New Book Release: NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY! 🎈

WELCOME TO OUR 

BOOK RELEASE PARTY!

Our publisher just released the gorgeous first edition hardcover of our 21st Coffeehouse Mystery No Roast for the Weary. Once again, our murder mystery is set in  the exciting city of New York, where you will join our amateur sleuth, master roaster Clare Cosi, as she strives to keep her landmark Greenwich Village coffee shop from falling into an abyss after a post-pandemic drop in foot traffic. 

Cleo Coyle writes two

bestselling mystery

series with her husband.

To learn more, click here.

The solution comes from her own quirky crew of baristas who suggest they resurrect a literary idea from years ago...

Back then, the second floor of their shop was used by a group of  writers. They called their caffeinated workshop the "Writer's Block Lounge," and when Clare re-opens it, a brand-new collection of coffee drinking creative types is soon packing the place. 

Unfortunately, many of these poets, playwrights, and novelists wrestle with the same demons of self-doubt, envy, and free-floating anxiety that many writers do, and as the pages turn in No Roast for the Weary, this stressful soup leads to murder.

There is a cold case conundrum from the past, a present-day mystery to be solved, and a duck. Yes, a duck named Wacker, a borrowed moniker from Marc's childhood. We both had pet ducks as kids, which is why we had a great deal of fun adding a feathered friend to our newest caffeinated cozy NYC mystery...

image courtesy giphy

image courtesy giphy

image courtesy giphy

This is a fun, page-turning entry in our series that presents unique challenges for our amateur sleuth and her entire staff. It's also a story that grew out of our own experiences as writers living and working in New York City, the ups and downs, hilarious frustrations, entertaining exhilarations, and endlessly inspiring situations... 

AND NOW WE'RE 

CELEBRATING 

ITS PUBLICATION!

To continue reading this post,
click here or on the
"Read More" link below...

Cleo Coyle's St. Patrick's Celebration! 🍀

WELCOME TO OUR 

ST. PATRICK'S PARTY!

🍀 As our own NYPD Detective Mike Quinn would tell you, everyone is a little bit Irish the Week of March 17th. And here in New York City, we celebrate with the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world, along with a green food or two and some Irish drinks!

Cleo Coyle wears and eats 
green on St. Patrick's Day. 
She also writes two
 bestselling mystery series
with her husband... 
To learn more, click here.

In celebration of this event and as a THANK YOU to our wonderful readers and newsletter subscribers, we shared some delicious recipes and fun videos in our St. Patrick's Newsletter, and...

We are delighted to be giving away a beautiful bone china Irish Blessing coffee mug from Royal Tara, along with our Coffeehouse Mystery Book & Tote Bag Prize Package below... 

To continue reading this post,
click here or on the
"Read More" link below...

New Paperback Edition: BULLETPROOF BARISTA

 

Our bestselling Coffeehouse Mystery 

Bulletproof Barista is now in paperback!

Our publisher just released a beautiful paperback edition of our hardcover bestseller Bulletproof Barista.

It includes our full recipe section, plus a bonus teaser for our brand-new Coffeehouse title (our 21st!) coming this April 1st, No Roast for the Weary.

Cleo Coyle writes two

bestselling mystery

series with her husband.

To learn more, click here.

If you haven't yet read Bulletproof Barista, then you are in for a treat. You will return to exciting locations in New York City and join our amateur sleuth, master roaster Clare Cosi, as her landmark Greenwich Village coffee shop becomes the exciting on-site location for shooting a hot, new murder-mystery television show. But when her shop becomes the scene of a true crime, she's on the case.

To continue reading this post,
click here or on the
"Read More" link below...

CAKE PAN DUTCH BABY with Chocolate Version from Cleo Coyle

From Cleo Coyle: Many years ago, I shared my way of making a Dutch Baby Pancake with readers of my Coffeehouse Mysteries, a fun series of culinary mysteries that I write with my husband.

With Mardi Gras this week, a holiday that's also known as Pancake Day, it seems the perfect time to once again share my version of this classic recipe, along with a special chocolate variation for chocolate lovers. 💗

♡ ♡ ♡

Let's start with my 
"Cake Pan" Dutch Baby...

