Recipes from Karen MacInerney's "Murder on the Rocks"

a.  Wicked Blueberry Coffee Cake

1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
3 beaten eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups flour
1 cup sour creeam
2 cups blueberries

Spread:

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour

Cream butter and sugar.  Add the next six ingredients, followd by flour and sour cream alternately, mixing with a spoon.  Fold in blueberries, and pour into greased 9'' x 13'' pan. 

In a separate bowl, cream brown sugar and remaining butter.  Add flour to get a semi-dry mixture.  spread on top, and baking for 30 mins

b.  Blackout Brownies

6 squares unswetened baking chocolate
11/2 cups butter
1/4 tsp salt
3 cups sugar
4 eggs
11/2 tsps vanilla extract
11/2 cups flour
1/4 choppd walnuts

Melt chocolate with 3/4 cup buttr and salt.  Beat remaininj 1/4 cup butter in an electric mixer until soft, gradually adding sugar until wll blended.  Add eggs and vanilla, and mix.  Add melted chocolate.  add flour and mix at low speed until just blnded.  Mix in nuts, optional.  Turn the batter into a greased and floured 9'' x 13'' pan and bake for 35-45 mins.  Cool and frost

Fudge Frosting

11/2 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
11/2 cups sugar
1 pinch salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
11/2 tsps vanilla extract

Melt chocolate with sugar, salt and cream.  Do not overstir.  Add vanilla, and frost cooled brownies. 

c.  Killer Cranberry Scones

3 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
21/2 tsps baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup firm butter, cut in small pieces1/4 cup cranberries
1/4 cup walnuts
1 tsp grated fresh orange peel
1 cup buttermilk

Topping

2 tbps coarse sugar
1 tbsp milk

In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt with a fork.  Cut in butter until it resembles coarse cornmeal.  Make a well in the center and add the buttermilk.  

Stir the mixture with a fork until the dough pulls away from thee sides of a bowl.  With your hands, gather dough into a ball and turn out onto a lightly floured board.

Roll or pat into a 1/2 inch thick square.  Cut into 2/1/2 inch circles, and place 11/2 inches apart on baking sheets.  Combine cinnamon and sugar

Brush scones with milk and sprinkle sugar.  Bakt at 425 deg for 12 mins

18 scones