Sunday, April 14, 2019

Welcome our guest author Leslie Karst + book #giveaway





The daughter of a law professor and a potter, Leslie Karst learned early, during family dinner conversations, the value of both careful analysis and the arts—ideal ingredients for a mystery story. Putting this early education to good use, she now writes the Sally Solari Mysteries (Dying for a Taste, A Measure of Murder, Death al Fresco, Murder from Scratch), a culinary series set in Santa Cruz, California. An ex-lawyer like her sleuth, Leslie also has degrees in English literature and the culinary arts. Visit Leslie at lesliekarstauthor.com or at chicksonthecase.com


Leslie is offering a book giveaway below. Remember to leave a comment.

Take it away, Leslie!
 
Pasta Only Your Nonna Can Teach You to Make

Some years ago, my wife and I were fortunate enough to be invited to dinner by a friend of ours from Rome, Daria, who promised to make her Nonna Egle’s famous pasta with peas, onions, porcini, and garlic. Never one to turn down a home-cooked meal, I was thrilled at the prospect of not only eating the dinner, but also getting to observe Daria as she prepared it.

I loved the dish so very much that I decided to feature it in my brand new Sally Solari mystery, Murder from Scratch. As a result, Nonna Egle’s pasta has now been recreated as a dish that Sally’s dad’s cousin, Nonna Sophia, used to prepare, and which Sally learns to make from Sophia’s granddaughter.

(The following is excerpted—with some changes—from one of the recipes included in Murder from Scratch. But unlike in the book, you get photos of the process, here!)


Nonna Egle’s (aka Sophia’s) Pasta with Peas, Onion, Porcini, and Garlic
(serves 4-6)



This dish is best with homemade egg pasta (as Daria served it to us; the recipe is included in my new book), but you can certainly use a store-bought variety instead. If so, try to find dried fettuccine or pappardelle, preferably made with eggs. (And avoid the “fresh” pasta sold in the supermarket, as it tends to be too thick and overworked, and can turn gooey when cooked.)

It’s important to sauté the peas and onions separately from the mushrooms and garlic, so that the flavors remain distinct. Once they’re cooked, however, they can be combined into one pan to await mixing with the pasta.

If you can’t find dried porcini mushrooms (also called “boletes” or “cèpes”), you can substitute fresh crimini—small brown, button mushrooms—or portobellos.


Ingredients

6 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced (about ¾ pound)
¾ pound peas (fresh or frozen, thawed)
2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms (or ½ pound fresh)
6 cloves garlic, minced (2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ pound Parmesan or pecorino cheese, finely grated (about 1 ½ cups)
1 pound dried egg fettuccine or pappardelle (or use pasta recipe below)
1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)


Directions

If using dried porcini, pour enough boiling water over them to cover them, and let soak for an hour. Slice the mushrooms into thin strips, reserving the liquid in a separate bowl.


Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over moderate heat till shimmering, then add the onions. Sauté till they soften, then add the peas.


Continue to sauté until the onions start to brown and the peas are cooked through. Season with ¼ teaspoon each, salt and pepper. Set aside.


In a separate pan, heat 2 more tablespoons of oil till shimmering, then add the mushrooms (squeeze out most of the liquid first, so they don’t spatter). Sauté till they cook through, then add the garlic.


Continue to cook till the mushrooms start to brown. Season with ¼ teaspoon each, salt and pepper, and add a ½ cup of the mushroom liquid (if you’re using fresh mushrooms, you can add chicken or vegetable stock instead).


Then add the chopped parsley, stir to incorporate, and set aside.


Bring a large (at least 4 quart) pot of water to a boil. While the water is heating, combine the peas/onions and porcini/garlic in one pan,


and reheat over a medium heat.


Add the salt and pasta to the water and cook, uncovered, over medium heat until al dente (still slightly firm in the center), stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. If using homemade pasta, it will cook very fast—in about 3 minutes. If using dried pasta, it will take about 10-12 minutes to cook.

