Sunday, June 12, 2016

Welcome Gayle Leeson!


A very warm welcome to Gayle Leeson, author of the brand new Down South Cafe Mystery series! You may know already be a fan of Gayle's. She also writer as Gayle Trent and Amanda Lee.


Gayle is giving away a copy of The Calamity Cafe today. To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment with your email address so Gayle can notify you if you win. Good luck!




This recipe is contained in my upcoming book, The Calamity Cafe. My grandmother made the best meat loaf I've ever tasted. It's nothing fancy, but it's delicious. The recipe makes a large loaf, so I loved to have a meat loaf sandwich with mustard the next day.

Like Amy, the heroine in The Calamity Cafe, I was very partial to my grandmother. She was my champion--the one who watched all the shows I put on when I was growing up, the one who told me I could do anything I put my mind to, the one who taught me show tunes while driving me on country roads with the car windows rolled down.

In The Calamity Cafe, Amy Flowers is tired of waiting tables at Lou’s Joint. But she doesn’t just quit—she offers to buy the place from her bully of a boss, so she can finally open the café of her dreams. Amy can't wait to serve the kind of Southern, down-home treats and dishes that her grandmother always loved to the kooky cast of regulars at the restaurant. She knows her comfort food will be the talk of the sweet, small town of Winter Garden, Virginia.

At first Lou Lou refuses to sell, but when she seems ready to make a deal, she tells Amy to come see her. Showing up at the eatery ready to negotiate, Amy is shocked to find her former employer murdered. As the prime suspect, Amy will have to clear her name by serving up the real killer—and with Lou Lou’s stack of enemies, that’s a tall order.


Grandmother’s Meat Loaf

Yield: 1 Loaf

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ lbs. Ground Beef
2 Eggs
2 cups Bread Crumbs
3/4 cup Diced Onions
1 tbsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Pepper
1/2 cup Cracker Crumbs
1 cup Tomato Juice


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Mix all ingredients except tomato juice well.
3. Add tomato juice gradually, making mixture solid enough to handle.
4. Form into a loaf.
5. Bake in a loaf pan for 45 minutes.






Visit Gayle at:
http://www.gayletrent.com
http://www.gayleleeson.com

WICKED STITCH, April, 2015, NAL/Penguin (Nominated for 2015 RT Magazine Reviewers' Choice Award)
KILLER WEDDING CAKE, June, 2015, Grace Abraham
STITCHING HOUR, November, 2015, NAL/Penguin
THE CALAMITY CAFE, June, 2016, NAL/Penguin


To read the first chapter of The Calamity Cafe, please visit http://www.downsouthcafechapter.com. 
 
I'm giving away a signed copy of THE CALAMITY CAFE to one lucky reader (U.S. entrants will get a signed mass-market paperback, and international entrants will get a Kindle copy). To enter, comment below with your favorite comfort food and your email address so I can notify you if you win. Good luck!


58 comments:

  1. My favorite confort food is my hubby's homemade spaghetti and meatballs. It's the best homemade sauce I have ever had.
    Deana
    Jhdwayne@peoplepc.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pretty much any homemade food like your meatloaf with potatoes and vegetables will do. Anything that makes me think of meals growing up.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. The book sounds great! Love the recipe as well. My favorite comfort food is my mother's recipe for Stuffed Zucchini. EMS591@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Meatloaf is fairly high on my list of comfort foods, but mac and cheese has to come first. taft.jane@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. My favorite comfort food is ANYTHING my Memaw used to make! My grandma lived with us when I was growing up and she and I were very close. I still cook the way she taught me with the brands she used, and with the love she would add!
    I would love to be entered to win The Calamity Cafe book.
    My email is TeacupsAndLipstick@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. For me, it would be a potato casserole with corn flakes (on top). Thank you for the recipe and giveaway.
    myrifraf (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I always ask my mom to make her meatloaf with mashed potatoes and spinach.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

    ReplyDelete
  8. This sounds like a book I'd really enjoy. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. joosbornenc @ yahoo. com

    ReplyDelete
  9. My grans fried chicken with mashed taters and gravy can't be beat. And her biscuits. Lost the recipe when we moved a few years ago. Have tried over a dozen different recipes Nothing as come close. The book looks like a great read. Would like to see how Amy gets out of this one. Della at deepotter@peoplepc.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. My Mom when we were kids used to make meat loaf with boiled eggs and/or Velveeta cheese chunks in the middle so that when it was sliced it looked neat. We loved it with mashed potatoes and veggies. Yum!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The title alone, would encourage me to buy the book. Can't wait to read it. Favorite comfort food: When I'm sick with a cold, its always cream of tomato soup. dbahn@iw.net

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love my husband's ham and beans plus cornbread. choirlady27@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't know which is the best part of meat loaf - making it or eating it! This recipe sounds wonderful, as does your book! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  14. My favorite comfort food is, mashed potatoes with gravy. I'm not supposed to have it now. But if it's there... I'm eating it. LOL
    Movietime195969@ yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. My comfort is roast beef and mashed potatoes thanks for this opportunity azelgert@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Mine is Chinese food with lots of choppednoodles
    Penney
    penneyw(AT)sbcglobal(DOT)net

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'd like to try this series.
    Sjgolding@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow to the recipe and the book. Thanks so much ofhp@att.net

