A Real Basket Case - Beth Groundwater, Author
2:28 AM Posted by MAC

Tarragon-Raspberry Flank Steak with Caramelized Onions, Kale and Mango Salsa
Flank steak
Dried tarragon
Low-fat raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing
1 ripe mango
16 oz jar of chipotle salsa
2 medium white onions
1 large bunch fresh kale
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
Salt
Pepper
Sprinkle both sides of flank steak with ½ tsp tarragon and marinate 1-4 hours in 2/3 cup raspberry vinaigrette, turning hourly. Peel and dice mango, mix with salsa and 1 tsp tarragon and set aside. Peel onions, slice in half, then slice halves into 1/4 inch slices. Wash kale and tear into large bite-sized pieces.
Grill flank steak 5-7 minutes per side until medium-rare. While steak is grilling, heat oil over medium heat in large nonstick skillet. Add onions and stir-fry until golden, about 8-10 minutes. Add kale and 1/2 tsp tarragon, salt and pepper to taste. Mix with onions, cover and lower heat to medium-low. Let steam for about 5 minutes until kale is soft.
Let flank steak rest while the kale finishes cooking and you mound onions and kale to one side on each of 6 plates. Slice flank steak thinly on the diagonal and fan 4 slices on each plate, with the mound of kale forming the apex of the fan. Spoon a trail of salsa across the tips of the fans. Serve immediately with any leftover salsa on the table. Serves 6.
A Real Basket Case - Review by Martha A. Cheves
In reading this book I came up with something I really want to share. Some of the things I really hate to see in a book and is overkill in descriptions of the characters. Some writers go all the way to describing the lipstick that the character is wearing at the moment. I also hate to see the full description of the room that the character/characters are in at the moment. To me these are words I simply skip over. To me it feels like the author is trying to extend the length of the book. WELL, Beth Groundwater doesn't do this. I'm reading every word of her book and enjoying it very much. And the characters are REAL. As you meet them, you begin to feel as if they are people you really know.
Beth Groundwater kept me wondering who the real killer would turn out to be. Usually I have the bad guy figured out about halfway through a book. Not with this one. "A Real Basket Case" didn't reveal the killer until the last few pages. And I can't believe who it ended up being. This has been a really enjoyable book.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Beth, don't change your way of writing! I've really enjoyed reading Basket Case and will be reading more of Beth's books.
Martha








"This book is made up of 3 individual stories. All three are short reads and other than the setting, which is Mexico, all three are completely different."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"You'll follow Logan as she tramples through kudzu, goes to her first Testicle Festival, rents a room from a woman who runs around at night in the nude and connects with a wolf. You will also follow her as she gets her man, or should I say men."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Will the people of Hollow Gap pull together and defend themselves from the Indian up-rise or will they fall apart. Find the answers to these questions and more when you read this book of taming the West through love."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I would NEVER have guessed the turn of events that make up the last 20 pages of Fresh Frozen. The hiring of the spy will surprise you and the murder will surprise you even more. So if you love a good mystery, this book is definitely for you."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"As I read I felt as if I was a witness watching this evil man do the things he did to these young women. As I read through the trial I felt like one of those ready to convict him. As I listened to the comments by his wife, I could feel her pain and confusion."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"After reading Breaking My Silence I saw Jane as a strong person who was determined to do whatever was needed to get her children back into her life and to do whatever it took to make her life as complete as possible without the prostitution. This was one of the most informative books I've ever read about a subject that is normally kept behind closed doors."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"
While reading Genesis Beach I found myself not wanting to put it down. Each page had a piece of evidence that would help me solve the mystery before Logan. I really thought I had pin-pointed the murderer. Boy was I in for a shock."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I've enjoyed reading this book. It's a cross between a "fiction" and a "true crime." So if you enjoy either genre you will enjoy A Study in Red. Do keep in mind that this book is very descriptive."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"The story captured me from the beginning, the evil of Rovella never ceased to amaze me, and the love that was always there but didn't surface due to guilt made me feel the pain that I'm sure she felt. The ending was perfect."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"This has been a really enjoyable book.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Beth, don't change your way of writing! I've really enjoyed reading Basket Case and will be reading more of Beth's books."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I feel this is a wonderfully written book that would be helpful not just for young people who are overweight but also for those who look at a person, no matter the age, call them names, shun them and refuse to accept them as they are."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Bertha Speaks Out is a very enjoyable book to read. Bertha finds herself in positions that will make you laugh and cry. You will feel her pain but also feel her pride when she stands up for what is right. It’s a must read for children as well as adults.
"
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Read Thicker than Water and ask yourself these questions. Did the wife make the right choice? Was her decision worth 15 years of her family’s life? Would you have made the same decision?
I highly recommend Thicker than Water. As I said, it was a joy to read."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"As I read I kept asking myself “Who would put out a hit on David and why?” “Who are The Chosen Few and what do they have to do with David?” “Will Max get to David before it’s too late?” You will have to read The Chosen Few yourself to find the answers to these questions."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"This book has taught me that life is like a chain. Everyone we meet becomes a link in our chain. Some links may be weak, but the strong ones keep the chain from breaking. And as memories and secrets are shared with those strong links, they become even stronger."
(Martha A. Cheves)

I'm from Georgia, moved to North Carolina by way of Florida. I've been in Charlotte for 14 years and love it. The recipes in my book Stir, Laugh, Repeat are all tested by "Food Testers" of which I now have 24. They try a dish and rate it from 1-10 with only those scoring at least an 8 making the book. My website is a holding place for my 2nd book Stir, Laugh, Repeat... Again. Please visit my site to find new recipes and tips. All recipes are easy, using common ingredients and according to my testers, great!
March 20, 2009 9:17 AM
WOW, this sounds delicious--and I don't just mean the steak! (And I'm vegetarian.)
Thanks for posting this. What a wonderful idea for a blog. I'll surely be back!
March 20, 2009 10:49 AM
The meal sounds great. And I'm so glad Beth is getting great reviews. I am also a lean writer/reader, who gets by just fine with a few vivid details.
March 20, 2009 1:44 PM
Thanks, Lisa and L.J., for your feedback on the recipe. Like you both, I'm a fan of lean eating AND lean writing.
Here are a couple of other review snippets for A Real Basket Case:
“This will appeal to Desperate Housewives fans and those who like cozies with a bit of spice.”
-- Barbara Bibel, Booklist Review, February 1, 2007
“Drugs and jealousy add up to a Rocky Mountain murder. A tense, exciting debut.”
-- Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2007
To read the full text of these reviews and others, go to: http://bethgroundwater.com/Reviews_Basket_Case.html
I was thrilled and honored with the reception that A Real Basket Case got from reviewers, and that it was nominated for the 2007 Best First Novel Agatha Award. I'm crossing my fingers now and hoping that the sequel, To Hell in a Handbasket, to be released in May, will get as good a reception from readers.
March 20, 2009 4:28 PM
I have reserved this book in the library and I can't wait to read it. I will post my review when I finish reading it but not before letting Beth read it. This sounds like my kind of book and I am looking forward to the sequel. Fran Lewis
March 20, 2009 7:23 PM
Thanks, Fran, for picking up my book to read! I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of it. You can contact me directly at my website, http://bethgroundwater.com/ .
- Beth
May 23, 2010 10:25 PM
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