Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Good food, fun travels, & GRILLING THE SUBJECT book #giveaway from author @DarylWoodGerber





I have a giveaway below!  Don't forget to leave a comment!


When I was writing GRILLING THE SUBJECT, I had the best time testing recipes. Sure, I did a lot of barbecue sauces and a lot of grilling,  but I made some side dishes and desserts, too, that were really delicious. 

Here are some names of recipes I've included in the book:

Beef and Pinto Beans Chili
Gluten-free Cowboy Cookies
Grandmother's Spoon Bread
Spicy Chocolate Fudge
Jenna's Mother's Turkey Meat Loaf
Spanish Rice
and more...

Think I had a good time eating? You bet.

So let's talk about research. It's not always about the food. Sometimes it's about the location. Sometimes it's about the events that I include in my books. 

Most recently, I visited the wine country (Napa Valley) and Lake Tahoe (with family) where I toured the areas, took pictures, and talked to locals. Okay, yes, I wine tasted, too. I learned so much more than I thought I could, even though I'd visited both areas numerous times. It's amazing when you ask questions how eager people are to answer. 

Oh, and recently I went to a Renaissance Faire in Los Angeles. A few of you who have listened to my live chats on Saturdays on my Facebook author page know that I've been thinking about the next "event" to include in an upcoming Cookbook Nook mystery.  All of them have a theme. [Grilling the Subject features the Wild West Extravaganza.] Well, I think I've settled on the Renaissance Faire for the next book. It was so much fun. Boisterous. Colorful. Filled with quirky characters. Characters you'd love to hang out with...or kill.  LOL

Here are a few photos of my travels and adventures to whet your appetite.

RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Lively dancers.

The weapons seller.

Shop keepers. They loved being photographed!


NAPA VALLEY - premier wine country, where I might be setting a new series.

Yes, there's really a castle. A winemaker built it to house his operation. There's a torture chamber, too!

The caves.

The incredible view!

LAKE TAHOE (where my stand-alone suspense Girl on the Run is set)
Emerald Bay packed with boats! So many tourists up with me, taking pictures.

Boats, everywhere!
Bears are real in Tahoe, but there is a lot of artwork for bears, too.

The Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. Gorgeous!

And now here is my corn salad recipe! Enjoy! And don't forget about the giveaway below.


 Before making the salad, cook the corn.

To cook the corn, bring a skillet of water to boil. Add a pinch of salt. Put the corn in the water and boil for 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and let stand for 3 more minutes.  Remove corn from water and let cool on a cutting board. When cool, cut the corn off the cob. I like to pinch the tip and cut downward.




Corn tomato salad

(Serves 2 as a side dish, and 1 as an entrée)

2 fresh tomatoes, sliced
1 ear of corn, cooked, kernels sliced off
1 celery stalk, diced
½ teaspoon white or black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Mix the tomatoes, corn, and celery in a large bowl and add the pepper, salt, and lemon juice.
This may also be served as a salsa!


TODAY'S GIVEAWAY

I'm giving away a copy of Grilling the Subject to one commenter.  
Tell me one of your most entertaining adventures! 
And remember to leave an email address (cryptic if you want) 
so I can contact you if you win!


*

Savor the mystery and say cheese!
Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames
Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous!

Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter
Follow Avery on Twitter
Follow both of us on Pinterest

Plus check out my website.

GRILLING THE SUBJECT, the 5th Cookbook Nook Mystery is out! 
Click here to order.


FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, 
the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery.
Came out in February 2016

Click here to order.



When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, 
Chessa Paxton must run for her life...but will the truth set her free? 
To order: CLICK HERE.

$2.99 in e-books everywhere. Print is available on Amazon.

71 comments:

  1. One of my most entertaining adventures = Disneyland during Halloween, any year. Always a blast and a sight to behold. EMS591@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. An entertaing adventure for me was a trip out west with my mom. We visited several states and I actually took the time to enjoy being there. centraleast2 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Napa sounds like an awesome place to use in your book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will definitely become a go-to place for research. :) ~ Daryl

      Delete
  5. Going to California from Wisconsin in a semi! My husband was a truck driver. Quite the adventure, in the Rockies, scary, a flood in the desert, a muddy slippery road that washed out and the lights of Vegas ahead. Donamaekutska7@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, that's a haul! (Forgive the pun). And what an adventuresome weather pattern you hit! Yipes! ~ Daryl

      Delete
  6. Tasty summer salad...thanks for the recipe! Your travel pictures look great! One travel misadventure was for work...we carried on our workshop materials and checked in the rest of our luggage. It was -30F in Quebec City in February and my luggage did not arrive until day 3 from Toronto. Workshop attendees remarked I must really LOVE wearing this (one) distinctive red & black wool suit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HAHA. Sorry, Grace, but I totally understand. I arrived at a golf vacation with my golf clubs and no new clothes for 3 days. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  7. I spent a week on a ranch in Montana. We spent a lot of time on horseback riding in the mountains. The day I had to drive back to the airport it was snowing like crazy. All the trucks were pulling off the highway and I kept going doing about 25 miles an hour because I was afraid that if I missed my flight I might have a problem getting another one.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

