What Haunts Me - Margaret Millmore, Author

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

(Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse but George likes it too)

Prep Time:

20 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

30 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

2 (10-ounce) packages fresh spinach, well rinsed and stems trimmed

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup chopped yellow onions

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

1 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 cup 1/2-inch cubes rindless Brie

1 cup grated Monterey Jack

1 (6 1/2-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

4 strips bacon, fried crisp, drained and chopped

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Assorted chips for dipping (pita chips, tortilla chips, bagel chips)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-inch round chafing dish and set aside.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the spinach in batches and cook until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and refresh under cold running water. Squeeze to remove all excess water and chop. Set aside. In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, to make a light roux, about 2 minutes. Add the milk and cream in a steady stream, and cook, stirring constantly, until thick and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cooked spinach and lemon juice, and stir to incorporate. Add the cubed and grated cheeses, artichoke hearts, and bacon, and stir well. Remove from the heat and pour into the prepared dish. Top with the Parmesan and bake until bubbly, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve hot with chips. 

What Haunts Me - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

“I noticed a woman of about thirty standing just off the sidewalk on the grass.  Her appearance was right out of the 1940's; her dress hung below her knees with padded shoulders and semi-tailored waste line, Mary Jane shoes, hair neatly done up in side rolls.  Yet, it wasn't the vintage apparel that stood out so much; it was that she was untouched by the light rain that was coating everything and everyone around her.  Of course, it was also the Harry Potter glasses that she wore, and the fact that she seemed to be intently focused on John.

For no other reason but instinct, I raised the umbrella and gently jabbed it at her as we walked past.  A look of horror filled her face, and then she swirled away into a grey mist, just like the ghost, or whatever he was, had done when I was a kid at Bobby's house.  Now that I remembered it all, it occurred to me that John didn't have a lisp...anymore.”

George is a normal young man in his 30's.  His mother had died when he was young, he was raised by his father, went to school, ended up becoming very successful in the real estate field and even bought himself a nice home on the top floor of a building that housed only one other person who was an elderly lady named Justine Wilkinson.

After getting over a bout of the flu George found his life changing before his eyes.  He was seeing 'ghosts' that were haunting people and making them ill.  He also discovered that he could poke them with a pencil and they would, for the lack of a better word 'die.'  Then came the memories of his childhood.  Apparently he was able to do this as a child but for some reason didn't remember it until now.  These memories and the events now taking place in his life are wreaking havoc on his life and he doesn't know how to make it stop.

George is a GK or ghost killer.  They come in all power stages and ranks with him being one of the best.  But he ends up with a mission that has to be handled before the bad ghosts take over.  This book is the perfect beginning for a TV series.  If you like the Walking Dead you'll really love What Haunts Me.  I'd love to see this picked up by a producer, yes it's that good.

Steamy Windows - Mae Nunnally, Author

Millionaires' Pie
(2 recipes for this book!)

8 oz cream cheese

1 can sweetened condensed milk

12 oz whip topping

1 can crushed pineapple (drained)

1 C chopped pecans

1 C sweet coconut flakes

2 x 9-inch graham cracker pie crusts

blend cream cheese and condensed milk

fold in whip topping

stir in pecans and coconut

divide between the pie crusts

chill 3 to 4 hours before serving

Harvey Wallbanger

1 /4 oz. vodka
3 oz. orange juice
1/2 oz. galliano l'autentico

Add the vodka and the orange juice to a tall glass, fill with ice, stir and float galliano on top.  Garnish with an orange slice.

Steamy Windows - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

"What's a woman got to do to get a drink in this place?"  Matt thought to himself, maybe not be a rude S.O.B., but he said "Usually sit down and order is a good start."  Once she sat he continued, "so what will it be for ya?"  "Whiskey, straight up!"  He grabbed a frosted glass from the chest and poured what the lady ordered and placed in front of her.  He watched as she downed it in one shot.  He'd seen men do it, but this was a first with a lady.

