Thursday, August 21, 2014

It's
Cozy Food Friday!

That means it's time to share a recipe from 
another great cozy mystery!

Today's recipe comes from
THE COZY CHICKS KITCHEN
A Killer Collection of Recipes by the 
Bestselling Authors of the Cozy Chicks Blog 
SECOND EDITION


This book contains recipes from cozy mystery favorites, 
Ellery Adams / J.B. Stanley
Deb Baker / Hannah Reed
Lorraine Bartlett / L.L. Bartlett/ Lorna Barrett
Kate Collins
Mary Kennedy
Mary Jane Maffini/Victoria Abbott
Maggie Sefton
and
Leann Sweeney

You can follow The Cozy Chicks blog here...

On to the recipe!

FRENCH LENTIL SALAD
This is a great dish to take to a pot-luck party. Put on some music while you do that chopping. You can mix and match ingredients. It's never the same twice, but it's always a hit. It's great as a leftover, too. You can serve the feta cheese separately if dairy is an issue. You many want to add a bit more salt in that case. 

FRENCH LENTIL SALAD
by Mary Jane Maffini/Victoria Abbot
Based on the 
Book Collector Mystery series

DRESSING
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1-2 teaspoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
juice of half a lemon


VEGETABLES FOR SALAD
1 can lentils, rinsed and drained, or two cups of cooked drained lentils (give or take)
1/2 red pepper chopped
3-4 green onions thinly sliced, white and green parts
1 yellow tomato, seeded and chopped
OR 1/2 yellow pepper and 1 red tomato, seeded and chopped
OR shredded carrots--whichever you prefer--I prefer what I have on hand
1/2 cups of celery chopped
6 ounces feta cheese, cubed or crumbled (optional) 
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper just before serving


In a small bowl or pitcher, combine the dressing ingredients with a wire whisk until smooth and creamy. 

Add chopped veggies to a good-sized salad bowl, mixing them well.

Add dressing and stir to cover veggies. 

Add feta if using.

The longer you leave the dressing, the better it gets.

By the way, this is our go-to dressing for bean salads too.

Yield: 6 servings

Please note that all food photos are from Google Images. Your version may vary in appearance.

How easy is that? 
I'm going to give it a try the next time I need a pot-luck dish!
How about you?

Want to appear on my blog?
Take photos making a recipe 
featured on my blog
 and email them to me at
 lisaksbookreview@aol.com 
I will post them on an upcoming 
 Cozy Food Friday!

You can find THE COZY CHICKS KITCHEN and other great books written by the wonderful authors at your local bookstore or online at

Welcome to our kitchen! The kitchen is the heart of the home. This sense of warmth and companionship is what The Cozy Chicks try to invoke in our novels. And now, our cookbook will allow you to enter the heart of our cozy mystery worlds—the stories of our characters, of their authors, told through food. For a short while, our heroines have taken a break from crime solving to don aprons and wield spatulas and wooden spoons. And they’d like nothing more than to spend some time with you. THE COZY CHICKS KITCHEN is chock full of mouthwatering gems. Everything is here: main dishes, desserts, salads, soups, drinks, and did I mention desserts? Don’t miss this fabulous collection. I’ve got both the ebook version and a hardcopy. Get yours today! --Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author of the White House Chef and Manor House mysteries The Cozy Chicks Are Bestselling Authors: Ellery Adams / J.B. Stanley, Deb Baker / Hannah Reed, Lorna Barrett / Lorraine Bartlett, Kate Collins, Mary Kennedy, Mary Jane Maffini/Victoria Abbott,  Maggie Sefton, Leann Sweeney

Keep reading to check out my installments of 
Book Beginnings on Fridays
and
The Friday 56

Book Beginnings on Fridays is a meme hosted by Rose City Reader
Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading

Keeping my Cozy Food Friday theme going... 
THE WOLFE WIDOW by Victoria Abbott
Book Three in the Book Collector Mystery series
My Book Beginnings for this week


The doorbell rang. Now, this would be no big deal in most places, but at Van Alst House ten days before Thanksgiving, it seemed to create a collective panic. It was just after eight on a night that had already brought us some serious wind, making the unseasonably early snow flurries seem like a blizzard fit fir the arctic. My boss, Vera Van Alst, and I were grumbling about the cold white stuff arriving mid-November as we waited to be served our main course in the historic ruin that is the grand dining room. My Uncle Kev, the world's oldest and largest child, was defending the fun factor of early snow.

