Welcome our guest Sofie Ryan!!

Sofie Ryan is an author and mixed-media/fiber artist who lives on the east coast. She writes the New York Times bestselling Second Chance Cat Mystery series, featuring re-purpose store owner Sarah Grayson, a trio of senior sleuths, the world’s oldest computer hacker, and Elvis, a black cat with an uncanny ability to sniff out a lie.  As Sofie Kelly, she’s the author of the New York Times bestselling Magical Cats mysteries (Faux Paw, Curiosity Thrilled the Cat).

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Take it away, Sofie!  PS Readers, there's a giveaway below, so remember to leave a comment with your email to enter!!


One of our family’s favorite meals once apple season begins in late September is Pork with Onions and Apples. Where I live the cool nights give us gorgeous red Honey Crisp apples that have become my go-to apple for this recipe. Thanks to good winter storage facilities we can enjoy Pork with Onions and Apples all fall and winter.

Pork with Onions and Apples

6 thin cut, trimmed, boneless pork chops

1 ½ cups chicken broth

2 teaspoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 onion thinly sliced or 1 leek thinly sliced

1 Honey Crisp or Granny Smith apple peeled and thinly sliced

⅓ cup apple juice

2 teaspoons mustard

¼ teaspoon dried thyme

Mix three tablespoons of the chicken stock with the cornstarch and set aside

Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large frying pan. Brown the pork chops on medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate. Add the remaining teaspoon of oil to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the onions 2 to 3 minutes until soft. Add the sliced apple and cook until soft, about another 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the chicken broth, apple juice, mustard, thyme and pork chops. Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Add the cornstarch mixture and mix well. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.

Makes 6 servings.

We like this with potatoes or rice and I think leftovers would make a delicious lunch the next day but we’ve never had any leftovers!

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A Whisker of Trouble is the third book in the Second Chance Cat mysteries featuring re-purpose shop owner Sarah Grayson, and Elvis the rescue cat.

Spring has come to charming North Harbor, Maine, and with the new season comes a new haul for Second Chance, the shop where Sarah Grayson sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. Sarah is turning her keen eye to the estate of collector Edison Hall, hoping for fabulous finds for Second Chance—but when Elvis discovers a body in the kitchen, everything goes paws up.

The body belongs to an appraiser who had been hired to check out Edison’s wine collection. When Edison’s sister shows up at Second Chance, she hires Sarah’s friends—the kooky and charismatic trio of ladies and their hacker sidekick, Mr. P., who call themselves Charlotte’s Angels and work out of the shop—to solve the murder, Sarah knows she and Elvis are only going to get deeper into the case. But as it becomes a cat and mouse game of lies, cons, cheats, and family squabbles, can Elvis and Sarah claw their way to the truth before the killer slinks away forever?

Giveaway!

Two (2) lucky Mystery Lover’s Kitchen readers will win a copy of A Whisker of Trouble. To enter, share your favorite cooking apple in comments—I’m always looking for suggestions—or just say hello.  Winners will be picked Tuesday.

Check out Sofie's website HERE

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