MADDIE DAY here, delighted to bring you a recipe from Batter Off Dead!
The book takes place amid a hot July. The present-day murder happens during Friday night fireworks in South Lick, Indiana. Eerily, it echoes an unsolved murder from long ago. Will Robbie Jordan be able to solve one or both? You'll have to read the book to find out. Luckily, you don't have long to wait - it releases February 22.
And look - my box of books arrived early!
Read down for a giveaway.
As a few of us discussed around the kitchen table last Sunday, it can be hard to find summer ingredients while iced-in during the winter - like now. This easy yummy salad calls for fresh basil. But, oh, my. The only basil I could find this week was tired, indeed. And I was fresh out of lemons. So I took the liberty to transform the salad into a delicious side dish served hot.
Orzo Salad
In Batter Off Dead, Robbie’s husband Abe
makes this easy side dish for a July Sunday night dinner.
3 cups cooked orzo, tossed while warm with 1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
½ cup sliced marinated artichoke hearts
Fresh basil leaves, slivered
2 additional tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or rice wine vinegar
Directions
Toss all ingredients and serve at room temperature.
Option one: Add other Mediterranean vegetables
like halved cherry tomatoes, diced sweet red pepper, and diced roasted
eggplant.
Option two: In the winter, add a tablespoon basil
pesto and omit the lemon juice or vinegar. Serve as a warm side dish. This is what I did last week.
We enjoyed it with sauteed chicken, a green salad, and a glass of chilled white. Plus a good book, of course!
Readers: What's your favorite side dish with chicken? I'll send one commenter a signed copy of Batter Off Dead!
I hope you'll join me and nine other cozy mystery authors in a fun Facebook party on February 22 (2-22-22!) with chat and games and giveaways. We'll not only celebrate my release but also the tenth book birthday of the Country Store Mysteries. Find us here.
My most recent release is Murder at the Lobstah Shack, the third Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery.
We hope you'll visit Maddie and her Agatha Award-winning alter ego Edith Maxwell on our web site, sign up for our monthly newsletter, visit us on social media, and check our all our books and short stories.
My favorite thing to have with chicken is rice and broccoli
ReplyDeleteWell phooey, Nancy A. took my answer....lol But that is a fav, especially roasted broccoli with garlic.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite side is with chicken is brown rice.
ReplyDeleteKitten143 (at) Verizon (dot) net
MADDIE/EDITH: Thanks for those two options to modify your orzo side dish. I love artichokes and olives and I have plenty of basil pesto in the freezer.
ReplyDeleteMy fave side dish with chicken would be roasted root veggies: carrots, beets, parsnips.
If I'm grilling the chicken my family enjoys Italian potatoes. If we're baking the chicken it's usually some kind of rice and vegetable. Veggies are a must and in most cases it's whatever is on hand.
ReplyDeleteThe orzo dish sounds delicious and easy enough for me to make! I can’t wait for Batter Off Dead…I love Robbie, Abe, and the rest of the group. My favorite side dish with chicken is broccoli and rice casserole. cking78503(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteChris, congratulations! You are the lucky winner. Please check your email.
DeleteTaters or corn, broccoli or carrots. Chicken is the most frequent meal in our house, so I vary the sides. Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeleteDepends what kind of chicken I’m making/recipe I’m using but usually a rice of some kind lol cannot wait to read Batter Off Dead!
ReplyDeletePotatoes are a must, and corn or peas.
ReplyDeletekozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favorite side dish with chicken is jasmine rice and broccoli. Love your books. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeletejarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love to cook chicken, potatoes and fresh green beans together. just cover with ranch seasoning ,salt, pepper and lots of butter. Bake and it's delicious
ReplyDeleteangelagillooley@gmail.com
DeleteThank you for specifying "marinated artichoke hearts." Recipes often say "artichoke hearts", but don't specify which kind. There's a big difference.
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying pre-cooked russet potatoes (cut side down) added to the pan of whatever I'm roasting so they are in the juices/fat produced.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
I don’t have a set side. It’s usually baked sweet potatoes, corn or green beans
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon(.)net
My favorite side dish with chicken is potatoes or rice and Brussels sprouts or cauliflower. The orzo dish looks like a dish I would enjoy.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
For most chicken dishes, rice is a natural. But my favorite is a sweet potato casserole!
ReplyDeleteChicken is so versatile, easy to pair with any side like rice, potatoes or pasta. I especially love roasted veggies, so easy and delicious! lola777_22 at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI like a baked potato and roasted brussel sprouts or roasted asparagas with chicken. 3labsmom(at)gmail(dot)com.
ReplyDeleteGood old fashioned mashed potatoes and chicken gravy!!
ReplyDeletelindalou64(@)live(dot)com
Hmm, I think I'd like it best with rice--flavorsome saffron-y rice, or maybe delicious rice that has been baked with mushroom soup and topped off with onion soup mix?
ReplyDeletejsmith[delete brackets]3may[delete brackets]2011
[at symbol]
yahoo[dot]com
Mine is broccoli salad, thanks for sharing your recipe! tWarner419@aol.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite to have with chicken is dressing. My husband likes potatoes and gravy.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite side with chicken is broccoli. lkish77123 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteDoes wine count as a side dish? NO? Okay, Biscuits, Mashed potatoes, and country gravy.
ReplyDeleteoops, forgot my email address:
DeleteBattyDawna@gmail.com
Potatoes or sweet potatoes, with broccoli or string beans. I could eat chicken every day, one of my favorite foods!
ReplyDeleteChris is the lucky winner. Congratulations, and please check your email!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for these yummy-sounding sides.
The recipe sounds good. Think I'll try it soon. conney.parkhurst@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the Orzo Salad recipe dear Maddie! I must make it, and will buy ingredients this week. My favorite side dish to chicken is my wife's delicious coleslaw! Yummy! Thanks for the chance to receive your generous gift of "Batter Off Dead". CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT! Luis at ole dot travel
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to make orzo salad and I forgot all about it. Thank you for this post and the recipe! I will try this during the week.
ReplyDelete