Sunday, May 31, 2015

Easy Asian Peanut Sauce #recipe @annieknoxauthor #giveaway




 LUCY BURDETTE: We are tickled pink to be hosting Annie Knox (aka Wendy Watson) on the blog today. Longtime visitors will recognize her as a former regular poster on Mystery Lovers Kitchen. We miss her good humor and her food and are thrilled to have her visit!


ANNIE KNOX: First things first: thank you to Lucy
 for hosting me on Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen.  It’s hands down my favorite blog, so it’s a real treat to be here




I’ve had a forty-five year love affair with peanut butter.  As a child, my lunch box favorite was the peanut butter sandwich.  Other kids crowed over ham, turkey, even egg salad.  But not me.  If I’d had my druthers, I would have had peanut butter every day.  Sometimes the sandwiches were peanut butter with jelly or jam, but other times I got peanut butter with banana, peanut butter with marshmallow fluff, or even peanut butter with white sugar (my mother didn’t stress out much about nutrition).



As I grew up, I started putting peanut butter on other stuff:  celery, apple slices, toast, bagels, saltines, graham crackers, chocolate bars.  I mixed peanut butter with chocolate or vanilla ice cream, and sometimes just ate it off the spoon.



Imagine my delight when I left my meat-and-potatoes Midwestern home and discovered that peanuts and peanut butter could form the basis for more complex and “adult” food.  One Thanksgiving, I spent the holiday with a bunch of fellow law students and we had a potluck.  One of my friends brought an African groundnut stew that combined sweet potatoes and cabbage in a rich gravy of tomato, ginger, cayenne, and peanut butter.  I confess, I was skeptical.  The combination sounded completely weird and the color was not particularly appetizing.  But my love of peanut butter won out and I gave it a try . . . and was amazed at the earthy deliciousness.



Then I moved to the big city (Minneapolis) and discovered that Asian cuisine was more than water chestnuts and La Choy crispy noodles.  Once again, I discovered that ground peanuts played an important role in some of my favorite dishes, like satay and the yummy dipping sauce that came with the summer rolls at my favorite Thai restaurant.



I was on a big stir fry kick when I discovered the recipe for this sauce.  Well, the original.  It’s been tweaked over the years to make it simpler and, to me, tastier.  This sauce would be great served over stir-fried chicken or tofu.  It would also make a good dipping sauce for satay or fresh rolls of some sort.  I personally toss the sauce with a package of cooked linguine and then top it with vegetables stir-fried with garlic and ginger.



Finally, a word of warning:  there is absolutely nothing authentic about this recipe.  Note that I used the generic “Asian” instead of “Thai” or “Chinese” or “Korean.”  That’s on purpose.  This is an Americanized mish-mash of Asian flavors.  But I wouldn’t be posting it if it wasn’t dang tasty.  And dang easy.  So I hope you enjoy.



Easy Asian Peanut Sauce



½ c. creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. sesame oil

2 Tbs. soy sauce

4 tsp. crushed or minced garlic

½ c. hot tap water

¼ c. chopped cilantro

3 Tbs. vinegar (rice, white wine, or apple cider)

2 tsp. sugar

½ tsp. crushed red pepper



Combine the peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic in a medium bowl.  Whisk in hot water then whisk in remaining ingredients.  Allow sauce to stand at room temperature for an hour before tossing with pasta, adding to stir fry, or using as a dipping sauce.



About Annie …



Annie Knox doesn't commit--or solve--murders in her real life, but her passion for animals is 100% true. She's also a devotee of 80s music, Asian horror films, and reality TV. While Annie is a native Buckeye and has called a half dozen states "home," she and her husband now live in a crumbling historic house just a stone's throw from the courthouse square in a north Texas town.



About the Pet Boutique Mysteries …



Meet Izzy McHale, owner of Trendy Tails Pet Boutique in cozy Merryville, Minnesota.  She and her pets, Packer and Jinx, have a passion for fashion.  While her best friend Rena Hamilton makes organic pet treats for the business’s “barkery,” Izzy is designing canine couture and feline fashions for Merryville’s booming tourist trade.  Trouble has a knack for finding Izzy and her friends and family.  Fortunately, Izzy and her gang have a knack for tackling trouble head on, solving mysteries and keeping Trendy Tails’s doors open.  Follow Izzy’s adventures in Paws for Murder and Groomed for Murder.