Reserving ½ cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta and dump it back into the cooking pot (without rinsing). Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to pasta and toss to coat all the noodles. Pour in the ½ cup of cooking water, then add the reheated vegetables, and toss. Finally, add 1 cup of the cheese and toss once again.

Serve garnished with the rest of the cheese. [See photo of plated pasta at top of post.]

Buon appetito!


About Murder from Scratch:

Sally’s life is already plenty complicated, what with running the popular and bustling Gauguin and dealing with irate cooks, scheduling headaches, and other staffing issues. So when her dad convinces her to take in a blind relative, Evelyn, whose mother has just died of a drug overdose, she’s none too happy. Sally’s cousin, however, turns out to be not only highly competent, but also lots of fun. And she’s a terrific cook, to boot—taught at an early age by her chef mom, Jackie.

When moved objects around her house cause Evelyn to suspect that Jackie’s death was not the accident or suicide the police believe it to have been, she and Sally decide to investigate on their own. And Sally soon learns that Evelyn’s blindness makes her more attuned to her other senses, allowing her to discover clues that Sally would easily have missed. The cousins’ sleuthing takes them into the world of pop-up and Southeast Asian restaurants, macho commercial kitchens, and the cut-throat competitiveness that can flame up between chefs—especially when stolen recipes are at stake. 

GIVEAWAY

Leslie is offering a copy of Murder from Scratch to one commenter. Do you have favorite family memories in the kitchen?  Leave a comment and include your email so Leslie can contact you if you win.
 


as well as:





96 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, this recipe looks amazing! Thanks for visiting Mystery Lovers' Kitchen and sharing it with us, Leslie. I'm looking forward to reading MURDER FROM SCRATCH ~ bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. My mother was not a cook by choice. She did what she had to, but she had other things she concentrated on. However she taught me how to make pies and I’ve been very grateful for that. I like your series. suefoster109 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pie-learning is a wonderful thing to pass down from generation to generation, Sue!

      Delete
  3. I remember watching my grandmother making oatmeal and it was the BEST I had ever eaten!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This looks wonderful . . . now if I could just get the Spousal Unit to eat mushrooms . . .

    pjcoldren[at]tm[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps substitute with zucchini, or sun-dried tomatoes? Or maybe eggplant. Or simply eat it all yourself!

      Delete
  5. I have fun memories of my grandma making pies. She sometimes only needed a corner of the table to make a pie. I remember liking the raw pie dough lol Tari H, barbie17(at)gmail(d0t)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My grandmother made amazing pies! I only learned much later that it was because she use lard, lol.

      Delete
  6. I loved spending my Sunday’s helping my grandma cook lunch! My favorite was chicken and dumplings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My grandma made chicken and dumplings, too! They were the best!

      Delete
  7. Your book sounds intriguing and the recipe appetizing. When my grandmother lived with us for 7 years her baking and cooking was exceptional. No one could compare. saubleb(at()gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grandmothers are the best, no? But will our grandchildren say the same of us?

      Delete
  8. I remember my mom teaching me how to make pulla. It is a Finnish sweet bread.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Murder from Scratch sounds really good, and that pasta, I am definitely trying that. My mom and grandma were very different cooks (and rather critical of each other!) but both made everything from scratch and I remember cooking with them. My mom watched some of the early cooking shows and collected lots and lots of recipes, a habit she passed on to me. Thanks for the giveaway.
    sallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And you have the perfect name for this series, Sally, since my protagonist is Sally Solari! I used to watch Julia Child on TV with my mom when I was little.

      Delete
  10. The recipe sounds great & simple, but I would eliminate the mushrooms because I myself don't like the, Love the cover of this book & it sounds great. Thanks for this great chance. lindamay4852@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You could substitute zucchini or dried tomatoes for the mushrooms, Linda. Thanks for commenting!

