Sunday, July 7, 2019

Welcome guest author Laurie Cass - pesto #recipe + book #giveaway



Laurie Cass joins us to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. Laurie has been our guest so often on MLK, we feel like she's one of us!

Today she's offering her own book giveaway below!! (We'll resume our Mystery Lovers' Kitchen "10th Anniversary Party" tomorrow, July 8th.) Because today is our guest post Sunday, we are pleased to host Laurie.

Laurie grew up in Michigan and graduated from Eastern Michigan University in the 80’s with a (mostly unused) Bachelor of Science degree in geology. She and her husband live on a lake in northwest lower Michigan. When Laurie isn’t writing, she’s working at her day job, reading, yanking weeds out of her garden, or doing some variety of skiing.

Take it away, Laurie! 

*

The following recipe was a part of a wedding present from a good friend of my mother’s. It came with a tablecloth, two wine glasses, and a bottle of wine. I don’t remember what kind of wine, and I’m not actually sure which wine glasses they were, but we liked the pesto recipe so much it has become a staple in our recipe rotation.
And almost every spring since our wedding (lo, those many years ago), we’ve also put a couple of basil plants in the ground. Yes, the recipe mentions freezing, but there’s nothing like going outside to pick basil and twenty minutes later ladling pesto on top of your pasta. Yum!
(FYI: this is also extremely tasty on bread, and sprinkled with a little more Parmesan cheese. Add a thin slice of fresh tomato between and you’re pretty close to the perfect appetizer.)

Pesto
Process in food processor:
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic
2 Tbsp. nuts (pine or walnut)
1/4 tsp. salt
Add and continue to process:
1 cup fresh basil, firmly packed
Use with 10-16 ounces cooked pasta and some butter. Add more Parmesan cheese on top if desired.
Can be frozen. Add more cheese and oil and process when thawed. Heat briefly in microwave.

 
 
Booking the Crook
Released July 2, 2019

Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, cruise around lovely Chilson, Michigan delivering happiness and good reads in their bookmobile. But the feisty librarian is worried that the bookmobile's future could be uncertain when a new library board chair arrives and doesn't seem too friendly to her pet project.

Still, she has to put her personal worries aside when she and Eddie are out on their regular route and one of their favorite customers doesn’t turn up to collect her books. Minnie, at Eddie’s prodding, checks on the woman and finds her lying dead in her snow-covered driveway. Now it’s up to Minnie and her friends--feline and otherwise--to find the perpetrator and give them their due.

GIVEAWAY

I’ll be giving away a copy of the latest release in the Bookmobile Cat Series, Booking the Crook.

Tell me what is the best (or worst) present you've ever received? 

Leave your name and email (it can be cryptic) so I can contact you if you win.
 


Follow Laurie on social media here:
Website

Facebook link
 











Mystery Lovers' Kitchen 10th Anniversary Party
will resume tomorrow July 8th. See you then!


Today, we welcome you to leave a comment
below for our guest author Laurie Cass 
and
enter her book giveaway!




86 comments:

  1. The worst present I ever received was a fake plastic pearl necklace that he claimed was real. I don't even wear jewelry. Thank you for this chance! areewekidding(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. The best present I ever received was the birth of my daughter. She is 24 now, but she was such a blessing after my husband and I had a stillborn son 4 years earlier. I consider her an awesome gift from above! bentleyboy22@comcast.net bentleyboy22(at)comcast(dot)net

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    1. Aw, Jamie, what a beautiful present indeed. ~ Daryl

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  3. When I graduated from college and rented my first apartment, my parents gave me my first set of dishware. Every time someone went to the grocery store, a new piece of stoneware was collected. I love that they were thinking of me each time. I still use them.

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    1. That is an awesome gift! When my husband and I were first married, my parents would come over when we were gone and fill our fridge! Such love!

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  5. Sounds fun... thank you for doing this.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  6. Best was my daughter who was born 6 days after my birthday. A nice belated birthday present. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  7. My very first Barbie for Christmas when I was 5 years old.

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    Replies
    1. I remember getting my first Barbie too. I was so thrilled!

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  8. When I was a little girl, our parents got us a Basset Hound puppy. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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  9. Best was probably a book. We always got at least a couple books for every birthday and Christmas. Or the Digimon game we all got as kids. 20 years later I still mess around with it from time to time.
    kozo8989@hotmail.com

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. A story written and illustrated by my niece.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  12. A set of about 50 or more VHS tapes (yes, that long ago) of my favorite movies made by my husband while he was serving a remote AF tour. This was before digital copies, DVRs, DVDs, etc. so he had to rent and record them all to tape for me. Cary Grant, classic horror like the Wolfman, I watched them so much I just about wore them out.
    sallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. What a great present - your husband sounds like a wonderful guy!

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  13. The best present I ever got was my little Chihuahua mix rescue that my husband found on my last birthday. I thought I had hit my maximum number of pets in the house so this sweet fella was the best surprise! ibmandums(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  14. The worst gift I ever received was a diet. My husband thought he was doing something nice because I said I wanted to drop a few pounds

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    Replies
    1. Oh, dear. Sometimes the gap between men and women is a deep chasm, isn't it?

