Friday, July 26, 2024

Mrs. Earhart's Biscuits @MaddieDayAuthor #birthday #giveaway

MADDIE DAY here, celebrating another sleuth's birthday!

Two weeks ago I brought you homemade strawberry ice cream, which my grandmother Dorothy enjoyed as part of her eighteenth birthday celebration dinner on July 4, 1918. In my latest historical mystery, an alternate version of Dot is a lady PI in 1926 Boston, working with Amelia Earhart to solve a string of attacks on young immigrant women.

I loved discovering that Amelia's birthday was also in July. Her fictionalized sleuthing adventures in A Case for the Ladies came out of my imagination, but she really did live in Boston in 1926. She was a social worker and teacher at a settlement house, and she also coached the Chinese girls' basketball team, flying only on weekends.

I'm celebrating both sleuth's birthdays this month, here and elsewhere, so I went looking for Amelia's favorite food. I lucked out by finding a recipe in the March 1937 issue of Women's Home Companion Magazine and an interview with Amelia's mother.

(I took a photo of the page, so the quality isn't stellar.) I suppose it was an ad for Royal Baking Powder, but who doesn't love a traditional fluffy biscuit? I thought I'd leave the fried chicken for another time (or another chef), since I'm not a fan of deep frying - especially not in July.

In honor of the famous aviator's birthday - the year of which she never wanted to get specific about, even when she was under thirty - I bring you her mother's biscuits.

Mrs. Earhart's Biscuits

Note: Being me, I substituted whole wheat flour for half of the flour amount, because I like that nutty flavor. And since I don't believe in shortening, I used butter, real butter, and I added an egg. Also being me, I adapted the directions to make them more clear.

Ingredients

(My photo of the ingredients vanished - to where is a mystery!)

2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder (Royal was the brand back then)

½ teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons butter

1 egg

¾ cup milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 475 degrees F

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; add butter and cut in thoroughly with fork or pastry cutter.

Stir in the egg with a fork, then add milk and mix minimally to make a soft dough. Turn out on floured board and knead lightly until outside looks smooth.

Roll out ½ inch thick.

Fold in thirds and roll again three more times to increase flakiness.

Cut with biscuit cutter and place on baking sheet.

Bake about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Remove to a rack to cool.

Enjoy a biscuit with your fried chicken or with butter and jam!

Readers: How do you like your biscuits? I'll send one of you an ebook of A Case for the Ladies!

🎂🛬🐔

Murder at the Rusty Anchor is out and available wherever books are sold!

My most recent releases are A Case for the Ladies.

And Deep Fried Death, #12 in the Country Store Mysteries.

And Murder Uncorked, Cece Barton Mystery #1, which released in late October.

Check out all my writing:

We hope you'll visit Maddie and her Agatha Award-winning alter ego Edith Maxwell on our web site, sign up for our monthly newsletter, visit us on social media, and check our all our books and short stories.

Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell) is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in Linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-winning and bestselling author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and sweet cat Martin north of Boston, where she’s currently working on her next mystery when she isn’t cooking up something delectable in the kitchen.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Mediterranean Pasta Salad # Recipe #giveaway @VMBURNS

VMBURNS: Sometimes, I get tired of eating the same side dishes and I look for something different. It's been really hot and for some reason, this Mediterranean salad spoke to me. I suspect it was the light lemony vinaigrette. I adapted a recipe, but can't remember where I found it. I do know that the original recipe included tomatoes and olives. I included them in the ingredients. However, I don't like them, so you will not see them in the photo.

INGREDIENTS

(I used farfalle)

1 English cucumber, diced
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (Optional)
2/3 cup sliced kalamata olives
4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
half of a medium red onion, peeled and thinly sliced

Lemon Herb VINAIGRETTE Dressing

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons dried oregano, minced
1 teaspoon honey (or your desired sweetener)
2 small garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS

Follow the instructions on the box to cook the pasta. Then, drain, and rinse under cold water to stop the pasta from cooking. Then, transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Dice your vegetables while the pasta is cooking.
Add all of the ingredients to the mixing bowl with the pasta.
Mix the Lemon-herb vinaigrette. Drizzle the dressing over the bowl and mix until all of the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.

READERS: I used farfalle pasta. What's your favorite pasta? Let me know in the comments for your chance to win a copy of A CUP OF FLOUR, A PINCH OF DEATH (US ONLY).

A CUP OF FLOUR, A PINCH OF DEATH

On the shores of Lake Michigan, influencer Maddy Montgomery has turned the bakery she inherited from her great aunt Octavia into a destination. There’s just one thing she won’t post: the body in the freezer . . .

Thanks to Maddy’s social media savvy, Baby Cakes Bakery is becoming a huge success—so much so that she’s attracted the attention of her former nemesis, the fiancé-stealing Brandy Denton. When Brandy blows into New Bison like an ill wind and disrupts a vlog Maddy’s filming, their argument goes viral. After Brandy’s body is found in the freezer at Baby Cakes, Maddy instantly goes from viral sensation to murder suspect.

As Maddy is still reeling from the murder, a stranger shows up in the bakery claiming to have been a friend of Octavia. He believes Maddy is in danger. When a second body washes up on the lake shore, it seems clear someone’s out to kill to keep a secret—and it may have to do with her great aunt.

Maddy rallies her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars; Sheriff April Johnson; and her veterinarian boyfriend Michael—not to mention her English mastiff Baby—to do some digging and root out whoever’s behind the killings . . .

