Death Below Stairs with Soup

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. 

Intent on discovering who killed the helpless kitchen maid, Kat turns to the ever-capable Daniel McAdam, who is certainly much more than the charming delivery man he pretends to be. Along with the assistance of Lord Rankin’s unconventional sister-in-law and a mathematical genius, Kat and Daniel discover that the household murder was the barest tip of a plot rife with danger and treason—one that’s a threat to Queen Victoria herself."

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.