Today we're very pleased to welcome as out guest, our friend Victoria Hamilton. She is the celebrated author of three cozy mystery series and her latest book, No Grater Danger hits the bookshelves on June 19th! Enjoy her recipe and then enter a comment for a chance to win a copy of Leave it to Cleaver! Here's Victoria:
Do you ever make a
recipe exactly as it is listed? I try to do that the first time I make
anything, but it rarely works out. Anyway, I saw a recipe for a version of
Chicken Cassoulet; it sounded good, and I gave it a go, but even then, I
altered it. It took white wine, and I never
have wine in the house… that isn’t for drinking, anyway. The fruity ‘wine
beverage’ that is my drink of choice would not be the right ingredient, for
what it’s worth. So this time I made many more changes and now it is most
definitely NOT Chicken Cassoulet.
So, I name it…
Chicken Hamilton
Serves: 4 – 6
(4 for dinner, 6
for lunch)
Ingredients:
1 – 19 ounce can
cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed.
½ tblsp olive oil
12 ounces skinless
boneless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into ½ to 1 inch chunks
10 ounces mild
Italian sausage, (casing removed) in small chunks.
1 small onion,
finely chopped
2 cloves garlic,
roughly chopped
1 tbsp water
¼ tsp dried rosemary
OR ½ tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
¼ tsp dried thyme
OR ½ tbsp fresh thyme chopped
¼ tsp grated black
pepper
2 cups (or more)
chicken broth
3 cups chopped
spinach
Directions:
Mash ½ cup beans
in a bowl, then add the rest of the beans and set aside.
Heat oil in a
large skillet or Dutch oven, at medium heat. Add chicken in a single layer,
cook, turning once, until browned, 2 – 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a bowl (with
the beans, if you like) and set aside.
Brown Italian
sausage the same way, and set aside, again in the bowl with the chicken and
beans, if you like.
(I know… there’s a lot of ‘setting aside’ in this
recipe.)
Add onion and
garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, until wilted and fragrant, a couple of
minutes. Add water, cover, and cook a few minutes until golden, then add
rosemary, thyme and pepper. Cook about thirty seconds, until fragrant.
Add broth, beans
(including the mashed beans), chicken and sausage, bring to a boil then reduce
heat to a simmer, until chicken is thoroughly cooked, five minutes or so.
Add more broth, if
needed, to make a soupy stew, and toss in the chopped spinach, stir and cook
until it is just wilted, a couple of minutes.
Serve with fresh
buttered bread or rolls.
This recipe is a
bit finicky, but really simple and delicious. I’ve made it a couple of times
now, and I think I’ll add more herbs next time, and maybe some Old Bay, or
other seasoning.
~
To one person who
comments here I will be giving away one copy of Leave It to Cleaver, Vintage
Kitchen Mysteries #6, to celebrate the upcoming release of my Vintage Kitchen
Mysteries #7, No Grater Danger!
Open to all US and
Canadian readers. Comment here, with your first name and an email address
(yourname (at) yourserver (dot) com) where we can reach you! The draw will be made at 6 PM EDT on Monday, June 4th.
Thank you to
Mystery Lovers Kitchen for hosting me!
No Grater Danger
Coming June 19th!
In the brand-new Vintage Kitchen
Mystery from the author of Leave It to Cleaver, someone out to
spice up their life means to crush a helpless victim . . .
“Delightfully
entertaining, well-written, and an interesting and exciting plot. Literally
keeps you guessing right to the end.” —Goodreads on Leave It to Cleaver
Vintage
cookware enthusiast Jaymie Leighton is thrilled at the prospect of meeting an
elderly descendant of her town’s founding father, not least because she’s known
to possess an enviably large collection of antique spice graters. But the
curmudgeonly woman also has substantial real estate holdings, and at the moment
she’s engaged in a fierce battle with a property developer who wants her to
sell off her old buildings in the name of progress. When Jaymie goes to visit
the woman and discovers that there’s been an attempt on her life, she polishes
up her sleuthing skills to find out who was behind the foul deed.