      Delete
  11. I remember helping my mom in the kitchen from a very young age - still love to cook - not sure which sounds better, the book or the recipe - thanks for the chance to win - trwilliams69(at)msn(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am interested in the intriguing book. The meal is so enticing and lovely. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I learned how to cook by helping my Mom in the kitchen.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have great memories of my mom teaching me how to make basically everything from scratch and all the family in the kitchen sharing the meal preparation and having fun. 1cow0993(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wonderful memories, indeed! Nothing like a family meal.

      Delete
  16. My favorite kitchen memories are of my grandmother teaching me to bake cookies. I still have her measuring spoons hanging up in my kitchen and they bring back such fond memories.
    donnaing1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a lovely memento! I have my grandmother's cast iron chicken-fryer, a HUGE cast iron skillet. I treasure it.

      Delete
  17. My favorite memory is my grandmother baking me an egg custard pie.
    Theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. My parents were quite some cooks. They had Julia child's Mastering the Art...and cooked some delicious things from it.

    libbydodd at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  19. We always had fried chicken on Sundays that my Grandmother made. She would cut up the chicken the day before and soak in buttermilk overnight. Of course, she made the buttermilk.
    Your book sounds interesting. I have added it to my TBR list.
    Thanks for sharing the recipe. I am one of the few who really likes PEAS!
    jwisley(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the best way to make fried chicken, hands down! I hated peas as a kid but adore them now.

      Delete
  20. We always had fried chicken on Sundays that my Grandmother made. She would cut up the chicken the day before and soak in buttermilk overnight. Of course, she made the buttermilk.
    Your book sounds interesting. I have added it to my TBR list.
    Thanks for sharing the recipe. I am one of the few who really likes PEAS!
    jwisley(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. My mother worked Monday through Saturday which did not leave time for cooking during the week. But Sunday was her day to catch up on laundry and so we usually made beef pot roast that could cook while doing other things. I still make pot roast the way she did with potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage cut into wedges. Most people do not make it with cabbage, but I love the flavor it gives to the rest of the ingredients.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was just telling someone last night how much I love just plain old cabbage--a wonderful veg.

      Delete
  22. My memories are from back in the fifties of mom using the hand grinder to grind apples and cranberries for relish for Thanksgiving. And me helping to stir the fudge when she would make it for us. She also made us lemon icebox pie because we loved it but she never ate it. She told me years later that it was Dad's favorite but she hated it.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. My grandma taught me to make bread and can tomatoes, I remember the warm kitchen and her being so patient. Wish I could bake with her again.donakutska7@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know. I feel the same way about my grandmother. Sigh...

      Delete
  24. Grandma also showed me how to use a grinder u put pickles, bologna in her and turned the handle. Yum pickle meat sandwiches. 😊

    ReplyDelete
  25. My mom, sisters, the kids, & I all spend Christmas Eve day making treats for Santa (& ourselves).
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My family used to do the same thing, make and ice cookies all afternoon on Christmas Eve. And there were even occasionally a few left for Santa!

      Delete
  26. The book sounds really good. My grandma could make some killer fried chicken but she didn't much like us kids in the kitchen :( I've tried to get the grands interested in kitchen memories but they enjoy fast food too much. Vicki nvictoria77(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. My Mom was a really good cook when it came to pork. Her pork schnitzel was amazing. My Dad was also great cook, he also liked to bake. This is a new series to me, looking forward to reading the book.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Dianne! That pork schnitzel sounds divine!

      Delete
  28. What a great recipe, I usually have these ingredients in my kitchen! Your books sounds like great fun.

    Favorite family memory in the kitchen was the marathon Christmas cookie and fruitcake baking sessions. There was a lot of chatting and laughter to go with those sessions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oops, forgot to add
      Little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

      Delete
    2. Then you'll definitely have to try it! Love those kitchen memories of chatting and laughing and cooking!

