HALLIE EPHRON: Quick quiz: Which movie would you rather watch right now: Singin' in the Rain or Contagion? As for me, I'm on my fifth time reading the Harry Potter Books, so today's guest, Esme Addison's contention that many of us are looking for light reading, as we wait for the light at the end of the tunnel, rings true.
Esme is the author of A Spell of Trouble, an Enchanted Bay mystery with a protagonist who finds herself trying to help out estranged relatives who run an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies. These days we could all use a stash of those!
Welcome, Esme!
ESME ADDISON: The family featured in my story - the Sobieskis - are Polish-American, so there’s Polish food. If you’re Polish or have lived in an area with a large community of Poles, you’ve probably had some good authentic Polish food. It’s hearty, tasty and very satisfying. What’s more comforting than a big, hot bowl of zupa koperkowa (Polish Dill Soup) or a slice of slightly sweet, moist placek z jablka (apple cake)?
Esme is the author of A Spell of Trouble, an Enchanted Bay mystery with a protagonist who finds herself trying to help out estranged relatives who run an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies. These days we could all use a stash of those!
Welcome, Esme!
ESME ADDISON: The family featured in my story - the Sobieskis - are Polish-American, so there’s Polish food. If you’re Polish or have lived in an area with a large community of Poles, you’ve probably had some good authentic Polish food. It’s hearty, tasty and very satisfying. What’s more comforting than a big, hot bowl of zupa koperkowa (Polish Dill Soup) or a slice of slightly sweet, moist placek z jablka (apple cake)?
Comfort is on a lot of people’s mind right now. Whether it’s a comfort read or comfort food, we’re looking to be soothed, to feel good. And that’s why cozy mysteries are the perfect escape to a place of contentment and well-being. With the help of a few familiar elements, including lovingly prepared, satisfying foods cozies help us relive good memories and envision better times to comeCozy mysteries are known to feature small town feels, close-knit communities, supportive families, down-to-earth characters and good, comfort eating… Did I mention food? Someone is always fixin’ somebody something to eat in a cozy mystery. Whether it’s chicken soup for a cold, fresh bread for supper or an apple pie for dessert. And I knew when I wrote my debut cozy, A Spell For Trouble that comfort food would be integral to the story.
Comfort food is an important element in my story, same for most cozies. Surprisingly, A Spell For Trouble is not a culinary cozy, but it is about family. Lidia, the aunt of the main character in my story is always feeding her family. Don’t we all have a mother, grandmother or aunt like this? For them, it’s an act of love, an attempt to fix, and while it doesn’t always correct problems, it certainly helps.
So, you’ll find a lot of Polish desserts in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series, and that’s because my mother-in-law who is Polish made us a lot of scratch-made desserts. And coffee. And we’d sit and talk. If not cake and coffee, it was kielbasa, potato cakes, homemade pickles, fresh bread… shots of vodka. The food and drink never stopped flowing. And it felt good,
the hospitality amazing. A feeling of warmth, of comfort… of love.And that was my hope for A Spell For Trouble, that the inclusion of comfort foods would be a balm for the reader. And isn’t that what we need right now? To be comforted. To know that everything will be alright?
In this post, I’m sharing two photographs of meals my mother-in-law prepared for us when we visited them in Poland last year. Everything she made for us was made with love.
What is your go-to comfort food?
If we’re not talking Polish food, well… I’m from the south. And for me it’s macaroni and cheese, the butterier, the cheesier… the better.HALLIE: I confess, these days I am big into and comfort foods. Pecan sticky buns would be my #1. And not far down the list, mac and cheese.
Esme Addison has wanted to solve mysteries ever since she discovered Nancy Drew. As a mystery author, she's finally found a way to make that dream come true. When not writing, she can be found visiting breweries, wineries, and historical sites. A former military spouse, she currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina with her family.
A Spell for Trouble - Aleksandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina in over twenty years. Ever since her mother's tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.
Bellamy Bay doesn't look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.
Alex's investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex's own ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for.
Giveaway
Giving away one copy of A Spell For Trouble. Please subscribe to my newsletter at https://esmeaddison.com/newsletter/ and comment on your favorite comfort food below + let me know you subscribed.
