Sunday, May 15, 2011

Kate Carlisle’s Weeknight Taco Casserole


Let me introduce one of my favorite all-time people...author Kate Carlisle.

Kate is the author of the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book restoration expert (and lover of all things edible) Brooklyn Wainwright. The fourth Bibliophile Mystery, Murder Under Cover, is a May 2011 release. Brooklyn’s best friend Robin returns to San Francisco from a trip to India with a new man – and an exceedingly rare copy of the Kama Sutra for Brooklyn to restore. When the new boyfriend is murdered in Robin’s bed, only Brooklyn and handsome British security expert Derek Stone stand between Robin and life in prison.


Take it away, Kate!


Every time I begin to plot the next Bibliophile Mystery, the first question I must answer is, “Which rare book will be at the center of this story?” That question is integral because the theme and the mystery itself springs from that rare book.

In MURDER UNDER COVER, the most recent installment, the book in question is the Kama Sutra.

Let me pause a moment while we all blush.

Ahem, yes. The Kama Sutra. I promise, though, that I haven’t crossed over into erotica. No love scenes are shown with blow-by-blow action, so to speak. MURDER UNDER COVER is still very much PG-rated.

With the Kama Sutra at the center of my latest book, I should share with Mystery Lovers Kitchen a recipe that has aphrodisiac qualities. Oysters, strawberries, pomegranates… but no. Instead, I’m going to share my recipe for Weeknight Taco Casserole because it’s easy, inexpensive, and delicious.

Come to think of it, it may have aphrodisiac qualities, after all. My man shows me a lot of love whenever I make this casserole! I hope you love it, too.

Weeknight Taco Casserole

1 lb hamburger

1 package taco seasoning

3 C cooked rice

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can diced green chilis

1 C shredded cheddar cheese

Brown the hamburger, drain, then add the seasoning, rice, tomatoes, and chilis. Mix well and heat until warm. Put in a casserole dish and top with cheddar cheese. Put the casserole dish in the oven at 350 until the cheese is melted. Or better yet, put it in the microwave and melt the cheese in a minute… just be sure you use a microwave safe casserole dish.

Serve with your favorite taco toppings. We like tomatoes, green onions, and avocadoes.


Have you ever tried food that was purported to be an aphrodisiac? Did you notice a difference? Or did you just giggle while gulping it down? What is the funniest/strangest thing that you’ve ever heard used as an aphrodisiac?

To read a free excerpt of MURDER UNDER COVER, go to: http://katecarlisle.com/murder-under-cover.php.

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Thanks, Kate, for a terrific recipe! Everybody, enjoy the day!

21 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this recipe..another quick and easy one to add to my collection.

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  2. Sounds wonderful. I'll leave out the hamburger and make it this week. Thanks!

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  3. Dru, I'm sensing a theme. People are liking the quick and easy recipes lately. Summer must be fast approaching!

    Sarita, I'm sure it will be fabulous as a vegetarian meal.

    ~Avery

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  4. Ooh hot stuff all round! Thanks for the entertaining post and this nifty recipe. Looking forward to the book and the taco casserole!

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  5. What a yummy recipe, Kate! I don't know much about aphrodisiac foods, but I find anything you eat with your hands has a sexy quality. Ethiopian food, for example ...

    Sarita - this would be a great place to use something like Boca crumbles, or TVP, or even frozen/thawed/crumbled tofu. Or beans (pinto, black, kidney). So many great options to make this vegie - I think I'll give it a whirl this week, too. :)

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  6. Sounds simple, but tasty and comforting, too. I love Wendy's idea of adding black beans. (Note that piggy that I am, I said adding, not substituting! LOL!)

    Your books sounds delicious, too!

    ~ Krista

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  7. I love this ste and the recipes, LOL gloria

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  8. Gosh, I popped over to see if you were going to tell us how many of the positions your protag tried. :-) Oh well.
    Avery, quick and easy should scare all good cooks. Like the new abbreviated texting language. Long and hard should be kept somewhere.
    JMHO Patg

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  9. Thanks so much, Kate! I love quick and easy recipes like this one and I can't wait to give it a try. Can't wait to read the new book, too. Great title!

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  10. This does sound good and I like the vegetarian ideas for when our daughter is with us for several weeks this summer. Only I think I will try it with brown rice and make it on the stove - here in Phoenix we try not to use the oven in the summer!

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  11. Hi, everyone! Sorry I wasn't here first thing. I'm on tour in North Carolina, and my hotel internet is iffy. You know how that goes. :)

    Avery, thank you so much for the warm welcome! I miss you on this tour. I even miss you more than the cheese plates you always bring.

    Dru, so glad the recipe looks appetizing to you! It really is delicious... and I'm all about easy.

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  12. Sarita, the taco casserole is fabulous with beans in place of the hamburger. I hope your family loves it as much as we do!

    Thank you, Mary Jane! I'm craving some home-cooked food, after being on the road so much to promote MURDER UNDER COVER. I hope you love the latest Bibliophile Mystery!

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  13. This looks like my favorite type of recipe--simple, fast, and tasty! Thanks so much for sharing it, Kate!

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  14. Wendy, interesting point about food eaten by hand being sexy. I'll go with you on Ethiopian food, but I can come up with all sorts of exceptions to that... hot dogs spring to mind. Although... now that I think about hot dogs... SNORT!!!! I'm cracking myself up here at the wifi hotspot. People are looking at me like I'm crazy.

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  15. LOL, Krista!!!! You're clearly a woman after my own heart. Anyone who has read the Bibliophile Mysteries will see how much I love food. Brooklyn Wainwright isn't me... but I definitely modeled that aspect of her character after me.

    Thanks for stopping by, Gloria! Hope you love MURDER UNDER COVER!

    Pat, LOL! I agree that "long and complicated" recipes should be kept somewhere... but preferably somewhere other than my kitchen. I admire good cooks, but I don't aspire to be one.

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  16. Thank you, Julie! I'm glad you like the title, MURDER UNDER COVER. With the Kama Sutra angle, you can imagine the title ideas that were flying around. Many of them made me blush. I promise, though, MURDER UNDER COVER is PG-rated.

    Cindy, Oh, I bet it would be great on the stove! Or you could make it in the microwave, maybe.

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  17. That's it for me for now. If anyone happens to be in Apex, North Carolina, come see me and the Lethal Ladies at 3 pm at the Halle Cultural Arts Center. Tomorrow, we'll be in Cary, NC. Check my Facebook events for specifics: www.facebook.com/katecarlislebooks

    I'll check back in after the signing this afternoon. I'll be the one slowly walking through town looking for another free wifi hotspot.

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  18. Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth/Riley! If you try the recipe, I hope you'll stop by my Facebook page and let me know what you thought! I think the only thing that would make it better would be a nice dollop of sour cream on top. Mmmmm....

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  19. Burgers, pizza, TACOS!!! You know, there *must* be a poll somewhere that nails these babies as America's faves. Thanks for joining us today in the Kitchen, Kate, and big congrats on the pub of MURDER UNDER COVER! :)

    ~ Cleo

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  20. Thank you so much, Cleo! I'm very excited about MURDER UNDER COVER. Did I mention (ahem) that it hit the New York Times extended list at #32? I'm beyond thrilled!

    I've had a great time visiting Mystery Lovers Kitchen today. Thank you for being such a gracious hostess, Avery, and thank you to everyone who stopped by!

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  21. Kate, Blogger wouldn't let me post here until recently, so I'm late to the party. Your recipe sounds delicious. We love anything Mexican or Tex-Mex, and this fills the bill!

    Can't wait to read your latest. Long live the Kama Sutra! ;)

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