Spread the mixture over the crust (I use a slotted spoon so it’s not too liquidy) and finish baking until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley. Cool for 3 – 5 minutes and cut into appetizer-sized pieces. Enjoy!
ROASTED ASPARAGUS
Ingredients:
2 lbs. asparagus, medium sized, tough ends trimmed and removed. Peel. (Use a vegetable peeler. I usually only peel them about halfway up.)
¼ cup olive oil
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Aluminum foil
Shaved parmesan cheese for garnish
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the asparagus in a single layer on the sheet. Sprinkle with oil, then the salt and pepper. Roll the asparagus on all sides until coated. Bake about 5 minutes or until fork tender. Remove from oven, garnish with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
NOTE: You can prepare these prior to baking and keep them at room temperature for two hours or put in the refrigerator overnight. Return them to room temperature before baking.
CAVATELLI WITH SEAFOOD, PEAS, AND MASCARPONE
Ingredients:
1 lb. frozen cavatelli pasta
1 ½ -2 lbs. cooked lobster meat or crab meat
¼ cup olive oil
2 shallots, finely chopped (These are kind of miniature onions, and if your store doesn’t carry them, substitute ¼ cup of a brown or white onion.)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
½ cup chicken stock (You can use canned, homemade, or chicken broth made from a concentrate, which is what I usually do.)
8 oz. frozen peas
¼ cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
1 ½ tbsp. fresh chives, chopped
½ cup Mascarpone cheese
1 tbsp. kosher salt
Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cavatelli and boil until cavatelli float to the surface, about 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl, add 2 tbs. olive oil to coat. (If you like your pasta hot, like I do, cook the pasta while preparing the sauce.)
In a large sauté pan, over medium high heat, heat remaining 2 tbsp. olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add shallots and garlic. Sauté until translucent, about 1 minute. Add chicken stock, peas, parsley, thyme, Mascarpone and shellfish. Stir to combine, then simmer until shellfish is fully heated, about 1 ½ minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve over cavatelli. Enjoy!
*****
I'm giving away FREE paperbacks. Find out more at www.dianneharman.com/freepaperback.html
MURDER IN WHISTLER
PROLOGUE
Johnny Roberts stood on the balcony of his penthouse suite at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Hotel and stretched out his tanned arms. An attractive man in his early fifties, his shiny bald head was just as brown as his weather-beaten limbs. He filled his lungs with the cool, fresh, mountain air for which Whistler, British Columbia, is so well known, and exhaled. Even if you were fifty feet away, you always knew it was Johnny because of two things, his bushy white mustache and the large Rolex Submariner blue dial watch that he wore on his wrist.
The majestic ski slopes of Blackcomb mountain lay before him, the dark rock face and acres of deep green pines still untouched by snow. The September morning was cool, and the sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. Johnny was an early riser, even when he was on vacation. He’d already completed his workout in the hotel’s fitness center and was showered and dressed, ready for his daily 7:00 a.m. telephone conference with his assistant, Dorothy. She ran his life like clockwork, and he didn’t see any reason to change the routine just because he was in British Columbia on a three-day golf trip.
“Gotta be Dorothy, right on time,” Johnny said to himself with a smile as the expected call came through on his cell phone. He moved inside to the suite and sat down at the large hand-crafted wooden executive desk. His laptop was open, and he saw that Dorothy had already synched his calendar.
“Good morning Mr. Roberts.”
Johnny liked how Dorothy Stettner still called him Mr. Roberts even though she’d been working for him at his Mercedes dealership in Seattle, J.R. Mercedes, for twenty-five years. Theirs was a working relationship built on mutual respect. Johnny often thought the young people who applied for a job at his dealership these days not only lacked manners, but had an attitude of entitlement. They didn’t seem to have any respect for the older generation, which didn’t sit well with him. He’d debated the issue with his wife, Cassie, who’d laughed and told him he was just out of touch with today’s younger generation.
