RELEASE DAY NEWS. There's a Murder Afoot by Vicki Delany now in Mass Market Paperback.

 

Release Day News!

November 24

The fifth installment in national bestselling author Vicki Delany's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery takes Sherlockania to the max with a Holmes convention and historic 221 Baker Street.

Gemma Doyle and her friends travel to London for a Sherlock Holmes convention--but will Gemma's father take the fall for a felonious forger's fatality?

The 6th of January is Sherlock Holmes's birthday, and lucky for Gemma Doyle, January is also the slowest time of the year at both the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, and Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room. It's a good time for Gemma and her friends to travel to England for a Holmes Convention. For Gemma, the trip provides an opportunity to visit her parents, Jayne Wilson is excited about seeing all the sites London has to offer, and Ryan Ashburton just wants to spend some time with Gemma. But the trip is immediately derailed when Gemma's father Henry recognizes his brother-in-law Randolph Denhaugh, who disappeared more than thirty years ago on the night he stole a valuable painting from his own parents.

Henry, a retired detective with Scotland Yard, has been keeping tabs on the man's career as a forger of Old Masters and he warns Randy to stay away from his family. It's up to Gemma, with the help of her friends, to plunge into the "lowest and vilest alleys" of London to save her father from prison.

"The smart Gemma, the steadfast loyalty of her circle, and the intriguing art milieu keep the reader turning the pages. Cozy fans who are Sherlockians will have fun."
—Publishers Weekly

 Amazon

Barnes and Noble 

Ginger Tofu Noodle Bowls from Vicki Delany

I try to go meatless several times a week. It’s no hardship for me because there are so many good substitutes that I enjoy.  Here’s a fun bowl with Asian influences and a nice nutty flavour

Ginger Tofu Noodle Bowls

1 14ox package firm tofu, drained

6 tbsp. soy sauce

3 tbsp. lime juice

1/ 4 cup maple syrup

¼ cup thinly sliced green onions

1 tbsp. grated fresh ginger

12 oz. dried Asian-style noodles

2 tbsp. creamy  peanut butter

3 tbsp. vegetable oil.
Thinly sliced cucumbers and a handful of chopped roasted almonds for serving

Sir together soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, green onions, and ginger. 

Cook noodles according to package directions.  Drain and run under cold water

In a large bowl, whisk peanut butter with half of the soy sauce mixture, toss with noodles and set aside

Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high.  Add tofu, cook flipping once until very crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate

Add rest of soy sauce mixture to skillet. Cook until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Return tofu to skillet and coat with mixture.

Serve over noodles.    

If desired, sprinkle with sliced cucumbers and a handful of chopped roasted almonds for serving.


Now available: There’s a Murder Afoot, the fifth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery by Vicki Delany.

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta from Vicki Delany

You wouldn't think squash would make a fabulous pasta sauce, but I love this. It's so thick and creamy.  I bet your squash-hating family won't even notice what it's made of.

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 cloves garlic minced

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

salt and pepper

5 cups chopped butternut squash 

 1 ½ cups chicken stock

500 grams Penne

1 cup half and half cream

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

Place olive oil, garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes, in large deep pot, and sauté until fragrant.

Add the chopped butternut squash and stir until coated.

Add the chicken stock and cover. Let simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the butternut squash is soft.

Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions.

When the butternut squash is soft, turn off the heat under the skillet and allow it to sit uncovered for a few minutes.

Add the cream and parmesan, stir well, and puree with an immersion blender until the sauce is silky smooth

Drain the pasta and add it to the squash, tossing it well in the sauce to coat. 

Serve immediately.

Vicki Delany's latest book is There’s a Murder Afoot, a Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery  

Barbeque Ribs in Crock Pot by Vicki Delany

There’s nothing at all like a mess of hearty ribs. But they can be complicated to cook and need a lot of time and a grill.

No longer! I was delighted to find this recipe that’s a cinch to prepare and cooks without needing attention. The end result is meaty ribs that fall off the bone and are drenched in delicious sauce. 

Home Made Barbeque Sauce

Can be prepared a day ahead of time and refrigerated

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 1/2 tablespoons dry mustard

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

2 dashes hot pepper sauce

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.



