Murder on Parade by Melanie Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

before, I rolled out of bed, undeterred by cold floor and colder porcelain. Alex and I had been too tired to exchange presents the night before, but now I was rested and ready to get down to some paper-ripping.
    But first things first. I put on the coffee and put the monkey bread in the oven. It has risen overnight in the Bundt pan and was ready to go. Next, I gave the animals their breakfast and their stockings, so Blue would have her compressed rawhide to chew and the cats could roll in their catnip and leave our presents unmolested.
    Alex let me play Santa first, so I made him sit in the chair near the fire and close his eyes. I got out the violin, fluffing the bow which the cats had somehow slept on. He was moved and for a moment speechless, but I saw the way he touched the violin and knew that he was feeling reverence for the antique. After tuning the strings, he let the violin say thank you, and I was certain that I had been right to give it to him. Musical instruments should be with those who love them.
    Then it was my turn. I had been sincere when I told Alex that I had no idea what he was giving me for Christmas and I was genuinely surprised and also moved by his choice of gifts. His last trip to New Orleans he has stopped in a shop that specialized in masks and had purchased a dragon’s head. It was covered in velvet and jewels and was the most astonishing thing I had ever seen. If the renaissance jewelers had made dragon masks, they would have created one like this. In the other box there was a cloak, of matching green velvet with many small capes that reminded me of the covers of some Regency romances I had read. The style was called a driving cape.
    It was my turn to be speechless, but I guess I looked happy because Alex laughed and then hugged me.
    “You look like someone just gave you glass slippers and an invitation to the ball.”
    “Only this is better. I would rather be the dragon than the princess!”
     I tried the mask and cape on and after admiring myself in the mirror for longer than Mom would approve of, I dragged a coat tree into the living room and hung up the costume where everyone could see. It was disconcerting to catch glimpses of the dragon from the corner of my eye as I went about getting breakfast, but I felt a small thrill when I thought that I would be wearing it to a costume ball. It was just as I had told Alex, some girls might have wanted to be Cinderella or a knight, but I would much rather be a dragon.
    After we had a quick breakfast and then dressed, I got started with cooking. Rubber bands contained the floppy sleeves of my Christmas sweater while I worked. I was armed with detailed instructions on how to treat the prime rib and the rest of the meal was made up of dishes I had prepared before. I assured myself that all would be well.
    We had two desserts that day, a Kahlua Pecan Pie and Tortini Au Café. The pie can be made a day ahead, but I hadn’t had time and so needed to get it the oven right away. The tortini is only good for a few hours and then begins to separate.

    Kahlua Pecan Pie filling:
    ¼ C butter
    ¾ C sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 T flour
    3 eggs
    ½ C kahlua
    ½ C corn syrup
    ¾ C evaporated milk
    1 C pecans (I like whole but pieces will do)
     
    Make pie crust (or cheat and get pre-made deep-dish crust in frozen food section) Preheat oven to 400*. Cream, butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in kahlua, corn syrup and evaporated milk and pecans. Pour into pie shell (there will be extra if you use small shell. Bake at 400* for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325* and bake 40 minutes more.
     
    You can make the pie very fancy by using leaf cookie-cutters and dabbing pastry leaves around edge of pie with egg yolk which turns a dark, amber brown.

    Tortini Au Café:
     
    Part 1:
    1 egg white
    1 T instant coffee or espresso powder
    1/8 tsp salt
    2T sugar
     
    Part 2:
    1 C whipping cream
    ½ C sugar
    1 T vanilla
    1 T almond extract.
     
    Beat egg white,