.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder (A Kebab Kitchen Mystery)
by Tina Kashian
About Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder (A Kebab Kitchen Mystery)
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder (A Kebab Kitchen Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1496726073
ISBN-13: 978-1496726070
Digital ASIN: B082WR6DMT
Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man’s float—for real . . .
Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose—and his price—at her wedding plans, she can’t help wondering who wouldn’t kill the pompous caterer . . .
Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy’s wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen’s mouthwatering Christmas celebration—and before her hometown’s holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .
Recipes included!
GUEST POST WITH RECIPE FOR THE AVID READER
Thank you for inviting me to chat with your readers about my new release, “Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder.” It’s the fifth book in my Kebab Kitchen mystery series.
Holiday time at the Jersey Shore is special. Snow on the beach is a sight to see!
In my series, Lucy Berberian manages her family’s Mediterranean restaurant, Kebab Kitchen. Working at a Mediterranean restaurant during the Christmas and holiday season means serving mouthwatering holiday dishes of shish kebab, hummus, and moussaka as well as delectable desserts like baklava.
When Lucy Berberian signs up for this year’s Polar Bear Plunge at her Jersey Shore town to fundraise for the local senior center, she realizes she may have been a bit too brave. Lucy runs into the freezing Atlantic Ocean, then hightails it back to the shore. Just when she thinks the worst is over, a chilly scream alerts everyone to a body lying at the surf. Can Lucy solve the case before Christmas in Ocean Crest is ruined?
As for the food in the series, my Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years, and I grew up in the business. So, what is moussaka? Moussaka to the Greeks is like lasagna to the Italians. I’m happy to share my own family’s recipe (the moussaka is featured in my new release as well!)
Have you ever tried moussaka? What’s your favorite Mediterranean dish?
Lucy’s Moussaka
This Mediterranean dish is a favorite and often served at holidays and family dinners.
Prep
Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large finely chopped onion
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup red wine
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 large eggplants
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ pound butter
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 1 quart full-fat milk
- 4 beaten eggs
- teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1½ cup fine breadcrumbs
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the ground beef:
Heat ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet and cook the onions until they turn transparent. Add the ground meat and cook until fully cooked. Transfer the meat to a large strainer set over a bowl and drain off any excess fat. Return meat to the pan and heat. Add the tomato paste, wine, parsley, and cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir and simmer over low heat until all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside.
For the eggplant:
Cut unpeeled eggplants into ½-inch-thick slices. Lightly salt the slices and let them sit for five minutes. Heat ¼ cup vegetable oil in a separate skillet. Working in batches, fry the eggplant slices until they are golden brown on both sides. Set eggplant slices aside on sheet pan lined with paper towels to absorb the oil. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
For the béchamel sauce:
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is smooth. In a separate saucepan, bring the milk to a boil and add it gradually to the butter-flour mixture. Whisk constantly. When the mixture is thickened and smooth, remove it from the heat. In a bowl, whisk together beaten eggs, nutmeg, and ricotta cheese. Add it to the béchamel sauce and whisk until smooth.
Putting it all together:
Spray an 11-x-16 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle lightly with breadcrumbs. Layer half the eggplant in pan, then add half of the meat sauce. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Add the rest of the eggplant and then the meat sauce. Pour the béchamel sauce on top. Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is browned and bubbly. Allow it to cool for twenty minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Here’s a dish from my favorite Mediterranean restaurant.
Tina Kashian is an attorney and mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. She is the author of the popular Kebab Kitchen Mediterranean cozy mystery series for Kensington Publishing. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two daughters. Please visit her website at www.tinakashian.com to join her newsletter, receive delicious recipes, enter contests, and more!
Author Links
- Website: www.tinakashian.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TinaKashianAuthor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TinaKashian1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinakashian/
- Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tina-kashian
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16902011.Tina_Kashian
Purchase Links:
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 1 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
October 1 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW
October 2 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, RECIPE
October 2 – Heart & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
October 2 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – fundinmental – RECIPE POST
October 3 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
October 4 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
October 4 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
October 4 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 5 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
October 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
October 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
October 6 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 7 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 7 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – RECIPE POST
October 7 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
October 8 – Brianne’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 8 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 8 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 9 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 9 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – SPOTLIGHT
October 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
October 10 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT
October 10 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!
- You can see my Giveaways HERE.
- You can see my Reviews HERE.
- If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
- Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
- Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
- I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
- Thanks for visiting fundinmental!
