LUCY BURDETTE: We are tickled pink to be hosting Annie Knox (aka Wendy Watson) on the blog today. Longtime visitors will recognize her as a former regular poster on Mystery Lovers Kitchen. We miss her good humor and her food and are thrilled to have her visit!
ANNIE KNOX: First things first: thank you to Lucy
for hosting me on
Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen. It’s hands down
my favorite blog, so it’s a real treat to be here
I’ve had a forty-five year love affair with peanut
butter. As a child, my lunch box
favorite was the peanut butter sandwich.
Other kids crowed over ham, turkey, even egg salad. But not me.
If I’d had my druthers, I would have had peanut butter every day. Sometimes the sandwiches were peanut butter
with jelly or jam, but other times I got peanut butter with banana, peanut
butter with marshmallow fluff, or even peanut butter with white sugar (my
mother didn’t stress out much about nutrition).
As I grew up, I started putting peanut butter on other
stuff: celery, apple slices, toast,
bagels, saltines, graham crackers, chocolate bars. I mixed peanut butter with chocolate or vanilla
ice cream, and sometimes just ate it off the spoon.
Imagine my delight when I left my meat-and-potatoes
Midwestern home and discovered that peanuts and peanut butter could form the
basis for more complex and “adult” food.
One Thanksgiving, I spent the holiday with a bunch of fellow law students
and we had a potluck. One of my friends
brought an African groundnut stew that combined sweet potatoes and cabbage in a
rich gravy of tomato, ginger, cayenne, and peanut butter. I confess, I was skeptical. The combination sounded completely weird and
the color was not particularly appetizing.
But my love of peanut butter won out and I gave it a try . . . and was
amazed at the earthy deliciousness.
Then I moved to the big city (Minneapolis) and discovered
that Asian cuisine was more than water chestnuts and La Choy crispy
noodles. Once again, I discovered that
ground peanuts played an important role in some of my favorite dishes, like
satay and the yummy dipping sauce that came with the summer rolls at my
favorite Thai restaurant.
Finally, a word of warning:
there is absolutely nothing authentic about this recipe. Note that I used the generic “Asian” instead
of “Thai” or “Chinese” or “Korean.”
That’s on purpose. This is an
Americanized mish-mash of Asian flavors.
But I wouldn’t be posting it if it wasn’t dang tasty. And dang easy. So I hope you enjoy.
Easy Asian Peanut
Sauce
½ c. creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. sesame oil
2 Tbs. soy sauce
4 tsp. crushed or minced garlic
½ c. hot tap water
¼ c. chopped cilantro
3 Tbs. vinegar (rice, white wine, or apple cider)
2 tsp. sugar
½ tsp. crushed red pepper
Combine the peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic
in a medium bowl. Whisk in hot water
then whisk in remaining ingredients.
Allow sauce to stand at room temperature for an hour before tossing with
pasta, adding to stir fry, or using as a dipping sauce.
About Annie …
Annie Knox doesn't commit--or
solve--murders in her real life, but her passion for animals is 100% true.
She's also a devotee of 80s music, Asian horror films, and reality TV. While
Annie is a native Buckeye and has called a half dozen states "home,"
she and her husband now live in a crumbling historic house just a stone's throw
from the courthouse square in a north Texas town.
About the Pet
Boutique Mysteries …

In Collared for Murder,
the third Pet Boutique Mystery, Merryville, Minnesota, plays host to a renowned
cat show. When the show’s wealthy patron
is murdered and the grand prize collar dangle goes missing, Izzy and friends
are on the case. Read more on Facebook or Annie's website.
ANNIE WILL BE GIVING AWAY THREE BOOKS TODAY, so be sure to leave a comment with your email to be entered in the drawing!
ANNIE WILL BE GIVING AWAY THREE BOOKS TODAY, so be sure to leave a comment with your email to be entered in the drawing!
Recipe sounds fabulous to me; and so does the book! EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteLove peanut butter. it was also my go to lunch. For years all I ate for lunch at school was peanut butter sandwiches, my Mom tried to get me to eat something else, but I refused. Now I do admit to still eating it off the spoon! Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win a book!
ReplyDeleteangelhwk68@yahoo.com
Love the cover! Maybe our Pug Pep could get some canine couture.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe. Looks good and easy. My friend and I were very upset when The Cheesecake Factory took their Thai Chicken Pasta off the menu. Maybe I can make my own now. Thanks for the giveaway.
sallycootie@gmail.com
I like peanut butter (especially mixing it with chocolate)... so yummy! Thank you for the Easy Asian Peanut Sauce recipe. :)
ReplyDeleteThe cover for Collared for Murder is adorable! Thank you for the chance to win a book.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Looks great, thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeletejslbrown2009 at aol dot com
what a great recipe!!!
ReplyDeletewill definitely share w/my friends & family......
& thank you for the giveaway......
cyn209 at juno dot com
Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win. Haven't read this series yet but I will have to put it on my list of series to buy. I love mysteries with animals in them.
ReplyDeletescarletbegonia5858@gmail.com
This recipe sounds great, so does the book. I havent read this series yet but I definetly will. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteMoonbay7399@gmail.com
Thank you for the wonderful recipe and giveaway! areewekidding@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good sauce.
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon(.)net
I am a peanut butter lover also. I will be trying your recipe. Thank you for your giveaway.
