I am so pleased to be able to introduce you to debut author, Leslie Karst, who is celebrating the release of her brand new book this week, DYING FOR A TASTE! I met Leslie at Left Coast Crime in Phoenix (I am SO glad I decided to attend) and after talking a bit about her book I knew I needed to read it sooner rather than later… and it exceeded my expectations!
Sally Solari, former attorney, is helping run her father’s old-school Italian restaurant after her mother passed away. The long-time multi-generational family restaurant sits at the end of a wharf in Santa Cruz, California with spectacular views of Monterrey Bay. Sally would rather be in the kitchen learning to be a chef instead of managing the business side of things, but her father doesn’t think women belong in the kitchen. Sally’s Aunt Letta rebelled against the tradition, left the family business, and started her own restaurant, Gauguin. Aunt Letta has been mostly estranged from her family for many long years, but Sally connected to her and considers herself close to her aunt.
It comes as a heartbreaking shock when Aunt Letta is found stabbed to death with Sous Chef Javier’s personal knife. The police are almost certain Javier is the killer….he had an unrequited love for his boss….and his arrest is imminent. Sally is certain of Javier’s innocence, even with incriminating evidence mounting, and she decides she needs to find the truth. As she starts asking questions and digging into her aunt’s past, she finds her aunt had been hiding long buried secrets that maybe should have been left hidden, especially when the killer sets their eyes on her.
There were so many things to love about this fast-paced debut mystery! A tightly woven plot with memorable characters parading across the pages kept me turning pages and left me feeling regret when I had to put the book down to attend to other responsibilities. But what I truly loved about DYING FOR A TASTE is not only was it an entertaining read, Leslie gives it a voice of social consciousness. She deftly weaves social issues and prejudices into the plot that is thought provoking without being heavy handed. It’s refreshing to come across a book that can combine both entertainment and realism while tackling the issues relevant to our society today. Well done, Leslie! I truly look forward to your next book!
Leslie, like her protagonist Sally, was an attorney before going to cooking school. She has some amazing recipes in DYING FOR A TASTE and has allowed me to share Seared Pork Chops with Apricot Brandy Sauce, which is one of the dishes Aunt Letta served at Gauguin. I’ll be honest, cooking meat that is the center of attention scares me. I’m a competent baker and good with veggies, chicken, and fish but I’m very insecure when it comes to showcasing pork or beef on the plate. However, I decided to be challenged and try this recipe…and I think my photos and the video at the bottom of the page speak for the end results 🙂 Leslie’s instructions were easy to follow and not time-consuming, resulting in succulent, flavorful pork chops that are covered with a gorgeous jewel-toned pan sauce that is company worthy! But, since the dish cooks so quickly it will earn a regular rotation in my weekday meals too. The apricot brandy sauce would be incredible on chicken or fish as well, making it very versatile. Thank you, Leslie, for allowing me to share your exquisite dish and for building my culinary confidence!
A special thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing a hardcover copy to one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest is open to U.S. residents only and ends Monday, April 18, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Winners will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Seared Pork Chops with Apricot Brandy Sauce
This is a classic Ă la minute hot line dish, where a piece of meat is seared and then the pan it was cooked in is deglazed with liquid to dissolve all those luscious caramelized bits left behind. Once you’ve done all your prep work (chopping, coating meat with spices), it only takes about fifteen minutes to fry the chops and make the sauce.
Ingredients
6 ounces dried apricots, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup brandy
1 teaspoon dried cumin
1 teaspoon dried ginger
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
4 thick-cut pork chops, excess fat around edges removed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large red onion, sliced (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup beef or chicken stock
4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
Place the sliced apricots in a bowl and pour the brandy over the fruit to let them soak. The longer they soak the better – two hours minimum, but first thing in the morning or even overnight would be best.
Mix the cumin, ginger, black pepper, and salt together in a small bowl and then coat the chops on each side with this dry marinade.
Heat a large, heavy duty skillet over medium-high heat and then add the oil.
Once the oil is shimmering, place the pork chops gently in the pan. (Do not crowd the chops; cook them in separate pans or in two batches if necessary.)
Fry until golden brown and then turn. Continue cooking until the chops are done to your liking (Gauguin serves them still a little pink in the center).
Remove chops to a large plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Dump the sliced onions into the pork chop skillet and saute over medium heat in the oil left in the pan, stirring occasionally so they don’t burn.
When the onions start to brown, add the apricots (saving the brandy they’ve been soaking in for later) and continue to cook until the apricots start to brown.
Add the brandy and chicken stock to the pan and continue to cook for another two minutes.
Add the butter and stir into the sauce once melted.
Plate up the chops and spoon the onions, apricots, and sauce on top.
If you receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.
I usually order seafood,like shrimp or fish..I can never make it to taste as good!
When I dine out, I love comfort food. Anything pork is good! Thanks for a chance to win this book.
I love pork chops and these sound and look great. I will have to try this recipe soon.
Most of the time when I eat out, I like to have things I wouldn’t cook at home. Sometimes I like comfort food.
I usually order a chicken dish!