In Collared for Murder, the third Pet Boutique Mystery, Merryville, Minnesota, plays host to a renowned cat show.  When the show’s wealthy patron is murdered and the grand prize collar dangle goes missing, Izzy and friends are on the case. Read more on Facebook or Annie's website.

ANNIE WILL BE GIVING AWAY THREE BOOKS TODAY, so be sure to leave a comment with your email to be entered in the drawing! 

111 comments:

  1. Recipe sounds fabulous to me; and so does the book! EMS591@aol.com

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  2. Love peanut butter. it was also my go to lunch. For years all I ate for lunch at school was peanut butter sandwiches, my Mom tried to get me to eat something else, but I refused. Now I do admit to still eating it off the spoon! Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win a book!
    angelhwk68@yahoo.com

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  3. Love the cover! Maybe our Pug Pep could get some canine couture.

    Thanks for the recipe. Looks good and easy. My friend and I were very upset when The Cheesecake Factory took their Thai Chicken Pasta off the menu. Maybe I can make my own now. Thanks for the giveaway.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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  4. I like peanut butter (especially mixing it with chocolate)... so yummy! Thank you for the Easy Asian Peanut Sauce recipe. :)
    The cover for Collared for Murder is adorable! Thank you for the chance to win a book.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Looks great, thanks for the chance to win :)
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

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  6. what a great recipe!!!
    will definitely share w/my friends & family......
    & thank you for the giveaway......

    cyn209 at juno dot com

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  7. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win. Haven't read this series yet but I will have to put it on my list of series to buy. I love mysteries with animals in them.
    scarletbegonia5858@gmail.com

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  8. This recipe sounds great, so does the book. I havent read this series yet but I definetly will. Thank you for the chance.
    Moonbay7399@gmail.com

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  9. Thank you for the wonderful recipe and giveaway! areewekidding@yahoo.com

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  10. This sounds like a good sauce.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  11. I am a peanut butter lover also. I will be trying your recipe. Thank you for your giveaway.

    knightj4@gmail.com

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  12. Thanks for having a give-a-way! pattymarsh31@gmail.com

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  13. What a delectable recipe. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  14. Sounds yummy! I like to add some coconut milk to mine. Ourbookaddiction at gmail.

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  15. rhondajgothier@yahoo.com

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  16. I'm not wild about peanut butter but I do love mysteries which involve cats and dogs. Thanks for the opportunity to win. dbahn@iw.net

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  17. Great recipe! lkleback@hotmail.com

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  18. Welcome back to Mystery Lovers Kitchen, Annie/Wendy. This is a terrific recipe. Congrats on the new book.

    XO

    MJ/VA

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  19. This is definitely an easy recipe. Thanks for posting it and thanks for a chance to win.
    nlb1050@yahoo.com

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  20. La Choy noodles. I hadn't thought about those in years! Looking forward to trying the peanut sauce. Love your books.
    frybbe@gmail.com

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  21. I too am a fan of peanut butter. I guess it runs in the family as my dad, who is 76, asks for a spoonful of peanut butter as a snack! I was also thrilled when I learned about using peanut butter in a sauce, especially since it can be spicy too! I'll be sure to try your recipe-it sounds easy as well as delicious!

    I also look forward to reading Collared for Murder! Thanks for the chance to win!

    cozyupwithkathy @ gmail dot com

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  22. First time I ever had peanut sauce was on chicken and ever since been wanting a great recipe to try and this looks perfect. Thank you for the chance. lady.janel@hotmail.com

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  23. I, too, love peanut butter---but I'm on a diet and can have very little of it. This sauce may curb my cravings without too many calories. I enjoy your cozy mysteries. Thanks for the contest.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  24. I'm a peanut butter lover too, and a book lover. Would love to win this book, thanks for the chance!
    jawdance@yahoo.com

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  25. This sounds like a great recipe. I can't wait to try it! I have loved the books in this series so far and am looking forward to reading Collared for Murder

