Across the Red - Ken Farmer, Author

KEN FARMER'S FAMOUS BEEF CHILI

2 lbs. Jimmy Dean Hot Pork Sausage and 3 pounds of ground chuck.

Saute meat. Sprinkle meat with chili powder and cumin while sauteing.

Teaspoon of sea salt

8 Beef bullion cubes

1 large can tomato juice

Add about 1/2+ bottle of chili powder - a 2.75 oz bottle. (more later)

Add one large red onion, chopped.

Add one can of Hot Rotell Diced Tomatoes with habanero.

Sprinkle Red Pepper or Cayenne or both

Add about a tablespoon Cumin

Sprinkle liberally with coarse ground black pepper

Sprinkle liberally with white pepper

Chop 8 - 10 Jalapeno peppers

Add small can New Mexico green chilis

Simmer low about 6 hours covered. Add one ounce grated medium cheddar cheese

every thirty minutes until you have added at least 4 oz. (1/4 lb.)

Sprinkle slowly while stirring, 3 tablespoons of Masa flour.

Add more chili powder, salt, Louisiana Hot Sauce and cayenne (or Habanero) to taste.

It's better after 24 hours.  May need to add more red pepper or cayenne the second day.

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

"Ma'am, I cannot tell you how sorry I feel for your loss.  I knew Billy through Ranger Hickman and I felt he had the makin's of a fine lawman."  He took her hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze as she nodded, but said nothing.  The sight of tears streaming down her cheeks caused tears to rim his own eyes as well.  "If there is anythin' I can do for you...anythin'; a'tall, Miz Malena...please contact me over at the Sheriff's office."... He released her hands and tipped his hat as he moved to speak with the other relatives.

Billy Malena was just a kid and it was his first day on the job as a posseman.  He and Texas Ranger Bodie Hickman had been tracking a group of rustlers that had been hitting the ranches around the north Texas area.  They were taking top breed horses and were quickly wiping out the Rafter S Ranch in Cooke County.  Now it was up to a group of Marshals and Rangers to stop them.

I never read westerns!  I've never been a western movie fan and only promised to read this book because of my friend Larry.  Thank you Larry!!!!  Authors Ken Farmer and Buck Stienke have written a book that got me from the beginning.  It's so different from most books I read.  Where most have 1 or 2 main characters, this one has many that keep me rooting for each of them.  And the story... it's so real that I could actually see the events happening.  It held my interest to the point that I didn't want to put it down, even when I had to.  I actually finished it in 3 nights of reading.  As for the suspense, I thought I had the culprit nailed about 3/4 way through.  I hoped I was wrong... I wasn't, but I never would have guessed the final ending of this book.

This book would make a great movie.  And with all the many characters the cast could be a full line-up of stars.   Oh yeah... there is another book in this series titled Bass and The Lady which, even though it's a western, I will be reading!

A Portrait to Die For - Radine Trees Nehring, Author

NO-THAW HAMBURGER MEAT LOAF   

(see notes below)

Use approximately l lb. lean hamburger, frozen in a flatish lump.

1 can beef broth. (No-fat kind is good)

1 small can tomato juice or similar tomato product. (Use imagination here. You could substitute left-over picante sauce, salsa, or seasoned canned tomatoes, for example. Add water if needed, making sure there is plenty of liquid around the meat at all times.)

1 med. to large onion, cut in strips, and 1 green pepper, also cut into strips with membrane and seeds removed. 

Unwrap frozen meat and place in a large casserole dish or a roaster with a lid.  Salt and pepper the meat lump, and you can also add any other seasonings you like. Arrange onion and pepper slices on top. Pour beef broth mixed with your tomato product around the sides.  (Not over the top.)

Bake, covered, in 350 degree oven for an hour and a half.

For larger quantities of meat, test for doneness after an hour and a half, adjust time as needed. (Because of the tomato juice, meat will have a pinkish tinge throughout.)

Thicken liquid for gravy.  Carrie serves this with baked potatoes and a green salad.

Note:  Carrie's Hamburger Patty Surprise is another super-simple recipe already becoming popular with readers. See her son's reaction to it in "A Portrait to Die For."  That recipe is the back of the book.

As you have probably discovered already, Carrie is not an enthusiastic cook, and--due to life circumstances--never had cooked until she was on her own when past middle age.  All her recipes are "double simple," but by far the favorite with readers is her No-Thaw Hamburger Meatloaf from "A Treasure to Die For."  If you want meatloaf and all you have is frozen hamburger, this is your answer, and it's delicious.  (The Nehrings enjoyed it just last week.)

