Sunday, November 1, 2009

Welcome Guest Blogger Christy Evans!!


It's my great delight to introduce Christy Evans as our Guest Blogger today. Christy (real name Chris York)! Woo-hoo!! I got to know Chris back in 2002 at an extremely intense writers' workshop on the Oregon coast (very near where Chris lives and where Christy's books are set). Multi-published in many genres, she's an amazing writer and an all-around great person.







Christy Evans is the author of the a very new, very cool new mystery series featuring female plumber Georgiana Neverall. The first book in the series, Sink Trap, debuted October 6th -- here's a sneak peek...




An amateur sleuth with a great set of pipes…

When Georgiana Neverall’s fast-paced, corporate lifestyle goes down the drain, she moves back home to Pine Ridge, Oregon, and makes an unconventional choice—to apprentice herself to Barry the Plumber. Her uptight, super-successful realtor mother, Sandra, is plumb disgusted. She never dreamed she’d see a Neverall in coveralls toiling under someone’s sink.Georgiana loves her new occupation, but is a bit surprised when she finds the favorite brooch of Martha Tepper, the town’s former librarian, clogging a sink. Martha supposedly retired to Arizona, but everyone who knew her says she never would have left without that brooch. Georgiana has a sinking feeling that Martha may have been retired permanently—and suddenly it’s up to a plumber’s apprentice to flush out a killer.

Today Christy shares a little about herself and not one, but three, recipes!!


Oregon native Christy Evans, author of the Lady Plumber mystery series, spent her childhood in sunny Southern California, where fresh oranges at the holidays were often as close as a neighbor’s tree. Now all grown-up and back in Oregon, Christy’s latest book, SINK TRAP, introduces lady plumber Georgiana Neverall. Like Christy, Georgiana has left the hectic big-city life for a small town in Oregon. Fortunately for Christy, dead bodies aren’t part of her life the way they are for Georgiana.

Like Georgiana, Christy (actually writer Christina York) has a busy schedule and sometimes deadlines leave little time to cook. Unlike Georgie, whose culinary skills don’t go much beyond keeping the best pizza joint on speed dial, Christy still loves to whip up holiday goodies for her friends and family.

Orange Caramel Cookie Bars

These are a childhood favorite. The fresh oranges are a unique addition to a familiar bar cookie recipe.


Heat oven to 350°. Grease a 10X15 baking sheet with 1” sides and set aside.

1 ½ c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 ⅓ c. flour
⅔ c. cup-up fresh orange slices
⅔ c. chopped pecans

Beat eggs and sugar 3 minutes at high speed, fold in flour, fold in oranges and pecans. Spread thin in greased pan and bake 30-35 minutes, until golden brown. While warm spread with glaze of

⅔ c. powdered sugar
Grated rind of 1 orange
2 T. cream
Cool and cut in 1” squares.



Gumdrop Cookies
Gumdrops are one of my mother’s favorite candies, and their addition to this bar cookie give it a sweet surprise as well as jewel-like color embedded in the sweet cookie bars.

Heat oven to 300°. Grease a 10X15 baking sheet with 1” sides and set aside.

4 eggs
2 ½ c. brown sugar
2 c. flour
¼ t. salt
18 gumdrops (cut up)
1 c. chopped nuts

Combine all ingredients except gumdrops and spread on baking sheet. Press in gumdrop pieces. Bake until brown and slightly puffy. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut in 1” squares.


Lunch Room Cookies

The first time I made these for my new husband, he exclaimed in delight “Lunch Room Cookies!” Turns out his little Southern grade school cafeteria had served these quick and easy cookies regularly, and though he hadn’t had them in the years since, they’re still one of his favorites.

Mix together in a large, heat-resistant bowl, and set aside:

3 c. oatmeal
½ c. peanut butter
In sauce pan, mix together:
2 c. sugar
¼ c. cocoa powder
½ c. butter
½ c. milk

Bring to a boil and boil 1 minute. Then add:

1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. salt

Pour hot sauce over peanut butter/oatmeal mixture, stirring until thoroughly combined. Drop the hot mixture by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. Let cool. Store tightly covered.




