Imagine stepping inside a Beverly Hills mansion where romance, mystery, and cinematic moments unfold in short videos. My Imagine Beverly Hills series brings these moments to life across several platforms.
Why am I so intrigued with Beverly Hills? Because my latest book, North of Sunset: A Novel is set there. In brief, it’s about a levelheaded temporary assistant who is sent to the Beverly Hills home office of a demanding and successful action movie producer, only to discover he’s testing her loyalty in unusual ways.
Rather than market this slow-burn romance book with a series of ads, I defaulted to creative mode and made short videos highlighting various scenes in the book or inspired by the book. When I lived in Los Angeles, I was only a ZIP Code away from Beverly Hills. I sometimes even walked there to see a movie or get some exercise. I also had many long and short-term jobs in various companies in and near Beverly Hills.
Some scenes in the Imagine Beverly Hills short video series include:
A romantic rooftop dinner with views of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles
A poolside lunch with Emily’s boss and a renowned movie star
A private screening room
Emily discovers the door to a secret room
A beautiful home library
Click photo to watch
Step into the world of Imagine Beverly Hills and experience the romance, intrigue, and luxury one short video at a time.
Click photo to watch
If you love books, videos, and videos about books, explore my three main channels linked below.
Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery Series Box Set, Books 1 -3
Includes 3 full-length cozy mysteries and four free dessert recipes!
The Great Brownie Taste-off, Book 1
Cat shelter employee Yolanda Carter loves her job, but her dream is to own a bakery. Living in Sherman Oaks, California with her tuxedo cat, her only outlet is baking treats for her friends, coworkers and family. Her situation changes when her high school friend, Teagan Mishkin, drops by to tell her about an incredible job opportunity that will give Yolanda enough money to launch her bakery. The job interview takes an unexpected turn and Yolanda stumbles across a scheme to close the cat shelter. She concocts a sweet plan to save the shelter and share her decadent brownies in the Great Brownie Taste-off. Assisted by her artisan parents, friends, shelter employees and a rising young blogger who gives her much-needed publicity, will she win the taste-off and save the shelter? Includes the winning brownie recipe.
The Missing Sea Captain, Book 2
The successful launch of Yolanda’s Yummery in the trendy Brentwood area of Los Angeles has Yolanda Carter working seven days a week. Her delicious desserts are garnering many repeat customers and in just a few weeks the adjoining Beverage Bar will be opening. She’s involved in a budding romance with sophisticated British tea baron, Nigel Garvey. The mystery involves Captain Angus, a regular homeless customer who disappears. Clues point toward Yolanda being involved in foul play. Lead investigator Detective Churchill thinks she’s a murderer, along with her best friend, Teagan Mishkin. Will Yolanda’s name be cleared, and can those bestselling Magical Cakes of Love save her and the yummery? Includes two new recipes!
A Pie to Die For, Book 3
In this cozy mystery, Yolanda Carter is told of her grandmother’s best friend’s unsolved murder. Mildred Overmeyer was an outstanding home baker who was stabbed to death while baking a cherry pie. The story of the 1960s crime touches Yolanda, along with her new friend, Detective Churchill. Her budding sleuthing skills lead her to search for the killer. In between investigating and baking batches of pies in time for her latest product launch, Yolanda discovers more about the sweetness of love. And who is heating up the kitchen with Yolanda? Includes the recipe for Yolanda’s Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies!
I hope that you’ll enjoy reading more about Yolanda Carter in A Pie to Die For, as she stumbles across a cold case that involves pies. In this latest version, the title has been changed from a sweet romance title to one more in keeping with a cozy mystery.
I’ve included two new reviews from readers who were kind enough to read my ARC.
