
In
A TOUGH NUT TO KILL, the one thing you wouldn’t call Miss Amelia of The Nut
House in Riverville, Texas, is straitlaced.
She may be seventy-seven but you’d better not call her “Dearie” or
“Sweetie” or “Honey” either, unless you want that special pecan pie of hers to
be served upside down in the box.
The
Nut House is where a lot of the pecans grown on the Blanchard family ranch are
turned into Sassie Tassies, and fried pies, and spiced pecans, and on and
on—anything Miss Amelia can come up with, all very good according to the
citizens of Riverville.
The
thing with Miss Amelia and her granddaughter, Lindy Blanchard, is that when they
get mixed up in murder, especially when one of their own family is accused of the
killing, high dudgeon comes pouring out, and trickery, and investigative skills
enough to rival Sherlock Holmes.
The
only trouble with solving crimes, Miss Amelia finds, is that her time in the
kitchen is cut way back. The Nut House
could suffer. She figures she’s got to
come up with something fast and wonderful to keep her customers happy while
she’s out visiting suspicious new friends and calling on a few old buddies like
the ‘girls’,’ a set of twins in their eighties who spend most of their time in
the saddle, out shooting rattlers on their spread. The ‘Girls’ argue like two squirrels in a
sack, but have a couple of solid ideas about human rattlers they’d like to take
aim at.
Since
Lindy Blanchard, like her meemaw, is creative and driven, the two of them find a
way to intrigue and appeal to customers while still hot on the trail of a
murdering wretch. What they come up with
is adding a dash of Garrison Brothers Texas Bourbon to some real easy-to-make,
do-ahead recipes, and then advertise them as all ‘Pure Texas.’
Nobody’s
about to complain. That would be like
turning your back on the Texas flag.
What
Miss Amelia will tell you though, if you’re a teetotaler, is to leave out the
bourbon in her recipe. Last thing she
wants is your lost soul on her conscience. But, in fairness, she did add that if you’re
having a bad day, maybe you just found a dead body or were out chasing a
killer—feel free to go ahead and leave out the rest of the ingredients and just
drink the whiskey.
Here’s
her recipe for easy-to-make Texas Outhouse Moons.
TEXAS OUTHOUSE MOONS
1 cup soft butter or margarine
1 cup sifted confectioners sugar
2 cups flour
3 tbsp. bourbon
2 cups finely chopped pecans
More confectioners sugar for rolling cookies
Preheat oven to 350
Cream butter and confectioners sugar together until smooth.
Add flour, bourbon, and pecans.
Mix well.
Shape into 2 inch quarter-moon crescents and place on a
cookie sheet.
Bake 10-15 minutes.
Keep a close eye on these.
They should be set, but not too brown.
When cool, roll in extra confectioners sugar and get the
heck out of the kitchen.
Elizabeth Lee (aka
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli) lives in the north woods, back with the deer and the
turkeys and the bear. She has published
prize-winning essays and short stories but loves writing mystery novels. Her first was Gift of Evil, from Bantam, then
Dead Dancing Women, Dead Floating Lovers, Dead Sleeping Shaman, Dead Dogs and
Englishmen, and Dead Little Dolly from Midnight Ink. A Tough Nut to Kill is the first in The Nut
House series from Berkley Publishing, part of the larger series: Soup to Nuts.
Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the drawing for a copy of
A TOUGH NUT TO KILL!
I must admit, I'm allergic to nuts. And yet, this series appeals to me. Probably because of all the times when I tell someone I'm allergic to nuts and they ask how I can possibly live with myself in that case.
ReplyDeleteAnd they're right.
carstairs38@hotmail.com
Sounds delicious! Pecans have always been my favorite nut!
ReplyDeleteI've got my copy sitting on my read-these-soon pile!
ReplyDeleteGood luck everyone
Elizabeth, these moons sound yummy. Looking forward to reading A Tough Nut To Kill!
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe, I'll have to put it on my must try list.