A Portrait to Die For - Review by Martha A Cheves, Author of Stir Laugh Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

"Beginning around the time of the Revolutionary War, it was the practice, mainly in Europe and the British Isles, for important works of art like those in the Port View portrait collection to be copied in folios of mezzotint prints.  Imported folios (large books or folders) of English portraits provided late 18th Century artists in this country with models for elegant poses and gestures that could be used by their sitters, and also with ideas for beautifully developed background scenery.  Prints in the folios are normally close reproductions of the original, and Crystal Bridges' Library is fortunate to own a number of these folios.  If you have time after viewing the Port View portraits, visit the library and study the books of prints on display there.  One of the mezzotints you'll see is a portrait of young twins.  Each child holds a bouquet of daisies.  The original of that print in the gallery below is one of the Port View Historical Society's true treasures.  I suggest, for fun, you study both the original portrait and the print carefully.  Do you find variations between the two?"

This was part of an article written by Reporter Maylynn Brewer after her visit to the Crystal Bridges Library.  Apparently she had seen a difference between the original and its copy and this article is about to cost her her life as well as her brother Mark's life.  Then Maylynn disappears.

Carrie McCrite is a volunteer at the Crystal Bridges Library.  She too has noticed a difference between the two pieces of art.  Carrie has a tendency to get herself involved in other people's problems and this difference is piquing her interest.  Henry has insisted that she not get involved.  Her past involvements have come very close to costing not only her own life but his as well.  But... when Henry's younger half sister Catherine becomes involved with the search for Maylynn her fiance Rob, who is Carrie's son, also joins her and of course Carrie and Henry can't allow them to play detectives by themselves.

This book picks up pace as the story goes along, especially when a Port View truck is hi-jacked.  What was in the truck?  Painting sales are discovered but are they sales of the real thing or copies?  If they are copies, how are the buyers being convinced that they are the real thing?  I found this book very enlightening as to how the art world works, but I also found it to be a very spellbound mystery.

Radine Trees Nehring, 2011 Inductee, Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame.
Sharing the magic and mystery of the Arkansas Ozarks in To Die For novels.
New Carrie and Henry adventure from Oak Tree Press: A Portrait to Die For. 
http://www.RadinesBooks.com

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.

Murder by Design - Betty Tima Gordon, Author

Jalapeno Potato Soup(A Betty Tima Gordon Specialty)

1 medium onion (chopped)

1/4 cup margarine
5 lbs. sweet potatoes, cubed
8 cups chicken broth
1 tsp. cumin
1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeno & juice
Pinch of baking soda (prevents curdling)
4 cups evaporated milk
salt & pepper to taste
Garnish with sour cream & chopped green onion.

Saute onions in margarine.  Add potatoes, chicken broth and cumin.  Cook until tender (20-30 minutes).  Add jalapenos, soda and milk.  Coarsely mash potatoes with potato masher.  Salt & pepper to taste.  Simmer 15 minutes stirring frequently.

(This Jalapeno Potato Soup was given to me by a dear friend more than thirty years ago. At the time, my friend said it was her father's favorite. It remains one of my family's favorite)

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

...drifted into sleep, loud music, cigarette smoke, pink and blue lights, dancers, and David's intense eyes all swirled around her, catching her in their coils before moving farther and farther away... Harshness of grating metal ripped through the silence invading her consciousness.  She bolted upright, "Whaaa...who?  Who's there?"  Terrified, she ran into the kitchen and grabbed one of the knives from the drawer.  As she moved toward the edge of the wall where she could see, the knob turned.  Her hand tightened around the base of the knife as the door opened.  She stared in disbelief at the shadowy figure filling the doorway.

Meet the characters:
Paul Barlow - Homicide Division - Houston Texas - Paul is in the middle of finding a rapist who takes the victim's shoes as a reminder of his deed.
David Farrell - Vietnam Vet - law student - engaged - having an affair
Karen Matthews - law student - in her 40's - in love with David Farrell
Sharon Berg - an impressionable young woman infatuated with David Farrell - wears a Vietnam coin, a keepsake form her deceased brother, around her neck which grabs Farrell's attention
Vicki Sanders - Karen's roommate - hates David Farrell
Kim Lowry - David Farrell's fiance - works for Delta - gone a lot

Now that you've met most of the characters I'll go ahead and tell you that one of them will be raped and one will die.

When I started reading Murder by Design I wasn't hooked in the beginning but I had a feeling it would eventually grab me.  Well it did and it didn't take long.  I found myself both agreeing and disagreeing with Detective Barlow as he tracked down who he believed to be the rapist as well as the murderer.  His main suspect was taken all the way into trial and I was still not sure.  Then the big bomb hit and I will tell you that I was and wasn't surprised.  I suspected the person but not the how.  This is a really enjoyable book.

