Investigating Food Used in Novels
This month’s feature comes from author Debra Dupree Williams’ new release, Grave Consequences.
Debra shares: “This is from Chapter 17. One thing Southerners do best is cook and eat. We love sharing food of any kind with family, friends, and even strangers who quickly become like family.”
Excerpt:
I exited the bath and heard a light knock on the door. Of course, Fee stood on the other side.
“Hey, just making sure you’re still up. Wanna talk?” Fee climbed upon the bed without benefit of the stool.
“Sometimes I wish I were tall. Just sometimes.” I pulled out the little stool and climbed up the three steps, tumbling into the bed. It sagged in the middle from the added weight.
“Mmm. You smell good.” The curl I wrapped around my finger felt damp. “Wash your hair?”
“I did. It’s that new stuff that has herbs in it. Makes me hungry.” She pushed back against the headboard. “Think we could go raid the fridge?”
“I’m sure Miss Marge won’t care, and Mama is, no doubt, out like a light.” I eased to the edge of the bed and placed my feet on the top step of the little stool. “You couldn’t have told me this before I climbed up here, could you?”
“Sorry. I didn’t know I was hungry until you mentioned the smell.” Fee scrambled off the far side of the bed.
We made our way down the stairs as quietly as possible. I cringed at each creak, thankful to have passed through the teen years without such a warning system in our home. I’d sneaked out but a time or two when Roan had come by for homework or study notes. When that happened, we’d sat on the front steps and talked for a while.
Pickled bricks. Too many old memories of Roan these days. We’d have to talk, for sure. But right now, too many other things demanded my attention. Roan would have to wait.
Downstairs, we found our mothers and Miss Marge sitting at the kitchen table, big bowls of peach cobbler topped with mounds of ice cream before them.
Fee stood with her fists on her hips. She glared at the three women. “Well now, isn’t this a pretty sight? Do you see this, Charlotte?” She indicated the group at the table with a wave of her right hand. “Our moms hitting the caramel sauce at this hour of the night.” She picked up the jar of caramel topping, still warm.
I shook my head. “Unseemly, that’s what it is.” I feigned shock, then Fee and I burst into laughter.
“Did you leave us any?” Fee said.
Miss Marge pushed back her chair, its legs scraping against the old wooden floors.
Mama laid her hand on Miss Marge’s. “Stay there. I can get it for them.” She stood, her hand patting Miss Marge’s shoulder as she went to the freezer for the treats. “Y’all want cobbler? Just ice cream? Both?”
“Yes, please.” We answered in unison.
And if that excerpt leaves you craving peach cobbler, the recipe can be found under Investigator’s Blog, Investigatin’ Recipes.
Here is more about Grave Consequences:
Sometimes finding the living is more difficult than searching for the dead.
In 1968, twenty-six-year-old Charlotte Graves wrestles with more than just her decision to return to her hometown, Loblolly, Alabama—she is also fleeing a broken heart, colliding headlong into a second one, and about to stumble onto a deadly secret.
Now settled back in Loblolly, Charlotte is hired to oversee the Woodville County Historical Society, a job she was born for. But no sooner has she banged the gavel to bring order to the first meeting than she is accused of being incompetent to lead the group by her old nemesis, Boopsie Sweets. Later that night, she finds herself arrested by her old beau, the current deputy sheriff, Roan Steele, for killing Boopsie.
After being released on bail, Charlotte uses her skills as a genealogist to leap into the investigation. And when Charlotte goes digging up dirt, she unearths a long-kept family secret. Will it lead to Boopsie's murderer … or to grave consequences for Charlotte and her family?
Love Inspired Cookie
2/19/2021 3:34:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Taste of Small Town
1/13/2021 10:50:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Filet Mignon & Rosemary Potatoes a la Justice Delivered
12/13/2020 3:23:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Tis the Season for Cranberries
11/23/2020 9:29:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Winter Deception Ebook Available for Pre-order
11/1/2020 2:03:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Cuban Sandwich Celebration "Designed to Love"
10/25/2020 5:15:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A $1.99 sale & free book opportunity "designed to love"
10/20/2020 11:30:00 AM by: Sally Jo
Cozy Up to Autumn and Ablazing Grace
10/12/2020 7:50:00 AM by: Sally Jo
A Christian Writer's World--Blog guest
10/2/2020 7:51:00 AM by: Sally Jo
Just Released
9/20/2020 8:42:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Cover Reveal
9/17/2020 1:40:00 PM by: Sally Jo Pitts
Chicken & Dumplings and Dinner on the Grounds
9/11/2020 3:26:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Craving Old-Fashioned Peach Cobbler?