Matt is an over-worked bartender who spends 50+ hours a week waiting on those who love to drink.  Latakia is a customer who just happened to come into his bar, drawing him as her bartender.  She's rude to him and now regrets it.  This good looking, sexy man might be just what she needs.

Steamy Windows is a steamy short story about two people who meet and if things work out they 'join.'  If you need a little boost to get into the mood, read this story. LOL!

Shattered Lies - S. J. Francis, Author

Crab Salad
(One of Miss Kate's Favorite)

1 pound crabmeat, fresh or canned, drained, cartilage and shell picked out

1 hard-boiled egg, chopped

2 tablespoons chopped yellow onion

2 tablespoons thinly sliced shallot (bulb part only)

1-1/2 tablespoons chopped celery

1-1/2 tablespoons chopped dill pickle or relish

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

¼ teaspoon yellow mustard

Salt and black pepper to taste

Heavy sprinkling of paprika, to garnish

In a large bowl, combine crabmeat, egg, onion, shallot, celery and pickle. Mix together the mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl. Add the mayo mixture to the crab and toss to coat. Salt and pepper to taste and garnish with paprika.

Serves 6.

Serve the salad on lettuce or on toasted bread as a sandwich.

Healthy and low in carbs. Meal ready in 15 minutes or less.

Prep time: 10mins for boiling egg. 

Shattered Lies - Review by Martha A Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

"Miss Kate went up there.  I went to check on her..."  "What do you mean?  You let her up there?  Why?"  he asked.  "I didn't let her up there," Elsa said.  "And why not?  It's her house, too."  "I Told you no one is allowed up there.  No one."  "Relax, Sam. I'm sure Miss Katherine didn't mean Kate,"  Elsa said.

"Damn it, woman!  I told you when we first came here that Miss Katherine has rules..."  "Why did you let her go up there?" Sam asked.  I didn't allow her to do anything,"  Elsa said.  "You still haven't told me what the big deal is."  "It doesn't matter now."  He moved to leave but she caught his wrist.  "It matters to you and if it matters to you, it matters to me."....  Sam knew if Miss Katherine found out, there'd be hell to pay, but he couldn't physically make Kate leave.  That left him without any other options.

Kate lived on the family plantation that her namesake grandmother Katherine owned.  Kate was a veterinarian and took care of the animals as well as the farm itself.  Her grandmother had raised her after the death of her parents and even after college and the death of her own husband, she still called the old place her home.  She wanted to be no place else.  So why was the attic off limits to her?

Kate knew something wasn't right.  There were too many unanswered questions about her parents and the answer was in that attic.  So after slipping the keys from her grandmother's room she went on a search through the attic.  There hidden under some old boxes she found a small, blue journal that appeared to belong to her mother.  She took it back to her room, read it and then went in search of her grandmother for the truth.

When Kate started asking questions I had no idea what she was going to turn up.  I was truly surprised when I learned the answers to my own questions.  I never dreamed her family secrets would turn out to be what they were.  And I don't believe she had any idea as to the size of the can of worms she was about to open.

This book will make you stop and think.  It will make you really understand that people do make mistakes but blood is normally thicker than those mistakes.  And forgiveness is even thicker.  A beautiful story of love and hate.

Starlight's Curse - K. C. Sprayberry, Author

Enchiladas

(Brad knows the way to Jayme’s heart in Starlight’s Curse. What better way for a man to convince the woman he’s in love with to stick around than to whip up a dish that’s sure to warm not only her heart but also her stomach on a snowy winter night? These enchiladas are great for a couple or a family. Rarely does my household have any leftover to warm up the next day.)

1-1.5 pounds of lean ground beef, browned and drained

4 ounces plain cream cheese, chunked

1 medium onion, chopped finely

1 clove garlic chopped, or a couple of squeezes of minced garlic from a bottle

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1 teaspoon non-iodized sea salt

¼ teaspoon ground cumin

1/3 teaspoon crushed red pepper (or dried red pepper flakes)

15 ounce can enchilada sauce

2 bags of Sargento 4 cheese Mexican Blend (don’t substitute Taco Cheese. The spices will significantly change the flavor)

Flour tortillas                           Lettuce

Tomato                                    Avocado or Guacamole

Sour Cream                             Chopped Onions

Salsa (can be from the store or homemade)

Preheat oven to 350.

