Japanese-Style Potato Salad #recipe by @LeslieKarst      P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } When my character Valerie goes to her first meeting of the neighborhood orchid society she’s just joined in Murder, Local Style, she brings a dish to share—as is the tradition here on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. That dish, which proves very popular, is a Japanese-style potato salad.   What sets this potato salad off from its American

Japanese-Style Potato Salad #recipe by @LeslieKarst:   
 
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in }

When my character Valerie goes to her
first meeting of the neighborhood orchid society she’s just joined
in Murder, Local Style, she brings a dish to share—as is the
tradition here on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.…

Salted Apricot Blondies -- a treat from Leslie Budewitz LESLIE BUDEWITZ:  Last year at Left Coast Crime in Denver, the mystery fan convention, a group of readers and I made a delightful visit to Savory Spice, the Denver-based spice company with locations across the country. We had a wonderful time and each of us took home spices, blends, and recipes to enjoy. I shared one, for Scallops and Snow Pea Salad earlier this year. If you were

Salted Apricot Blondies -- a treat from Leslie Budewitz: LESLIE BUDEWITZ:  Last year at Left Coast Crime in Denver, the mystery fan convention, a group of readers and I made a delightful visit to Savory Spice, the Denver-based spice company with locations across the country. We had a wonderful time…

Eggs in Purgatory: The Dish My Wife Warned Me About by Ang Pompano — Plus a givaway! Ang Pompano: Eggs in Purgatory, uova in purgatorio, belongs to the great Italian tradition of cucina povera. The phrase translates to “poor kitchen,” but it’s less about scarcity than ingenuity, turning a few simple staples into something that actually satisfies.This is everyday food. The kind you make because you’re hungry and want something good, not because you’re trying to impress anyone.

Eggs in Purgatory: The Dish My Wife Warned Me About by Ang Pompano — Plus a givaway!: Ang Pompano: Eggs in Purgatory, uova in purgatorio, belongs to the great Italian tradition of cucina povera. The phrase translates to “poor kitchen,” but it’s less about scarcity than ingenuity, turning a few…

Welcome Guest Ashley-Ruth Bernier #pumpkinfritters   LUCY BURDETTE: I’m delighted to welcome Ashley-Ruth to our kitchen today. Her first novel sounds delicious, as do her fritters! Don’t forget to add a comment to be entered in the drawing for The Bush Tree Murder!ASHLEY-RUTH BERNIER: I’m often asked about the inspiration for my culinary based stories about St. Thomian food journalist Naomi Sinclair, and my answer always begins the

Welcome Guest Ashley-Ruth Bernier #pumpkinfritters:   LUCY BURDETTE: I’m delighted to welcome Ashley-Ruth to our kitchen today. Her first novel sounds delicious, as do her fritters! Don’t forget to add a comment to be entered in the drawing for The Bush Tree Murder!ASHLEY-RUTH BERNIER: I’m often…

Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs #Recipe Peg Cochran/Margaret Loudon   This recipe is from the Country Cook.  I made it pretty much according to the recipe, adjusting seasoning to taste.  It's quick and easy enough for a weeknight dinner but still special enough to serve to company.  It was a big hit even with our pickiest eater!@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0;

Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs #Recipe Peg Cochran/Margaret Loudon:   This recipe is from the Country Cook.  I made it pretty much according to the recipe, adjusting seasoning to taste.  It's quick and easy enough for a weeknight dinner but still special enough to serve to company.  It was a big hit…

Parisian Chocolate Lemon Tart from Vicki Delany (Part One: Pastry) I wanted to try a new twist on a longtime favourite for my family Easter dinner this year.  As always, when I’m looking for something new, the first place I go is Canadian Living magazine. Canadian Living | Recipes and Lifestyle for Canadian Women.  This a slightly different version of the standard lemon meringue pie, with a touch of thyme in the dough and a layer of melted chocolate. &

Parisian Chocolate Lemon Tart from Vicki Delany (Part One: Pastry): I wanted to try a new
twist on a longtime favourite for my family Easter dinner this year.  As always, when I’m looking for something new,
the first place I go is Canadian Living magazine. Canadian Living | Recipes and Lifestyle…

