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📚Win 3 Free Cozy Mystery eBooks!

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2025.

🎉 Win 3 FREE eBooks! Enter to Win the Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery Series Box Set (Books 1–3)! 🧁📚

Are you a fan of sweet treats, yummeries, and puzzling mysteries? You're in for a delightful experience! I'm giving away 3 FREE ebooks — Books 1–3 of the Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery Series — to one lucky winner!

📖 What's in the Box Set? Get ready to indulge in:

Book 1: The Great Brownie Taste-off ~ When a cat shelter employee's dream of owning a bakery leads her to uncover a shady scheme, Yolanda must bake up a plan to save the shelter and win the Great Brownie Taste-off.

Book 2: The Missing Sea Captain ~ Love, friendship, and justice are tested as Yolanda races against time to find the missing captain, clear her name, and protect her yummery. Will she be able to help unravel the truth?

Book 3: A Pie to Die For ~ Yolanda navigates a web of intrigue while whipping up batches of delicious pies. A Pie to Die For is a delectable cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Follow Yolanda Carter and read some “Deliciously crafted mysteries that will leave you hungry for more!”

 👉 Check out the book series here!

BONUS: You also get four dessert recipes in this box set!

📝 How to Enter:

Leave a comment below telling me:

Your favorite baked good OR

Why you love cozy mysteries!

Make sure to include a valid email address [only visible to me] so I can contact the winner.

🗓️ Contest ends: Wednesday, June 4, 2025 🎁 Winner announced: Friday, June 6, 2025 right here in the comments and via email. A PDF copy will be emailed the winner.

✅ Bonus Entry (Optional): Share this blog post on social media and mention in your comment where you shared it!

📚 Good luck, mystery lovers! Grab your favorite cup of tea, a snack, and dive into this scrumptious cozy mystery world!

Disclaimer: This giveaway is not affiliated with Squarespace or any social media platform. Open to international readers. Must be 18 or older to enter. One winner will be randomly selected and contacted by email.

[lisamaliga]

8 Healthy Hair Care Tips

Copyright 2025 by Lisa Maliga

Are you tired of dealing with problem hair? Discover the secrets to revitalizing your locks with natural ingredients and simple techniques. In this guide, you'll learn expert tips from essential vitamins and scalp massage to the best oil treatments and DIY hair masks. Say goodbye to bad hair days and hello to healthy hair.

Vitamins, minerals, herbs – the following will help your hair thrive. Hair care formulations, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin E, vitamin C, flaxseed oil, MSM [Methyl Sulfonyl Methane], silica, horsetail, biotin, B vitamin complex. Consult with your health care practitioner before taking supplements. Your hair is a reflection of your physical state Get plenty of rest. Drink enough water and exercise to suit your lifestyle. Eat fruits, vegetables, cereals, eggs, milk, and bread. Organic food is always a healthier option.

Scalp massage - An inexpensive method for helping hair growth/regrowth is to massage the scalp. Whether you buy a wood or rubber scalp massager, or opt for your ten fingers, you can invigorate and help cleanse your scalp either before shampooing, or whenever you shampoo. By stimulating your scalp you encourage the circulation, think of it as scalp aerobics, and this allows your scalp’s natural oils, sebum, to be distributed. When using your fingers, never use your nails, only your fingertips. Always massage gently, and start at the crown of your head and work your way lower.

Oils - Choosing the proper oil sometimes is a matter of experimentation. A light oil should be used for thin, fine hair, but there are those who can use a heavier oil like olive. There are various grades of vegetable oils available from unrefined to heavily refined. Unrefined oils retain their natural vitamins and minerals and are considered healthier, but their aromas can be somewhat pungent. For example, sesame seed oil, an excellent skin and hair loving oil that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, retains a darker color and nuttier aroma in its unrefined state. However, once it’s been refined, the color is lighter and there is no discernible odor.

