Saturday, April 25, 2026

Smilodon Grilled Cheese Sandwiches recipe from Molly MacRae

 

Smilodons, also known as saber-toothed cats (or incorrectly as saber-toothed tigers) packed a wallop of a bite. So do these grilled cheese sandwiches. My family has become very fond of them and they’re one of our in-house versions of fast food. For variety, you might try rye bread, sliced fresh avocado, or another kind of cheese. We use fake bacon to make them vegetarian, but Smilodons were meat eaters, so don’t be shy about using real bacon. We also don’t bother to butter the bread. Saves time, saves calories, saves on greasy fingers, and you end up with a nice crisp sandwich. Feel free to butter away, though, if you want.

We usually use Morningstar Farm vegetarian bacon but weren’t able to find it one week. We didn’t think the brand we did find was as good. Sadly the same was true of the ready-made guacamole we found. We still enjoyed the sandwiches.

I served the sandwiches with mustard roasted potatoes.

 

Smilodons – they’ve got bite!

 

Ingredients

Sourdough bread

Bacon (or vegetarian alternative), cooked

1 or 2 ripe Avocados, sliced, or guacamole (readymade from the produce section is fine)

Jalapeño pepper, diced

Monterey Jack cheese, sliced (or pepper jack)

 

Directions

Heat your skillet.

Build your sandwich in layers (with as much or little of each ingredient as suits your taste): 1st slice of bread, cheese, guacamole, jalapeño pepper slices, bacon, more cheese, 2nd slice of bread.





Place sandwich(es) in the heated skillet and brown on both sides.



Serve and bite!

 

💕 click here for a free, printable pdf of this recipe 💕

 

 

Now available for pre-order – All Shell Breaks Loose

book 3 in the Haunted Shell Shop Mysteries!

 

On North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island, Maureen Nash sells exquisite seashells to locals and tourists—with Bonny the shop cat and the ghost of a Welsh pirate for company. And when needed, she steps in to help the police solve a murder . . .

Dr. Irving Allred is boasting around town that he’s about to get his hands on an authentic haunted sword. But minutes after Maureen hears the story, a woman walks into the Moon Shell, sword in hand. She found it while walking her bulldog on the beach—and its blade is stained with what looks like blood. Looks like it’s time to call the sheriff’s department.

Allred is furious that his prize is now in police custody—and even more agitated that an unknown buyer was trying to outbid him. He’s convinced the sword will lead him straight to the ghosts he’s been hunting. He’s not the only one on the Outer Banks who’s been searching for spirits, though. An odd visitor also showed up at Maureen’s shop claiming the ability to sense them . . . though somehow she didn’t seem to notice Maureen’s spectral friend hanging about.

When a man who’d been camping nearby is found cut down along the shore, Maureen starts providing some unofficial assistance to Captain Rob Tate by digging into the island’s maritime history. But it’s not the only mystery she’s facing—because the shop’s resident ghost is seeing ghosts himself . . .





 


Happy reading!

 

The Boston Globe says Molly MacRae writes “murder with a dose of drollery.” She’s the author of the award-winning, national bestselling Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries and the Highland Bookshop Mysteries. As Margaret Welch, she writes books for Annie’s Fiction. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and she’s a winner of the Sherwood Anderson Award for Short Fiction. Visit Molly on Facebook and Pinterest and connect with her on Instagram or Bluesky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Friday, April 24, 2026

Salmon Quesadillas @MaddieDayAuthor #giveaway

MADDIE DAY here, greeting you from the Malice Domestic mystery convention in North Bethesda, Maryland!




It's always exciting to be at Malice chatting with fans and author pals. 

I'm also thrilled that this year "While the Iron is Hot" is nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Short story!


The story, which you can read for free on my web site, opens with a woman ironing money. Fingers crossed I'll go home with an Agatha teapot. 

I'm also excited that A Poisonous Pour, the third Cece Barton mystery, releases next week. I knew I would be out of town today, and I wanted to bring you another recipe of something Cece would love to eat. She doesn't eat meat, and she loves any Mexican/Southwestern kind of dish, especially if it includes avocados (kind of like her author...).

