Sunday, March 8, 2020

Please welcome guest author Maria DeRico with book #giveaway





Buon giorno! Ellen Byron here, writing under the pen name, Maria DiRico.

My new Catering Hall Mystery series revolves around, well, a catering hall. It was inspired by my life. My mother is Italian, born in a small central Italian village called Orsogna. Her family wound up in Astoria, Queens, where cousins-by-marriage ran a couple of banquet halls.

Given the Italian – and subsequent Greek – influence on the neighborhood, and the subject matter of my series, adding recipes to the books was a gimme. But in addition to some homespun recipes, I wanted a unique and trendy party item for the first book, Here Comes the Body. What I came up with wound up having zero to do with either ethnic culture. Instead, it came about when I asked myself a question I often ask when it comes to recipes for my books: WWMD? What Would Martha Do? You see, one of first post-college jobs was working as a cater-waiter for the legendary Martha Stewart. If you have an early edition of her first cookbook, Entertaining, turn to page 29, you’ll see me standing next to her.

If Martha was still catering events, I can guarantee you that we’d be passing out Cookie Cup Shot Glasses to guests. Saluti! And par-tay!

COOKIE CUP SHOT GLASSES

Ingredients:
Cookie shot glass pan
3 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Baking Powder
2 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla Essence
⅔ Cup Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Brown Sugar
⅓ Cup White Sugar
½ Tsp Salt
1 ½ Sticks Butter (Melted and Cooled)
1 Cup Chocolate Melting Wafers for coating the inside (SEE NOTE)
Liquor or liqueur of your choice, or milk

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder together in a large bowl and set aside.

In another large bowl, beat the butter, vanilla, and eggs together well

Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter, stirring each addition to incorporate into the batter.

Gently mix the chocolate chips into the dough. Chill for about 10-15 minutes. This helps make the dough more manageable.

Take about two or three tablespoons of the dough, roll it into a ball about the size of a golf ball and place the ball into one of the molds in the cookie shot glass pan. Push down the dough with the metal insert, making sure the dough is pretty even all the way around. Leave the metal insert in place and trim the excess dough from the sides of the insert. Repeat with the rest of the molds. (As an alternative to pushing down into the ball of dough, you can try building a cup by putting a flat disk of dough on the bottom of the cup, building up the sides with more dough, and placing the metal insert into the dough, pressing a bit to seal.)

Bake the cookie cups around 15 minutes. Remove the cookie cups from the oven. While they’re warm, you can gently trim any excess dough from around the edges of each cookie – or not. Let the cookies cool. Extract them from the mold and repeat until you’ve used up all the dough.

Melt the wafers in the microwave, following the melting directions on the package. When the cookie cups have cooled, use a small spatula or a new, clean brush to coat the inside of each cookie with the melted chocolate. Check for holes while you’re doing this! You may need to add extra chocolate to seal the hole… or just eat that cookie. Let the chocolate cool and harden.

When the cookies have cooled, add the liquor or liqueur of your choice.

Serving: makes approximately 18.

NOTE:            Melting wafers are available at craft stores like Michaels. They come in different colors, so you can play with coating the cookie cups with the colors that are the theme of your event. You can even coat the cookie cups with blue or pink for a baby gender reveal party and fill them with milk to hide the color.

SECOND NOTE: You can try making cookie cups with other recipes, like sugar cookies or snickerdoodles. Feel free to experiment.

THIRD NOTE: If you don’t want to invest in a cookie shot glass pan, there are ways around that to create a cookie cup. You can make a rolled cookie and form it like a cup over a muffin tin. Do an internet search for “cookie cups” or “cookie shot glasses” and you’ll find an array of possibilities.





WHAT'S THE BOOK ABOUT?

Mia Carina moves back home to Queens, where her father Ravello, a capo with the Boldoni crime family, has been tasked with running a rundown banquet hall that was surrendered to him by a broke gambler. Mia has always wanted her father to go straight and she’s determined to help him run the place, with its view of Flushing Bay and the LaGuardia Airport runway, as a legitimate business. Then a body pops up – or technically, doesn’t pop up from a jump-out cake at a bachelor party. Who knew working for a catering hall could be as dangerous as working for the Mob?

GIVEAWAY

Today, I am giving away a copy of Here Comes the Body to one lucky commenter.  Tell me, have you attended a catered party? Any fun stories to share?  Remember to leave your email so I can contact you if you win.


ABOUT MARIA

Maria DiRico is the pen name of mystery author Ellen Byron. She is first-generation Italian American on her mother’s side. While growing up in Queens, Maria/Ellen's cousins ran the Astoria Manor and Grand Bay Marina catering halls. MARDI GRAS MURDER, the fourth book in Ellen's bestselling Cajun Country Mystery series, won the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel. The series has also won multiple Best Humorous Mystery Lefty awards. Ellen’s TV writing credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly Odd Parents.

Follow Maria aka Ellen here:


 

90 comments:

  1. Cookie shot glasses are new to me, but Queens and Astoria aren't! Congratulations on the first book in your new series. I'm looking forward to reading it.

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    1. Thanks so much! You know I love your series, Maya!