All Saints: Murder on the Mersey - Brian L. Porter, Author

Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze
(A favorite dish of Detective Inspector Andy Ross)

2 (4 oz. each) filet mignon steaks
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
salt to taste
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup dry red wine

Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over both sides of each steak and sprinkle with salt to taste.  Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Place steaks in hot pan, cook for 1 minute on each side, or until browned.  Reduce heat to medium-low and add balsamic vinegar and red wine.  Cover and cook for 4 minutes on each side, basting with sauce when you turn the meat over. Remove steaks to two warmed plates, spoon one tablespoon of glaze over each, and serve immediately.

All Saints:  Murder on the Mersey - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

Detective Inspector Andy Ross pulled the unmarked police Mondeo to a halt, its right side wheels pulled up on the pavement outside St. Matthew's Church in Norris Green in an effort to avoid restricting the traffic flow along Brewer Street...  There were already two police patrol cars parked on the street, together with another pool car identical to his own which he knew would have brought his assistant, Sergeant Clarissa, (Izzie) Drake and Detective Constable Derek McLennan to the scene...  As he neared the scene, Ross could see Dr. Nugent on his knees, his assistant, Francis Lees beside him, both men obviously intent on carrying out their initial examination of the body...  "Oh, my God," Ross exclaimed as he drew closer to the scene...  "I told you, sir,"  his sergeant said, quietly.  "Yes, but this... this is, well, nothing short of bloody monstrous... the victim, a man in his mid to late fifties, has been almost totally eviscerated... "Who found him, Izzie?"   "The poor bloody priest"

Father Gerald Byrne, along with his sister, grew up in Speke Hill, an orphanage that was run by the Roman Catholic Church.  He developed a deep interest in theology and the Church which eventually brought him into the priesthood.   After years of traveling all over the world it also brought him full circle back to St. Luke's where he would be not only their priest but also the priest of Speke Hill.  But, shortly after his arrival the murders started.  Bodies are being placed in various cemeteries after being totally disembowel and mutilated. 

This book took me down a very winding road!  As much as I tried to determine who was carrying out the brutal murders, the harder it was for me to justify my suspicions.  And at the end... I was totally surprised.  As always, Brian L. Porter has written another book that can't be put down.  I can never get enough of his books.  He has a Stephen King/Dean Kunze/Jeffrey Deaver frame of mind when he writes putting him right up there in their class of authors.

All Saints: Murder on the Mersey

Secrets in the Fairy Chimneys - Linda Maria Frank, Author

A Wonderful Seasonal Treat - 

Poached Pears and Ice Cream

Peel, core, and halve your pears, Bartlett, Bosc or Anjou.

Place them flat side down in a large heavy skillet, and cover half way with apple juice.

Sprinkle liberally with brown sugar

Add whole cloves, allspice and a cinnamon stick.

Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered until the liquid becomes syrupy. Keep an eye on it.

Cool and add your favorite ice cream or whipped cream.

Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve with thin crisp cookies.

Hint: French Vanilla coffee or Lemon Ginger tea go very well with this dessert.

Secrets in the Fairy Chimneys - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

We were in a valley of shapes I couldn't believe were not made by humans, humans with a fabulous imagination.  Conical formations called fairy chimneys in various sizes spread away from us in every direction.  The color of bleached bones, they sat majestically among the gray-green brush and white clay like soil.  The air shimmered from the heat.  I could smell the odor of clay mixed with a faint herbal scent that must have come from the brush.  Some of the fairy chimneys had windows and doors.  Could people actually live inside?  It was dry here, and hot.

Anne Tillery has joined her boyfriend Ty at an archaeological dig in Turkey.  He and his best friend Cedric are at the dig representing Vermont University.  They will be working alongside a Dr. Atsut who is in charge of the project.  Ty, Cedric and Dr. Atsut are trying to prove that human remains at one of the earliest known archaeological sites in Turkey contained DNA that would link them to the first humans that evolved in Africa.  But, accidents and missing artifacts seem to be plaguing the site and there is even fear that it may be shut down.

As I've found out in other books of this series, Annie is quite a detective.  Hopefully she, with the help of Dr. Atsut's twin children, will be able to make the connections that will end the accidents and theft before the Turkish government steps in to put a halt to everything.  In doing so, Anne finds herself escaping two attempts of kidnapping which leaves her no choice but to call her own father for help.

This book gave me so much history of the Fairy Chimneys that I had to see for myself if they were real.  They are and they are amazingly beautiful!  Seeing what these unusual cities look like made the book even more enjoyable.  As I read I was not only enticed by the story but I could also picture where events were happening.  If you like mystery as well as archaeology, you'll not want to miss reading this book.

