Friday, June 25, 2010

Welcome Guest Blogger - Carol Prisant!

Please welcome Carol Prisant to our kitchen. Carol is the author of Dog House, A Love Story: One Love, Ten Dogs, and a Forty-Two-Year Marriage. Isn't that the greatest title? She's sharing a wonderful summer soup recipe with us today, along with a few great reasons you'll want to spend a little time in her Dog House. Take it away, Carol...       ~ Cleo Coyle

In my new, hilariously funny, small and very readable new book, Dog House, A Love Story, the painful truth is, no one eats well but the dogs. And if there’s a mystery, the mystery is how my patient husband and food-adoring son put up with me.

Well, actually, I know how they put up with me: we went out to diners a lot. Now the great thing about diners is that the men can order and eat a (not very good) 12 course meal while the women – or woman – can have a big (also not very good) Greek salad.


But I have a confession. I going to “come out”, and you (however many thousand you are!) have to promise not to tell anyone . . . because these days, I might be locked overnight in a restaurant and tortured for what I’m about to admit.

I don’t really care much about food. Not the cooking of it. Not the eating of it. I was born that way.


So while I could get my husband to take us to the diner (every now and then, just for a change, we went our for a pizza. Why order in? You’ll have to wash the dishes.), we weren’t allowed, of course, to take the dogs. So guess what? I cooked for them. Nothing much, you know, just tender poached chicken breasts daily, mixed with some rice and baby peas in a little butter. (Well, they need their green veggies, right?) All this was added to some very nice kibble.

So here’s a delicious summer soup recipe that panting dogs just love. Serve it in an attractive dog bowl – maybe a piece of your grandmother’s Meissen – and don’t add the pepper or shrimp. You don’t want any night time accidents under, or on, your bed.


Cold Avocado
and Cucumber Soup


Time:
20 minutes, plus chilling


Ingredients:


2 garlic cloves, smashed

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 ripe avocado, halved, pitted and peeled
1/4 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh dill
2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper and
a pinch of cayenne

1-1/2 cups fresh orange juice
8-16 boiled shrimp


Directions: In a blender, puree garlic, cuke and avocado. Add buttermilk or yogurt, 3/4 cup water, dill, salt, pepper, and half the orange juice. Add remaining orange juice in increments until you like the flavor. Serve chilled with the shrimp.


If your dogs don’t like it, try it yourselves. You will. And while you’re waiting for the soup to chill, read Dog House. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll be glad you don’t have a dog. You’ll be oh so glad you do.

~ Carol




You can find out more about
author Carol Prisant
and her books at her web site:





And now I'd like to make sure
you don't miss your chance to enter my fellow
mystery writing cook's June contest...


Win Books in Avery's
"You Be The Sleuth" Contest!

The first book in Avery Aames's A Cheese Shop Mystery series, The Long Quiche Goodbye, debuts July 6! To celebrate its release, Avery is running a contest from June 9 to July 6: You be the sleuth!

Track down the recipe on Avery's website that includes eggs, Edam, and white pepper. Enter your answer by clicking on this link: CONTEST ENTRY FORM.

One of you will win a $25 gift certificate at your favorite bookstore. Two of you will win signed copies of The Long Quiche Goodbye. Three of you will win a Long Quiche Goodbye magnet. You can ask friends for help. Spread the word and share the fun. And while you're there, consider pre-ordering a book on Avery's booksellers page. Here is the link to Avery’s website to help get you started. Good luck!



Comments for Carol welcome,
just hit the "comment" link below...

9 comments:

  1. Carol, nice to meet you. It's fun to find new author and your book looks wonderful. Neat recipe too.

    Thanks Cleo for hosting Carol.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  2. Carol, I love this post and will find your book today! Of course, I am a sap for dogs. The soup looks good too.

    Thanks for coming by!

    MJ

    Charlotte Adams mysteries

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  3. Welcome, Carol. The dogs are adorable! Love avocados. And yes, the title of your book is great! It sounds like a fun read.

    ~Avery

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  4. Wonderful title! And your house sounds like it's full of love and laughter. Thanks for joining us here on Mystery Lovers' Kitchen.

    Julie

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  5. Carol, I'm hiding the screen from my dogs. If they see those gorgeous dog beds, they'll insist that they *must* have them. Not to mention the soup. I already make them doggy chicken soup, but now they'll expect Cold Avocado Cucumber Soup and tell me my cooking isn't sufficiently gourmet for them!

    ~ Krista

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  6. Ooooh, I love cucumber soup and I will have to try this version with avocado! Your book looks delightful!

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  7. Hi Jessica,
    And if you have a cat, put the shrimp back in the soup

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  8. This sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it...and your book. Thanks so much for coming by Mystery Lovers' Kitchen!

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  9. This is a double note. First, I am going to try your avocado soup. I had some at my aunts house 40ish years ago and this recipe rang a big bell. Thank you.
    Second, I love dogs so I will definitely read Carol Prisant's books. Thanks for introducing them to me.

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