Research Rabbit Holes by Jenn McKinlay

 The Winner of Leslie Karst's MURDER, LOCAL STYLE is Brenda Gaskell! Brenda, please send an email to julia at julia spencer - fleming dot com (remember the hyphen!) and I'll connect you to Leslie.

 

JENN McKINLAY: Writing brings an author to some seriously strange places. Over the course of sixty plus books in different genres, I’ve done deep dives into everything from how certain poisons work, naturally, to the inner workings of beauty pageants, dog shows, Elvis impersonators, and NFL football teams. I’ve studied conditions like dyslexia and anxiety and interviewed professionals about narcissism and obsessive compulsive disorder. And I’ve done boots on the ground research for settings from Arizona to New England to Italy (a hardship, I know). If you ask me what my favorite research was to date, I’d have to say going to the top of the Eiffel Tower for a pivotal scene in PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. Hard to beat, I know. 

How about you, Reds? What is your favorite research deep dive and what book did you use it in?

RHYS BOWEN:  Every one of my books seems to involve a research deep dive. Exotic places, other times, the royal family, not to mention poisons and blood spatters. I studied the whole training program for secret agents in WWII. I sat inside a Blenheim Bomber and tried on a flight helmet. I have walked every street in lower Manhattan and at this moment I’m becoming an expert in appraising fifteenth century books! I love the way we become accidental experts!

Much of my research involves a trip somewhere. Researching at the antique Correr library in Venice. Learning to make Tuscan pasta. This is definitely the fun part. Eating on a dock beside the Mediterranean is magical. 

LUCY BURDETTE: With my Key West series, most of the research has been exploring the undercurrents of the island. I did love my two experiences with the citizens police academy and sheriff’s police academy. There is an almost-deserted island I need to visit for next book, though it scares me a little…

Other than that, Paris, Paris, and Paris!

HALLIE EPHRON: Every book has involved a foray into some topic or place I’d never have imagined myself investigating. I’ve been to a brain bank (donated brains arrive in FedEx boxes and get stored in buckets so they look like oversized cauliflowers taking a bath). I was a tourist in an MRI lab (how to kill someone? Let me count the ways!) The mud flats at low tide in and around Beaufort, South Carolina (not a place you want to get stuck). 

I started writing a book about a psych/intern who works nights as an exotic dancer, but realized that research into what that would be like was a bridge too far.  Nope, not going there.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: My on-site research has consisted of a lot of hiking around places in upstate NY, looking for likely sites to hide a body and buildings and business that catch my eye - I want to make sure the reader absolutely feels like they are right there in Washington County.

When I wanted to describe Clare piloting a helicopter in the southern Adirondacks, I went to my dad. For years, he had the top of the line, most recent version of Microsoft Flight (with different kinds of yokes and controls to match the aircraft he was “flying” and he led me through the entire spin up process and flight plan - the program let me see what Clare would have seen. You can take the man out of the Air Force, but you can’t take the Air Force out of the man, I guess.

I keep saying I’m going to set a novel in someplace warm (Aruba?) or beautiful (Vienna?) but so far, it’s all snow, mud or high heat/high humidity. Sigh.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Usually I make stuff up. And as a reporter, I’ve wired myself with hidden cameras (and got caught in a cult once...ahh) and gone undercover and in disguise. Been in prisons and jails and behind the scenes at the airport and courthouse and been with SWAT teams and tear gassed and inside a nuclear reactor. (Oh, and in the FBI Academy, I figured out how to fool the lie detector. They are, truly, STILL mad at me.) I have, though, done a lot of on-line research into the psychology of revenge, and geography of an area, and time zones, and things like “how long to drown in salt water vs. fresh water” and “what are the symptoms of CO poisoning.” That stuff has to be right. Still mostly, I make stuff up.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have had such a blast doing research for my books. From the history to tea to distilling single malt scotch, London during the Blitz and Notting Hill in the Sixties, elite rowing, search and rescue dogs, Crystal Palace and the Great Exhibition, immigration in East London, fire investigation, female chefs and life in a professional kitchen, to undercover cops in the Met, and more… How to pick a favorite? I don’t think I can!

How about you, Readers, what informational rabbit holes have you fallen into?