Ribs:



Homemade BBQ sauce (as above)

3 – 4 lbs pork back ribs

1 onion, sliced

1 clove garlic, minced



Slice ribs as necessary so they fit into the crock pot. Season with salt and pepper.

Place ribs in crock pot with onion and garlic

Pour sauce over ribs

Cook on low for 6 – 8 hours.

Now available: There’s a Murder Afoot, the fifth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery from Crooked Lane Books.

Whitewater Glory Bowl from Vicki Delany

Whitewater is a ski resort just outside Nelson BC (which some of you might know is the real-life location of my Constable Molly Smith series). Whitewater is famous not only for the quality of its snow, but the food served in the lodge. Perhaps most famous of all is this Glory Bowl. If you’re interested in this sort of cooking, check out the series of aptly named cookbooks. (Whitewater Cooks etc.). I've provided measurements to serve either 8 or 2 people, but it can can easily be adapted for any number. 

Serves 8

The Bowl

8 cups cooked brown rice

2 cups beets, grated

2 cups carrots, grated

2 cups almonds, toasted

2 cups spinach leaves

2 cups tofu, cubed

Glory Bowl Dressing

1/2 cup nutritional yeast flakes*

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

2 tbsp tahini paste

Serves 2

The Bowl

2 cups cooked brown rice

1/2 cup beets, grated

½ cup carrots, grated

1/2 cup almonds

½ cup spinach leaves

½ cup tofu, cubed

Glory Bowl Dressing

2 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes*

1 ¼ tbsp. water

1 ¼ tbsp. tamari or soy sauce

1 ¼ tbsp. apple cider vinegar

½ cloves garlic, crushed

1/3 cups vegetable oil

1 ½ tbsp tahini paste

In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; fry tofu, stirring often, until brown and crispy, 10 minutes. Drain on paper towel–lined plate.

Glory Bowl Dressing: In blender, purée together nutritional yeast flakes, tamari, vinegar, water, tahini and garlic. With motor running, add oil in slow, steady stream. Blend until smooth. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week.)

To serve, divide rice among 8 (or 2) bowls; drizzle each with 1 tbsp of the dressing. Top each with tofu, carrots, beets, spinach and almonds. Drizzle each with 3 tbsp of the dressing.

*Nutritional yeast flakes can be found at most natural food stores.

(Note: I don‘t care for beets so left them out of my recipe)


Now available: There’s a Murder Afoot, the fifth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery from Crooked Lane Books.

Key Lime Pie from Vicki Delany

Everyone’s favourite! I know other cooks have given you recipes for key lime pie in the past, but this is the one I particularly like. 

And you can never have too many recipes for a good thing!

Ingredients

Crust 

1 1/4 cups (310 ml) graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup (60 ml) unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons (30 ml) sugar

Filling

1 cup (250 ml) lime or key lime juice *

2 tablespoons (30 ml) cornstach

1 can 300 ml sweetened condensed milk  

Grated zest of 1 lime or Grated zest of 6 key limes

2 tablespoons (30 ml) 35% cream

2 eggs

*  I find one cup of lime juice too hard to squeeze out of real limes, so I used the bottled stuff

Whipped Cream

1 3/4 cups (430 ml) 35% cream

1/4 cup (60 ml) icing sugar 

Grated zest of 1 lime (optional)

Bottom of Form

Preparation

Crust

With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients. Press into a 23-cm (9-inch) pie plate. Bake for about 10 minutes. Set aside.

Filling

In a saucepan, off the heat, mix lime juice and cornstarch with a whisk. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan, until it thickens. Pour filling into crust. Refrigerate for about three hours or until completely cooled.

Whipped Cream

In a bowl, beat all the ingredients with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.

Garnish the pie with the whipped cream. 

Now Available: There’s a Murder Afoot, the fifth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.  For contests, giveaways, up-to-date book news, and other fun tidbits, follow Vicki on Facebook at www.facebook.com/evagatesauhor or drop her a line to be put on the newsletter list. Vicki at vickidelany dot com