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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

My Secret Identity: Mystery Solving Caterer

Can I just begin by telling you what a crazy few days I've just gone through? It all began with a wedding I was catering. The drunken, estranged father-of-the-bride decided to crash the wedding because he wanted to be in his daughter's life. After (unhappy) tears, yelling and a smashed wedding cake...all leading up to an ambulance ride, I might add...the wedding continued without any further interruptions. There was joy and laughter and dancing...oh, and EATING of course! Everybody raved over the food and we even hauled in a hefty tip! This may sound like a lot all packed into a few short hours, but this dear friends was only the start. Two days later I catered another wedding for an evil bridezilla (a job I knew I would regret taking). Can you say last minute changes and additional guests...lots of them! Keep in mind these said changes were communicated to me less than 48 hours before the wedding was to take place. We even had to change kitchens and work in the kitchen of a Spa retreat. Turns out somebody slipped something into the food at this spa (something not so legal)...simultaneously hooking the guests and breaking the law at the same time. My godfather (whom I adore) ended up being seriously injured at this reception. So seriously that it ended in his passing. But, ever the clever one, he left me a clue...a puzzle of sorts. So, I decided I was going to figure out what in the world was going on. I was going BACK undercover. But knowing my loving hubby, I decided to make up some food to put in the cooler first...surely he (oh great detective/cop/law-abiding-citizen that he is) would need a little buttering up when he realized what I was up to. I decided to make him some Chilled Curried Chicken Salad. That should give me a little leeway. Chilled Curried Chicken Salad serves 4-6 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts Himalayan Pink sea salt freshly ground black pepper 2 (11 oz) cans mandarin orange slices, drained 1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into tidbit-sized pieces 1/2 c. raisins 1/2 red onion, chopped fine Dressing: 1 1/2 c. light mayonnaise 1 Tbs. curry powder 2 Tbs. chutney 3/4 tsp. Himalayan Pink Sea Salt 2 Tbs. OIKOS Greek Yogurt, plain variety 2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lime juice Garnish: Spanish Peanuts Romaine Lettuce Cilantro, few leaves Red Onion, thinly sliced Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cook on a HOT grill pan until golden and cooked throughout. Set aside to cool. Place all of the dressing ingredients together in a bowl and whisk together until combined thoroughly. Put mandarin oranges, pineapple, raisins and red onion in a bowl. Chop the cooled chicken and add to bowl. Prepare to add dressing. Gently fold in about half of the dressing. Add more until it is coated to your liking. Cover and place in cooler to chill for ~24 hours. Arrange some Romaine lettuce, cilantro leaves and red onion slices on a serving plate. Scoop some of the chilled salad on top. Garnish with as many peanuts as you like. Serve chilled. After the Curried Chicken Salad was chilling, I set off to do some investigating. I finally figured out what my godfather was trying to tell me, but not after being slapped (hard!) across the face by bridezilla and getting a huge lump on the head...from being conked with a lamp. And...OH WAIT!!! THIS WASN'T ME!!! This was my favorite mystery-solving caterer, Ms. Goldy (Baer) Schulz. How silly of me...sometimes I get carried away. Diane Mott Davidson has done it again with her latest novel, Fatally Flaky. I've managed to get myself entwined in the middle of my cherished characters (they're like old friends, ya know?!)...this was actually a little sneak peek into Goldy's latest adventure. The Chilled Curried Chicken Salad is actually one of the recipes included in this book (I have adapted it, but the original is on p.315). Yup, mystery and food all rolled into one. What more could a girl ask for? And it never fails that I want a few cups of coffee while joining in the adventure (if only I had Goldy's Espresso machine). This is Diane Mott Davidson's 14th Goldy Schulz novel. I am totally addicted...I've read them all more times than I can remember. These are just pure fun. My first DMD novel was actually her 7th Goldy mystery (Grilling Season). It was a gift from my grandma one year for Christmas. I had never heard of her and I thought maybe Gram was just getting a little, um...how shall I say it...senile-ish in her old age. Surely she thought she was giving me a cookbook (on grilling). I figured she just saw the grilling and didn't look inside. I sort of put it aside and forgot about it for quite some time. When I mentioned it sometime later, Gram says she knew what it was. She meant to get it for me. (Oops, sorry...not senile. I'm just dense.) So,, one night I picked it up and didn't put it back down until I was finished. The next day I headed straight for the library to get the previous 6 novels in the series. And then I continued on after number 7. Now I own all of them (in paperback and hardcover...why!?). I'm always in such a hurry to get the next novel and I sit down all rippling with excitement...then I see that I'm almost finished and I try to slow down. I can't wait another year (or so)...hurry up Diane. Write Faster!
For the record....I totally think I'd make a great mystery-solving caterer.
Many thanks to Kristina from Stonyfield Farm for sending me coupons for FREE Oikos yogurt...this is the first thing I've used them for (other than eating) so far. More to come...
Also, if you haven't entered my giveaway yet, be sure to head over and do it now!

Would you like to comment?

  1. You had me going right up to the words "left me a clue". Your lack of tears on the passing of a relative helped too :). Hey, it sounds like a great recipe and a good book. I'll try both in the near future.

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  2. At first I was like OMG, but then with further reading I realized you had gotten me. That chicken curried salad looks very tasty with a good book.

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  3. Yeah, you had me for a minute too, pretty much until the beloved godfather died. Heh, great post. :)

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  4. Had to come over here to see what is cookin in the kitchen of girlichef today!!
    Buh.......that one girl sounds like a nightmare and the other one with the drunken father in law would have probably made me laugh. Sorry........I have inappropriate laughter at times :)
    Oh well.........

