In Skeletons & Scandals, Ava discovers a recipe tin full of secrets — and one in particular comes with a little supernatural flair: Birdie’s Blessings Pie.
According to Thornhollow folklore, the original pie was first baked by Birdie herself, a beloved local chef who mysteriously vanished decades ago. Locals swore that anyone who ate a slice received an unexpected stroke of good fortune — a new job offer, a long-overdue apology, or even finding a lost heirloom.
But Birdie had rules:
Never bake the pie out of spite
Always share it with at least one neighbor
And whisper one wish into the crust before sliding it into the oven
When Ava bakes Birdie’s pie for the first time, she doesn’t just stir sugar into the filling — she stirs up a ghostly kitchen companion who’s determined to make sure the blessings keep flowing… and the mystery gets solved.
Passed down with love (and butter) from Birdie Birmingham’s kitchen in Thornhollow, Georgia.
Ingredients:
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 3 to 4 tbsp ice water
• 5 to 6 fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
• ½ cup granulated sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional but highly recommended by Tabitha)
• Pinch of cinnamon (optional—but not in Ava’s kitchen)
• 2 tbsp cold butter, diced for dotting
• 1 egg (for egg wash)
• A heaping dose of gratitude and a whisper to the spirits, if inclined
Instructions:
1. Make the crust: In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter (or your fingers) until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add ice water 1 tbsp at a time until dough holds together. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill at least 30 minutes.
2. Prep the filling: In another bowl, gently toss peach slices with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla (if using), and cinnamon (if brave). Let sit while you roll the crust.
3. Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough and place it in a 9-inch pie plate. Trim and crimp edges.
4. Assemble: Pour peach mixture into the crust. Dot with cold butter.
5. Top it off: You can add a second crust, lattice, or leave it open. If using a top crust, don’t forget to cut vents. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
6. Bake: Place pie on a baking sheet. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45–50 minutes or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
7. Cool & serve: Let it rest until just warm. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a side of gossip.
Note from Birdie: Blessings are best when shared. And buttered. 💛
Celebrate the release of Skeletons & Scandals, a cozy ghost mystery filled with charm, secrets, and Southern recipes. Join Ava Fantome’s latest adventure today!
Go behind the scenes of the Confessions of a Closet Medium series with me as I explore the challenges and charm of writing a cozy ghost whisperer like Ava Fantome.
I'm sharing how haunted recipes and family secrets inspired Skeletons & Scandals and my paranormal cookbook Cooking with Ghosts: Hauntingly Good Southern Recipes
I'm sharing how cozy paranormal mysteries like Skeletons & Scandals balance comfort and curiosity, with ghostly warmth and emotional depth.
I'm sharing my love of everyday magic, feline familiars, and the inspiration behind her cozy paranormal mysteries.
This is a free story for my Cup of Catnip and Furry Tales members, and can be enjoyed over your morning coffee/tea or before bed. Enjoy! When Catniss Inglenook inherits an old Victorian library from her eccentric Aunt Eliza, she never expects it to come with a ghostly companion and a litter of mischievous kittens. …
This is a free story for my Cup of Catnip and Furry Tales members, and can be enjoyed over your morning coffee/tea or before bed. Enjoy! When Catniss Inglenook inherits an old Victorian library from her eccentric Aunt Eliza, she never expects it to come with a ghostly companion and a litter of mischievous kittens. …
This is a free story for my Cup of Catnip and Furry Tales members, and can be enjoyed over your morning coffee/tea or before bed. Enjoy! When Catniss Inglenook inherits an old Victorian library from her eccentric Aunt Eliza, she never expects it to come with a ghostly companion and a litter of mischievous kittens. …
This is a free story for my Cup of Catnip and Furry Tales members, and can be enjoyed over your morning coffee/tea or before bed. Enjoy! When Catniss Inglenook inherits an old Victorian library from her eccentric Aunt Eliza, she never expects it to come with a ghostly companion and a litter of mischievous kittens. …