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  26. I also grew up eating loads of peanut butter. Either that or bologna. My staples for lunch. I'm so glad there were no peanut allergies back then so we could take it to school for lunch. Your recipe sounds terrific; and easy enough for me. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of one of your books. lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  27. I am a pb lover, too. Can't wait to try the sauce recipe. It's still morning, that's not too early to have stir fry, right? :-) I love the cover and would love to read the book! lnichols2000 @ yahoo . com

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  28. Love books and peanut butter. Great combo. Thanks for this delightful post. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  29. I love cooking Asian foods but there's no way I can do peanuts in my wok. I'd be afraid of tainting it and causing problems for my freakishly allergic grandson. My partner though is just like you and asks for a spoon and the peanut butter when she wants to snak.

    I'd love to be able to add your newest book to my home library.

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  30. I love to cook and always looking for new recipes to try. This one sounds delicious!

    I definitely want to win the book too. I love cozies and especially ones that have food in it or dogs!

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  31. Definitely want to read this book. Zeta@iwon.com

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  32. Loved the first two in the series, can't wait for the third! 📖 cebogert@gmail.com

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  33. I love the cover this sounds very good I am looking forward to reading this, thanks for being here today I enjoyed the blog.
    Penney

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  34. As a kid I was not a peanut butter fan, but as an adult I am more open to trying new things. This looks like a good recipe to try. Can't wait to read the book! Thanks for the chance to win! mamamoongrrlie at gmail dot com.

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  35. Sounds Great! I am always looking for a new series to start reading! lorimkilbride@gmail.com

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  36. How ironic, I just made Peanut Butter Chicken Fried Rice for my family last pm. They loved it. Must have been the peanut butter:) Thank you for the great recipe and book. Pennymarks@frontier.com

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  37. I love this series and the cover on the new book! Our children are divided when peanut butter is involved. One loves anything with peanut butter. Another prefers peanut butter with chocolate (any dessert including that combination), but nothing more. servedogmom@yahoo.com

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  39. Thanks for the recipe and the giveaway!
    Bski92@gmail.com

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  40. Wow - I slept in this morning and awoke to all these great comments. Nora Adrienne, I hear you about the peanut allergies. We all have to be so careful now not to trigger a response in some poor soul by bringing our peanuts out in public!

    Can't wait to find out who wins the copies of Collared for Murder!

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  41. This looks like a good book - thank you for the chance to win - griperang at embarqmail dot com

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  42. My 2 favorite things are reading mysteries and cooking, so CULINARY cozies are perfect. I am grateful for the day my husband brought me a copy of THE MAIN CORPSE by Diane Mott Davidson when we were on a camping trip. I was ecstatic and could hardly wait to get home and make the cherry coffee cake and buy more books. Thank you all for writing these BOOKS!!!!!!!
    Onepony66@hotmail.com

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  43. Thanks for the giveaway. Anxious to read Collared for Murder. Great title and cover.
    Some of my cats refuse to wear collars while others don't mind them.
    vernagass@gmail.com

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  44. Love that recipe. Thanks grammyd01@comcast.net

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  45. You've made me hungry! I will be trying that recipe very soon. Thank you for the giveaway.
    debprice60@gmail.com

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  46. Another new-to-me series. I would be very excited to win! Thanks and thanks for the recipe, it sounds very good and tasty.

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

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  47. Lovely cover and fun series. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. Kuzlin at AOL.com

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  48. Excited to read this one - thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
    bhandy1661@hotmail.com

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  49. I am addicted to peanut butter it is my favorite food. Thanks for recipe and the chance to win. poohwine1217@gmail.com

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  50. Just read Groomed for Murder yesterday & LOVED it!!! Now off to get Paws for Murder & catch up! Would totally LOVE TO WIN Collared For Murder!!!!
    Margaret
    ttimes33@juno.com

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  51. I've put peanut butter on everything for years! Peanut butter and tuna sandwich with snap peas, always on my chicken, sometimes on pork...never on beef, not complimentary. Great recipes and I'll be making it!