Follow Esme on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @EsmeAddison
Find her on Goodreads
And learn more about her at esmeaddison.com
Hallie: Definitely choosing Singing In The Rain!
ReplyDeleteEsme, I love Polish goodies such as paczki and perogies. I was able to get authentic Polish food in Toronto but it is a bit harder to find them in Ottawa (ON). But I will say my overall fave comfort food is freshly baked bread. This is why I (and others) have been on a sourdough baking binge during the past 2 months.
Looking forward to reading A SPELL FOR TROUBLE.
My daughter once lived in a Polish neighborhood in Queens and we got hooked on the breads!
DeleteAll I can say is thank goodness paczki (jelly or custard-filled doughnuts) were only available for a short period each year, so it was a limited temptation that I indulged.
DeleteI love paczki too, Grace. I was fortunate enough to have the real deal on our visit to Warsaw and Krakow. They are SO GOOD. LOL. But I agree, it's hard to top freshly baked bread for comfort (though mac and cheese is awfully close).
DeleteHallie, I agree. The bread is addictive!
DeleteYour story sounds wonderful, Esme . . . being comforted sounds just about perfect.
ReplyDeleteMy go-to comfort food? Macaroni and Cheese is at the top of my list. And chocolate peanut butter brownies . . . .
Chocolate and PB is a perfect combo!
DeleteThose are both great choices. I love peanut butter in anything btw.
DeleteWelcome Esme! We are rewatching FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS these days for our comfort. It's not that the show is so light, but the characters are familiar and very appealing. And I think it helps to know what is going to happen--though we don't remember every twist! I will take some of that mac and cheese too:), and a sticky bun please...
ReplyDeleteAnd Lucy’s granola!
DeleteTelevision can be a great comfort. I'm guessing that's whats keeping Hallmark in business. :)
DeleteComfort food FTW: macaroni and cheese, bread, fried chicken and I made little cheesecake bites last night (that stuck to the mold so they didn't look pretty, but they tasted wonderful).
ReplyDeleteHallie, I'd always pick Singin' in the Rain over Contagion, even without a pandemic. And I'm also re-reading Harry Potter. Again.
Congratulations Esme!
Thanks, Liz! Cheesecake also tops the list of comfort foods in any country. I'm actually watching a lot of cooking shows right now: light, fun, fast paced + food! Hubs and I binged Guy Fieri's Grocery Games on the Food Network this past weekend. So comforting!
DeleteCongratulations for A Spell for Trouble, Esme. I like the cover , I like cozies and I'm looking forward to read this story.
ReplyDeleteAt this time of the year my comfort food is lobster's rolls but I like mac and cheese too.
Lobster rolls is a fresh choice! I've had that sandwich three times in my life, and I can see the appeal. The sandwich filling is very tasty and hearty and soothing - good choice!
DeleteI'm with you, Esme! As an author with two cozy foodie series, I'm all about comfort - and food and drink. And in my personal life these days, homemade sourdough bread, eaten warm with butter, and potatoes in any form have been making way too many appearances.
ReplyDeleteHi Edith! And potatoes makes their first appearance! Oh yes, potatoes prepared any way will do the trick. My favorite is fried in a cast iron pot along with some onions and then seasoned with salt, pepper, curry and smoked paprika! Yum!
DeleteMy favorite comfort food is scalloped potatoes and ham. Thought I had pulled a serving out of the freezer last night but it turned out to be chicken and gravy. That's good too, even if it doesn't quite hit the spot when your mouth was expecting something different!
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh - because I keep thawing out surprises - leftover chili turns out to be eggplant parm
DeleteJudi, OMG, too funny.
DeleteMy favorite purchase of the past few years was dissolvable labels, for canning. I now use them to label every thing I put in the freezer. It makes telling the difference in chili and spaghetti sauce so much more reliable.