There are many oils that are available whether in your kitchen cupboard, at your grocery store, health food store, or your favorite online shop. Experimenting with oils and their applications is necessary, sometimes you’ll discover what works for you within the first attempt, other times you may have to try out several different oils and application methods. You’ll find that organic jojoba and organic virgin coconut oil are suitable for most people with fine hair. I’ve recently begun using virgin avocado oil and find it’s my new go to oil.

Oil Applications: Leave In – This involves a very small amount of oil and you can control whether it’s applied throughout your hair or only on the ends. Simply comb or brush through your dry hair.

Oiling Dry Hair – To use this method, you allow the oil to remain on your scalp and hair for approximately 20 minutes, and shampoo it out.

Oiling Damp Hair – Investing in a spray mister is a great way to easily add enough distilled or spring water so that you can dampen your hair easily. Apply the oil and comb through. Whether oiling dry or damp hair, make sure it’s free from tangles, so either combing or brushing before applying is necessary. You can choose to comb it through your hair or remain as is – it does depend upon what you’ve added. While some people feel that 20 minutes isn’t enough, others opt for an hour, and there are people who feel as though allowing the oil to remain on overnight is beneficial.

Other Applications: Clay, Dead Sea Mud, Powdered Herbs, Protein Powder, Eggs, Honey, Yogurt, Milk, Henna [neutral or colored], or Mashed Fruits – all the listed products can be used to create a hair mask which will increase its strength, encourage growth, enhance shine, and tame curls. Any of these ingredients, both singly or in combination, can be healthfully used. Read labels before purchase. If you have very fine hair, be careful about using eggs and make sure you rinse with cold water to avoid scrambled eggs!

Shampoos: To use a more natural and cost effective shampoo, consider a shampoo bar. They are simple to use, can clean your face and body, and they are easy to pack and don’t spill. All shampoo bars are formulated for fine hair. Additionally, they work in soft water and hard water areas. 

Ready to transform your hair? Try these natural hair care tips and share your results in the comments below! For more in-depth guidance on creating your own natural hair products, check out my book, "How to Make Handmade Shampoo Bars," and unlock the potential for gorgeous, healthy hair.

[lisamaliga]

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies Recipe & Video

By Lisa Maliga copyright 2025

Looking for an easy, no-bake cookie recipe? These delicious chocolate no-bake cookies are the perfect treat, requiring only a few simple ingredients and no oven! Perfect for hot summer days or anytime you're craving a homemade dessert, these cookies are customizable to fit gluten-free or vegan diets.

These No-Bake Cookies contain Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa powder, a very fine brand of chocolate. Even though these are what I refer to as ‘stovetop cookies’ as no oven is used, the rich flavor of this brand of chocolate stands out.

I also used a salted peanut butter so that no extra salt needs to be added.

This recipe is so easy to make, any time of the year. If you don’t want to turn your oven on and crave homemade cookies, I definitely recommend making these!

CHOCOLATE NO BAKE COOKIES RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

½ cup organic cane sugar https://amzn.to/41OREkQ

1 cup organic brown coconut sugar https://amzn.to/41BXvbY

½ cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted https://amzn.to/3DghW6m

½ cup peanut butter https://amzn.to/4kuE3Xf

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract  https://amzn.to/3XENTvV

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats https://amzn.to/43sdKeb

Stovetop Temperature: Medium

In a large saucepan, add butter, sugar, milk, salt and cocoa powder. Mix until well combined. Boil for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Remove from heat.

Add vanilla extract and mix. Add peanut butter and oats and mix until well combined.

Use either a spoon or a cookie scoop, drop cookies on parchment or wax paper.

Let cool for several hours. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Yield: makes about 25 cookies.

I provide affiliate links to items on Amazon that I’ve used. For butter, I recommend high-quality, high butterfat content brands like Kerrygold and Plugra. Perhaps there’s a dairy in your area and that would be the best for you. As always, the better the ingredients, the better the cookies!

Want gluten-free cookies? Make sure your oats are labeled as gluten-free.

If you want these to be vegan-friendly, use virgin coconut oil or vegan butter.