Last week I had some leftover cooked salmon, so I thought quesadillas would be a perfect recipe to share here. It's super easy, and you can sub in cooked chicken or beef if you don't like fish, or refried beans if you're a vegetarian. Just make sure you have a ripe avocado on hand. 

Salmon Quesadillas

Ingredients


Flour tortillas
1/2 to 1 pound cooked salmon
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Juice of half a lime
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces grated cheese (I used pepper jack)
Salsa of your choice
Sour cream
Ripe avocado, sliced
Shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes

Directions
Rough-shred salmon and season it with cumin, chili powder, and lime juice.



Heat olive oil in heavy skillet over medium heat.

For each quesadilla:
Place one tortilla in pan.
Spread half with salmon and grated cheese. 



Fold empty half on top. Cook until the bottom is lightly browned, then flip. (Sorry, I forgot to take a photo of the cooked quesadilla undressed.)

If your skillet size permits, do the same with another tortilla so you can serve two hot at the same time. Otherwise, keep the first one warm.

Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream, salsa, several slices of avocado, and a sprinkle of lettuce and tomato.


 
See how easy it is?

Readers: Do you like the ease of a simple recipe or opt for something more challenging? I'll send one lucky commenter a copy of A Poisonous Pour.

And if you're at the conference, please find me and say hi!

🌮🐟🧀

Murder at Cape Costumers is out and available wherever book are sold!




Next up is A Poisonous Pour! This third Cece Barton mystery releases April 28.



My most recent releases are Scone Cold Dead#13 in the Country Store Mysteries,









Check out all my writing.




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.


Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell) is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in Linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-winning and bestselling author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and sweet cat Martin north of Boston, where she’s currently working on her next mystery when she isn’t cooking up something delectable in the kitchen.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

GUEST: Daryl Wood Gerber Kale Leek Mushroom Quiche #giveaway @vmburns #recipe

 VMBURNS: Today, I'm thrilled to have Daryl Wood Gerber in the kitchen. She's sharing information about her new book, a lovely recipe, and a fantastic giveaway! Welcome, Daryl!



DARYL WOOD GERBER: I’m so excited to be here. I had such a blast writing my latest release, MURDER IN A LAVENDER DAZE and can’t wait to share it with the world. I did a lot of research about aroma therapy. I learned more about mindful meditations, too. As for the main event, a happily divorced party, I came up with the idea when I was in Arizona doing a book signing at the Poisoned Pen. On my way there, I saw a pedal bus filled with happy young women pumping their legs while gleefully sipping beverages, and I wondered what they were celebrating. It wasn’t a bridesmaid contingency. No one was wearing a veil. I told my writing pals about it and asked for suggestions, and one of them said someone is getting happily divorced. Done! Nailed! Loved it! I told my editor the idea and she was totally on board.

If you’re not familiar with the Aroma Wellness Mysteries, it features a spa in the Courtyard of Peace located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The owner also has a café and gift shop. At the gift shop, customers can browse wind chimes and essential oils and beautiful candles. At the café, they can dine on good-for-you food . . . that tastes good!

Emma owns the spa with her grandmother. Her cousin Sierra, who is like a sister to her, runs the café. She’s always trying to give Emma advice about what to eat.

This quiche, which is so simple that you can probably make it blindfolded—as long as you use a premade pie crust—contains kale. Now, I’m not a raw kale fan. It’s just a tad too crunchy for me, but when cooked, it’s delicious. And kale is good for you. It contains antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and may also help protect against cancer. You can also count on kale to help support the health of your eyes, your immune system, and, yes, even your heart. Last but not least, kale is filling and low in calories, so it can help you maintain a healthy weight.

Unless of course, you’re eating it in a quiche because, let’s face it, quiche has cheese, eggs, milk, and pastry, so . . . it’s not super low calorie, but you only need one slice—approximately 300 calories and 14 grams of protein!

Enjoy!



