Apple Turnover Murder (Hannah Swensen, #13)(85)

“Of course it is,” Delores said. “We’ll just set up an extra chair next to Norman. Now would everyone like to know why I arranged this little party?”

“Because Perry’s locked up and I’m still alive?” Hannah guessed.

“Partially, dear. Would anyone else like to guess?”

“Because Sally has pork with baby asparagus and honey mustard glaze on the menu?” Mike asked.

There was laughter around the table, and Hannah turned to her brother-in-law. “Aren’t you going to guess, Bill?”

“That wouldn’t be fair. Andrea and I already know.”

“So do I.” Tracey said. “But I can’t tell. I promised Grandma.”

“Tell us, Mother,” Hannah urged.

“All right then. Carrie and Earl called me from Rome last night. They thought it would be fun if I flew to join them for the last week of their honeymoon. All four of us are going to explore the city together. They already booked us a room next to theirs.”

There was silence around the table. Delores had been seen with three eligible men in the past week. Was she going to go to Rome with Joe Dietz? Bud Hauge? Doc Knight? It was clear no one wanted to ask her.

Hannah knew she was stuck with that unenviable duty when everyone turned to look at her. “Okay. I’ll ask. Who’s us, Mother?”

Delores nodded at Tracey, and Tracey jumped up from her seat. “It’s me! I’m going to fly to Rome with Grandma. Isn’t that exciting?”

The waitress arrived right on cue with two chilled bottles in an ice bucket. There was champagne for those who wished to imbibe, and sparkling apple juice for those who didn’t. As the glasses were filled with one or the other, the conversation turned to Rome and what Tracey could expect to see there. They were just talking about the famous fountain when Norman walked into the dining room with an attractive dark-haired woman on his arm.

“That’s his friend from dental school?” Mike asked.

“He didn’t tell me she was a woman,” Andrea said, looking over at Hannah apologetically.

Hannah knew what to do. She pasted a perfectly composed, perfectly polite smile on her face. Maintaining her composure shouldn’t be that difficult for someone who’d just been locked in a mausoleum and almost starved to death. But it was that difficult. She wasn’t sure exactly where her heart was located in her chest, but she knew it hurt a lot.

“Hi, everyone,” Norman said, stepping forward to greet them. “I’d like you all to meet my new partner at Rhodes Dental Clinic, Doctor Beverly Thorndike.”





GOOD DOGGY CAKE


Preheat oven to 350 F., rack in the middle position.

? pound lean ground beef

? pound ground chicken

? pound ground turkey

8-ounce package cream cheese

4-ounce package liverwurst



You will need 3 pie plates, or 3 layer cake pans to make this cake. (I used disposable pie pans.)

Spray the 3 pans with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray.

Press the half-pound of lean ground beef into the bottom of the first pan, spreading it out evenly.

Press the half-pound of ground chicken into the bottom of the second pan, spreading it out evenly.

Press the half-pound of ground turkey into the bottom of the third pan, spreading it out evenly.

Bake the ground meat in the 3 pans at 350 degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes.

Use a turkey baster to suck out the grease and dispose of it. Let the meat cool completely in the pans.

When the meat is cool, it’s time to make the frosting. Place the cream cheese and the liverwurst in a medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl. Heat them together on HIGH for 30 seconds.

Stir the cream cheese and the liverwurst together into a paste. If it’s still too solid to stir, give it another 20 seconds on HIGH in the microwave.

Take one disk of meat out of its pan and place it on a cake plate. Spread a little of the frosting on top.

Take another disk of meat, put it on top of the first, and spread a little more frosting on top.

Take the third disk of meat, put it on top of the second, and spread a little more frosting on top. Cover this disk completely with frosting since it’ll be the top of your cake.

Use a spatula or frosting knife to spread frosting on the sides of your cake.

If you’d like to decorate your cake, use little Milk Bones. They come in colors. Arrange them artistically on top of the cake. (Actually your lucky doggy recipient won’t really care if they’re artistic or not.)

Keep this cake REFRIGERATED until you serve it to your favorite canine.

Hannah’s Note: This cake is very rich. It’s the frosting. Dole it out to your dog in small pieces.

Yield: Enough for the “good doggy” and five furry friends.

APPLE TURNOVER MURDER RECIPE INDEX

Vanilla Crack 27

Chocolate Crack 29

Chocolate Sugar Cookies 53

Marge’s Apple Turnovers 63

Mocha Nut Butterballs 78

Imperial Cereal 96

Sausage and Cheese Pancakes 107

Rose’s Zucchini Cookies 119

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookie Bars 151

Aggression Cookies 157

Wacky Cake 169

Breakfast in a Muffin 194

Sesame Seed Tea Cookies 207

Rose’s Peachy Keen Cake 215