Millionaire Pie and Apple Mint Chutney, a recipe repeat with Celia Wakefield

Our dear Celia was working on a fascinating blog for us, when, unfortunately, her health intervened.  Instead, I'm rerunning our only previous April recipe, from 2024. This is also the only time I made something from my own - well, my grandmother's - recipe. Dear readers, if you could have seen the look of horror on Celia's face when I pulled out canned pineapple chunks and bottled marischino cherries (I don't think she had ever seen one except in a cocktail. When I popped open the Kool Whip, I thought she was going to faint.

I hope you enjoy this blast from the past - I promise, the pie tastes great! - and please keep our friend in your thoughts.

 

Millionaire Pie and Apple Mint Chutney, or, Celia and Julia's Easter Treats

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: This remembrance and recipe by our own Celia Wakefield starts in the past - Thursday, April 4th, when most of our state was without power. I got mine back by Saturday, but poor Celia went for six days without exterior power (she and Victor sensibly have a wired-in generator) and a full week without internet! Which has nothing to do with the substance of today's post, other than to show she's a trooper.

 

 

 

This may be THE bright spot of Thursday, April 4, writing to you, my dear JRW community, as we are being blanketed with snow and the power lines, internet etc have all surrendered. My bright spot is that I still have a working generator and my computer is fired up. 

 

First my thanks to Julia’s graciousness in inviting me. Any comments? Please address them to Julia, ha, ha. But we are snowbound, power denied and WiFi too. Oh we so rely on our link in the ether to the world. But for those of you writers with no power, I hope you are writing as the authors of old with pen/pencil and paper to give you that nostalgic view point.

I had big plans for what I could bring to Julia’s Easter luncheon, which would also give me a great recipe for the Sunday blog. But alas the rhubarb was covered by feet of snow etc. so that will have to wait until another time. However, Julia decided to make her favorite dessert. 

 

As many of you may know, Julia and Ross gave great parties. This was confirmed by a dear friend at Ross’s funeral who spoke eloquently saying that Ross and Julia would be counted on to be late for most things but never for a party. Aren’t those words to live? Though I was injected with the punctuality vaccine when born, and I do wonder sometimes, was punctuality a gift? Or a curse? 

However back to the Hugo-Vidal party train. This year Julia was hosting her annual Easter Luncheon which had been on a part-time hiatus over the past several years. She was kind enough to invite us and as I have access to locally raised lamb, I brought the lamb. There was a ham, scalloped potatoes, southern style sweet potatoes but without marshmallows in them, plus more asparagus than I have seen outside the supermarket and a HUGE salad made by another guest. I am sorry I didn’t take photos. 

I made apple and mint chutney to accompany the roast lamb, which I had covered with a fresh breadcrumb, garlic, herb and butter paste. I spread this mix over the large lamb leg, weighing five and a half pounds, and roasted it on 325F to an interior reading of 145 degrees in the thickest part. 

 

But the piece de resistance was Julia’s dessert. She made her southern grandmother’s recipe for Millionaire's Pie. She actually made it here in my kitchen and for once I was videographer which was fun. Julia’s grandmother would sing old Baptist hymns while mixing and Julia treated us to a few lines which she may or mayn’t share. I hope she does. (ed. note: she does.)

Now I was very interested in the Millionaire’s Pie as this is a truly American dessert and I can’t think of anything like it when I grew up. But there was one ingredient that was very popular in my family - condensed milk. Yes that small can or tin, if I’m talking, full of a creamy sugary sticky confection just asking, begging in fact, for you to grab a spoon and tuck in. At least that’s what I believed as a child  monitoring my mothers strange addiction to condensed milk. 

 

 

 

My mother was enamored, or perhaps in undying love with condensed milk. Sugar was rationed in the U.K. during the Second World War and for several years after. Coupons for sugar were guarded jealously and spent with careful consideration. So my mum and her best friend, my godmother, Auntie Winifred, would hoard their coupons and when they had enough to splurge, would buy a tin of condensed milk and sit with a spoon each taking turn and turn about until satiated. 

 

My mum's favorite afternoon snack throughout her life, was to keep a tin of condensed milk in the fridge handy for a small snack, think Winnie the Pooh size. Woe beware any of us who helped ourselves too liberally from her tin. I think that Julia’s pie would have been most popular with my mum. In fact, I wonder whether she ever tasted it when she visited the United States in the thirties. Her hostess, a close friend of my grandmother, was southern and I know they spent time in the South. I am sure she would have loved the pie as did all of us.