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  2. Love the idea of cookie shot glasses. Yes, I have been to catered parties.

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  3. Sadly I have not been to a catered event....but it would be fun! ♥ Main3(at)att(dot)net

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  4. I have been to many catered parties, but the best ones were the baby or bridal showers that my friends and I would give where we would do the catering ourselves -- so much fun! Welcome Ellen/Maria to Mystery Lovers' Kitchen and thanks for the great cookie shot recipe - it looks very decadent. bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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    1. Awww... that's so sweet. I think you're right. They are the best.

      And they are decadent!

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  6. Yes, I have been to catered parties, but no exciting stories to tell. However, maybe I will have an exciting story once I make these cookie shot glasses! They are now a “must make”! Biszemom (at) gmail (dot) com

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  7. Welcome, Ellen aka Maria and congrats on the new series!

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  8. I saw this recipe & wondered? How is this going to work? I am so happy you have pictures. How fabulous this recipe is :-)

    I worked most catered parties. I have been trying to think when I was last actually a guest. Hahaha oh yes weddings, graduations,bar mitzvah, funerals.Gee such a jetsetter life.
    LOVE LOVE your book COVER, the naughty kitty is doing what? Pawing for good frosting? Silly kitty ( "" )
    Your book has a wonderful story sounds like a spectacular read.
    Sending blessings to you BOTH for success.
    Thanks so much for this today
    Kathy levernier

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    1. Thanks, Kathy. Yup, I knew pictures would really help sell this recipe!

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  9. What a fun idea for the shot glasses! Thanks for sharing. I've been to a few catered parties. The most fun was a baby shower that the mom-to-be threw for herself! cindystamps@juno.com

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    1. Wow, good for her! I could never have done that when I was pregnant.

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  10. I don't have the mold for these but am charmed by the idea of them. Suspect the hubby would be a great fan. I have attended a catered party but don't really have a fun story to share. Will say that I did get to chat with the caterer in passing at the party. For the duration afterwards, whenever a new platter of food was circulating the waitstaff would come up to me and whisper for me to take more than one off the tray of the ones they thought were particularly good. :)
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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    1. You don't need a mold. There are other ways to create a cup. Google "make a cookie cup" or anything like that!

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  11. I've never been to a catered party before. At my age, I doubt I will in the future either. The cookie shot glasses are cute but, I will stick with cookies since I don't drink. lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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    1. You don't have to use liquor. They're perfect for milk!

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  12. I've never been to a catered party before. I love the shot glass cookies. bella_ringer@hotmail.com

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  13. I have been to a catered party before. One caterer saw how much I loved the cookies they were passing around and when I left he’d made me a little bag full of them to take home.

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  14. I've never seen cookie shot glasses before, but they look like they would be fun at a party. I recently attended a catered wedding and the food was amazing. Everyone at our table commented on how great the steaks were cooked.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. It's so nice when someone else does the work!

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  15. No, except for weddings we're pretty average for party food, although a couple of my friends put together such a good party they should be caterers.
    sallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I wish I had friends like that! Love mine but none of us are cooks, sigh...

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  16. I’ve been to a lot of catered events. The good ones are great, but I’ve also been something really bad ones. I think your recipe is ingenious! Jteastman215atgmaildotcom

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    1. Thank you! And yeah. When it's that overcooked hotel chicken, blech.

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  17. I’ve been to a few, mainly wedding receptions. At one a friend stopped by to say hello and then whirled around to leave. Her motion knocked a napkin onto the centerpiece candle. It caught fire (of course) and the catering staff shot dirty looks at us as we put it out. Of course the “arsonist” was long gone, ignorant of the event, while we were catching all the silent blame.

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    1. !!! Sorry you went through that but it's kind of a great story. ;-)

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  18. I have been to a catered party - my wedding, about four and a half years ago. We were married in the backyard of a very dear friend, and the caterers passed appetizer type foods. We had a great variety, including a mini shrimp cocktail with a vermouth based sauce! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. Yes I have but it has been awhile! Thanks for the chance to win!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  20. I didn't know that there was such a thing as a cookie shot glass pan. Cool. I have been to catered parties. Nothing funny to share other than that I was reprimanded by one of the workers that I was starting at the wrong end of the table. Oops. bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

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    1. Lol! That can create a bit of a problem. But hey, we've all done it.

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  21. Love the cookie shot cup idea!! Great for granddaughter’s college graduation in a couple of months. I have been to a few banquet hall events, mostly wedding receptions. Your pictures are great! Pplummer@gmail.com

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    1. Oh Pat, these would be perfect! Fill them with milk for the kids. And if you don't want to pony up for a cookie shot glass pan, do a search on improvised ways to make the cups. They're on the internet.

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  22. I think the only catered party I've been to was a wedding. These cookie shots look really good, I think these would go over good for our staff Christmas potluck. Now I don't have to sspend the rest of the year thinking about what to bring!
    kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Lol, you're welcome! And yes. BTW, if you don't want to get your colleagues blasted, search with milk instead of booze. ;-)

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  23. I have attended catered parties and even catered some. One I remember was a Halloween party where I served people dressed up as Galleria Mall, Jesus, and a murder victim. Very interesting evening. karengreen1121@gmail.com

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    1. Lol! Galleria Mall sounds like a particularly unique costume.

