Featured Blog
Chicken from a Cozy Mystery
Saturday, July 11, 2020 by Sally Jo
Investigating Food Used in Novels
This month I’m featuring a food scene used Cynthia Hickey’s cozy mystery, Deadly Neighbors.
Old high school boyfriend, Duane Steele, who dumped lead character Marsha Calloway has returned to River Valley. After Marsha’s mother invited Duane to dinner, Marsha is trying to deal with her unsettled emotions and cook chicken with hollandaise sauce.
“Look at me, Marsha.”
“I don’t want to.” My whispered words filled the silent kitchen.
“Please take a walk with me after dinner.” His boots thudded against the worn linoleum on his way out.
I sagged against the counter and struggled to control my breathing. Be still my heart. An evening stroll with Duane Steele. I was doomed. I slid the steaming chicken dish from the oven and carried it into the dining room.
“That pip-squeak Barnett had the gall to accuse Lindsey of stealing the woman’s necklace.” Mom’s scarlet face shone beneath the light. I set dinner in the center of the table and rolled my eyes. From the looks of things, she was just getting started.
“Now look at this face.” She pinched Lindsey’s chin between her fingers. “Does this look like a thief? Something is rotten in Mayberry, and Marsha and I intend to find out what.”
“I slapped a chicken breast on her plate. “What did you say?”
“Careful. That’s hot.” She wiped sauce from her hand. “I heard you tell Lindsey yesterday that you’d get to the bottom of this. So, we’ll do it together. Sounds like fun.” Mom lifted her fork and stabbed her chicken.
My mother might be unconventional, but her heart was in the right place. A smile tweaked the corner of Duane’s lips. My breath caught as I remembered his kisses. Those had been given by a teenager. Would the man do better? Make my knees weak and my head spin? I yanked my gaze away. Don’t go there, Marsha. My hands shook. I served his food slowly, careful not to splash or dump anything on his lap.
Author Cynthia Hickey says she made up the chicken dish Marsha prepared in the story but shares this Chicken Hollandaise recipe that is posted under Investigatin’ Recipes.
And here is more about Deadly Neighbors:
When Marsha Calloway’s daughter is accused of a crime she didn’t commit, Marsha is determined to find the real culprit.
She enlists the help of her Cadillac-driving mama, the man who ditched Marsha at her high-school graduation but kept her heart, and a bumbling police officer. Folks around River Valley are having things disappear while they are sleeping with their eyes open.
Seems everyone has a dream and not enough funds. Someone is determined to kill for that dream.
Will River Valley’s cast of colorful characters live to see another day?
Can Marsha find out who the thief is before she becomes one of the sleep walkers?
Previous Posts
3 Ways to Feed Your Body, Soul, and Spirit in February
Sally Jo
1/31/2023
Attitude and health link together
Sally Jo Pitts
1/15/2023
A Simple Christmas Main Dish from Winter Deception
Sally Jo
12/13/2022
A Standoff food inspiration from author Patricia Bradley
Sally Jo Pitts
11/9/2022
SECRETS AND SOUP
Sally Jo
10/16/2022
A Novel Food Scene with Grits
Sally Jo
9/18/2022
Rich New Orleans Flavored Novel Scene by Mary A. Felkins + recipe
Sally Jo PItts
8/14/2022
Ready for a good cup of coffee?
Sally Jo
7/18/2022
Apricot Pie, A Novel Idea
Sally Jo
6/16/2022
"Zero Guilt Calories" makes an appearance in Novel Use of Food
Sally Jo Pitts
5/15/2022
Some Like it Hot!
Sally Jo
4/17/2022
Winner, Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference
Sally Jo
4/11/2022
Can you RUN FASTER?