HONEY APPLE CAKE (Dairy-Free: No Milk, No Butter, No Kidding) from Cleo Coyle

From Cleo Coyle: This is a wonderful cake, tender and delectably delicious. I use raw honey for the best flavor. As for the type of apple, I like Golden Delicious for this cake—not to be confused with Red Delicious. Golden Delicious apples are slightly sweet and buttery and a very nice apple for baking. 

This tender, mouthwatering cake is an excellent treat for coffee and tea breaks, especially during apple season. Keep reading this post to see my step-by-step photos and get a bonus recipe for dairy-free whipped cream. 

To download my recipe now in a free PDF that you can print, save, or share, click here.

To see the full recipe post, scroll down or hit the "read more" link and...

🍏 Happy Apple Season, Everyone!

~ Cleo

 Click here for the
free Recipe PDF.

Cleo Coyle's HONEY ROASTED (Book, Tote, and Lavender Honey)

Marc and I are giving thanks to our readers for giving so much sweet support to our brand-new (20th!) Coffeehouse Mystery title, BULLETPROOF BARISTA. The story has plenty of suspenseful twists, intriguing turns, and funny and endearing moments with our beloved cast of Coffeehouse characters. It also takes on a few hot button topics, and we hope you all get a chance to read it. 

In this giveaway post, we are offering a fun Coffeehouse grand prize package featuring a signed copy of our previous title, HONEY ROASTED, in its new paperback edition with a sturdy, canvas Coffeehouse tote bag, a signed collection of Cleo recipe cards, and a gourmet bottle of the "monofloral" lavender honey that we featured in Honey Roasted's storyline (we're throwing in a honey dipper, too).

To continue reading this post,
click here or on the
"Read More" link below...

Cleo Coyle's HAUNTED BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES (2 New Ghost Books!) 👻

Marc and I are celebrating some wonderful news about our Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. Our newest title, THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS, just published in May has surpassed last fall's release, THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS in rate of sale, and STOLEN TEARS is already in a second printing!

Cleo Coyle writes two
bestselling mystery series
with her huband.
To learn more click here. 

We can't thank our readers enough for your kind support of our work. And if you haven't yet read one or both of these entertaining books, the fall season is a great time to catch up on our Jack's hilarious brand of hard-boiled haunting.

☕ As for our long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series, we're excited to report that our publisher is releasing our 19th entry, HONEY ROASTED (3 Best of Year Lists), in a new paperback editon this October. And...

gif courtesy Giphy

Our brand-new (20th!) Coffeehouse title, BULLETPROOF BARISTA will be published this November 2023, marking the 20th Anniversary since our very first Coffeehouse title, ON WHAT GROUNDS, was published in the fall of 2003.

As for Bulletproof Barista, Clare Cosi's latest crime-solving adveture is a fun and fast-paced murder mystery. An early reviewer called it an "edge of your seat read," and we cannot wait for you for read it. In the meantime, we wish everyone a beautiful fall season...

To continue reading,
 click here or on the
"Read More" link below.

Pumpkin Spice Soul Cakes from author Cleo Coyle

Here is a tasty twist on an old tradition. Soul cakes are the culinary antecedent to the candy treats we give out on Halloween night, a custom originally connected with the church’s All Souls' Day (for more on that history, scroll down below my recipe). 

Cleo Coyle writes two
bestselling mystery

 series with her husband.
To learn more, click here.

Depending on the region and time period, soul cakes came in many variations. Most included spices and dried fruits with a cross on top. I had fun with this "soul cake" concept and created my own pumpkin spice version. The combo of pumpkin and vegetable oil (instead of butter) creates soul cakes that are moister and lighter than traditional versions. The pumpkin adds fiber and nutrition too. 

Like pumpkin muffin tops, these soul cakes make a delicious breakfast or coffee-break snack. Sandwich two together for a fall whoopie pie, filling them with cream cheese, cream cheese frosting, or even marshmallow creme.

May you eat them with joy &
as the "Soul Cake" song says...

May God bless you!

~ Cleo

To download this recipe 

in a PDF document that 

you can print, save, 

or share, CLICK HERE.

Click here or on the image above

for Cleo's recipe in PDF form.

