Please welcome our guest Peggy Ehrhart, a former English professor with a doctorate in Medieval Literature. Peggy currently writes the Knit & Nibble mysteries for Kensington. Her amateur sleuth, Pamela Paterson, is the founder and mainstay of the Arborville, New Jersey, knitting club. Knit & Nibble #6 is Knit of the Living Dead and #7, Knitty Gritty Murder, will appear in the spring of 2021. Death of a Christmas Card Crafter, a Knit & Nibble novella, will be included in Kensington’s 2020 Christmas anthology, Christmas Card Murder. Her Maxx Maxwell mysteries, Sweet Man Is Gone and Got No Friend Anyhow feature a blues-singer sleuth.
Take it away, Peggy! And readers, don't forget to leave a comment to enter the GIVEAWAY. See below.
I’m always on the lookout for recipes that fit the homey world of my Knit & Nibble mysteries. Characters spend a lot of time cooking, and each book includes at least one recipe. When I came upon the recipe for Strawberry Spoon Cake in the New York Times recently, I was interested. But I was even more interested when I read in the introduction to the recipe that this “spoon cake” was actually a simpler version of “spoon bread.” A dish that had “bread” in its name but was served with a spoon seemed as homey as a recipe could be.
Spoon bread, I learned in researching it, is usually a side dish, not a dessert at all. The key ingredient is cornmeal and it always features beaten egg white folded into the batter right before baking. It’s a very old Southern recipe. I even found a few versions in a collection of recipes from the Great Smoky Mountains—alongside moonshine, raccoon stew, and campfire bread baked on slabs of birch bark.
This is my version of spoon bread, a dessert that exploits the late-summer bounty of peaches.
Make sure that they are very ripe.
Summer Peach Spoon Bread or something similar might show up in a future Knit & Nibble mystery.
SUMMER PEACH SPOON BREAD
Ingredients:
1 ½ cup flour
½ cup cornmeal
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup sugar plus 2 tbsp. (for the peaches)
1 cup half and half
2 eggs, separated
4 oz. butter (one stick)—melted
4 or 5 medium peaches
Peel and slice the peaches. You will have about 4 cups worth but you don’t have to be exact. Sprinkle them with 2 tbsp. sugar and set them aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together the flour, cornmeal, salt, and baking powder.
Mix in the sugar.
Whisk the egg yolks into the half and half.
Mix the result into the dry ingredients, using a large spoon or an electric mixer on medium.
Mix in the melted butter using a large spoon or an electric mixer on medium. The batter will be very buttery but that’s what makes the spoon bread amazing.
In a small bowl use an electric mixer to beat the egg whites until stiff.
Fold the egg whites into the batter using a rubber spatula.
Scoop the batter into a buttered 1 ½-quart or 2-quart baking dish. I use a fancy deep-dish pie pan. It’s fun to use a attractive baking dish if you plan to present your spoon bread with a flourish after dinner and serve it at the dinner table. (Don’t use a regular pie pan because your spoon bread will overflow.)
Scoop the peaches on top.
Bake the spoon bread at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. The fruit on top will still look juicy but at the edges of the baking dish the “bread” will be slightly brown.
Use a big spoon to serve your spoon bread. It’s delicious warm with vanilla ice cream. Leftovers should be refrigerated after a day or so.
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GIVEAWAY
Today, Peggy has offered to give away not one but 2 books. A copy of KNIT OF THE LIVING DEAD as well as an ARC of the CHRISTMAS CARD MURDER, a Kensington anthology. Leave a comment to enter Peggy's giveaway and remember to include your email so she can contact you if you win. What kinds of crafts do you do?
Peggy does not do a lot of social media. Go to her website to learn more about her wonderful books. https://peggyehrhart.com
My sister-in-law enjoys making spoon bread with local berries from the farmers market.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
This recipe sounds delicious! Thanks for the chance to win and every one have a great Labor Day weekend. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteWhat a great recipe to usher in Fall. I will miss peaches as the weather gets colder. I don’t do crafts now. When I was little I did Native American crafts with my mom. I love cozies!
ReplyDeleteMeljprincess AT aol DOT com
What an interesting idea. I’ve never had spoon bread as a desert. suefoster109 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI guess as of now my craft would be trying new recipes. I previously have done embroidery and sewing. The peach recipe and end product looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never heard of spoon bread but I’m looking forward to making it and enjoying it while I read.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking there is going to be peach cake baking while I work on masks. It looks so good.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance.And the peach cake recipe.I think my fiancé would like that.Gogo2007@rocketmail.com
ReplyDeleteThese books look amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love to sew, by hand and by machine, but my absolute favorite craft is cross stitching. So many patterns, so little time - just like cozy mysteries! But these are the things that make life a rich, fulfilling experience!
