YvonneThere is a personal and special message from the book’s editor, which comes with my post this time, so I would be grateful if you would take just a few moments to check it out, after delving into the book’s blurb and mouth watering recipes which come along with it. For those of you who have already viewed this email, I make no apologies for highlighting Nancy’s fundraising efforts on behalf of her husband and his fellow sufferers, just one more time, … but please enjoy the recipes along with everyone else … Thank you so much 🙂
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COZY FOOD: 128 Cozy Mystery Writers Share Their Favorite Recipes
What happens when 128 cozy mystery writers get together to do a cookbook? You get more than 220 recipes that are as varied and interesting as an amateur sleuth’s day job.
Regional recipes come from every part of the United States and England — a couple find their way from Australia and Italy, too — and from diverse times. There are recipes from people looking to keep gluten out of their lives, eat vegetarian, or make a treat or two for their furry four-legged friends. And yes, there are recipes that appeal to the sweet tooth, lots of them, in fact.
There’s no mystery about what happens when cozy writers get together. They bring the wit, inventiveness, and adventure found in their books right along with their recipes.
The recipes are introduced by their authors and linked to the writer bios in the back of the book.
You can look up your favorite cozy writer and see which recipes are their favorites; they’ll tell you what the recipe means to them. Or you can enjoy a dish and then link to the recipe’s author’s biography and books.
Either way you enjoy the cookbook, you’re sure to find great new recipes to make and terrific new cozy authors to read.
A List Of Contributing Authors Can be Found Here:
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SCHNITZ und KNEPP (Ham with Dried Apples and Dumplings)
From: Assaulted Pretzel by Laura Bradford (Page 178)
In Assaulted Pretzel (book 2 in the Amish Mysteries), Claire Weatherly has heard so much about the Amish dish, Schnitz und Knepp, that she can’t wait to try some at the annual Amish Food Festival in Heavenly, PA. Unfortunately, before she can try some, English toymaker, Rob Karble, is murdered right in the middle of the festival and Claire finds herself in full-blown sleuth-mode.
Here’s what she missed out on (at least until the end of the book) …
Ham with Dried Apples:
3 pounds smoked ham with bone
4 cups dried tart apples
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 large onion, finely chopped
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Dumplings:
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 to 2/3 cup milk
In a large pot, cover ham with cold water. Bring to boil, reduce and simmer for 2 hours or until ham is tender. Meanwhile, put apples in bowl and cover with water. Soak for at least 2 hours. Remove ham from bone and cut into medium pieces. Return ham to pot. Add apples with most of apple liquid. Add brown sugar and onion. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
For dumplings, sift or or whisk together sifted flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in butter with two knives or pastry cutter. Stir in egg. Gradually add enough milk to make a moist, fairly stiff dough, gently stirring just enough to bring it together. Drop dough by tablespoons into simmering stew. Cover tightly and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until dumplings are done. Serve immediately. This serves 6 to 8.
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CASHEW CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
From: The Subbing Isn’t For Sissies Mysteries by Carolyn J. Rose (page 224)
These cookies are a favorite of substitute teacher Barbara Reed. After a hard day of subbing at Captain Meriwether High School in Reckless River, Washington, Barb munches on these while sipping a frothy drink with her dog Cheese Puff, the world’s most entitled mutt.
Cream:
1 stick (a quarter of a pound) of butter (the real stuff)
½ cup dark brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 egg
2 t. vanilla
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Mix in:
½ t. salt
½ t. baking soda
1 cup oatmeal (old fashioned, not quick-cooking)
1 cup flour (or a little more or less)
Add:
1 cup cashew pieces (salted or plain)
1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
Set oven to 360 degrees and bake a test pan to determine whether to thicken the batter with more flour for plump cookies or thin it with a little water for lacy, crunchy cookies.
Makes about 50 cookies, depending on how large you like them.
Remove from cookie tin as soon as they’re done and cool on racks or paper towels. Store in the freezer for months—or until you eat them all.