Such a delicious sounding new release and recipe. thank you for the chance
When dining out, I generally choose dishes that hardly ever are on the menu at home. Lobster tail, crab legs, cioppino, prawns, scallops, and so forth (I’m the only one in my family who loves shellfish and such). Comfort food = pasta, which my kitchen serves on the regular.
I depends on the mood I’m in. Also I’m gluten-free & have some food allergies that all come into play when ordering a meal.
Usually a meal I don’t cook at home, something complicated or with ingredients I don’t often use.
Thanks for the giveaway.
This recipe sounds great. Not typically something I would make but I think I’ll have to give it a try. Added all the ingredients to the grocery list for tonight. The book sounds great and will be added to my TBR list for sure!
If we do eat out I usually do both. For desert I order the comfort food and the meal would be something I wouldn’t cook at home.
Both. Somethings I wouldn’t cook at home for the entree and comfort food for desert!!!??
I try to order things I don’t cook at home. Sometimes it’s hard because I don’t eat meat.
When dining out, I usually order something that I’d never cook at home. Here’s the exception: when on a road trip…comfort food all the way! Thanks for the chance to win in your give-a-way Kim!
First, the pork chops are to ‘die for!’ Second, when my husband and I treat ourselves to with a night out, I usually order something I don’t or can’t make myself. From my favorite destinations I love the seafood chowder, mushroom polenta, grilled tenderloin, Meyer lemon meringue pie… Oh…Honey? Can we go out to lunch, today?
When I dine out, I usually order comfort food.
This recipe looks absolutely incredibly delicious and I will definitely give it a try! And I just got my copy of Dying for a Taste! Can’t wait to add a new cozy author to my repetoire.
We usually choose comfort food.
I try to eat something different, if available. But, we just usually go to McDonalds.
I usually go for something I can’t duplicate at home (that doesn’t mean I haven’t tried, just that I haven’t quite gotten it, haha).
Think i missed something by reading the other post,lol. The recipes sounds delish. Seems people are talking about what they order when eating out……usually something i won’t make at home,like Chinese,lol.
I usually order something I wouldn’t make at home because somebody at home doesn’t like whatever it is.
this sounds just wonderful!
I usually choose comfort food when eating out.
Recipe sounds good! So does the book! Thanks for the chance to win.
What a great recipe. We will have to try that soon. Chops is one of our favorites and we are always looking for new recipes for them. Loved this post. It’s always exciting to meet a new author.
when I dine out I usually order either a Cobb Salad or some sort of seafood. Something that I can rarely make at home. Thank you for a chance to read Dying for a Taste sooner rather than later.
This recipe looks delish!
I am blessed, my son is an extraordinarily talented chef (and that’s from other people) but he’s set the bar high – when I go out I want fresh ingredients cooked creatively.
When I dine out, I usually order something “special” that I would not consider comfort food. I love the recipe; I make a pork loin with a an apricot brandy glaze; the flavors really complement each other. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the book!
When I eat out I like to eat things that I don’t cook at home. I’m not a good cook of fish and shellfish so try to eat the when out.. I can cook pork so this recipe is a must try.
This recipe looks great. What I order when I eat out depends on where I am. Steak is high on the list.
Both actually. It depends on my mood. Our children are grown, so my husband and I compare what we’d like and go for it! We do live in a small town though, so our choices are fewer when we eat out compared to a city. However, if we drive an hour we have lots of choices!
When I order out it can depend on what I’m in the mood for and what the weather is like.
I order what I wouldn’t make at home
Thank you
It is definitely time to get something I wouldn’t normally have at home. Sometimes that is comfort food that hubby doesn’t prefer, or sometimes simply a favorite that is on that restaurant’s menu. Thank you for the chance to win! Sounds like a great book!
Pork chops look great! We always select something we don;t eat at home when dining out!
I like to order something that I usually don’t make at home.
This looks delicious! I usually choose something I can’t/don’t make at home when we go out to eat.
Marvelous flavors. I’m glad you used actual apricots and brandy, rather than apricot brandy.
There are many factors that determine what I order when I go out to eat. First is cost, second is what I am hungry for and third is whether I have eaten there before and the specialty offered by the restaurant. Of course I usually prefer something with meat as the main ingredient. Since I’ve had surgery for hip and 2 knee replacements, my body craves meat. I do enjoy lots of vegetables and pasta so those are my next items to choose. I try to go with a lower calorie dish since I have a sluggish metabolism and anything I tend to eat goes straight to my thighs and tummy. You could say I am a very complex person. robeader53@yahoo.com
since I don’t cook, every meal is a comfort food….
I usually order either a chicken or pasta dish (a dish with both is AWESOME!!) or lately, if salmon is offered….
thank you for the giveaway!!
I usually get something that I don’t make at home, although comfort food is always good!
Thank you for the chance!!! The recipe looks really GOOD!!!
I usually order food I can’t get at home, unless I specifically go out for comfort food. Usually, though, it is something like crablegs, lobster, Mexican food, or shrimp. Thank you very much for the chance!
I usually have comfort food when I eat out.