Since Edith Maxwell (also known as Tace Baker) has a new book out this month, I am happy to turn over my blog slot to her. If the new book is anywhere near as good as the last ones, you're going to want to read Bluffing is Murder! Plus you get a delicious and unusual recipe.
I, wearing my Tace Baker author hat, am delighted to be a guest on one of my favorite web sites again!
In Bluffing is Murder, Lauren’s boyfriend Zac is temporarily taking
care of his twelve-year old Haitian niece. He invites Lauren over for dinner
one night and makes the following recipe, which he learned from his grandmother
in Haiti. But after Zac and Marie-Fleur head to Port-au-Prince for the summer and
Lauren discovers the body of a local man whom she’d argued with earlier that
day, her peaceful summer becomes a lot more complicated.
Boulett ak Espageti (Zac’s Haitian Meatballs
and Spaghetti)
Ingredients:
Meatballs
1/2 onion, minced
1/2 green bell pepper, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh thyme, chopped
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 T salt
1 T ground black pepper
1/2 cup flour
2 T olive oil
1 large can tomato sauce
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 habanero pepper, minced very small after discarding
seeds and white membrane (use fork and sharp knife to avoid touching with your
fingertips). Adjust more or less depending on your tolerance for capsaicin (the
heat in peppers).
1/2 bouillon cube or 1/2 tsp concentrated bouillon
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Careful with the habanero! |
1 lb spaghetti
Directions:
Meatballs: Saute onions and green pepper in 2 T oil until
onions are clear. Add garlic and fresh herbs and saute another minute. Don’t
let the garlic brown. Remove from heat.
In a separate bowl, combine ground beef, salt, pepper,
and vegetable mixture and squish together. Form meatballs and roll in flour.
Heat 2 T oil over medium heat until hot, then saute meatballs, turning gently
until brown all over and cooked. Remove from heat.
Sauce: In a medium sized sauce pan, saute onions in 2 T
oil until soft. Add tomato sauce, habanero pepper, bouillon, and cilantro, and
salt to taste. Heat until warm. Add meatballs and more fresh herbs if you’d
like, and to cook together for 5-6 minutes or until warm.
Boil spaghetti until al dente, drain, toss with oil, and
serve meatballs and sauce over it. Serve with optional bottle of habanero sauce
on the side.
Serves four or more.
About Edith:
Edith Maxwell writes the Lauren Rousseau mysteries under
the pseudonym Tace Baker, in which
Quaker linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau solves small-town murders (Barking
Rain Press). The second book in the series, Bluffing
is Murder, was released in November,
2014. Edith holds a doctorate in linguistics and is a long-time member of
Amesbury Friends Meeting.
‘Til
Dirt Do Us Part is the latest in Maxwell's Local Foods Mysteries
series (Kensington Publishing, 2014). Her new Country Store Mysteries, written
as Maddie Day (also from Kensington), will debut with Flipped for Murder in fall, 2015.
Maxwell’s Carriagetown Mysteries series features Quaker midwife
Rose Carroll solving mysteries in 1888 with John Greenleaf Whittier’s help, as
portrayed in “A Questionable Death.” The series is in search of a publisher.
Maxwell’s most recent short story of murderous revenge,
“Breaking the Silence,” appeared in Best
New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold (Level Best Books), also
featuring characters from the Carriagetown Mysteries.
A former tech writer and doula, Maxwell lives in an antique
house north of Boston with her beau and three cats. She blogs every weekday
with the other Wicked Cozy Authors (wickedcozyauthors.com), and you can find
her at www.edithmaxwell.com, @edithmaxwell,
on Pinterest, and at www.facebook.com/EdithMaxwellAuthor.
About Bluffing is Murder:
Summer promises to be anything but easy for
Quaker linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau in Bluffing is
Murder. Still reeling from an attack by her student’s murderer, Lauren
decides to brush up on her karate and finds herself drawn to handsome sensei Dan
Talbot. During a run near the sea bluffs, she discovers the corpse of her
insurance agent, Charles Heard, who is also a Trustee for one of the oldest
land trusts in the country. Earlier that day, Lauren had a public argument with
Heard over her policy—and is now a suspect in the case.
Determined to clear her name, Lauren sets out to
discover the real story behind the mismanaged land trust, the dead man’s
volatile sister—and a possible link to her own father’s mysterious death more
than a decade ago. But a near miss with a car, snippets of strange
conversations in French and Farsi, slashed tires, and finding yet another
attack victim on the beach make it clear that Lauren is also a target—and the
killer is closing in. Can Lauren discover the killer before she becomes
the next victim?
Welcome Edith! I love spaghetti and meatballs--and this looks like a delicious twist! And the new book sounds so intriguing...I don't know how you keep up with yourself!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure either, Lucy! Thanks.
DeleteEdith/Tace - Those Haitian meatballs look delicious. With that bit of habanero in the mix, they must have a wonderful kick. Marc and I can't wait to try the recipe. Thanks for sharing it with us today and warmest congrats on BLUFFING IS MURDER - a terrific setting and plot for your Lauren.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend,
~ Cleo
Thanks so much, Cleo! They are quite yummy, and a good cold weather meal.
DeleteWelcome, Edith! What a great post - there are lots of Haitian people in our city. We love their warmth and kindness. Now we're going to love their meatballs too.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
MJ/VA
Cool, Mary Jane!
DeleteIt's always a pleasure to see you here, Edith! I don't know how you manage it all. Your recipe sounds fantastic! Now you've got me in the mood for spaghetti and meatballs!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Krista!
DeleteI can almosst taste them now, and my mouth is watering! Love your books too :-)
ReplyDeleteThey are good, Gram. So pleased you like my stories!
DeleteI can't wait to try this. They look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen!
DeleteEdith, I love your books!
ReplyDelete