DeleteI bet a lot of people are cooking extra and freezing and canning, etc. right now. It's an unprecedented time but also oddly enough, a time for people to slow down and have time for things they can't normally do - like baking fresh bread! lol I mean, who has the time normally and I'm seeing so many people slow cooking and baking and just having enjoyable time in the kitchen. :)
DeleteEsme, welcome to JRW and congratulations on your new book. The cover is wonderful,(how did you get Kenai to pose for it, wagging his tail?) My comfort food is soup. There are many soups that satisfy and I have at least 30 recipes that will make me happy at all times of the year.
ReplyDeleteThe story sounds very interesting and I have been reading cozies like crazy during the pandemic, so this book is going right onto my TBR list. I've signed up for your newsletter.
Hallie, Singing in the Rain would make me happy, but right now, Thor (with his rippling muscles) would also make me smile!
I can support you on Thor, but only Ragnarok for me, I think.
DeleteHi Judy, Thank for signing up for my newsletter! I love soup too, my favorite is this dill potato soup my mother-in-law makes. I agree, now is the perfect time to read. Like I was saying in my previous comment many people have time for hobbies now, like reading for example. That's one thing I'm happy about, more time to read!
DeleteCongratulations on your new release!
ReplyDeleteComfort food: chocolate ganache cake garnished with fresh strawberries
Thank you! It's always time for chocolate cake. :)
DeleteEsme, A Spell for Trouble sounds wonderful! I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and sometimes I get frustrated with marketing departments of the publishers because I think they tend to make all cozies sound alike. It can be very difficult to tell, based on the cover and blurbs, which is going to become the first in a beloved series and which will feel like a bunch of cozy tropes thrown together. Nice to get a good, in-depth description like this!
ReplyDeleteSoup is at the top of my comfort food list, too. Though last week I did find myself making an old version of chicken and noodles just for the sheer comfort of it.
Chicken and noodle soup is a good choice too. Do you add anything special to your recipe? I find people either like traditional or try to jazz it up. I'm a pescaterian now but before when I made chicken and noodle, I began adding lemongrass and basil (in the Thai tradition) to it because the aromas help with respiratory issues (and my children had colds). It's also really delicious.
DeleteI'm all in on the comfort cues these days. I think we're all on high alert between plague and politics and all the sudden changes, so something soothing and familiar is the spoonful of sugar we need to make it all go down.
ReplyDeleteMany of my old go-to comfort foods, like mac and cheese, and tuna casserole, became less than comforting when I became lactose intolerant. But this isolation is the first time I've had extended time at home for nearly 10 years, and I've been using it to cook simple, balanced meals, add more veggies back into my diet, and cut back on the caffeine that kept me propped up at my high stress job. Tea has returned to my life, at least once a day--so soothing, but it took too much time to prepare on my old schedule.
My reading list has included a bit of Harry Potter, a few of my old favorite romance and SF novels, some new stuff from favorite authors I know I can rely on, and nothing grisly, gross, or nerve-wrackingly suspenseful. I've also gone back to old hobbies, like knitting and crocheting, and I try to get in walks and gardening as much as I can.
A Spell for Trouble sounds delightful, Esme. Just my cup of tea!
Thank you, Gigi.
DeleteI feel the exact same, and I think many people have done the same - slowed down, are cooking healthier, enjoying life, doing hobbies - it's an unexpected perk of a strange time.
I've tried to read other genres, but I'm actually reading cozy mysteries for comfort. All the cozy feels, the comfort food and you know justice will prevail at the end. It's a bit formulaic but there's comfort in the routine and that's definitely what I need right now. lol No thrills, no suspense, no angsty love, just a enough to keep me interested and engaged.
A Spell for Trouble sounds captivating. My comfort foods are blintzes, challah, rroast chicken and babka.
ReplyDeleteThank you! All sounds delightful. My local bakery makes the most amazing French toast with challah... it is the epitome of comfort.
DeleteEsme, love the idea of an herbal apothecary as the central venue for a cozy series!
ReplyDeleteIn the 1970s I dated a guy whose Polish mother and grandmother had taught his to make pieorgi. They were so delicious, with probably a pound of butter per recipe. I had some in the freezer and decided to make them last week, not knowing what to expect. The same luscious taste! Hope I can find these to make again sometime.
