Sunday, June 26, 2016

Welcome guest Maya Corrigan aka Mary Ann!

Maya (Mary Ann) Corrigan lives in Virginia, an easy drive from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the setting for her Five-Ingredient Mysteries: By Cook or by Crook, Scam Chowder, and Final Fondue. The fourth book in the series comes out in 2017. Her novel, The Art of Deceit, won the Daphne du Maurier Award and the New England Readers’ Award for unpublished Mystery/Suspense. She has taught courses in writing, detective fiction, and American literature at Georgetown University and NOVA community college. She loves hearing from readers.

PS  She's offering a GIVEAWAY below.  Check it out and leave a comment!

Take it away, Maya aka Mary Ann!

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Thank you, Daryl, for hosting my guest post on Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, my go-to site for great recipes.

The third book in my Five-Ingredient Mystery series, Final Fondue, comes out on June 28th. David Sax writes in The Tastemakers, his book about food fads, that fondue is a conjurer of the past. The past permeates Final Fondue. The Chesapeake Bay town where café manager Val Deniston lives with her widowed grandfather is celebrating the 300th anniversary of its founding. As Granddad readies his old Victorian house for weekend visitors to the town’s festival, he finds a fondue pot, reminisces about fondue parties of the 1960s and 70s, and whips up fondue to greet the houseguests. One of the guests is murdered while eating chocolate fondue. As Val delves into the pasts of the houseguests in search of a motive for the murder, her own past catches up with her. Two men she knew as a cookbook publicist in New York show up in town, complicating her love life and her attempts to identify the killer.

The following recipe for chocolate fondue doesn’t require any special pots or a lot of time, thanks to a device not available in homes when chocolate fondue was first popular—the microwave. Readers of the first two books in my series, By Cook or by Crook and Scam Chowder, know that Val’s grandfather, AKA the Codger Cook, slashes her recipes down to five ingredients. With only three ingredients, this recipe is simple even by his standards. All the books in the series contain Granddad’s five-ingredient recipes.

Chocolate fondue makes an elegant dessert for a dinner party and an easy after-school snack for children.



Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients
¾ cup heavy cream
12 ounces of good quality semisweet chocolate or milk chocolate, chopped fine
Optional: 1–2 tablespoons cognac or liqueur or for a kid-friendly version -- orange juice!

Mix the cream and the chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the cream and chocolate at half-power, stopping the microwave every 30 seconds to stir the mixture. When the chocolate is melted (usually after 2-3 minutes), whisk in the optional liquid.




Pour the chocolate into a small pot or bowl on a stand over a lit candle to keep it warm. (If you have a vintage fondue pot, don’t use the alcohol burner that comes with it because that creates too much heat and may burn the chocolate.) You can also serve the fondue in an ordinary bowl and reheat if necessary at half-power for 10-20 seconds in the microwave.

Serve with your choice of fresh fruit, dried fruit, angel food or pound cake, ladyfingers, cream puffs, cookies, or marshmallows.

Serves 6. Reheat leftover fondue in the microwave at half-power, stirring every 30 seconds.



GIVEAWAY!

To enter a giveaway for a signed copy of Final Fondue, leave a comment with an email address. A U.S. winner will get a signed mass-market paperback and international winner 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!


Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.mayacorrigan.com/newscontact.html



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96 comments:

  1. My comfort food is warm, homemade tortillas dripping with butter. Every morning my grandmother would scrub the kitchen floors and counters and then would make tortillas. She would give us dough to play with (we would make little animals or people and then she would bake them) and while we played she'd make the day's tortillas. Before she was done she would roll up a tortilla dripping with real butter.

    My grandmother has been gone for over 20 years but anytime I miss her too much I make tortillas and feel her love.

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  2. My comfort food is warm, homemade tortillas dripping with butter. Every morning my grandmother would scrub the kitchen floors and counters and then would make tortillas. She would give us dough to play with (we would make little animals or people and then she would bake them) and while we played she'd make the day's tortillas. Before she was done she would roll up a tortilla dripping with real butter.

    My grandmother has been gone for over 20 years but anytime I miss her too much I make tortillas and feel her love.

