Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with HELEN STARBUCK!
Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, instead of one of my recipes, I will introduce you to a new author who will share a favorite recipe. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll also get a chance to check out some fantastic authors. Introducing author HELEN STARBUCK and her favorite recipe for BAKLAVA!
THE WEIGHT OF GUILT
An Annie Collins Mystery Book 5
BY HELEN STARBUCK
Blurb
Guilty or innocent? The verdict could go either way
Trying to deal with a difficult, evasive, entitled client and her overprotective uncle—Attorney Angel Cisneros’s senior partner who expects an acquittal—Angel fears he’ll lose the case and his job at the high-priced criminal defense practice where he works.
Accused of stabbing a surgeon to death, operating room nurse Mia Stewart has a hard time telling the truth about what happened or her relationship with the surgeon. The circumstantial evidence is overwhelmingly against her despite Mia’s insistence that she’s innocent. Annie Collins and her private investigator partner, retired homicide detective Frost, can’t find anything to prove that.
The case drags Annie back into the OR and its intrigues landing her in a complicated web of relationships and conflicts. As Mia Stewart’s innocence becomes harder to prove, Annie’s afraid she and Frost may not be able prevent Mia’s conviction or Angel losing his job.
If you like intriguing mysteries, twists and turns, and undercurrents of romance, The Weight of Guilt, from award-winning author Helen Starbuck, will take you on a rollercoaster ride into the OR and the courtroom.
THE WEIGHT OF GUILT
An Annie Collins Mystery Book 5
BY HELEN STARBUCK
Excerpt
“Was Mia Stewart capable of stabbing a man to death, or had she simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time? That question colored everything about Mia from the first time I met her. She was unlikable and evasive, with the seriously entitled attitude that seemed to be the norm if you came from a rich, well-connected family. It was hard to figure out who we were dealing with.
One minute, she was teary-eyed and helpless, swearing she didn’t kill the victim and vowing to do whatever it took to avoid conviction; the next moment, she lashed out if questioned or challenged. Her claim of innocence, however, never wavered. I had to take her at her word and hope I could find a way to prove it.”
About Author Helen Starbuck…
Colorado native and former OR nurse, Helen Starbuck is an award-winning author of The Annie Collins Mystery Series and contemporary romantic suspense. Sadly, being no relation to the coffee bunch, she doesn’t get free coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her ballroom dancing and reading books about strong women and interesting men who find themselves in suspense-filled situations.
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Links to Helen’s website, blog, books, #ad, etc.:
The Weight of Guilt can be purchased on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2SKKDSJ) in ebook, paperback, and audiobook. Paperbacks can be purchased at Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-weight-of-guilt-helen-starbuck/1147221628), Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-weight-of-guilt-helen-starbuck/22502528), and Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230893382-the-weight-of-guilt).
Follow Helen on Facebook (facebook.com/helensstarbuck), Instagram (instagram.com/helenstarbuck/), Threads (https://www.threads.net/@helenstarbuck_author), and BlueSky (@hstarbuck-books.bsky.social). You can sign up for her newsletter to be the first to hear about new books, events, and cover reveals on her web site (helenstarbuck.com). To contact her directly please email her at helenstarbuck@gmail.com.
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Karen
P.S. We’re at 750 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right-hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: If an author’s favorite recipe isn’t their own creation and came from an online site, you will now find the entire recipe through the link to that site as a personal recommendation. Thank you.
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BAKLAVA
Note from Helen: My favorite recipe at the holidays is Baklava. In the past, I made this and sold it to co-workers at Christmas, and some still get in touch for a batch. I got this recipe off an Athens phyllo dough box a long ago, but this is a pretty standard recipe. Phyllo dough can be found in the frozen foods section where the puff pastry dough lives.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds walnuts, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups (two sticks) of melted unsalted butter
- One box of phyllo dough pastry sheets, thawed. Important: phyllo dough sheets are very thin and dry out almost immediately if left exposed to room air, so I leave them rolled up (as they come out of the inner plastic wrap) and covered with a slightly damp (not wet) kitchen towel. I unroll and take approximately 5 sheets out as I need them to lay in the pan, roll remaining sheets up and cover them with the towel.
Syrup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- Zest of 1 lemon
Combine walnuts, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.
Lightly brush a 9″ x 13″ baking pan with melted butter. Place 5 sheets of phyllo dough on the bottom of the pan, brushing each section of sheets generously with melted butter. Cover with 1/2 of the walnut mixture.
Layer 5 more phyllo sheets on top, brushing each section with butter. Cover each section with walnut mixture and continue doing this until 5 phyllo sheets are left. Finish the pan with the remaining phyllo sheets and brush with remaining butter.
With a sharp knife, cut phyllo into 1 1/2″ diamonds or squares. Important: this has to be done before you cook the Baklava or the baked sheets shatter.
Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden brown. Check at 30 minutes to ensure it isn’t browning early. Baklava takes little time to cook and should be removed from the oven when browned.
While the pan is baking, combine the syrup ingredients in a small pan and heat until granulated sugar melts and all ingredients are combined. Keep warm. Cool the pan of baklava slightly and pour warm syrup over it. Cool completely and serve. If there is any left after serving to guests, keep refrigerated.
Happy Reading!
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Special Giveaway: Helen will gift an ebook copy of THE WEIGHT OF GUILT to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Good luck!
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Thanks, Helen, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
never had baklava so would love to try
Welcome to Karen’s Killer Fixin’s, Helen. I love books like this. I’m intrigued by your premise and excerpt. I can’t wait to read it. Thank you for sharing your book with us today.
Thanks, too, for sharing your recipe for Baklava. It’s so scrumptious and I don’t have access to it where I live. I’ll be trying this recipe.
Your book sounds intriguing and that receipe – YUM!!! Chef’s kiss. I love baklava!! Thanks so much for sharing.
Good morning, this book sounds and looks intriguing! Yes I have had Baklava before and it is very good. Have a great weekend.
N/E but curious to see “who done it”
Baklava too sweet for me, now
nice excerpt
Working at a Greek restaurant when I was younger began my life-long love of baklava. Thanks so much for the recipe and for sharing your book with us.
This sounds like an intriguing story. I love baklava, so I’ll have to give this a try.