Easy Overnight Focaccia courtesy of Lucy Burdette Lucy with Ruth Reichl, Elise Hart Kipness, and Judy BlumeLUCY BURDETTE: You might have seen in Facebook and in my newsletter (hey, please subscribe if you don't want to miss anything!) that Ruth Reichl was our Friends of the Key West library honored gala guest this year. John and I had the honor of hosting her, which brought up the fraught question of what to make for dinner!! I decided on my

Easy Overnight Focaccia courtesy of Lucy Burdette: Lucy with Ruth Reichl, Elise Hart Kipness, and Judy BlumeLUCY BURDETTE: You might have seen in Facebook and in my newsletter (hey, please subscribe if you don't want to miss anything!) that Ruth Reichl was our Friends of the Key West library…

Parmesan-Crusted Lemon Garlic Chicken #Giveaway #Murder at the Lemonberry Tea #recipe by Darci Hannah Darci Hannah: Whenever I begin to write a new mystery, especially a Beacon Bakeshop mystery, I always like to scour my personal recipe collection (and I have a huge collection!) in the planning stages for possible recipes to appear in the book. The titling of my Beacon Bakeshop series is the word “Murder” followed by a “foodie event”. Food is a very important part of these mysteries, and

Parmesan-Crusted Lemon Garlic Chicken #Giveaway #Murder at the Lemonberry Tea #recipe by Darci Hannah: Darci Hannah: Whenever I begin to write a new mystery, especially a Beacon Bakeshop mystery, I always like to scour my personal recipe collection (and I have a huge collection!) in the planning…

An Out-of-This-World Healthy Snack from Cleo Coyle #vegetarian #vegan I GIVE YOU THE CABBAGE...It looks like a big green moon, doesn't it? Okay, so the Artemis II lunar flyby mission may have influenced my judgement, but this photo does make this dense, leafy, highly nutritious vegetable appear as a celestial body. See the solar warmth on the left and the chilly dark side on the right? As the subject of a photo, it seems to have its own

An Out-of-This-World Healthy Snack from Cleo Coyle #vegetarian #vegan: I GIVE YOU THE CABBAGE...It looks like a big green moon, doesn't it? Okay, so the Artemis II lunar flyby mission may have influenced my judgement, but this photo does make this dense, leafy, highly nutritious vegetable appear as…

Instant Pot Risotto with Gruyère, Ham, and Peas #recipe and #giveaway from #KimDavis KIM DAVIS:  Needing to eat gluten-free while dining out at a restaurant, if available, I always gravitate toward ordering risotto. There's something so comforting about the dish, and even though it's basically rice, cheese, and some add-ins, the final product seems elevated somehow. I've made risotto a few times the "old-fashioned" way, laboriously stirring the arborio rice in a pot on the

Instant Pot Risotto with Gruyère, Ham, and Peas #recipe and #giveaway from #KimDavis: KIM DAVIS:  Needing to eat gluten-free while dining out at a restaurant, if available, I always gravitate toward ordering risotto. There's something so comforting about the dish, and even though it's basically…

GUEST: Nancy Coco SHORTBREAD LEMON RASPBERRY BARS #recipe @vmburns #giveaway  VMBURNS: Today, I'm thrilled to have Nancy Coco in the kitchen ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTLAND!!!!. She's sharing information about her new book, a lovely recipe, and a fantastic giveaway! Welcome, Nancy!Some Like It Fudgy, Others Like It TangyHi all! Allie McMurphy is known for her chocolate treats but sometimes in life you find yourself with a restricted diet. One that limits lovely things like

GUEST: Nancy Coco SHORTBREAD LEMON RASPBERRY BARS #recipe @vmburns #giveaway:  VMBURNS: Today, I'm thrilled to have Nancy Coco in the kitchen ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTLAND!!!!. She's sharing information about her new book, a lovely recipe, and a fantastic giveaway! Welcome, Nancy!Some Like It Fudgy,…

Cheater’s Spanakopita recipe from Molly MacRae  Spinach in abundance was one of the first signs of spring when we had a big garden back in northeast Tennessee (where deer and the occasional bear or cow wandered by). Spinach has such a great, fresh green taste (even when it’s frozen). It’s a bright taste, too, when combined with dill, lemon, and feta in spanakopita (spinach feta pie). Out of necessity and choice I made a few changes to