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  15. I have mixed feelings about this as I simply adore the gifts I receive. I'm very grateful about what I receive as a gift. Doesn't matter what it is.
    bearsgal(dot)sweet1964(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  16. I remember the year I got my "fancy" bike for Christmas. My dad asked me to get the newspaper off the front porch and I told him, we didn't get a paper on Christmas and he told me again to get the paper. He used "the tone" so to prove I was right, I opened the door and there was the fanciest bike a 10 year old had ever seen! It was fuschia with a white with fuschia stripe banana seat, a white wicker basket with flowers and the U shaped handlebar. I named it Flamingo! That was in the late 60's but still remember that morning. I don't know who was more excited, me or my parents! MarshaMysteryreader(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hah! What a great memory :)

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  17. My best gift was my engagement ring that was given to me at Christmas! I love(d) it! smurphee(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  18. One Christmas, I got a set of sewing cards. After that, it seemed every gift I got was another set. It wasn't planned and it was so hard to be enthusiastic after getting a lifetime supply of sewing cards. It was one of my Dad's favorite stories. Karen Durban kkdurban(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. KK, I have to admit I don't know what a sewing card is, but yes, to receive a lifetime supply? Um, no thanks. LOL ~ Daryl

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  19. My best gift was the star sapphire ring my dad gave me for Christmas when I was 13. I had been wanting it for so long. I still have it and it still fits. I will be 70 next month. lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  20. The best gift which I which cherish is my son who was born on my birthday. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. Traveler, my son was born on my father's birthday. What a blessing. For you and for me. :) ~ Daryl

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  21. My best gift was a ring my mom bought me when I graduated high school I still wear it jcook22@yahoo.com

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  22. The very special gift was an opportunity to attend a Paul Anka concert. Memorable and wonderful elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  23. My best present was diamond heart necklace my husband gave me on my wedding day. Thanks for the chance. maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. The complete set of the Little House books. Still my favorites, even as an adult.
    Wendy
    clarksrfun at gmail dot com

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  25. One of my best gifts was time away with my husband.
    jwhaley4@aol.com

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    Replies
    1. Sharon, memories are definitely "forever gifts." I feel the same about travel with my husband. ~ Daryl

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  26. The best gift I ever received was my engagement ring from my husband. I still smile when I look at it and remember that evening.
    Gloria browninggloria(at)hotmail(dot) com

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  27. That's tough. When I got married I got Corning ware and Pyrex cookware--1994--and throughout several movies and a divorce, I still use it to this day.
    Ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

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    1. Ruth, some dishes really do stand the wear of time. I love my Corning ware and Pyrex. :) ~ Daryl

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  28. The worst gift is always clothes I can't wear.
    Theresa N
    weceno at yahoo dot com

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  29. Thank you for the recipe. I have basil growing right now so will be giving it a try. What a wonderful cover. I love how your kitty looks like the one on the cover. Hmm, I really haven't had BAD gifts. But when our kiddos where 1 (daughter) and 3 (son), my husband took them shopping for my birthday. They got me a bread maker. I was so excited, it was my first one and I had so many visions of fresh bread. Well I started to cry. Our son did not understand and thought I didn't like it so he started to cry, and our daughter who saw her brother crying started to cry. LOL We were a wet mess. Finally we got things under control. They had seen mommy cry happy tears often but really didn't get it until much later. But this was a memorable and emotional birthday. quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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    1. So sweet! Hope you enjoy the recipe.

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  30. Your cat looks magnificent! What a beauty.
    At my wedding 47 years ago(!) we were given a silver bowl and pewter liqueur "glasses". We were told, "You don't think you want these now (they certainly weren't on our wish list!), in 10 years you'll be glad to have them.
    We are still waiting.(They were given away ages ago.)

    libbydodd at comcasrt dot net

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  31. My best gift was a huge stack of Nancy Drew books and Trixie Belden books!

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  32. best- trip
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  33. The best gift I received was a black lab puppy that my Sister gave me for my birthday one year.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Dianne, sweet. Love black labs. So gentle. ~ Daryl

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  34. OOOh can't wait for to read this book (via my library). Read all the others in this series. My best/worse gift-hummm. Might be the pot and pans I got one year for Christmas from my kids. :) I guess they meant well so I never said a thing and of course I cooked for them.Vicki nvictoria77(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  35. The best gift I ever received was the opportunity to raise my brother and sister-in-law's two boys. Definitely the love of my husband and my life ❤

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  36. One of the best gifts I ever received was a moonstone pendant from my husband for Christmas last year. Thank you so much for the recipe and the giveaway! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. My best gift was my engagement ring at Christmastime. Legallyblonde1961 at yahoo dot com

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  38. A top I was given as a Christmas present from a friend who lives in my apartment building, it wasn't the style I would wear. Thanks for this amazing chance. lindamay4852@yahoo.com

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  39. Worst gift was perfume that I was allergic to from an admirer.
    lindalou64@live.com

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  40. The worst present I ever got was at my one and only birthday party when I was 7. My friend gave me a brownie camera box and she was going on and on about how excited she was to give it to me. It was a hairbow

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  41. Worst present... on my birthday my aunt gave me a birthday card with an advertisement for a Gazelle exercise bike, writing in it that "no one would respect me as big as I am." Ouch well no birthday for you lady lol.

