Showing posts with label Soufflé of Suspicion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soufflé of Suspicion. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Gluten-free Angel Food Cake #recipe from author @DarylWoodGerber + book #giveaway



From Daryl:

There's a book giveaway below so don't miss it.  Why a giveaway? Because my new novel of suspense comes out next week.  DESOLATE SHORES.  It's already getting great reviews on Net Galley and Goodreads...  On my website, I share why I wrote the book and a bit about the characters.  Plus there's a book trailer and book club questions. You can view all that HERE.

In the meantime, I love angel food cake, but I've been afraid to make it ever since I became gluten-free (20 years ago) because I felt it would fall flat. Who needs a flat angel food cake? Ugh. 

But feeling adventuresome, I searched the Internet for inspiration. I found a number of recipes, but when I landed on the King Arthur version, I knew I was good to go. Why? Becuase they had a step-by-step video to prove to me it would work.

Now, here's a tip. Do NOT use boxed or bottled egg whites. They won't work. For any angel food cake.

FYI, I took samples of the cake to my sister, who is also gluten-free. She became a convert.  And it freezes well. How about that? 

Gluten-Free Angel Food Cake
King Arthur’s recipe

3/4 cup gluten-free flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 superfine sugar (*YES, THIS MATTERS!)
1 1/2 cups egg white (10-11 large eggs separated; maybe reserve yolks for a pound cake)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract, optional
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons superfine sugar

Questions answered on the King Arthur site and from me:

*Can you substitute granulated sugar? Yes, but it’ll take much longer for the egg whites to attain their required volume, and the cake’s texture won’t be as fine.

*Can I use bottled egg whites? No. They will not fluff up like real eggs. I TRIED. Ugh.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, with a rack in the lower third. You want to give your cake plenty of room to rise without burning the top.

In a small bowl, whisk together and then sift the flour, cornstarch and ¾ cup superfine sugar. Set aside.

In a large, clean (grease-free) mixing bowl, beat together the egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar until thick and foamy. 

Add the vanilla and almond extract.  Gradually increase the speed of the mixer and continue beating until the egg whites have increased in volume and thickened.

Gradually beat in the 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar, a bit at a time, until the meringue holds soft peaks.

Gently fold in the sifted flour/sugar blend 1/4 cup at a time, just until incorporated.

Spoon the batter in an ungreased 10” round angel food pan. Gently tap the pan on the counter to settle the batter and remove any large air bubbles.

Bake the cake until it’s a deep golden brown and the top springs back when touched, approximately 45 minutes.

Remove the cake from the oven and invert the pan onto the neck of a heatproof bottle or funnel to cool the cake upside down for 2 hours.

Remove the cake from the pan by running a knife around the edge of the cake. Turn the cake onto a plate.

Cut the cake with a serrated knife.  If it’s difficult to slice, wet the knife and clean in between each slice.

Serve with whipped cream and fruit. Wrap any leftovers in airtight saran.  Refrigerate.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS FROM KING ARTHUR:

Tips for success:
Be sure your mixing bowl is absolutely clean; also, separate your egg whites carefully. The tiniest bit of fat or speck of egg yolk will inhibit the egg whites from beating up thick and foamy.

Cold eggs are easiest to separate. Don't worry about warming your egg whites to room temperature; they'll warm slightly while you're getting your other ingredients ready. 

Don't over-whip your egg whites. Many recipes tell you to whip the whites until they hold a stiff peak, but it's better to whip only until the peaks are still soft enough to slump over at their peak. Under-beating slightly allows the air cells in the beaten whites to expand during baking without rupturing.  

Directions call for you to both whisk and sift the dry ingredients. This might seem excessive in this time-challenged era, but each action performs a separate function: whisking makes sure the ingredients are evenly distributed; and sifting lightens them, removes any lumps, and allows the mixture to be mixed into the egg whites with little effort. 

Finally, to retain the egg whites' volume, use the whisk attachment from a stand mixer, or a balloon whisk, to gently “fold” the dry ingredients into the beaten egg whites.










GIVEAWAY

ANY of my books except for my new book DESOLATE SHORES because I don't have any copies yet.  Leave a comment and tell me whether you pre-order books? Or tell me if you watch foodie demonstrations before you cook. What do you like about them?



What is the first Aspen Adams novel of suspense about?



A chilling murder, an elusive killer, and a family mystery that hits too close to home . . .

After finding the body of her best friend on the icy shores of Lake Tahoe, Aspen Adams refuses to stand by and watch as the local sheriff’s department begins their search for the killer. Launching her own investigation, she’s soon confronted with a growing array of secrets—both about the friend she thought she knew and about many of the people in her own life. As fragmentary clues and escalating dangers threaten to derail her, she must also cope with the disturbing behavior of her deadbeat sister and troubled teenage niece.

