HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO

Hi, all. Just got back from Malice Domestic conference and the Festival of Mystery conference. I posted lots of pictures on my Facebook page.  What a blast we had. Meeting readers, sharing laughs with great friends.

Sisters in Crime Guppies (me) Kaye George, Janet Bolin, Rochelle Staab, Krista Davis & Leslie Budewitz

 I hope you'll check out the photos and leave comments. Enjoy!


And now...

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Okay, it's not the fifth of May today, it's the second, but I like Mexican food and I love to celebrate.  My mother did, too, so in honor of mother's day which is soon, too, I'm sharing my mother's favorite drink: a margarita. She served it with the caveat that you couldn't have more than one and a half. My mother was never a stickler when it came to drinking, but in this regard, she KNEW. This drink is POTENT!  So beware but enjoy. Olé!  By the way, Grandmére in the Cheese Shop Mysteries likes her occasional cocktail, and this is one I've mentioned in the books.

Margarita ala Joanie (my mom)
(1 drink)
1 jigger nice tequila (spoil yourself; at least go for Cuervo Gold)
1 jigger Rose's Lime Juice (found in the beverage or juice section of a grocery store)
2 jiggers Triple Sec

Mix together. Rim a glass with margarita salt. Set 3-4 cubes of ice in the glass. Pour in the margarita mixture. Enjoy!



In addition to margaritas, my mother loved food.  LOL

One of the foods she loved was shrimp. So, again, in her honor, I offer you a "ceviche" tostada (made with corn tortillas). Needless to say, this goes great with a margarita.

SHRIMP CEVICHE SALAD WITH CORN TORTILLAS 
AND FETA CHEESE

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound cooked medium shrimp (see below)

1 Roma tomato, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

½ cucumber, peeled, chopped

¼ red onion, chopped

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1 lime

8 corn tortillas

2 tablespoons oil

½ cup crumbled feta cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Pinch the tails off the shrimp. Cut in length half-wise. {Note: I find this easiest with kitchen scissors, starting at the fat end.} Chop the tomato, avocado, cucumber, onion. Put shrimp and vegetables into a bowl. Sprinkle with oregano and parsley and salt.  Cut lime in half and squeeze (as hard as you can) over the shrimp mixture. Let mixture stand.

Heat half of the oil in a skillet. One at a time, cook the corn tortillas, grilling to warm brown on each side. Remove and drain on paper towels as you cook the other.

Assemble the salads: 1-2 tortillas, ¼ of the shrimp mixture. Top with 2 tablespoons of feta cheese. Sprinkle with more parsley to decorate.

Now, one last "Mother's day" "cinch de Mayo" celebration.

Okay, it has nothing to do with either, but my mother would be very excited...



I'm pleased to announce that my alter ego Daryl Wood Gerber (who is actually the real me...if you've noticed on occasion) has a new book deal!  [Mariachis, strum those guitars!!]

 I've been keeping this close to my vest until it was official.   It's a three-book deal (so far). In July of 2013, the first of The Cookbook Nook Mysteries will debut.

This is a new cozy mystery series featuring Jenna Hart, an avid reader, admitted foodie, and owner of a cookbook store in picturesque coastal California. The first in the series is titled: BY HOOK OR BY COOKBOOK. The books will include recipes and lots of tidbits about cookbooks! Check out my updated website! DARYL WOOD GERBER

And, don't worry, Avery will still continue to put out Cheese Shop Mysteries. The next comes out February 2013. I'll be a busy girl next year. Not as busy as some, but busy for me!

So..what is your favorite cookbook?

* * * * *

You can learn more about Avery by clicking this link.

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You can learn more about Daryl by clicking this link.
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Say cheese!


Cookbook 'em, Dano!

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