    ReplyDelete
  8. My favorite trip was from Philadelphia to Orlando, visiting cities & places up & down the coast. doward1952@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The east coast, with all its original USA history, is so enticing! ~ Daryl

      Delete
  9. I used to love taking my nephews to Disney World when they were young. I wish I could go back, but it wouldn't be the same without the kids, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol, there are lots of couples who go to Disney World just to have their own fun. Try it! You'll like it. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  10. amy guillaume lindermanAugust 17, 2016 at 9:18 AM

    just tagged along with hubby on his business trip to Chicago. the kids and i had fun navigating our way around town on the trains. was afraid we'd get lost, but had a fun time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't been to Chicago in over 12 years. Would love to return. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  11. My husband would say our most entertaining adventure was an excursion on our last cruise. Between the snorkling and beach adventure, I managed to consume 8 margaritas. It's a good thing I'm a happy drunk. cheers@marjimmanor.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the pics, Daryl! I really think you need to work that castle into a future book, whether it be Cookbook Nook or suspense - it looks pretty cool! I make a very similar corn salad, except that I use a balsamic vinaigrette instead of lemon juice, and I've never included celery (but it sounds like a yummy addition!). Nicole nicolev.girldetective@gmail.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That castle will definitely make it into a book. It was so kitschy but fun! ~ Daryl

      Delete
    2. I just realized I never answered the question - lol! I would have to say the summer I spent the summer in France when I was 15. I stayed with my aunt and uncle at their home in Provence by myself (my mother was French). It was a wonderful summer, not too touristy, just really immersed in French culture. Daily walks to the village and it's shops, visiting nearby towns, a little bit of sightseeing, meeting family for the first time. I would do it again in a heartbeat! :-)

      Delete
  13. The corn tomato salad sound good.
    jjrrdavid@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. My most entertaining adventure was when I was in college many, many moons ago. I friend and I drove from northern Minnesota to southern California non-stop. One would sleep in the back seat with the other drove. Somewhere in Oregon, the other gal woke me up and said "Help, I'm lost." She had managed to drive us into the seediest part of Portland. It took me over an hour to find a way out and back to civilization. I was really scared at the time, but can laugh heartily about it now.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue, I went to a high school camp and wound up in the speediest part of British Columbia. Luckily the taxi driver who took 4 of us "girls" there would not let us stay at the hotel that we'd booked - somehow the camp thought the hotel was "okay" - um, NOT. LOL ~ Daryl (Probably saved our lives!)

      Delete
  15. I loved all the camping trips we use to go to, the deserts I loved the one in death valley we found a old camp site with old time tin bottle. I miss going camping
    Penney penneyw(AT)sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Penney, camping in Death Valley sounds exotic and also like a trial! Good for you! ~ Daryl

      Delete
  16. About 4 summers ago I went to Maine on vacation with my husband, his Mom and his brother and sister. We had been vacationing together for about five years at this point. This was my favorite. We visited Acadia National Park and other places where Mom could visit without too much walking. She loved lobster so everywhere we we t she had lobster and always blueberries. We lost her this past January and my vacations with her will always be the best vacations for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yvonne, I'm so sorry about your mom, but what a wonderful final memory to have with her. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  17. Going on safari with my daughter in 2012. It was a fantastic two weeks, being among the animals, taking a
    balloon ride. Would love to do it again.
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary, congrats! You won the giveaway. I'll be contacting you via email. You'll have one week to respond. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  18. Mine was when we went up to the wine country to watch my son play in a tournament and had to stay the night. It was such a fun time and also going around and touring all the local places that I hadn;t been to was so fun. He stayed with the team so I treated myself to a wonderful hotel it had the best robes and the pool was outside my door. It was so nice all of it was before I got disabled so I had a wonderful time I was living in Ca at the time. ptclayton2@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PT, how fabulous. Which hotel did you pamper yourself at? I'd like to start acquiring recommendations! ~ Daryl

      Delete
  19. Experiencing The Canadian Rockies many years ago was spectacular, memorable and unforgettable. The beauty, lakes, setting and the area was captivating and amazing.saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Traveler, they are so beautiful! I went there with my husband on a business trip. So gorgeous. Lake Louise and Banff. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  20. Pat D (patdupuy@yahoo.com)August 17, 2016 at 12:50 PM