Fairy Chimneys

Mistaken Identity - Patricia Gligor, Author

Greek Almond Cookies
(Patricia Gligor's Mother's Recipe)

(Makes 40-50 cookies)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

¾ cup sweet butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder

4 eggs separated, at room temperature

3 ¼ cups flour

¾ lb. almonds, shelled and chopped

8 oz. confectioner’s sugar

8 oz. orange or raspberry preserves

Cream butter and sugar together

Add baking powder and egg yolks, one at a time, to the batter

When the yolks are blended, add the flour, one cup at a time; beat to form soft dough

Beat the egg whites in a bowl until fluffy but not stiff

Shape the dough into round, flattened balls 1 inch in diameter

Dip each cookie individually into the egg white mixture and then roll in the almonds

Make a grove in the center of each cookie and place on cookie sheet about an inch apart

Bake for 30 minutes; allow to cool on sheet; then dip in confectioner’s sugar

Place ¼ teaspoon of preserves in the center of each cookie

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

Ann couldn't stop screaming.  What she was seeing was beyond horrible.  She stood there staring at the young woman's body, wanting desperately to run away but unable to do so.  It felt like her feet were mired in quicksand, her legs too heavy to lift.  Several minutes went by but to her it was as if time had stood still.

Ann, her sister Marnie and Ann's two children Danielle and Davey, are on vacation on Fripp Island.  Ann and Marnie are there for a little R&R, Danielle is there for the history and Davey is there to find buried treasurers.  But what they really find, or should I say Ann finds, is the body of a dead woman.
Clara Brunner is an elderly lady that Marnie has known for years.  When she joins the vacation party she delivers just about everything the group wants, plus.  For Marnie and Ann, who has solved a couple of mysteries in the past, she provides the gossip that is going around about the murder and all those connected. - Jenny Harrington married Mark Hall.  Jenny's father Robert Harrington is married to a woman named Alison who is only a couple years older than Jenny.  Jenny's ex-boyfriend Tod made the statement that if he couldn't have Jenny no one could.  Jenny's mother is upset about being cut off from Robert's money now that Jenny is married.  And Jenny's bridesmaid is upset because she is in love with Mark.  Whew...  So who is the murdered woman and who killed her?  I stayed on the edge of my seat trying to figure this one out.

This book is full of mystery, but not too heavy, and lots of history.  Clara fills the vacationing group, as well as the readers, through some of the history of Fripp Island along with that of Beaufort, making me want to know more and maybe even visit the two places myself.  It is also filled with many possibilities of other stories that I hope the author will branch off with.  I will tell her this - I'll be watching for stories about the Detective, who is single; Marnie and Sam; Clara; and of course Ann.

A Mersey Killing - Brian L. Porter, Author

Lancashire Hot Pot
(A Brian Special)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

325g chopped onion

675g cubed leg of lamb meat

1kg potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

30g butter

475ml chicken or lamb stock

Prep: 20 min., Cook Time: 2 hrs. 

Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Saute onion until soft and deep golden in colour. Remove from pan and set aside. Add lamb to pan and fry (in batches if necessary) until a rich chestnut brown in colour, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain fat and reserve.

Preheat oven to 190 C / Gas mark 5.

Spread 1/2 of the potatoes in the bottom of a 22x33cm (9x13 in) baking dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place browned lamb and onions on top, then sprinkle with thyme and season to taste. Cover with remaining potatoes, season to taste and dot with butter. Pour stock over all.

Bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Cook's note:

If hot pot is drying out while cooking, add more stock as needed. If it is browning too quickly, cover with aluminium foil.

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

When an old wharf and dockside warehouse renovation uncovers the skeletal remains of a murder victim, Detective Inspector Andy Ross and his team are given just over a week to determine who the remains belonged to or drop the mystery as a cold case.  After all, it had been a cold case for over 30 years now so how could they possibly determine who the victim was much less who the killer was.

Judging by their research the body had to have been there from around the 1960s.  Dental records from that far back were slim in help without a name to go with the teeth.  The victim did have a break in the leg but again, there were probably hundreds of kids who broke their leg in the same area of this break.  This was becoming a helpless mystery that may never be solved, that is until two brothers walked in to see if the remains might be those of their sister who disappeared in 1966.

Apparently she and her boyfriend had made plans to go to America in hopes of him pursuing a career in music.  He and the two brothers, along with another young man had formed a band that simply wasn't going anywhere.  They were called Brendan Kane and the Planets and Brendan was the boyfriend.  When the group broke up Brendan decided to go solo but knew he, just like the Beatles, he would only make it big if he went to America.  Then one day he and the sister, Marie, disappeared.  Hopefully they were in America living a comfortable life but the brothers had a bad feeling that Marie never made it to America and was instead dead.

So, is the body that of Marie?  Or could it be the body of Brendan?  As the team put their clues and facts together they find themselves faced not only with the bones from the past but also with a murder that takes place just within a few days of finding the remains and yes the two are very well connected.