    Steady On
    Reggie Girl

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  5. Great post, Heather. I have to admit you had me for a few minutes.

    Sounds like a book series I'd enjoy. Thanks for the info.

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  6. I was aghast at your experiences and puzzled by your lack of grief at your godfather's passing, but even still you still had me going! HA It was just incredible! You are too funny to hook me in like that.

    The chicken recipe looks very, very good. I think it would make fantastic finger sandwiches as well.

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  7. So I started with my mouth hanging open going 'what the...?' but you sounded a little too chipper...thanks for the recipe and the book reccomendations, I'll have to try out both :o)

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  8. Oh my word, how funny! I was just sitting here reading with big ol' bug eyes and feeling so bad for you!

    Looks like a good read and a great dish too!

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  9. I'm gullible, but not that gullible. I figured you were telling us a story when you stopped to make hubby some food before following up on the clue. Good one, Heather! LOL.

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  10. Good one! I had to read it twice :)

    Say chilled curry chicken salad seven times...look good and you know I like my curry!

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  11. You had me going there for a minute! I kept thinking, wow this is chipper for having lost her godfather (LOL) -- oh well, now I've got a new author to add to my list and a delicious curried chicken salad to try too!

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  12. OMG-I was almost wondering how you could cook such an awesome looking dish in such a situation!!Thanks for the recipe and the book review-me going to look for it at the library tomorrow!!
    Are those peanuts or pomegranate seeds?

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  13. Cute post! It was getting to the "ambulance" part that I began having suspicions and the godfather solidified it. I have seen her books but have not read them--you make me want to try them. And btw--the chicken salad looks good too! ;-)

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  14. good god women! You scared the crap out of me. I started thinking, okay she is a bit to flip about this, is she linked with organized crime?

    Whew. You really freaked me out for a sec there!

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  15. damn, I'm gullible. I was totally like WHAT? HUH! REALLY, HOT DAMN! and then, oh.....

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  16. Oh Jeez, I was thinking How can she think of cooking? Got me!

    Your chicken salad looks fantastic. I love mandarin oranges, and the dressing sounds heavenly.

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  17. You little trickster, that was good. I was thinking - catering? I didn't know she catered!? Is that her new job? I made curried chicken salad before but it was nothing like this delicious creation! I've never seen these books!

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  18. love it what a fun post I couldn;t believe it when you siad your uncle had passed!! great salad

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  19. Ever the suspicious New Yorker.... you lost me just before your favorite godfather died.... you should write mystery novels....hehehe

    chicken salad looks good!

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  20. I love adding curry to chicken salad! Yours looks great.

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  21. ...ha ha ha ha ha- I love all of your reactions :D [big time cheezin' over here]!!!

    ...and Sweta, they are peanuts (spanish ones)

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  22. Boy you REALLY had me going. I was reading and thinking...Whew! This is one tough cookie!!! LOL

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  23. ...and by coincidence Coleen, Tough Cookie is the name of one of DMD novels...HA!

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  24. Have you thought about a career in book writing...write a Latin themed book about a girlichef!

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  25. OMG, you really caught our attention here! I was on the edge of my chair :) What a fun post!

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  26. ...I've toyed with the idea, Chef E. I don't know, though...think I may putter out after a bit, but actually writing the blog has re-inspired me. I may try- and YES, love that theme :)

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  27. You had me going too. Have you thought of being a mystery writer? If you haven't, you should.
    Great looking salad and great post.
    Sam

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  28. I've never met a chicken salad I didn't love!

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  29. Oh, and your catering stories...un.real. I bet you could write a book!

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  30. Dar I have to admit you had me hooked. I was thinking Dar's life is reading like a NOVEL! I LOVED IT!! I was thinking that I knew that you worked but I didn't know you were caterer? Chicken salad looks awesome. Great way to use the yogurt! Have a good one. I definitely want to read those books.

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  31. You had me for a while! I have bookmarked the author, will order one of her books. You should offer mystery foodie book club as part of the off months of CTB.

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  32. you had me going but I am gullible.....

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  33. You stinker! But I was thinking, with all this going on how is she going to get to Barefoot Blogger Thursday! And boy, Heather is one cool customer! I love DMD too. Have been reading her for years. That was a good one girlichef.

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  34. You really had me on this one! I am going to have to check out this author! that is one chicken salad that looks and sounds amazing!

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  35. Oh my God, you really had me going on this one! I was all shocked and ready to give you condolences and everything. Ha! I have never read any of the DMD books, but I have seen them around. Maybe I should go and find some to try out.

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  36. That salad looks so delicious! Really!

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  37. Okay. I am a cynical New Yorker in MN who works with kids (read: more cynical) and works in theatre (read: even more cynical) and you totally had me until your godfather died - and then I still wasn't sure..... and now I have to read the books!

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  38. I was hooked! But now I'm going to have to get this book when it comes out, just to find out how it ends. 8-D

    Until then, perhaps I'll pass the time with some of this yummy curried chicken!

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  39. You totally had me going there for a while! The crazy thing is that I'm sure there are people that can tell stories like that!

    The curried salad looks AMAZING!

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  40. Your curry chicken salad looks deeeelicious! I love trying different takes on chicken salad.

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  41. I am a food tragic and have discovered HEAPS of food blogs (most of which I LOVE)! I am also quite shy about posting and prefer to sit quietly at the back of the room.
    I was led to this post by the recipe but have now posted my first comment...I had FUN! Love your work!
    ...I had a little thought...if you put a blender through the chicken mix it would make a great dip. I'm going to try it both ways. Cheers!

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  42. @Tasmanian...thanks so much, I love that I spurred your first comment ;) And I definitely think you're right, this would make a deeelicious dip!

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