ReplyDeleteThese sound excellent. I love pecans, although I'm the only one in my family who does. I'll have to wait to try this recipe until I'm going someplace where I can share them. The series sounds excellent too.
ReplyDeleteThese sound yummy!! And I can't wait to read this book!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, what a fun recipe, and what a fun post about Amelia. Love it. I'm sure this series will have plenty of nut-loving fans!
ReplyDeleteBest, Avery / Daryl
kim j
ReplyDeletethe recipe looks great and the series looks lik a fantastic read!
kjohnson952@yahoo.com
Fun premise! I'm looking forward to getting addicted to yet another cozy series. I may have to retire early so that I can read all of these books!
ReplyDeleteLove trying out new cozy series, even though it keeps increasing my TBR list! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWelcome to our Kitchen, Elizabeth. "When in doubt, throw in whiskey" -- great philosophy and recipe, and I love your Miss Amelia. Warm congrats on the launch of your new series. Whether we eat nuts or not, I think *everyone* can relate to living in a nut house!
ReplyDelete~ Cleo
I sure can relate, Cleo, though I usually say it's a zoo around here.
DeleteI love pecans! This book sounds awesome and so does the recipe! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe I definitely have to try this
ReplyDeleteThis series sounds like soooo much fun! As a native Texan who grew up shelling pecans for Momma's pecan pies, I know I'll enjoy reading A TOUGH NUT TO KILL.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great series. Looking forward to it and more recipes!
ReplyDeleteI always love reading a new series. Pecans were one of the first nuts I ever tasted as a kid. My Grandmother made a pumpkin pecan pie at Christmas. Wonderful
ReplyDeleteI think I'll leave the whiskey in! Excited to read this! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like another great series.....
ReplyDeleteSounds like a winner just the way they are!
ReplyDeleteNut House Mysteries - are you writing about my family? Can't wait to read the first in this series, and try out the Outhouse recipe.
ReplyDeletekpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
You had me at Nut House mystery.... and then the Outhouse recipe, LOL!
ReplyDeleteemmasmom AT wi DOT rr DOT com
I'm always ready for another new series especially if it's a foodie!
ReplyDeleteCheli
cyderryATyahooDOTcom
Sounds yummy! And a new series "to boot" (sly Texas reference). Sign me up!
ReplyDeleteAnything with pecans and I'm there! Funny post, and sounds like a fun series. I love these 'girls' with character. Used to say they reminded me of my mother, but as I get older, someone commented that it could be me now - so I don't say that so much any more.
ReplyDeleteAnother series for my TBR list!
This sounds like a really good book. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI have this on my wish list
ReplyDeleteWould love to win this, I love new series and reading authors I haven't met yet
ReplyDeleteThis recipe sounds so yummy! I can't wait to try it! Thank you for the chance to win!!
ReplyDeleteTiming is everything, and you ladies never fail. I have my culinary book club, Dishing Up Murder, this week. I have been stressing over what to bring, as our guest is an author I really respect: Nancy Pickard. Reading this gave me the inspiration to make some candied pecans to set out for munching during discussions. (I think I am making a chicken dish for dinner). And a Soup to Nuts series? Sounds like it was made for this book club. I'll definitely have to try it and recommend to the group.
ReplyDeleteI really should read this book. Don't they say, "nuts for the nutty"? That'd be me.
ReplyDeleteThe Nut House sounds like a delicious place to visit. I also like that the characters are senior citizens - what an intriguing series this appears to be. Looking forward to reading the first installment.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new book. I can't wait to read it. The recipe of the moons you posted sounds really yummy. I can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a cook, but I do love pecans and cooking mysteries! Looking forward to the new series.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a delightful new series that I would love to explore.
ReplyDeleteI would love to sit down with those "ladies" and share a drink. they sound like a marvelous hoot!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite cozy themes are those based in agriculture as I used to own a ranch. I so look forward to this fun new series !
ReplyDeleteWhat fun Elizabeth! congrats on the nut house mysteries...as a psychologist, have to love this series:)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of the cookies before, but they sound good.