I've read everything written by Brian L. Porter and he has never left me disappointed but always wanting more and this book was no exception.  I must admit that I had a clue after a certain character appeared within the book but still would have never guessed the final ending.  This book kept me turning the pages as the action moved smoothly between the 1960s and the 1990s in such a way you were led from one era to the other without noticing the changes in time, making the whole story a seamless roller coaster of memories of times past.   So keep writing Mr. Porter. You have a fan for life in me.

Terror in a Teapot - Morgan St. James & Phyllice Bradner, Authors

Flossie's Fabulous Noodle Kugel

8 oz. pkg. of Wide Egg Noodles

1/4 lb. Butter (melted) (margarine substitute optional)

1 cup Golden Raisins
3 Eggs (beaten) (4 eggs optional)

4 heaping Tbsp. Sour Cream

4 oz. Cream Cheese (softened and rolled into tiny balls)

1/2 cup Sugar (to taste) mix with a small amount of cinnamon for taste and color
1 cup Milk (a little more if you like it more moist)

Package Cornflake Crumbs (optional)

Mix all ingredients with cooked noodles that have been rinsed in cool water.  Put in 8 x 10 (or similar size) Pyrex pan that has been greased with a little butter or margarine.  Top with packaged cornflake crumbs (optional) and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for about an hour.  Cool and cut into squares for serving.  (You can double the recipe and freeze some, too.)

(Based on a recipe from the authors' mother, Rosetta.)

Terror in a Teapot - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

Goldie Silver - Owns an antique shop in Juneau, Alaska
Godiva Olivia DuBois - Author of the famous relationship column Ask G.O.D.

Caesar - Famous TV chef - or is he?

Flossie Silver - Female magician.

Sterling Silver - Male magician.

Two Ladies from the Russian Orthodox Church - church ladies.

Father Innocent - Retiring Priest.

Rimsky - Father Innocent's helper.

Father Augustine - Priest that will take over for Father Innocent.

Two very ugly ladies - Very possibly not 'ladies.'

Boris & Igor Dumkovsky - two very mean Russians.

Now, just what can all of these people have in common?  Well, Goldie and Godiva are twin sisters.  Caesar is Godiva's boyfriend, Flossie is the mother of the twins and Sterling is their father's brother, known to them by the affectionate name of 'Unk.'  

But where is the connection between the 'family' members and the other characters?  It all has to do with The Seven Deadly Samovars, or Tea Pots if you live in America.  It seems the Tea Pots were shipped from Russia to Goldie's shop but were lost in transit.  The Church Ladies had ordered one through Goldie as a retirement gift for Father Innocent.  When they are finally discovered they seem to live up to their name 'Deadly.'  People start dying, Tea Pots start missing and the mystery starts spinning as the twins do a little detective work to track down the missing pots and find the killer or should I say killers.

This book, as all Morgan St. James and Phyllice Bradner books, gives you suspense, humor and a special surprising twist at the end.  I can't get enough of their writings and hope they come out with yet another Silver Sisters Mystery very soon.

Girl With Pencil, Drawing - Linda Maria Frank, Author

Irma’s Apple Cake
(An Annie Favorite)

4 to 5 apples, peeled and sliced
5 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
Combine and set aside.

In another bowl, hand mix the following:
3 Cups unsifted flour
2 1/3 Cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
4 eggs
1 Cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 Cup Orange Juice
8 oz. can walnuts
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a Bundt Pan.  Alternate batter and apples in pan, starting with batter.

Bake 1 1/2 hrs.

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

He busied himself rummaging through the kitchen drawers, two sets of panic-stricken eyes following his every move.  He found some emergency candles and went into the small dinette adjoining the kitchen.  He lit them, let the was drip onto some paper plates from the counter and affixed the candles to the plates.  There were six candles in all.  Was he into satanic rituals?  He came back into the kitchen and turned on all the gas jets at the range and the oven, leaving its door ajar.  He blow out the flames, letting the gas escape freely.  "Bye, bye, ladies."  He hurried out the back door locking it behind him.

When I was a young girl I loved reading the Nancy Drew mysteries and to this day I still enjoy the style and mysteries of the young 'detective' but you can only read them so many times before you know them by heart.  Well... Author Linda Maria Frank has brought my young memories back.  Annie Tillery is today's Nancy Drew!  In fact, she is great at getting herself into trouble but working it out in a fashion that would make Nancy proud.  In Girl With Pencil, Drawing Annie goes to art school and finds that her instructor/teacher is mixed up in a murder that Annie doesn't believe she committed.  Can she prove her innocence without getting both of them killed?  What do you think?