My husband has a Polish name, and a many times removed cousin found him a few years ago. Isa has sent us Polish candy, which I shared with my girls-night-out group. Two of our members grew up in Poland, and they were both so excited to see their childhood favorites. Their comfort food!
I'm comforted by simple dishes, like soup, grilled cheese, mashed potatoes. My family's Hungarian potato salad.
Oooh, Hungarian potato salad sounds interestingly delish, Karen. Does the recipe use sour cream instead of mayonnaise?
DeleteNo, it has mayonnaise. But it also had cider vinegar.
DeleteHi Karen,
DeleteI've never had Hungarian potato salad. An an aside, there are so many different ways to make potato salad. German. Southern. Jamaican. lol.(All of which I've had.) Btw you should read Julia Buckley's Hungarian Tea House Mysteries for more Hungarian food!)
When you move to another country, the food you grew up with becomes such a nostalgic trigger. I'm a former military spouse, and when we lived in Japan for three years, I craved southern food SO bad. lol It absolutely evoked all the memories of home and my family and life in North Carolina. So I get it with the Polish candy. :)
Esme, I lived in Japan for two years with an American boyfriend in the Navy. When we (rarey) shopped at the commissary, I wanted peanut butter and taco shells!
DeleteOh, good to know we have that experience in common! Foods from home definitely makes you feel just a little bit closer. We were in Okinawa.
DeleteWe were between Tokyo and Kawasaki (on the Odakyu Line, if that makes sense to you).
DeleteWelcome, Esme, and congratulations on the new book.
ReplyDeleteMy comfort foods these days are mango anything: Ciobani yogurt, mango sortbet, mango Italian ices.
all in 100 calories servings. How much more guilt free can I get? Doe it count if I have 5 portion controlled servings in a day? ROFL
I'm a big mango fan. Also passion fruit. Chocolate, not so much.
DeleteI have trouble selecting and then peeling fresh mangoes. Any tips?
DeleteI like mango too. It's such a bright, fun and uplifting flavor. It doesn't neccessarily comfort me, but it makes me happy and think about sunshine and beaches and summer, which I guess is also a comfort. :)
DeleteI find the smaller all yellow mangoes are the most predictable (ataulfo or champagne mangos) just a bit soft to the touch.
DeleteThanks Hallie
DeleteI enjoyed this lovely post about foods and A Spell For Trouble would be greatly enjoyed. I love comfort foods since they bring back my childhood when life was simpler and a time I miss and pine for. Ultimate comfort foods which I miss are chicken soup, latkes, strudel, and apple cake.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Foods that remind us our childhood are the best.
DeleteJust saw the devastating news about Jenn's brother's death. May he rest in peace, and may Jenn and her family find peace, as well. I am so heartily sorry, Jenn, for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI meant to mention that, too. Thank you, Karen. All our love and hugs going out to you, Jenn.
DeleteA Spell for Trouble sounds very mysterious Esme! Imagine being told to stay away from an entire branch of your family.
ReplyDeleteTwo things I enjoy very much (but never make myself) are kolaches and cheese enchiladas. Yum.
Thanks, Pat. Yes, the backstory of the Sobieski family is very mysterious indeed!
DeleteHeartfelt wishes for peace and comfort, Jenn, to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, now I really need a good cozy mystery and this one sounds like a must-read, Esme. I'm with Susan, above, when she says that publishers make all cozies sound alike, so it's hard to find ones that are fresh and fun as opposed to formulaic. Polish apothecaries in North Carolina?? I'm in!
Comfort foods? I haven't had my yearly banana split yet and now is looking like the time to do it.
Thanks, Flora. Cozy mysteries make for great escape reading!
DeleteYes to Singing in the Rain and I wouldn't mind seeing the original Mary Poppins either. Comfort food has always been seasonal, pot roast in the winter along with macaroni and cheese. Summer comfort food would be potato salad, strawberries and Angel food cake with whipped cream which has been my choice for my birthday cake while growing up.
ReplyDeleteYour book looks delightful, Esme. I've not had a great deal of exposure to Polish anything so your book will be a nice introduction. I hope it does well.