👇

To continue reading,
click here or on the
"Read More" link below.

How to Make a Virgin Sangria and Amuse Your Cat by Author Cleo Coyle

 

That cute little cat (photo-boming my foodie pic) is Durango, one of our many rescued New York Strays. In this post, you will find out how he turned a peach into a beach ball, while I turned one into a tasty drink.

Cleo Coyle writes two

bestselling mystery

series with her husband.

To learn more, click here.

🍑  If you're feeling hot under the collar these days, you are not alone. We have at least one solution for you: a wonderfully refreshing and hydrating recipe. It's also a great way to use extra fruit in your fridge that may be getting a little too ripe.

Why virgin? A white wine sangria is delicious, but on a workday, I prefer that my fingers hit my laptop keyboard rather than my forehead, which means no firewater until the day is done.

A virgin sangria is also a good idea for households with kids because it can be converted into an adult beverage at the time it's poured, which means one pitcher can conveniently serve drinkers and non-drinkers alike.

Click here for Cleo's recipe PDF.

To download this recipe in a free PDF that you can print, save, or share, click here.

To read the whole recipe post and see more of my cat Durango photo-bombing my foodie pics, scroll down or click here...

HONEY ROASTED: Our Fastest Selling Coffeehouse Mystery!

Marc and I are giving thanks to our readers this week after our editor shared happy news about our latest Coffeehouse Mystery, HONEY ROASTED, which earned out its advance in record time, making it the fastest selling Coffeehouse Mystery that we've ever published (and earning us a bonus). 

Our editor is thrilled, and we are incredibly grateful to those of you who've supported our work. We can't thank you enough. 

Our next Coffeehouse adventure, BULLETPROOF BARISTA, will be released November 2023, and it is so much fun! We love the story, and we hope you will, too. In the meantime, we wish all of you peace & joy this holiday season...

To join our online celebration, 
click here to jump to our Facebook post.

To continue reading,
click here or on the
"read more" link below.

Easy Cherry Streusel Pastry Cake + Book & Tote Giveaway from author Cleo Coyle

Truth? I have never been a big fan of Valentine's Day. When I was a singleton, I felt left out. As part of a couple (though I do dearly love my husband), I find the whole holiday somewhat forced. Not that it's a bad idea to enrich hardworking chocolatiers, restaurateurs, and greeting card companies. The economy can use as much activity as earnest sweethearts can give it!

On the other hand, I can't help thinking of the many people who are not in the hearts and flowers mood this week. If you are among them, I'm here to help (if only a little) by suggesting...

(#1) We include our beloved pets in the

"Valentine Sweetheart" category and...

(#2) We indulge in a little baking therapy. 

💘

To continue reading my Valentine
recipe post click here (or scroll down).

How to Make an Easy Spiced Apple Spoonbread by Cleo Coyle

A modern twist on a historic recipe. The homey taste of apple pie spice and fresh shredded apple come together in this easy recipe to create a tasty bread pudding, perfect for chilly winter mornings, afternoon snacking, or even an after-dinner dessert. 

Serve it with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a tasty alternative to pancakes or waffles. For an after-dinner dessert, try plating the warm pudding with a scoop of ice cream and maybe a boozy splash of Baileys or another liqueur. Whipped cream and fresh berries would also be delicious. 

Click here for Cleo's
Free Recipe PDF.

And don't forget that hot pot of coffee or tea to warm your bones while you're waiting to...

Eat with joy! 💗☕

~ Cleo

To download my recipe now in a free
PDF document that you can print,
save, or share, click here. 

To continue reading this post,
scroll down or click here.

A Central Park Walking Tour with author Cleo Coyle

Pop Quiz: Where was the above photo taken?

A. New Hampshire

B. Vermont

C. Central Park

Cleo Coyle writes two
bestselling mystery

 series with her husband.
To learn more, click here.

Okay, so my post title gave it away, but could you have guessed otherwise? Central park is landscape magic. It makes an entire city disappear. And when the city is New York, that's saying something.

Join me and my husband, Marc, as we take a scenic walk through Central Park. This wasn't just any stroll. It was location research for our bestselling Coffeehouse Mystery Once Upon a Grind.

