It's

Cozy Food Friday!

That means it's time to share a recipe from

another great cozy mystery!

Today I'm featuring a recipe from the cozy mystery 

BITTERSWEET

Book 23 in the China Bayles Mystery series

by

Susan Wittig Albert

New from the author of Death Come Quickly and Widow's Tears
This Thanksgiving, be grateful for China Bayles—who teams up with an old friend to solve a complex case of theft and murder in a South Texas ranching community…

It’s Thanksgiving in Pecan Springs, and China is planning to visit her mother, Leatha, and her mother’s husband, Sam, who are enthusiastically embarking on a new enterprise—turning their former game ranch into a vacation retreat for birders. She’s also looking forward to catching up with her friend, game warden Mackenzie “Mack” Chambers, who was recently transferred to the area. But Leatha calls with bad news: Sam has had a heart attack.

How will Leatha manage if Sam can’t carry his share? She does have a helper, Sue Ellen Krause. But China discovers that Sue Ellen, who is in the process of leaving her marriage to the assistant foreman at a large trophy game ranch, is in some serious trouble. Before Sue Ellen can tell China the full story, her car veers off a deserted road and she is killed.

Meanwhile, when a local veterinarian is shot in what appears to be a burglary at his clinic, Mack Chambers believes his murder could be related to fawns stolen from a nearby ranch. As Mack follows the trail, China begins to wonder if Sue Ellen’s death may not have been an accident, and if there’s a connection to the stolen animals. But their search for the truth may put their own lives in danger…

MY REVIEW

Having just read and reviewed DEATH COME QUICKLY, book 22 in this series, I was eager to read BITTERSWEET. But when I read what the subject of BITTERSWEET was, trophy game ranches, places where animals are kept and raised for the purpose of hunting them for thrills and trophies, I almost choose not to read the book. I personally find such places appalling and feel they should be outlawed.  But I was sent this book by the publisher to review, so I read it.

This is only the second book I have read in this series, but as with DEATH COMES QUICKLY, I found BITTERSWEET to be very well written. There is no doubt author Susan Wittig Albert knows how to draw readers into a story.

Written partly in first person with China narrating, and partly in third person with the story of China’s friend Mackenzie “Mack” Chambers being told, I wasn’t sure I was going to care for it at first, but I found myself looking forward to the spots where the POV changed (Normally at the start of a new chapter). It kept the story fresh, and I think it was a creative choice.

And even though the subject was not a favorite of mine, without giving anything away, I had reason to smile near the end when the universe had a unique revenge planned for the villain. I cheered!

Rounding out the book is very interesting information on different types of plants, and some tasty sounding recipes.

After reading books 22 & 23 in this series, I’m going to get book 1 and start this great series from the beginning. 

On to the recipe!

HERB QUICHE

Ingredients

3 eggs, slightly beaten 

2 cups warm milk 

salt and pepper to taste 

3/4 cup grates Swiss cheese 

9-inch unbaked pie shell 

1/2 cup cooked, drained, chopped spinach 

1/2 cup sautéed mushrooms 

3 tablespoons fresh snipped chives 

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, minced 

1 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced 

1 tablespoon butter or margarine 

leaves of fresh greens (Kale, arugula, lettuce) and fresh chive blossoms for garnish

Directions

Preheat over to 350 degrees F. 

Combine eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. 

Spread the grated cheese evenly in the bottom of the pie shell. 

Mix the spinach, mushrooms, and herbs and spoon over the cheese. 

Pour the milk-and-egg mixture over that. 

Dot the top with butter or margarine.

Place pie plate on a cookie sheet and bake until set, about 30-35 minutes. 

Remove when the outside is set and the middle still jiggles when shaken. 

Let stand 10-15 minutes before slicing. 

Serve slices on beds of fresh greens, garnished with chive blossoms. 

chive blossoms

NOTE: All images are from Google Images and/or Pinterest. 

Your dish may vary in appearance.

Keep reading to check out my installments of 

Book Beginnings on Fridays

and

The Friday 56

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week, my Book Beginnings 

and Friday 56 are from

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAPE

Book 1 in the Cypress Cover Mystery series 

by Carlene O'Neal

In California wine country, the town of Cypress Cove may seem peaceful. But someone’s about to pop their cork…

After losing her job as a photojournalist, Penny Lively is trying to get her life back in focus. Inheriting the family winery from her late aunt may be the fresh start she needs. Thankfully she’s got her niece Hayley and her handsome winery manager Connor to help. But the person in need of more urgent assistance is Antonia Martinelli, the owner of the neighboring winery, who has her own barrel full of problems. Someone’s spoiling her wine, and with the upcoming Autumn Festival, she needs Penny’s nose for clues to sniff out the culprit.

But Penny’s search for answers sours after the body of a staff member is found in a grape crusher. Since Hayley was the last to see him alive, she’s the prime suspect in the case. Now Penny must hurry to find the real killer before Hayley withers on the vine…

Pre-order now for it's 

Tuesday, May 5 release date!

Book Beginnings on Fridays is a meme hosted by Rose City Reader

Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading

Book Beginnings this week

A simple house rule, ignored once, and I end up with a dead body on my hands. Actually more than one, but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

The Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda's Voice

Rules: *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's okay.) *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you. *Post it.

My Friday 56

It struck me once again how different he was from his mother. None of the vibrancy was passed along. 

As always, please leave a comment and 

let me know what you think!

Also, become a Follower of my blog by 

clicking on the link in the 

upper right hand corner of this page.