Her first
instinct is to suspect the developer, but as she digs deeper into the case she
learns that her older new friend has purportedly been the victim of numerous
criminal acts—all of which point to different suspects. Unsure if the stories
are true or simply the confused ramblings of a senior citizen, Jaymie sifts
through the clues hoping to expose the culprit, but she knows that if she keeps
stirring up trouble, she’ll be next on the would-be killer’s list.
Includes
a vintage recipe!
Check me out on
social media! For
more information, visit http://www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com
and sign up for the newsletter! – or – find me on Facebook! Victoria
Hamilton, Author
I'm getting better at changing recipes instead of following them to the letter mostly because I seldom have everything a recipe calls for & white wine would be one ingredient I wouldn't have. I love red wine with chicken. My husband doesn't like spinach but I'm going to try Chicken Hamilton anyway because it looks delicious. lnchudej@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy mother never left a savory dish alone: she added vermouth. To almost all of them. (Can you guess she was a martini drinker?) And that was it. Me, I'm much more likely to experiment. (And I don't keep vermouth in the house.) This dish definitely sounds tasty.
ReplyDeleteI usually stick to the recipe, unless I'm missing something and put in a substitute. That doesn't always work out. I'm thankful for your recipe because I have 3 cans of cannellini beans and I needed something to use them in besides white bean soup. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI substitute especially if there is an ingredient that I don't like in the recipe like those beans. I am so glad that your series is continuing. I enjoy it so much. Thank you so much for this chance at your giveaway. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThat recipe sounds amazing! I, too, change things up in a recipe. Isn't giving it your own touch what cooking is about? I really enjoy your books and congratulations on this new one! Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteDebbie Price
debprice60@gmail.com
I tend to make changes as I follow recipes, too! This chicken dish looks wonderful and I can't wait to try it out on my mother-in-law. I think she would love it.
ReplyDeletelittle lamb lst at yahoo dot com
Now that I'm retired, I'm finding myself having to cook 2 meals a day for my husband and myself. I'm always on the lookout for new recipes. Your series is a new to me one and I look forward to reading it. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about recipes not coming out right and it's not just ingredients. I once followed a casserole recipe exactly until it said to put it in an 8"X8" dish. There was enough for 3 dishes! How did they ever get it all into one?! Thanks for the contest. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your upcoming release of "No Grater Danger"!
ReplyDeleteMost times I try for follow a recipe the first time but sometimes you just know it's not right and you have to alter it. Usually if it's good enough on the first go round to try again, I am making notes on my changes and keep trying to tweak it until I have it just right. If it makes it through the taste testers until I get it perfected then it's a keeper and goes in my own personal cookbook.
Your recipe for Chicken Hamilton sounds delicious and one that I will surely try.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of "Leave It to Cleaver". I'd love the opportunity to read this book.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
I love trying new recipes & the book sounds amazing. Thanks for your great generosity. Linda May lindamay4852@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteWhen baking, I usually follow the recipe, mostly, otherwise it sometimes becomes what is in the cupboards...this sounds really good, may have to get the wine to try...dianetelford at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteSometimes I make a recipe as written but sometimes I have to substitute for something my boyfriend can’t have like wine.
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon(.)net
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway. Janngrogan@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHi, Marlene Ezell here. I have always stuck to the recipes as written as did my mother. The only thing I might change is to leave out a non-essential ingredient that I don't like. I don't like mushrooms so I always leave those out. Thanks for the chance to win your book. I love your covers.
ReplyDeleteezellmarlene(at)gmail(dot)com
Your a new to me author. I look the recipe over, leave any non-essential ingredient that someone in the family really doesn't like the first time I make it. Then I modified if I make it again, if needed.
ReplyDeleteSure would love to win one of your books - I get all of my books at the library - the recipe sounds delicious
ReplyDeleteWhen presented with a recipe I first scan it. If I haven't had it before I like to become familiar with the ingredients. I always tinker with a recipe to add my personal touch.
