Autumn Sale!
/If you haven’t gotten around to reading Book 4…now’s the time!
A Haunting Release
/I saw this under perfect conditions—a gray, rainy afternoon—and absolutely loved it. I think it’s the best of the three Kenneth Branagh productions, and I’m coming to appreciate his interpretation of the character. The movie is Halloween-themed and truly atmospheric. A great way to kick off the fall season…
Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Maybe)
/
What about you guys? Who’s got exciting plans for the summer?
This weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and while I would like to say I am traveling to one of these swank places, I’m sticking pretty close to home. A quick road trip in June, and lots of family time in July and August.
I will however, be spending lots of time in this place:
Get Ready for Summer Reading
/I’m running a series promotion this week—check it out HERE on Amazon. If you’re so inclined, you can get all four Italian Kitchen Mysteries for only $7.97 (ten bucks off the regular price of $17.96!) So load those e-readers and pack for the beach…
Work in Progress, Jersey Style
/After the publication of Book 4 in the Italian Kitchen Mysteries, Minestrone Mischief, I turned to a different project—one I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. It’s a mystery set in 1950s Atlantic City, tentatively titled Murder on the Steel Pier.
image courtesy wikimedia commons
I’m more than halfway through the first draft, and I’m having lots of fun with it, including research that takes me down some crazy rabbit holes! The story features a feisty girl reporter, some fifties wise guys, a few famous faces, and a touch of time travel. (Think Russian Doll meets Boardwalk Empire, and you’ll get the idea.) I’ll even be posting some excerpts and fun images I find along the way, so stay tuned…
March Freebie
/
To celebrate the new cover of my series sampler, A Taste of the Italian Kitchen Mysteries, you can find it for free on Amazon through March 5, midnight PST. It contains sample chapters from each book in the series, a short story, and a dozen fun recipes!
LitNuts Giveaway and Soup on Sale!
/
The folks over at LitNuts are sponsoring a fun giveaway for readers! The prize is $100 in books to be awarded to a single winner in the form of a gift card from the book retailer of the winner’s choice (BookShop.org, BN.com, Amazon, etc.)
Here’s the link to enter:
As part of the promo, Book 2 of The Italian Kitchen Mysteries, The Wedding Soup Murder, is on sale for $0.99 through 2/17. You can find it HERE.
Rosie's Cozy Kitchen: Pasta with Cauliflower and Chickpeas
/This is an easy weeknight dish that is a one-bowl meal—a veggie and a complete protein courtesy of the pasta and beans. You can also sub in cannellini beans for the chickpeas or broccoli for the cauliflower. Using the breadcrumbs gives the dish a bit of that fried cauliflower flavor without the calories!
--Small head of cauliflower, cut into approximately 1-inch pieces
--3-4 tablespoons of olive oil
--½ pound penne or similar pasta
--15 oz. can of chickpeas, drained with about 2 tablespoons of liquid reserved
--flavored breadcrumbs, grated cheese for finishing and serving
1. Set salted pasta water to heat.
2. Prep cauliflower, and dry pieces thoroughly. In large, shallow pan heat a tablespoon of olive oil on medium high. Sauté cauliflower pieces, flat sides down, until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper. Lower heat to medium low, and cover pan for 15-20 minutes or until pieces are fork tender.
3. When pasta water comes to boil, cook penne as the cauliflower finishes. Drain pasta when done, reserving about ¼ cup of pasta water; mix with bean liquid.
4. Remove top from shallow pan and stir cauliflower. Add drained pasta and chickpeas. Drizzle the rest of the olive oil over the pasta, adding the water and bean mixture as needed to moisten the pasta. If desired, sprinkle about a tablespoon of flavored breadcrumbs over the top. Serve with grated cheese.
Holiday Release: The Seven-Course Christmas Killer
/So the October whirlwind has subsided, and today is the release of my holiday novella, The Seven-Course Christmas Killer, available on Amazon for only $0.99. Check it out for a fun mystery, some holiday recipes, and a little background to the Feast of the Seven Fishes. (And happy holidays!)
