Wednesday, February 21, 2018

PRESSING THE ISSUE is out + book #giveaway @DarylWoodGerber



Pressing the Issue, the 6th Cookbook Nook Mystery, is out!  
You can find a buy link on my website to suit your needs: WEBSITE
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Or you can use any of these links. The trade paper version is on Amazon.



"Another great book in a fantastic series. Daryl Wood Gerber is a masterful storyteller. Jenna Hart once again finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation, through no fault of her own. This book has a lot of twists and turns, and kept me engrossed from beginning to end. If you love books, food, and cats, then this is the book, and series, for you. I highly recommend this book!" ~ Goodreads review by Robin. 

From Daryl:

Last week I wrote about visiting the Renaissance Fair to research Pressing the Issue, which features a Ren Fair. This week, I have to tell you about all the wonderful “unique” foods I discovered when I did my foodie research via the Internet and cookbooks and elsewhere. Many will be found at the end of the book. For example, I found a 14th century ginger cheesecake recipe that I tweaked, and it turned out great. I landed on a delicious Sin in a Cup recipe that is like a chocolate cheesecake bonbon (frozen). My friend author and blogger Kim Davis will be sharing that with you on Cinnamon, Sugar and a little bit of Murder on Friday! Check it out. She’s such a fabulous cook. Today, I thought I’d share one of my new favorite foods. It’s so easy to make and is packed with flavor. Hawker’s Mush. What is it? I’ll let Jenna tell you. Remember, Jenna is a foodie but not a gourmet cook, so whatever she shares has to be easy!

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Hawker’s Mush
From Jenna:

Hawker’s Mush happens to be one of Rhett’s and my favorite dishes at the fair. It’s basic yet so delicious. Think of it like potato pancakes. If you can’t eat garlic, leave it out. The onions add plenty of flavor on their own. Also, I have to admit that I had no idea how easy Hollandaise sauce was to make. What a find!

 (Yield: 6–8 servings)

4 tablespoons or more butter
1 large onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
4 cups raw spinach, chopped (becomes about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons sherry
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups cooked brown rice and wild rice mix
3 eggs, beaten
Hollandaise sauce (recipe below)

In a medium-sized frying pan, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté onions until soft and beginning to turn golden brown, about 8–10 minutes. If the onions seem dry, add another tablespoon of butter. Then add raw chopped spinach.

Sauté until all the moisture from the spinach is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Turn heat down and add the thyme, crushed garlic, and sherry. Add salt and pepper. Simmer until all liquid is absorbed, about 2–4 minutes more. Cool 5 minutes.

In a large bowl combine the cooked brown rice and wild rice, the onion-spinach mixture, and the beaten eggs.

For this next step, you’ll have to do it in batches: in a medium frying pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add rice-onion-spinach mixture in 1/2-cup portions. Flatten each down so you have rounds about ½ inch thick.

Cook over medium heat until set, about 2–3 minutes. Flip over and cook until golden.

Slide onto a plate and put in a warm oven. Repeat until entire mixture is cooked.

Keep warm. When ready, serve with Hollandaise sauce.

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What's Pressing the Issue about?

The annual Renaissance Fair serves up a helping of crafty courtiers, damsels in distress, and medieval murder . . .

As the annual Renaissance Fair comes to Crystal Cove, Jenna Hart’s Cookbook Nook is packed with tasty treats and all things medieval, while her pal Bailey is ready to swoon over her upcoming nuptials at a local vineyard. But when the two friends discover the body of the vineyard’s owner bludgeoned by a wine press, all their merriment fades, along with their hopes for a vintage year.

Which churlish varlet did the deed? Was it the victim’s errant brother, who stood to inherit the vineyards? Or the owner’s crestfallen ex-girlfriend? Mayhap it was the newly arrived lusty wench, or her jealous husband. Fie on them all! Verily, Jenna can’t rest until justice is served, and she vows to track down the killer. But can she sniff out the truth before the villainous culprit strikes again?



GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the upcoming release of PRESSING THE ISSUE, I'm giving away to one commenter a copy of the book (ebook or trade paper). Tell me, what costume would you wear to a Renaissance Festival? Even if you would never attend a festival, come up with a costume. C'mon. Play along. And remember to include your email (cryptically if necessary) so I can contact you if you win.



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Savor the mystery!

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PRESSING THE ISSUE, the 6th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
The annual Renaissance Fair serves up a helping of crafty courtiers, 
damsels in distress, and medieval murder . . .
Click here to order.

A DEADLY ÉCLAIR, the 1st in the French Bistro Mysteries.
Can Mimi clear her name before the killer turns up the heat?
Click here to order.

FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery is out!
Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!
Click to order.

GIRL ON THE RUN, a stand-alone suspense.
When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, Chessa Paxton
must run for her life...but will the truth set her free?
Click to order

DAY OF SECRETS, a stand-alone suspense
A mother he thought was dead. A father he never knew.
An enemy that wants them dead.
Click here to order
 




79 comments:

  1. I would wear something comfortable. Long skirt...long puffy sleeved blouse. Always a shawl...knitted, of course. Maybe one of those ruffled caps? I’d have my knitting along and look for a comfortable place to sit and knit and watch the jousting. Lldawnjm (at) gmail (dot)com...

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    1. Jane, sounds so fun. Love those ruffled caps. ~ Daryl

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  2. I've been to local Renaissance Festivals in the past, and I always wore Fairy wings and a small tiara. EMS591@aol.com

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    1. Liz, I have fairy wings but no tiara. Must find one. Cute. ~ Daryl

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  3. I would go as a buxom bar wench.. I lived fairly close to the big fair in So. Calif. but was always working and couldn't go. I did manage to the Gilroy Garlic Festival when I moved to No. Calif. Who knew garlic ice cream could taste good!
    seffichinchilla@outlook.com

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    1. Sue, it does taste good? I've been afraid to try it. ~ Daryl

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  4. I would wear long skirt with ruffle blouse carry a basket to bring home goodies I found at fair. Jcok22@yahoo.com

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  5. I would wear a long green skirt over a long sleeved shift with a tabbed vest that laces up the front. Perhaps a cloak if it is cold. Low heel boots. moodiesmum(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. A cloak. Raquel, great idea. And definitely low-heeled anything. LOL ~ Daryl

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  6. I would definitely have to wear something comfortable although I've always wanted to wear a tight-fitting gown with big puffy sleeves. smmolloy1105@yahoo.com

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    1. Shannon, I made a puffy sleeved white blouse in college (very pirate-like). It was so fun. Went with everything. ~ Daryl

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  7. I would want to go all out and wear a Victorian floor length ballgown. Why not?
    tami.norman@gmail.com

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    1. Tami, absolutely. Why not go all out and have fun? ~ Daryl

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  8. When I was younger, I’d definitely wear the bar wench outfit. Now I don’t know. suefoster109 at gmail dot com.

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  9. With total disregard to comfort, I would wear a deep blue velvet gown with gold braid trim and long sleeves. Dmskrug3 at hotmail(.)com

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    1. Right, Daniele. Comfort is not all it's cracked up to be. LOL ~ Daryl

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  10. I would wear a lady in waiting outfit with a heavy velvet ornate jacket . saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Love it, Traveler. ~ Daryl PS even your fictional name "traveler" goes with the times. :)

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  12. I would wear a long blue gown and one of those pointy hats. ckmbeg@gmail.com

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  13. We have a Medieval Faire in our adjoining county in the summer. I love attending and dressing the part. My favorite outfit is that of a gypsy fortune teller (although I can't read cards or palms.) Big hoop earrings, a peasant skirt and blouse, either black booties or high black boots. Lots of bangle bracelets to complete the outfit. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Robin, sounds like so much fun. Aunt Vera would approve. ~ Daryl

