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

Book 1 in the Kay Driscoll Mysteries

MURDER BY FIREWORKS

by

Susan Bernhardt

Kay Driscoll's son's wedding reception for two hundred guests is in her backyard. As if that wasn't enough, a precocious and troubled twelve-year-old is foisted on her two days before the wedding. When the happy day arrives, one of the guests disrupts the event and is asked to leave: a womanizing member of Kay's book club. 

A few days later, after a Fourth of July fireworks show, he is found dead on the beach. Kay and her ever-present friends, Elizabeth and Deirdre, investigate the death, which at first is declared a suicide. They believe this is a cover-up and go about to prove their theory, an arduous task because the potential suspects are many, and few (if any) will regret the victim's death.

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From author Susan Bernhardt

People who love to eat are always the best people. ~ Julia Child

Besides the mystery, the murders, and the unique characters, food has always played an important role in the Kay Driscoll novels.

In the first mystery The Ginseng Conspiracy, Kay and her new friends, the free-spirited herbalist Deirdre and the untamed modern woman Elizabeth, discuss new clues over tea and pastries at Sweet Marissa's Patisserie, their crime-fighting headquarters.

In the second mystery, Murder Under the Tree Kay's first Christmas in Sudbury Falls is an unforgettable one, with equal amounts of celebration and danger. 'Tis the season to be sleuthing. During one of the four holiday parties in this mystery with delectable food, a murder occurs.

In the third mystery, a summer mystery, Murder by Fireworks Wedding bells are in the air, and so is murder.

Kay Driscoll's son's wedding reception for two hundred guests is in her backyard. As if that wasn't enough, a precocious and troubled twelve-year-old is foisted on her two days before the wedding. When the happy day arrives, one of the guests disrupts the event and is asked to leave: a womanizing member of Kay's book club.

A few days later, after a Fourth of July fireworks show, he is found dead on the beach. Kay and her ever-present friends, Elizabeth and Deirdre, investigate the death, which at first is declared a suicide. They believe this is a cover-up and go about to prove their theory, an arduous task because the potential suspects are many, and few (if any) will regret the victim's death.

. . . . . . .

A variety of hors d'oeuvres are served at the weddings. Below is a recipe of one of these hors d'oeuvres in  the mystery Murder by Fireworks.

On to the recipe!

Lemon-Seared Scallops on Wonton Crisps

~ For Four

Ingredients

2 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil, or other flavorless vegetable oil

8 scallops, cleaned and trimmed (The small Bay scallops don't work well for this recipe)

2 scallion (green onion), thinly sliced or slivered

8 wonton wrappers

vegetable oil for shallow-frying

Directions

First make the crispy wontons:

With a 2-inch to 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, cut each wonton into rounds. Discard trimmings. Heat 1/3-inch of vegetable oil in a pan over high heat. Fry wontons in two batches until golden and crisp. Remove from pan and drain on absorbent paper. Set aside.

When ready to serve ~ Sprinkle a little green onion on each crisp wonton then proceed with searing the scallops:

Sprinkle the scallops with salt and cracked pepper. Over high heat, heat butter and olive oil in a frying pan, add scallops, turn after 30 seconds and add lemon zest. Allow to cook on second side for another 30 seconds.

Place one scallop on each prepared wonton; spoon a little of the pan juices over each scallop, garnish with finely grated lemon zest.

The delicate crunch of the wonton contrasts perfectly with the mild, tender scallop. The scallion and lemon zest provide the a delightful flavor spike.

I am so hungry for scallops now! 

How about you?

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About the author

Susan Bernhardt writes the Kay Driscoll series. Like Kay Driscoll, in her cozy mysteries, Susan is a retired public health nurse who volunteers at her local free clinic. An avid reader of mysteries, she is a member of Sisters in Crime. Susan's town in northern Wisconsin is the inspiration for the quaint setting of her novels. When not writing, Susan loves to travel, bicycle, kayak, and create culinary magic in her kitchen. She works in stained-glass, daydreams in her organic garden, stays up late reading mysteries, and eats lots of chocolate.

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Please keep reading and check out my 

installments of 

Book Beginnings on Fridays

and

The Friday 56

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

My Book Beginnings and Friday 56

 for this week are from 

THE GINSENG CONSPIRACY

Book 1 in the Kay Driscoll Mysteries

On her way to attend a Halloween Ball, Kay Driscoll, a newcomer to town, witnesses the murder of a local professor. When the official coroner's report rules the cause of death to be accidental and the community accepts the judgement, Kay decides to uncover the truth for herself. Through her personal investigations, Kay exposes a complex conspiracy, woven deep within the thriving local ginseng industry, that involves some of the more prominent figures and families of Sudbury Falls. 

With her new friends, the free-spirited herbalist Deirdre and the untamed modern woman Elizabeth, Kay discusses new clues over tea and pastries at Sweet Marissa's Patisserie, their crime-fighting headquarters. As Kay gets closer to the heart of the conspiracy, additional murders happen in quick succession. Before long, Kay learns that the villains are gunning for her, too. Phil, her musically talented but preoccupied husband, determined to keep her safe, withholds from her the one thing she needs most: the truth.

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

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

My Book Beginnings

Thursday, October 27

The days that led up to the murder were like any other. 

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 (%)

The hospital was eerily quiet at night. The halls darker, the air colder, the clock on the wall by the nurses' station moved slower and ticked louder. 

Book One

Book Two                                         Book Three

Check out my past Cozy Food Friday 

with Susan Bernhardt!

Cozy Food Friday May 20, 2016

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let me know what you think!

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