    Kathleen Bylsma h5apby@yahoo.com

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  52. I love nuts but have never eaten a PB&J. Crazy right? Even after making thousands of them for my kids (I have 5) lol. robin.christofaro@yahoo.com

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  53. Welcome back to the Kitchen, Wendy/Annie! Love your recipe for fast PB/Sesame Noodles, thanks for sharing, and big congrats on the new release in your adorable Pet Boutique cozy series. Good luck to everyone on your generous giveaway!

    ~ Cleo

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  54. Great sauce, great series! bobwiesmann@gmail.com

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  55. I would love to win! Thanks for the chance to win this book. I think I have read pet boutique mystery series before. I'm excited.
    sharame_v80@yahoo.com

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  56. I thought I posted but I don't see my post on the list so I will try again. I also love peanut butter by itself and on all kinds of things. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book! darholley1 (at) aol (dot) com

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  57. Interesting you should post this today. I was just thinking about recipes for African peanut (groundnut) soup!
    This sauce sounds divine. Bet it could easily be turned into soup with broth and veggies.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    1. Someone above suggested coconut milk -- I bet that would cut the peanut butter a bit and make the whole thing more brothy for soup.

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  58. That sounds like a great recipe. I love peanut butter. A couple odd combos are peanut butter and swiss cheese sandwich and peanut butter and baloney. Yum!
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    MarshaMysteryreader@yahoo.com

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  59. I can see using this recipe for so many things. I can't wait to try it.

    harbingerdc(at)gmail(dot)com

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  60. Thanks Annie, for the recipe, it sounds great and fairly easy! I look forward to reading you as Annie, because I certainly enjoy your alter ego, Wendy! Loved (and miss) Mysteries a la Mode! Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  61. Sounds like an awesome recipe (and of course awesome book)

    kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

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  62. The recipe sounds great. Can't wait to try it. And I would love to win this book. I have read the others in the series and love them. Frauenb(at)aol(dot)com

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  63. wow -- thanks for the chance at a super great book -- I would love to win as its exactly the kind of book I love to read -- love the excerpt and thanks for the recipe; will have to try it jody.714@Hotmail.com

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  64. Thank y you to Annie/Wendy for the great recipe. I am one of those people who HAS to have sauce on everything. I use sauces like this on grilled meats and chicken and vegetables and this one is a bit easier than mine to make, so I plan on giving it a try. I have not yet read one of the Pet Boutique books although I just got book 1 and plan on reading it as soon as I can. Would be delighted to be included in the giveaway. Thank you.
    Cynthia B.
    ceblain(AT)tmlponline(DOT)net

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  66. I love peanut sauce in Asian dishes - thanks for the recipe! I'm looking forward to reading the next Pet Boutique mystery, too.
    cwsullivan53@gmail.com

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  67. I can't wait to try this peanut sauce.... just a bit different from the one I usually make.
    Thanks for the chance to win!

    afarage (at)earthlink.net

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  68. I love peanut butter and have had it with so many thongs...even maple syrup, which is sooo good! I eat so little of it these days as it stays with me forever :-) thanks for the chance to win! jeaniedannheim ( at ) ymail ( dot ) com

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  69. I love peanut butter and have had it with so many thongs...even maple syrup, which is sooo good! I eat so little of it these days as it stays with me forever :-) thanks for the chance to win! jeaniedannheim ( at ) ymail ( dot ) com

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  70. I love peanut butter and have had it with so many thongs...even maple syrup, which is sooo good! I eat so little of it these days as it stays with me forever :-) thanks for the chance to win! jeaniedannheim ( at ) ymail ( dot ) com

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  71. I also love peanut butter. My favorite is peanut butter and graham crackers. I also like peanut butter and toast. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Collared for Murder. I love the series. cking78503@aol.com

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  72. I'm thinking about whipping up a batch of peanut butter cookies after reading your peanut butter post! The series sounds like a lot of fun too. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Collared for Murder. rencw@verizon.net

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  73. Yum! Your recipe sounds so delicious and easy! Looking forward to reading your books! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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  74. Many years ago had an Asian peanut butter sauce hat I don't remember fondly. Maybe it's time to try it again!
    bree62@outlook.com

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  75. Thank you for a chance to win. Your recipe looks good. Looking forward to reading your series. crossxjo (at) Hotmail (dot) com

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  76. Thanks! I want to be a fan!
    Betty
    maddmombetty@yahoo.com

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  77. Thanks for the chance. sclickne@juno.com

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  78. Thanks for the recipe & the drawing!