This the second book in the Annie Tillery Mystery Series.  I've read the first, loved it and couldn't see how it could get any better.   Well it does.  I'm now looking forward to reading the third book to see what Nancy, oh excuse me, Annie gets into and how she gets through it.

Dead Burn - Emily Stone Series - Jennifer Chase, Author

Anytime Protein Blast Smoothie
(Emily's Favorite Energy Drink)

Ingredients:

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

½ cup milk (or almond or soy milk)

¾ cup strawberries (or any preferred berry)

½ banana

2 handfuls spinach (or kale leaves)

1 Tbsp. peanut butter (or almond butter)

1 tsp. honey

 

Prep:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more milk for a thinner smoothie, or less for a thicker smoothie. (Makes 1 serving)

 

Note: This is a great morning boost or a replacement meal. Use organic whenever possible.

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

The man pushed his hands deep into his coat pockets, nervously pressing the thumbs against the forefingers, each time with more force, staying in the moment, wanting to experience life dwindling from another person, but not just any person - a sinner.  The screaming had stopped... The burning building captured the man's soul and deep seeded emotions with the hypnotizing and inviting spirits.  It amazed him each time with a wondrous performance.  A sin repaid.  The arsonist patiently waited for a hidden message to exit from the fire to commend him on his sacrifices of righteousness, but it never did... The deeds piled up, and once he reached the appointed number, the words would push him to the next level...

Emily Stone has finished a energy straining rescue she knows there is no time for rest.  Apparently there is a serial killer that is targeting those who have escaped justice and those who helped them.  And his mode of revenge is death by fire.

With each death, the clues evade the police as well as Emily.  With each fire there is only one specific victim in the carefully executed fires.  Could this be a different kind of serial killer?  As the bodies increase the case gets colder and colder leading Emily and her team in directions that fail to find a connection.

This is my 4th Emily Stone Series book and I have to say that as one ends I tell myself that the next one simply couldn't be better, but I'm wrong - it is.  This series has me turning pages, biting my nails and sitting on the edge of my chair.  Author Jennifer Chase just gets better with every book.  I would love to see these books made into a series of movies!

Mixed Messages (A Malone Mystery Book 1) -

"Dottie's Barbecue"

1 lb. ground beef

1 lg. onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 tblsp. sugar

1 tblsp. dried mustard

1 tblsp. vinegar

1 tsp. salt

8 oz. ketchup

Brown meat, add onion and pepper. Combine all remaining ingredients. Add to meat. Cover and simmer for 1 hour

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

She went directly to her grandmother's grave and stooped down to clear away the debris that covered the inscription on the tombstone.  She heard a noise behind her that sounded like light footsteps making their way through the dried leaves and twigs... But there was no one there.  It's probably your imagination, she said out loud but, when the sun went behind a cloud, she shivered.  Then, she heard the noise again... All of a sudden, a black cat sprang from the woods... As she turned back toward her grandmother's grave, she noticed a mound of freshly dug earth a few feet away.  Curious, she went over and looked down.  Her eyes opened wide and her hands flew to her mouth to stifle a scream.  There, printed in bold black paint on a large rock were the words, "FUTURE HOME OF ANN KERN."

Ann is a wife and mother of two beautiful children.  Most of her married life has been spent being a stay at home mother but now her husband David has decided that she should get a job.  He said he was tired of trying to support the family by himself.  The stress was getting to him and he was staying out late and drinking heavily.  His mother Louise takes her only living son's side and blames everything that he is going through, including the drinking, on Ann.  She agrees that Ann needs to earn her part of the income and even puts in a good word with Father Andrew from their church who is looking for a part-time assistant.

Father Andrew finds Ann very suitable for the position but also finds out who she really is.  He actually has a past with her family.  A bad past and this just might be his chance to get the revenge from years past.

You can't help but feel the love yet anger, sorrow, and pain that goes through Ann as she tries to be a good wife and mother.  But it seems that the harder she tries she can't help but watch everything slip away from her.  This story is so well written and so real that I found myself comparing it to people I knew in my own life.  I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in this series titled Unfinished Business.

Dead Man Ohio - T. M. Simmons, Author

Granny's Bread Pudding with

Jack Daniel's Whiskey Sauce

Ingredients for Bread Pudding:

2-1/2 cups stale French bread, cut in cubes
1-1/2 cups whole milk
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup raisins

1 cup coconut

1 cup pecan pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8X12 glass baking dish with olive oil cooking spray and set aside.

Place bread cubes and milk in a bowl. Squeeze the milk into the bread very well and let set for at least 10 minutes.

Using an electric mixer on high, beat eggs with sugar in another bowl until thick. Stir in vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, raisins, coconut and pecan pieces. Add to the soaked bread crumbs and stir.

Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until firm. Check with a knife inserted in the middle. If it comes out clean, the pudding is done. Let cool in the dish.

