FIve Amigos Fall-O-ween Fun Halloween Week 3

Week three and half way through October, how fast the time goes! Today we are sharing our third week of cozy mysteries that are either Halloween based or Paranormal.  Karen K is up first today for this weeks double double.

Karen's choice is By Familiar Means by Delia James 

"I loved this second book in the series with the wonderful addition of Annabelle's grandmother. I enjoyed the continuation of her journey of understanding her gift, with the aid of new found friends, along with a top notch whodunit to solve as well!

"

In the latest from the author of A Familiar Tail, a witch and her familiar find trouble brewing at a coffee house. After discovering her mystical heritage--and being adopted by furry feline familiar Alistair--artist Annabelle Britton has decided to make picturesque Portsmouth, New Hampshire, her new home. Now, she can take the time to figure out her new abilities and welcome her grandmother, who is visiting Portsmouth, and her old coven, for the first time in thirty years. But being a witch doesn't magically put money in the bank. When she's hired to paint the murals for a new coffee house, it seems like a wish come true. But then a series of spooky sounds and strange happenings convince the owners that their new shop is haunted. They want Anna and her coven to evict the restless spirit before the grand opening. Annabelle is certain the haunted happenings at the shop are just hocus pocus. But when her search reveals hidden smugglers' tunnels beneath the shop--and a dead body--Annabelle, Alastair, and the coven suddenly find themselves in a cat and mouse game with a killer...

Now for my choice! One of my most favorite series is from an author called Madelyn Alt. This is an old but wonderful cozy mystery series and the first book is The Trouble With Magic. This is one of the first witchy cozy mysteries I ever read and I bought the entire series.

Antiques-shop clerk Maggie O'Neill was a little weirded out when she discovered her new boss Felicity was a witch. But when Felicity becomes the suspect in a local murder, Maggie must enlist Felicity's wiccan friends for help--and discover her own spellbinding talent.

Now to see what our Amigos chose this week...

Click here for Sheryl at Booth Talks Books 

Click here Mary's for mjbreviewrs

and here for Lisa K's pick on Lisa K's Book Reviews. 

We are so thrilled you have joined us today and we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here and then visit our Amigos and let them know what you think of their choices this week. 

We thank you for joining us for a cup of tea and this weeks Fall-O-ween Fun picks.

Sunday Soup Recipe and A Great Cozy Mystery!

I like soup. If I could I would make and eat soup everyday. My children and husband do not share my passion for hearty, warm soups so I shall share my love of soups with you.
Friday was particularly wet and cold, not bone chilling cold but soggy damp and the kind of cold that makes you feel utterly drained. Though I got a wonderful mail delivery with the arrival of Madelyn Alt's The Trouble with Magic. My friend Lisa K sent it to me. I read it years ago and loved it and now I have my own copy!  When I came home at lunch time from work,  I was in need of something a little more then a sandwich.  So I went to the pantry and brought out three items I bought several months ago and decided to create a soup with them. I always stock chicken stock in a carton to make soups faster. I make my own but there is little room in my freezer with a house full of boys so I looked at what I had and decided that I would try to make a soup out of a can of chick peas, a can of black beans and a jar of pesto sauce. Thursday night my freezer decided to give up the ghost, we caught it so I was able to slowly defrost chicken breasts in my fridge.

Recipe: For Karen's Chicken Pesto, Black Bean and Chick Pea Soup.
2 chicken breasts thawed
6 table spoons of classico pesto
1 onion
2 stalks of celery
1 large carrot
1 lt of Chicken stock (4 cups I added an additional two the next day as the liquid seemed to be absorbed by the chick peas over night)
1 tbsp of olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:
I started by pre heating my oven to 400 Degrees.
I then put the two chicken breasts into an oven safe dish and put 3 tablespoons of Classico Pesto on each breast and put them in the oven to bake.

I then chopped up my onion, carrot and celery and in a large pot I placed the olive oil and sweated the vegetables for about 5 minutes over medium heat. I opened the chick peas and black beans and drained and strained then rinsed them and added them to the pot. I stirred the peas and beans into the sauteed vegetables and then added my chicken stock. I let it come to a boil then turned it down to simmer while the chicken finished baking in the oven.  Once the chicken was done (25 mins in my oven at 400) I chopped it up and added it to the soup. I brought it back up to a boil added Salt and Pepper and then ladled it into my bowl.

A friend brought by the flat bread I enjoyed with my soup and it was amazing. I had the soup again for dinner last night and it was even better, The flavors melded well together and this is a soup I would happily make again.
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea, a bowl of soup, some southern poetry and a wonderful cozy mystery. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table and In My Cup October 3rd-10th

It is already 10:20 am and I am just getting around to tea and scones this morning. I am sorry for the lateness of today's post! This week I have had some truly wonderful reads and overflowing cups of flavorful teas.

Looking for Mr. Good Witch Was A Book I was so excited to read and I still have my paper back on the way, I was lucky to receive an ARC of the book, and enjoyed every swipe of the digital copy and know you are going to love the second addition to The Retired Witches Series.

 I also read The White Magic Five And Dime, I was pleasantly surprised with the story and theme of the book. Purchasing it based on the cover only I think it really lived up to the cover art.

Murder by the Spoonful was a book I would not have read based on the cover but the book was a total surprise. It was very well written and I loved the story. I am looking forward to reading the next one and highly recommend this book.

Arrived in my mail box  from my friend Karen this week Julia Buckley's The Big Chili and then the next day

The Trouble With Magic arrived from my Friend Lisa K. I loved Madeyln Alt , paired with a homemade soup of my own making (recipe to follow tomorrow) this was a very busy and fun mail week!

I am right in the middle of Dead with The Wind by Miranda Jame and I am so loving a visit with the Southern Ladies!
Thank you for joining me for a week in review and I look forward to sharing the soup recipe with you tomorrow.
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com