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  79. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  80. Great, another author for me to read and follow. Thanks.
    bessert57@gmail.com

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  81. I love peanut butter! Thanks for the recipe and for the great giveaway!
    sharonbabyme@yahoo.com

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  82. Wow...your recipe sounds good and your book sounds fabulous. Please enter me.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  83. Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite peanut butter use is to warm it to melting in the microwave and pour it over my favorite ice cream flavor. It solidifies much like magic shell does and is a very tasty way to enjoy both peanut butter and ice cream!
    green eyes red hair at gmail.com

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  84. I love my peanut butter on toast. Yum! This series looks good & is on my TBR LIST. I'd love to win!

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  85. I love dog and cat mysteries! So fabulous--bring it on... brown dot k at centurytel dot net

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  86. Peanut butter is a favorite in our house, too. I have a jar sitting on the kitchen table now since I had peanut butter and saltines for lunch. I like the sound of your peanut enhanced stir-fry. Your Pet Boutique Mysteries sound great, too!

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  88. I am relatively new to Mystery Lovers Kitchen. The great recipes have renew my inner chef...chicken skewers with peanut sauce tonight! kat8762@aol.com

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  89. The recipe looks so yummy. I like anything with cilantro in it.

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  90. I can't wait to try this recipe, it sounds yummy. I really enjoy cozy mysteries with animals in the cast of characters so I am looking forward to reading this.

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  91. I would be thrilled to read this book. I just love the cover.

    cenya2 at Hotmail dot com

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  92. I always took peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to school when I was in elementary school. It was the only thing I wanted. I grew up in German Village in Columbus, Ohio! We are big OSU fans! I am looking forward to reading Collared for Murder. I enjoy cozy mysteries that contain cats and dogs. I love animals (having three dogs and way too many cats). Thank you for a chance to win. Doodlesink@hotmail.com

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  93. love the peanut sauce and am saving the recipe for when I get home from vacation!

    Wishlisting all three books... Oh, one of them already is!

    My son loved peanut butter sandwiches. We didn't do white sugar but have added honey. Goes great with banana and pb too.

    Husband loves fluff 'n nutter sandwiches but I like jam or bananas

    Gina, a book dragon
    bookdragonslair@gmail.com
    www.bookdragonslair.com

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  94. Planter's peanut butter is the best and hard to find. This will be added to my peanut butter recipes with a big star beside it! Thank you....
    davisel1830@hotmail.com

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  95. Love this series and so happy to see you here on this wonderful blog. Hope you are ok with all the flooding in TX. Thanks for the opportunity to win what i am sure is a wonderful book!! kayt18 at comcast dot net

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  96. I not a really big pb fan but that sauce does sound really good. I enjoy cozy mysteries and the ones with animals are fun...this one looks like one I would enjoy1

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  97. Looking forward to reading this one.
    dotkel50@comcast.net

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    1. Oops forgot to put my email, and I am not an author, just a mere avid reader who would love to try this series. Email is magilljoanne2@gmail.com

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  100. Will have to try the peanut sauce. Would love to win the book too. I'll have to add it to my tbr pile! kec200@aol.com

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  101. yum! i love the Trendy Tails series! and peanut butter! i put it in my ice cream also!
    when i was a teen, a friend of ours (who was a terrible cook) went to Mexico and had some peanut soup there,she came back and made the most horrific copy of it, peanut butter, ketchup, burnt soup.... but, it sounded so interesting, years later i made wonderful versions of it. still do.

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  102. The book sounds great. I can't wait to read it. I'm crossing my fingers that I am one of the winners. Thank you for having this contest.
    Wheels101@bellsouth.net

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  103. I just printed your recipe. Thank you.

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  104. I love stir fry too. A great way to use leftovers. I shall have to try this recipe.
    Thanks
    gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net

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  105. I surely hope I'm not too late to enter to win. I'm anxious to read your series Annie. If I would win, I would hope to receive the first in this series. Congratulations on your latest installment!

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  106. I've always loved your covers and it sounds fabulous..
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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