Friday, March 3, 2017


It's
Cozy Food Friday

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

Today I'm featuring 
ROUX THE DAY
Book 2 in the Dinner Club Mysteries
by Linda Wiken


In the latest mystery from the author of Toasting Up Trouble, the Culinary Capers dinner club is back in business when a charity casino event makes a real killing…
 
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner is planning a cruise ship casino night—and she’s really going overboard. She even arranged for radio DJ Connor Mac and TV personality Miranda Myers to help the good times roll. But the party comes to a screeching halt when Miranda is found dead on the main deck...
 
With a boatload of suspects, the police focus in on J.J., who, though recently linked with Connor, never knew he was once engaged—to Miranda. With Half Moon Bay’s gossip mill running full tilt, J.J. turns to her fellow dinner club members to help fish for clues and keep herself out of hot water...

 
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES

πŸ“š    ROUX THE DAY    πŸ“š
Releases
March 7!

Pre-order your copy today!

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MY REVIEW


A delicious second course in the Dinner Club Mysteries!

It was great to be back in Half Moon Bay with J.J. Tanner and friends from the Culinary Capers Dinner Club. And as much as I loved my first visit there when reading book one, TOASTING UP TROUBLE, this second installment, ROUX THE DAY, was even tastier!

I became a fan of author Linda Wiken when I read her Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries under her pen name, Erika Chase (Read them if you haven’t!). I devoured every book in that series, and I’m am now having a glorious time feasting on the Dinner Club Mysteries.

ROUX THE DAY grabbed my attention from page one with the witty banter and fun demeanors author Wiken is so adapt at instilling in her characters. She not only brings them visually to life in my mind, she has made them people I actually want to be friends with.

I truly loved every bit of this book. Originally planning to read a few chapters before turning in for the night, I instead lost all track of time while absorbing every word of this first rate mystery. From the discovery of the victim, through the twists and turns of the investigation, Wiken had my brain firing on all cylinders, making sleep no longer an option. Even after the surprising reveal, and conclusion, I stayed awake replaying parts of the story in my head.

Linda Wiken is a superbly talented author, and she writes a cozy mystery that sets a standard for me when reading all other cozies. Her development of characters, situations, and the way she builds a truly artful mystery, make her one of the best writers in this genre today.

Be sure to check out the back of the book for yummy recipes, and an excerpt from book three, MARINATING IN MURDER!

You will rue the day if you don’t read ROUX THE DAY. New to the series? Grab a copy of TOASTING UP TROUBLE as well, and read them together!

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About Linda


Linda Wiken is a former mystery bookstore owner and a short story writer. The first in her new Dinner Club Mystery series, TOASTING UP TROUBLE, debuted in July, 201. The second book in the series, ROUX THE DAY, debuts March 7, 2017. In a parallel life writes the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries, as Erika Chase. She is a member of those dangerous dames, The Ladies' Killing Circle. She has been short-listed for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel, and an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada. She admits to a passion for choral singing, chocolate and Siamese cats!

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Today's recipe is from book 1 in the Dinner Club Mysteries
TOASTING UP TROUBLE


A delicious new cozy mystery series featuring the Culinary Capers Dinner Club—who are fearless when it comes to cooking up new dishes and putting the lid on crime...

Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner has a full plate, but that’s the way she likes it. First, it’s her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrΓ©es for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she’s organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.
 
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer...

On to the recipe!

Spaghetti With Chicken, Broccoli, And Sweet Red Pepper

All food photos for the recipe are borrowed from Google Images.
Your dish will vary in appearance. (I am also showing different pastas you can use)

Ingredients

½ pound spaghetti
Himalayan salt—pinch
Regular olive oil
1 large broccoli crown, cut into tiny floret portions
1 sweet red pepper, sliced and diced
1 garlic clove, slivered
Mixed dried herbs (or fresh rosemary, basil, oregano)
Freshly ground pepper
Half package of frozen chicken strips
Tuscan herb-flavored virgin olive oil
Pecorino Romano cheese

Instructions

   Bring large pot of water to boil and add a pinch of sea salt and spaghetti. 
   Cook uncovered, as per instructions on package, usually 10-12 minutes.

   Heat skillet on stove and pour in enough regular olive oil to cover the bottom.    Add the broccoli bits, sliced red pepper, herbs (either dried or fresh), and garlic.


   Saute until broccoli look crisp. 
   Remove from pan, add more olive oil and the desired amount of chicken strips. 
   Cook until thoroughly heated (if frozen) or until cooked throughout (if fresh).    Add vegetable mixture and toss.


There are still plenty of cold nights to enjoy this one.
I bet it even makes a great cold dish!


πŸ“•πŸ“–πŸ“˜πŸ“–πŸ“™πŸ“–πŸ“—

Please keep reading and check out my 
installments of 
Book Beginnings on Fridays
and
The Friday 56

Both the BB and 56 are from 
Book 2 in the Dinner Club Mysteries
ROUX THE DAY


πŸ“•πŸ“–πŸ“˜πŸ“–πŸ“™πŸ“–πŸ“—

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

"What's the worst that can happen? Another dead body?"
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 

"I was worried you might not be able to make it, what with everything that's going on," Beth whispered.


As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by 
clicking on the link in the 
upper right hand corner of this page.

16 comments:

  1. Thanks, Lisa. I'm ready to eat! :) Hope your Friday is amazing.

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  2. Roux the Day sounds good and so does the recipe. This week I am featuring Justice Calling by Annie Bellet. Happy reading!

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  3. The food and books are delicious looking...and I love your presentation of the book with your review notes.

    Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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  4. Thanks for sharing. The recipe looks good and the book sounds great. I'll have to check them out.

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  5. The books sound great and food looks yummy...

    Thanks for sharing with us... and visiting my blog.

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  6. I have read a couple of cozy mysteries lately. This on looks like a good series.

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  7. Sounds like a fun series!! Happy weekend!

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  8. Roux the Day sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for mentioning it. :-)

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  9. Sounds like a delightful cozy series. Love the title!
    My Friday post features The Other Daughter.

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  10. Thanks for sharing. Love the title. And thanks for the visit today.

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  11. Not heard of this series but sounds like a good one, so I am off to find book one. :)

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  12. Cute cover! And a clever beginning!

    Thanks for playing along on BBOF!

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  13. Yeah! A new cozy author and series for me! I went to lunch today and had a Caribbean Pasts dish that looks very similar to the one you shared. Yum!

    My Friday 56 from Odds and Ends

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  14. I haven't come across this series though the cover of the first book looks super familiar. It definitely looks like a book I'd enjoy! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Your posts are always so much fun! Thanks for sharing! Oh and love your photo on the review. Nicely done. Happy weekend!

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  16. Sounds like fun! I'm looking forward to reading this book..

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