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Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_9797080_cacciatore.html'>yatomo / 123RF Stock Photo</a>
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Caroline Mickelson
has attending graduate school in a Scottish castle, ridden a camel around the
Pyramids in Giza, and taken a best-in-a-lifetime road trip to Graceland. She
also writes the Little Italy mystery series. Learn more about her and her books
at her website. Today she joins us to share a recipe for chicken cacciatore and
a little bit about From
Mangia to Murder.
One of the most enjoyable parts of having published the first
book in my Little Italy cozy mystery is hearing from readers. Some of them are
Italian-Americans, some aren’t, and I enjoy hearing what they thought of my
book. One comment that I’ve heard many times is, “All the food in your book
brings back so many memories.” Because my own grandfather was Italian-American,
I know just what they mean when they reminisce about family gatherings and
holidays that center around family and food.
My main character, Sophia Mancini, could say much the same.
Sophia’s best quality is that she cares deeply about her family. Naturally,
this is the quality that gets her into trouble when she decides to play amateur
sleuth after a chef is killed at a restaurant where her family is celebrating
the opening of their new private detective agency. On the menu that night was
zuppa di ceci (creamy chick pea soup), pasta with mascarpone, sun dried
tomatoes, and spinach, followed by gnocchi caprese and finally chicken
cacciatore. Throughout the book, the characters sit and hash out the mystery
over – what else? – food. Coming up with new-to-me recipes to try has been a
fun part of the research for both this book and the next in the series, Lights Out in Little Italy, which takes
place at a dinner party where one dinner guest doesn’t survive the meal.
Chicken Cacciatore
(four servings)
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
3-4 lbs cubed chicken
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 chopped onion
2-3 minced garlic cloves
1 chopped green pepper
1 12-16 ounce can of diced tomatoes
1/2 cup white wine
2 cups sliced mushrooms
Oregano, salt and pepper to taste
Mix flour, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken
cubes and mix until coated. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Fry the
chicken until browned. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside. Sauté the
garlic, onion, and green pepper in the skillet until all are lightly browned.
Return chicken to the skillet. Add tomatoes and wine. Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Add mushrooms, oregano, salt and pepper as desired and simmer for another 10-12
minutes. Serve over pasta or with a salad and fresh loaf of garlic or Italian
bread.
From Mangia to Murder
Little Italy, 1946 - Sophia Mancini would have enjoyed the
grand opening celebration of her family's private detective agency if the
volatile chef at Vincenzo's Ristorante had actually survived the meal. But
before Sophia's chilled spoon hit the spumoni, someone plunged a knife into Vincenzo's
back, and the word on everyone's lips went from mangia to murder.
Sophia soon finds herself trailing crime boss Frankie Vidoni, chatting with his mouthy mistress Maria, and dodging henchman Mooch DiMuccio. She's suspicious of Vincenzo's widow Stella and his assistant chef Eugene because they don't appear the least bit dismayed by Vincenzo's passing.
Sophia soon finds herself trailing crime boss Frankie Vidoni, chatting with his mouthy mistress Maria, and dodging henchman Mooch DiMuccio. She's suspicious of Vincenzo's widow Stella and his assistant chef Eugene because they don't appear the least bit dismayed by Vincenzo's passing.
There is no conversation Sophia won't eavesdrop on, no
question shewon't ask, and no danger she won't face to find the killer.