Sally Jo
3/15/2022
Valentine's Day and Novel Traditions
Sally Jo
2/13/2022
Christmas Special & Chocolate Recipe
Sally Jo
12/16/2021
Breaking Bread with author Zoe McCarthy
Sally Jo
10/14/2021
African Pizza, A Novel Use of Food
Sally Jo
9/15/2021
"Taste & See" Davalynn Spencer's food scene and recipe from Always a Wedding Planner
Sally Jo
8/13/2021
Always a Wedding Planner--Food Scenes with Authors
Sally Jo
7/11/2021
Always a Wedding Planner--Food Scenes with Authors
Sally Jo
6/13/2021
Always a Wedding Planner--Food Scenes with Authors
Sally Jo
5/14/2021
Spring ... a time for Cheesecake ... and Betrayal
Sally Jo
3/15/2021
Love Inspired Cookie
Sally Jo
2/19/2021
A Taste of Small Town
Sally Jo
1/13/2021
Filet Mignon & Rosemary Potatoes a la Justice Delivered
Sally Jo
12/13/2020
Tis the Season for Cranberries
Sally Jo
11/23/2020
Winter Deception Ebook Available for Pre-order
Sally Jo
11/1/2020
Cuban Sandwich Celebration "Designed to Love"
Sally Jo
10/25/2020
A $1.99 sale & free book opportunity "designed to love"
Sally Jo
10/20/2020
Cozy Up to Autumn and Ablazing Grace
Sally Jo
10/12/2020
A Christian Writer's World--Blog guest
Sally Jo
10/2/2020
Just Released
Sally Jo
9/20/2020
Cover Reveal
Sally Jo Pitts
9/17/2020
Chicken & Dumplings and Dinner on the Grounds
Sally Jo
9/11/2020
Craving Old-Fashioned Peach Cobbler?
Sally Jo
8/20/2020
Chicken from a Cozy Mystery
Sally Jo
7/11/2020
Novel Use of Food by author Kaye Schmitz
Sally Jo
6/13/2020
Novel Use of Macarons
Sally Jo
5/13/2020
A Favorite Recipe from Novel Writer Kathy Harris
Sally Jo
4/15/2020
Novel Giant Pancake
Sally Jo
3/14/2020
Agatha Christie’s Novel Use of Food
Sally Jo
2/1/2020
Can You Buy Love?
Sally Jo
1/3/2020
Banana Millet Muffins and a Taste of Grace
Sally Jo
11/15/2019
Novels and Food
Sally Jo
10/16/2019
Novel Strawberry Ice Cream
Sally Jo
9/15/2019
Hamilton Harbor Legacy book #2 Coming in October
Sally Jo
9/7/2019
Fried Pickles, A Novel Use
Sally Jo
8/19/2019
Fried Cornbread and Family Memories
Sally Jo
7/22/2019
Mashed Potatoes and Emotion
Sally Jo
6/12/2019
Food in a Debbie Macomber Novel
Sally Jo
4/7/2019
Puff Pastry, A Novel Delight
Sally Jo
3/6/2019
Apple pie and a good book
Sally Jo
2/8/2019
Investigating books and food
Sally Jo
1/6/2019
Nuture: December’s Word of Inspiration
Sally Jo
12/1/2018
Endurance: November’s Inspirational Word
Sally Jo
11/2/2018
Tranquility–October’s Word of Inspiration
Sally Jo
10/1/2018
Harmony - September’s Word of Inspiration
Sally Jo
8/31/2018
Determination - Inspiration for August
Sally Jo
7/31/2018
Adventure: July’s Inspirational Word of the Month
Sally Jo
7/1/2018
Challenge: June’s Word of Inspiration
Sally Jo
6/1/2018
Perspective: May’s Word of Inspiration
Sally Jo
5/2/2018
Ambitious: April’s word of inspiration
Sally Jo
3/31/2018
Creativity - The March Word of Inspiration
Sally Jo
3/1/2018
February’s word of inspiration: STRENGTH
Sally Jo
2/1/2018
Envision: January’s inspirational word
Sally Jo
1/9/2018
A Healthy Christmas Gift Idea
Sally Jo
12/11/2017
Investigating Kitchen Tips for the Holidays
Sally Jo
12/4/2017
What to do with Thanksgiving Leftovers
Sally Jo
11/19/2017
The 66-Day Experiment to Redeem Time Finale
Sally Jo
11/1/2017
Concluding the 66-Day Experiment to Redeem Time
Sally Jo
10/29/2017
Investigating Bible Study Time
Sally Jo
10/21/2017
Find your Weak Spot in the 66-Day Experiment
Sally Jo
10/15/2017
The 66-Day Experiment and the Family Life Cycle
Sally Jo
10/8/2017
Finding Time in Your Day for the Want-to’s
Sally Jo
10/1/2017
Make Time for Bible Time
Sally Jo
9/25/2017
Make Time for Exercise
Sally Jo
9/16/2017
Planning Healthy Meals Your Family Will Eat
Sally Jo
9/10/2017
Why 66 days to redeem time?
Sally Jo
9/3/2017
The 66-Day Experiment to Redeem the Time
Sally Jo
8/27/2017
Writing with Momentous Meaning
Sally Jo
8/14/2017
Ezekiel’s Object Lesson
Sally Jo
8/3/2017
Jeremiah Writes Flaming Words
Sally Jo
7/29/2017
Commands to Write in Isaiah
Sally Jo
7/24/2017
How do you write on the heart?
