GUEST POST AND GIVEAWAY: It's All About The Food by Alice Loweecy (Guilia Driscoll Mysteries)

Today I am honored to have Alice Loweecy, author of the Guilia Drisscoll Mysteries, posting on the blog.
To date, the series consists of a short story, Changing Habits, and two novels, Nun Too Soon and Second To Nun.  More on Second To Nun after we hear from Alice.

It’s All About The Food

Italian mom here, from a long line of Italian moms. We cook a lot. A lot a lot. We also grow our own food. Nothing beats a fresh tomato right off the vine, warm from the sun.

My sleuth, Giulia Driscoll, grows and cooks her own food. It’s one of the only two things she and I have in common. The other is the whole ex-nun thing. That doesn’t involve anything heartwarming and fun as cooking good food, so I’ll leave those secrets hidden in my books. Okay, not so hidden. Giulia has the occasional reminiscent snippet, like a teasing peek behind the high stone walls. Even in my latest book, Second To Nun, Giulia mines her nunnery past for insights.

But onto the fun stuff—the food! Giulia’s learning to cook several new recipes now that she and Frank are married, but I want to share some of the classic dishes my family has made for generations. They’re all easy and I guarantee they’re all tasty.

First the appetizer:

Greens & Beans

2 large bunches endive or all the dandelions from the lawn and garden, if you don’t use chemicals on it

2 cloves garlic or powdered garlic to taste

1 can cannellini beans

Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Boil endive/dandelions in large pot of salted water till done; drain. Slightly crush the garlic and rub around inside of large pot. Then dice garlic, add a bit of oil and fry the garlic in the same pot. (If using powdered garlic, just add it in with the beans.) Add greens, undrained can of beans and 1 can water. Bring to boil, then simmer for 1/2 hour.

Really chewy Italian bread goes best with this.

Now the dessert. Although greens and beans and bread is easily a light meal on its own—the quicker to get to dessert! This is a traditional Christmas Cookie recipe, but chocolate is right any time of the year. That’s what I say.

Whiskey Balls

Oven 350^o

18 - 20 minutes

4 C flour

1 C sugar

1 t cloves

1/2 t black pepper

1/4 C cocoa

2 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 C chopped walnuts

1/2 C melted butter

1 C milk

2 oz rye (optional)

Mix together the first 8 ingredients. Add the butter, milk, and rye and mix to form a dough that does not stick to your fingers. If mix is too dry, add extra milk. Make 1-1/2 inch balls and bake on greased cookie sheets. About 4 dozen. Frost with fudge frosting (follows).

Fudge Frosting

1 lb. confectioner's sugar

5 T melted butter

5 T cocoa

2 t vanilla extract

1 oz rye (optional)

Cold coffee

Mix together all ingredients in a shallow pan and roll warm cookies in the frosting with a fork until they are coated to look like bonbons. Place on waxed paper to dry.

Happy cooking! And when you need a break from cooking, may I suggest any of Giulia’s light, humorous mysteries. Just the thing after a long day in the kitchen. And they go well with Whiskey Balls.

And now, a little about the latest book.

Second To Nun
(A Giulia Driscoll Mystery Book 2)
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Henery Press (September 22, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1941962930
E-Book ASIN: B010BUDQVI

Synopsis: The Other Side has hired Driscoll Investigations. The owner of Stone’s Throw Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast insists that a tarot reading told her to hire Giulia to evict the family ghost. Since the ghost is cutting gas lines and flooding cellars, Giulia and her husband Frank head to the B&B to discover the real perpetrator.

The client also has a family legend: A highwayman who stole a pile of gold. Giulia has a pile of suspects, including a psychic the client hired to conduct weekly séances. So much for romance with Frank at this getaway.

Instead, Giulia’s juggling arson, creepy clown dolls, and the psychic going all Exorcist on her. Then the ghost tries to push the client off the lighthouse and throw Giulia down three flights of stairs. It should’ve known better than to mess with an ex-nun. Giulia has connections and she’s about to use them.

About The Author –

Baker of brownies and tormenter of characters, Alice Loweecey recently celebrated her thirtieth year outside the convent. She grew up watching Hammer Horror and Scooby-Doo Mysteries, which might explain a whole lot. When she’s not creating trouble for Giulia Falcone-Driscoll, she can be found growing her own vegetables (in summer) and cooking with them (the rest of the year).

Author Links:

Website: www.aliceloweecey.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alice.loweecey

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceLoweecey

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4166880.Alice_Loweecey

Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N

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