    Over the years I've had lots of memorable trips. About 3 years ago my granddaughter was visiting us from Ohio. I took her to my sister's ranch for a few days. We watched a spectacular meteor shower in the pasture with dogs and a nosy horse for company and teased her mercilessly about chupacabra, chupacaballo (nosy horse) and she was called Chupanana. She's never forgotten it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just saw a meteor shower in Tahoe last week. It wasn't a bombardment, but it was fun to see! ~ Daryl

      Delete
  21. When I was young and my first ever vacation to the beach. The ocean and the vast beach made a huge impression upon me. When I was used to lakes the ocean and beach became a haven for me and I longed for it. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Petite, I'm with you. I love the ocean and lake. There's something about water that just settles me down. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  22. For me it was a few years ago. Hadn't seen my sister & her husband for a few years. Growing up our family camped every summer. Tents, sleeping bags, still do. So when my sister called lets camp at wherever it was for a couple of weeks. It was an RV type place with areas for tents. They always took their 2 cats with them. Dale accidentally let the smaller cat out, a very nurturing type they named MaMa. Linda said you let her out. You find her. He walked down the 'driveway' hollering MaMa! Looking under cars & RV's. People were coming to their doors and we were all laughing as this big guy is walking down the road, bending over looking under things and hollering "MaMa!". What a sight. He died in 2003. But that is still one of our fondest memories. Della at deepotter@peoplepc.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everyone (including a big guy) yelling Mama is a scene that belongs in a book! Love this image. Great memory. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  23. I know sonething driving 250 miles for 4 hours over the mountains to another town for your husband to see his doctor and spend a night in a motel. Then see the doctor the next day and drive back over the mountains to home. Thats what we did. And i am so so HOT. HERE is my e-mail judymckay552@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I know sonething driving 250 miles for 4 hours over the mountains to another town for your husband to see his doctor and spend a night in a motel. Then see the doctor the next day and drive back over the mountains to home. Thats what we did. And i am so so HOT. HERE is my e-mail judymckay552@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Two years ago, my kids and I camped our way from the East Coast to the West Coast and back with my parents. We visited 17 states in 21 days. It was exhausting but we saw a lot of the US. My husband and the kids and I are planning a week-long trip to Disney, Universal Studios, and NASA this January. I'm really excited about that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Forgot to leave my e-mail....it's 2boys4me at gmail dot com. :)

      Delete
    2. Wow, 17 states in 21 days. Wow! I took my son on a trip from Florida, up through 6 states, across South Dakota, Wyoming, to Yellowstone, down to Lake Tahoe and down to Los Angeles. That took 3 weeks and was wonderful and exhausting. But unforgettable! We even waited for buffalo for 3 hours in Yellowstone to "cross the road." ~ ~ Daryl

      Delete
  26. Fresh tomatoes and fresh corn are summer's ultimate combination! I might even skip the cooking of the corn if it's really fresh.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Libby, I could skip the cooking, too. It's so yummy raw, but a little cooking seems to really blend well with the other ingredients. Enjoy! ~ Daryl

      Delete
  27. I'm seriously lacking in adventures. I don't have an entertaining one that stands out, a miserable start to what ended up being an awesome vacation was waking up at 2 a.m. with the stomach flu knowing that we were leaving at 4 a.m. to drive from Salem, OR to Anaheim, CA. Yup, we did it. I spent the first day in bed but was better after that and we had a wonderful vacation.
    awilcox1182@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Amanda, no fun. Getting sick and having to drive or fly? Ugh! ~ Daryl

      Delete
  28. taking my downs daughter in a wheelchair and grandsons who were 4 and 6 at the time..was the best week..and had very happy kids..
    greeneyes2755@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. taking my grandson to the zoo. he loved the petting zoo as they had all kinds of different animals to pet
    juniors-mom@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  30. A very good book! Everyone should read it!

    ReplyDelete
  31. One of my most entertaining vacations was when me and my sister went out to California to visit my cousin and we went from San Francisco to Disneyland and spent a few days there and then went back up North to Nappa and back to San Francisco to tour Alcatraz at night. It was a really fun trip and we also got to spend Thanksgiving with them.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a wonderful tour of California, Dianne. Glad you had the opportunity! I love my state. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  32. Love Napa and Tahoe! My best adventures have been with my family on cruise ships!! Thanks for offering this!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda, I'm glad to hear you say that. So many really enjoy a cruise. Everyone together but not on top of each other and lots of sites to see. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  33. My best one was driving around Finger Lakes getting lost and finding a great winery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No better way to get lost than to end up at a winery. :) ~ Daryl

      Delete
  34. Going to my best friend's house and a bunch of us bring food. We talk all night and eat.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Forgot to include email. rhondajgothier@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. And the winner by random number selector is Mary Holshauser. Mary, I'll be contacting you via email. Congrats and thanks to all for chiming in! ~ Daryl

    ReplyDelete