Friday, November 14, 2014

Guest Blogger Edith Maxwell's Haitian Meatballs

Since Edith Maxwell (also known as Tace Baker) has a new book out this month, I am happy to turn over my blog slot to her. If the new book is anywhere near as good as the last ones, you're going to want to read Bluffing is Murder! Plus you get a delicious and unusual recipe.

I, wearing my Tace Baker author hat, am delighted to be a guest on one of my favorite web sites again!

In Bluffing is Murder, Lauren’s boyfriend Zac is temporarily taking care of his twelve-year old Haitian niece. He invites Lauren over for dinner one night and makes the following recipe, which he learned from his grandmother in Haiti. But after Zac and Marie-Fleur head to Port-au-Prince for the summer and Lauren discovers the body of a local man whom she’d argued with earlier that day, her peaceful summer becomes a lot more complicated.

Boulett ak Espageti (Zac’s Haitian Meatballs and Spaghetti)


Ingredients:

Meatballs
1/2 onion, minced
1/2 green bell pepper, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh thyme, chopped
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 T salt
1 T ground black pepper
1/2 cup flour

Sauce
2 T olive oil
1 large can tomato sauce
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 habanero pepper, minced very small after discarding seeds and white membrane (use fork and sharp knife to avoid touching with your fingertips). Adjust more or less depending on your tolerance for capsaicin (the heat in peppers).
1/2 bouillon cube or 1/2 tsp concentrated bouillon
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Careful with the habanero!
1 lb spaghetti

Directions:
Meatballs: Saute onions and green pepper in 2 T oil until onions are clear. Add garlic and fresh herbs and saute another minute. Don’t let the garlic brown. Remove from heat.


In a separate bowl, combine ground beef, salt, pepper, and vegetable mixture and squish together. Form meatballs and roll in flour. 














Heat 2 T oil over medium heat until hot, then saute meatballs, turning gently until brown all over and cooked. Remove from heat.



Sauce: In a medium sized sauce pan, saute onions in 2 T oil until soft. Add tomato sauce, habanero pepper, bouillon, and cilantro, and salt to taste. Heat until warm. Add meatballs and more fresh herbs if you’d like, and to cook together for 5-6 minutes or until warm.



Boil spaghetti until al dente, drain, toss with oil, and serve meatballs and sauce over it. Serve with optional bottle of habanero sauce on the side.




Serves four or more.

About Edith:

Edith Maxwell writes the Lauren Rousseau mysteries under the pseudonym Tace Baker, in which Quaker linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau solves small-town murders (Barking Rain Press). The second book in the series, Bluffing is Murder,  was released in November, 2014. Edith holds a doctorate in linguistics and is a long-time member of Amesbury Friends Meeting.

‘Til Dirt Do Us Part is the latest in Maxwell's Local Foods Mysteries series (Kensington Publishing, 2014). Her new Country Store Mysteries, written as Maddie Day (also from Kensington), will debut with Flipped for Murder in fall, 2015.

Maxwell’s Carriagetown Mysteries series features Quaker midwife Rose Carroll solving mysteries in 1888 with John Greenleaf Whittier’s help, as portrayed in “A Questionable Death.” The series is in search of a publisher.

Maxwell’s most recent short story of murderous revenge, “Breaking the Silence,” appeared in Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold (Level Best Books), also featuring characters from the Carriagetown Mysteries.

A former tech writer and doula, Maxwell lives in an antique house north of Boston with her beau and three cats. She blogs every weekday with the other Wicked Cozy Authors (wickedcozyauthors.com), and you can find her at www.edithmaxwell.com, @edithmaxwell, on Pinterest, and at www.facebook.com/EdithMaxwellAuthor.

About Bluffing is Murder:

Summer promises to be anything but easy for Quaker linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau in Bluffing is Murder. Still reeling from an attack by her student’s murderer, Lauren decides to brush up on her karate and finds herself drawn to handsome sensei Dan Talbot. During a run near the sea bluffs, she discovers the corpse of her insurance agent, Charles Heard, who is also a Trustee for one of the oldest land trusts in the country. Earlier that day, Lauren had a public argument with Heard over her policy—and is now a suspect in the case.

Determined to clear her name, Lauren sets out to discover the real story behind the mismanaged land trust, the dead man’s volatile sister—and a possible link to her own father’s mysterious death more than a decade ago. But a near miss with a car, snippets of strange conversations in French and Farsi, slashed tires, and finding yet another attack victim on the beach make it clear that Lauren is also a target—and the killer is closing in. Can Lauren discover the killer before she becomes the next victim?

13 comments:

  1. Welcome Edith! I love spaghetti and meatballs--and this looks like a delicious twist! And the new book sounds so intriguing...I don't know how you keep up with yourself!

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  2. Edith/Tace - Those Haitian meatballs look delicious. With that bit of habanero in the mix, they must have a wonderful kick. Marc and I can't wait to try the recipe. Thanks for sharing it with us today and warmest congrats on BLUFFING IS MURDER - a terrific setting and plot for your Lauren.

    Have a wonderful weekend,
    ~ Cleo

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    1. Thanks so much, Cleo! They are quite yummy, and a good cold weather meal.

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  3. Welcome, Edith! What a great post - there are lots of Haitian people in our city. We love their warmth and kindness. Now we're going to love their meatballs too.

    Hugs,

    MJ/VA

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  4. It's always a pleasure to see you here, Edith! I don't know how you manage it all. Your recipe sounds fantastic! Now you've got me in the mood for spaghetti and meatballs!

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  5. I can almosst taste them now, and my mouth is watering! Love your books too :-)

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    1. They are good, Gram. So pleased you like my stories!

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  6. I can't wait to try this. They look delicious!

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