On Monday, I recapped A YEAR OF BOOK BITES! I am thrilled to continue this segment of my blog as NOT EVEN JOKING enters its 2nd year! Today, author Patricia Fry sharse a bite of her cozy mystery, A PICTURE-PURRFECT CHRISTMAS (October 2015), the 13th book in the Klepto Cat Mystery series. She also shares a recipe for Dairy-Free Chicken Pot Pie.
Who is your main character? What is he or she like?
While Savannah Ivey is the main human character, the star is Rags, an ordinary cat with an extraordinary habit. He steals things that often turn out to be clues in the current mystery. He’s sensitive, intuitive and his keen instincts seem to cause just about as much trouble as they alleviate.
What would Savannah Ivey choose for her last meal?
For Savannah, it would be chicken and dumplings or a nice warm cobbler because, although she finds herself in some precarious predicaments—mainly because of her errant cat—she loves the comfort of home, family, friends and the food that go along with it.
How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?
Oh, I’d sit down at Savannah’s table and share in the comfort food.
Why should someone bite into A PICTURE-PURRFECT CHRISTMAS?
A PICTURE-PURRFECT CHRISTMAS is number 13 in the Klepto Cat Mystery series. I wrote it for those who like a touching holiday tale with a nice serving of suspense and a lovely two-tissue ending. Of course, Rags, the klepto cat, plays a large role in making this a magical Christmas for a deserving little girl. Have you ever seen a cat ride a horse? I told you Rags is unique.
Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?
Dairy-Free Chicken Pot Pie
Homemade or packaged pie crust
¼ cup flour
¼ cup butter
2 cups rice milk (or almond milk)
1 whole chicken breast, cooked and chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup peas
1 cup sliced mushrooms
Salt and pepper to taste
Make a roux: melt the butter over medium heat in a heavy cooking pot, add flour. Turn heat down a little and whisk until smooth. Slowly add the rice milk. Cook and stir until bubbly and thickened. Adjust consistency by adding more milk or cornstarch.
Sauté the celery, onion, and mushrooms until soft. Add to the sauce along with the chicken and peas. (I prefer frozen peas.) Add salt and pepper.
Pour into an 8×8 baking pan and cover with the crust. Cut a few slits in the crust.
Bake at 350 until the crust is golden and the filling bubbly (about 40 minutes).
Thank you so much for joining me here today. I have two cats, but sadly neither Coco nor Cookie has ever helped to solve a mystery. Rags does sound special! And so does this recipe!
You can connect learn more about the Klepto Cat Mysteries on this WEBSITE, and you can find PICTURE-PURRFECT CHRISTMAS on Amazon.
Thank you for featuring a Klepto Cat Mystery today. How fun is this? Readers who are interested in learning more about Rags, the klepto cat, can tune into my blog today. I outline several of his pawsitively pawsome adventures. http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades (April 13, 2016).