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  14. I've attended a number of these faires in the last thirty years and seen many costumes. The only ones I'd be able to get away with these days would be the Royal Court gowns. I have a friend who is part of the King Richard's Faire group and while I'm not slender like she is, I could get away with being a Dutchess who is "well padded". LOL

    NoraAdrienne (at) gmail (dot) com

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  15. This sounds like great stuff!
    Best wishes on your new book babies.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    1. Aw, Libby, you didn't write down a costume. Harrumph. LOL ~ Daryl

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  16. I’d go as an archer like one of Robin Hood’s band.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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    1. Sandy, archers and hunters, as a rule, are to say hello to any fellow hunter they pass. It's quite fun. ~ Daryl

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  17. I would be a Moon Fairy. I would have long flowing dress with many layers in different colors of blue and white. My wings will be sheer colors of blue and white and sparkly. I will have a band of moon flowers and ribbons in my hair and around my neck will be a triple moon necklace. Around my eyes I will glue some quarter moon and stars.
    scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Cupcake, I love this. What a beautiful costume. A moon fairy. I want to be one. ~ Daryl

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  18. I went to a renaissance festival once as a kid and had a blast. I'm kind of surprised I never went back. I loved seeing everyone dressed up and loved the re-enactments. I think if I dressed up I would just wear a peasant dress. They were fun but didn't seem cumbersome to get around in. awilcox1182@gmail.com

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    1. Amanda, I have to admit the peasant dresses do look the most comfortable. With a tied vest and roomy sleeves and you can wear comfortable sandals. :) ~ Daryl

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  19. I would go as a prosperous merchant. Thanks for a chance to win a paperback copy of this book. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Doward, I can just see you as this. Maybe a watch fob and bags of money. ~Daryl

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  20. many years ago I went in a burgundy velvet gown. The festival was great but the gown ended up pretty muddy by the end of the day. embam1969@comcast.net

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    1. Barb, isn't it grand that we have dry cleaning? What did they do back in the day? LOL ~ Daryl

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  21. I think I would dress up as a kitchen wench, with long skirt made of some rough linen, long sleeved white blouse, and a cap covering my hair. Of course, I would also have to have a tankard of ale and a prop chicken leg or some such. Congrats on the new release! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Autumn, I like you're thinking. Everyone needs props. :) ~ Daryl

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  22. I want to be comfortable! Can I dress like one of Robin Hood's merry men? I don't think they'd mind a woman in disguise!
    patdupuy(at)yahoo(dot)com.

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    1. Pat, I dressed up as a pirate. In the book, Jenna dresses like Maid Marian. ~ Daryl

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  23. A long flowing skirt with a ruffly blouse and a princess hat or tiara. Can't wait to read the book!

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    1. A princess hat with the tassels is so pretty and festive, Melissa. Love it. ~ Daryl

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  24. Forgot my email. mcastor07(at)Gmail(dot)com

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  25. I would like to be a "card reader" like Aunt Vera and dress the part--with comfortable shoes!!

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  26. I don't like dresses (those long ones would be even worse and hot!) so I would probably go as a girl disguising herself as a boy so she could enter the archery contest or some other thing only men could do back then. Hey you said to pretend, lol, I probably couldn't shoot an arrow unless I carried the thing to the target and stuck it in! LOL barbie17(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Tari, ha, ha, ha. Very funny about how to shoot an arrow. Love it. ~ Daryl

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  27. What a great question. First of all, congratulations on your release. Looking forward to getting a print copy very soon. Winning one would obviously be fantastic.

