MADDIE here, delighted to welcome Becky Clark as my guest today. She has a new series, and I'm so excited to read Puzzling Ink, the first in the Crossword Puzzle Mysteries. Let's hear about her recipe, which works for Thanksgiving and any other time of year. Take it away, Becky.
Redneck Ravioli AKA Comfort Squares
I’m going to go out on a limb here to say that the recipes in the back of my Crossword Puzzle Mysteries aren’t your typical fare here at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen. In the first place, they were added as a little joke to my editor, but the joke was on me because she thought it was a grand idea!
The reason it was a bit of a joke is because the main character in the series is Quinn, but the star of the kitchen is her mother, Georgeanne, who works in spices the way Vermeer worked in oils. She loves to experiment and create in her kitchen, and most of her food is quite edible, although you have to throw out any preconceived ideas about food combinations.
For instance, as PUZZLING INK opens, Georgeanne is making Cumin Cupcakes for a 4th of July event. Some have white miso frosting, some have reddish smoked paprika frosting, and some have cream of mushroom soup frosting tinted blue.
But that’s not the Thanksgiving recipe I’ll be sharing with you. You’re
welcome.
In PUZZLING INK, Georgeanne knows Quinn had a bad day, so she welcomes her home with some Redneck Ravioli that she renames Comfort Squares because they’re the ultimate comfort food: pie crust, mashed potatoes, cheese, peanut butter and jelly, or really, anything you like. Whatever you’re craving stuffed into buttery pastry … what could be more comforting than that?? And isn't it a perfect Thanksgiving appetizer? Here's the recipe -- in Georgeanne’s words.
Georgeanne’s Redneck Ravioli AKA Comfort
Squares
Makes more than a few, less than a lot
Basically, these are stuffed pillows of comfort foods, which are different for everyone, so adapt to your comfort level … pun intended.
You’ll need a pie crust, store bought or homemade. Roll it out thin and then cut it into 2-inch squares, or use a cookie cutter about that size. It doesn’t need to be square, but then you’ll have to call these something different. You might have a small juice glass about 2-inches across. I just checked my cabinet and I do, so you probably do, too.
Cut out as many as you can, but you’ll need an even number.
Press the scraps together and roll out again, as many times as you need to.
Your number of squares will depend on how thinly you roll them out.
Cover a cookie sheet with foil or parchment if you don’t want to wash the cookie sheet afterward.
Now, you get to decide on your fillings. You can make them all the same or make each one different. Here’s where you make this recipe your own. The only mistake you can make with these is to fill them too full because then it oozes out and makes a mess. A delicious mess, especially if the cheese gets crispy, but a mess nonetheless.
Here at the Carr house, when Quinn is upset she goes for anything cheesy. I like the sweet stuff, and Dan likes everything, so I always make a variety. When Quinn was little, she used to love using a can of squirt cheese to decorate the tops of hers.
These are some combinations we like:
• mashed potatoes, chocolate pudding, and cheddar cheese
• peanut butter, cheddar cheese, and chocolate pudding
• cream cheese and jelly
• hummus and black olives
• mandarin orange slices (canned, drained) and chocolate
pudding
• chocolate pudding and cream cheese
• cream cheese and green olives
• cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and hummus
• peanut butter and dill pickle chips
• just cheddar cheese
• peanut butter and jelly
• peanut butter, banana, and bacon bits
• cheddar cheese and black olives
I could go on, but I think one of my piano students is waiting for me. Just know you can’t go wrong with your favorite flavors. And remember not to yuck somebody’s yum. If we all liked the same thing, you’d be married to Dan, too!
So, once you have an even number of pie crust squares, plop
a heaping teaspoon or so of filling in the center of one. If you use more,
you’ll have trouble pinching the edges closed.
You’ll see I’ve made Nutella and banana, peanut butter and jelly, mashed potatoes and cheese, mashed potatoes and corn, and cream cheese and green olive. Look around your kitchen … what could you use? Your turkey day guests are bound to be delighted.
Cover it with another square, then using a fork, press the
edges together, forming your pillow of delight. Place on the cookie sheet.
Brush both sides with melted butter if you like, and sprinkle with salt or
cinnamon sugar or whatever you want.
Bake at 400° for 10-12 minutes or until they’re golden brown. Let them cool if you can, but I won’t judge you when you can’t help yourself and start popping these in your mouth. Goodness knows that’s what Quinn, Dan, and I do!
I’d love to know what filling you created. Send an email and photo to Becky@BeckyClarkBooks.com, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Meet Quinn and Georgeanne in PUZZLING INK, the first in Becky Clark’s new Crossword Puzzle Mysteries, which released on November 3rd. One random commenter will win a copy of the ebook.
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085LTVY49
Signed copies through Books Are Awesome bookstore: https://www.booksareawesome.org/
Be sure to sign up at BeckyClarkBooks.com for Becky’s “So Seldom It’s Shameful” emails to get all the details on her book news.
Award-winning author Becky Clark is the seventh of eight kids, which explains both her insatiable need for attention and her atrocious table manners. She likes to read funny books so it felt natural to write them too. She surrounds herself with quirky people and pets who end up as characters in her books. Readers say her books are “fast and thoroughly entertaining” with “witty humor and tight writing” and “humor laced with engaging characters” so you should “grab a cocktail and enjoy the ride.” Subscribe to her mailing list to apply to be part of her Review Crew and read her books before they’re published. She writes the Mystery Writers Mysteries, and the Crossword Puzzle Mysteries.
Find Becky on her website and join her private group on Facebook.
Follow Becky at BookBub ... https://www.bookbub.com/profile/becky-clark, on Amazon … https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004NQO14I, and at Goodreads … https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4730815.Becky_Clark