 

Now I can’t hand over for Julia to add the millionaires recipe without adding my recipe for easy Apple and Mint Chutney which is at the end of Julia’s delicious dessert. 

JULIA: Surprise! It's me with a recipe! As with all my faves, this is fast, easy and made with pantry (and freezer) basics. My grandmother Spencer used to make this pie when I was a kid, and it's replete with '60s no-bake goodness. You'll notice all the ingredients are straight from the Space Age kitchen; all convenience, very little nature. I think this may be the first time in her life Celia's had Cool Whip. 

 

Whether you call it Million Dollar Pie, Millionaire Pie or Millionaire's Pie, this classic southern icebox dessert will take you back to Sunday dinner at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house - with the bonus that it still stays cool while Paw Paw goes on and on with the blessing.

INGREDIENTS

1 graham cracker crust, store-bought or homemade. Celia and I made ours, but you probably already have a recipe for this three-ingredient crust, so I'm not adding it here. If you make your own, chill for 15 minutes before adding the pie filling.

1 15.5oz can crushed pineapple, VERY well drained. If you're not a Baptist,         use the juice for a Pina Colada later.

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup sweet flaked coconut

1 cup Maraschino cherries, chopped, plus some for garnish

1/2 cup chopped pecans

5 T lemon juice - very important to help firm the pie up 

1 1/2 cup Cool Whip - this is half the usual size container

optional - 1 T cherry juice, if you want a more pink pie

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS

 

In a large bowl, combine well the drained pineapple (as dry as you can get it,) the condensed milk, the coconut, chopped cherries and chopped pecans. Add the lemon juice (Maw Maw used the little plastic lemon for hers) and, if you prefer the color, the cherry juice. Gently fold in the Cool Whip.

Pile it in the graham cracker crust and slide it into the fridge for at least an hour. It can be made up to a day ahead. Garnish with halved pecans, and/or Maraschino cherries, or, it the pastor's coming to dinner, pipe on whipped cream and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

CELIA: Apple and Mint Chutney

Chutney is usually thought of as an accompaniment to Indian foods. But in the UK it was also a way to preserve damaged or bruised fruit which was not good enough for jam or for the table. It was eaten with cold meats or in sandwiches. I love a cheese and chutney sandwich on good bread. My Constance Spry Book says “The prescription is fruit or vegetables, sugar, vinegar and flavoring ingredients . . .”, Spry also recommends using a wooden spoon to stir.  So your chutney might have garlic or ginger, and mustard seed, chilies are another favorite. The seasoning is your choice and this recipe is my choice.

Recipe makes approximately 4 Cups 

3-4# Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped 

2 large onions (I like sweet onions), peeled and chopped small

4 Cups good vinegar (I used apple cider and Braggs mixed)

1# approx brown sugar 

1Tbsp ginger

1tsp cloves

Use other spices such as nutmeg or even cardamom if preferred

1/4 Cup chopped fresh mint

• Choose a large heavy pan (not cast iron as that may react with the vinegar). I used a stainless Dutch oven with a heavy base which helps the long slow cook process. No lid needed, it’s all about the slow evaporation of the fruits and veggies
• Add the chopped onions with 2 cups of the vinegar, stir intermittently, and cook over a low heat.
• Once the vinegar is heated, add the apples with the spices (not the mint) and an additional 1 cup vinegar if needed. Cook on low, stirring often so that nothing sticks on the bottom. 
• Measure the 3/4 of the sugar into a bowl and pour 1 cup vinegar over to help melting.
• After the sugar has cooked in, taste to see if it is sweet enough. 
• Once the apples are softened add the sugar, stirring well to mix all ingredients and keeping the heat low.
• It will cook for another 2 to 3 hours to reach a consistency of jam or good yogurt. Look for the liquid to be almost completely steamed away. 
• But if you’re planning to keep the chutney for a period. (For example to give as holiday gifts). Leave the mixture with a little liquid as it does dry out over time and become more solid. 
• Also follow good practices for bottling and keep it refrigerated once opened. 

This was so easy to make I am wondering why I haven’t done it more recently. I hope you enjoy it with some delicious cold meat or in a good veggie sandwich. Or my all time fav cheese and chutney sandwiches which is very popular pub fare and forms the basis for a ploughmans lunch.

Swift Six for Saturday

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Since this week has been (mostly) about spring, let's do a swift six (because that alliterates with Saturday, of course) on April!

