It's

Cozy Food Friday!

That means it's time to share a recipe from 

another great cozy mystery!

This week's recipe is from

THE CAT COLLECTOR

by Lori Herter

What happens when a former romance author writes mysteries? A cozy novella series with a wholesome love story woven in.

THE CAT COLLECTOR COZY MYSTERY SERIES

Three lovable felines play a part in a trio of engaging mysteries, while a romantic flame kindles between Veterinary Technician Claudia Bailey and Police Detective Steve O’Rourke.

Includes these novellas:

THE COFFEE CAPER: Widowed and approaching forty, Claudia Bailey is happy working at the Briarwood Cat Clinic in suburban Chicago. When she discovers the murdered body of her church’s deceitful new minister, no-nonsense Detective Steve O’Rourke views her as a prime suspect. Claudia’s quiet, comfortable life is deeply shaken. Nevertheless, she helps Steve look for clues, unexpectedly putting herself in jeopardy, all the while treating a Maine Coon named Knickerbocker with a litter pan problem.

THE WINGED WITNESS: Tom and Ethel Radek bring Jasmine, their desperately ill Himalayan, to the Briarwood Cat Clinic. When Tom is found stabbed to death later that day, Claudia and Steve have a new mystery to solve. The only witness to the homicide is Tom’s obnoxious parrot Hal. Meanwhile, will Jasmine recover from surgery? As the investigation continues, it’s increasingly clear Steve is smitten with Claudia. How does Claudia feel? Conflicted and unsure, yet she can’t deny she finds Steve attractive.

THE CLAIRVOYANT CAT: Wrigley, a deaf rescue cat, became famous for predicting the winners of Chicago Cubs’ baseball games. When Lydia Worthington, Wrigley’s wealthy owner, is murdered in her lavish home during an attempted catnapping, Steve and Claudia must solve a newsworthy homicide. Another issue is who will take care of the famed but traumatized Wrigley? An unexpected turn of events endangers Claudia and her Clinic co-workers. In the meantime, Steve drops the L word and hints at marriage. Claudia must examine her true feelings. Does she want to marry again? Or continue paddling her own canoe and risk losing Steve?

😸🐈😺🐈😽

MOROCCAN POTATO, CARROT, 

AND CHICKPEA STEW

Photo Property of SimplyRecipes. Your dish will vary in appearance.

Author's Note: I try to cook a vegetarian meal once a week. I mentioned this dish in my story because it's a favorite of mine. Here's the recipe for the "Moroccan Stew" Claudia and Steve ordered at The Old Mill. ~ Lori Herter

Serves 4; 30 minutes or fewer

Ingredients

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 large russet potato (12 oz.) cut into ¾ inch cubes

8 oz. peeled baby carrots (1¾ cups)

2 Large shallots, diced ( cup) (onion works well, too)

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. ground pepper

1 15.5 z can low-sodium chickpeas, drained, with liquid reserved, divided

1/3 cup dark raisins

1 ¼ tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 Tbs. lemon juice

4 oz. fresh spinach leaves (2 cups)

Photo property of SkinnyTaste

Directions

1.   Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add potato, carrots, shallots, salt and pepper; sauté 3 minutes.

2.   Add chickpea liquid, raisins, cumin, and pumpkin pie spice. Toss to blend, and bring to a simmer. 

3.   Cover; simmer over medium-low heat 8 minutes. Mix in 1 cup chickpeas. Cover and simmer 2 to 4 minutes more, or until potato and carrots are just tender. 

4.   Place remaining chickpeas on a plate and mash coarsely with a fork. 

5.   Mix crushed chickpeas and lemon juice into stew. 

6.   Mound spinach on top. Toss gently 1 to 2 minutes; or until spinach is reduced in volume, adding more water, salt and pepper if desired.

    Per 1  cup serving: 343 cal; 11 g protein; 8 g total fat (1 g sat fat); 60 g carb; 0 mg chol; 381 mg sodium; 8 g fiber; 15 g sugars (from Vegetarian Times Magazine)

DishUpTheDirt

Can't you just imagine the aromas of this stew 

filling you kitchen?

📖📘📖📙📖

Please keep reading to check out my 

installments of 

Book Beginnings on Fridays

and

The Friday 56

Both the BB and 56 are from

THE CAT COLLECTOR

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

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

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 Book Beginnings

Chapter 1: A Clerical Error

Claudia Bailey did her best to tune out the noise level at the Bumblebee Café, bustling as usual at noontime. 

My 56

"Sue asked me to. I assume it's okay with the police?"

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