Jack Daniel's Whiskey Sauce:

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup Half and Half

1 stick butter (real butter, not margarine)

½ cup Jack Daniel's Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey

Combine the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Stir constantly over low heat until mixture reaches a low rolling boil. Pour a generous amount over the individual servings of bread pudding. Serve hot.

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

The thing in front of us drew himself up and glared at me.  I could tell it was male - or at least projected a male appearance.  Bare skin gleamed in the overhead light as though he'd smeared himself with bear grease, and there were no breasts other than the small brown nipples on his muscular chest.  The rest of his body rivaled pictures I'd seen of men with toned but not over-blown bodies.  He exuded maleness, even beneath his outlandish facade.  Still, no amount of projected masculinity could overcome my senses.  Mr. Muscles had been dead for a long while.

Yet, the image was a ghost, spirit or whatever you want to call him.  And as it turned out, he wasn't the only one lingering around Alice's Aunt Twila's home and that of her neighbors.  Turns out that this spirit was called Free Eagle and he had been dead for centuries.

Alice had been called by her ex-husband to 'please' come to Ohio to see if she could help out her Aunt Twila.  Apparently there was a spirit that had been causing her trouble and she didn't seem to be able to gain control over it.  That was all it took for Alice and her neighbor and friend Granny to jump into the car and make the trip from Texas to Ohio.  And it didn't take long for Alice to discover that there was more than one ghost to be dealt with.

Then there are the Ohio Grassmen.  Story goes that they live in the area, are covered with grass and stand 8 - 10 feet tall.  They are big!  Just like the 'thing' that was seen depositing a body on Twila's property the night Alice and Granny showed up.  Turns out that he had been murdered and he refused to leave until he found the person who killed him.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that Alice and Aunt Twila are 'ghost hunters.'

I think I've read everything paranormal this author has written and I can't get enough.  Be it her series with Alice and Twila or her true Ghost Hunting Diaries, I have a hard time putting them down.  This author is addictive and I hope I'll have another fix coming my way from her soon.

Avenue of the Dead - Brian L. Porter, Author

White Chicken Chili
(A Brian Special)

3 15 ounce cans Great Northern, pinto, or cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed and drained

2 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 1/2  cups chopped red, green, and/or yellow sweet peppers (2 medium)

1 cup chopped onion (1 large)

2 fresh jalapeno chile peppers, seeded and chopped

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

3 1/2 cups chicken broth 

Shredded Monterey Jack cheese (optional)

Broken tortilla chips (optional)

1.  In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine drained beans, chicken, sweet peppers, onion, jalapeno peppers, cumin, garlic, salt, and oregano. Pour broth over mixture in cooker.
2.  Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
3.  If desired, top each serving with cheese and/or tortilla chips.

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

The remaining hours of that first day of the investigation proved as frustrating as they did fruitless for the two detectives.  Little progress was made by any of those involved in the investigation.  A painstaking search of the area surrounding the site of the discovery of the body had revealed no physical or trace evidence whatsoever.  They were nowhere nearer to identifying the unfortunate victim, and Doctor Hernandez had telephoned Tamayo to inform him that the autopsy results wouldn't be available until the following day.

Mexican Police Captain Juan Morales decided to take a vacation after the death of his brother Father Rodrigo who had spent his last years in the sanctuary of the seminary.  Rodrigo had been a Priest who fell from the bell tower and never recovered mentally nor physically.  Juan's vacation came to a halt when his old time buddy Tamayo received a call informing him that a body had been found at the ancient ruins of the city of Teotihuacan.  With Juan tagging along, Tamayo finds himself standing on the Avenue of the Dead looking at the horrific sight of a corpse whose chest cavity shows evidence that the man's heart is missing.  Now the search is on to find the identity of the man as well as his killer before he kills again.  As Morales finds himself being drawn ever closer to the beautiful archaeologist Sophia, developments in the case lead the two of them into grave danger as the killer senses an opportunity for another outlet for his (or her) escalating bloodlust."

As I read the story about the Priest Rodrigo whose mind kept seeing the devil I couldn't but feel that even after his death, there had to be a connection to the body with the missing heart.  Then another body turned up making me truly believe there was a connection.  Could this be the Priest coming back?  Could it be that the devil has decided to visit yet another human?  Or is this the doings of a truly sick person on their own?  I will tell you this, I stayed on the edge of my bed the whole time I read this book.  It really grabs at your heart!

