Friday, July 3, 2020

Nacho Average Murder and The Quarantine Margarita


The fabulous Edith Maxwell joins us today writing as Maddie Day for a fabulous quarantine cocktail to celebrate her latest Country Store Mystery, Nacho Average Murder. And one lucky reader (US residents only) can win a copy of the book. to enter just comment below naming your favorite warm weather drink. Now let's hear about Nacho Average Murder.

Robbie Jordan, who normally lives, works, and cooks in southern Indiana, loved being back in her hometown of Santa Barbara for her high school reunion. And I loved putting her there. She indulged in eating avocado huevos rancheros, quesadillas, artichokes, and of course nachos. What better drink to accompany that kind of food than a margarita?
I know the best margarita recipes include fresh-squeezed lime juice and Cointreau or Grand Mariner with the tequila. Uh-oh. I didn’t have either enough fresh limes or an orange liqueur. But you know what? During a time of quarantine, we make do. 

When I make the drink, I like to use a dollop of frozen limeade. It’s quick, easy, cold, and already sweet – and I had some in the freezer. I also had tequila in the liquor cabinet. In lieu of an orange liqueur, I thought I’d see how the Cardamaro my son brought me from Italy would work in the drink. You might know Amaro, but here’s the description of Cardamaro: “A wine-based aperitif, infused with cardoon and blessed thistle (two artichoke relatives), then aged in oak. The result has the richness and weight of sweet vermouth, and only a gentle herbal bitterness.”

Artichoke? Works for me, and it worked for the drink. 

Quarantine Margarita
For one drink, mix in a tumbler or shaker:
2 ounces (1/4 cup) frozen limeade (yes, scoop it right from the can)
2 ounces tequila of your choice
1 tablespoon Cardamaro (or any orange liqueur)
2 ice cubes
Sprinkle kosher salt on a plate. Wet the rim of a pretty Mexican glass and press it upside down onto the salt. Decant the drink contents, straining out the ice, from the tumbler or shaker into the salted glass. Stick a slice of lime on the rim and enjoy a mystery set in Santa Barbara!

Readers: What’s your favorite warm-weather drink? I’d love to send one of you (US only) a singed copy of the book!

Agatha Award-winning author Edith Maxwell writes the Quaker Midwife Mysteries and multi-published short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she pens the Country Store Mysteries and the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries. With twenty-one books in print and more in production, Maxwell/Day lives north of Boston, where she writes, gardens, and cooks. Find her at Maddie Day Author and as @MaddieDayAuthor on social media.
In Nacho Average Murder, Robbie Jordan temporarily leaves Pans ’N Pancakes, her country store in South Lick, Indiana, to visit Santa Barbara—where wildfire smoke tinges the air, but a more immediate danger may lie in wait.

While looking forward to her high school reunion back in California, Robbie Jordan’s anticipation is complicated by memories of her mother’s untimely death. At first, she has fun hanging out with her old classmates and reuniting with the local flavors—avocados, citrus, fish, and spicy Cali-Mex dishes. But when she gets wind of rumors that her mother, an environmental activist, may not have died of natural causes, Robbie enlists old friends to clear the smoke surrounding the mystery. But what she finds could make it hard to get back to Indiana alive . . .

29 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great mystery (and drink). I love Maddie Day's books!

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  2. Being a native Californian it has to be a mararita. At home probably on the rocks but at restaurant sometimes blended. Always "plain" or original never fruit flavored

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  3. Sounds like a good book. I'm having a strawberry margarita, yum!!! Thank you for this chance. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com

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  4. Hmm, perfect drink to make for the reading of NACHO AVERAGE MURDER. I can hardly wait.

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  5. I enjoy drinks with fresh strawberries. Now I am craving nachos too! This would be a good book to bring to the beach.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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  6. I'm a coke drinker every day all day. thanks for the chance.

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  7. Bacardi dark rum and coke with a wedge of lime in tons of ice.

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  8. I love frozen strawberry margaritas. My everyday drink is iced tea with lemon.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. Can't wait to read this one! I'm a Coca-Cola fanatic, but if I want a change it's usually Earl Grey iced tea. Thanks for this opportunity! galileo2k(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Sharelle, random.org picked you as the winner! Congratulations, and please check your email.

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  10. I love a good margarita on the rocks. Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  11. Peach iced tea, the peach coming from peach whiskey. Garnish with a sprig if mint and a slice of 🍑 to get my vegetables in :) carter.karen@gmail.com

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    1. That sounds great! I invented a peach cocktail for No Grater Crime, Country Store #9 (out next year some time).

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  12. Lemon lime sparkling water is refreshing and tasty. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  13. Lemon ginger iced tea. Wonderful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. There's a place in town called Nacho Nachoes! This drink would be perfect with their take out and your book.
    rgp1950@yahoo.com

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  15. Sharelle T is our lucky winner. Sharelle, congratulations and please check your email. Thanks to all - I wish I had a copy for everyone!

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