    MOLLIE, iemercedez@aol.com

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  42. Wooden Christmas fork & spoon set from the worst boss I ever had. On the bright side, it was from Macy's. On the not so bright side, it still had the 50 cent clearance sticker on it.

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  43. Nancy Payette positive.ideas.4you@gmail.com

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  44. That's a hard one. I'm very grateful about what I receive as a gift. Doesn't matter what it is. But. The best thing I really think. Is the time my Grandmother gave me. We only saw her 2 weeks a year. But when we were together. She gave love & wisdom. Love of reading, needlecrafts, cooking & growing things. And taught me the value of thinking. And appreciation for the gift of life. No matter the circumstances. deepotter at centurylink dot net

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  45. The best gift I’ve ever received besides my two beautiful children was a Star Sapphire ring my father gave me when I turned 16. I still have and occasionally wear that ring. Even more meaningful since my dad is now in heaven. Thanks for the chance to win your book. I look forward to reading it. Good luck everyone.

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  46. I have gotten so many amazing best gifts. The one that came to mind when I read the question was my graduation gift. I not only had an amazing party, but the next day (my birthday) I left for Newfoundland to tour with my brother and his rock band for a full month. So much fun. Thanks for the chance to win. kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net

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  47. But perhaps perfect for re-gifting? :)

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  48. The best present I received was ice skates when I was 7 - I was so happy to be able to join the neighborhood kids at the local outdoor skating pond. Debbie(dot)Erickson14(at)gmail(dot)com

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  49. The best gift I received was a Kindle for Christmas years ago when they first come out I totally cried. Thanks for the chance.

    Tighefan42atgmaildotcom

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  50. The best present I ever received was a kitten from my ex-boyfriend. She was the sweetest and most loving cat I've ever had and she gave me 18 years of happiness before she passed away last summer. I still tear up whenever I think about her. Three days after she passed, a beautiful white fluffy feral cat showed up at my house, and although it took me months to tame her, she's really helped fill the hole in my heart. Thanks for the chance. JL_Minter(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  51. I think the best gift I ever got was when my marvelous hubby bought me my sapphire and diamond ring. He gave it to me for the first Mother's Day after our 17 year old daughter died. Sapphires were her favorite stone and was what she choose for her class ring and diamonds were her birthstone. He knew how hard that day was going to be for me and he made it not only special but brought Jenet back to me in a way I can keep with me and remember her every day I wear it.

    Thanks for the chance to win a copy of "Booking the Crook"! <3 Can't wait for the opportunity to read it.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  52. This is such a fun series. I especially love Eddie. The best gift was a pet bunny my sisters & I received one year for Christmas.
    Jana - turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  53. To be quite honest, the worst present I ever received was a package of new undies. Not what you expect from your partner of mumble mumble years.

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  54. Amazon gift cards are my favorite so I can get more books. My most favorite gift was my cross country skis.

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  55. Taylor R. WilliamsJuly 7, 2019 at 9:33 PM

    Books and Cats ? You know it will be a good story ! Thanks for the chance to win. trwilliams 69 (at) msn (dot) com

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  56. Best present, too many to count! My Hubbie spoils me with so many gifts! After 41 years of marriage he has given me too many wonderful gifts to count!

    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  57. My best gift was probably my oak table and chairs my grandma gave to me before she passed away. Every time we use it I think of her and it makes me happy. Renee (mickeymania1@aol.com)

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  58. The best gift was a cruise from my mom!
    The worst was a jar of Best Foods Mayo from my mother-in-law for one Christmas! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  59. The best gift I received was my Hummer which I got as a Christmas present. It rains a lot where I live so I can make it just about anywhere. Saamm7(at)msn(dot)com

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  60. Taylor R. WilliamsJuly 8, 2019 at 12:56 AM

    I love pesto ! and I bet I will love this series too. Thank you for the contest. trwilliams69 (at) msn (dot) com

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  61. The best I received waa in 4th grade. A huge doll. She stayed with me through marriage even. sarahmom335@yahoo.com Jane

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    1. Congrats, Jane. You've won this giveaway by random selection. I'm going to put you in touch with Laurie to work out details. ~ Daryl

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  62. The best present I have ever received was an electric typewriter. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  63. The best present I received was on Christmas day, when my husband proposed to me and gave me a beautiful solitaire engagement ring. It will always be the most special gift. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  64. I've received several wonderful gifts. The top two were a dollhouse my brothers built for me when were kids and a portable typewriter gifted to me after my high school graduation.
    I love pesto and have it often. bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

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  65. The worst gift was clothes too small for me! Thanks for a chance to win. I love this series!! ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  66. A NASACR magazine that I never even got to read. kckendler at gmail dot com

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  67. Congrats to Jane, Sara's Mom, winner of this giveaway. Thanks to all for chiming in. ~ Daryl

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