Leave a comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of ASSAULT AND PEPPER!
From ASSAULT AND PEPPER -- first in the Seattle Spice Shop Mysteries, March 2015
“The ice bag slid off my foot and I wriggled it back in place. The loft door opened and Reed walked in, followed by his father, carrying a worn black medical bag. Behind him came Laurel and Tag, lugging a basket of familiar white take-out bags.“Am I throwing a party and didn’t know it?” I asked.
Bags were set down, kisses exchanged, inquiries made.
“My son said you needed help.” Ron Locke gestured toward my ankle. He had the same unruly black hair as his son.
Reed shrugged. “Can’t have you on the sick list. Not while there’s a killer on the loose.”
Five minutes later, I was pinned down good, acupuncture needles ringing my ankle. In the kitchen, Tag and Laurel unpacked her bags and opened wine. A tossed salad and penne rigate with shrimp, asparagus, and a sesame-chile sauce. Warm, herby aromas drifted through the loft.
Laurel took pity on me and brought me a salty, crusty Parmesan breadstick, one of my very favorite foods, and a glass of white wine.”
No caterer on call? No matter! At Ripe, Laurel makes this with penne rigate, the short, ridged tubes, but the thicker-ridged rigatoni or farfalle, better known as bow ties, also work well.
This is an easy salad to serve warm or at room temperature, and requires very little shopping. Pepper keeps a small jar of grated ginger in her fridge for emergency cravings. If you like a little more heat, use hot sesame chili oil.
Penne Rigate with Asparagus and Sesame-Chile Shrimp
¼ cup white or brown sesame seeds, toasted1 pound penne rigate
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut in ½-inch pieces (if asparagus isn’t available, substitute broccolini)
¼ cup peanut butter (chunky or fresh-ground)
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
¼ cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup hot water
1 pound medium shrimp, tail-off, cooked
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips (“julienne”)
4 green onions, thinly sliced and cut into 3-inch pieces
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro (divided use)
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread the sesame seeds on a baking sheet and toast about 10 minutes. Don’t overbake; they will continue to brown a bit as they cool.
Cook and drain the pasta. During the last minute of cooking time, add the asparagus. Drain in a colander and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking.
While the pasta is cooking, make the sauce. Combine the peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Add the hot water and stir—a fork or small whisk works best—until the sauce is smooth, breaking up any chunks.
Pour the pasta into a large bowl for serving. Add the shrimp, red bell pepper, green onions, and ¼ cup of the cilantro. Add the sauce and mix to combine all the ingredients. Top with the remaining ¼ cup cilantro and the toasted sesame seeds.
Leave a comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of ASSAULT AND PEPPER!
From the cover of ASSAULT AND PEPPER:
Pepper Reece, owner of the Seattle Spice Shop, thinks she can handle any kind of salty customer—until a murderer ends up in the mix…
After leaving a dicey marriage and losing a beloved job in a corporate crash, Pepper Reece has found a new zest for life running a busy spice and tea shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Her aromatic creations are the talk of the town, and everyone stops by for a cup of her refreshing spice tea, even other shopkeepers and Market regulars.
But when a panhandler named Doc shows up dead on her doorstep, a Seattle Spice Shop cup in his hand, the local gossip gets too hot for Pepper to handle—especially after the police arrest Tory Finch, one of Pepper’s staffers, for murder.
Tory seems to know why she’s a suspect, but she refuses to do anything to curry favor with the cops. Convinced her reticent employee is innocent, Pepper takes it on herself to sniff out some clues. Only, if she’s not careful, Pepper’s nosy ways might make her next on the killer’s list…
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!
ASSAULT AND PEPPER, March 3, 2015 (Berkley Prime Crime)
ISBN-13: 978-0425271780
7.99
Leslie Budewitz is the only author to win Agatha Awards for both fiction and nonfiction—the 2013 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, for Death al Dente (Berkley Prime Crime), first in the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, and the 2011 Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction, for Books, Crooks & Counselors: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law & Courtroom Procedure (Quill Driver Books). She lives in northwest Montana with her husband, a musician and doctor of natural medicine, and their cat Ruff, a cover model and avid bird-watcher.
Coming in July 2015: BUTTER OFF DEAD, third in the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries!
Connect with her on her website, on Facebook, or on Twitter .
Sounds yummy! I will definitely be making this! Thanks for the opportunity! angelhwk68@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThe dish looks so good! Thank you for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteAssault and Pepper sounds like a great cozy, and I have it on my TBR list.
Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLove the first one & looking forward to this one. The spices make me want a scratch & sniff page at the end of the book! Might not work on digital ones. The recipe sound great except for the shrimp. I've never cared for shrimp even though I live on the Gulf. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of cores, I left off email.
ReplyDeletetennisace50(@)yahoo(dot)com
Would love to win this as it's on my wish list. Ruth Nixon ruthenixon@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteThanks to you all -- keep 'em coming!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to win this every time I see an opportunity. suefoster109@netzero.net
ReplyDeleteExcellent recipe; and I would love to read the book! EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteYou had me at shrimp! Love a new series. sssusieq@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so yummy and the book sounds great.
ReplyDeleteMoonbay7399@gmail.com
Another delicious recipe (although I believe we'll substitute chicken for shrimp based on allergic child). So want to read this book. It's on my the wish list! servedogmom@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your new series.
ReplyDeleteflash29@sympatico.ca
Recipe looks delicious. Can't wait to read the book. Thanks for the giveaway. Kuzlin at aol.com
ReplyDeleteThis looks like such an entertaining read! Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeletesharonbabyme@yahoo.com
Looks like a good read! dm_richards@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThe food in this book sounds fantastic. I'm wanting to make the salted oatmeal cookies. Mmmmm llcejka at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteShrimp, asparagus and mystery, one if my favorite combos!
