Recipe and Book with Norma Huss #Guppies #SINC #leftovers

Recipe and Book with Norma Huss         I wrote the following scene for Jo Durbin in my book, thinking about how I often cook in my own kitchen—gathering together whatever I find for a meal.
         “You’re taking advantage of my good nature.” Of course he wasn’t, and he knew it. In my customary life I was an innovative but often haphazard cook, however, Mel was such an appreciative audience. And face it, I did need a break from outdoor research now and then.
            I found a package of ramen noodles, a few nuts, a can of mushrooms, and a half jar of peanut butter. I lined up his spices, decided which bits of veggies from the crisper in the bottom of the refrigerator were usable, and did my magic.
         Then I invented the recipe to fit the book, tweaking it until it tasted quite tasty. It’s one way to deal with leftovers.
Garlic Chicken with Peanut Sauce, Noodles and Vegetables
Leftover rotisserie (barbecue) chickenNoodles (rice noodles, egg noodles, ramen noodles or any pasta of your choice)Veggies (broccoli florets, onion chunks, carrots sliced thin, mushrooms, celery, or any others of your choice)  Note: You won’t find any peppers in Jo’s recipes because she doesn’t like them - but feel free to use them as well.Garlic - 1 clove minced, or ½ tsp of canned chopped or minced (or more if you prefer).Peanut Sauce - see recipe belowPeanuts - unsalted dry-roasted - may be chopped
1.  Whisk peanut sauce ingredients together.2.  Cut bite-size chunks from left-over barbecue chicken.3.  Prepare veggies.  (Peel &/or chop.  If necessary, zap in microwave until done to tenderness you prefer.)  Note: many veggies, especially frozen peas and mushrooms, may not need extra cooking.4.  Break noodles into 2 to 4 inch lengths then cook according to box instructions (rice noodles, egg noodles, ramen noodles, etc.)5.  Cook garlic in the peanut sauce for 2 or 3 minutes.  Add chicken and heat for another 2 or 3 minutes.  Add cooked noodles and veggies.  Stir and heat through.6.  Stir peanuts in before serving, or sprinkle a handful of peanuts on the topafter serving. 
Peanut Sauce - 2 servings (all measurements are approximate) Whisk together:

1 TB creamy peanut butter1 tsp hazelnut oil (or any oil)1 tsp Worcestershire sauce3 shakes ground red pepper 6 twists of pepper mill3 shakes onion powder3 shakes ground ginger

The building was vacant, the keys were almost a gift. Vacant, sure—except for the body. Now Jo knows one downside of acting the homeless bag lady. No one will believe she just happened to find the very dead Francine.
         I turned on my phone for Sylvie’s call, but she must have given up trying. As I relaxed on a bench overlooking the boats in Ego Alley and thinking about my next meal, the call came.         “Hi, Sylvie,” I said.         “Not Sylvie.” It was Mel. “Thought you’d like to know. The police are looking for a woman. Description, five, five. Weight, one fifty. Medium brown hair. Blue plaid coat.”         “Well then, it’s not me. At least ten pounds too much.” But of course, it was me, or my identical twin, and we both knew it. I jerked my head to the right to watch a woman walk by.         “I didn’t say it was.”         Not a police woman. I looked to the left. A waddling duck took to the sky. Wish I could do the same. He added, “Heard it on the police scanner, not the radio.”         At least the whole population wasn’t in on the search. “Where are they looking?”         “It was an alert to all patrol cars.”         Which meant the cops were looking for me everywhere. Me and my blue plaid coat. Mel didn’t ask questions. I didn’t explain.         My two extra days were up tomorrow. Sunday. Always a good day for travel. Except—there must be a few of my fingerprints at the scene, and with a witness who saw me, how could I leave? I had to find the killer.
Find Yesterday’s Body at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006HJLFHU
Find Norma’s Author Facebook page at: fb.me/writerNormaHuss
How wonderful to have you today, Norma, and thank you for sharing your recipe.   So what is your favorite kind of cake?