Thank you, Deana. That's so funny, we grew up with angel cake, whipped cream and strawberries (in syrup) as our go-to birthday cake. I haven't had angel cake in years, sometimes I see it in the store and think about how the knife would have difficulty cutting the spongy cake. lol It was so good in its simplicity.... I shoud introduce my children to it, they've never had it.
DeleteGood luck with your book, Esme. It sounds like fun and just what we need these days. I find myself baking regularly - both the process and results are comforting. In addition to baked goods,both sweet and savory, my comfort foods revolve around carbs + cheese, it seems. Homemade mac and cheese? Pasta with ricotta and seasoning? Cheese blintzes? Potatoes au gratin? Why, yes, please.
ReplyDeleteBaking can be meditative, and I think that's why so many people are returning to the simple pleasure of baking and sharing with family and friends. I'm glad of that and hope it continues when things finally get back (if?) to normal.
DeleteFor me it's all about the classics. Homemade pizza, casseroles, mac & cheese, even something as simple as a tuna sandwich. Right now we're planting cabbage and hoping to be able to keep the deer out of it so this summer/fall we can make holubchi, a Ukrainian recipe from my grandpa's side of the family. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteI've been subscribed to your newsletter for a bit and always look forward to hearing what's next from you. Congrats on the new book!
kozo8989@hotmail.com
Thank you for subscribing, Alicia! Classics are just that for a reason. We make pizza from scratch at home, and the kiddos love it. It's also a wonderful comfort food (and kind of healthy if you add a bunch of veggiess!). Tell me about holubchi, I love cabbage.
DeleteIt's kind of a cabbage roll. Cook rice, brown hamburger and onions, mix and wrap in softened cabbage leaves. Bake the rolls then fry in butter. Fry up more onions in butter to add over top. My dad liked lots of butter, mom not too much, so experiment to find your preference. I've heard of recipes that call for tomatoes instead of onions, we think it might be because there were a lot of onions grown around where my grandpa lived so they adapted it.
DeleteEsme, your book sounds like great fun! I'm all for reading comforting things these days. Interesting that quite a few of us are revisiting Harry Potter. I'm listening to them on Audible every night before bed.
ReplyDeleteHi Deborah, I must be the only person on the planet who has not read the Harry Potter series (or seen the movies). Would you share with me why the series is so comforting? I'd love to know! (Or any other Harry-fans on the blog today.)
DeleteCozies are indeed comforting. But I think ice cream might be my favorite comfort food.
ReplyDeleteIce cream for sure. I love all of the boozy-infused ice cream flavors out now. Double your pleasure by reading a cozy about ice cream! My pal Abby Collette has a cozy about ice cream that is so comforting, but you have to eat ice cream while reading the mystery. :)
DeleteWelcome, Esme, and congratulations on A SPELL FOR COMFORT, which honestly is what we're all looking for these days. I've been reading more cozy mysteries than usual, as well as rereading old favorites (comfort in knowing how things will turn out?) and rewatching old movies (comfort in knowing I'm going to love them!) And yes, I've made mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes in cheese, and pasta with cheese a whole lot of times over the past three months!
ReplyDeleteAnything with cheese is comforting. lol
DeleteGood grief, I was thinking about comfort so much I mistitled the book! A SPELL FOR TROUBLE, please. Esme, if you want to use mine for the next in the series, go right ahead!
ReplyDeletelol I saw that and completely understood. No worries! It is a good title by the way... maybe women's fiction with elements of magical realism?
DeleteI am so excited for this world!
ReplyDeleteHallie: would definitely go with “Singing in the Rain”
Esme: I’ve subscribed to your newsletter! I’m so exited for your books! Everything is drawing me in! Comfort food for me would be nice spicy soup of green chilies and chicken ��
Hi Bre, thanks so much for subscribing! I love spicy soups in the winter for comfort filled with good warming spices!
Delete(Signed up for the newsletter)
ReplyDeleteSoups, fresh bread, and all things dark chocolate!
Hi Libby! Yes to all three!