Cheater’s Spanakopita recipe from Molly MacRae:  Spinach in
abundance was one of the first signs of spring when we had a big garden back in
northeast Tennessee (where deer and the occasional bear or cow wandered by). Spinach
has such a great, fresh green taste (even when it’s frozen). It’s a…

One-Pot Fish Dish @MaddieDayAuthor #giveaway MADDIE DAY here. I'm thrilled that A Poisonous Pour releases in just 18 days. Protagonist and wine bar owner Cece Barton is a pescatarian - a vegetarian who also eats fish. The books don't include recipes, but when I came across this recipe for a one-pot fish stew with pearl couscous, tomatoes, and black olives, I knew it was a dish Cece would love and might cook at home.Doesn't it look pretty in

One-Pot Fish Dish @MaddieDayAuthor #giveaway: MADDIE DAY here. I'm thrilled that A Poisonous Pour releases in just 18 days. Protagonist and wine bar owner Cece Barton is a pescatarian - a vegetarian who also eats fish. The books don't include recipes, but when I came across this recipe for a…

Jailhouse Rice #recipe @vmburns  VMBURNS: Sometimes, I get in a rut and find myself eating the same things over and over. One of those repeat items includes potatoes. I like potatoes, but I don't love them. Still, I find myself reverting to them as a side dish staple. WHY?  No idea. However, I decided to break the habit. Instead of potatoes, a quick look in my pantry showed that I had another staple, rice. Rice isn't

Jailhouse Rice #recipe @vmburns:  VMBURNS: Sometimes, I get in a rut and find myself eating the same things over and over. One of those repeat items includes potatoes. I like potatoes, but I don't love them. Still, I find myself reverting to them as a side dish staple. WHY?  No idea. However, I…

Lemongrass Blast #cocktailrecipe by @LeslieKarst  To celebrate the release yesterday of Murder, Local Style, book three in my Orchid  Isle mystery series, I present today a delicious cocktail (one of the recipes in the new book) with which you can join me in toasting the new book! P { margin-bottom: 0.08in }This is a refreshing drink created by my bartender protagonist, Valerie Corbin, which is similar to a Moscow Mule, but the

Lemongrass Blast #cocktailrecipe by @LeslieKarst:  To celebrate the release yesterday of Murder, Local Style, book three in my Orchid  Isle mystery series, I present today a delicious cocktail (one of the recipes in the new book) with which you can join me in toasting the new book! P {…

Celebrating the Release of MURDER, LOCAL STYLE!  Happy book birthday to Leslie Karst, whose newest Orchid Isle mystery, MURDER, LOCAL STYLE, releases today--hurrah!   About Murder, Local Style:  Retired caterer Valerie Corbin investigates a suspicious poisoning in this Orchid Isle cozy culinary mystery, featuring a feisty queer couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions in tropical Hilo, Hawai‘i. A

Celebrating the Release of MURDER, LOCAL STYLE!:  Happy book birthday to Leslie Karst, whose newest Orchid Isle mystery, MURDER, LOCAL STYLE, releases today--hurrah!   About Murder, Local Style:  Retired caterer Valerie Corbin investigates a suspicious
poisoning in this Orchid Isle cozy culinary…

Tomato Lovers' Minestrone -- a #recipe from Leslie Budewitz LESLIE BUDEWITZ:  You all know I love recreating dishes at home that I’ve enjoyed out and about. On my way back from Left Coast Crime in San Francisco, I had a layover in the Salt Lake City airport, plenty long for a sit-down lunch. As I was being seated, I watched a bowl of minestrone go by, and decided that would be perfect. It was, especially with the fresh ciabatta and the plate of

Tomato Lovers' Minestrone -- a #recipe from Leslie Budewitz: LESLIE BUDEWITZ:  You all know I love recreating dishes at home that I’ve enjoyed out and about. On my way back from Left Coast Crime in San Francisco, I had a layover in the Salt Lake City airport, plenty long for a sit-down lunch. As I…

Around the Kitchen Table: Celebrating Spring! + 8-Book #Giveaway! @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0

Around the Kitchen Table: Celebrating Spring! + 8-Book #Giveaway!: @font-face
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mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face…

