Death on the Wind

by Mary Jane Hathaway

  Recipes

  Chica’s Very Favorite Virgin Strawberry Margarita

  Kitty might think she’s the only one with an addiction, but she’d be wrong. Chica is on the slippery slope of sneaking her favorite treat― a strawberry margarita― but only when Kitty’s back is turned.

  1 lb. fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered

  ¼ cup lime juice, plus 3 TBS lime juice for rim

  ½ cup orange juice

  3 TBS simple syrup

  12 ice cubes

  strawberry and lime for garnish

  2 TBS coarse salt for rim

  Blend all ingredients except garnishes and salt. Dip margarita glasses in lime juice and then coarse salt until nicely covered. Pour blended ingredients into glasses, garnish with strawberries and lime. Do NOT add sleeping pills. Enjoy!

  Leander’s Best Ever Hot Chocolate or Xocolata Calenta

  When it’s obvious someone is trying to kill you, the best thing you can do is self-medicate with some the very best hot chocolate you can find. Leander’s recipe is an old Catalan family secret (shhhhhhh) which is still popular in the Italian and French Alps.

  4 cups milk

  5Tbs good powdered chocolate

  5TBS condensed milk

  2TBS corn starch

  sugar to taste

  vanilla to taste

  Dissolve the corn starch a few TBS of hot milk. Heat the milk, condensed milk, chocolate and corn starch together until boiling. Stirring constantly, let it cook at a simmer or low boil for four minutes or so. If you'd like to add anything to it, add when removing from the heat. If you’ve got to stay awake all night watching for assassins, add a few crushed chocolate covered espresso beans.

  The more attempts there have been on your life that day, the more sugar you should add!

  Kitty’s Sleep-inducing Herbal Concoction

  After it’s all over and the killer has been caught, sometime you need a little something to help you sleep. Kitty’s favorite herbal tea has a unique mix of herbs that have a calming effect. Of course, if you drink the whole pot, you’ll have to get up too many times in the night to use the bathroom, so a cup or two should do the trick.

  Steep in hot water for 10 minutes, then strain. Add a dash of honey or lemon to taste. Sleep well!

  2TBS chamomile

  2 TBS lavender

  1 TBS valerian

  1 Tsp lemon balm