Kale Leek Mushroom Quiche

(Yield: 1 quiche, 6 servings)

2 large leeks, whites only 2 cups chopped kale

¼ cup shitake mushrooms, rinsed and diced 2 tablespoons olive oil 5 eggs

⅓ cup milk

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon white pepper ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons prepared mustard

¾ cup grated Gruyère cheese 9-inch pie crust (regular or gluten-free)

Rinse leeks and slice off the green ends. Discard and use only the whites. Chop the whites. Sauté leeks over medium heat with the olive oil, about 3 minutes.


Add the chopped kale and diced shitake mushrooms, and sauté about 2–3 minutes more.



Remove from heat and allow the vegetables to cool slightly.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and spices. Mix in the grated Gruyère cheese.

Place kale, leeks, and shitake mushrooms in pie crust. Pour egg mixture over.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 35–45 minutes.


READERS: To Quiche or not to quiche? Kale? Spinach? Ham and cheese? What's your favorite? Let me know in the comments below. One lucky person will win a tote bag, swag and choice of one of three books. 


MURDER IN A LAVENDER DAZE



Emma Brennan always knew that her idyllic California hometown of Carmel-by-the-Sea would be the perfect place to open her very own spa. The success of her Aroma Wellness Spa, gift shop, and café has proved her right. But while the business is located in the Courtyard of Peace, Emma finds herself privy to events that are far from serene—like murder . . .

With its soothing décor and tempting treatments, customers are flocking to Aroma Wellness for more than just facials and massages. Lately, Emma has been booking private events, from spa parties to bridal showers and birthdays. Next on her calendar is something really unique: A “Happily Divorced” party.

After eight years of marriage, Addison Lacey is divorcing her husband, whom she claims convinced her he was Mr. Nice Guy when he was really Mr. Controlling Guy. To kick off her journey toward becoming a better version of herself, Addison wants to celebrate, bigtime. Her wealthy mother, Gianna, a former model turned difficult diva, is footing the bill. . . . But when Emma goes to Gianna’s home to pick up the final payment, she and Addison find her dead in her bed amid the aroma of lavender, with an herbal-infused pillow from the party nearby.

Soon, Addison is a prime suspect. But Emma knows there are plenty of others Gianna rubbed the wrong way, including her soon-to-be ex-son-in-law. Once 
again, with the help of her cousin, her nana, and her trusted Birman cat, Vivi, Emma is determined to sniff out a killer—whether the police like it or not . . .

BUY LINK


WEBSITE: https://darylwoodgerber.com

FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/darylwoodgerber

BOOKBUB: https://bookbub.com/authors/daryl-wood-gerber

YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/woodgerb1

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/darylwoodgerber GOODREADS: https://goodreads.com/darylwoodgerber

BLUE SKY: @darylwoodgerber.bsky.social AMAZON: amazon: https://bit.ly/Daryl_Wood_Gerber_page https://bit.ly/3SenzVy




Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, Aroma Wellness Mysteries, Fairy Garden Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense novels, including the well-received Accidental Murder, The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams trilogy. Daryl has published a standalone Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays, and her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: https://darylwoodgerber.com

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Japanese-Style Potato Salad #recipe by @LeslieKarst

    

When my character Valerie goes to her first meeting of the neighborhood orchid society she’s just joined in Murder, Local Style, she brings a dish to share—as is the tradition here on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. That dish, which proves very popular, is a Japanese-style potato salad. 

 



What sets this potato salad off from its American and German counterparts is the inclusion of a variety of unexpected vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, and cucumber), as well as the use of Kewpie mayonnaise. Using this Japanese brand of mayo—made with yolks only, as well as a special blend of vinegar and spices—is a must, as it’s what gives the dish its distinct creaminess and strong hit of umami. 


Kewpie mayonnaise can be found in the Asian food aisle of most supermarkets, or online. (Note that there are two varieties of Kewpie mayo—the Japanese one with a hugging baby, a Kewpie doll, on the label, and an American version depicting a sandwich. Make sure to buy the Japanese one.)


The salad is traditionally made with peeled potatoes, but I prefer to keep the skins on—it’s your choice. And either Persian or Japanese cucumbers work best, as they have fewer seeds, though any variety will work fine.


