Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #16)(68)

“Not this time. And she was the one who referred to her father dying the year after he won the trophy. Doc was very pleased when I told him. He’s been hoping that her delusions would fade as her physical condition improved.”

Hannah nodded. “It sounds reasonable. Let’s just hope he’s right. What else did you find to bring for Barbara?”

“One of her purses since the strap broke on the one she had with her the night of the party. It’s a pretty tan leather shoulder bag with a gold buckle.”

Norman looked thoughtful. “I think I remember her carrying that purse last winter. Did she recognize it?”

“Immediately. And she thanked me very nicely for bringing it. She said it was one of her favorite purses. I asked her where she got it and she said Nettie Grant had given it to her for Christmas when Sheriff Grant was still alive.”

“It sounds to me as if she’s getting better every day,” Norman commented.

“I hope so,” Delores said, “but Doc warned me not to get too excited. He said that brain injuries were unpredictable and there could be setbacks.”

Hannah remembered that Lisa had said the same thing about her father. She’d told Hannah that there were good days and bad days, and there was no way to predict them.

“Is this Monkey Bread for me, dear?” Delores asked, pulling Hannah out of her contemplative mood.

“Yes, Mother. You can share it with Doc Knight and some of the nurses if you want to.”

“I will, but only after I have a piece. Or perhaps two pieces. It has chocolate, you said?”

“Lots of chocolate.”

“Good. I can hardly wait to taste it!” Delores stopped and looked at Hannah expectantly.

“What?” Hannah asked, not sure what her mother wanted.

“It’s like Doc always tells me. Payback is only fair. Aren’t you going to say it?”

“Say what, Mother?”

“Say what I used to say to you.”

Hannah had no idea what her mother was talking about, but when she saw the large chunk of Monkey Bread that Delores had pulled from the loaf, she began to understand. They were all going out to dinner at the Inn and Delores was eating a large chunk of the sweet bread beforehand. “Don’t spoil your dinner, Mother.”

Delores laughed. “I won’t. And I bet you’ve waited your whole life to say that.”

“You’re right.” Hannah was smiling as she scooped Moishe up, set him on his feet, and motioned to Norman. It was time to go to see Barbara. As they headed out the door and turned down the hallway, Hannah found herself hoping that Barbara’s rational response to the things Delores had brought her would carry over to their visit with her.
MONKEY BREAD

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

1 and ? cups white (granulated) sugar

1 and ? teaspoons ground cinnamon

4 cans (7.5 ounce tube) unbaked refrigerated

biscuits (I used Pillsbury)

1 cup chopped nuts of your choice (optional)

1 cup chocolate chips (optional) (that’s a 6-ounce

size bag)

? cup salted butter (1 stick, 4 ounces, 1/4 pound)

Hannah’s 1st Note: If you prefer, you can use 16.3 ounce tubes of Pillsbury Grands. If you do this, buy only 2 tubes. They are larger—you will use half a tube for each layer.

Tony’s Note: If you use chocolate chips and/or nuts, place them between each biscuit layer.

Spray the inside of a Bundt pan with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. Set your prepared pan on a drip pan just in case the butter overflows. Then you won’t have to clean your oven.

Mix the white sugar and cinnamon together in a mixing bowl. (I used a fork to mix it up so that the cinnamon was evenly distributed.)

Open 1 can of biscuits at a time and break or cut them into quarters. You want bite-size pieces.

Roll the pieces in the cinnamon and sugar mixture, and place them in the bottom of the Bundt pan.

Sprinkle one-third of the chopped nuts and one-third of the chocolate chips on top of the layer, if you decided to use them.

Open the second can of biscuits, quarter them, roll them in the cinnamon and sugar, and place them on top of the first layer. (If you used Pillsbury Grands, you’ll do this with the remainder of the first tube.)

Sprinkle on half of the remaining nuts and chocolate chips, if you decided to use them.

Repeat with the third can of biscuits (or the first half of the second tube of Grands). Sprinkle on the remainder of the nuts and chocolate chips, if you decided to use them.

Repeat with the fourth can of biscuits (or the rest of the Grands) to make a top layer in your Bundt pan.

Melt the butter and the remaining cinnamon and sugar mixture in a microwave safe bowl on HIGH for 45 seconds. Give it a final stir and pour it over the top of your Bundt pan.

Bake your Monkey Bread at 350 degrees F. for 40 to 45 minutes, or until nice and golden on top.

Take the Bundt pan out of the oven and let it cool on a cold burner or a wire rack for 10 minutes while you find a plate that will fit over the top of the Bundt pan.

Using potholders or oven mitts invert the plate over the top of the Bundt pan and turn it upside down to unmold your delicious Monkey Bread.

To serve, you can cut this into slices like Bundt cake, but it’s more fun to just let people pull off pieces with their fingers.