“A Pie to Die For is book 3 in A Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery by Lisa Maliga. I found it interesting that Yolanda did not make pies and Mildred was killed in 1960 while making a pie. I like the main characters and the progression of the characters with each book. I thought the mystery about the recipes and murder was a good mystery and I thought the ending answered all my questions and had a touch of romance. I am enjoying this series and I love the cats, Miss Chef and Mr Whisker! I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.” My2doxie September 10, 2024
“An innocent request from one of Yolanda`s appreciated guests for adding pies to the yummery`s offerings starts the ball rolling, setting in motion the beginnings of mysterious occurrences and the need to solve a very cold case. “A Pie to Die For” has Lisa Maliga departing slightly from her normal style, and I find the shifted focus most refreshing, the feeling conveyed more polished, mature and authentic. As always, you`ll find an incredible, yummery-worthy recipe at the back of the book. After finishing this installment in the Yolanda`s Yummery series, I am truly looking forward to reading more!” Reviewed by Cindy, September 3, 2024
While I haven’t made a recipe video for this book, I did have a blast putting together a short book trailer.
I’ve made chocolate cupcakes with orange frosting before, but never a vanilla-based cupcake infused with freshly-squeezed orange juice. The batch turned out well and I even substituted olive oil for sunflower or safflower oil to see if there was a taste difference. Yes, it was a bit stronger and it wasn’t as light and fluffy as it would’ve been if the usual vegetable oil had been used. I avoided using flavor oil but I added gel-based orange colorant for the cupcakes and frosting.
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large mixing bowl, using a hand or stand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until dissolved.
Add the oil and salt and mix for about a minute.
Add orange juice, flour and baking powder and mix until combined.
Add vanilla extract, flavoring and coloring.
Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full with batter.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.
Cool cupcakes on a wire rack for a few minutes, and then remove cupcakes from pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
Orange Buttercream Frosting ingredients:
11/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 Tablespoon orange juice
1 Tablespoon heavy cream
1 Tablespoon orange zest for topping
Orange flavor [optional]
Orange colorant [optional]
Directions: Beat softened butter on medium speed for about 2 minutes until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, orange juice, cream, flavor, and colorant. Mix on high speed until well combined and smooth. Spoon into a piping bag with your favorite tip and pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
This one ticks a lot of boxes if you’re looking for nut-free, vegan, low-sugar and an easy no-bake snack or dessert. It took me four tries to get it right. I also recommend storing them in the refrigerator, especially in warm weather.
This is an original recipe from the second book of the new Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery series.
In a large glass measuring cup or bowl, combine the first four ingredients and stir well over medium heat. Remember to sift the cocoa powder before adding it to the oils and sugar so the mixture is smooth.
In a very large bowl, combine the rice cereal, rolled oats, salt, and chia seeds with a whisk.
Pour in the warmed up wet ingredients and mix well. Wait about 10 minutes to add the chocolate chips as you don’t want them to melt completely.
In a parchment-lined 8” x 8” or 9” x 9” square pan, spoon in the mixture. Use a spatula to even out the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit on the counter for a few hours before slicing and eating.
If you’re in a hurry, put it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Lastly, use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the energy bars into squares or rectangles.
Store in the refrigerator. Wrap with waxed paper or plastic wrap.
Some Substitutes:
If you want a buttery flavored energy bar, use butter instead of coconut oil.
Don’t have any agave in your cupboard? No problem, use either honey or pure maple syrup.
Click to learn more
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Ten years ago I wrote the first book in what would become a [so far] 4-book cozy mystery series. It was more sweet romance than cozy mystery, but I was pleased with the story and the second book in the series was a proper cozy mystery story.
The changes made to “The Great Brownie Taste-off” include removing some extraneous descriptions and backstory, getting rid of the magical secret ingredient, and having a more realistic relationship between Yolanda and Zac. And I kept refining that brownie recipe until I really liked it. It’s not my favorite dessert or snack, but now I appreciate a good, hot brownie fresh out of the oven.
Please scroll down to see the recipe and watch the video tutorial.
The Great Brownie Taste-off Book Description
Cat shelter employee Yolanda Carter loves her job, but her dream is to own her own bakery. Living in Sherman Oaks, California with her tuxedo cat, her only outlet is baking treats for her friends, coworkers and family.
