Saturday, December 31, 2011

A warm welcome to Melissa Bourbon, who was kind enough to join us today on very short notice!  Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas.  She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.

She is the marketing director at Entangled Publishing, is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox and two romantic suspense novels to be released in 2012.

And now, Misa ~

I wanted to be a chef, once upon a time.  My dad said, “Go to college for two years, and then we’ll talk about the culinary institute.”  So I did.  And when two years were up, I went to my dad and he said, “You’re half way there, why don’t you just finish.”

So I did.  And I’m so glad because I think living a writing life is a lot more condusive to having a family and maintaining my sanity than the life of a chef would have been.  Plus I can still fit in my clothes, which is a good thing and might not have been the case had I’d gone into culinary arts since I also greatly enjoy baking.

But the perk of not cooking for a living is that I get to cook now and thoroughly enjoy it.  One of my new all time favorites, ever since I was invited to attend The California Strawberry Commission’s fabulous blogger event in Dallas last summer.

One of the things on their menu was Mahi Mahi tacos (straight from the California strawberry cookbook).

Can I just say... these tacos are an absolute favorite for me now.  Ever since that night in Dallas, I’m in love with Mahi Mahi tacos.

Why?

Three reasons.

    •    The Fish.
    •    The Chipotle Avocado Sour Cream.
    •    The Strawberry Salsa.

First, the fish.  It’s seasoned with cumin, coriander, salt and pepper. Chili, if you want.  Then you grill it.  Muy facil.

Next, Chipotle Avocado Sour Cream.  This just entails our cream, chopped up avocado, and a teaspoon of chipotle chili in adobo sauce (comes in a can in the International/Mexican food section of your market).  Mash it all together and there you have it.  Delicioso.

The Strawberry salsa is made up of chopped red onion, strawberries, mango, papaya (I use frozen mango and papaya), and cilantro. It's a sweet salsa, and my absolute favorite thing.  Extra cilantro on my portion.

Serve on soft corn tortillas and ENJOY!  I implore you, try this dish.  Everyone who ever has it absolutely loves it!  When I need inspiration for my writing, I don’t turn to chips or cookies or cereal (okay, well, sometimes I do).  I make Mahi Mahi tacos with strawberry salsa, and oh my gosh, I’m sure my books are better because of it.




Don't miss Melissa's latest book, A Fitting End

Former Manhattan fashion designer Harlow Jane Cassidy has a gift for creating beautiful dresses.  But when Harlow becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, she’ll more than her sewing skills to unravel the mystery…

Business is booming at Harlow’s custom dressmaking boutique, Buttons & Bows, even with the presence of her great-grandmother’s ghost hanging around the shop.  But thanks to the fast approaching Margaret Moffette Lea Pageant and Ball, Harlow has her work cut out for her when Mrs. Zinnia James hires her to make her granddaughter’s pageant gown.

With the debutant ball getting the whole town of Bliss, Texas into a tizzy, Harlow knows her dress has to be perfect.  But when a local golf pro is found stabbed to death with dressmaking shears, the new deputy thinks Harlow and Mrs. James conspired to commit the crime.  Now Harlow has to finish the dress on time and clear her name before the next outfit she designs is a prison jumpsuit…





Learn more about Melissa at her website.

11 comments:

  1. Great recipe. I never had mahi mahi, what does it taste like?

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  2. I can wait to try this! Strawberry salsa?!?! Yum!

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  3. Dru, Mahi Mahi is a white fish that's more dense than, say, tilapia or sole. It's hearty and holds together really well on the grill You can actually cube the fish prior to cooking, season, and cook in a frying pan to get the savory flavor of the grill on all the little pieces.

    It's SO good!!!

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  4. Well, Miss Kim, we just may have to make this at our next writing retreat!!!

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  5. Mahi Mahi tacos. Delish!!!! Lovely for you to join us, Misa. And love the recipe. I'm sure it will make my writing better, too.

    ~Avery

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  6. Misa, it's hard to imagine strawberry salsa, with avocado and fish! But I bet it's wonderful. I'll have to try it!

    Thanks so much for joining us today!

    Krista

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  7. Mmmmm, delicioso! Thanks M, and Happy New Year to all!

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  8. I'm trying to eat more fish this next year, so this will be a keeper! Thanks, Misa!

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  9. I think this may be the recipe that makes me breakdown and try fish tacos. I have been seeing recipes for fish tacos all over but I just couldn't understand the attraction. I like fish and I like tacos but I couldn't see them together. I like the idea of the strawberries with the fish so I might try this one. The book looks interesting,too. I will add it to my to be read list at good reads.

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  10. fanficfan44, I'm with you. Fish and tacos were never on my radar, and still aren't in most cases, but it is absolutely the strawberry and red onion and cilantro salsa that make these SO delicious. It has become a standard GO TO recipe for me.

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