Cozy Mystery Book Club Dinner Party Menu

With Book-Inspired Recipes

There are many advantages to membership in a book club. 

Please scroll to the end for my COZY, BOOK-INSPIRED DINNER PARTY MENU perfect for your next book club gathering.

Camaraderie: You are paired with people who totally get what you’re saying when you admit you blew your book budget, so you bought your books from the grocery store because then it counts as a food budget item. 

Pretty dish towels, birthday cards, and seasonal decorations can also go into this category with creative accounting.

Destination book discussions: Your group agrees to meet someplace fun to combine scholarship with socializing. You might meet at the new tea shop to talk about your monthly book. Where the groups gather, laughter follows.

Everyone gets an opportunity to choose which book the club will read. This shared decision-making can introduce you to titles you’d never choose otherwise.

Pot Luck Plotting: One person can host and provide beverages. Others bring an item to share with the book club. The caveat is that the item must be from a book they read.

 You don’t have to copy my sample menu, but you can. Ideally, one would read the book first before deciding what to bring.  

We don’t live in a perfect world, but it’s always a beautiful world.  We have or can make friendships ‘bound’ by books, shared ups and downs, and a delicious meal or two.

SIGNATURE BEVERAGE: 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Joanne Fluke – Hannah Swensen Mystery)Hot Chocolate 1 cup milk 2 tbs semi-sweet chocolate chips1 tbsp cocoa powder 1 tbsp sugar1/4 tsp vanilla Pinch of salt Optional: Whipped cream or mini marshmallows

APPETIZERS:

On What Grounds (Cleo Coyle – Coffeehouse Mystery series) Coffee-Glazed Spiced Nuts 3 cups mixed nuts or peanuts 1/2 cup brown sugar1 tbsp instant espresso powder – or strong instant coffee1 tsp cinnamon1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)1 egg white1 tsp vanilla extractPinch of salt Instructions: Preheat oven to 300℉ and line parchment paper on baking sheet. Whisk egg white and vanilla until frothy. Toss nuts in egg mixture to coat. Mix sugar, espresso powder, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt, then sprinkle over nuts and stir well. Spread nuts in a single layer. Bake for 35-40 minutes, stirring once, until dry and fragrant. Cool completely. They crisp as they cool. Serve in small bowls.

MAIN COURSE:

Death by Dumpling (Vivien Chien) Ginger-Garlic Pork Dumplings with Soy Dipping Sauce Filling: 1 pound ground pork 2 cups cabbage 3 green onions, minced 2 cloves, minced 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp sesame oil 1/2 tsp sugar1/4 tsp pepper40 dumpling wrappers Dipping Sauce: 1/4 cup soy sauce1 tbsp rice vinegar1 tsp sesame oilDirections: Assemble and mix ingredients. Fill each wrapper. Moisten the edge with water, fold and pleat to seal. Cook in oil / pan fry 2-3 minutes. Combine dipping sauce ingredients.

SIDES:

The Quiche of Death (M.C. Beaton – Agatha Raisin series)Classic Cheddar & Onion Quiche 1 refrigerated pie crust4 large eggs1 cup milk (or half and half)1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese1/2 cup finely chopped onionSalt and pepper to tastePinch of nutmeg (optional)Directions: Assemble on pie crust the cheese and onion. Pour egg mixture over filling. Bake 35-40 minutes until center is set at 375 ℉. Cool for 10 minutes and serve.

BREAD:

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (Lilian Jackson Braun)Danish Bites: 1 sheet puff pastry 4 oz. cream cheese 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere or sharp cheddar2 tbsp finely chopped chives1 tsp Dijon mustardSalt and pepper1 egg beatenDirections: Cut pastry into 12 small squares. Mix other items until smooth. Assemble filling on each square and fold the corners. Brush with egg wash. 400℉, 15-18 minutes

DESSERTS:

Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins (Sarah Graves)No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Cups (10 minutes) 1 cup heavy whipping cream1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread or melted semi-sweet chocolate1 tbsp powdered sugar1/2 tsp vanilla extractChocolate shavings or cocoa power for topping