A Brew to a Kill, page 9
* * *
In the same sauté pan, add another tablespoon of butter and the sliced strawberries. Cook over medium heat until the strawberries start to break down and release their juices. Add the lemon juice, vanilla extract, and brown sugar to the pan and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and let the strawberries simmer until they have softened and a thick sauce has formed. Remove the French toast from the oven and serve with the warm strawberry compote on top, and finish with a dollop of lemon-infused whipped cream.
Chicken Artichoke Soup
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 cups chicken broth
1 can (14 ounces) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1/4 cup grated Asiago cheese
* * *
Directions:
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery and cook until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and bring the soup to a boil. Add the chopped artichoke hearts and chicken breasts to the pot. Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Remove the chicken breasts from the soup and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot. Stir in the heavy cream and baby spinach leaves and let the soup simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Finish with grated Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago cheeses and serve hot.
Acknowledgments
As always with any story (whether short or long or somewhere in between) I’m so grateful to my bookish circle for providing insight and help to make this novella stronger and for coming along on Sloan’s journey. To the Tech Guy for his cover design, formatting, and all around tech expertise, plus those beer brainstorming sessions! To Raina Glazener for her copyediting expertise and fixing those pesky commas. To my ARC team on Patreon for giving this next installment of the Sloan Krause series a first look, with a special shoutout to Courtny Bradley and Lily-Ann Gill for our book chats and your humbling support.
Sloan has a special place in my heart, as do all of you. I’m raising a frothy pint in gratitude.
* * *
Cheers,
* * *
Ellie
About the Author
I’m a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. I believe that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over twenty-five published novels and counting, my goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
I love inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and am passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, I guide writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
With more than 300,000 copies in print, my work has been published in hardcover, mass market paperback, audiobook, e-book, and translated internationally. I write multiple series for both Macmillan (St. Martin's Press & Minotaur Books) and Kensington Publishing—such as The Bakeshop Mystery Series and Sloan Krause Mysteries—and also publish my own novels—like Lost Coast Literary—through my publishing company, Sweet Lemon Press.
Now living in sunny California, I spent most of my life in the Pacific Northwest. My love for the region runs deep. Hence why many of my books are set there. From the Shakespearean hamlet of Ashland, Oregon to the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington to the hipster mecca of Portland, Oregon and a variety of other stunning outdoor locales, the Pacific Northwest is a backdrop for many of my books and almost becomes another character in each series.
When not writing, you can find me testing pastry recipes in my home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouse or brewpubs nearby. You’ll also find me outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of “research”.
I love hearing from readers and connecting on social media. Be sure to follow me to learn about my writing process, upcoming books, special events, giveaways, and more! Also, sign up for my e-mail newsletter to stay up to date on new releases, appearances, and exclusive content & recipes.
Come on a storyventure with me!
Stay in touch!
Connect with Ellie on her social media channels and scan the QR code below with your phone’s camera to subscribe to her email newsletter:
Ellie Alexander's Author Academy
COURSES AND COACHING TO HELP ASPIRING AUTHORS WRITE, PITCH, AND MARKET THEIR BOOKS ON THE WAY TOWARD REALIZING THEIR DREAMS OF BECOMING PUBLISHED
Are you struggling with where to start when it comes to writing? Or maybe you’ve gotten partway through a draft and don’t know what comes next? Perhaps you’ve finished a book and need help navigating the path to publication.
I love teaching and sharing the vast amount of knowledge that I’ve acquired publishing 29 books and counting. I’ve been in your shoes, and I have stacks and stacks of unfinished, terrible, horrible, no good first drafts that will never see the light of day. I’ve taken everything I’ve learned (the good and the bad) and transformed it into a mystery series masterclass. My comprehensive course takes the mystery out of how to craft, edit, and publish a novel with step-by-step videos, tangible assignments and activities, and an engaged and activity private community of writers just like you who will help cheer you on as you pound out that word count.
You can write that novel! It’s time to stop dreaming about finishing the book that’s been taking up space in your head and to start realizing your dream! I’m so excited to help guide and champion you, and can’t wait to see your book on the shelves!
Sign Up Today!
Ellie Alexander, A Brew to a Kill
