Pesky Food Restrictions

Brave Erika Chase took on guest blogging on New Year's Day.  We're thrilled to have her.  Her new series about a book club promises to be another new favorite!

It's the first meeting of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society and an intruder is later found dead in his car. When the owner of the mansion which is home to the book club meetings, Molly Mathews, becomes the prime suspect, Lizzie Turner, a reading specialist with the Ashton Corners, AL school board, and fellow book club members turn their talents to sleuthing.
 
Who knew the new police chief would be non other than Lizzie's old unrequited high school flame, Mark Dreyfus? Why is she finding chapters from an anonymous manuscript in her mailbox? And will cheese straws have to be served at every meeting from now on?
Lizzie is unrelenting in tracking down the killer, even to the point of putting herself in danger -- from the murderer and the oh-so-alluring police chief.


And now Erika~

Sometimes having to deal with food restrictions can be a real pain. No wheat. No dairy.
No sugar.  Like I said, it can be tough sometimes to find the right combinations. Other times, not.
That’s when it all comes together in a delicious recipe like this one, that tempts me to eat way too much.
I chose to use spelt flour, but kamut may work well also. And for the fruit juice, I used orange although
pineapple also tastes great. Maybe I’ll try apple juice next time.

Although Christmas is over, the holiday season continues so here’s a very tasty, easy-to-make
recipe for fruit cake, that even those who can eat whatever they like, will like!

FRUIT CAKE

2 c. spelt flour
½ c soft butter
2 eggs
1 c. grated raw carrot
2 tsp. baking powder

½ c. each: raisins
                sultanas
                chopped dates
                chopped figs
                chopped prunes

½ tsp. each:  cinnamon
                    cloves
                    all-spice
                    cardamon

¼ c. rum
½ c. juice

Cream butter. Add eggs, then flour and carrots. Mix well.
Add remaining ingredients. Mix well and turn into a loaf pan.
Bake at 325 F. for 1½ hours.
Leave in pan until cake is cooled completely.

(Baker’s note – if you, like I, forget to follow the recipe and add an extra ¼ c. rum, it still
tastes great…although eating and driving may not mix!)


Erika writes the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries. The first, A Killer Read, will be published in April, 2012. Visit Erika at www.erikachase.com or on Facebook and Twitter!

Shh, don't tell Erika, but I found a sneak preview of A Killer Read!