Determined to overcome her personal demons over past failures, Aspen is driven to unravel the conflicting evidence and a shifting range of suspects to bring the killer to justice, even as a family trauma unfolds that threatens to upend her life. And as her investigation inexorably leads her to a shocking discovery and taunts her with a solution that is just out of reach, Aspen realizes that the killer wants nothing more than to see her and her niece dead . . .

Preorder HERE, trade paperback and e-book, coming August 13th.


SAVOR THE MYSTERY!
 
Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter
Follow Avery on Twitter
Follow both of us on Pinterest
Plus check out my website
Follow Daryl on Bookbub

A SOUFFLÉ OF SUSPICION, the 2nd French Bistro Mystery.
Can Mimi prove her chef innocent before the chef gets dusted?
Click here to order.

A DEADLY ÉCLAIR, the 1st French Bistro Mysteries, in all formats.
Can Mimi clear her name before the killer turns up the heat?
Click here to order.

SIFTING THROUGH CLUES, the 8th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before her friend Pepper’s goose is cooked. 
Click here to order


WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES, the 7th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer
Click here to order.

FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery by Avery Aames.
Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!
Click to order.

GIRL ON THE RUN, a stand-alone suspense.
When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, Chessa Paxton must run for her life...but will the truth set her free?
Click to order

DAY OF SECRETS, a stand-alone suspense
A mother he thought was dead. A father he never knew. An enemy that wants them dead.
Click here to order

DESOLATE SHORES, an Aspen Adams novel of suspense
In the secrets lies the truth...
Click here to order



Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Fish with Mango Salsa #recipe from author @DarylWoodGerber



From Daryl:

I've been on a fish kick lately. I buy the frozen packets at Costco and dress them up. Last week I shared a lime sauce recipe that is perfect for white fish. And it might be good for chicken.

This week, I'm sharing another fish topping that is most definitely great on chicken.

I went to the local fruit and veggies market. It's such a great place. Family owned. Packed with goodies.  I particularly love their strawberries.They had everything I needed to make this a really delicious and simple addition to a summer barbecue dinner.

Enjoy.


Mango Salsa


For each piece of fish (or chicken), figure approximately 2 tablespoons of each item per portion of salsa.

Mango, chopped
Strawberries, diced
Avocado, diced
1 teaspoon balsamic vinaigrette dressing
(*I use Paul Newman's creamy vinaigrette.)

In a small bowl, mix the mango, strawberries, avocado, and dressing.  Serve in large portions on each piece of fish…or chicken…or salad.  This is simply delicious.

Don't like mango? Use papaya.

Don't like strawberries or avocado? Use melon.

It's super easy to swap this out.

I broiled my fish. You can barbecue, bake, or pan fry. 



I must admit vinaigrette dressing makes the avocados look, um, brown. If you like, use a lighter "colored" dressing. Maybe use white vinegar or rice vinegar?

NEWS!

My new book DESOLATE SHORES, the first Aspen Adams Novel of Suspense, 
comes out August 13. Have you pre-ordered?



A chilling murder, an elusive killer, and a family mystery that hits too close to home . . .

After finding the body of her best friend on the icy shores of Lake Tahoe, Aspen Adams refuses to stand by and watch as the local sheriff’s department begins their search for the killer. Launching her own investigation, she’s soon confronted with a growing array of secrets—both about the friend she thought she knew and about many of the people in her own life. As fragmentary clues and escalating dangers threaten to derail her, she must also cope with the disturbing behavior of her deadbeat sister and troubled teenage niece.

Determined to overcome her personal demons over past failures, Aspen is driven to unravel the conflicting evidence and a shifting range of suspects to bring the killer to justice, even as a family trauma unfolds that threatens to upend her life. And as her investigation inexorably leads her to a shocking discovery and taunts her with a solution that is just out of reach, Aspen realizes that the killer wants nothing more than to see her and her niece dead . . .

Preorder HERE, trade paperback and e-book, coming August 13th.


SAVOR THE MYSTERY!
 
Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter
Follow Avery on Twitter
Follow both of us on Pinterest
Plus check out my website
Follow Daryl on Bookbub

A SOUFFLÉ OF SUSPICION, the 2nd French Bistro Mystery.
Can Mimi prove her chef innocent before the chef gets dusted?
Click here to order.

A DEADLY ÉCLAIR, the 1st French Bistro Mysteries, in all formats.
Can Mimi clear her name before the killer turns up the heat?
Click here to order.

SIFTING THROUGH CLUES, the 8th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before her friend Pepper’s goose is cooked. 
Click here to order


WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES, the 7th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer
Click here to order.

FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery by Avery Aames.
Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!
Click to order.

GIRL ON THE RUN, a stand-alone suspense.
When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, Chessa Paxton must run for her life...but will the truth set her free?
Click to order

DAY OF SECRETS, a stand-alone suspense
A mother he thought was dead. A father he never knew. An enemy that wants them dead.
Click here to order

DESOLATE SHORES, an Aspen Adams novel of suspense
In the secrets lies the truth...
Click here to order



Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Fish with Lime Ginger Sauce #recipe plus book #giveaway from author @DarylWoodGerber



From Daryl:

During the summer, I like to eat a lot of fish. There's something about the hot temperatures, I suppose. White fish "looks" cool and refreshing. Plus, fruit sauces really appeal to me. I shared a yummy salsa recipe in my newsletter. Did you get it? If not, don't fret. I'll be sharing it here in a few weeks. For today, I'm sharing a lime ginger sauce. Now, I must admit I didn't think ahead. Oops. I should have kept a slice of lime for decorating the fish. It was just for me, so I didn't care, but the photos looks sort of plain. Harrumph. But it was delicious! Promise.

Speaking of my newsletter, do you like getting them? Do you read them? Do you get too many and feel inundated? They are one of the best ways for us authors to connect with readers who are truly fans. Some of you might not do Facebook or Twitter or other social media. We want to be able to tell you about ourselves and our new releases.

So to enter today's GIVEAWAY, tell me: what can we authors do to entice you to sign up for our newsletters and to read them? See below.

Lime Ginger Sauce
(2 portions) 

1 clove garlic, finely grated
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons simple syrup  (1 tablespoon water with 1 tablespoon sugar)
1 tablespoon  olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger root (or 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4  (4-5ounce) portions black cod or other mild white fish such as mahi mahi
lime or parsley for garnish, if desired

Whisk garlic, lime zest, lime juice, simple syrup, olive oil, ginger, and salt in a small bowl. Place fish in a pan. Pour the lime mixture over the fish. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Remove fish from the marinade and discard the marinade. Place fish, skin side down (if there’s skin) on the parchment and transfer the baking sheet to the oven. Bake until the fish is cooked through and just flakes apart when pierced with the tip of a knife, 12 to 15 minutes. Garnish with extra lime or parsley.
-->




I forgot to save a lime for decoration; definitely needs that.
 

GIVEAWAY

I'm giving away a copy of SIFTING THROUGH CLUES, 
the latest Cookbook Nook Mystery. 
Leave a comment about newsletters 
and include your email(cryptically is OK), in case you win.
Winner selected Friday.




And then,  in case you don't subscribe to my newsletter, let me tell you about my NEW upcoming release, DESOLATE SHORES, the first Aspen Adams Novel of Suspense.





A chilling murder, an elusive killer, and a family mystery that hits too close to home . . .

After finding the body of her best friend on the icy shores of Lake Tahoe, Aspen Adams refuses to stand by and watch as the local sheriff’s department begins their search for the killer. Launching her own investigation, she’s soon confronted with a growing array of secrets—both about the friend she thought she knew and about many of the people in her own life. As fragmentary clues and escalating dangers threaten to derail her, she must also cope with the disturbing behavior of her deadbeat sister and troubled teenage niece.

Determined to overcome her personal demons over past failures, Aspen is driven to unravel the conflicting evidence and a shifting range of suspects to bring the killer to justice, even as a family trauma unfolds that threatens to upend her life. And as her investigation inexorably leads her to a shocking discovery and taunts her with a solution that is just out of reach, Aspen realizes that the killer wants nothing more than to see her and her niece dead . . .

Preorder HERE, trade paperback and e-book, coming August 13th.

SAVOR THE MYSTERY!
 
Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter
Follow Avery on Twitter
Follow both of us on Pinterest
Plus check out my website
Follow Daryl on Bookbub

A SOUFFLÉ OF SUSPICION, the 2nd French Bistro Mystery.
Can Mimi prove her chef innocent before the chef gets dusted?
Click here to order.

A DEADLY ÉCLAIR, the 1st French Bistro Mysteries, in all formats.
Can Mimi clear her name before the killer turns up the heat?
Click here to order.

SIFTING THROUGH CLUES, the 8th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before her friend Pepper’s goose is cooked. 
Click here to order


WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES, the 7th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer
Click here to order.

FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery by Avery Aames.
Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!
Click to order.