    ReplyDelete
  19. My go to comfort food is mac and cheese. Ice cream is a close 2nd though!
    This sounds like a great series! Thanks for the chance to win.
    MarshaMysteryreader@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Meatloaf is still one of my top comfort foods, along with biscuits & gravy. Thank you for the recipe and the chance to win. doward1952@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Without a doubt - mashed potatoes!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love Meat loaf and mashed potatoes when it's cold out and just need to remember my grandmother who made the best meat loaf ever. Love the cooking mysteries. sueannames@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Chicken and pastry, but I also love meatloaf, fried chicken, potato cooked just about any way, and on and on and on. elainehroberson@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. It's a toss up between baked mac and cheese or pork loin with spaetzle and gravy. Then again most food is comfort for me, LOL.
    momzillasteel@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. My fave comfort food is mac and cheese. The cheesier the beter - Jess D
    zeta@iwon.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Spaghetti with meat sauce is my favorite but, mine not what my kids make for me. There's is always really spicy and I don't like it that way. I like it nice and simple.
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I am a vegetarian so I make a healthier version of my Moms depression era casserole that soothes my soul. . Grilled Broccoli, cup of milk, cream of mushroom soup ,pound of grilled mushrooms, cup of peas, 2 cups wide noodles cooked, pepper to taste, parsley and on top Moms cure all, a sprinkled crushed half bag of potato chips. Works every time!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love a good meatloaf and this one sounds yummy! I know the book will be great.
    jawdance@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm not feeling well today---and some good comfort food like that meat loaf sounds awfully good.
    suearrell.farrell@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. This cozy sounds delightful and the recipe appealing. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. My favorite comfort food is homemade chicken soup. Soothing and lovely. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. My favorite comfort food is popcorn. It always makes me feel better. utaker555@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Pat (patdupuy@yahoo.com)June 12, 2016 at 5:44 PM

    I just had some today while we were moving things in and out of storage units. Barbecued beef brisket, mac and cheese, and a local brew.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Love those grandmothers and our memories.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  36. My favorite comfort food is pot roast with mashed potatoes and carrots. Reminds me of Sunday dinners when I was a kid. Looking forward to reading Calamity Cafe, it sounds like a really fun read. Thanks for the giveaway.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. My favorite comfort food is pot roast with mashed potatoes and carrots. Reminds me of Sunday dinners when I was a kid. Looking forward to reading Calamity Cafe, it sounds like a really fun read. Thanks for the giveaway.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I truly feel like a perfected my mom's meatloaf! When I met my husband he would not eat meatloaf because his mom did not make it very well...even though she was a great cook. But he eats mine! I also modified my recipe after starting on weight watchers and now make it with the modified recipe and I make it in mini bunt pan or muffin tin to ensure portion control. I lived in the south for 14 years so I would love to read this series!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oops...forgot my email! Pucsbride13@gmail.com. My favorite comfort food is either Beef stroganoff, homemade chicken corn soup or my dad's pancakes!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Oops...forgot my email! Pucsbride13@gmail.com. My favorite comfort food is either Beef stroganoff, homemade chicken corn soup or my dad's pancakes!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I truly feel like a perfected my mom's meatloaf! When I met my husband he would not eat meatloaf because his mom did not make it very well...even though she was a great cook. But he eats mine! I also modified my recipe after starting on weight watchers and now make it with the modified recipe and I make it in mini bunt pan or muffin tin to ensure portion control. I lived in the south for 14 years so I would love to read this series!

    ReplyDelete
  42. My favorite comfort food is pizza. Love mystery books, Thanks for this generous giveaway. Linda MAY lindamay4852@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Homemade chicken soup. Or chicken pot pie made with from scratch pie crust. Oh, i am getting so hungry!

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Blogger apparently has an upset tummy and won't let Marilyn Watson post, so I'm posting for her. Her comfort food got lost in the transition, but I know she's enjoying this post and the comment thread, and would love to read Gayle's new book!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I would love to win this even though it looks like a lot of other people want to win too!! lindaherold999@gmail.com Thanks for the chance!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Great recipe! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of your book.
    davisel1830@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I just made meatloaf this week. I THINK I make it like my mom and Granny, but they never used recipes and who knows if I remember right. And sometimes they used bread crumbs and sometimes oatmeal. This time it tasted pretty good, except the onions weren't quite oniony enough. And that's nothing you can predict. 😉
    The book sounds good.
    pmettert@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Meat loaf and mashed potatoes are comfort food for my family.Ruth ruthenixon@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  49. Sounds like a great book and I'd love to win it!! Wendalee50@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Sounds like a great book. I am always looking for a new series!! Wendalee50@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. So excited to add this series to my reading adventures! Thank you for the opportunity to win.
    carters@columbusacademy.org

    ReplyDelete
  52. So excited to add this series to my reading adventures! I was extremely close to my grandmother as well. Miss her everyday!
    carters@columbusacademy.org

    ReplyDelete
  53. My favorite comfort food is Pot Roast. Cooked in my Mom's cast iron Dutch Oven with red potatoes, carrots, onions, peas, and gravy...yum, yum.
    Margi
    My email is: frogsrmoag@gmail.com

    Thank you for sharing your great writing skills. It's always fun reading your books. Plus meatloaf with mashed potatoes, gravy & peas has my vote for my 2nd favorite comfort food.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Vegan Shepherd's Pierre!
    Gaelicark@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  55. Thank you all for your wonderful comments. And for making me hungry! :D

    ReplyDelete