Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Oscar Worthy Guacamole with Blue Cheese


This post is a bit eclectic. I think it might be because I’m in editing mode and my thoughts are not coming out fluidly. Bear with me.

CHEESE SHOP MYSTERIES:
Though I have nowhere near Sheila’s great NYT coup (2 weeks in a row and counting – congrats, Sheila) I did have good numbers for TO BRIE OR NOT TO BRIE overall, and my editor is thrilled. In the first week, the book was #10 on the Barnes and Noble Mystery Mass Market bestseller list, #31 on the BandN Overall Fiction Mass Market bestseller list, and #24 on the Bookscan Mystery Mass Market bestseller list. The second week, each of those numbers dropped by only 1. Whee. Thank you to everyone who purchased the book. Thank you to those who might have written a lovely review. If you're so inclined, good reviews are truly appreciated!

COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERIES:
Last week, I asked for help with a slogan for the new COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERIES that will come out in July. I was overwhelmed with the response. Again, thank you, everyone. You really came up with good ideas. I have combined a couple to make the final choice. Because there were so many entries, I decided to give away to goodie bags of swag. The winners: Chèli and Wendy!  The final slogan is below.

By the way, I’m writing the second in this series. [I just turned in the final edits for the first: FINAL SENTENCE.] In the second, INHERIT THE WIND, The Cookbook Nook is hosting a grilled cheese festival. Yum! While searching online, I found this fun grilled cheese jigsaw puzzle that you can put puzzles together digitally. Enjoy!

Link: http://www.jigidi.com/puzzle.php?id=O1N7W9SL


THE OSCARS (I told you this was eclectic...)

Did you watch? We did. We enjoyed so many aspects. I always like the singing and dancing. I love the tribute to those artists and contributors that have passed away in the last year. I wasn't a fan of the opening monologue. In fact, I didn't like the host at all. Shoot. Why can't we have Billy Crystal all the time?

We had a couple of friends over and had a pool where each person chose his/her winners. 20 categories. (We didn’t do all of the categories. Who knows which animated short deserved to win...really.)

When I invite friends over, I love to try new appetizer recipes. This time, I chose a guacamole from a cookbook. I found it in the Food and Wine Best of the Best 2012.  It’s inspired by a version of guacamole from this cookbook: Truly Mexican.


AVOCADO AND BLUE CHEESE GUACAMOLE
Ala Food  and Wine Best of the Best 2012
The best recipes from the 25 Best Cookbooks of the year
Inspired by a version from
Truly Mexican by Santibañez, Goode & Wiseman

Ingredients:
1 avocado, large
2 tablespoons chopped white onion
2 jalapeño chiles, diced fine
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Meyer lemon juice
3 ounces Point Reyes Blue cheese, crumbled

Directions:
Mash avocado.  Chop the onion and mince the chiles. Add to the avocado. Add the salt, the lemon juice, and half of the crumbled blue cheese.  [This is one of the richest blue cheeses I’ve ever tasted. Yum!] Whip together.

Set in a serving bowl. Top with more blue cheese.


*The recipe from Truly Mexican included ¼ cup chopped smoked almonds. They used lime juice instead of Meyer lemon juice. And they added cilantro. They used a total of 3 tablespoons of the cheese. I about doubled that.


And now, back to my new slogan…the envelope please:

Savor the Mystery

I hope future fans like it. It speaks to me.

* * * * * * *

Daryl Wood Gerber also writes as Avery Aames, 
author of the Agatha Award-winning,
nationally bestselling CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY SERIES 

The 1st in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series is coming July 2013!!
FINAL SENTENCE.
You can pre-order the book HERE.

The 4th in A Cheese Shop Mystery series is out
TO BRIE OR NOT TO BRIE
You can order the book HERE. 


You can learn more about me, Daryl by clicking this LINK. "Like" my page on Facebook and "follow" me on TwitterAnd if you haven't done so, sign up for the mailing list
 so you can learn about upcoming events, releases, and contests! Also, you probably know by now about my alter ego, Avery Aames. Chat with Avery on Facebook and Twitter.







9 comments:

  1. I never would have thought to combine avocado with blue cheese, though I love them both. Will have to try this!

    Love the new slogan Daryl/Avery!

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    1. And PS, we are very lucky in Key West to have a wonderful little independent cinema that always brings the shorts to the screen before the Oscars. Once you've seen them, you care very much:).

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  2. Thanks, Lucy. It's very much like a Cobb Salad on a chip :) And how wonderful to have the independent cinema! We have a couple in Los Angeles and we try to get to all the movies, but it's hard to see them all. My son goes to an all-day screening event of the nominated pictures, 24 hours worth, in New York. Talk about a marathon. :)

    Daryl / Avery

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  3. This makes me want to celebrate! I'll invent an occasion.

    Thanks, Daryl/Avery. And good luck with the editing.

    MJ

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  4. Avery/Daryl - your "Cobb Salad on a chip" is the perfect description for this--I can see a little crumbled bacon going into it, too, wonderful! Congrats to the winners of your own Oscar-esque contest last week, so many great entries, likewise the real Oscars. I was pulling for Argo and was very happy when it was announced as best picture of the year. Finally, congrats on your own success with To Brie or Not to Brie, certainly cause for celebration!

    ~ Cleo

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    Replies
    1. Everything goes with bacon!

      Thanks for the cheers on the sales. Definitely celebrating. But then, every day is a celebration. The sun comes up somewhere. :)

      Daryl

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  5. Love Savor the Mystery! That's a wonderful slogan.

    Somehow I can't imagine blue cheese with avocado. Silly of me, I'm sure. Oh, wait! I just have to try it!

    Congrats on the success of To Brie or Not to Brie. I'm delighted for you!

    ~Krista

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    Replies
    1. Krista, truly, I had the same thought and then remembered that I adore a Cobb salad. Yum.

      Thanks,

      Daryl

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