8/20/2020 2:22:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Chicken from a Cozy Mystery
7/11/2020 3:20:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Novel Use of Food by author Kaye Schmitz
6/13/2020 3:39:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Novel Use of Macarons
5/13/2020 3:53:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Favorite Recipe from Novel Writer Kathy Harris
4/15/2020 3:07:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Novel Giant Pancake
3/14/2020 3:15:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Agatha Christie’s Novel Use of Food
2/1/2020 3:40:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Can You Buy Love?
1/3/2020 5:08:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Banana Millet Muffins and a Taste of Grace
11/15/2019 5:14:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Novels and Food
10/16/2019 5:25:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Novel Strawberry Ice Cream
9/15/2019 5:32:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Hamilton Harbor Legacy book #2 Coming in October
9/7/2019 3:15:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Fried Pickles, A Novel Use
8/19/2019 5:36:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Fried Cornbread and Family Memories
7/22/2019 7:56:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Mashed Potatoes and Emotion
6/12/2019 5:44:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Food in a Debbie Macomber Novel
4/7/2019 5:53:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Puff Pastry, A Novel Delight
3/6/2019 6:02:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Apple pie and a good book
2/8/2019 6:08:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Investigating books and food
1/6/2019 6:12:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Nuture: December’s Word of Inspiration
12/1/2018 1:18:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Endurance: November’s Inspirational Word
11/2/2018 2:12:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Tranquility–October’s Word of Inspiration
10/1/2018 2:24:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Harmony - September’s Word of Inspiration
8/31/2018 2:40:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Determination - Inspiration for August
7/31/2018 2:53:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Adventure: July’s Inspirational Word of the Month
7/1/2018 3:10:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Challenge: June’s Word of Inspiration
6/1/2018 3:18:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Perspective: May’s Word of Inspiration
5/2/2018 3:23:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Ambitious: April’s word of inspiration
3/31/2018 3:34:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Creativity - The March Word of Inspiration
3/1/2018 3:43:00 PM by: Sally Jo
February’s word of inspiration: STRENGTH
2/1/2018 7:49:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Envision: January’s inspirational word
1/9/2018 7:54:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Healthy Christmas Gift Idea
12/11/2017 11:57:00 AM by: Sally Jo
Investigating Kitchen Tips for the Holidays
12/4/2017 12:02:00 PM by: Sally Jo
What to do with Thanksgiving Leftovers
11/19/2017 12:10:00 PM by: Sally Jo
The 66-Day Experiment to Redeem Time Finale
11/1/2017 3:42:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Concluding the 66-Day Experiment to Redeem Time
10/29/2017 3:47:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Investigating Bible Study Time
10/21/2017 3:00:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Find your Weak Spot in the 66-Day Experiment
10/15/2017 3:20:00 PM by: Sally Jo
The 66-Day Experiment and the Family Life Cycle
10/8/2017 3:31:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Finding Time in Your Day for the Want-to’s
10/1/2017 3:50:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Make Time for Bible Time
9/25/2017 5:08:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Make Time for Exercise
9/16/2017 5:13:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Planning Healthy Meals Your Family Will Eat
9/10/2017 5:20:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Why 66 days to redeem time?
9/3/2017 5:28:00 PM by: Sally Jo
The 66-Day Experiment to Redeem the Time
8/27/2017 6:18:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Writing with Momentous Meaning
8/14/2017 2:39:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Ezekiel’s Object Lesson
8/3/2017 3:29:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Jeremiah Writes Flaming Words
7/29/2017 2:41:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Commands to Write in Isaiah
7/24/2017 2:46:00 PM by: Sally Jo
How do you write on the heart?