Jilted by Death - Lynette Hall Hampton, Author

Barbecue Cups
(My grandchildren love this recipe and
I thought maybe my readers would, too -
Lynette)

l lb. ground beef - browned and drained
1/2 cup barbecue sauce - whatever you like. I use Sweet Baby Ray's
2 Tbsp. onion - chopped fine
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 can of biscuits
3/4 cup. Shredded cheese - I use cheddar

After draining beef, add barbecue sauce, onion and brown sugar.
Place each biscuit in a greased muffin tin. Press dough up sides, to the top of tin to form a cup.
Spoon mixture into cups and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until dough is brown.


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

"This is Willa," I said into the receiver.  "And I can be your worst nightmare," a deep muffled voice said.  "Stay away from Reba Wilkinson.  No more lunches with her, if you know what's good for you, Preacher Lady."  The receiver slammed in my ear and I slowly hung up.  I was stunned, confused, and a little afraid.  I looked around my office and shivered.  Whoever this person was, he knew that I had spent my lunchtime with Reba, and he didn't like it.  But why would anyone care?  The visit had been fruitless.

Willa Hinshaw has only been the associated minister at the First United Methodist Church for about three weeks when everything seems to start turning upside down.  First came the canceling of a wedding for the daughter of one of the town's leaders to an up-and-coming attorney.  The daughter seemed to have run off with her childhood sweetheart causing much grief for her family, not to mention the loss of money it had cost her father to put this event together.  Then came the call to Willa from the daughter telling her she had made a mistake and was afraid for her safety.  She begged Willa to come and get her at a motel several miles away from Liverpool.  And when she read the note left with the motel clerk saying it was all a mistake and that she was ok, Willa wasn't convinced.  Thus starts her search for the real truth, as well as the threats made to her if she continued to keep digging into matters that don't concern her.

Then comes the ransom note.  Someone is determined to destroy the Poole family through their daughter Lee Ann and the Swanson family through their son Justin.  But why was a question no one seemed to have the answer to.

Lynette Hall Hampton has become one of my favorite authors.  Her stories are simply beautiful as well as mysterious.  Her style of writing is one that keeps me in the dark through many pages.  In Jilted by Death, I thought I knew the killer about 3/4 of the way through but the more I thought about it the more I felt I was wrong.  So, when the killer was finally revealed I was surprised but also not surprised.  I can't wait to read more works of art from this author.

Dead Game - Jennifer Chase, Author

California Style Mango Guacamole

3 medium ripe avocados

1 ripe mango, peeled and diced

2 limes, juiced

2 tbsp. minced red onion

¼ cup red bell pepper, diced

½ small habanero pepper (with or without spicy seeds), minced

1 clove garlic, finely minced or grated

¼ cup fresh cilantro, minced

Pinch of salt and pepper to taste

 

Cut and scoop avocado flesh into a bowl. Mash the avocados with salt, pepper, and lime juice. Stir in cilantro, onions, garlic, habanero, mango, and red bell pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning to taste.

 

Serve as a dip with chips, crackers, or French bread. It’s a fantastic accompaniment for chicken or fish.

 

Note: You can adjust the heat of the habanero by taking out the seeds, or omit habanero all together.

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

Five flat screen computers sat on a table in a semicircle configuration, each with a video playing.  Upon closer inspection, all computers had the same video performing only at different moments in the action sequence.  They kept playing through on an endless loop.  The sound was muted, but the violence was clearly evident.  It was a man being methodically strangled to death earlier in the evening.  Every detail of his extreme anguish, facial muscle twitches, and lack of oxygen was forever imprinted on the video to relive over and over again.  The intense satisfaction of watching the five videos made every nerve tingle with delicious gratification for the man that watched.  He was captivated by his clever use of direction as he savored every moment of the performance.  He was the most ingenious movie director of all time.  No one could compare to him.... It was death.  It was death by his direction.  He was the future.

There is a serial killer stalking the Santa Clare area with no indication of it stopping anytime soon.  The police haven't a clue.  Each victim is found with a device that slowly tightens around their neck ending in a painful death by strangulation.  Santa Clair Detective Duncan is heading up the investigation with very little to go on.  That is until the death of a retired policeman is classified as an accident.  After a bit of investigating on his part he finds a connection between the victims.  They all subscribe to a computer spy game called EagleEye which the dead officer has connections to.

Emily and Rick are still on the hunt for those who prey on children.  After their last rescue Rick talked Emily into taking a break to give her body and mind to mend.  Then the nephew of a friend came to him announcing the death of his uncle who was also Rick's friend.  Rick and Emily both agreed to jump right into the case and find the killer.  They didn't know the dangers they were stepping into.  They would soon find themselves right in the middle of the Dead Game Serial Killer.

I allowed myself a week to read this book.  Didn't take half that time.  I simply couldn't put it down.  The tension of the chase, the pain felt by the victims, the fear of loss that went between Emily and Rick kept me on the edge throughout the whole book.  This book could easily go to Criminal Minds for a show or become a movie of its own.