Sally Jo
7/21/2017
Mordecai’s Life-Saving Letter
Sally Jo
7/2/2017
A Covenant Renewed & Sealed
Sally Jo
6/8/2017
Document, Document, Document
Sally Jo
5/15/2017
Write the record of a king
Sally Jo
5/2/2017
Write a Song
Sally Jo
3/31/2017
Join a Private Investigator
Sally Jo
3/6/2017
Write Upon Great Stones
Sally Jo
3/6/2017
WRITE: A Command Fit for a King
Sally Jo
2/13/2017
God’s Rewrite
Sally Jo
1/5/2017
Writing on posts and gates
Sally Jo
12/18/2016
The Bible and Writing
Sally Jo
10/16/2016
Ten Commandments Get a Second Chance
Sally Jo
9/10/2016
I will write upon these tables…
Sally Jo
8/19/2016
The Bible and Writing
Sally Jo
7/21/2016
Create a Legacy with a Play
Sally Jo
6/30/2016
The Wedding Letter
Sally Jo
5/31/2016
Beth Vogt’s new book to investigate!
Sally Jo
4/9/2016
A Teddy Bear Legacy
Sally Jo
3/19/2016
A Legacy Book
Sally Jo
1/15/2016
Christmas Nostalgia
Sally Jo
12/20/2015
What’s Cookin’ Thanksgiving?
Sally Jo
11/25/2015
Thanksgiving Tradition
Sally Jo
11/1/2015
Halloween Nostalgia
Sally Jo
10/22/2015
A Family Tradition Trip
Sally Jo
9/27/2015
Sundial-A Heritage Pass Along
Sally Jo
9/18/2015
A Vintage Birthday Banner
Sally Jo
9/4/2015
A Special Teen Promise Ring
Sally Jo
8/19/2015
A Family Heritage Shotgun
Sally Jo
8/3/2015
A Family Heritage Clock
Sally Jo
7/21/2015
A Scottish Family Heritage Wedding
Sally Jo
6/21/2015
Wedding Legacy Objects to Pass Along
Sally Jo
6/1/2015
Wedding Legacy Pass Alongs
Sally Jo
5/15/2015
Family Heritage Pass Alongs
Sally Jo
4/28/2015
Family Heritage Pass Alongs
Sally Jo
4/6/2015
Family Heritage Items to Pass On
Sally Jo
3/16/2015
Make a Family Valentine
Sally Jo
2/14/2015
Create a Family Cookbook
Sally Jo
1/30/2015
Out with the Old, in with the New
Sally Jo
1/12/2015
Background Memoir Check
Sally Jo
12/9/2014
Memoirs of Faith
Sally Jo
10/19/2014
Remembering Mother’s Cooking
Sally Jo
10/3/2014
Remembering Answered Prayer
Sally Jo
9/18/2014
Leaving a Worthwhile Legacy
Sally Jo
8/31/2014
Remembering Childhood Pets
Sally Jo
8/13/2014
Remembering Family July 4th Celebrations
Sally Jo
7/13/2014
Writing Family into Fiction
Sally Jo
6/17/2014
Hop Along on a Blog Hop
Sally Jo
6/2/2014
A Royal Heritage
Sally Jo
5/25/2014
A Visiting Preacher
Sally Jo
5/13/2014
A Lesson from Dad
Sally Jo
4/28/2014
A Lesson from Mother
Sally Jo
4/7/2014
Childhood Fears
Sally Jo
3/24/2014
Your Childhood Hometown
Sally Jo
3/9/2014
A Valentine Story
Sally Jo
2/28/2014
Remembering Your Grandparents
Sally Jo
2/9/2014
Memoir Writing–Twelve Easy Steps
Sally Jo
1/27/2014
What is Authorpreneurship?
Sally Jo
1/18/2014
REMEMBERING A FAVORITE ACTIVITY
Sally Jo
1/12/2014
A Special Christmas Gift
Sally Jo
12/27/2013
Remembering Mother’s Work
Sally Jo
12/1/2013
Remembering Your Father’s Work
Sally Jo
11/18/2013
Early Church Memories
Sally Jo
11/3/2013
Describe your childhood bedroom
Sally Jo
10/20/2013
Describe Your Childhood Home
Sally Jo
10/6/2013
What’s Your Name?
Sally Jo
9/22/2013
What is Your Earliest Childhood Memory? (Writing Your Own Background Check)
Sally Jo
9/5/2013
Write Your Own Background Check
Sally Jo
8/22/2013
