28 September 2013

Weekend Cooking: Cozy Up to Some Killer Cooking

Weekend Cooking hosted by www.BethFishReads.comWeekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

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As you know I love a good culinary cozy. For me, the combination of a light mystery with some good food scenes and fun characters equals the perfect escape book. Even better is when I can get in on a series from the very beginning. October must be my lucky month because three new foodie series are set to hit the bookstores next week. I bet at least one of these will whet your mystery appetite. 

Drizzled with Death by Jessie CrockettDrizzled with Death, the first entry in Jessie Crockett's Sugar Grove mystery series, is a great cozy for getting ready for fall here in the Northern Hemisphere. Dani Greene's family has been making maple syrup on their New Hampshire farm for generations. As part of the town's fall festivities, the fire department hosts a pancake-eating contest, and Dani's family provides the syrup. The fun times turn sour, however, when one of the contestants ends up dead at the table and suspicion falls on the Greene family. Will Dani be able to find the true killer and get her loved ones out of a sticky situation? This fun mystery has all the right elements: great townsfolk, a beautiful setting, a love interest, and multi-generational family life. Don't miss the recipes at the back of the book, including one for the Who'd a Thunk It sandwich:
I sandwiched maple cheddar cheese, caramelized apples, and crispy bacon strips between two whole grain waffles then toasted the whole thing on the griddle. It's best drizzled with syrup so eat it with a fork. (p. 151)
Available October 1 at a bookstore near you: Penguin USA / Berkley Prime Crime; ISBN-13: 9780425260005.

Murder and Marinara by Rosie GenovaRosie Genova's new Italian Kitchen series starts off with Murder and Marinara. Our hero is mystery writer Victoria Rienzi, who decides to take a hiatus from her successful career and spend some time with her family, helping out at their Jersey Shore restaurant. But all is not calm in Oceanside Park; a television film crew has tapped the town as the setting for a new weekly show. When the TV producer dies after eating a meal at the Casa Lido restaurant, Vic gets involved in trying to solve the murder before the summer tourist season heats up. You'll love Vic's Italian family, the restaurant staff, and their friends and neighbors. The beach setting adds to the charm, and the food scenes will make you hungry. Look for recipes at the back of book, and enjoy Nonna Rosie's wonderful sauce:
The secret to Nonna's sauce was the fresh tomatoes she put up every August; our pantry shelves were lined with Mason jars full of bright red-orange pomodori, accented with basil leaves from the garden. I sniffed deeply at the rising steam from my plate, and my salivary glands wept with joy. (p. 13)
Available October 1 at a bookstore near you: Penguin USA / Obsidian Mystery; ISBN-13: 9780451415141.

Chili con Carnage by Kylie LoganYou won't have any trouble warming up to a great new series by veteran cozy author Kylie Logan. Chili con Carnage introduces us to the Chili Cook-Off books, featuring Maxie Pierce and her half-sister Sylvia. When their chili-champion dad goes missing, the sisters must find a way to put their differences aside to cook up a winning dish. But when Maxie's ex-boyfriend turns up dead, the two realize there is more than one kind of heat. Can Maxie and Sylvia finish the cook-off and avoid being charged with murder? The Taos, New Mexico, setting is as wonderful as Logan's humor. You'll love tagging along with Maxie while she juggles solving the murder with finding her father and making a good showing at the cooking contest. The chili recipe at the back of the book includes a surprise ingredient; I may have to give it a try.
Even from so faraway, I could feel the heat of the flames. A breeze pushed it past us along with the combined aromas that were usually commonplace at any cook-off: beans at the boil and meat simmering in pots. Spices. The simmering air was filled with the combined scents of chili powders and herbs, boiling together and wrapping around us like scented cloud. (p. 197)
Available October 1 at a bookstore near you: Penguin USA / Berkley Prime Crime; ISBN-13: 9780425262412

19 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks 9/28/13, 6:19 AM  

I love culinary cozies too. These sound great!

jama 9/28/13, 7:49 AM  

You've whetted my appetite for these three new series. Perfect escape reading!

Col (Col Reads) 9/28/13, 7:50 AM  

Murder and Marinara? That just sounds like a hoot! Thanks for this list.

Marg 9/28/13, 7:55 AM  

I used to read a few culinary cozies but it has been years since I have done so. I find myself reading more foodie romances than cozies now!

Joy 9/28/13, 8:03 AM  

What fun! I would love a waffle sandwich for breakfast.

Joy's Book Blog

Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice 9/28/13, 8:47 AM  

OH, I want that waffle sandwich now. Can you tell I need breakfast?

bermudaonion 9/28/13, 9:18 AM  

I love cozies, especially when they feature food!!

(Diane) bookchickdi 9/28/13, 9:39 AM  

These all look like fun reads, and the waffle sandwich has given a good idea for breakfast this morning.

Peggy Ann 9/28/13, 10:00 AM  

Great list of cozies! Thanks!

Beth Hoffman 9/28/13, 11:29 AM  

I have a fondness for cozies, especially in the winter. All those titles delight me no end, especially Drizzled with Death ... LOL!

Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) 9/28/13, 12:42 PM  

The cozies are always so much fun. I especially enjoy the ones featuring a crime solving animal or death by some delicious recipe.

Anonymous,  9/28/13, 1:28 PM  

These sound delicious!

Peaceful Reader 9/28/13, 2:40 PM  

The waffle sandwich sounds amazing. I love your new header!

I'm not sure I've ever read a cozy or not; what is it exactly by definition? Is it the food or the mystery or the combination? The ones you've listed sound fun!

Esme 9/28/13, 9:15 PM  

These sound like some delicious reads.
PS did you ever visit Gent-any suggestions-thanks-I am looking for an add on for Paris.

Heather 9/28/13, 10:35 PM  

That Maple Syrup mystery sounds great. Thanks for the introductions to these books.

Anonymous,  9/29/13, 10:13 AM  

The New Hampshire cozy takes my heart. Have always loved to see syrup sapped from trees. Have dreamed of visiting or living near or in New Hampshire. The fall must be beautiful.

Daryl 9/29/13, 3:48 PM  

oy .. this post reminded me i forgot to go to the bon appetite cookbook sale that was held on friday afternoon .. gah

Gilion at Rose City Reader 9/29/13, 5:08 PM  

All three sound like fun -- perfect as this fall weather comes in and makes me want to cuddle up inside.

Julie P. 9/30/13, 7:53 AM  

I love books like this every once in awhile! I just read GILT TRIP which included some fun recipes too!

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