After browning and draining the lean ground beef, return to pan you’ve wiped out with a paper towel and cook again until all fat is absorbed. Add cream cheese and stir until it is completely melted into the meat. Add onion, garlic, spices, simmer for a few minutes to bloom the flavors. Take a handful of the 4 cheese Mexican blend and add to the mix. Remove from heat

Wrap flour tortillas in paper towels and microwave to soften about 2 minutes. Open can of enchilada sauce. Coat casserole dish with cooking spray to make it easier to remove enchiladas once they’re done.

Set out a couple of tortillas on the counter, add a heaping spoonful of the meat mixture to one end. Roll up, leaving the ends open. Set in pan. Repeat until you run out of tortillas. There may be meat mixture left, but not much. Occasionally, you might find that you have to squish the enchiladas together. Don’t worry, this makes them taste so much better.

Cover enchiladas with sauce. Use the back of a spoon to be sure every inch of the enchiladas is covered with sauce. Heavily spread cheese over the enchiladas. Bake in 350° oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese melts completely. Serve with favorite toppings.

Starlight's Curse - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

Ragged sobs ripped from her throat as she stood beneath the tree.  She raised a shaky hand toward the body, her fingers reaching for a white rectangle pinned to a bright red turtleneck sweater... This was her baby... She dropped to her knees and curled forward.  Her arms wrapped protectively around her body, and she released great, heaving sobs of tremendous loss.  Her daughter hung from the branch of an elm tree.  

Forty years earlier... Far off in the woods, he caught sight of a dozen men wearing white robes and peaked hats slipping between the trees.  It was hard to make out.  Their clothes blended in well with the snow on the ground....  "There Daddy" his voice wavered, cracking into an embarrassing treble.  "The tree.  Look at the tree.  Daddy's head turned kind of slow like.  His mouth dropped open when he spotted the three figures dangling off ropes on that ancient elm... He took off running, his aunt lived off the other side of the road, in a shanty cabin that was the polar opposite of Starlight Mansion.

Many times I've read a book that I said was a page turner, and they were, but Starlight's Curse was a book that I wanted to read through the night and even the next day if need be without putting it down.  A lot of that is because I grew up during the time, 40 years earlier, when the Klan was active.  Part of it was because I also grew up just outside Atlanta and spent many weekends in the North Georgia mountains.  But the biggest part was that the story was so real.  It wasn't fast moving but moved more along the time lines that it would actually take for the events and thoughts to happen in real life.  This book took me in from the first page and held me there until the end.

Order your copy of Starlight's Curse here.

Severed Threads - Kaylin McFarren, Author

Tuna Cakes
(A Kaylin Special)

2 cans (5 oz. each) chunk light tuna in water, drained, flaked

1 pkg. (6 oz.) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken

1 cup Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese 

3/4 cup water

1 carrot, shredded

1/3 cup KRAFT Real Mayo Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip Dressing

2 Tbsp. Sweet Pickle Relish

1 egg, beaten

Garnish: 1 sliced lemon

Directions:

Combine ingredients. Refrigerate 10 min.; stir. Heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. Use ice cream scoop to add 1/3-cup portions of tuna mixture, in batches, to skillet. Flatten into patties with back of spatula. Cook 6 min. or until golden brown on both sides, carefully turning patties after 3 min. Drain and cool patties on serving dish covered with paper towel, then squeeze with lemon and enjoy!

Severed Threads - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

"Somewhere on board the ship is the gift Mai Le intended for her lover. According to ancient scrolls handed down by my grandfather, it was hidden in a handcrafted box disguised as a Chinese betrothal chest. After a thorough examination of the wood fibers and inscribed markings, there is no doubt in my mind. The lid your father found belongs to this box. The heart of the dragon must be hidden in the wreckage or buried somewhere close by. Prophecy foretells of a lion rescuing the dragon's heart. This is your destiny, Rachel. Your chance to turn your father's dream into reality."

