Happy Independence Day!

By Jenna Hart
For author Daryl Wood Gerber
From Final Sentence, the first in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

Talk about being independent?

I'm so excited!  My story - my very own story, FINAL SENTENCE - is on the bookshelves as of this week!  My author, Daryl, and I met a few months ago. Well, more than a year ago, actually. I told her all about my life as an advertising executive and how I needed to make a change. She was all for it. She has started her career over a couple of times. She was an actress, actually. She did a lot of commercials, like the ones I used to produce. Poppity Pop Popcorn? My campaign.

But that feels like a lifetime ago. And like I told Daryl, I needed a change. So when my aunt called me and asked me to move to Crystal Cove to help her open The Cookbook Nook culinary bookshop and a cafe that is an adjunct to the shop, I leaped at the chance. Mind you, I'm not a cook. I'm a foodie, though. I've tasted everything from eel to alligator. But I want to learn to cook. And I love books. All kinds of books. Did you know that cookbooks are not just for cooks? People collect them for the pictures as well as the stories inside. I'm learning so much as I delve into the stock of books my aunt ordered. What fun. And there are culinary mysteries, too, with themes like catering and coffee and more. Many of them have recipes. It's all so much fun. I'd lost my smile in San Francisco, but moving home to Crystal Cove, which is a seaside community in California, south of San Jose, north of Monterey, I know I'm going to find it again. I like to smile.

I do hope you'll want to read my story. I'm bound to make mistakes. To err is human, right? But I'm going to share all the fun things, too. Love, laughter, hikes in the mountains, days at the beach, new cookbooks I discover...

Have you ever taken a big leap of faith and moved? Changed your life? Changed your career? Were you scared? I'm a little scared, I have to admit. But I'm hopeful.

Happy Independence Day!!!


In case you're interested, here's an easy recipe for the Fourth of July that my aunt loves.

Fruit au Gratin

Ingredients:

Serves 4

8 amaretti cookies, crumbled

2 cups fresh fruit, in bite-sized pieces  (more if desired) [blueberries, raspberries, strawberries]

1 8-ounce container mascarpone cheese, room temperature

4 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon amaretto liqueur

2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions:

Heat broiler and set the rack about four inches from the heating element.

Divide the amaretti cookies into the 4 gratin or ramekin dishes.  Divide the fruit evenly over the top and press down to make fruit “even.”

In a large bowl, whis the mascarpone, the honey, the liqueur and cornstarch (or potato starch) until evenly combined.  Dollop the cheese mixture onto the fruit.  Spread with a spoon.  It will be sticky and probably won’t cover the whole thing evenly. That’s fine.

Put the dishes on a tray and set under the broiler for 1 -2 minutes, but watch them like a hawk. You do NOT want them to burn.

Remove from heat and cool for three minutes before serving. Dishes will be warm.

Note: Amaretti cookies are almond macaroons. I found them in the grocery store in a sealed tin.

Note:  Mascarpone can be subbed out with cream cheese or crème fraiche.

BY THE WAY, since Killer Characters went "missing" for a short while in June, my author is offering a giveaway today. Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a copy of FINAL SENTENCE! Winner announced at midnight EDT. Good luck! REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL IN YOUR POST. :)

SAVOR THE MYSTERY!!!

* * * * * * *

The first book in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series is out!!!

You can order FINAL SENTENCE HERE.

Daryl Wood Gerber and Avery Aames (author of A Cheese Shop Mystery series) are the same author.

The 4th in A Cheese Shop Mystery series is out! 

TO BRIE OR NOT TO BRIE
You can order the book HERE. 

You can learn more about Daryl by clicking this LINK. "Like" my page on Facebook and "follow" me on Twitter. And if you haven't done so, sign up for the mailing list so you can learn about upcoming events, releases, and contests!

You can follow and "like"and chat with my alter ego Avery Aames the same way:  Facebook and Twitter.