Psychic Sandra Caulder is on the run from a vengeful ex-boyfriend. Looking for a hiding place she joins her niece on an archeology dig in Egypt. Shortly after Sandra’s arrival in the country an Egyptologist is murdered and Sandra is the prime suspect. 

That’s the setting for the adventure packed July read, “A Killing at El Kab.” 

The Book Trotters, a Lakewood book club, met Monday evening at Times Ten Cellars in Lakewood for their monthly meeting and were honored to have Janis Patterson, the book’s author, present at the meeting to discuss the book and show slides from her research trip to Egypt. 

Janis Susan May is a seventh-generation Texan who writes mysteries under the name of Janis Patterson.  

Book Trotter Pam Thomas was this month’s hostess.  She selected the book and invited the author to lead the discussion.  Pam had met her at the North Texas Chapter of the AmericanResearchCenter in Egypt that meets monthly at SMU. 

In keeping with the Egyptian theme, members enjoyed meatballs, spiced shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers, date balls and baklava cookies. 

Follow the Book Trotters on BubbleLife to see where their next reading adventures take them. 

Baklava Cookies

Try this delicious cookie prepared for the meeting  by Book Trotter Kathy Harris. Using pre-packaged refrigerated sugar cookie dough it is super easy to make. 

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp. honey
• ¾ cup walnuts, finely chopped
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon
• 18 oz. package refrigerated sugar cookie dough

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, over low heat, melt butter; stir in the powdered sugar and honey. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
2. Stir in walnuts and cinnamon.
3. Let it cool for 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, divide cookie dough into 24 pieces and roll each into a ball. Place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet that's been greased or lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes.
6. Remove cookies and place a small dollup of nut mixture in the center of each cookie.
7. Bake another 2-3 minutes until done.
8. Transfer to wire rack to cool.