BUY LINK

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Alfredo-Style White Beans with Garlic Chips #recipe by @LeslieKarst

If you’re craving a creamy, garlicky pasta but want to forgo the simple carbs of the pasta itself, or if you're simply in the mood for a divine dish made with white (cannellini) beans, this is for you. It’s ridiculously easy to prepare and makes for a sumptuous main dish, best served alongside a simple green salad and some crunchy French bread.

Alfredo-Style White Beans with Garlic Chips

(serves 4)

Ingredients

¼ cup butter

8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

salt

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

2 (15-oz.) cans cannellini (aka “great northern” or “white kidney”) beans, rinsed

¾ cup heavy cream

¾ cup (2 oz.) finely grated Parmesan cheese

white or black pepper

oregano sprigs (optional garnish--not pictured)

Directions

Put the butter and sliced garlic into a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the butter foams and the garlic turns golden-brown (about 2-3 minutes). Watch carefully, as the garlic can burn very quickly.

Remove pot from heat, then transfer the garlic with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Season lightly with salt.

Add the beans, cream, and ½ cup of the cheese (retaining ¼ cup for the garnish) to the butter in the pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce has thickened (about 5 minutes).

Stir in the chopped garlic continue to cook for 2 minutes. Season to taste with more salt (if necessary) and white or black pepper.

Serve garnished with the rest of the cheese, the garlic chips, and a few sprigs of oregano, if using. (See photo at top.)

🌿 🍋 🌱

Now available!

MOLTEN DEATH

Orchid Isle Mystery, book 1

Buy link here

“Karst’s first Orchid Isle novel is part murder mystery, part vividly evocative, colorful sketch of Hawaii and its history, geography, tradition, culture, food, language, and people. Armchair travelers and mystery aficionados alike will find it entertaining.”

Booklist

This first book in my brand-new Orchid Isle mystery series features retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen who, on a trip to the Big Island of Hawai‘i, swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions when a hike to an active lava flow turns deadly.

Praise for MOLTEN DEATH:

“a compelling read that will enlighten, engage, and entertain, leaving readers longing for their next trip to the Orchid Isle.”

--New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay

“a terrific debut to a series that will go on my must read list!”

--USA Today bestselling author Deborah Crombie

A SENSE FOR MURDER

2024 Lefty Award Nominee

for Best Humorous Mystery!

This newest Sally Solari mystery

is available for purchase here !

Praise for A SENSE FOR MURDER:

“[Sally is] sassy, irresistible company... Culinary cozy fans will be in heaven.”

--Publishers Weekly

“An enjoyable read for mystery mavens and foodies alike.”

--Kirkus Reviews

Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops,

the Law, and Cooking for RBG

is the 2024 Silver Medal Winner for both the

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award

and the IPPY Award!

Buy link here

Praise for Justice is Served:

"a suspenseful, exhilarating memoir; Karst relays her determination to serve the 'perfect' meal to RBG alongside an uplifting, enlightening portrayal of one of the most admired justices in the history of the Supreme Court."

-Foreword Reviews (starred review)

"[This] book is a romp from cover to cover—and, just like a great meal, left me ready for more."

-Karen Shimizu, executive editor, Food & Wine-

All of the Sally Solari Mysteries (as well as my other books) are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

How to Make Cauliflower Steaks by @CleoCoyle #vegetarian #vegan #lowcalorie

From Cleo Coyle: These cauliflower steaks make a nice, light summer meal or snack. There are many ways to adapt this recipe to your own taste. Here is how I make mine...

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Cleo Coyle writes two
bestselling mystery
series with her husband.
To learn more, click here.

Caulflower Steaks
by Cleo Coyle

In the recipe below, you will see the spices I use to make my cauliflower steaks, but other options you might try include taco or fajita seasonings; Cajun seasonings; Italian seasonings. Or create your own mix of spices. The directions for cooking remain the same. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 or 2 Cauliflower heads

Olive oil (1 T. per steak + 1 T. for pan)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt or Kosher salt

Generous pinch ground white pepper

Lemon wedge (optional)

Directions:

(1) First set your oven to 375 degrees F. and allow it to preheat for at least 30 minutes. The high heat is important for caramelization and not all ovens reach the right temperature, even after they ping. 30 minutes of preheating should do the trick for most ovens.

(2) Cut the steaks: You will get 2 steaks out of a small to medium head, 3 out of a large head.

To cut, position the cauliflower stem-side up on the cutting surface. If the stem is overly long, trim it a bit. Cut the cauliflower in half first, and then cut thick "steaks" from each half as shown in my photos below. A few ends may fall off into florets and that’s fine. Enjoy them in a salad, eat them raw with a veggie dip, or throw them into the pan with your steaks.

(3) Warm olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet. (If you don’t have an oven-proof skillet, that’s okay, I’ll tell you what to do below.)

How much oil? I use 1 tablespoon of oil per steak plus 1 extra for the pan. You can get away with slightly less oil, but I prefer the extra oil for the best flavor and caramelization during roasting.

(4) Season the oil: After oil is warmed but not too hot, sprinkle on your spices. As shown above, I use garlic powder, coarse sea salt, and a generous pinch of white pepper. Stir lightly to mix the spices into the oil and then add the steaks.

(5) Briefly brown your steaks: Cook your steaks on one side for 2 minutes and then the other for 2 minutes. Flip gently to prevent breaking. Now place the entire pan in the oven. If you are not using an oven-proof pan, then use a wide spatula to carefully transfer the steaks to a foil-lined baking pan.

(6) Roast in your well-preheated 375 degree F. oven for about 20 minutes. You’re looking for a nice browning and a test of a floret to be cooked to al dente. Do not be afraid of the browning, this caramelization is where the flavor is, and it's delicious (trust me on this)! Serve with a lemon wedge, squeeze on the juice for a beautiful note of brightness.