Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Easter Recipes Roundup (Cat Approved) from Cleo Coyle

Meet Turtle, one of my many New York strays. The old girl is going on twenty. You'd never know it. Most days she bounds around the house like a kitten, has a healthy appetite, and purrs on my lap while I write.

She was the very first cat that my husband, Marc, and I adopted together, and we almost lost her last week to a massive kidney infection. Thanks to the very kind vets at NYC's Animal Medical Center, we got some good, strong antibiotics into her and (so far) she's bouncing back beautifully. She's bright-eyed again, jumping around, and back to purring on my lap. I don't know how much longer we'll have her, but seeing her out of pain and happy makes this Easter all the more special for us. 


Cleo Coyle, cat-approved
author of The
Coffeehouse Mysteries
As for my blog post this week, I have a Turtle-approved roundup of recipes that might be helpful as you put together your own Easter feast. 

May you cook and eat with joy!

~ Cleo




Easter Recipes Roundup!



Cleo's Foolproof Stuffed Mushrooms

Why are they foolproof? Because with this method, you won't have to worry about under- or over-cooking them.

This filling is ricotta mixed with spinach, but you can certainly switch up the filling. For example, a combo of soft and hard cheeses plus breadcrumbs with cooked sausage would be just as delicious.


For an illustrated PDF of this recipe that you can print, save, or share, click here.



Cleo's Healthier Mashed Potatoes

This is my favorite recipe for mashed potatoes. It's so beautiful and the addition of garlic and carrots adds flavor, nutrition, and fiber. 

For an illustrated PDF of this recipe that you can print, save, or share, click here.



Cleo's Holiday
Sprouts

With a festive combo of flavors and textures, this side dish makes a pretty addition to any holiday table. I usually serve it at Christmas, but the roast meats of Easter make it a good side for this holiday, too.

It was even a Foodbuzz Top 9. Click here to see. 
To download a PDF of this recipe, click here.



Cleo's
Rack of Lamb with Lemon and Rosemary

Why do crime-writers like lamb? 

Answer here! 

...along with my absolute favorite recipe for lamb.
A PDF link is located inside the post. To jump to the recipe post, click here.



Cleo's "Pernil" Puerto Rican-Style Roasted Pork Shoulder

If you're looking for a change from Easter ham, here's my first suggestion. Pernil is an impressive-looking hunk o' meat that's easy to prepare. In many Latin American homes, it's a classic holiday treat. For an illustrated PDF of this recipe that you can print, save, or share, click here.






Cleo's Chocolate Cloud Cookies

Another Foodbuzz Top 9 recipe. To see, click here.

For a keeper PDF of this recipe, click here.

Chocolate at Easter is classic, but with so many of us looking for lighter desserts, it can be an issue. Here's a solution. Light, delicious, and easy to make, my Chocolate Cloud Cookies are a tasty treat to serve with coffee or tea, especially after a heavy dinner.


Cleo's 5 Minute
Chocolate Fudge

You're crazed, right? You're too busy to cook or you're going to someone else's house for the big holiday dinner and not sure what to bring. Maybe my fudge recipe will help...

For a PDF of this recipe that you can print, save, or share, click here.

No kidding. This fudge takes only about five minutes to mix up and make. (You can use your microwave.) After it sets, cut it into little squares, drop it into mini muffin cup liners, and serve the treat to your friends or relatives with a smile. They'll love this smooth, delicious, chocolate fudge with a hint of hazelnuts. It's Easter chocolate coffeehouse style! Cheers, everyone!


Eat with joy!

~ Cleo Coyle, author of






To get more of my recipes, enter to win
free coffee, or 
learn about my books, including
my bestselling 
Haunted Bookshop series, visit my online coffeehouse: CoffeehouseMystery.com



The Coffeehouse Mysteries are national bestselling
culinary mysteries set in a landmark Greenwich Village 
coffeehouse, and each of the ten titles includes the 
added bonus of recipes. 
 


The Ghost and
Mrs. McClure


Book #1 of 

The Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries
, which Cleo writes
under the name Alice Kimberly
To learn more, click here.


16 comments:

  1. Well, there's a menu that looks like a feast! Wow. Love the pork roast, by the way.

    Thanks, Cleo.

    Avery

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Avery! I can't wait to see what you're cooking up for us tomorrow. Cheers and have a happy holiday weekend...

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  2. Oh, thank you, Cleo! The recipes, as always, are amazing. But thanks even more for the leg of lamb link. I had read the story long ago. My recollection is that it was in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, but that could be wrong. I don't remember seeing the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode and will really enjoy watching it.
    You've really made my day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Harbingerdc - You are very welcome! I enjoyed it, too. (It's a gift to have the entire episode online.) I included the link to the original short story by Roald Dahl, as well. Did it appear in AHMM? Good question! Does anyone know for sure? I'll leave the question open. In the meantime, thx so much for commenting.

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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    2. It was in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine Issue #137.

      Delete
  3. May I added a link to natural egg dyes: http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/2012/04/crafts-with-anastasia-naturally-dyed.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liz - Absolutely! I love Anastasia - her blog and her books. :) I'll make the link live for everyone... Here you, go, a natural egg dyes post, just in time for Easter...

      Click here for Natural Egg Dyes post from Anastasia

      Cheers,
      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

      Delete
  4. Cleo's Chocolate Clouds Cookies look like a great addition to coffee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gayle - Those little chocolate clouds are indeed quite tasty with a hot cuppa bean juice. :) Cheers and thanks for the kind comment (and tweet!).

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

      Delete
  5. This is my "go-to" lamb recipe that the entire family loves!!! It is even known as Cleo's lamb :-) Now if I could only have you come and make dinner for us it would be perfect!

    Have a wonderful Easter, Cleo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cleo's lamb, lol! Thanks, Nanc, you made my night. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter, too.

      May God bless us, every one.

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  6. Note to self: Never read Cleo Coyle's columns before breakfast, or at least before breakfast is ready! I am starving. As always, I don't know which is more tempting - the recipes or the pictures.

    Welcome, Turtle, and congratulations on your choice of homes!

    Laine

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  7. Cleo, Turtle is absolutely beautiful. I would never have guessed her age. My own sweet boy is 15, and I would dearly love to see him make it to Turtle's age. Give her a big hug and smooch for me!

    ~ Krista

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  8. I'm coming to your house for Easter. Yum!!! Give Turtle a special pat from me, Topper, Barclay and Belle au Bois dormant... on second thought, Bella would walk away.. Happy Easter!

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  9. OMG, all this looks wonderful. I may even incorporate some for my Easter Dinner!

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