Dr. Lao Ying schedules a meeting with Rachel Lyons in the hope of recruiting funds for lost treasure from the Wanli II ship. This is the mission her father Sam and his partner Chase Cohen had embarked on years earlier.  After examining the items found so far, Dr. Ying is sure the Wanli’s burial place has been found.  But the lack of funding could bring this excavation to a stop, and this is where Dr. Ying hopes to solve the problem. With Rachel's influence at the foundation she works for, the real search can begin. However, Chase Cohen's involvement creates a roadblock in this enterprising venture.

Rachel and Chase were a couple who shared a deep passion for the sea. Then, when Rachel needed Chase the most, he ran off and she hasn't seen him for four long years...that is, not until her meeting with Dr. Ying. She wants nothing to do with him or anything he might be involved in. Her brother Devon warned her about Chase before he disappeared, and now she realizes she should have listened. But as it turns out, Devon isn’t the smartest person in her life. He’s neck deep in trouble with money laundering and may end up in the ocean as shark bait. Chase’s treasure-hunting skills and the Heart of the Dragon he’s after are the only means to saving Rachel's brother from some really bad men.

This book is full of twists and turns. I would find a character that I started liking only to discover my first impression was wrong. Then I would come across one I didn't trust and soon realize I would want them on my side, especially if I were put into some of the situations in which Rachel, Chase and Devon find themselves. Severed Threads is chuck full of murder, drugs, bad guys, and a whole lot of suspense all the way to the end. For anyone who enjoys undersea mysteries, thrillers and adventures, this is the book to read!

Midnight Owl Book 1 - Viv Drewa, Author

Easy Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
  With Pineapple Sriracha Crema
(One of Joe's Favorite Dishes)

Serves: 4-6

1 10 oz. package Campbell's Teriyaki Chicken Grill Sauce

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 ripe pineapple,trimmed and sliced

2 large zucchini

2 large red bell peppers, quartered

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more to brush grill

salt and pepper

1 Recipe Coconut Ginger Rice and Beans

Teriyaki Chicken: Brush grill where you will be cooking chicken and pineapple with some olive oil. Preheat grill to medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and grill for 6-7 minutes per side, or until completely cooked through.

Remove chicken from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Add to a large bowl and toss with warmed teriyaki sauce.

Vegetables and Pineapple: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and some freshly cracked salt and pepper to a large freezer bag with the bell peppers and zucchini. Toss to coat.

Working in batches, grill vegetables and pineapple at medium high heat until tender and lightly charred all over, about 6-8 minutes for the pineapple, or until caramelized, 8 minutes for the zucchini and 6 minutes for the red bell peppers, flipping everything once during cooking. Once cool enough to handle, slice red bell peppers into strips.

Pineapple Sriracha Crema

3/4 cup sour cream, divided

1/4 cup mayonnaise, divided

3 tablespoons pineapple marmalade

2-4 teaspoons Sriracha, more or less to taste

1 tablespoon lime jice

1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro, chopped

Add 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoon mayonnaise, the pineapple marmalade, Sriracha, lime juice and cilantro to your blender and chop then puree until smooth, scraping sides down as needed. Transfer to a bowl and stir in 1/4 cup sour cream and 2 tablespoons mayonnaise.* Taste and stir in more Sriracha and lime juice to taste if desired.

Assemble: Divide rice between bowls and top with chicken, red bell peppers, zucchini and pineapple. Drizzle with Sriracha Pineapple Crema.

NOTES

*I stir in more sour cream and mayonnaise after blending to thicken the crema. I find if I add it all to the blender it is too runny.
**Cooking time will vary depending on how much you can cook on your grill at a time.