Her situation changes when her high school friend, Teagan Mishkin, drops by to tell her about an incredible job opportunity that will give Yolanda enough money to launch her bakery.
The job interview takes an unexpected turn and Yolanda stumbles across a scheme to close the cat shelter. She concocts a sweet plan to save the shelter and share her decadent brownies in the Great Brownie Taste-off. Assisted by her artisan parents, friends, and coworkers, will she win the taste-off and save the cats?
When using herbal additives, it’s better to use dried herbs than fresh—even in the rebatch type of base. This helps prolong the shelf life of the shampoo bar. Here 10 helpful natural additives to improve your shampoo bars.
* Aloe Vera Gel or Juice [Aloe Barbadensis] – Scalp soothing aloe vera gel makes a wonderful addition to shampoo bars due to its moisturizing and balancing properties. It is high in protein. Aloe vera gel is thicker and longer lasting. Fresh aloe vera can be used for rebatch/hand-milled shampoo bars, but the shelf life won’t be as long. Natural and/or organic aloe vera gel is always clear in color.
* Amla [Emblica Officinalis] – Amla is called Indian Gooseberry and is an Ayruvedic herb that conditions and helps with hair growth. In powdered form, it’s brownish in color. In liquid form it’s green and often mixed with coconut oil or sesame oil. You can buy it online and in Indian grocery stores. Amla is beneficial for all hair types.
* Avocado [Persea Gratissima] – This vitamin-filled fruit has lots of potassium, vitamin B and vitamin E, can be used mashed up into the rebatched soap or in a hair masque. The oil can be added to melt and pour soap base.
* Beer – American or imported, bottled or canned, light or dark, beer is good for your hair! It contains wheat protein and B vitamins. A healthy and economical addition to your shampoo bars, it can also be used as a hair rinse.
* Chamomile [Anthemis Nobilis] – Whether you choose German or Roman chamomile, you’ll be helping wash away any skin irritations/allergies. Used in a shampoo bar, blonde-haired people will continue to have more fun! You can use whole [dried] chamomile flowers, or those that have been cut or powdered. Naturally, you can enhance the calming chamomile experience with the essential oil.
* Clay – Many varieties of clays are available and range from bentonite, Pascalite, Rhassoul to Himalayan. Recently, clays from Australia include washed blue, olive green, and ivory are now available to us in the USA. Clays remove dirt and grime from the hair and scalp, yet don’t strip it of moisture. Colors range from white to pink to green to brown. Clays make great additions to both shaving soaps and shampoo bars.
* Coffee [Coffea Arabica] – Your morning coffee contains vitamins B3 and E and the aroma is quite perky. The benefits of caffeine include helping boost your hair’s volume and shine.
* Goat’s Milk – Contains a higher amount of protein than cow’s milk. Using goat’s milk in your shampoo bars won’t increase lather but the silky sensation during and after use is almost guaranteed to get you addicted to this additive!
* Honey – Raw/organic honey has gentle, moisturizing qualities that make it beneficial for any hair type. In its purest, unrefined form, it has all the vitamins, along with 16 minerals including calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. This nourishing nectar also has proteins and amino acids, along with enzymes and co-enzymes.
* Rosemary [Rosmarinus Officinalis] – A gift for your hair and beneficial in essential oil or in the dried and cut or powdered rosemary leaves, which can be used directly in the shampoo bars. It is frequently found in liquid and solid shampoos and in hair growth blends as it may help increase hair growth since it stimulates the follicles.
I was sentenced to eight hours in the legal department at Warner Bros. The lawyer’s secretary was pregnant and all she did was sit behind her desk and talk on the phone. The lawyer, Mr. Manic, was civil to me at first. He sauntered in around 10:30 and disappeared into his office on the other side of the suite. Preggers sat in the large reception area and I was squeezed into a file room with a desk on the other side of the secretary’s office. The water cooler was beside the desk and he came over to fill up a mug and hand me his car keys! Mr. Manic told me to go down to his car, a Jaguar convertible, and retrieve his briefcase.