7/21/2017 2:50:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Mordecai’s Life-Saving Letter
7/2/2017 2:53:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Covenant Renewed & Sealed
6/8/2017 2:54:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Document, Document, Document
5/15/2017 2:56:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Write the record of a king
5/2/2017 2:58:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Write a Song
3/31/2017 3:00:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Join a Private Investigator
3/6/2017 6:23:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Write Upon Great Stones
3/6/2017 3:02:00 PM by: Sally Jo
WRITE: A Command Fit for a King
2/13/2017 3:04:00 PM by: Sally Jo
God’s Rewrite
1/5/2017 3:06:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Writing on posts and gates
12/18/2016 3:09:00 PM by: Sally Jo
The Bible and Writing
10/16/2016 3:12:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Ten Commandments Get a Second Chance
9/10/2016 3:15:00 PM by: Sally Jo
I will write upon these tables…
8/19/2016 3:33:00 PM by: Sally Jo
The Bible and Writing
7/21/2016 3:36:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Create a Legacy with a Play
6/30/2016 8:09:00 PM by: Sally Jo
The Wedding Letter
5/31/2016 8:12:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Beth Vogt’s new book to investigate!
4/9/2016 2:29:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Teddy Bear Legacy
3/19/2016 8:15:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Legacy Book
1/15/2016 8:18:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Christmas Nostalgia
12/20/2015 8:20:00 PM by: Sally Jo
What’s Cookin’ Thanksgiving?
11/25/2015 8:25:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Thanksgiving Tradition
11/1/2015 8:30:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Halloween Nostalgia
10/22/2015 8:34:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Family Tradition Trip
9/27/2015 8:38:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Sundial-A Heritage Pass Along
9/18/2015 6:21:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Vintage Birthday Banner
9/4/2015 6:25:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Special Teen Promise Ring
8/19/2015 6:29:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Family Heritage Shotgun
8/3/2015 6:31:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Family Heritage Clock
7/21/2015 6:35:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Scottish Family Heritage Wedding
6/21/2015 6:37:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Wedding Legacy Objects to Pass Along
6/1/2015 12:24:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Wedding Legacy Pass Alongs
5/15/2015 12:28:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Family Heritage Pass Alongs
4/28/2015 7:13:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Family Heritage Pass Alongs
4/6/2015 7:16:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Family Heritage Items to Pass On
3/16/2015 7:18:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Make a Family Valentine
2/14/2015 7:20:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Create a Family Cookbook
1/30/2015 7:23:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Out with the Old, in with the New
1/12/2015 7:25:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Background Memoir Check
12/9/2014 12:35:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Memoirs of Faith
10/19/2014 7:30:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Remembering Mother’s Cooking
10/3/2014 7:32:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Remembering Answered Prayer
9/18/2014 7:36:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Leaving a Worthwhile Legacy
8/31/2014 7:39:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Remembering Childhood Pets
8/13/2014 12:54:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Remembering Family July 4th Celebrations
7/13/2014 7:42:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Writing Family into Fiction
6/17/2014 12:58:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Hop Along on a Blog Hop
6/2/2014 12:59:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Royal Heritage
5/25/2014 7:44:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Visiting Preacher
5/13/2014 1:03:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Lesson from Dad
4/28/2014 1:05:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Lesson from Mother
4/7/2014 1:08:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Childhood Fears
3/24/2014 1:11:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Your Childhood Hometown
3/9/2014 1:14:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Valentine Story
2/28/2014 1:17:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Remembering Your Grandparents
2/9/2014 1:20:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Memoir Writing–Twelve Easy Steps
1/27/2014 1:25:00 PM by: Sally Jo
What is Authorpreneurship?
1/18/2014 1:32:00 PM by: Sally Jo
REMEMBERING A FAVORITE ACTIVITY
1/12/2014 1:53:00 PM by: Sally Jo
A Special Christmas Gift
12/27/2013 1:56:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Remembering Mother’s Work
12/1/2013 1:58:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Remembering Your Father’s Work
11/18/2013 2:00:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Early Church Memories
11/3/2013 2:02:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Describe your childhood bedroom
10/20/2013 2:03:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Describe Your Childhood Home
10/6/2013 2:05:00 PM by: Sally Jo
What’s Your Name?
9/22/2013 2:07:00 PM by: Sally Jo
What is Your Earliest Childhood Memory? (Writing Your Own Background Check)
9/5/2013 2:13:00 PM by: Sally Jo
Write Your Own Background Check
8/22/2013 2:15:00 PM by: Sally Jo