Coconut Banana Bread #Recipe PegCochran/Margaret Loudon  I wanted to make something special for Easter breakfast but with all the other cooking and preparing, I also wanted something simple.  This easy coconut banana bread fit the bill. I thought the addition of coconut made it special and more "spring like".             @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;

Coconut Banana Bread #Recipe PegCochran/Margaret Loudon:  I wanted to make something special for Easter breakfast but with all the other cooking and preparing, I also wanted something simple.  This easy coconut banana bread fit the bill. I thought the addition of coconut made it special and more…

Ham and Cheese Quiche from Vicki Delany Many Canadian families have a ham for Easter dinner.  We will be in my house this year.  A big ham usually means a meaty bone to make bean soup with after, as well as plenty of leftovers.  This is a nice way to use up some of that delicious cooked ham.  But not too much, you want lots for sandwiches too.I used a pre-made pastry here, but of course you can make your own. 

Ham and Cheese Quiche from Vicki Delany: Many Canadian families
have a ham for Easter dinner.  We will be in
my house this year.  A big ham usually
means a meaty bone to make bean soup with after, as well as plenty of leftovers.  This is a nice way to use up some of that
delicious cooked ham.  But…

Pavlova: New Zealand’s National Dessert LUCY BURDETTE: John and I recently traveled to New Zealand--I can assure you that very little work was accomplished as I was focused on the scenery in this amazing country. Of course, you can't take the mystery writer out of the tourist, so I did come up with a few devious murder weapons. You can read more about that here. One evening, we were treated to Pavlova, which is not only New Zealand’s

Pavlova: New Zealand’s National Dessert: LUCY BURDETTE: John and I recently traveled to New Zealand--I can assure you that very little work was accomplished as I was focused on the scenery in this amazing country. Of course, you can't take the mystery writer out of the tourist, so I did come up…

Beacon Bakeshop’s Giant Cinnamon Rolls, #giveaway, #Easter #recipe from DarciHannah  Darci Hannah: Easter is right around the corner, and with that special day in mind, I thought I’d share one of my favorite recipes that I make for my family every Easter for our morning brunch. Making cinnamon rolls from scratch is truly a labor of love. The method is quite simple, but there’s no getting around the two rise times that this sweet yeast dough requires. That’s why I reserve

Beacon Bakeshop’s Giant Cinnamon Rolls, #giveaway, #Easter #recipe from DarciHannah:  Darci Hannah: Easter is right around the corner, and with that special day in mind, I thought I’d share one of my favorite recipes that I make for my family every Easter for our morning brunch. Making cinnamon…

Skillet Lasagna -- a one-pan dinner from Leslie Budewitz LESLIE BUDEWITZ:  Who doesn’t love lasagna? I admit, though, to not loving all the steps, putting together this and that, and layering it all together. No-boil noodles have made the dish a lot easier – no more cooking the pasta, then handling the hot, cooked noodles. This skillet version solves all those problems, with only one dish to clean! I found the inspiration recipe in Country

Skillet Lasagna -- a one-pan dinner from Leslie Budewitz: LESLIE BUDEWITZ:  Who doesn’t love lasagna? I admit, though, to not loving all the steps, putting together this and that, and layering it all together. No-boil noodles have made the dish a lot easier – no more cooking the pasta, then…

Queso Blanco Easter Egg Appetizer #Easter #recipe from Kim Davis  KIM DAVIS: Easter is a time for families to gather today, and having young children around makes the day even more special. When my granddaughters were young, I acquired quite the collection of cookie cutters, including mini ones to use on fondant to decorate both cookies and cakes, and we had a lot of decorating sessions, over the years. I started them young starting with basic sprinkles,

Queso Blanco Easter Egg Appetizer #Easter #recipe from Kim Davis:  KIM DAVIS: Easter is a time for families to gather today, and having young children around makes the day even more special. When my granddaughters were young, I acquired quite the collection of cookie cutters, including mini ones to…

Aunt Rae’s Ricotta Pie: An Easter Tradition Made Simple by Ang Pompano Ang Pompano: Ricotta pie (Torta di Ricotta), one of my favorites, is a traditional Italian dessert often served at Easter to mark the end of Lent. It has a light, cheesecake-like texture and a slightly sweet filling made from ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, and a touch of vanilla or citrus zest such as orange or lemon. This version, handed down from my wife’s great-aunt Rae, keeps things simple with

