Carole Shmurak, Professor Emerita at Central Connecticut State
University, is the author of the Susan Lombardi mystery series,
including Deadmistress (named a Notable Book of
2004 by Writers Notes Magazine),
Death by Committee, Death at Hilliard High and Most Likely to Murder. As Carroll Thomas, she co-authored Ring Out Wild Bells, nominated for the Agatha for Best YA mystery in 2002.
Learn more about Carole at her website.
Deadmistress is the book that introduced
my sleuth, Professor Susan Lombardi. Of course, the
Susan Lombardi character is based on me—she has the same professional
background and my insatiable curiosity. Fortunately, I’ve never been close to
anyone who’s been murdered, and I’m happy solving puzzles in books. But
everyone wants to know if Susan’s husband, Michael Buckler, (affectionately
known as ‘Swash’) is based on my husband. He’s not. I decided when I created
Susan that this was also an opportunity to create my ideal husband, so Swash is
independently wealthy — and he cooks! (My real husband, Steve, is a wonderful
person but he lacks those two traits). When Susan returns home at the end of a
long day of teaching and/or sleuthing, there is always a delicious meal
awaiting her. And because Susan’s ethnic background is part-Italian, Swash
often makes Italian dishes. His cioppino recipe is the one I’ve chosen here.
Swash’s Signature Cioppino
1
lb fresh cleaned shrimp
1
lb sea scallops (or 1 lb boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch chunks)
3
Tbl olive oil
1
small pepper (red or green) diced
1
cup chopped onion
4
cloves garlic, minced
1/2
cup dry white wine
1 28 oz. can crushed whole tomatoes
with liquid
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1
cup chicken broth
5
Tbl dried parsley
Dried
basil leaves to taste
Salt
& pepper to taste
1
lb cooked linguini
Grated
parmesan cheese
Heat
2 Tbl of oil in large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Lightly brown the
scallops (or chicken) on both sides, but don’t worry if still a little pink
inside. Remove to a platter.
Reduce
heat to medium and add remaining oil, and the onion, garlic and peppers. Saute
3-4 minutes until soft. Add wine and cook 2-3 minutes more.
[If
your skillet is large enough you can keep going in that, or you can transfer
everything (except the scallops or chicken) at this point to a large pot.
Reduce heat to medium-low, and add tomatoes with liquid, tomato sauce, broth,
parsley, basil, salt and pepper, to the onion, garlic and peppers. Cover and
simmer for 15 minutes.
Add
scallops or chicken and simmer partially covered for 5 minutes. Add shrimp and
simmer for 5 more minutes. (If shrimp were raw, check that they are now cooked through;
if using cooked shrimp, 5 minutes is enough.)
Serve
over linguini. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top.
Blurb: The headmistress of an exclusive private school for girls has been
found murdered in her office. When professor Susan Lombardi learns that her
friend John is the prime suspect, she sets out to clear his name, but her
research uncovers some troubling secrets about the school's faculty and
students. And soon it becomes clear that John is not the only one with a motive
for murder.