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MYSTERIOUS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
From: The Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries by Nancy Lynn Jarvis (page 199)
Regan keeps this cookie dough in her freezer ready to bake at open houses to make them seem homey and to bake and take to friends and clients accused of murder. The cookies are made with an unusual mystery ingredient. Don’t worry, the chili oil doesn’t make the cookies hot, it just enhances the chocolate experience.
Cream together until light and fluffy:
1 cup butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Add:
2 eggs
1 1/2 t vanilla
1 t baking soda
1 t habanero chili oil (Regan uses Coeur D’Olives Habanero Oil)
1 t cinnamon
Mix well.
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NANCY LYNN JARVIS – Editor
Nancy has been a happily former Realtor for just over a year. Without a license to hold her back, she is free to share her opinions about all things real estate, especially in Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries. …
I’ll allow Nancy to tell you the reason behind the intrigue, through the words of an email she sent me:
Hi Yvonne,
Like Tom Brokaw, my husband has multiple myeloma, a plasma cell cancer. He was diagnosed a little more than two years ago. If he’d developed this disease a decade ago, he’d likely be dead by now, instead he’s doing well. Fortunately great strides have been made and survival times keep getting pushed out because of research, new medicines, and new treatments.
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation has been instrumental in fundraising dedicated to finding a cure for the disease. Supporters have answered their call to do creative fundraising. There’s a cat litter manufacturer who donates a portion of sales as part of a “Cats for Cancer” campaign. Ditto a Louisiana seafood producer who sells “Crayfish for Cancer.”
It seems this group loves alliteration and it occurred to me that as a mystery writer I could donate books for sale and dub them “Mysteries for Myeloma.” Five of my books are real estate mysteries set in Santa Cruz. My husband and I also edited a terrific cookbook called “Cozy Food: 128 Cozy Mystery Writers Share Their Favorite Recipes” which qualifies in the mystery category because all the recipes are from mystery writers.
This year’s Greater Bay Area MMRF event is a 5K Walk/Run which will be held in San Francisco at the Marina Green on March 22nd. I’ll be there selling books. All proceeds will be donated to MMRF. For people with e-readers or those who can’t make the event, profits from e-books purchased on Amazon that day will also be donated. “Mags and the AARP Gang,” another book I’ve written will also be included for those who prefer humor to mysteries or cookbooks.
E-books are a relatively low price — such a small donation to make — but if enough people buy one, not only will they get a book they may enjoy reading, but we will raise some real money…perhaps enough to keep my husband and many others around for those who love them.
I realize I should have started this sooner, but we were involved in a stem cell transplant and pretty busy.
Thank you so much. Nancy Lynn Jarvis
All of the books Nancy has mentioned, are available from her ..
Amazon.com page, here
Amazon.co.uk page, here
You can check out the USA Multiple Myeloma Research site here
You can check out the UK Multiple Myeloma Research site here
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Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth F, over at ‘Beth Fish Reads’.
It is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog’s home page.
When leaving your link, don’t forget to leave a comment for Beth F, we all like to receive comments and share your thoughts.
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I always like the recipes at the end of cozy mysteries though I don’t think I’ve ever really made any of them. This sounds like a fun cookbook and definitely one I want!
Hi Katherine,
I do read cozy mysteries, although not on a regular basis, so I don’t really know many of the authors who contributed to this book, although I have worked with ‘Cozy Food’ editor, Nancy Lynn Jarvis.
I must admit that I don’t tend to focus too much on the recipes within a book, but agree they are a fun way to make the story more inclusive for the reader.
Thanks for stopping by and I am pleased that you like the sound of ‘Cozy Food’ 🙂
I was thrilled to be asked to contribute to this book because my characters aren’t noted for their abilities in the kitchen. But I enjoy reading about characters who know that a spatula is for more than smacking a spider sighted on the edge of the counter and I enjoy dreaming about what I might cook – someday.