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    Replies
    1. Mary, Comfort food is so often tied to warm moments with family. Thank you for sharing yours. --Maya

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  3. My favorite comfort food is roasted brussels sprouts - reminds me of the holidays (especially since it's the side dish served at every major family holiday celebration), and it's both nourishing and delicious. EMS591@aol.com

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    Replies
    1. Holiday dishes are often comfort foods. Thanks for sharing yours. __Maya

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    2. Holiday dishes are often comfort foods. Thanks for sharing yours. __Maya

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  4. My favorite comfort food is strawberries dip in chocolate,
    Wonderful review it sounds very good.
    Penney' penneywATsbcglobal.net

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    Replies
    1. Penney, Thank you for sharing your comfort food and for your kind words.--Maya

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  5. My favorite comfort food is home made family meatloaf recipe with mash potatoes.
    Your book series sounds wonderful and I look forward to reading them ! Love the recipe.🌷

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    1. Meatloaf and potatoes--I'll bet a lot of people have fond memories of that dish. Thank you for your kind words.--Maya

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  6. My favorite comfort food is a grilled cheese sandwich with soup, or mashed potatoes. I remember when fondue was the thing, even went to a fondue restaurant with my sister a few times. Thanks for the giveaway.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sally. I also remember when fondue was popular and nearly everyone got a fondue pot as a wedding gift.
      Thank you for commenting.--Maya

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  7. I don't really have a favorite comfort food, just what ever I have on hand at the time.

    Nancy
    nlb1050(at)yahoo (dot) com

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    Replies
    1. "Whatever I have on hand" is also my favorite dinner. Thanks for commenting, Nancy.

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  8. The go to favorite in my house for comfort food is my Tuna, Noodle, 3 Cheese Casserole with peas and corn added. Granted neither I or my partner need the gazzillion calories it has in it. But there are days where it NEEDS to be made for dinner.

    NoraAdrienne (at) gmail (dot) com

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  9. amy guillaume lindermanJune 26, 2016 at 9:41 AM

    my comfort food is bread pudding with caramel sauce! this book looks so good! i have so much fresh fruit right now....i want my boys to try it in fondue!

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  10. My favorite comfort food is rice pudding just the way my mom makes it.
    tuckman (at) hotmail (dot) com

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    1. Nora, Amy, and Kathy, It's hard to beat pasta or puddings for comfort food. Thanks for commenting.--Maya

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  11. My favorite comfort food is biscuits and chocolate gravy. firstuckman@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. I never heard of chocolate gravy, but it sounds great. Thanks for commenting.

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  12. My favorite food depends on where I am. If I'm eating out, it's anything I can't get where I live (back of beyond), usually seafood of some kind. If I'm home, it's my lasagna, which is a labor-intensive labor of love. I don't have it but maybe once or twice a year.

    pjcoldren@tm.net

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    Replies
    1. Hi PJ, I think we've met at Malice Domestic. Thanks for sharing your favorite foods. --Maya

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. Cookies, warm from the oven, preferably peanut butter chocolate chip! Looking forward to the new book, thanks for the chance to win!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. I don't really have a comfort food but, if I did, it would probably be pizza. It's what I tend to go to most often.
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  15. I think my favorite comfort food is a grilled cheese sandwich with some exotic kind of cheese and a bowl of tomato soup followed by my favorite Dr. Pepper chocolate cake! Thank you for visiting and sharing your chocolate fondue recipe and for your giveaway! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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  16. Fresh baked bread/rolls/cookies. I remember fonduing and going to a restaurant and having fondue. I'm sure I still have a few pots stashed away somewhere in the basement.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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    Replies
    1. Jholden, Linda, Celia, and Karen, Baked goodies perfume the house and make good comfort foods. THanks for commenting.--Maya

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  17. Thanks for the opportunity! Idk what my favorite/comfort food is. I love all things fruit, and Turkey with all the fixings... But a lot of things make me sick, so I no longer have a favorite "go-to" food...

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    Replies
    1. Bluberry, Sorry to hear that you can't eat eat some of your favorite foods and hope you'll find some new ones. Thanks for posting. --Maya

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  18. To me comfort food involves pasta. Macaroni and cheese is on the top but pasta with butter and parmesan is close behind mama2bulls@gmail.com

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  19. My favorite comfort food is homemade mac and cheese. brichardson0056@yahoo.com

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  20. I forgot to add my email address...cbalevre@ptd.net... Thanks!!!