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  24. The last catered party I attended was a 50th wedding anniversary for a couple of dear friends. The food was wonderful and we had a choice of cheesecake or chocolate cake for desert.

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  25. Can't wait to read your new series. Thanks for the giveaway. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  26. I have been to several catered weddings. I hope that counts as a catered party. :)
    myrifraf (at) gmail (dot) com

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  27. I don't think I have been to one. The cookie shot recipe sounds like fun and delicious too. Thank you for the chance

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  28. Hi Ellen! Weddings are the only catered events I have attended. I would love to win your book! lindaherold999@gmail.com

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  29. Been to just 2 catered events. A wedding reception & a baby shower. The wedding reception was pretty nice & fun. The hosting couple made sure there was a decent variety of foods for different dietary needs & preferences. There was even a wide variety of desserts for different types of dietary needs. But nothing really stands out. The baby shower? This was back in 1995. We had a blast. It was there that I learned the many uses of cookies & candy. The plates our light snacks & cakes were served on were melted hard candy, edible. The bowls for the ice cream & were made from cookies. The gal just put the dough rounds on the bottom of muffin tins. She had even given an option there with scooping out apples to use as a bowl for ice cream & pudding. Or for cups tp drink punch. Did the same by She had used vegetables for serving ware. Scooping out large bell peppers of different colors to hold veggie sticks, like celery carrot, turnip, jicama. She used hollowed out ends of cucumbers as dip cups. On the bell peppers she used cucumbers as wheels, setting the peppers up to look like train cars. Almost no clean up because all was edible. The book looks like a great read. So hoping. bessdeepotter84 at gmail dot com

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    1. This sounds amazing!! I think whoever did the food for the baby shower should write an Edibles Mystery series, lol.

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  30. I have been to many weddings, showers, and banquets at hotels and restaurants, but, alas, I have no interesting stories to tell.
    This novel sounds like fun! I have driven through Astoria many times when my son and his family lived in Long Island City. I'd love to see what parts of Astoria I might recognize in the book!

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    1. Long Island City is right next door. Love to know what you recognize!

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  31. The book sounds great and the recipe is really fun!

    Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  32. Have been to many catered events but I think the one that most comes to mind is our wedding. The caterer prepared WAY too much food and we had so much food leftover that we had a completely furnished family picnic the next day (we left for our honeymoon a day later). After the picnic we still had plenty to give away and to put in the freezer. We were eating meatballs and small sandwiches for a month! My husband still refuses to eat pasta salad to this day and we’ve been married 32 yrs. Definitely got our money’s worth from that caterer!

    Can’t wait to read the book!
    Jwhite410 at yahoo dot com

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  33. Lol, that's hilarious, Jill!

    Now I want pasta salad.

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  34. i have been to several catered events. I was invited to a couple weddings and also an election fund raiser. You can tell how much time and money is invested by the type of foods served. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  35. Other than wedding receptions, the only catered party I've been to was a baby shower for my sister. We would have enjoyed these Cookie Cup Shot Glasses (for alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages).
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  36. Probably every wedding and bar mitzvah I've been to.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  37. Reading Here Comes the Body now. It will be our groups April discussion book. Looking forward to that!

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    1. Oh, that's wonderful! Cindy, email me and I'll send you some bookmarks. ellenbyronla (at) outlook (dot) com. I can also answer any questions you have.

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  38. I've been to a catered wedding, that's about it. The food was good, but in my opinion the servings were small.

    Kaomelunna88@gmail.com

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  39. I haven’t been to that many catered events, but I would love to read your new book.
    cecilialyoung at gmail dot com

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  40. Yes, I have attended several catered dinners and parties. Usually wedding rehearsal dinners and receptions -- but not always.

    donna (dot) durnell (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

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  41. Only catered events I believe that I've been to have been weddings. This sounds like such a fun book and the recipe looks great! mcastor07 (at) gmail (dot) com.

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  42. Wedding receptions, charitable dinners, and professional associations. I am always surprised at how many people go into catering because it looks nerve-racking.
    browninggloria(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  43. I've been to several wedding receptions that were catered and a handful of parties/banquets. The first thing I think of at each and every event is I'm glad it's them and not me having to do this.
    laurie(dot)anismom2(at)gmail(dot)com

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  44. Happy series birthday! I have been at various catered business lunches but no funny stories. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your new book! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

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  45. Yes. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  46. Not entering since I already have a copy, but I wanted to say THANK YOU for sharing this recipe!! We usually cater our own affairs, but I would love to try having something catered. It looks like less stress having someone else deal with the food and drinks. Lol.

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  47. I have been to catered events. It's a little difficult when you have a special diet to be at one, but most are very good at accommodating your needs. thanks for a chance to win. ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  48. I've been to a few catered events - most recently was a wedding! I was pregnant and had gestational diabetes so it was a little difficult finding something that would be okay for me to eat :( kristin.segura at gmail.com

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