I loped downstairs, glad to get out into the sunny day and check out his wheels. It was a white Jag. with a matching leather interior and it sure smelled clean and new when I opened the door. Then I saw the briefcase. It wasn’t the standard issue case made of imported leather; it was quadruple sized and HEAVY! As I lugged it out of the car, I almost dropped the damn thing. That it contained books was evident–but all 26 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica?
The briefcase never left the ground. Having to go upstairs in the elevatorless Admin. building meant that the case rested on each step. Mr. Manic was having me, someone who was probably half his weight, play pack mule? Why? Did he hate temps?
The endearing Mr. Manic also had his car washed for him. A man stopped by and asked Preggers for the car keys so the Jag. could be washed and the gas tank filled. I’d happened to be in the reception area doing some file organizing so I witnessed the man pocketing the keys. I wanted to tell him to make sure he left the top down and hit every phone pole on the way back!
Preggers had me “run” to the mailroom to drop off some important letters. Just as I was rounding a corner, I barely avoided slamming into an equally surprised Mel Gibson! Those famous blue eyes were huge; we were just inches from a collision!
I’ve been experimenting with making more creative fillings. Let’s face it, the filling is what flavors the macarons. While some of the buttercreams contain a cup or two of confectioners’ sugar, in some recipes I was able to decrease the amount significantly. For the American buttercream filling, keep in mind that the better the butter, the better the filling!
♥ High quality butter [President, Kerrygold, Plugra or any fresh high fat non-GMO local butter]. Unsalted butter is recommended. Also, the butter should be at room temperature when you’re making the filling.
♥ High quality vanilla extract, vanilla beans, vanilla bean powder OR vanilla bean paste. Yes, it costs more but the flavor is worth it. Imitation vanilla extract is very inexpensive but it isn’t nearly as good. I recommend real vanilla beans, powder or paste as it’s flavorful and contains the tiny seeds. These types of vanilla are ideal for flavoring macaron shells.
♥ For a rich, flavorful buttercream, use organic heavy cream. High fat creams always taste better! You won’t need to use a lot.
♥ Cream cheese. When baking cupcakes I finally got around to using a cream cheese frosting. As it’s not quite as sweet as butter, it’s perfect for sugary macarons. And what better ingredient for a cheesecake flavored macaron?
♥ Mascarpone Cheese. This is a rich creamy additive to your macaron fillings. Mascarpone cheese is similar to ricotta except for the fact that it’s made from cream and not milk. I’d never used it before but was pleased with how easily it blended with butter when I put it in the mixer. My first recipe using this lovely Italian cheese also combines honey and fig jam.
♥ Jam filling. Use either a natural jam/fruit spread or fresh fruit. Making a filling with fresh fruit is a little more work, but the taste is a lot better.
♥ Extracts/flavor emulsions/essential oils. I used a coconut extract for my buttercream and it was a very good flavor. Not excellent, but I’d make it again as it seemed to be a nice interpretation of coconut.
Shampoo bars are versatile enough for most hair types. They are fun and easy to make and you can create them to suit your needs. Not only are shampoo bars beneficial for your hair, they are also beneficial for the environment. They can be as natural and organic as you choose, using only the finest plant, fruit, nut and vegetable oils. If you sell, or are thinking about selling soap and/or other bath and body products, they can enhance your inventory.
Shampoo Bar Benefits:
They don’t spill!
Minimal packaging.
Excellent for travel/camping/the gym.
Custom made to suit YOUR hair type.
Unisex.
Easy to use.
No color needed.
Generally, they are preservative-free.
Scented or unscented.
Shampoo bars are versatile. Use as a facial soap and/or body soap.
Economical and earth-friendly
Good for people and dogs!
Shampoo bars can be made in various shapes and sizes.
lisa maliga 