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  21. Cookies are my comfort food ... sugar, Snickerdoodles, or peanut butter. Thank you for the chance to win a signed copy of Final Fondue.
    peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net

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  22. As.oatmeal raisin cookies always make me feel good! I love food themed mysteries.
    Michele.vanepps@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Kory, Becky, Peggy, and Michele, Thanks for commenting. Cookies and mac and cheese probably top the list of comfort foods.--Maya

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  23. As.oatmeal raisin cookies always make me feel good! I love food themed mysteries.
    Michele.vanepps@gmail.com

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  24. Peanut butter and honey. My dad use to make them for me and put butter on both sides so the honey wouldn't seep thru. I also still have a fondue pot. Semystery@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting. I confess I got rid of my fondue pot years ago, but when I was working on this book, I bought one on Craigslist. --Maya

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  25. Our thing was warm baking powder biscuits with a piece of honeycomb and butter. Grams was the best. With hot chocolate on those cold winter mornings. Must try this recipe. Great cover and looks like a great read. Loved 'Maya's" post. Della at deepotter@peoplepc.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your memories. --Maya

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  26. Cheese fondue always reminds me of Christmas. My grandmother had the recipe but it had about a million ingredients so we usually just opened the jar and heated it up.

    lkcejka at gmail dot com

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  27. Cheese fondue always reminds me of Christmas. My grandmother had the recipe but it had about a million ingredients so we usually just opened the jar and heated it up.

    lkcejka at gmail dot com

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    1. Lisa, I have a friend who associates cheese fondue with Christmas and it's still a tradition in her house. Thanks for posting.--Maya

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  28. I love mashed potatoes and chocolate...both are aqesome comfort foods....vickiela3@hotmail.com

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  29. My comfort food is pizza. kittytruck@gmail.com

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    1. Vickie and Paula, Thanks for commenting and sharing your favorite comfort foods. -- Maya

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  30. Soup or ice cream!
    rhondajgothier@yahoo.com

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  31. I love chicken soup. Love your post. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. My comfort food is tea and toast. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  33. My comfort food is my mom's homemade chicken and noodle soup. It always reminds me of when I was a little boy and my mom took care of me when I was sick. She still makes it and I love it when she does. Frauenb@aol.com

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    Replies
    1. Rhonda, traveler, petite, and Brian, Thank you for commenting. Soup is a big favorite as a comfort food, and tea and toast is my favorite breakfast. Thank you for commenting.--Maya

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  34. We have a fondue restaurant in town. I've never tried it because it's a multi-course meal, all fondue!
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  35. My favorite comfort food is macaroni and cheese made with tomato juice instead of milk...my sister and I loved it!

    sandie.white@live.com

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  36. My favorite comfort food is macaroni and cheese made with tomato juice instead of milk...my sister and I loved it!

    sandie.white@live.com

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  37. Wow chocolate fondue is soooo good I just love it. A man who I was dating took me to a bar that had fondue on their little menu and it was to die for. That was the first time that I had it and not the last. I then got a fondue pot for my daughter and she never used it and it eventually got donated and I was so sad. ptclayton2@aol.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment. I got rid of my weddimg present fondue pot years ago. Then I bought one from a woman on craigslist who'd never used her wedding present fondue pot! Now I'm a convert to chocolate fondue by microwave with no special pot needed.

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  38. My comfort food is grilled cheese and tomato soup. Especially on really cold days. Thanks for the giveaway. crossxjo(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  39. I don't know that I have just one favorite comfort food. The problem is I have too many. suefoster109@netzero.net.

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  40. My favorite comfort food is chicken pot pie. My mother used to make it for me when I was sick as a child. tinahitchcock@yahoo.com

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  41. I have so many comfort foods. Things my mom and Granny made. Potato soup, meatloaf, homemade veggie soup, fried potatoes, pot roast with roasted potatoes and veggies. Ha! Rereading that list, looks like I'm big on potatoes. ��
    pmettert@yahoo.com

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  42. I actually have two, one is homemade pizza, fresh from the oven. The other is anything chocolate. My gram used to make these amazing thumbprint butterball cookies with the best chocolate icing in the middle. I have tried to make it and fail miserably. My email is kbracey@tampabay.rr.com

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  43. Pat (patdupuy@yahoo.com)June 26, 2016 at 2:17 PM

    Cheese and crackers! Preferably a sharp cheddar. My brother and I gave my mother a ceramic fondue pot one year, not that she wanted it. We wanted it!

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  44. My favorite comfort food is cookies. Thank you for the giveaway. angelbear19662000@yahoo.com

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  45. My favorite comfort food is chicken in yellow gravy over rice! Thanks for this giveaway! Dm_richards(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  46. Fried chicken dinner or fresh homemade cinnamon rolls.... I can't choose between the two!
    mtrver@gmail.com

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  47. My comfort food is chicken and rice...my mother's recipe. It was my favorite thing that my mother made. cking78503@aol.com

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  48. I have two comfort foods, Macaroni and Cheese, and anything chocolate! dnrocker@yahoo.com

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  49. Oh, YUM! That fondue looks delicious. I love pasta, so macaroni and cheese is my favorite comfort food.

    brookeb811 [at] gmail.com

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  50. Thank you for the give away! I have different comfort foods for different things. When I'm sick I want homemade chicken and noodle soup, when I'm missing my grandmother I want her garlic salad, and when I need a comfort dinner, it's fried chicken, mash potatoes and gravy with the works.

    jillybeans41@gamil.com

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  51. My comfort food is fried chicken followed by Chocolate Cake.