    So for my description of a faire attendee, I think I'd wear something brown as everytime I've been to a faire, there was lots of dirt or mud. So brown clothing for at least the skirt and since I am rarely cold even in low temps, I'd wear a couple of light weight items like a vneck shirt and possibly a lace up vest to look the part. I'd wear lots of beads/necklaces, bracelets and big hoop earrings and wear a scarf to hold back my hair. I think lots of makeup would be a good idea, and definitely comfy shoes. I'd probably look like I had a Halloween costume on but those sound like an outfit I'd like.
    Thank you. Cynthia. ceblain (AT) tmlponline (DOT) net

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    1. CE, brown skirt sounds very reasonable. Smart girl. And all the jewelry you can find is fabulous! ~ Daryl

      PS Remember the print copies will be found on Amazon and Barnes and Noble and not in stores. A new model for publishing right now.

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  28. I would go as a soothsayer. I think my outfit would be flowing and probably purple. ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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    1. A soothsayer. Love it, Lori. Jenna's father goes as an apothecary in a flowing purple get up. :) ~ Daryl

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  29. I think I would ggo as a court jester---crazy hat and all.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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    1. Sue, what fun! I mention a court jester in the book. That would be so cool. ~ Daryl

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  30. I would go as a scholar: red was the preferred color for scholars who were highly regarded. I would wear a red robe. Their robes were very similar to our cap/gown today so I'd use that as my base. A gold rope belt and mortarboard hat. And of course I'd carry a manuscript! wordmomkm@hotmail.com

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  31. I would wear a long skirt with a ruffled blouse. I would like to be a fortune teller.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Then you'll need beads, Dianne. And perhaps a deck of cards or a ready, steady hand. ~ Daryl

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  32. I'd love an ebook of this if I won. Unless I were going to the fair as a tourist, I'd love to rent a fancy Renaissance costume w/ a peasant top, cinched at the waist and a lovely print skirt. legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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    1. Kara, I think a cinched waist is so lovely on a woman. Makes me think of all the Shakespearean performances I've seen. And Scarlet O'Hara, of course. LOL ~ Daryl

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  33. I'm all for comfort so I'd wear boots, leggings, a white off the shoulder shirt and a corset. The other costumes are cute but impractical for me. Kkcochran (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  34. I would want to wear something comfortable & not too hot. Maybe a simple blouse & skirt. turtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Jana, the "peasant" look is very in. Easy and comfortable. ~ Daryl

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    2. Jana, you have won this giveaway by random selection. Congrats. I'll be in touch via email. ~ Daryl

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  36. I would wear a Lady Marian type ensemble. So much fun. Always wanted a full size knight in armor for my home. It would not fit in with anything that I own, but hey!
    carters@columbusacademy.org

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    1. A full size knight in shining armor? Susan, how fun. You could put him on your front porch to warn off intruders. ~ Daryl

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  37. I would wear a deep maroon down with big puffy sleeves. Thanks for the chance. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Jnalpath - love maroon and a color that was very big in the day. ~ Daryl

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  38. I think I would have to wear a wench of some kind or maybe a lady in waiting. Although I do like some of the mens clothes too. No tights though please, lol. Very interesting recipe. Not a fan of white or yellow sauces though so not sure if I would like that. kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net

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    1. Kay, I ate these without the sauce, too, and they were really lovely. In fact, they might be great with sour cream (like a potato latke) or even apple sauce. But I liked them PLAIN. ~ Daryl

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  39. Congratulations on the upcoming release of your new book!
    Thanks for sharing the recipe for Hawker's mush.
    It looks scrumptious! I love baking and cooking,so I will definitely be making this soon! I would be wearing something comfortable,Perhaps very similar to the gown Merida wore in the Disney movie "Brave".A gown I can dance in and run through the fields of wild Lavender. I would have my long hair,loosely pulled back with ribbons, with crown of wild flowers resting on my head.Myndirene(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  41. I went to a Renaissance Festival and got photographed. I was helping a Friend sell her ghost story book. I wore a long black dress to my ankles and a black shawl with a cross around my neck a friend bought in an antique store in Spain...borrowed and very old.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  42. I'd dress as a jester and stir up some laughter!

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  43. The winner of this giveaway is Jana L, by random selection. Congrats! Thanks to all for playing along. I got some great costume ideas. ~ Daryl

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