French Roast (35 page)
Authors: Ava Miles
Tags: #romance, #contemporary, #small town, #New Adult, #foodie romance
“Moving on sucks sometimes,” she whispered, thinking about their losses.
He drew her to his chest, letting them sway in the wind like the tree branches. “And sometimes, it doesn’t.”
Since she knew what he meant, she smiled. They’d both come a long way. Isn’t that what love was supposed to do? Make you better.
She took his hand and led him out of the cemetery, realizing that after every burial, there’s always a new beginning. They had theirs. And if they had a bad day and forgot about what was most important, they could always come here. Jemma would remind them.
Life really was precious. They would soak up every minute.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed reading about Jill and Brian coming together after so many years. It’s great seeing friends become lovers. I know I couldn’t be happier for them. Jill’s finally found her
NORA ROBERTS LAND
.
As always, reviews really help other readers find my books. Your opinion matters. I would deeply appreciate you giving a review if you feel so called. You can do so
here
.
Additionally, we’ll be giving away Don’t Soy with Me swag and other fun prizes from Dare Valley. Oh, and we’ll be having a guessing game about whether Jill is going to have a boy or girl. Should you like to participate, you can sign up for my
newsletter
and connect with me on
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.
Peggy and Mac’s love story is up next in
THE GRAND OPENING
. Those two are quite a pair, and with their individual family dynamics, it keeps everyone on their toes. You can take a peek at what’s in store in the excerpt. It’s a hilarious start to them coming together.
In the meantime, since many of my beta readers said
FRENCH ROAST
made them hungry or want to cook something fun, I’ve included the recipes for the meal Brian makes Jill on their first date. Who doesn’t love a man who cooks for her?
Thanks again for spending some time with my characters in Dare Valley. We hope to see you all real soon.
Much light,
Ava
Brian’s First Date Special
CHICKEN FRICASSEE
1 Fryer Chicken (around 3 pounds) cut into pieces
4 tablespoons of butter
In a Dutch oven, fry the chicken pieces in the butter, careful not to burn the butter. After 10-15 minutes of cooking the meat on both sides, remove the chicken and place to the side.
Add the following chopped vegetables to the butter and chicken drippings:
1 onion
1 carrot
1 stalk of celery
Sauté for about 10 minutes. Then add 8 ounces of quartered mushrooms to the mixture and continue cooking for about 5 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons of flour, mixing thoroughly but slowly, and cook until the sauce is thickened, about 1 minute. Then add 3/4 cup of white wine and 4 cups of chicken broth. Stir gently to ensure the vegetables do not break. Add the chicken pieces back into the pot on top of the vegetables. Add a bouquet garni to the pot. After the mixture has boiled, reduce the heat to simmer and cook covered for about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken.
Whisk 2 egg yolks and 1/4 cup cream together and then temper the mixture with the warm sauce. Then add this into the pot, stirring gently, and cook until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and incorporate. Finish by adding the chicken back into the pan with 3 tablespoons of tarragon, fresh preferred, and 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Stir gently for 2 minutes and then serve. Bon appétit.
POTATOES WITH BEURRE BLANC SAUCE
Sauté about 3-4 medium-size potatoes in olive oil until crispy on all sides. In a separate pan, prepare the beurre blanc sauce.
Boil 1/4 cup white wine, 1/4 cup vinegar with one finely chopped shallot until the mixture is thickened and reduced, about 5 minutes. Add 1/3 cup of cream and a dash of white pepper. Boil about 1 minute. Quickly cut two sticks of butter (1 cup) into small pieces and then add a few at a time to the sauce, whisking constantly until the sauce is thickened. For a smooth sauce, strain out the shallot (or leave the shallot pieces large enough to remove with a fork). Add in about 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, stir, and then pour over the potatoes, tossing gently. Serve.
WATERCRESS SALAD a L‘ORANGE
Wash the fresh watercress and lightly snap the stems into smaller pieces. Peel either a regular orange or a blood orange (preferred) and remove the fruit from the inside of the skin by placing a delicate cut across the top of the orange segment. Then arrange artfully on top of the delicate leaves. Make the pecans.
Honey Bourbon Pecans
1 cup pecans
1/8 cup honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon bourbon
Add ingredients to a shallow pan and cook over medium heat until the mixture foams and coats the nuts, about 3-4 minutes, careful not to burn the mixture. Spread the nuts onto a buttered piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and cook in the over at 375 degrees for 5-6 minutes, watching the color of the nuts. You want them toasty brown. Once finished, set onto a wire rack and let cool for 30 minutes. Add to the top of the salad and enjoy.
Coming Soon
The Dare Valley Series continues…
Book 3: THE GRAND OPENING
Peggy and Mac’s story
Available September 24
When Peggy McBride moves to Dare Valley, Colorado, the last thing she wants is to meet a man. If she’s learned one thing from her divorce, it’s that love is a messy business, and as a single mom and the new deputy sheriff, she has her hands full. But when hotel magnate and poker player Mac Maven moves to town, she becomes enthralled by the very last man she would ever consider dating…
Mac Maven has come to Dare with ambitious plans for his new project, the restoration of The Grand Mountain Hotel as a boutique poker venue. Only one person offers him a less than warm welcome: Deputy Sheriff Peggy McBride, who is dead set against gambling. But although Peggy’s a fierce opponent, Mac senses a tenderness and passion within her that he longs to free. Having helped his sister raise her teenage son, he understands Peggy, and can see past her tough-as-nails exterior.
When a threat to Mac’s hotel surfaces, he and Peggy must join forces to find out who’s responsible. Working together ignites the white-hot connection between them, and their cooperation takes a decidedly personal turn. But can Mac convince Peggy to set their differences aside and take a gamble on love?