It might seem like all I read is mysteries. While mysteries are my go-to genre, I read just about everything: classics; contemporary literary fiction; non-fiction; plays; and yes, plenty of young adult literature. I especially love YA in the summer…and summer has officially started! This week, I am excited to learn more about Laura Kennedy’s young adult novel Double Take (Fire & Ice YA, March 2014). Laura also shares a recipe for dolmades, which are mentioned in the novel.
Who is the main character in Double Take? What is she like?
Brooke Bentley is savvy, clueless; impulsive, reflective;, kind, selfish; confident, insecure; loyal, dismissive; adorable and insufferable all at the same time. In other words, a typical sixteen-year-old girl.
What would Brooke Bentley choose for her last meal?
Brooke would definitely request a large mango/date malt from the Tastee Freeze.
How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?
I would request a large mango/date malt from the Tastee Freeze. I’ve adored ice cream ever since I was a baby and used to cry when I saw someone eating a cone. Actually, sometimes I still cry when I see someone eating ice cream.
Why should someone bite into Double Take?
If you’ve ever wished someone would discover you and turn you into a starlet or high fashion model, you’ll love Double Take. Just think Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady.
Dolmades are mentioned in Double Take. Do you have a recipe?
I’ve looked up other dolmades recipes but they don’t call for meat. Purists would say this recipe is for Stuffed Grape Leaves. I’m writing this from memory. I think I’m going to have to make some of these this weekend to see how they turn out. I don’t remember precooking the onions and pine nuts. Only the rice. Since the recipe is so simple, I don’t see how anyone can go too wrong. The worst thing I can ever remember happening is using white rice and not precooking so it ended up hard. From then on I cooked the rice first!
Stuffed Grape Leaves – Syrian style
1. Parboil grape leaves for three to five minutes or until soft. Remove with slotted spoon. Cool on paper towels, then trim stems. (You can buy canned grape leaves in the gourmet section of your grocery store. An 8 oz. jar should be enough).
2. Meanwhile prepare filling mixture consisting of 1 ¼ quarter pound ground lamb or beef, one large yellow onion, finely chopped, ½ cup pine nuts, 1 tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. pepper, and one cup precooked brown rice.
3. Fill grape leaves with approximately 2 tbsp. each meat mixture and roll up so it looks like a cigar. Secure with tooth pick, placing seam side down in a large Pyrex baking dish.
4. Cover filled grape leaves with spaghetti sauce. Use readymade or use your own recipe.
5. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30-40 min or until dolmades are tender when pierced with a fork and meat is no longer pink. Serve with lemon slices for squeezing onto individual leaves.
Thank you so much Laura.
You can learn more about Double Take by Laura Kennedy at the link below:
http://www.fireandiceya.com/authors/laurakennedy/DoubleTake.html