If you've read our book, then you may recognize some of the landmarks and settings we used from the park: Belvedere Castle, the Ramble, Oak Bridge, and more...

Click here or on the cover above
to learn about Once Upon a Grind.

So here we go. I hope you enjoy this virtual trip to our nation's first major landscaped public park (videos included). To read the rest of this post, scroll down, or click here...

How to Make No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream (No Machine, No kidding) by Cleo Coyle

 

Like a sweet, cold edible coffee, the flavor of our favorite beverage permeates this no-machine ice cream. It's a smooth, cooling treat in the summer heat...

This "no-churn" recipe is 

Click here for the Free Recipe PDF.

incredibly easy to make, requires no cooking, no eggs, and no machine. Yet it yields creamy, smooth, amazingly delicious results. 

To download our recipe now in a PDF document, click here.

To see the rest of this post and its foodie photos, scroll down or click here or on the Read More link below. 

~ Cleo Coyle, author of The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Little Cherry Clafoutis: A Dessert Inspired by the VS Orient Express from Cleo Coyle

 

This classic French dessert originated from the Limousin region of France, and Chef Christian Bodiguel described it as one of his favorites, which is why he served it on the famous VS-Orient Express. The luxury train line has a new executive chef now, but a few years ago, Chef Bodiguel shared his recipe online, which I slightly adapted into the version below. 

Click here or on the image above
for Cleo's free recipe PDF. 

With cherry season upon us, this a great time to bake up these treats. At other times of the year, frozen cherries can be used in place of fresh (see my instructions below). And in an American pinch, you can even try blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries.

In the meantime, Marc and I wish you all the best for the season's eatings.

May you eat (and travel) with joy! 

~ Cleo

☕ To download my recipe now in a free
PDF document that you can print,
save, or share, click here. 

🍒 To continue reading this post,
scroll down or click here.

How to Make Fresh Garden Tomato Sauce and Survive Depression by author Cleo Coyle

  

During the Great Depression, my father's father kept his large family fed by working a small farm from which they sold produce. Every spring, my dad helped his father plant 2,000 tomato plants for their family. Years later, when my dad had a family of his own, he continued that tradition, raising more than 100 tomato plants in back of our suburban home for us every summer, without fail.

My late father, Tony Alfonsi, 
with his Italian-born mother (my
grandmother) Grazia. My dad was a

tough guy with a tender heart.
He served in the Army Air Corps
and worked for years in a Pittsburgh
area steel mill. (You can see the mill's
smokestacks in the background.)
Garden tomatoes helped his family

survive the Great Depression.

Fresh garden tomato sauce was always part of that yield. Below is the recipe I now make in my home. The amazing smell of the sauce cooking brings me right back to my childhood and memories of my beloved dad.

The nutrition in freshly cooked tomatoes is a mood lifter, and this process, shared with friends or family, will uplift your spirits, as well.

May you cook it with love and make lifelong memories of your own. 

🍅 ~ Cleo

(aka Alice Alfonsi)

To download my recipe now in a free PDF document that you can print, save, or share, click here. 

To continue reading this post,
scroll down or click here.

Click here to download
Cleo's recipe in PDF form.

To continue reading this post,
scroll down or click here or
on the "read more" link below...

Easy Melted Gelato Sheet Cake by Cleo Coyle #SummerCake

 

Summer and easy just seem to go together, don't they? Okay, maybe not in our writing lives, but we'll take it in the kitchen.

Click for Free Recipe PDF. 

Our "Melted Gelato Sheet Cake" is a fun cake to make for picnics, cookouts, and snacking. You can either frost it or do what we do: simply serve it with whipped cream or ice cream, a sprinkling of chopped nuts, and maybe even some fresh fruit. 

The cake is incredibly easy to make (no baking skills needed!) and it's highly versatile. You can experiment with your favorite flavors of gelato. And I suggest a few fun alternate ideas for cake flavors in the recipe... 

So let's start baking!

To download our recipe now in a PDF document, click here. 

To see the rest of this post and its foodie photos, scroll down or click here or on the Read More link below.

If you'd like to subscribe to
Cleo's Newsletters and join her
"Coffee Club," click here.

To continue reading this post,
scroll down or click here.