GIRL ON THE RUN, a stand-alone suspense.
When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, Chessa Paxton must run for her life...but will the truth set her free?
Click to order

DAY OF SECRETS, a stand-alone suspense
A mother he thought was dead. A father he never knew. An enemy that wants them dead.
Click here to order

DESOLATE SHORES, an Aspen Adams nove of suspense
In the secrets lies the truth...
Click here to order



Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins #Gluten-free #recipe from author @DarylWoodGerber




From Daryl:
 

Years ago, when I was writing screenplays, I joined a class where we met on Saturday mornings and read the screenplays out loud. We all took roles in our friends’ works and acted them with flair. Good memories of a fun time when I was truly learning the craft of writing in three acts. Well, every Saturday, we served muffins bought at Costco. At the time, I could still eat gluten, so they were regular flour muffins. My favorite was lemon poppyseed.

Thinking about that time with my pals brought a smile to my face, so I decided to look online for a recipe I could tweak. I found this one on Two Peas andTheir Pod foodie blog and it turned out nicely. 

In her brief description, she said the recipe came from her favorite cookbook: Baking: From My Home to Yours by the fabulous Dorie Greenspan.

By the way, a few weeks ago I made a different muffin, but they stuck to the paper muffin cups. Pooh! So I asked my Facebook friends for tips. We concluded it was a gluten-free issue. Gluten-free flours can be denser and a bit stickier than normal flour. One pal recommended using Pam inside the paper cup. Honestly? Inside? But guess what? I did that for this recipe and it worked.

These muffins are a new go-to for me. Enjoy.

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

Gluten-free Version



For the muffins:

(Yield: 12)

2/3 cup sugar

grated zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided*

2 cups gluten-free flour *I used sweet rice flour/tapioca flour

1 tablespoon whey powder

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons poppyseeds (*I keep mine refrigerated)





Lemon Icing:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 


To make the muffins:


Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter or spray the 12 molds in a regular-size muffin pan or fit the molds with paper muffin cups.  (*See my tip above about spraying inside the muffin papers.)


In a large bowl, rub the sugar and the lemon zest together with your fingertips until the sugar is moist and the fragrance of the lemon is strong. Whisk in the GF flour, whey powder, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.


In a small bowl, whisk the sour cream or Greek yogurt, eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, and melted butter together until well blended.


Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently stir to blend. Don't overmix. Stir in the poppyseeds. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. (*This was a sticky batter. After I had the cups filled, I wet my fingers and tapped down the batter in each paper cup.)


Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes before carefully removing each muffin from its mold. Cool the muffins completely on the rack before icing them.


To make the icing: 


Put the sifted confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl and add about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the lemon juice. Stir with a spoon to moisten the sugar, then add enough additional lemon juice, a dribble at a time, to get an icing that is thin enough to drizzle from the tip of the spoon. Drizzle glaze over the muffins. Serve.  (*I needed the full 3 tablespoons.)  And I think drizzling must be an art – at which I’m not adept.  LOL
















SIFTING THROUGH CLUES buy link
The latest Cookbook Nook Mystery (#8), available in trade paperback and e-book.

What's it about?


Book clubs from all over have descended on Crystal Cove to celebrate the library’s Book Club Bonanza week, and Jenna Hart has packed the Cookbook Nook with juicy reads and tasty cookbooks. But she’s most excited about spending an evening with the Mystery Mavens and their moveable feast, when they will go from house to house to share different culinary treats and discuss the whodunit they’re all reading. It’s all good food and fun for the savvy armchair detectives, until one of the members of the group is found murdered at the last stop on the tour.


As if that weren’t enough to spoil her appetite, Jenna discovers that all the evidence points to her friend Pepper as being the guilty party. And with Pepper’s chief-of-police daughter too close to the case to be impartial, Jenna knows she’ll have to step in to help clear her friend’s name before a bitter injustice sends her to jail. Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before Pepper’s goose is cooked.



Includes tasty sweet and savory recipes!

SAVOR THE MYSTERY!
 
Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter
Follow Avery on Twitter
Follow both of us on Pinterest
Plus check out my website
Follow Daryl on Bookbub

A SOUFFLÉ OF SUSPICION, the 2nd French Bistro Mystery.
Can Mimi prove her chef innocent before the chef gets dusted?
Click here to order.

A DEADLY ÉCLAIR, the 1st French Bistro Mysteries, in all formats.
Can Mimi clear her name before the killer turns up the heat?
Click here to order.

SIFTING THROUGH CLUES, the 8th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before her friend Pepper’s goose is cooked. 
Click here to order


WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES, the 7th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer
Click here to order.

FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery by Avery Aames.
Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!
Click to order.

GIRL ON THE RUN, a stand-alone suspense.
When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, Chessa Paxton must run for her life...but will the truth set her free?
Click to order

DAY OF SECRETS, a stand-alone suspense
A mother he thought was dead. A father he never knew. An enemy that wants them dead.
Click here to order