I hope Nancy has much success with this fundraiser.
Hi Carolyn,
I can’t think why your characters should have such an aversion to the kitchen ??? LOL
Personally, I tend to agree with them and you – a kitchen should be seen and not heard and the recipe books are strictly for show – just to illustrate what might have been!!
Fellow blogger Tracy, over at ‘Pen and Paper’, has a great one liner in her right hand side bar
“TIS TRUE, I ONLY HAVE A KITCHEN BECAUSE IT CAME WITH THE HOUSE”
http://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks as ever for stopping by and I promise to think about trying your cookies 🙂
I love that one liner. And I’d love to have food magically appear in my refrigerator or on the table. Lately I think it would be grand to live on a cruise ship and just pop up to the buffet whenever I wanted a snack. But the sad fact is that we just ate the last of the cookies I stockpiled over the winter, so I’ll have to face the music and face the oven.
Hi Carolyn,
As we have been out working for most of the day and have walked for about 5 miles, I have just been treated to a lovely pizza. Back at home, a couple of squares of chocolate and a lovely cup of hot tea, have finished the day off nicely … and not a kitchen in sight!
A cruise for the sole purpose of a holiday, doesn’t interest me in the least, however your idea of living on a cruise ship, does sound more appealing. We were once introduced to an elderly lady who had done just that. She says that by the time she had factored in the costs of keeping herself in a nursing home, together with all the ancillary expenses, it was actually cheaper to live aboard ship, where everything she needed, including medical care, was to hand!
I hope that your foray into the kitchen wasn’t too stressful and that you have had a good day 🙂
I’ve always taken note of the recipes in a cozy as well, but I haven’t tried any of them. This book seems perfect. A little bookish info, a little recipe info – yay! Thanks for sharing and I too hope that the fundraiser is a great success.
Hi Kay,
I too, hope that Sunday’s event is a great success, both for the walkers, runners and of course Nancy, who will be there selling her books to help raise funds. I hope that the word has got out there enough, so that folks who can’t be there in person to support the charity, will think to go online and buy one of Nancy’s books, as for one day only, all proceeds will go straight towards the Multiple Myeloma Research charity.
I also like how the recipes link to a short biography of the authors they belong to and the book the recipe appears in. So, not only do you get some brand new dishes to try out, but some fantastic book receommendations into the bargain!
Thanks for stopping by, it is good to talk with you after so long 🙂
This really is a wonderful idea, benefiting both the charity and those buying the book. May it be a tremendous success!
Hi Kelly,
I am sincerely hoping that the weather and the crowds will be kind to Nancy at the actual event Sunday 22nd march 2015. Also that online sales of all Nancy’s books that day, will reflect the generous nature of people.
The weather here in the UK has taken a decided turn towards spring, with some beautiful and much welcome sunshine, albeit that the wind is still a little chilly. I even ventured out after work to clean the front windows, so at least I am no longer disgraced by the neighbours 🙂
What a neat idea for a cookbook. Cozy mystery writers must have a ton of great recipes they include in their books.
Hi Tina,
Well, if I were to tell you that there are currently two cookbooks on the market, full of recipes by cozy mystery writers and another compiled by the more traditional mystery writers, then you can see the scale and influence of the recipe, in mystery writing!
The other good thing, is that because the recipes are initially being designed to be included in a novel, rather than a dedicated cookbook, they are usually quite short, concise and uncomplicated … which suits me just fine 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Fiction Books this week. I love meeting new people, so your visits will always be welcome and your comments always appreciated.
Wonderful fundraiser – I hope it’s a great success. I’m off to look for it.
Hi Mary,
It was a great idea of Nancy’s to set up a stall at the event site to sell her books and I love the idea that she plans to market her cozy mystery series as, ‘Mysteries For Myeloma’.
The fact the books will also be available as part of the fundraiser, at Amazon, on both sides of The Atlantic, is an added bonus which I hope pays off for her.