ReplyDeleteI love pasta and asparagus; thanks for the recipe, looks easy.
ReplyDeletejslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
This sounds so good. I am making it asap. grammyd01@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteBoth the recipe and the book sound wonderful. bevarcher AT me DOT com
ReplyDeleteOh to have friends who bring food when I'm sick or injured. Pepper is so fortunate. I'd love to win and am anxious to read the book. dbahn@iw.net
ReplyDeleteSounds delish! Thanks for the contest!! jawdance@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway and recipe! Looks like a great read!
ReplyDeleteI think this sounds like dinner this weekend, and I'd love to win the book!
ReplyDeleteI love to read books like this that include recipes and patterns. I have tried a few of the recipes and enjoyed them. Can't wait for the next one. Thank you
ReplyDeleteLove that the series is set in Seattle!
ReplyDeletekpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Recipes and a mystery what more could you want!
ReplyDeleteGonna try this recipe tonight and I''m sure will read all this new series=love all the mystery ones of your group here!! What fun!!
ReplyDeleteI love your first series! Can't wait to read this one.kim
ReplyDeleteKjohnson952@yahoo.com
Great recipe and wonderful feature. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for this intriguing giveaway and delectable recipe. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLove all these books and the recipes are a bonus.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a delicious recipe. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletelittle lamb lst at yahoo dot com
Love these type of books. sclickner@juno.com
ReplyDeleteLove a good cozy and a good recipe! marthajane1@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThe story sounds wonderful as does the recipe.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
Peanut butter! I wasn't expecting that. What a great idea to add flavor.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! That dish looks really good.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this book. It's on my reading list.
kvmatlock (at) gmail (dot) com
Shrimp and asparagus---perfect for spring. This recipe sounds like a real keeper.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
The book sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win. Patty paddydee54@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book and recipe sounds yummy.
ReplyDeleterjprazak6@gmail.com
This sounds really tasty.
ReplyDeleteWould love to escape to Seattle via book for a bit! traceyr1984@msn.com
ReplyDeleteReed sure sounds like a good guy! Would love to read Pepper's debut! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you! Would love to win a copy of "Assault and Pepper"! patucker54 (at aol dot com)
ReplyDeleteDelighted to see all your comments! I'm at Left Coast Crime in Portland this weekend and need to run, but I'll check back later!
ReplyDeletexo
Leslie
I don't think I'd like shrimp, but I like pasta and I'm hungry now!
ReplyDeletecatbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
A new author! I'm on the hunt for some new authors (just printed out a 3 page list). It looks like a winner!! I will try the recipe but will substitute chicken for the shrimp!
ReplyDeleteMisty
Looking forward to reading this one.
ReplyDeletedotkel50@comcast.net
Not a shrimp lover hear. Guess it stems from my upbringing in Nebraska. Just good 'ol Omaha steaks! Leslie...I've entered so many give-a-ways to win this debut cozy of yours it's not funny. If I don't win this time I'm going to go out and buy it. I'm very anxious to read it! Thank your for yet another chance!
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious! Thank you for the chance to win this giveaway j_mazur@msn.com
ReplyDeleteI love shrimp dishes and this recipe sounds wonderful. I've been wanting to read this book, so thank you for giving me the chance with this giveaway. ruthmazur46@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteEvery time I read about this series I get hungry. Thanks for the great recipe and giveaway.
ReplyDeletesallycootie@gmail.com
Sounds so good.thank you for the giveaway. Have a blessed weekend.
ReplyDeleteI love reading your books and love trying new recipes. I get both with your books. Love having a chance to win a copy. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYum a good cozy and recipe. Would love this. ��
ReplyDeleteYummy recipe and sounds like a great new series!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe, it sounds yummy. Congrats on the release of your new series, I'm sure that I'll love it as much as the food lover's village series.
ReplyDeletemomzillasteel@gmail.com
This dish looks lovely and it has a bunch of my favorite foods.
ReplyDeleteWill definitely make this delicious recipe, and would like to read this book!
ReplyDeletenosymmetree (at) gmail (dot) com
Shrimp and asparagus sounds delicious. I am looking forward to reading Assault and Pepper. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteDmskrug3 at hotmail dot com
DeleteForgot to say when I'll close this -- Sunday March 15, when I get home from Left Coast Crime, Ruff the Cat will draw the winner!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance! This recipe sounds great but I would have to leave out the shrimp I am not a big fan! I would love to read this book!
ReplyDeleteLooks & sounds tasty. The only way it could be better is if I could get someone else to make it for me!hahaaa
ReplyDeleteI love the plot of this Book and thanks for the yummy recipe.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Looks like another great cozy mystery.
ReplyDeleteShrimp and asparagus together. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteThe recipe looks great. I'm always trying new things. I would love to win your book.
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious and I'd love to read the book!!
ReplyDeleteLove the recipe! Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteThat is one amazing recipe! Love all these Cosy stories and wait anxiously for each and every one. So many books, so.....retired! Lots of time!
ReplyDeleteProbably too late to enter to win the book, but I must comment on the recipe anyway. That sounds so good! I love shrimp and asparagus, and to find a recipe with a new flavor to combine the two is very exciting! And thanks for introducing me to the Seattle Spice Shop series! I love a great, new series and the setting is fantastic. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amanda! You're right, this giveaway is closed, but there's one on TODAY AND TOMORROW, March 27-28, at www.KillerCharacters.com !
ReplyDelete