Well Read, Then Dead and Batidos

Today first time author, Terrie Farley Moran joins us for Friday Reads with Drinks. Comment at the end to win a pair of Well Read, Then Dead book earrings...

Hi, my name is Terrie Farley Moran  and I am so happy to be here to tell you a little bit about my soon-to-be-released cozy mystery and to share recipes for some fabulous drinks called batidos.

Well Read, Then Dead is the first novel in the Read ’Em and Eat series and is due out next week. Here is a bit of a “taste.”

Nestled in the barrier islands of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers Beach is home to Mary “Sassy” Cabot and Bridget Mayfield—owners of the bookstore café, Read ’Em and Eat. But when they’re not dishing about books or serving up scones, Sassy and Bridgy are keeping tabs on hard-boiled murder.

Read ’Em and Eat is known for its delicious breakfast and lunch treats, along with quite a colorful clientele. If it’s not Rowena Gustavson loudly debating the merits of the current book club selection, it’s Miss Augusta Maddox lecturing tourists on rumors of sunken treasure among the islands. It’s no wonder Sassy’s favorite is Delia Batson, a regular at the Emily Dickinson table. Augusta’s cousin and best friend Delia is painfully shy—which makes the news of her murder all the more shocking.

Of course the café is home to lots of delicious food but we don’t discover the most enticing drink recipe until we visit Miguel Guerra at home and his aunt Caridad is busy making batidos, because she is sure that the calcium will help heal Miguel’s broken leg.

 Similar to milkshakes, the key ingredient is sweetened condensed milk, which is super thick and super sweet. You can use any fruit to make a batido—papaya, mango and passion fruit are extremely popular. I think the drinks are sweet enough when made with fruit or juice and the sweetened condensed milk, but you may wish to add sugar or honey to taste. Here are my family favorites:

Batido Morir Soñando (made by grandson Billy)

¾ cup orange juice

¼ cup heavy cream

3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup crushed ice

Batido de Piña

1 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

1 cup fresh cut pineapple

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup crushed ice

Batido de Mora (made by granddaughter Katie)

1 cup whole milk

3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

1 cup fresh blackberries

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup crushed ice

All batidos are made exactly the same way. Just leave the crushed ice on the side, put everything else in a blender and run until the drink is smooth. Toss in the crushed ice and blend until the drink becomes thick and slushy. Serve immediately.

You can find Well Read, Then Dead at 

Independent bookstores everywhere, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

We're giving away these special Well Read, Then Dead earrings in our first ever Friday Reads with Drinks giveaway. Just comment below to enter. US residents only.