When the bell rang, I thought I'd ignore it. It sounded again, a serious, rich and commanding ring, perfect for a massive historical home. It should tell you something that we all reacted with shock. 

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.

Continuing with THE WOLFE WIDOW theme
My Friday 56

I had what I wanted and raised my hands in mock surrender. I kept my spine straight as I walked to the car. I could feel her eyes on my back. As I got into the vehicle, I glanced around again at the side yard. There she was, on the phone. Police?

As Thanksgiving approaches, Jordan Bingham is grateful for her job researching rare books for Vera Van Alst, the infamous curmudgeon of Harrison Falls, New York. But when an uninvited guest makes an appearance, much more than dinner is disrupted—and Jordan is thankful just to be alive…
 
Vera Van Alst doesn’t normally receive visitors without appointment, but she agrees to see the imperious Muriel Delgado upon arrival. Shortly thereafter, Jordan is told that her position is being terminated. Evicted from the Van Alst House, Jordan is determined to find out what hold Muriel has over her erstwhile employer.
 
It seems Muriel has designs on Vera’s money and property—not to mention a particular interest in her collection of Nero Wolfe first editions. When Jordan discovers a deadly connection between Muriel and the Van Alst family, it’s up to her to put the house in order and stop a killer from going back to press.

THE WOLFE WIDOW is book 3 in the 
Book Collector Mysteries.
Release date September 2, 2014 

You can pre-order this title at
or your local bookstore.
NOTE: I am not in an affiliate program with any online company.
I do not receive payment in anyway for my suggestions to you or 
if you make your purchases from a company I mention. 

Follow Victoria Abbott by clicking below

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.

17 comments:

  1. This sounds delicious! I love lentils. I will have to try it.

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  2. Sounds like a good series. I'll have to add it to my wishlist. Happy reading!

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  3. Thanks so much, Lisa K! I was thrilled to be her and so glad you could talk about The Cozy Chicks Kitchen, second edition and The Wolfe Widow. We love you!

    MJ/Victoria Abbott

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  4. I love a good cozy! Great cover, blurb, and excerpts. Keeping an eye out for this one. Here's mine: “THE SILENT SISTER”

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  5. The salad sound good and so does the book! I've been wanting to read that series.

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  6. Goodness that salad looks appetizing! Thanks for sharing the recipe :) The book cover for your Friday 56 is inviting and I cannot help but wonder if there is paranormal activity involved.

    Here's mine Sparrow's BB & Friday 56

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  7. I got so excited about the salad recipe that I forgot to look at your books. It sounds delicious. I do wonder about the maple flavor with lentils, however. What do you think? Are they conflicting flavors?
    My Friday Thoughts

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  8. This looks absolutely delish and I'm going grocery shopping today, so this is perfect!! And I'm a vegetarian, so I will really put this recipe to good use. Thanks so much for posting!!

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  9. Oh this recipe looks so good. Love the dressing. Got my goodie box of organic veggies from my garden coop and this recipe is just what I need. Yummm

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    Replies
    1. Duffy, I wish I had a garden coop!! I suppose we must have them, but there don't seem to be any in my neck of the woods...I envy you.

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  10. Such a pretty, inviting salad! Yum!

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  11. I like the looks of the lentil salad. This looks like one I could make and reheat for my lunch. I have the first one of this series on my TBR shelf. I can't wait to read it! The excerpts are great!

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  12. Wonder what she wanted so bad that she'd risk going to jail?
    Here's My 56

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  13. I love lentils!
    Both books look great!
    Happy weekend

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  14. Thank you everyone for stopping by and leaving such wonderful comments!

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