Allergic to peanut butter? Substitute almond butter or sunflower butter.

Happy Cooking!

Subscribe to: The Discerning Readers’ Newsletter Win free books, gift cards and more! http://eepurl.com/UZbE9

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8 Reasons to Love Lavender

By Lisa Maliga

Copyright 2025

Lavender plants love being in the sun and their roots need plenty of aeration. They grow in the city as well as in the country. Lavender is thought to have originated in India, but it thrives in the Mediterranean, France, Spain, Bulgaria, and Croatia. Successful crops of lavender come from many parts of the United States, Australia, Tasmania and South Africa.

The most common species of lavender is Lavandula angustifolia, which is referred to as English Lavender, or true lavender. Lavandula is the genus name which in Latin is lavandus and that means to be washed. [Similarly, the Spanish word for laundry is lavandaria]. Angustifolia means narrow leaved.

This versatile flower has many species that adapt to particular environments with low or high humidity, warmer temperatures, etc. While most people think of lavender as a purple flower, did you know it also comes with white, pink, and even yellow petals?

This popular plant has many uses. It is available as an essential oil, freshly picked, dried, as a tea, boiled into an infusion or in tincture forms. For culinary use, lavender can be found in jam, honey, dessert toppings, and baked into meat dishes.

Here are eight ways to benefit from lovely lavender.

[1] Stress relief. Have a headache? Too much work to do and not enough time to do it? Simply apply one drop of lavender essential oil to each temple and gently massage it in. If you have sensitive skin mix the lavender into a small amount of olive oil before applying.

[2] Helps heal minor burns and cuts. You can apply lavender essential oil directly to the injured area or mix it into a small amount of olive oil and apply.

[3] Potpourri. You can make Lavender Potpourri with this easy recipe:

Mix 1 cup dried lavender flowers with 1 Tablespoon orris root in a bowl. Add 2-3 drops lavender essential oil. Mix well and put in a nice bowl so that you can smell the wonderful aroma whenever you walk into the room.

[4] Bathing. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your warm to hot bath water and relax.

[5] Sachet. In a small muslin bag, add a few tablespoon’s worth of dried lavender flowers. This can be added to your dresser drawers, or hung on a doorknob, or hung in your closet. It also is a fine substitute for mothballs!

[6] Shiny Hair. Add 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil to your hairbrush and brush the aroma of lavender into your hair.

[7] Room Freshener/Pillow Spray. Fill a spray mister bottle with distilled water and add 10 drops of lavender essential oil. This can be used in any room of the house. You can also spray it on your pillow so you can have a good night’s sleep.

[8] Launder with Lavender. You can add lavender essential oil to your detergent, rinse cycle, and wool dryer balls.

Lavender helps you and your environment smell cleaner, fresher, and more floral.

Throughout history, this marvelous flower has shown us its usefulness in being more than just a decorative flower but one that can help soothe and relax us.

Make lavender soap! Check out The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting for some recipes!

Subscribe to: The Discerning Readers’ Newsletter Win free books, gift cards and more! http://eepurl.com/UZbE9

[lisamaliga]

Green Velvet Cupcakes Recipe

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2017-2025

Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with these delectable green cupcakes topped with yummy cream cheese frosting.

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS

2 large eggs [room temperature]

1 cup sunflower oil OR vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk

1 Tablespoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1.5 Tablespoons green gel food coloring

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda

Makes 24 cupcakes

Oven temperature: 350 Fahrenheit/177 Celsius

CUPCAKE DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, buttermilk, vinegar, and vanilla. Then stir in food coloring. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Slowly whisk in the dry ingredients to the egg mixture until completely combined. Pour batter evenly into cupcake liners. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. After about 10 minutes, remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting

This cream cheese frosting is easy to make and tastes different from vanilla buttercream. As cream cheese is softer than butter, you might want to take it out of the refrigerator a few minutes before making the frosting – especially if the weather and/or your kitchen is quite warm.

