Chocolate Truffles

by Saralyn Richard

Chocolate truffles are round candies made with creamy, chocolate ganache centers and coated with chocolate, cocoa powder, or chopped toasted nuts. They get their name from their resemblance in shape and size to the edible fungi, but that is where the resemblance ends.

The first chocolate truffle is rumored to have been created in Chambery, France, but variations soon sprang up in Switzerland and other European countries. The Californian truffle is credited to Alice Medrich, who, after tasting truffles in France in 1973, formulated a larger, lumpier version and began selling them in her store, Cocolat, which soon expanded into a chain. Thus began the American obsession with truffles.

Chocolate truffles play a role in MURDER IN THE ONE PERCENT, the first Detective Parrott Mystery novel. Thirteen friends gather for a weekend retreat in a country mansion in the elite Brandywine Valley, and the sumptuous menu for their Saturday night dinner includes truffles, made by one of the guests.

Vicki is known for her decadent candies, but when her least favorite fellow guest is found dead the next morning, some wonder about Vicki’s recipe.

While you ponder whether a poison could be delivered in such a delectable bit of heavenly chocolate, here’s my mother’s easy recipe for chocolate truffles:

Ingredients:

2 quality chocolate bars (4 oz. each), chopped into fine pieces

2/3 C whipping cream

1 T unsalted butter, at room temperature

½ t pure vanilla extract

One or more of these toppings: finely chopped nuts, unsweetened cocoa powder, sprinkles

1.       Place chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, and set aside.

2.       Warm the whipping cream until it simmers.

3.       Add butter to the chocolate.

4.       Pour heated whipping cream evenly on top of chocolate and butter.

5.       Pour mixture into a square baking pan.

6.       Let the mixture sit for five minutes.

7.       Add vanilla.

8.       Stir until chocolate has completely melted.

9.       Cover with plastic wrap, placed directly on the chocolate mixture to prevent condensation.

10.   Refrigerate for two hours.

11.   Scoop the set truffle mixture into two-teaspoon-sized mounds. Roll into balls.

12.   Roll each ball into toppings, as desired.

13.   Serve at room temperature.

14.   Cover and store at room temperature up to four days, or in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

If you’d like the menu and more recipes from the gourmet meal served in MURDER IN THE ONE PERCENT, sign up for my monthly email newsletter at http://saralynrichard.com.

 

Award-winning mystery and children’s book author, Saralyn Richard has ink in her veins. A former urban high school educator, she’s living the dream, connecting with readers through her books: A Murder of Principal, Naughty Nana, Murder in the One Percent, and A Palette for Love and Murder. Saralyn participates in International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, and teaches creative writing. Follow her at https://www.amazon.com/Saralyn-Richard/e/B0787F6HD4?ref_=.

 

Lessons From My Garden

By Saralyn Richard

I’ve always loved to plant flowers and vegetables and watch them grow, but never, until now, have I had the time to nurture, weed, water, and admire the horticulture. For all of the things the pandemic has taken away, the joy of gardening is one thing it’s brought to my life in technicolor.

            During days when time inside seems to stand still, when one day pours into the next, so it doesn’t matter whether it’s Monday or Saturday, the ever-changing splendor of my garden provides something new. In March, I planted the caladium bulbs kept in the garage all winter. Even from the first day after planting, they were pushing up shoots that turned into buds, that opened into showy broad red and green leaves. The progress was rapid and almost magical.

            The caladiums reminded me of the book release process. When I published my debut mystery novel, MURDER IN THE ONE PERCENT, in 2018, I experienced that creative push of final edits, review blurbs, pre-publication hype, and, voila! The book was “above ground,” out into the world. As the book was nourished by reader reviews and a dizzying book tour schedule, it opened up to book clubs, new readers, and beautiful new connections.

            The fig tree in my back yard, however, has taught me patience. The sequel to MURDER IN THE ONE PERCENT, A PALETTE FOR LOVE AND MURDER, was released in February of this year. I had no idea that a pandemic would wreak havoc with every launch party, book talk, and book club I had so enthusiastically planned. Like the new mystery novel, the fig tree burst forth in a passionate profusion of fruit. Once the first crop was picked, though, the tree slowed down. It’s still full of potential. Hundreds of green buds remain, patiently awaiting their natural time to explode into luscious purple fruit. Though the book launch for PALETTE was not what I expected, the joy of the first crop of readers and the early reviews has been gratifying. Now I need to nurture the green buds, knowing that, if I’m patient, they will produce fruit.

