I do believe Jennifer Ashley, a bestselling author with a few other series, has a hit with this new debut, Death Below Stairs. I think we all love discovering a new author with an exciting, new series. Then, many of us would add to that a good new recipe for even more enjoyment.
In this tale reminiscent of the old Upstairs, Downstairs TV show, a youthful, though excellent chef, in Victorian London, finds herself stretched to her limits with cooking, shopping, (earning enough to support her little girl) all while helping solve the murder of her young assistant. I thought the ambitious and feisty cook was an engaging and well-drawn character. From the Publishers:
"Highly sought-after young cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household of Lord Rankin. Kat is unbothered by the family’s eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below stairs when her young Irish assistant is murdered.
Early on Kat prepares an asparagus soup for the family. I'm not growing asparagus, however we do have avocados. Between our own tree's few fruits and the dozens currently being given us, I went with the produce available option here. At least they're both green(ish). I've made avocado soup for many years, always the same recipe, a chilled soup, which is actually very good. However, I found this hot version on the side of a chicken broth carton. Yes, yes, I do make my own, but keep a few cartons for emergencies. And few of the ingredients that were included caught my eye - shredded chicken, and lime. So we have Chicken Lime Avocado Soup.
I did make a few changes - added extra lime juice, salt and a bit more of my chicken stock. I had leftover roast chicken, so shredded some of that, also adding cumin and crushed garlic.. It pays to taste as you go.
Absolutely delicious, if I do say so. And, Bob agreed. All the goodness to be shared over at Weekend Cooking, hosted by Marge, The Intrepid Reader, with Simona for her Novel Foods Event #40, and with Heather at her October Foodies Read Challenge.
10 comments:
It is always fun to find a new series that you can enjoy.
The book review and the soup sound really good. I used to always make my own broths but I've really gotten lazy and the soup cartons to add to my homemade soups have gotten better tasting.
Ohhhhh, I've never had a hot avocado soup before. I think I'm going to have to give it a try!
The book sounds good. Now you have me curious if in all my soups I have ever made a hot avocado soup?! I definitely have made cold ones but I need to go check on the hot one. It looks delicious and I just bought 5 for $5 avocados at Whole Foods.
Very good idea for a different flavored soup! Not sure the book would interest me, though.
be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I used to read Jennifer Ashley's pirate romances never years ago, and the historical novels she put out under the name Ashley Gardner (I think).
I can't say I've ever had hot or cold avocado soup.
I would never have thought of putting avocados into soup! Are they best for soup if they are slightly under-ripe? (In your photo, it doesn't look like they've turned to mush....)
Elizabeth, for this soup they definitely should not be too soft, because they get chopped up, not blended. But not unripe either.
I have not seen warm avocado soup recipes before: this sounds interesting. And your mention of avocados reminded me how good they are when freshly picked: I so miss visiting your lovely island! Thank you for introducing me to a new series: I remember watching Upstairs Downstairs many years ago and liked it. Thank you as always for contributing to Novel Food :)
Love the additions you made to the original recipe. Now, you've got something! I'm not a huge mystery fan but the setting and the whole Queen Victoria angle sounds intersting!
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