 

 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? Hyacinths. There's something about those little pastel florets I can't resist. I always have a pot indoors this time of year. 

2. Asparagus or spring peas? Asparagus - but it has to be steamed until it's perfectly crisp.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?  Opening Day, of course. Every April, Ross would say, "I think this could could be the Red Sox's year." (spoiler: it usually wasn't.)

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? CPA, ever since I bungled DIY taxes so badly we had to get lawyers involved...

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? My friend Roxanne gave me a perfect LL Bean classic raincoat, so I'm all about the yellow slicker now.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?  Cherry blossoms. I'm going to visit my sister in DC next week, and I'm hoping some will still be hanging on!

 

 DEBORAH CROMBIE:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

I'm with you on the hyacinths, Julia. That scent is divine. For when they're not in season, my farmers market friend makes hyacinth candles which are not a bad substitute.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

Asparagus, but must not be over-cooked. Although I do also love spring peas.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

Major League Opening Day!!

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

CPA absolutely!

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

Love my Eddie Bauer rain jacket, but will add an umbrella in a real downpour.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

Garden centers. Too many to count already this spring. It's an addiction.

  

 HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? 

Tulips! My very favorite. Although I love the fragrance of hyacinths.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Difficult! I adore grilled asparagus, though, if it's just right. And it wins for weirdest way of growing.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?  

 Oh, opening day, that's so irresistible. But I have covered the Marathon for years, and its so strange not to be there now that I am not on the beat.

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? 

CPA, yikes. Definitely.

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella?  

That's so funny. Umbrellas work, but they are SO awkward. Your umbrella gets soaked as you use it to get to the car. You get into the car, and then what? Ahh.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers? 

Garden centers, most definitely. I love the fragrance, and anything seems possible. (And I truly did not realize why they were called nurseries until like, yesterday. I gasped.)

 

RHYS BOWEN:

Bear in mind that I am in Arizona. Spring is long gone. Temps are over 90. Any spring flower that thought of growing has been long fried and died.  But I do go back to CA in a week's time and it should be spring there with poppies, lupins etc.

 

 1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

I love tulips in theory but they never last long enough in the house. Daffodils are usually the first to be found in Trader Joes and come home with me to cheer up dark days.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

We seem to live on asparagus. Having lived in Germany and Austria where there is an aparagus season of about 6 weeks, and white asparagus too, I think I'd really prefer that. The restaurants cook everything asparagus and then it goes.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

I'll watch the Masters as my family are golf fanatics, but I'm a tennis fan and am watching Monte Carlo this week.

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

I have used HR Block's program for several years, after consulting both CPAs and Tax attorneys. Since the major work is assembling all the items not entering them it seems to work well for me. (and I got a refund for the first time in ages)

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

Usually raincoat. Who has an extra hand for an umbrella and it's impossible to navigate crowds.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

None of the above this year, although I may try to get out to the Marin Headlands to the wildflowers when we return to CA.

  

 JENN McKINLAY: 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 Daffodils are spring to me, but I love hyacinths and tulips, too.

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Asparagus. My parents used to grow it in our garden, so also a core memory.

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 Major League Opening Day!!! Go D-Backs!

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 I have a CPA but I'm so late this year I think it's going to be DIY - please, save me.

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 A brolly, always! It doubles as a weapon if needed :)

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

 Cherry blossoms!!!

 

 HALLIE EPHRON:

 1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

Definitely tulips. I love the way they go every which way and then toss their petals at the end.

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

Spring peas. If I can find them. So special.

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 Dare I say? None of the above. 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 CPA, please. Being self-employed is complicated.

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 Raincoat... if only I had one. So most of the times it's just a hat and a fast run.

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

GARDEN CENTERS! Gotta have a big pot of pansies and another one of basil. To me that says SPRING. Trying to outsmart thee rabbits is a losing gambit. 

 

 LUCY BURDETTE:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 Daffodils--so cheerful and early, I find them irresistible! 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Asparagus, but it must be from our garden or a farm nearby. Otherwise it has a bitter taste and I don't even want to mention the aftereffects!

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 The Masters! Even though most of the current golfers could be my grandchildren. I still love golf and look back fondly at the Golf Lovers Mystery Series!

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 CPA. Not even a question!

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 Raincoat.

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

 Can we do all three please??

 

JULIA: Now it's your turn, dear readers! Cut and paste the questions and give us your answers in the comments!

 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?