      Delete
  29. I have fond memories of Grams teaching me to make breads, rolls & biscuits. She never used a recipe. The rhythm of kneading dough is soothing. And the smell of fresh baking. MMMMmmm. I remember the first time we made cinnamon rolls together and the shock I felt when she told me to get her a spool of thread, which she then used to "cut" the rolls & place them in the pan. We would drown them in cream cheese frosting or mascarpone frosting. She made mascarpone often. Used it in most things. Will definitely give this Pasta with Peas, Onion, Porcini, and Garlic a try. Looks delish. deepotter (at) peoplepc (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh boy, now you've made me super hungry! Mascarpone on cinnamon rolls! Yum!

      Delete
  30. That pasta dish looks so good, Leslie. I want to try it. When I was little, my paternal grandparents made traditional Norwegian sweets and breads at Christmas. I have tried to make them, but there is truly an art to it. And they are really hard to make and take a long time. Uff da!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Gayle, it's amazing how often cooking is more art than recipe. And how laborious certain things can be to make. Truly a labor of love!

      Delete
  31. The book sounds great, Leslie, and so does the recipe! I've had a craving for pappardelle lately, so I'll definitely be trying this dish ASAP. My now-89 yr. old Mom taught me to cook when I was a youngster, so I have lots of memories of helping out in the kitchen. My first dinner for our family of 5 was cooked by me, with Mom's help, when I was around 10. (Baked pork chops, some kind of potatoes, and canned green beans, which my dad pronounced delicious. Dubious about that, even then, but I've been cooking ever since.) Now we are caregivers for my parents, and all these years later, I'm their chef, with my husband's help, sometimes! (He chops things on occasion and nearly always does the dishes) lola777_22 at hotmail dot com.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My 90-year-old mom taught me to cook as a youngster--thank goodness for our moms!

      Delete
  32. Leslie, so happy you are with us today. Love this recipe! ~ Daryl

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for inviting me, Daryl! Love all the MLK gals!

      Delete
  33. Some of my favorite kitchen memories are of my mom and I stringing and snapping green beans from the garden. I HATED this task as a kid, but have grown to love it as I recall hours spent talking about anything and everything while we worked in unison. (ibmandums@yahoo.com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! Love that! Thank goodness for the new, stringless beans!

      Delete
  34. I remember a lot of the special things my grandma made, but I don’t know any of her recipes. I wish I did!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, at least you have the memory of all her dishes, which is nice!

      Delete
  35. I have lots of memories in the kitchen! I live to cook! Every weekend I would cook a special breakfast for my boyfriend and his son! Pancakes was a must on Saturday lol .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saturday pancakes--we did that, too when I was a kid!

      Delete
  36. I have many happy memories of my Mom making the best fried crappy I have ever had. Of course, I got to help with the breading of the fish. When my Mom was in the hospital, my Dad fixed us scrambled eggs for dinner because thats all he could cook. My Aunt Nellie made the best fried chicken I have ever eaten every Sunday lunch. Your book sounds very interesting.
    bernice-kennedy(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My dad made us cereal for dinner when my mom was in the hospital giving birth to my little sister, lol.

      Delete
  37. My mom made her chocolate cake from scratch and made he 7 minute icing. She always let me brother and I lick the beaters when done and scrap the pot for all the extra icing. I did the same for my girls. Mom has been gone for a few years now and we still make her cake and have the fond memories. Thanks for the giveaway. Love these books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I love the memories of licking the beaters and wooden spoon when my mom would bake!

      Delete
  38. My culinary epiphany happened when I read the recipe for lemon meringue pie in the 1976 edition of Joy of Cooking. I was all, "There are real lemons?" My mother is a good cook, but not much for sweets, so our lemon pie was always Shiriff boxed mix. I took Joy, ran with it, and turned my love of baking into my own home business. That being said, I do need to feed people on the regular, and a favorite is when I give a pork shoulder the brisket treatment. Low and slow in the Dutch oven, plenty of onion and carrots, and a good rub of s&p, sweet paprika, and thyme. Cooking sauce is tomato sauce, dash of Worcestershire, splash of cider vinegar. So so good, and the house smells fantastic while it's cooking. Cool to room temp, refrigerate, and slice the pork the next day, reheat slowly in the sauce. Mashed spuds or noodles to sop up that gorgeous sauce, and a glass of pint noir... life is good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, I'm definitely going to have to try that braised pork recipe, Kerie--sounds amazing! (Esp. with the Pinot Noir, lol.)

