lined baking sheet. Fold all sides of pastry in one inch and prick all over with a fork. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
In a food processor add your sugar and the zest of two lemons and pulse until finely minced.
In a bowl cream your butter then add the lemon and sugar mixture, add eggs one at a time mixing in each one, add lemon juice and salt and mix well.
Pour into a 2 quart sauce pan and heat on low until thickened stirring constantly.
When thickened place into the refrigerator for 1 hour to cool.
Spread cooled mixture on top of the cooked puff pastry slice and serve for a delicious summer treat.
Uncover the Truth With These New Mystery Series