DeleteWelcome, Esme! I'm of Polish descent and agree that there is a lot of Polish comfort foods. Some of my favorites are the dumplings and perogies and potato pancakes. Luckily we have a Polish store nearby and can find everything Polish there. Really looking forward to reading "A Spell For Trouble". Following on social media and subscribed to newsletter.
ReplyDeleteWonderful. Did you know about the Mermaid of Warsaw growing up? That mytholgy forms the basis of this story... Find me on online and let me know what you think! Of the three foods you mentioned, I probably love potato pancakes the best. My hubs is pretty talented with making those. It's hard to find good Polish stores in some area. I'm in the Raleigh-are of NC and have lucked out with a strore/deli about 40 miles away and a fine dining restaurant that serves Eastern European food called J. Betski's that's really good.
DeleteCongratulations for A Spell for Trouble. My comfort food is pizza and brownies.
ReplyDeleteI’m subscribed to your newsletter.
Kitten143 (at) Verizon (dot) net
Thanks, Christine. Pizza and brownies is a pretty popular combo on this blog. lol.
DeleteI subscribed to your newsletetr Esme! My favorite comfort food would be anything chocolate. Pizza's good too, Poptarts, you get the idea lol.
ReplyDeleteYes to everything you said. And Pop Tarts.... so nostalgic. So good. Definitely reminds me of being a kid.
DeleteEsme, welcome to Jungle Reds! Cozy mysteries are my comfort reads! I look forward to reading your novel! And Congratulations on your book.
ReplyDeleteMac and cheese, cherry tomatoes, dry farm tomatoes, deep dish pizza, tacos/nachos/burritos/ and many kinds of food are my comfort foods. I love cheese, though dairy does not like me. I managed to find Vegan cheese! Another comfort food are salads!
And I subscribed to your newsletter!
Diana
Thanks, Diana. I'd love to get a good recommendation for vegan cheese. I'm pescatarian but trying to reduce my dairy. Any suggestions?
DeleteEsme,
DeleteI use Violife cheese, which is 100 percent Vegan. You could probably find it at your local upscale grocery market. I got them at my local grocery shop, which is a LOCAL small business (only two branches). There are many excellent Vegan cheese. I happen to love this. There are others that others love that I am not fond of.
Please let us know when you find Vegan cheese that you like! Wheat also does not like me either! I either buy Gluten free (called wheat free in England) bread or I bake my own gluten free bread.
Pamela's gluten free bread mix is excellent! I got it at the same grocery shop where I found Violife vegan cheese.
Diana
Another mac-and-cheese lover. Or other creamy/cheesy/carby things. Last year, when my granddaughter was in 4th grade, we listened to the whole Harry Potter series while doing the 15 mile daily run from school to home. And the pandemic definitely calls for at least half of my reading being light and comforting too. I've signed up for the newsletter.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Mac and cheese is clearly a favorite here - plus pizza and brownies. I'm getting so hungry responding to these comments....
DeleteLove Polish food,having lived in NYC for 25 yrs. there was always an array of foods to be had.Now living in WNC near Asheville I try to get out (not now):) and see what new food places are downtown. Can't wait for this mess to be all over with. I've signed up for your newsletter too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kerry. Asheville is one of my favorite cities to visit. When we travel we always try to find a good Polish restaturant. We didn't find one there, but did discover a European bakery, Old Europe Pastries. So good! Have you been?
DeleteHallie, I so love that you're reading the Harry Potter books for the fifth time. That's all you ever need to tell anybody about yourself to show how amazing a person you are. Well, that and your harboring of a naked Ursula Andress puzzle.
ReplyDeleteEsme, your entire post is full of comfort, so I know that your writing in your A Spell for Trouble will have that element. The cover is fantastic, and I'm betting that Debs here likes the dog featured. I haven't been around much Polish food, but I'm certainly on board with the cheese and butter you like. My mantra is "buttah makes everything bettah." And, your understanding of the love and care that goes into the fixing of food, whether it be Polish or Southern or whatever, is spot on. With a mother-in-law who is elderly and not doing well, my role has been fixing food that brings her pleasure. Yesterday, I took her some chocolate cherry cake I fixed, and it brought me as much pleasure to see her enjoy it as she had eating it. And, so many memories of growing up and family revolve around food, the meals and celebrations where we gathered and enjoyed our favorite dishes. My mother's cooking will always be my favorite, but alas, I haven't tasted it for 25 years. I do carry on some of the food traditions though. Food is a legacy of love for so many of us.