“Hi, Dorothy,” Johnny said, checking his calendar as he looked at his computer. He paused. “Dorothy, I know I have a breakfast meeting at 7:30. this morning, but I sure wish I could go directly to the golf course.”
“I understand. Would you like me to reschedule it?”
Johnny thought about it for a few seconds. He leaned back in the chair and stared at the wall. “No, never mind. I better take the meeting, but hopefully it will be quick.” He relaxed and looked back at the computer screen. “Would you run the golf arrangements by me again? Actually, that’s what’s the most important to me.”
Johnny listened as Dorothy rattled off the golfing agenda for the next three days. As president of the Men’s Golf Excursions group for the Island View Golf Club, it was important to Johnny that everything connected with the group’s golf outing to Whistler went without a hitch. With Dorothy’s help, he’d been planning this trip for months. His meticulous attention to detail in every area, right down to the golf balls to be laid on the guests’ pillows at night, was evidence that he wanted this weekend to be special.
“Of course, Mr. Roberts,” Dorothy said. “Everything has been triple-checked and confirmed. Today, Saturday, you’re playing at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Course adjacent to your hotel. The first tee time is booked for 9:00 a.m. and the golf pro for the course will be expecting you any time after 8:00.”
Johnny nodded with approval. No matter how much he trusted Dorothy, she knew he’d want to get there early to check on everything for himself.
“Sunday’s round is at Whistler Golf Club,” Dorothy continued, “and on Monday you’ll be playing at the Nicklaus North Golf Course. Then it’s back to the Fairmont on Monday night for the awards dinner. I’ve booked a private dining room and a sommelier for your group, the full works. The concierge has all the details of the menu I’ve selected.”
“Excellent, Dorothy.” Johnny glanced at his Rolex. “As always, thanks. I was going to call Cassie, but it looks like I don’t have time before breakfast. I’ll call you from the golf course in an hour or so. Did the golf club wedges arrive safely?” The Ping Glide chipping wedges had been specially ordered as gifts for the twenty members of the golf club on the golf excursion, and Johnny had confirmed the day before that they had been sent by FedEx directly to the Fairmont.
“Yes, I called the concierge, and they’ve arrived. You’ll need to check the engravings though.”
Each person’s wedge had been individually engraved with his name. A misspelling was just the sort of thing that could go wrong, and Dorothy knew that Johnny would want to go over each one personally.
“Got it. Thanks Dorothy, I’ll talk to you later.” Johnny ended the call and stood up. He checked his reflection in the full-length mirror. Dressed in beige golf slacks and a pink short-sleeve polo shirt with a navy sleeveless sweater embroidered with the Island View Golf Club logo, he looked younger than his years. Hard work and a healthy lifestyle were Johnny’s secrets to success. He knew he’d been guilty of too much work and not enough play in the past, but he was making an effort to change that. Life was good.
As he was getting ready to leave, there was a knock on the door and a voice said, “It’s Josh with room service.”
Johnny opened the door and said to the young man who stood in front of the door in the hallway, “I’m sorry, but there must be a mis
take. I didn’t order anything from room service.”
Josh responded, “Every morning the Fairmont provides a complementary pot of coffee to the guests who stay in the penthouse suite. It’s just part of our service.” He walked into the room and set the tray holding a pot of coffee, a cup, and a white linen napkin on the desk. He turned around and faced Johnny, “Have a good day, sir.”
Johnny reached for his wallet and gave the young man a tip as he left the suite. When he closed the door, the thought went through Johnny’s mind that Josh certainly didn’t seem to be as high caliber as the rest of the Whistler staff he’d encountered. Having hired hundreds of employees over the years, he was a stickler for appropriate appearances. Josh’s jacket didn’t fit properly, his hair didn’t look like it had been washed for several days, and he had a scar running from the corner of his eye to his mouth. Johnny thought he wouldn’t want his wife or his daughter opening their hotel door to a man who looked like that.