Midnight Owl (A Joe Leverette Mystery Book 1) - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir Laugh Repeat: Think With Your Taste Buds: A Book and A Dish


"Who's there?" she called out in a trembling voice that didn't sound like her own.  The light behind the door went out and the squeaking door opened slowly.  A man stood there and looked at her.  He was wearing a total-body rain suit, surgical cap and mask.  Only his eyes were visible.  "Hello, Heather," he said in a calm voice.  "What do you want?  Why are you doing this?  Who are you?" she blurted out.  "Now, now.  I'm here to take you on an adventure.  One that will allow you to pay for all the misery you've caused to a lot of people," he said with his calm voice.  "I'm going to make sure you'll never hurt anyone again."  He turned and reached for a pile of what looked like fabric straps from the table.  They were four strips.  He began applying one of them to each of her limbs, tightly, like a tourniquet, a few inches below her torso.

Later... "I was walking my dog and he got upset.  He pulled me over there,"  Amy said, and with a shaky finger, pointed to the black mass at the shore.  "When I got to it, I saw it was a woman's leg."

Amy was just one of the unfortunate who had her day destroyed with the finding of a body part.  Throughout the day others would discover the remains of what would turn out to be a woman which had been mutilated with her body parts being placed in garbage bags and dropped off at various places.  All of the finders were strangers to each other yet they all had one thing in common... a dream.

If you like suspense, this book will throw it out to you with page 1.  I don't believe I've ever read a book that began as deadly as this one did.  I don't believe I've ever read a book that caught me up in the story with the 1st page.  This book did both.  It kept me in suspense to the very end.  I had no idea who the killer, or should I say mutilator, was.  And I'll not reveal any information that might give you a clue.  I will tell you that you are in for a total surprise at the end.  Now I can't wait to read book #2 in this series to see what will happen next and how Author Viv Drewa will entice me into waiting on the edge of my seat for book #3.

Vital Temptations: A Heart's Betrayal - K. L. Lewis, Author

K. L.'s Simple Lemon Pie

(Great for any holiday or occasion. I usually make this on Thanksgiving Day)

Freshly squeezed lemon juice-1/2 cup, or 1/4 if you want it less lemony

2 Egg yolks (Can use full eggs, but need to beat well to reduce clumping)

1 Can Eagle Brand Condensed Milk (Sweetened)

Pie shell of liking (I prefer the 'Ready Crust' graham cracker, reduced fat)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix juice, yolks and milk together and pour into your pie shell.  Bake 10-15 minutes or refrigerate overnight. 

*Can add meringue to top it off, but I'm not crazy about meringue

Vital Temptations - Review by Martha A Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

The two chatted for several minutes as Bethany continued studying him.  Something about him reminded her of her dad, who always told her to look for a sense of humor in a man.  His beautiful complexion and perfect lips and teeth were an added bonus; she loved a man who took pride in his oral hygiene and nails.  His pearly white smile sparkled at her when he spoke.  Bethany sensed that he was much younger than the guys she usually dated and she was unimpressed that he came to the conference unprepared; nonetheless she accepted his offer for lunch since she hated eating alone.

Dr. Bethany McNeal has just met the love of her life - Dr. Brent Anderson.  Both are attending a conference at the Seattle Children's hospital.  The unprepared Dr. Anderson takes the only available seat left which is next to Bethany.

Just a couple years earlier Bethany had found herself in a relationship with a man she really loved and trusted.  Turned out trust was the last thing he should have been given.  They parted ways with her being extremely cautious when it came to men.  Brent finally broke through the wall she had built and she had fallen so in love with him that she knew there would be no other.   But... Brent came with secrets, both past and present.  Secrets that should end any feelings she has for him.  When she finally learns what he has been hiding from her the pain is unbearable but nothing can kill her love.

As I read Vital Temptations I found myself rooting for Bethany.  Hoping she would open her eyes and see what was going on around her.  Hoping she would listen to her best friends Danielle and Caleb.  Listen to them when they tell her there are other women.  Listen when Danielle introduces her to Charles who falls heavily for her.  This love story will keep you in suspense all the way to the end, wondering what is going to happen to Bethany.  I knew how I wanted it to end.  I'll not tell you what I hoped for but will tell you that it didn't end the way I wanted it to which is good because I think it ended just the way it should.  I had a hard time putting this book down and if you're a fan of a good 'what is she going to do' you'll be glad you picked this one up.