ReplyDeleteknightj4@gmail.com
Thanks for having a give-a-way! pattymarsh31@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWhat a delectable recipe. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy! I like to add some coconut milk to mine. Ourbookaddiction at gmail.
ReplyDeleterhondajgothier@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI'm not wild about peanut butter but I do love mysteries which involve cats and dogs. Thanks for the opportunity to win. dbahn@iw.net
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe! lkleback@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to Mystery Lovers Kitchen, Annie/Wendy. This is a terrific recipe. Congrats on the new book.
ReplyDeleteXO
MJ/VA
This is definitely an easy recipe. Thanks for posting it and thanks for a chance to win.
ReplyDeletenlb1050@yahoo.com
La Choy noodles. I hadn't thought about those in years! Looking forward to trying the peanut sauce. Love your books.
ReplyDeletefrybbe@gmail.com
I too am a fan of peanut butter. I guess it runs in the family as my dad, who is 76, asks for a spoonful of peanut butter as a snack! I was also thrilled when I learned about using peanut butter in a sauce, especially since it can be spicy too! I'll be sure to try your recipe-it sounds easy as well as delicious!
ReplyDeleteI also look forward to reading Collared for Murder! Thanks for the chance to win!
cozyupwithkathy @ gmail dot com
First time I ever had peanut sauce was on chicken and ever since been wanting a great recipe to try and this looks perfect. Thank you for the chance. lady.janel@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI, too, love peanut butter---but I'm on a diet and can have very little of it. This sauce may curb my cravings without too many calories. I enjoy your cozy mysteries. Thanks for the contest.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I'm a peanut butter lover too, and a book lover. Would love to win this book, thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeletejawdance@yahoo.com
This sounds like a great recipe. I can't wait to try it! I have loved the books in this series so far and am looking forward to reading Collared for Murder
ReplyDeleteI also grew up eating loads of peanut butter. Either that or bologna. My staples for lunch. I'm so glad there were no peanut allergies back then so we could take it to school for lunch. Your recipe sounds terrific; and easy enough for me. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of one of your books. lkish77123 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI am a pb lover, too. Can't wait to try the sauce recipe. It's still morning, that's not too early to have stir fry, right? :-) I love the cover and would love to read the book! lnichols2000 @ yahoo . com
ReplyDeleteLove books and peanut butter. Great combo. Thanks for this delightful post. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love cooking Asian foods but there's no way I can do peanuts in my wok. I'd be afraid of tainting it and causing problems for my freakishly allergic grandson. My partner though is just like you and asks for a spoon and the peanut butter when she wants to snak.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be able to add your newest book to my home library.
I love to cook and always looking for new recipes to try. This one sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to win the book too. I love cozies and especially ones that have food in it or dogs!
Definitely want to read this book. Zeta@iwon.com
ReplyDeleteLoved the first two in the series, can't wait for the third! 📖 cebogert@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI love the cover this sounds very good I am looking forward to reading this, thanks for being here today I enjoyed the blog.
ReplyDeletePenney
As a kid I was not a peanut butter fan, but as an adult I am more open to trying new things. This looks like a good recipe to try. Can't wait to read the book! Thanks for the chance to win! mamamoongrrlie at gmail dot com.
ReplyDeleteSounds Great! I am always looking for a new series to start reading! lorimkilbride@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHow ironic, I just made Peanut Butter Chicken Fried Rice for my family last pm. They loved it. Must have been the peanut butter:) Thank you for the great recipe and book. Pennymarks@frontier.com
ReplyDeleteI love this series and the cover on the new book! Our children are divided when peanut butter is involved. One loves anything with peanut butter. Another prefers peanut butter with chocolate (any dessert including that combination), but nothing more. servedogmom@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe and the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteBski92@gmail.com
Wow - I slept in this morning and awoke to all these great comments. Nora Adrienne, I hear you about the peanut allergies. We all have to be so careful now not to trigger a response in some poor soul by bringing our peanuts out in public!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to find out who wins the copies of Collared for Murder!
This looks like a good book - thank you for the chance to win - griperang at embarqmail dot com
ReplyDeleteMy 2 favorite things are reading mysteries and cooking, so CULINARY cozies are perfect. I am grateful for the day my husband brought me a copy of THE MAIN CORPSE by Diane Mott Davidson when we were on a camping trip. I was ecstatic and could hardly wait to get home and make the cherry coffee cake and buy more books. Thank you all for writing these BOOKS!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOnepony66@hotmail.com
you are welcome--we thank you for reading!! xo
DeleteThanks for the giveaway. Anxious to read Collared for Murder. Great title and cover.
ReplyDeleteSome of my cats refuse to wear collars while others don't mind them.
vernagass@gmail.com
Love that recipe. Thanks grammyd01@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteYou've made me hungry! I will be trying that recipe very soon. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletedebprice60@gmail.com
Another new-to-me series. I would be very excited to win! Thanks and thanks for the recipe, it sounds very good and tasty.
ReplyDeleteElaineE246 at msn dot com
Lovely cover and fun series. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. Kuzlin at AOL.com
ReplyDeleteExcited to read this one - thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
ReplyDeletebhandy1661@hotmail.com
I am addicted to peanut butter it is my favorite food. Thanks for recipe and the chance to win. poohwine1217@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteJust read Groomed for Murder yesterday & LOVED it!!! Now off to get Paws for Murder & catch up! Would totally LOVE TO WIN Collared For Murder!!!!
Ma