Japanese-Style Potato Salad

(serves 8-10) 


Ingredients


3 pounds Yukon Gold or similar potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks (about 8 cups)

2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch discs.

4 whole garlic cloves, peeled

2 dried bay leaves

1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon salt, divided (plus more to taste)

1 cup corn kernels (canned, fresh, or frozen)

1 cup peas (fresh or frozen—not canned)

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1¼ cup Kewpie mayonnaise

1 teaspoon black pepper (plus more for garnish)

1 medium cucumber, cut lengthwise into quarters, then thinly sliced

4 green onions, coarsely chopped

 




Directions


Place potatoes, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, and 1 tablespoon salt into a large pot and cover with cold water by at least 1 inch. 

 



Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium and simmer, uncovered, until a fork can just pierce the potatoes (about 7 minutes). Add the corn and peas and continue to simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender (about 3 more minutes).

 



Drain the vegetables, discarding the garlic cloves and bay leaves, and transfer while warm to a large bowl. 

 



Add the vinegar and remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and toss to combine. Add the Kewpie mayonnaise and the black pepper and toss again, until everything is evenly coated with the mayo. 

 



Chill, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooled (30-60 minutes). Add the cucumber and two-thirds of the green onions and toss. Season to taste with more salt, if necessary.

 




Garnish with more black pepper and the rest of the onions.


🌱  🍋  🌿

 

Just Released!

Orchid Isle Mystery  #3

MURDER, LOCAL STYLE

Available for purchase here.

 

"The beauties and customs of Hawai‘i provide a striking backdrop for a murder with an unexpected motive."

Kirkus Reviews 

 


 🍍 🌴 🍹

 

Out now in paperback!

Orchid Isle Mystery  #2

WATERS OF DESTRUCTION

Buy link here

 

2026 Lefty and Agatha Award Finalist

for Best Mystery/Contemporary Mystery!

 

"Immerse yourself in Hawaiian lore and savor the portrayal of the stunning landscapes
while enjoying the entertaining mystery."

Kirkus Reviews

 



Also available

in paperback!

MOLTEN DEATH

Orchid Isle Mystery  #1

Buy link here

 

2025 Lefty Award Finalist

for Best Mystery!

 

“Karst’s first Orchid Isle novel is part murder mystery, part vividly evocative, colorful sketch of Hawaii and its history, geography, tradition, culture, food, language, and people. Armchair travelers and mystery aficionados alike will find it entertaining.”

Booklist

 


This first book in my brand-new Orchid Isle mystery series features retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen who, on a trip to the Big Island of Hawai‘i, swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions when a hike to an active lava flow turns deadly. 

 

Praise for MOLTEN DEATH:


“a compelling read that will enlighten, engage, and entertain, leaving readers longing for their next trip to the Orchid Isle.”

--New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay




“a terrific debut to a series that will go on my must read list!”

--USA Today bestselling author Deborah Crombie

 

 

A SENSE FOR MURDER

2024 Lefty Award Finalist

for Best Humorous Mystery!

This newest Sally Solari mystery

is available for purchase here !

 

Praise for A SENSE FOR MURDER:

 

“[Sally is] sassy, irresistible company... Culinary cozy fans will be in heaven.”

 --Publishers Weekly

 

“An enjoyable read for mystery mavens and foodies alike.”

--Kirkus Reviews




Justice is Served:  A Tale of Scallops,

the Law, and Cooking for RBG

is the 2024 Silver Medal Winner for both the

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award

and the IPPY Award!


Buy link here



 

 
 
Praise for Justice is Served:
 
"a suspenseful, exhilarating memoir; Karst relays her determination to serve the 'perfect' meal to RBG alongside an uplifting, enlightening portrayal of one of the most admired justices in the history of the Supreme Court." 
 

-Foreword Reviews (starred review)

 

"[This] book is a romp from cover to cover—and, just like a great meal, left me ready for more."

-Karen Shimizu, executive editor, Food & Wine-



All of the Sally Solari Mysteries (as well as my other books) are available through AmazonBarnes and Noble, and Bookshop.