Aunt Rae’s Ricotta Pie: An Easter Tradition Made Simple by Ang Pompano: Ang Pompano: Ricotta pie (Torta di Ricotta), one of my favorites, is a traditional Italian dessert often served at Easter to mark the end of Lent. It has a light, cheesecake-like texture and a slightly sweet filling made from…

Sauteéd Swiss Chard with Garlic, a Pun, and a Giveaway from Molly MacRae  Chard is lovely stuff—to look at and to eat. Here’s a delicious side dish that’s a combination of slightly caramelized, crisp-tender stems and tasty, tender greens made lively with the zip of garlic and the brightness of lemon. This might sound like a non sequitur but bear with me. We’ll get back to chard in a few paragraphs. Have you ever attended the International Edible Book Festival?

Sauteéd Swiss Chard with Garlic, a Pun, and a Giveaway from Molly MacRae:  Chard is lovely
stuff—to look at and to eat. Here’s a delicious side dish that’s a combination
of slightly caramelized, crisp-tender stems and tasty, tender greens made
lively with the zip of garlic and the brightness of…

Tomato Shrimp Curry @MaddieDayAuthor #giveaway MADDIE DAY here. When I was in San Francisco last month for Left Coast Crime, my cousin took me to Burma Superstar, a popular restaurant. I loved the food (especially the tea leaf salad), and when I learned there is a cookbook by the owners, I had to order a copy. This recipe is adapted from one I found in the book.I might make the tea leaf salad one day, but I'll need to acquire some

Tomato Shrimp Curry @MaddieDayAuthor #giveaway: MADDIE DAY here. When I was in San Francisco last month for Left Coast Crime, my cousin took me to Burma Superstar, a popular restaurant. I loved the food (especially the tea leaf salad), and when I learned there is a cookbook by the owners, I had to…

Crockpot Ranch Chicken #recipe @vmburns  VMBURNS: I love cooking with my crockpot. Most of the time, you just dump items into the crockpot and let it do all of the work. The only work in this simple recipe comes from browning the meat in a skillet before putting it in the crockpot. Browning helps with presentation. It also adds to the depth of the flavor by sealing in the juices. You can even skip the browning part if you're

Crockpot Ranch Chicken #recipe @vmburns:  VMBURNS: I love cooking with my crockpot. Most of the time, you just dump items into the crockpot and let it do all of the work. The only work in this simple recipe comes from browning the meat in a skillet before putting it in the crockpot. Browning helps…

Poke Wonton Cup Appetizers with Cream Cheese #recipe by @LeslieKarst  These tasty delights, baked in mini muffin tins, are simple to prepare and would make for a fun appetizer for a dinner party, or something to bring to a potluck.Poke (pronounced poh-kay), a sort of Hawaiian-style ceviche, is now a well-known dish on the Mainland and can be found for sale at many grocery stores. (I even saw it for sale in Paris, France, the last time I was there!).&

Poke Wonton Cup Appetizers with Cream Cheese #recipe by @LeslieKarst:  These tasty delights, baked in mini
muffin tins, are simple to prepare and would make for a fun appetizer for a dinner party, or something to bring to a potluck.Poke (pronounced poh-kay), a sort of Hawaiian-style ceviche, is…

COVER REVEAL PARTY with ROYAL TARA GIVEAWAY + Chocolate-Stuffed PB Cookies from Cleo Coyle 🎈🍀   Before we share our cookie recipe with you today, Marc and I invite you to drop by the Cover Reveal Giveaway Party at our blog. We have 2 new mysteries coming out this fall, one in our long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series and another in our Haunted Bookshop world. To celebrate, we're throwing a special Prize Package Giveaway for our readers that includes a

COVER REVEAL PARTY with ROYAL TARA GIVEAWAY + Chocolate-Stuffed PB Cookies from Cleo Coyle 🎈🍀:   Before we share our cookie recipe with you today, Marc and I invite you to drop by the Cover Reveal Giveaway Party at our blog. We have 2 new mysteries coming out this fall, one in our long-running…