ReplyDeleteI like to substitute. Looking forward to reading this . What a fun receipe. abeachlifesc at Yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteI love to read recipes - but I rarely follow them. And once I have made something I never use a recipe again, I just wing it from memory, mostly with good results. Luckily, I have 4 sons who will pretty much eat anything. I will give this chicken recipe a try! Debbie(dot)Erickson14 at gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI love to not only read recipes, but also to experiment with them! Most of the time, it works out!!! The chicken recipe looks great..when I try it, I will make it as is..no experimenting or substituting..maybe! Lol
ReplyDeleteI, too, try to follow a recipe the first time...but I rarely succeed!
ReplyDeleteImprovising is such fun!
Well done here.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
Welcome back to the Kitchen, Victoria, and congratulations on No "Grater" Danger (love the pun). I also love the inventiveness of your recipe--no surprise, given your creative spirit!
ReplyDelete~ Cleo
I love taking a recipe and making it my own. Switch it up with different ingredients sometimes makes the recipe even better. That's part of the fun of cooking.
ReplyDeleteMargaret: scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com
Love your recipe, and thanks for a chance to win your book! lclee59(at)centurylink(dot)net
ReplyDeleteLeave it to Cleaver. That title cracks me up. Will Eddie Haskell save the day?
ReplyDeletepatdupuy(at)yahoodotcom
This looks delicious!!
ReplyDeleteI'm always changing recipes a bit. This sounds pretty easy to throw together. I will be trying this. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI also try to make a recipe exactly as written for the first time...then my tastebuds take over for subsequent makings. This sounds good as is - maybe more garlic for us.
ReplyDeleteI almost always use the exact recipe the first time I make something, unless I know I don't like one of the ingredients. Then I'll switch it out for something I like & know will work just as well.
ReplyDeleteturtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the recipe. Love the covers. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteim2early4u(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
I usually stick to the recipe. Thank you for the recipe and the chance to own your awesome book.
ReplyDeleteThe recipe is enticing. I always vary the recipe since it can be changed and improved. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful book which I would enjoy. The recipe is great for summer and easy enough. I follow recipes but then when I want to improvise I do and it makes it delish. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI usually make a recipe as it's written the first time. If there are things in the recipe that I'm not fond of, I'll substitute something else. This recipe sounds very tasty and easy, I'm going to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteDianne diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
I tried to find the new book to pre-order and could not find it, but I havent given up. You should check out the price of Bran New Death in paperback though. Just under $900. Wow! No need to enter me since I read and loved Leave it to Cleaver
ReplyDeleteLove your books! This one looks so good and I love the cover! Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!
ReplyDeletefaithdcreech at gmail dot com
I usually do recipes as they're written the first time unless I don't have something or don't want to add something (I'll add onion powder for chopped onions). But since I usually bake not cook, I generally follow them to a t. Kkcochran (at) hotmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteIf I think a rec. can be better for my taste, I will change it. nani_geplcs(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteFirst time around, I try to stick to the recipe. If I like how it turns out, I'll stick to it. If it needs a little tweaking, I'll go off script(recipe), lol. nschwenkner (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good recipe.Will share it with my family of foodies.I would love the book also.Candykennedy45@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious! I have got to make it for dinner! Veronica, vboudreau57@gmail.com .
ReplyDeleteLooks good. So do the books. I like the blue cover. Hungry now, gotta go eat. Catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeletePlease enter me!
ReplyDeleteclarksrfun at gmail dot com
Oh that sounds delicious! The perfect accompaniment to more of Jaymie’s adventures :). Rbehling1916 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteLove the recipe and would love the book! legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI had to delete and re post because I forgot to include my email address.duh!
ReplyDeleteI usually make it pretty close to the way it's written unless it has an ingredient someone can't eat. After that first time it's Katy bar the door because I start tweaking this and tweaking that until I get just the way I like it! This recipe looks delicious. I would love to win your book. I love adding authors to my reading list.
laurie.anismom2@gmail.com
What a great opportunity. I have Leave it to Cleaver next on my pile to read. So excited. Fragilebutterfly@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteRecipe looks good and so does the book. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletefaithdcreech at gmail dot com
Thank you all so, SO much for commenting! I read each and every one, and appreciate your outlook! I have now chosen a winner and will be emailing to confirm.
ReplyDeleteI always follow the recipes as written. I never think to change them up a little.
ReplyDelete