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  52. My favorite comfort food strawberry shortcake this time of year. My Dad always had strawberries in the refrigerator in the summer and he made the best strawberry shortcake. The fondue recipe looks really good and easy. I can remember making fondue years ago, when it was a big thing. Looking forward to reading your book.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  53. My favorite comfort food strawberry shortcake this time of year. My Dad always had strawberries in the refrigerator in the summer and he made the best strawberry shortcake. The fondue recipe looks really good and easy. I can remember making fondue years ago, when it was a big thing. Looking forward to reading your book.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  54. I don't know what happened to my comment. My favorite comfort food this time of year is strawberry shortcake. The fondue recipe looks fantastic and easy! Looking forward to reading "Final Fondue".
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  55. I don't know what happened to my comment. My favorite comfort food this time of year is strawberry shortcake. The fondue recipe looks fantastic and easy! Looking forward to reading "Final Fondue".
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  56. My favorite comfort food would be meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. If I really need/want something quick, anything chocolate! servedogmom(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  57. My comfort food is anything with chocolate and caramel. I have a huge sweet tooth. Your fondue looks delicious and so wanting to lay into it right now. robeader53@yahoo.com

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  58. Chicken and pastry, potatoes, or desserts. elainehroberson@gmail.com

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  59. My comfort food is mashed potatoes! I'd love to win your book! Thanks for this chance!! lindaherold999@gmail.com

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  60. I can remember having fun fondue parties many, many moons ago when I was first married----we'd have several pots going and make a whole meal fondue style. Thanks for the contest.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  61. My favorite comfort food would have to be beef jerky (Wild Bill's brand) and peach snapple. My grandpa always bought this combination for me as a special treat when I was growing up. Its been almost 8 years since I have heard his voice but eating this strange combination always makes me feel at ease. utaker555@gmail.com

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  62. i love this series and have this one on preorder. cant wait. comfort food is several things for me. one when i dont feel too well i always make german soup (i cheat). i remember always eating a cheez whiz sammich when i was little, lol. and candy always does the trick for me. kayt18(at)comcast(dot)net

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  63. The favorite comfort foods so far--soup (usually tomato or chicken noodle), macaroni and cheese, cookies, mashed potatoes, and chocolate in a variety of forms. Thank you all for commenting.

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  64. My favorite comfort food is chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy...it always reminds me of my childhood. :) Thanks for the fondue recipe and thank God for the microwave! Dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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  65. Great recipe. My favorite comfort food is oyster stew, especially in the winter. Thanks for the chance to win. doward1952@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Doward, you are the winner by random number generator! Congrats. Mary Ann (Maya) will be in touch! ~ Daryl

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  66. Favorite comfort food: cream of tomato soup. I especially like this when I have a cold. I'm always looking for some thing new to take to my book club meeting. The fondue recipe sounds like a great idea for this. dbahn@iw.net

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  67. meatloaf

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  68. Tator tot casserole, hamburger, cream f mushroom soup and Tator tots, green beans or broccoli dnamaekutska7@gmail.com

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  69. Creamy chicken pot pie made with homemade pie crust. I am getting a craving for that lately...

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

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  70. My comfort food I'd a Mexican casserole from my childhood. I love the fondue recipe! Thanks for offering the giveaway, lilflynracer at msn.com

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  71. Thank you to everyone who left a comment and entered the giveaway contest. Thanks also to the Daryl and the other writers who share their recipes on Mystery Lovers' Kitchen and gave me a chance to share mine. The contest winner will be announced soon.--Maya Corrigan

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  72. My comfort food is cheesecake. Or, gooey butter cake. Basically, anything with cream cheese. choirlady27@hotmail.com

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  73. the fondue looks so yummy. cladams58@gmail.com I would really love to receive a copy o Final Fondue

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  74. my comfort food is the old fashioned scalloped potatoes and ham. sueannames@gmail.com

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  75. And the winner, by random number generator, is Doward W. Maya (Mary Ann) will be in contact! Congrats and thanks to all for chiming in! ~ Daryl

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