He took several swallows of the coffee as he grabbed his wallet and phone before bounding downstairs for breakfast. He never rode the elevator, and always took the stairs, two at a time. It was a habit that had delighted both of his children when they were younger, and embarrassed them now that they were adults. However, Johnny was his own man and what they thought didn’t concern him in the slightest.
*****
As arranged by Dorothy, the hotel valet service was waiting for Johnny after he finished his breakfast meeting to take him the short distance to the Fairmont Golf Course. Some of the men from the Island View Golf Club were already there, and Johnny greeted them with his usual friendly exuberance and a handshake. “Great morning guys, it’s going to be a super day to hit them long and straight.”
The men nodded and smiled. In general, the camaraderie among the group was good, and Johnny got along well with them, having been a member of the Island View Golf Club for many years.
After exchanging pleasantries, Johnny nodded toward the line of waiting golf carts. “I’ve got a few things I need to check out at the first tee box. There might be a little surprise for all of you when you get there, so don’t be late.” He winked and jumped in a golf cart.
The cart shook as Johnny put his foot to the floor and raced the small vehicle along the cart path leading to the first tee. He knew he was driving the golf cart too fast, but Johnny Roberts never shied away from controversy, and he hadn’t gotten to where he was without ruffling a few feathers. Being the owner of a prestigious car dealership, Johnny didn’t drive anywhere slowly. He had far too much to do and too little time to do it. He liked to feel the wind in his face and adrenalin pumping through his veins as he raced his Mercedes 300C convertible around town. If that meant a speeding ticket now and then, it came with the territory.
All twenty of the shiny wedges he had special ordered were lined up in a rack on the edge of the first tee box. The sun, rising against the shadow of the mountain, glinted against the shining metal club heads. Johnny parked his golf cart and strode across the grass to inspect the clubs. He lifted one from the rack, grasping it by the pristine leather grip and turned it around to inspect the engraving. A broad grin crossed his face as he reached into his pocket for his cell phone.
“Dorothy, you’ve done it again. The clubs are superb,” Johnny said, picking up another wedge which was just as perfect as the first. “Great start to the tournament, thank you. I can tell it’s going to be a good one.” A sudden pain in his stomach caused him to bend over and support himself by leaning his arm on his knee.
“No problem, Mr. Roberts. I hope you play to your handicap or better. Have a fantastic day.”
“I sure will. I’m just getting ready to call Cassie. Bye, Dorothy.” Johnny ended the call and grimaced as another wave of stomach pain overtook him, even more severe than the first. This time he doubled completely over. He waited for it to pass, and when he straightened up he had to wipe away the clammy sweat that had broken out on his forehead. He started to walk back to his golf cart, but his legs were weak and shaky. He knew he had to get to medical help as fast as possible. He managed to take just two steps before he was stopped again by another wave of nausea. With a mounting sense of fear, he realized he wasn’t going to be able to get to his cart.
He keeled over and fell to the ground with a thump that no one was around to hear. The Ping Glide wedge and the cell phone he’d been holding in his hand lay on the grass beside him, and the metal of Johnny’s Rolex Submariner watch glimmered brightly in the morning sunlight.
CHAPTER 1
“That was delicious, but I can’t eat another bite,” DeeDee Wilson said as she pushed the crumb-covered plate across the coffee shop table, out of arm’s reach. A small piece of chocolate cake remained on the plate. “Tammy, you know my weakness is chocolate cake. I suppose I should just walk around town with a sign pinned on my back that says, ‘My name’s DeeDee Wilson. Will talk for chocolate cake.’”
Tammy Lynn smiled from across the table. “Indeed, I do know about your weakness, but tell me, is a piece of chocolate cake what it takes to catch up with you these days? You’re so busy I never see you.”
The two women were sitting in Buddy’s Dog Friendly Cafe, the restaurant owned by Tammy and located on Bainbridge Island in Washington. Even though Buddy’s welcomed dogs, DeeDee had left her dog, Balto, at her nearby home.
“I’m so sorry,” DeeDee said, before taking a sip of her cappuccino. “Things have been so crazy with work. I didn’t want to turn down any clients, so I’ve been taking every booking that comes my way.”