(Julie here again)


Isn't this a great cover? I first saw this artwork on Chris's Blog and her post about the artist inspired me to contact the artist for my books and thank him for doing such a marvelous job.



Don't you just love the look on the dog's face?



Thanks so much for joining us here on Mystery Lovers' Kitchen, Chris!



13 comments:

  1. The Orange Caramel Cookie Bars sound great, as do the other two recipes. I love the idea of a woman plumber. Just goes to show, a woman's work is never done.

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  2. Thanks so much for joining us here, Chris! I'm very excited to read SINK TRAP (just as soon as I'm finished with this manuscript) because I think the idea of a woman plumber involved in mysteries is just too cool! Great recipes!

    Julie

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  3. Christy, what a delight to have you as a guest. Sink Trap is a great title and the dog is adorable! Looking forward to reading and making cookies!

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  4. Thanks so much for joining us today, Christy! You're very kind to share three great recipes. Funny how some of those childhood memories of food are so strong. The cooks at my school made the best Mississippi Mud and a cranberry oatmeal bar that makes my mouth water just to think of it.

    ~ Krista

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  5. Hi Christy -- I am FLUSH with excitement at the prospect of a lady plumber series. (Hey, no groaning. I love a good pun, as you can tell from my own series' titles. And we're in good company -- Shakespeare loved them, too!)

    Georgiana sounds like a great character: clever, gutsy, and my kind of amateur sleuth because she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. I am not only looking forward to reading the series' debut, SINK TRAP, but also trying your Orange Caramel Cookie Bars. (Have not come across many fresh orange cookie recipes so thank you very much for sharing -- and hangin' with us mystery writing cooks today!)

    ~Cleo
    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Midwest Barista Finals Today! Watch LIVE!
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  6. Having just switched out my kitchen faucet all
    by my lonesome, I am thrilled to have a series
    about a lady plumber! I am also eager to try all
    three cookie recipes. Thanks so much for sharing
    both with us, Christy!

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  7. Great post and I just started reading Sink Trap and love it so far.

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  8. Dru - glad you're loving the book! It was a blast to write. Berkley has the first three (LEAD PIPE CINCH comes out in April) and I hope I get to do more in the series.

    JEnn - Good for you! I have to run to the hardware store today to replace a faucet in the bathtub, which just shows cantonson was right about a woman's work!

    Cleo - Puns are fine, as long as they're clever. And ol' Will is good company indeed!

    Glad you're all liking the recipes. They are all of the quick-and-easy veriety, since I have a "day job" as well as writing. Do try the orange ones - they're fabulous!

    Off soon to my weekly writer lunch. As Julie said, I live a tiny town with lots of writers, and we have lunch together every Sunday. Will check in here a little later.

    Thanks, everyone, for the kind comments!!

    Chris/Christy

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  9. What a fun new series! Also, the orange caramel bars sound delicious. I've seen a lot of bar cookie recipes, but I've never seen that combination. Thank you for sharing!

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  10. I'm excited about "Sink Trap"--what a cool premise for a mystery!

    It's cookie season! I get so excited when cookie baking starts up. I love your Lunch Room Cookie recipe. :) Thanks for sharing these and for visiting us at the Kitchen!

    Elizabeth/Riley
    Mystery Writing is Murder

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  11. Thanks, all, for having me here. Must go inventory the kitchen (no, seriously! I work in accounting at a resort hotel and it is the first of the month), which is dangerous. I always end up craving something interesting that I wouldn't otherwise have even thought of!

    Chris

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  12. Chris, I have to get this book, I love the cover and the premise. The recipes sound yummy!

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  13. I came across your book "Lead Pipe Cinch" and really like it. My company is "Lady Handiman" I only work for lady's. Most are older. I do lots of light plumbing, so I can relate to Georgiana.
    Mardi
    Lady Handiman

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