Now, off to find your book on Amazon.
Thank you, Kathy! Yes, I hope all of that comfort spills over into my books. It's such a key element to telling stories that revolve around family. I have three boys and I love cooking for them and watching them gobble it. lol And I wholeheartedly agree, buttah does make everything bettah. :)
DeleteButter, margarine, or vegetable oil spread - it all tastes good to me! I like the softer ones that are easier to spread on things.
DeleteHallie, sorry to say Neither movie. I would rather Not see Singing in the Rain (too sad for me because it represented the shift from silent films to the talkies) not Contagion (too sad).
ReplyDeleteWould rather see the Princess Bride or the Holiday (both are light hearted movies and favorites of mine).
Diana
p.s. love the Harry Potter books and movies!
DeleteI love The Princess Bride too! Also Shrek!!
Deletethank you for reminding me of Shrek, Hallie! Love love Shrek and another movie, the Incredibles!
DeleteMy favorite comfort foods are breads like biscuits and cornbread, and with the bisuits, white gravy. True southerner here.
ReplyDeletebrowninggloria(at)hotmail(dot)com
I can't say no to biscuits, so I totally get it.
DeleteI'll start off, Esme, on the HP books. The books are well-written, the characters engaging, and the world richly imagined. They build so well from the first one to the last. The movies--these recreated the world JK Rowling wrote and made it seem real--and took the basic structure of the story arc through all 7 books and kept it cohesive. There's humor too throughout both books and movies--and great, great actors in the movies. I can't comment so much on the Newt movies--having seen only the first. As a reader and movie enthusiast, loved them enough to own and reread all the books and watch the movies many times.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Flora.
DeleteSO late and SO behind! Hallie, first, I adore Singing in the rain, an actually tried to get Jonathan to watch it the other evening and he--just shook his head. I kept saying GENE KELLY! See how he makes it look so easy? But..no.
ReplyDeleteEsme, this book sounds so perfectly deliciously lovely! Congratulations. And perfect for now especially. My comfort foods? Ah..well, I don't think of it like that, but last night we had a HUGE treat of baked potatoes with butter and sour cream and chives. I was SWOONING. I also love french bread with sweet butter. Caviar on blini with sour cream. Hmm. I am seeing a theme. Thank you for letting me think about this!
Hank, I Loved Gene Kelly in Brigadoon!
DeleteHi Hank! Yum... all sounds decadently comforting.
DeleteI was going to say that I haven't eaten Polish food, but I have had kielbasa and packzis. I haven't gone to the Polish festival. I live in what used to be a Hungarian neighborhood so I'm used to eating chicken paprikas. I liked Contagion. I watched that and Outbreak maybe a month ago. I love Harry Potter too. I have all the books and I also have the first three in illustrated editions. I love Stouffer's macaroni and cheese. Those baked potatoes sound good. I'd better eat mine before they go bad.
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, Before I went pescatarian, I loved Chicken Paprika. I still love smoked paprika and add tons of it to my fried potatoes - another great comfort food!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy most type of food especially Italian food. Lasagna is a definite winner as well as simple spaghetti and meatballs. I'm very fortunate my family enjoys most food especially those with vegetables.
ReplyDeleteI think Italian food as a category is comfort food. This brings to mind Catherine Brun's Italian Chef Mystery series, so cozy and full of good Italian food!
DeleteCongrats on your debut, Esme! (I love those Polish food pics!)
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer! Thanks so much. Same to you! I have the audiobook for MIMI LEE GETS A CLUE in queue and will listen to it soon. :)
DeleteEsme- Since you live in Raleigh- please join Triangle Sisters in Crime. www.trianglesinc.com I'm the president- and we'd love to have you. You could even do a program on writing the cozy mystery and promote your book! Zoom, of course.
ReplyDelete