Tammy nodded. “That’s understandable, and I’ve been hearing great reports about Deelish, your new catering business. I’m so happy it’s going well for you, but you need some time to yourself as well, you know?”
“You’re right,” DeeDee said. She’d started her catering business, just a few months earlier in May, after moving to Bainbridge Island following her divorce. Tammy had encouraged DeeDee to start the business when she’d been unsure whether or not she could do it. Tammy also had helped her out by sending some catering bookings her way. Things had gotten off to a shaky start, due to a murder that occurred at the first Deelish dinner party event she catered, but the business had found its feet and was growing steadily by word of mouth.
“I’m going to have to think about taking on a part-time assistant to take over the paperwork and bookings, and an assistant could also manage the social media accounts and marketing.” DeeDee giggled, “As hard as I try, I’ve never really gotten the hang of that Pinterest thing.”
A waitress stopped by the table. “You didn’t finish your cake, DeeDee,” said the young woman, pointing down at the plate. She looked sternly at DeeDee and then grinned. Susie, who worked part-time at Tammy’s cafe, was also on DeeDee’s payroll, helping her as a server at Deelish catering events.
DeeDee looked up at the young woman. “Hi, Susie. I’m trying to be good, and that really was a giant slice of Chocolate Tiramisu Cake. We’re off to Whistler in British Columbia tomorrow morning, to see my sister Roz, so I think it may be a long indulgence-filled three days. Or at least, I hope so.”
Tammy and Susie were both staring at DeeDee, waiting for more information. DeeDee’s face flushed. “Um, I think we need more details,” Tammy said, leaning in with a conspiratorial look on her face. “So just exactly who are you going to Whistler with? Anyone we know?”
DeeDee shrugged. She knew where this conversation was going, so she decided to play along. “Well, if you’re talking about the number one guy in my life, who has beautiful thick hair, has one brown eye and one blue, constantly seeks food, leaps around on all fours, likes to chew on a squeaking rabbit toy, and loves me unconditionally, then I guess Balto is definitely someone you know, don’t you?”
Tammy’s eyes widened. She winked up at Susie. “I knew it. So, Jake’s going too? I remember you guys talked about taking a trip together a while ago, but I never heard anything more about it. Seems like you two are getting along well.
”
Some customers sat down at a nearby table, and Susie reached for an order book and pen from her apron pocket. “I want to hear all about this later,” Susie said smiling as she walked off to greet the arriving customers.
“And I want to hear all about it now,” Tammy said.
DeeDee had been dating Jake Rodgers since she’d bought Balto from him when she moved to Bainbridge Island. The fact that he’d saved her life not long after that was something that had brought them closer together. Knowing that Jake was watching out for her meant a lot to DeeDee, especially after having just come out of a long marriage and a messy divorce. When her ex-husband had left her for a younger woman, DeeDee’s confidence had been badly shaken. She hadn’t been looking for another relationship, but when she met Jake, things just seemed to fall naturally into place. Those big blue eyes of his had started it, and his calm, quiet strength certainly had helped things along.
DeeDee shrugged. “There’s not much to tell. It’s all good, I guess, but we don’t have much time to see each other. Jake’s busy with his private investigator cases, so we try to get together when we can. I’m really looking forward to a few days away, and as much as I love Bainbridge Island, a change of scenery will be good for both of us. Not to mention no cooking for three days! Roz says she has everything covered, although I think Clark is the cook in that relationship.”
“Are you driving up in Jake’s motorhome?”
DeeDee shook her head. “No, that was the original plan, but Roz insisted we stay with Clark and her. She wants us to see the alpine lodge style home they’ve rented, which does sound amazing. They were in temporary accommodations when they first got there, and they just moved into this new place. We’re going to take my SUV, and Jake will drive. It only takes about three hours to drive up there, but we plan on taking our time and stopping off along the way.”
Northwest Cozy Mysteries #1 Page 14