Lisacobblestone@aol.com
The bread sounds good! I enjoy doing crafts like cross stitch and making all sorts of things. bmedrano34@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteDelectable and yummy. I would make this for the family. Thanks for your great feature. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHi! Yummy recipe! I really don’t have a lot of time for baking these days. I am a teacher so I get to do crafts all year long and it’s lots of fun! In the past I sewed, did cross stitch and scrapbooking. Once life slows down again, I’ll get back to those again. Thank you for this opportunity!!
ReplyDeleteCbriggan@ncidata.com
DeleteWhat a delightful dessert. Never knew about this but I will definitely make this treat. I used to do cross stitch when I was young and enjoyed it. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteAwesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance! I usually crochet, but I have tried my hand at plastic canvas, latch hook and decoupage. Jenandalana(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for my chance. Recipe looks great
ReplyDeleteI have some ripe peaches, I’ll have to give this a try!
ReplyDeleteI do cross-stitch as a hobby. The recipe you shared looks so good!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read. can hardly wait to try tge spoonbread. I am a crocheter
ReplyDeleteI like to bake. I really don;t do crafts. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteYum, peaches! I don't do a lot of crafts. I know how to crochet. Thanks for the contest!
ReplyDeleteThat recipe looks so yummy! Thanks for the chance! almaj80(at)suddenlink(dot)net
ReplyDeleteThe recipe looks delicious. Thanks for offering the give away! Carter.karen@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI like to needlepoint . Thanks for having this great giveaway . xzjh04(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThis looks yummy. I just brought in the last of our peaches, so now is the perfect time to try this recipe.
ReplyDeleteI like crocheting and tatting, and am learning knitting and embroidery. I hate to sew but I do sometimes sew a toy for my cat. Now and then I'll design board games for family/friends gifts.
kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com
This sounds like just what my mouth was hoping for!
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
Since my husband retired, cooking is his new hobby, and baking in particular. He loves old-fashioned recipes like this. Thanks! luvlucca(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love trying new recipes. This Peach Spoon Bread looks delicious. Thank you for this chance! areewekidding(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so good!! I am definitely gonna try it!!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine eating a bowl while reading a book--2 of my favorite things to do, rolled into 1.
YUM!!! will need to try this recipe!
ReplyDeleteThanks for opportunity to win.
Diane dlkdls318@att.net
Adorable cover and like Leslie's books as well. obriena73@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI’m not very crafty but I love these covers
ReplyDeleteI don't do any crafts but I do collect cherished teddies. Thanks for the chance. jlb12563@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteSweet giveaway
ReplyDeleteI sadly don’t do any type of crafts.
ReplyDeleteKitten143 (at) Verizon (dot ) net
Kris: love Halloween and christmas❤ kharn63@earthlink.net
ReplyDeleteI just got a huge box of peaches. I'm going to make this recipe (and hopefully enjoy it while reading this book)
ReplyDeletethanks for the yummy recipe and the chance to win! amandasmother(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI haven't had spoon bread in a long time. It looks good. Thank you for the chance to win. bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com
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ReplyDeleteI like creating photo books centraleast2 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteYummy! Thanks for the delicious recipe I have enjoyed lots of peaches this summer.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting reacquainted with Counted Cross Stich. It's been over 10 years since I stitched anything.
Best of luck on your new book. Thanks for the chance to win a book. 💗
bcollin981(at)gmail(dot)com
I am totally going to make the spoon bread. The cover for Knit of the Living Dead is adorable. Thanks for the chance! ddeville14 (at) yahoo (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI've never had spoon bread, bit it looks amazing. I like to knit and I've made a felted purse I really like. My Sister makes the best felted slippers. She's a much better knitter than I am. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
The recipe sounds delicious and your book great! Looking forward to both of them! Congratulations...
ReplyDeleteI've never made spoon bread for dessert but this looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteWow that peach spoon bread looks sooo good!! Would love a chance to win!! I am a huge reader and am glad to have found you! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIn case I win: Melissa McDorman
cupcakesannie@yahoo.com
My daughter and I love to read books. We love to read your books and a lot of other mystery authors. My daughter likes to try different recipes in the kitchen for fun due to food allergies. Email address is minidoxielover4@yahoo.com.
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