Saturday, July 31, 2010

Lemon Meringue Pie Murder ~ Food For Thought











I'm joining Food for Thought

the brainchild of the very talented Jain from

Once in Blue Moon and of Food With Style

with a review of

**


My sister picked up this book for me, knowing how I love to
"cook the books". Thanks Fritzie!
It was a fun & quick little read & a refreshing change from all
the heavy World War II era books I've recently been into.

I had never read a
"culinary cozy" type of a book before & was
unaware of this sub-genre category to
"cozy mysteries".
These are cute novels that ooze charm & are not hard crime thrillers.
No graphic violence... no sex or drugs either...just LOTS of
food mentions & the recipes to go along with them.


The main character, Hannah Swensen jumps in to help solve a murder when a
lemon meringue pie from her bakery,
The Cookie Jar
, is found at the crime scene.

I tried to re-create the look of her store front window here.


(The last of our Girl Scout cookies)

(Hubby's favorite: Nutter Butters)


(Homemade Butter Balls or Russian Tea Cakes)

She uncovers marital infidelity, lots of gossip & an old bank robbery.
The book moves along at a quick pace & is guaranteed to make you hungry,
although I found it to be very
predictable & a bit a la Nancy Drew.
I won't give away any more of the details so as not to spoil it.





The best part of making lemon meringue pie is licking the
leftover lemon filling in the pan.
Its "twice better" to quote a grandchild.







The recipe for my pie is on the back of the box of

Turns out perfect, every time.

The Lemon Meringue Pie Murder is
a cute, easy to read book with interesting recipes.
It is 4th in a line of at least 13 books by the same author.
This book features a total of 9 recipes & Joanne Fluke
has many, many more throughout her series of murder mysteries.
Get a load of these titles!!












I found it interesting to see how the author's
name
on the front cover
gets bigger & bigger as her series progressed.
Just a point of interest, that's all.

If you are someone who likes to bake you will love all the recipes that come with each story.
I understand the author is working on a cookbook now
that will showcase each of the recipes used in her books.




Thanks to Jain for continuing this fun
Food For Thought
party every other Saturday.

Be sure to visit her site & enjoy the other book reviews showcased this week.

Thanks also to those of you who visit the Gazebo House so often.

I'm constantly amazed that anyone wants to read what I have to say.
Nobody around here listens to me!!

Its been a very busy time here at the Gazebo House
with carpet cleaners disrupting everything &
the acquisition of a new sewing table
along with rearranging my sewing room
so I could complete some projects.
Matching nightgowns & robes for Caroline & her AG doll,
a mini quilted wallhanging & more to show next time.
Stay tuned for those!




fondly,
Photobucket

Monday, July 19, 2010

Happy 100th Tablescape Thursday!!


DSC_0101

Susan is hosting her 100th

Tablescape Thursday

this week!!



DSC_0115






&
we’re having a party to celebrate!



DSC_0113



A little birdie told me she would like
us to do our Tablescapes OUTSIDE!!


DSC_0004


No greater love hath a friend

than to do one outside in this tropical heat wave!


DSC_0084

So we’re having a cool, green, tropical themed

dinner in the gazebo, which

provides some shade,

even though the screening makes it

difficult to photograph inside.


DSC_0085


There are decorations hung in

anticipation of the celebration.


DSC_0086

Also, pretty tropical colors of

LIME GREEN, YELLOW & a

little punch

of HOT pink too.

DSC_0087



DSC_0088


That is the top of the gazebo seen in

bowl of the spoon.

I just love that effect!


DSC_0096



DSC_0089


Lemon shaped serving platter &

smaller dishes are from Pier One

on sale a few months ago.



DSC_0091



DSC_0093


The palm tree dishes were a thrift

store find months ago.

I’ve been waiting for

a chance to use them outside.


DSC_0094


Soft lemony-butter shades of waffle weave

napkins provide a textural contrast

to the wicker pattern at the edges of the plates.


DSC_0095


The silverware motif looks a bit like a tropical fruit...

maybe a pineapple or an artichoke?

It is "Danish Princess" by

Holmes & Edwards & was introduced in 1938.


DSC_0098


DSC_0117


As you can tell by the flickering

flames, we get a nice breeze here in

the gazebo.

This gave me the perfect

opportunity to use a set of

tablecloth weights that I won in a

give-away from Michael Lee at

Designs by Gollum

Thank you so much, ML!

I just love the

Extraordinary detailing on these

little creatures.

DSC_0075
DSC_0103


DSC_0104














DSC_0105

Speaking of details, this cute tropical scene

serving platter will help

carry food from the grill into the

gazebo. We use LOTS of trays when

we entertain out here!

(Saves steps in & out)


DSC_0111


I thought these shots really captured

the texture of the pieces nicely.


DSC_0107




DSC_0112

Just a little more texture for ya’



We'll have ice cream cake for dessert

to cool us off




Some other time, I'll turn the cake plate over

& use it to serve salsa & chips.



DSC_0099


As evening sets in & the grill is lit,

so are the candles & the lanterns.


DSC_0100
DSC_0125



DSC_0119framed DSC_0120 DSC_0121 DSC_0124
DSC_0101

Happy 100th
Tablescape Thursday, Susan!!

Thank you for being such a
wonderful hostess for all these fun
events.
I hope everyone gets to see how
others are celebrating with you on
Thursday by going to

Between Naps on the Porch





Thank you for visiting the

Gazebo House, too!



fondly,
Photobucket