ReplyDeleteThe recipe sounds yummy and the book sounds like a good one. Can't wait to try both.
ReplyDeleteSound like a yummy and a fun read.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great cozy mystery.
ReplyDeletexzjh04@ gmail.com
Definitely going to be adding Tough Nut to Kill to my TBR list and will try the Texas Outhouse Moons. I plan on enjoying both very soon! Thanks for the insight on.this new series. Thank you for post, recipe and giveaway chance.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds wonderful and the recipe sounds delicious! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI just started a Crafternoon Book club and I think this book would be great for the next one that I get to pick! Maybe we can make the reciepies in the back instead of crafting!
ReplyDeleteOh my, I love cozies, especially those with, ahem, "older" characters as much as I love pecans (and new pecan recipes). So this series is certainly speaking to me.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this series before, but they sound delightful Will check it out. Love finding new recipes to try, too. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteLove nuts of all kind. Those you eat and those you read about. This sounds like a great start to a new series!! Would love to win this book to read and review!! Ronnaloes@msn.com
ReplyDeleteDelete please--Ronna
DeleteLove nuts in all their forms. Those you can eat and those you read about. Would love to win this book to read and review!! Ronnalord@msn.com
ReplyDeleteAs a Texan I look forward to reading the first in this series. (I hope it becomes a series) I really like the characters even though I haven't read this yet. Looking forward to the twins, they sound like a hoot. Plus I love pecans and look forward to cooking with them when they are fresh and in season.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited - a new author to read and a new book series. Love the titles of the book and the series. I sometimes think I live in a nuthouse. Looking forward to recipes with pecans, one of my favorite nuts. Good luck with this series. Hope I win !!!
ReplyDeletethank you for the recipe!! I will pass it along!!
ReplyDeletealso thank you for the giveaway!!!
congrats on the book!!
cyn209 at juno dot com
Would love to win
ReplyDeleteI'd be "nuts" not to try and win this book!
ReplyDelete18LMMS@gmail.com
This sounds like a great read and those cookies sound divine :)
ReplyDeleteMeemaw Amelia sounds like a wonderful character as do the twins; aka "The Girls", in their eighties hunting rattlers.The southern setting and the pecans has this Georgia girl adding this one to her reading list. Thanks for the wonderful recipe and a fun giveaway. Sounds like a wonderful new series!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fun series. I'll be adding it to my very long list of books to pick up!
ReplyDeleteThe moons sound yummy, I think I may give those a try. I love the cover, I have this on my tbr list, it sounds interesting. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletemomzillasteel@gmail.com
My kind of book, food and murder. :P
ReplyDeleteI also can not turn down a book with a Meemaw in it. I have one of my own that I love dearly.
This series sounds fun. I'll have to try this recipe
ReplyDeletekaye.killgore@comcast.net
I love pecans---and that recipe sounds so easy. I think I'll try it.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Hold the bourbon for me...I'm allergic to alcohol. But otherwise, they sound delish.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog posting and what a unique subject for a cozy. I cannot wait to order this book and get it read, but if I have " one pecan of good luck", :) maybe I will win it. Probably not, but I loved the write up and the recipe and I am sure that this series is going to be a big hit for you , Elizabeth. One of my all time favorite nuts is pecans and I make a lot of Pecan Tassies as well as full size pecan pies, but not with the cream chees in the crust like the Tassies have. After being a food columnist for many years, all books with food in the story line is right up my alley or should I say Galley style kitchen. :) Thank you for the great information and the nice cookie recipe.
ReplyDeleteCynthia
ceblain(AT)tmlponline(DOT)net
I love pecans in just about anything and cannot wait to try this recipe! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteliongoddess @ gmail . com
love nuts; love mysteries; can't wait to read it
ReplyDeleteI'll have to have the collections librarian at work order your book. The recipe looks good too.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great new series...I like the idea of an older main character. I will be adding to my TBR list!
ReplyDelete