Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(7)

P.K. smiled at her. “Please don’t let anyone at the station hear you call them commercials, Delores.”

“But why?”

“Because I’d have to charge for them if they were commercials.”

Delores looked confused. “But what are they then?”

“They’re public service announcements.”

Delores laughed. “I see. And the station doesn’t charge for those?”

“Of course not. We produce and air them as a community service.”

P.K. smiled and Hannah was struck by how much he’d changed since he had run footage of the Hartland Flour baking contest for her. Then, he’d been the long-haired, rebel-type night tech guy from KCOW-TV. Now he was older, more mature, and very capable as Ross’s assistant videographer.

“I thought you’d be at work by now, P.K.,” Delores said.

“I should be, but I had to take my car in to Cyril’s garage. Turns out it needs a new alternator.” He turned to Hannah and Michelle. “I was wondering if somebody here could give me a ride to the station.”

Michelle locked eyes with Hannah, and Hannah knew exactly what her youngest sister was asking. The question Michelle was asking was, Is it okay if I let P.K. use Ross’s car? Hannah gave a nod and Michelle smiled.

“You can use Ross’s car,” Michelle told him. “I found the keys this morning and it’s parked in back of Claire’s dress shop. Keep it until your car is ready.”

“Thanks, Mickie. But how are you going to get to work?”

“I’ll ride in with Hannah. I’ve been riding with her all along, and another couple of mornings without a car won’t kill me.”

“Thanks!” P.K. said, as Michelle drew the keys from her sweater pocket and handed them to him. “I promise I’ll be really careful with it, and it’ll only be for two days. Cyril said my car will be ready the day after tomorrow.”

When P.K. started to rise to his feet, Hannah waved him back down. “Have a couple of bar cookies before you leave. And warm yourself up with coffee. It’s cold outside today.”

“You have to stay for at least ten minutes,” Michelle told him. “Then I have to go over to Jordan High for rehearsal and you can give me a lift.”

“Sure thing.” P.K. reached for a bar cookie and took a huge bite. “These are good,” he said. “Are they new?”

Hannah nodded. “We’re going to call them Cherry Chocolate Bar Cookies. And they’re not all that’s new. Lisa’s Aunt Nancy gave us the recipe for Raspberry Danish this morning.”

“We’re thinking about serving it here if we can bake individual portions,” Hannah added. “I’ll give you one of the large Danish to take home for breakfast tomorrow.”

P.K. smiled in appreciation. “If it’s as good as these Cherry Chocolate Bar Cookies, it might not last until tomorrow.”

“I don’t suppose you have . . .” Delores started to speak.

“Don’t worry, Mother,” Michelle interrupted what she knew would be a request from their mother. “I know exactly what you’re going to say. Hannah and I remembered that Doc loves Raspberry Danish so we saved one for you.”





CHERRY CHOCOLATE BAR COOKIES


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



1 cup white (granulated) sugar

? cup salted butter (1 and ? sticks, 6 ounces), softened

1 large egg

? teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour (pack it down in the cup when you measure it)

? teaspoon baking powder

1 jar (12 to 15 ounces) cherry preserves (that’s jam with cherries in it)

2 cups flaked coconut, chopped into smaller pieces

2 cups (12-ounce package by weight) semi-sweet chocolate chips





Hannah’s 1st Note: If all you can find in your store is 11-ounce packages of chips, that’s close enough.





Hannah’s 2nd Note: You can mix up these bar cookies by hand with a wooden spoon in a large bowl, or with an electric mixer. Either way will work just fine.





Prepare a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan by spraying it with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. Alternatively, you can line the cake pan with heavy-duty foil and spray that.





Place the white sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the softened butter and mix until light and creamy.





Beat in the egg, and the vanilla extract. Continue to mix until everything is well blended.





In another bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and the baking powder. Mix until well blended.





Hannah’s 3rd Note: You can mix the flour and the baking powder with a fork.





Gradually add this flour mixture to the sugar and butter mixture. Beat until everything is well combined.





Mix in the chopped walnuts. Continue to mix until they are well incorporated.





Press ? of the dough into your prepared cake pan.





Hannah’s 4th Note: You can set aside one cup of the mixture and press the rest in the cake pan. That’s close enough.