Something Deadly on Desert Drive (The Accidental Detective) by Kris Bock
About Something Deadly on Desert Drive
Starting over at fifty might be hard, but it shouldn’t be deadly…
Still recovering from an injury that might have permanently derailed her career as an international war correspondent, Kate Tessler is living in her childhood bedroom and pondering her second act when another case lands in her lap. Kate’s father and his coffee group are worried. Their friend Larry married a younger woman who now insists he has dementia and won’t let any of his friends visit. They’re convinced that Larry’s wife and her two adult, dead-beat kids are out to steal his money. Can Kate help?
Soon Kate and her unusual gang of sidekicks are unofficially, officially investigating. But before they can dig out the truth, a murder raises the stakes. Now they need to prove Larry is both mentally competent and not a killer. They’ll have to find the real murderer—without risking their own lives in the process.
I’ve lived in New Mexico for over twenty years, with frequent trips to Arizona to visit my mother. The Southwest has inspired my writing and my cooking.
New Mexico is most famous, at least in culinary terms, for its green chile, which comes slathered over almost any dish. The official state question is “Red or Green?” – which version of the chile sauce do you want? This is notchili, which is a stew that may contain beans and/or meat. Rather, chile refers to chopped or puréed New Mexico chile peppers, possibly cooked in broth with some onion and garlic.
Red chile is simply green chile that has ripened. It is usually dried and powdered, whereas green chile is roasted over open flames, chopped, and frozen until use. The flavor of red chile is generally sweeter and mellower, though either color can have a variety of heat levels. “Red or green?” is partly a personal preference, though certain dishes tend to come with one or the other. You can also order something “Christmas” style, meaning with both red and green.
If you like a milder flavor, canned green chiles from the grocery store may work fine for you. You can also use your favorite powdered chile/chili spice.
Recipe
Quick Enchilada Casserole:
This recipe is not exactly traditional, but it’s my quicker and healthier version of an enchilada casserole. This is one of my standards, because it only takes about half an hour to put together, and it makes enough leftovers for lunches.
Several handfuls of tortilla chips (broken okay)
One large onion
1 Tbsp. oil for cooking
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 can (~10 oz) cream of chicken soup
1 can or jar (12-15 oz) of enchilada sauce
2 cans (15 oz) pinto beans or black beans, drained and rinsed
Red chile powder or green chile to taste
1 - 2 cups shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend cheese
1. Spray oil a 9 x 13 casserole dish or rub lightly with oil.
2. Scatter broken tortilla chips in the bottom of the dish. (This is a great way to use the broken chips at the bottom of the bag. It doesn’t really matter what size they are or if they’re stale.)
3. Chop a large onion and sauté in oil until golden.
4. Add about 3 cups of chopped cooked chicken (from a rotisserie chicken, leftover cooked chicken, or frozen chicken tenders that you cook in advance). You can also use raw chicken and cook it in the pan.
5. Add cream of chicken soup, enchilada sauce, beans, and red chile powder. Mix well.
6. Pour half the chicken and sauce mixture over the tortilla chips. Cover with another layer of broken tortilla chips and then the rest of the sauce mix.
7. Top with a layer of shredded cheddar, Jack, or Mexican cheese.
8. Bake at 350° for about 45 min.
Options:
- Try sautéed ground beef or turkey instead of chicken.
- Skip the meat and add extra vegetables – bell peppers, corn, zucchini, summer squash, mushrooms, or whatever you like.
- Use chopped green chile instead of the red chile powder.
About Kris Bock
Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance, many with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Get a free Accidental Detective short story and bonus material when you sign up for her newsletter. You’ll also get a free 30-page sweet romance set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café and a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat café novels
Kris is also writing a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Follow the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for our romantic comedy newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. Or find the books on Amazon US or All E-book retailers
Find Kris:
Website Blog GoodReads Author Page BookBub Amazon US Author page or Amazon UK page. Twitter Instagram TikTok Facebook Pinterest
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Thanks, June! For more SW recipes and sweet treats, please visit my blog: https://swarmchairtraveler.blogspot.com/search/label/recipe
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