      Delete
  39. I remember our Dad making us homemade biscuits and sausage gravy on Sunday mornings. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. My mom always cooked and baked for us. She also canned vegetables and fruits. Almost everything was delicious.
    lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  41. I tell myself every year that I'm going to can my fruit and veg, and then never seem to do it. Maybe this will be the year!

    ReplyDelete
  42. This looks absolutely amazing. I am definitely looking forward to reading this one!

    ReplyDelete
  43. My grandmother making Norwegian cookies. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  44. I have so many wonderful memories of being with my Mom in the kitchen. Mom always cooked from scratch and she passed on my love of cooking and sharing the bounty of the kitchen with friends and loved ones to me.

    The memory that stands out the most to me is when I was trying to compose my cookbook. Right after our daughter died and needing something to occupy my brain and time, I decided it was time to get family recipes down on paper. I was able to get my families tried and true and much loved recipes written down (some for the first time ever). This meant standing by my Mom lots of times as she shook spices in her hand and then measuring them before they went into the pot. One such recipe was Mom's chicken spaghetti and her fresh grated coconut cake. I was able to get a lot of recipes that my grand and great-grandmother had handed down before Alzheimer would have prevented Mom from sharing them.

    That year for Christmas I made 3 large three ring binders into cookbooks. I put all the typed recipes into protective sleeve a lot with photos. Then I use references from a lot of other cookbooks for hints on cooking, interesting things like what symbols were used for different anniversaries and then some family stories. The first page is a dedication to our daughter. I used two of the cookbooks as gifts to people I knew would cherish them as much as I do mine.

    It’s a cookbook that I use often because as you get older you have to verify amounts and ingredients. Each time I use it I am reminded of cooking with my Mom and the special time we spent together while I was making my cookbook.

    Thank you for the chance to win a copy of "Murder from Scratch". Sounds fabulous and I can't wait for the opportunity to read it.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What an amazing and wonderful tribute to your daughter and your mother, Kay. Such a treasure.

      Delete
  45. My favorite cooking memory goes way back, to before I was old enough to go to school. My paternal grandparents lived in the same house as us, but they had a separate kitchen. Once or twice a year my grandmother would make homemade doughnuts. What a treat they were. My sister, 5 years older, was allowed to help with rolling and cutting, while my grandmother fried and I got to toss the hot treats in sugar. I longed to be old enough to get to roll and cut. Sadly, by the time I was old enough to "graduate" to that task, my grandmother had passed away.
    The mystery series is new to me, so I'm going to try it out. Thanks for the chance to win a book.
    gnluciow(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Sounds like you need to have a doughnut-making-party sometime soon so you can finally roll and cut, Neena! But what a wonderful memory that is!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Looks delicious! JL_Minter@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. This looks so yummy. My Mom & I used to bake together, until I became the more accomplished baker of the two of us -then she let me do the baking. Thanks for a chance to win! Looking forward to this installment of the series. ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  49. Yes, especially at the holidays. Always helped my mom bake special cookies, cakes and pies. Was always so much fun!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Loved helping my mom in the kitchen esp baking

    ReplyDelete
  51. Taylor R. WilliamsApril 16, 2019 at 1:10 AM

    I was lucky enough to have a mom who taught me how to cook - still love cooking to this day - thanks for the contest - trwilliams69(at)msn(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Great to get 'em started making pasta young! :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. This looks delicious. Thanks for the recipe and opportunity.
    browninggloria (at) hotmail (dot( com

    ReplyDelete
  54. The winner of this giveaway is Cuddle up (Barbie 17). Leslie will be in touch. Thanks to all for your lovely posts ~ Daryl

    ReplyDelete