One of the recipes in ‘Cozy Food’ also features in one of Nancy’s own mystery books, so immediately there are two great reasons for a couple of purchases.
Thanks for visiting and enjoy your Sunday 🙂
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a Cozy – will have to check them out. Cheers
Hi Carole,
Until I began blogging, I have to confess that I had never even heard of a cozy mystery. I then realised just how many people read from the genre, so I thought I would try a book or two for myself.
They are not books I could read on too regular a basis, as I generally prefer my mystery / thrillers with a bit more grit and violence. However, they occasionally make a pleasant lighter interlude, whilst I decide which of my more serious books to read next.
Thanks for deciding to stop by Fiction Books today. I love meeting new people, so your visits will always be welcome and your comments always appreciated.
I really like cozies with a foodie theme and think it’s fun when the recipes are included.
What a great way to give back. Hope the cookbook is a huge success.
Hi Beth,
Although I am not much of a cook, I do browse the recipes in a novel, but generally only if they are all grouped together at the end of the story. I probably wouldn’t bother quite so much if they were interspersed throughout the book, as that would distract too much from the story for my liking!
I too, hope that Nancy had some great sales of all her books on March 22nd and I know that at least one of the commenters here, went across to Amazon to order her copy of ‘Cozy Food’ 🙂
Thanks for hosting ‘Weekend Cooking’ and have a great week.
I waited until this morning (March 22) to purchase the eBook at Amazon. I hope today brings huge awareness and funds for the cause. Thanks for bringing it all to our attention, Yvonne.
Thanks for purchasing a copy of ‘Cozy Food’ and especially for waiting until March 22nd to do so. There are so many good causes out there, all demanding of our time and cash, that your kindness will be appreciated I am sure.
I hope that you discover some great new recipes, excellent authors and great cozy mysteries to add to your list 🙂
This is such a good way to bring awareness to a good cause and the cookbook is such a cute idea.
Hi Diane,
It really is a great idea, isn’t it and although I haven’t personally read any of the books which make up the ‘Mysteries For Myeloma’ package, I have read and thoroughly enjoyed her stand alone novel ‘Mags And The AARP Gang’, which triggered so many emotions and feelings.
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews/mags-and-the-aarp-gang-by-nancy-lynn-jarvis-2/
After reading ‘Mags …’ though, I don’t think you will find any of her recipes included in ‘Cozy Food’, as she is definitely one who doesn’t really know where her kitchen is, or what it does 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week to come.
I just bought a copy!
Keep cooking & booking,
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
Hi Shelleyrae,
Thanks for stopping by Fiction Books today. I love meeting new people, so your visits will always be welcome and your comments always appreciated.
Thank you so much for buying your copy of ‘Cozy Food’. I am certain that the book’s editor, Nancy Lynn Jarvis, will appreciate the thought. We both hope that you will enjoy not only checking out the great recipes included in the book, but also reading about some of the excellent cozy mystery writers and the books which have laid claim to their baking skills!
Have a great week 🙂
I like when cozies include recipes at the end, now I’m craving Cashew Chocolate Chip cookies, thanks for sharing the recipes and for spreading the word on this important cause!
Cozy Foods sounds like a nice compilation.
Hi Naida,
On the whole, I will eat just about any kind of food, but I do confess to having something of a sweet tooth, so both biscuit recipes sound good to me, although as I am also a cashew nut fan, those are particularly appealing.
When I read a cozy, I will generally glance at any recipes included, but I am more likely to skim past them, as sit and copy them out to use myself. I am not the world’s most fervent cook and as we are both well overweight, all those tempting easy to make sweets and desserts, are just no good for us anyway … At least that’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it!
I am hoping that Nancy had a very successful time selling her books, both at the San Francisco event and online.
I am also hoping that her husband’s stem cell transplant has been a success and send Best Wishes to them both 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, I have been very remiss at blog hopping of late, it has been as much as I can manage to reply to any comments … Sorry!