Christmas Caramel Murder by Joanne Fluke

matter,” Lisa interrupted her. “You have to investigate me, too. That’s one of the things I like best about you, Hannah. You’re fair. I can tell you right now that I didn’t do it, but that doesn’t count for anything. Mike’s going to zero in on me, too. He’s a good cop, and he’s bound to investigate me. I’m just hoping that you’ll hurry and clear both Herb and me by catching the real killer. You’ll do that, won’t you?”
    â€œI’ll certainly do my best,” Hannah promised.
    â€œThat’s good enough for me. Now I’d better get out there and hear what Mayor Bascomb has to say to me. And I’d better help you either clear him or finger him.”
    Michelle and Hannah were silent for a moment after the swinging door had shut behind Lisa. Then Michelle shook her head. “ Finger him ? That dates back a couple of decades. Where did Lisa ever hear a phrase like that?”
    â€œ Dragnet . She told me that she watches reruns while she’s waiting for Herb to come home. He’s been working really late almost every night this month.”
    â€œDo you think he’s really working?”
    â€œI don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”
    There was a knock on the back kitchen door, and Michelle turned to Hannah. “Mother?” she asked.
    â€œNo. Mother’s knock is more impatient and she generally knocks in threes.”
    â€œThrees?”
    â€œYes. Knock-knock-knock. And then knock-knock-knock again. After that, she tries the door. And if it’s unlocked, she comes in.”
    â€œHow about Mike? He always checks in with you the day after a murder.”
    â€œIt’s not Mike. We heard him out front in the coffee shop.”
    â€œUnless he left and walked around to the back door.”
    â€œNo.” Hannah shook her head. “It’s definitely not Mike. He always knocks like he’s serving a search warrant. It’s loud and demanding and staccato. I think it’s probably Norman. He’s got a firm knock, but it’s not as commanding as Mike’s and not as impatient as Mother’s. Go let him in, will you please? I’ll pour him a cup of coffee and get him settled at the workstation.”

    ANGEL JELLIES
    Preheat oven to 275 degrees F., rack in the center position.
    (That’s two hundred and seventy-five degrees F., not a misprint.)

    6 large eggs
    Â¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
    Â½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    Â¼ teaspoon salt
    1 cup white (granulated) sugar
    2 Tablespoons (cup) all-purpose flour (Pack it down when you measure it.)
    a little flour in a small bowl for later
    a small jar of seedless raspberry jam (or your favorite jam if you don’t like raspberry)

    Hannah’s 1 st Note: Make sure you use jam and not jelly in this recipe. I know the name is Angel Jellies, but that’s because “Angel Jams” didn’t sound as nice. I haven’t tried jelly, but there’s more liquid in jelly than in jam. Jam has pieces of fruit in it and although the liquid in jam will melt, those pieces of fruit won’t melt. Jelly could melt and leak out of the bottoms of the cookies as they bake, making them soggy.
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    Separate 6 large eggs and put the whites in one container and the yolks in another.
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    Cover the container with the yolks and put it in the refrigerator. You can use it to make yolk-rich scrambled eggs for breakfast in the morning, or a yolk-rich Chocolate Flan with Caramel Whipped Cream for dessert.
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    Set the whites on your kitchen counter until they’ve come up to room temperature. (This will give them more volume when you whip them.)
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    Prepare your cookie sheets by lining them with parchment paper (this works best) or brown parcel-wrapping paper if you don’t have parchment. Spray the paper with Pam or another non-stick cooking spray and dust it lightly with flour.
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    Hannah’s 2 nd Note: You can also use