            A final parable comes from the enclosed planter on my front porch. I’ve never been able to grow anything in this shady area. Too little sun, too little water, and too little attention from me were all to blame. I had literally given up on having anything there, except an air plant, a few aloe vera plants, and a touch of tradescantia zebrine (wandering jew). I decided that this was the time to experiment. I took a cutting from a healthy ginger plant in my back yard, and I planted it in the planter. I decided to keep the porch light on all night to give it extra light for growing, and I water it every day. At first the leaves turned brown and I was sure the plant was dying, but after a few more days, baby shoots started popping up in the soil. Now the plant is thriving, and the planter is a source of pride.

            So many times in writing, the easy path would be to give up. I might blame a lack of time, a dearth of creative ideas, a busy calendar, family demands, even a pandemic—innumerable excuses for not writing. The truth is, however, that an author with a creative spirit can produce a story to be proud of. Yes, there are obstacles, but obstacles can be overcome, as long as the passion and will are there.

            Those of us who read and write, who love books, have likely learned many lessons during these months of social distancing. Here’s hoping all of our lessons bear the sweetest fruit.

Award-winning mystery and children’s book author, Saralyn Richard strives to make the world a better place, one book at a time. Her books, Naughty Nana, Murder in the One Percent, and A Palette for Love and Murder, have delighted children and adults, alike. A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and continues to write mysteries. Look for A Murder of Principal to be released in January, 2020. Reviews, media, and tour schedule may be found at http://saralynrichard.com.

 https://www.amazon.com/Murder-One-Percent-Saralyn-Richard/dp/1626947716/ref

 https://www.amazon.com/Palette-Love-Murder-Detective-Parrott/dp/1644372045/ref

What Makes Excellent Writing?

What Makes Excellent Writing?

by Saralyn Richard

I’ve taught creative writing off and on for years. It was an elective for upper class students in a large suburban Chicago high school. Part of our curriculum was to produce a literary magazine each year, and we entered our work in a National Council of Teachers of English contest. Oftentimes we won awards for our content or layout, and quite a few of my students went on to become successful writers.

Now I teach creative writing to adults aged 55 or older at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. I’m finding the learners to be extremely motivated. The problem for them is not choosing what to write about, but choosing which of many ideas and experiences to write about first. My learners are serious, thoughtful, observant, experienced, and well-read. Their responses to assignments are creative and clever, worthy of being submitted for contests or publication.

I’m often asked what makes excellent creative writing, and when I consider possible replies, I find the same things apply to both high school writers and adult writers.

The first element of fine writing, in my opinion, is the ability to imagine and bring to life one or more relatable characters. These characters do not have to be alter-egos of the author who creates them. They don’t even need to be the same gender, race, creed, or age. They don’t need to be perfect; in fact, perfection would be a detriment to being relatable for readers.

How do authors come out of themselves enough to paint a realistic word-portrait of characters who are unlike them? The process for me is similar to what an actor does in assuming a role for a play. When I’m writing about a character, I immerse myself into the body and mind of that person. I lose my own identity as I write the scenes where my character speaks and thinks and acts.

Another fine point of excellent writing is awareness of theme. I use the term “theme” to mean the overall purpose for the story. When the author consciously crafts the writing based on a specific purpose, all of the narration, exposition, description, and dialogue fall into place, unifying the readers’ experience. I’ve read many sagas that took me across generations and geographical locations without tying the chapters and sections together, and they’ve left me wondering about the author’s intent. My favorite tales lead me to some truth, some higher awareness about life or people.

Of course there are many other important strategies and methods in a writer’s toolkit. As a creative writing teacher, I encourage my students to practice them all. As a writer, myself, I strive to do the same. The two books in the Detective Oliver Parrott Mystery series, Murder in the One Percent and A Palette for Love and Murder, have thoroughly imagined characters and (hopefully) articulated themes.

I’m excited to discuss these and other topics with the Stiletto Gang readers. Whatever questions you have about creative writing, I’m interested. 

 

Award-winning mystery and children’s book author, Saralyn Richard, is a writer who teaches on the side. Her books, Naughty Nana, Murder in the One Percent, and A Palette for Love and Murder, have delighted children and adults, alike. A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and continues to write mysteries. Reviews, media, and tour schedule may be found at http://saralynrichard.com.

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 “A compelling story of worlds in collision, A Palette for Love and Murder plumbs the depths of love and the human heart.”

                                                         --William Kent Krueger, author of This Tender Land

“Delightful! Saralyn Richard weaves a deeply twisty mystery around vibrant characters that will leave readers looking forward to more.” —LynDee Walker, Agatha Award-nominated author of Front Page Fatality

“Smart, stylish and sexy, this art world caper delights with its verve and wit. The character studies are wonderful, and Oliver and Tonya Parrott are an irresistible pair.”                                           – Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of A Deadly Divide