FROSTING INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Dash of fresh lemon juice

FROSTING DIRECTIONS:

Beat softened butter and cream cheese on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until completely smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar, cream, and vanilla with the mixer running. Increase to high speed and beat for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and beat until thick and creamy.

Click the book link to learn more!

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Easy French Toast Recipe

FRENCH TOAST, easy French toast, French toast recipe & video, best French toast, DIY, cooking, easy food recipes, breakfast recipes, easy meals, meal ideas, Lisa Maliga, cookbook author, quick & easy recipe, homemade French toast, single serving, pure maple syrup

Link to recipe: https://www.lisamaliga.com/blog/easy-french-toast-recipe-amp-video

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/npUZ8yBaaWo

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8 Macaron Baking Tips

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(via Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery Series Box Set, Books 1 -3 ~ Book Trailer)

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Lemon Streusel Muffins Recipe & Video

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2025

Whether you like muffins for breakfast, as a snack or dessert, zesty lemon streusel muffins are quick and easy to make. These muffins also contain white chia seeds, which are tan to light brown in color. They don’t show up in the baked muffins. They’re lighter than the familiar black chia seeds as they’re immature. There is no difference in taste or texture. I’d run out of the standard black chia seeds, so I used what was in my cupboard.

The streusel is made first. It’s a crumb topping that adds texture and flavor to your zesty muffins. By adding melted butter, you spend less time mixing it.

STREUSEL TOPPING

Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour https://amzn.to/3ClXccQ 1/4 cup light brown sugar https://amzn.to/4awB2kG 1/4 cup granulated sugar https://amzn.to/4joQH9X Dash of salt https://amzn.to/3Cpg3Uf 3 Tablespoons [1.5 ounces] unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

Instructions:

In a medium-sized bowl, use a pastry cutter or fork to mix the flour, sugar and salt.

Pour melted butter and mix ingredients together until clumpy and the butter is completely absorbed. The topping will resemble lumpy wet sand.

LEMON MUFFINS

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour https://amzn.to/3ClXccQ 3/4 cup cake flour https://amzn.to/40y3aiN 3/4 cup granulated sugar https://amzn.to/4joQH9X 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder https://amzn.to/4gjHOvo 1/2 teaspoon salt https://amzn.to/3Cpg3Uf 1 large egg 3/4 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup olive oil https://amzn.to/4hmiqGc 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 Tablespoon lemon zest 2-3 Tablespoons chia seeds, white: https://amzn.to/4h9CVGy  black: https://amzn.to/4h8gly9

Oven temperature: 375 Fahrenheit/190 Celsius. Bake time: 20 minutes

Yield: 12 muffins

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit/190 Celsius. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

In a medium bowl, mix the egg and add ricotta, water, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice. Blend together.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into the middle then mix with a silicone or rubber spatula. When half-mixed, add chia seeds, gently folding into batter.

Scoop batter into the muffin pan’s liners. Each should be 3/4 full.

Top each muffin with streusel topping.

Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Cool on cooling rack.

Lemon streusel muffins taste best when heated. Store in an airtight container for up 5 days.

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(via Lemon Streusel Muffins Recipe & Video)

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More books and recipes: https://www.LisaMaliga.com #popcorn #stovetoppopcorn #healthysnacks #snacks #movienight #reading #nomicrowave #NationalPopcornDay #LisaMaliga #freerecipe #diy #depressonglass #hazelatlas

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(via Stovetop Popcorn Recipe & Video)

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(via Apple Betty Recipe + Video)

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(via Macarons and Murder [A Yolanda's Yummery Cozy Mystery, Book 4] - Book Trailer)

[lisamaliga]

#macarons and murder #cozymysterybook4 #romantic suspense #macaronsandmurder #cozymystery #bakery #lisa maliga #foodie romance  #cozymurdermystery

[lisamaliga]

(via A Pie to Die For (A Yolanda's Yummery Cozy Mystery, Book 3) -- Book Trailer)