Are You Friends with Your Kitchen? Guest Author Keli Gwyn

Weds. April 24th 3:47 PM: Congratulations to our book giveaway winner, "Gram"!

Today I'm pleased to host historical romance author (and fellow northern Californian) Keli Gwyn. Welcome to Authors' Galley!

Making Friends with My Kitchen

by Keli Gwyn

I love my kitchen. When our realtor showed Gwynly and me the house all those years ago, I actually rubbed my hands together with anticipation before exploring the cheery room with its slate blue wallpaper and bright white tile.

What I didn’t love was spending time in the kitchen. For years I considered myself a lousy cook and avoided doing so as much as possible. It wasn’t until this year that things changed. I faced a hard truth: I wasn’t so much a lousy cook as I was a lazy one.

I’d been battling osteoporosis over a year. Working out at Curves and walking helped me arrest the disease, but I wanted to do better. When I learned that Curves has a diet plan as part of their Curves Complete program, I signed up pronto.

Thanks to some great genes, my goal wasn’t to lose weight, although I have dropped a few pounds of persistent belly fat. What I wanted to do was learn to eat right and build muscle to support my itsy bitsy bones. I figured out following a plan prepared by a nutritionist was one way to do it, and I was right.

These days I prepare nutritious, delicious meals. One of our favorites is a turkey flatbread sandwich I created that makes our mouths water just thinking about it. It’s quick, easy, and mighty scrumptious. (Recipe below.)

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As writers, we’re often asked if we put any of ourselves in our characters. When I developed Elenora Watkins, the widowed heroine of my debut novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, I made her a lousy cook like I was at the time. Ellie isn’t a lazy cook, though. It’s just that she was never given the opportunity to learn.

An ever-resourceful widow, Elenora Watkins arrives in El Dorado ready to go into partnership with Miles Rutledge. When he refuses, Elenora becomes the competition across the street. Is this town big enough for the two of them? Miles can't help but stick his well-polished boot in his mouth whenever he comes face-to-face with Elenora. Can he find a way to win her heart while destroying her business? Miles's mother, Maude, is bent on Elenora becoming her new daughter-in-law while Elenora's daughter, Tildy, thinks Miles would make a perfect papa. How far will these meddlers go to unite this enterprising pair?

At one point early in the story, while they’re dining with the hero, Miles Rutledge, and his mother, Ellie’s daughter, nine-year-old Tildy, tells them just how bad a cook her mother is.

Elenora smothered the last bite of beef with smooth brown gravy and savored the rich taste. “Thank you for another delicious dinner, Mrs. Rutledge. Sharing your noondays is a blessing to me.”

“And me,” Tildy added. “Mama’s cooking is so bad that Grandpa said she was as much use in the kitchen as a broken axle on a wagon. She burned the toast this morning and broke the fried eggs when she flipped them.”

Mrs. Rutledge scowled. “Matilda, is that any way to talk about your mother?”

Tildy lowered her head. “Sorry, Mama.”

“It’s fine dear. You’re right. I have a good deal to learn.”

Later in the story, Miles, who has a knack for tickling his tonsils with his toes, pays Ellie a visit to make an apology. He notes her improved cooking skills.

He followed her into her back room. An unmistakable scent filled the air, the same one he’d smelled in Mother’s kitchen earlier. “You didn’t burn the bacon.”

“You do have a way with words, don’t you?”

“Sorry.” What a fool he was. He’d come to make peace. Instead he’d been downright rude. She studied him with such intensity he felt like an insect being eyed by a hungry bird. It was all he could do not to squirm.

Her expression softened. “Since I owe you an apology, I’ll accept yours."

"What do you have to apologize for? I’m the one with the habit of tasting boot blacking.”

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Turkey Flatbread Sandwiches

Flatbread – one piece approx. 5x8 inches, fairly thick

Deli Turkey – ¼ lb. sandwich sliced

Cheese – 1 slice, your choice

Spring Greens

Tomato Slices

Black Olives – chopped

Sweet Purple Onion – sliced

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Salt & Pepper

1. Spread the turkey on the flatbread, covering the entire surface.

2. Put the cheese on top of the turkey.

3. Heat in toaster oven until the cheese melts.

4. Add the greens, tomatoes, olives, and onion.

5. Sprinkle with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste.

6. Fold in half and enjoy.

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Questions for You

Are you a foodie like Candy who loves spending time preparing meals, or are you more like I was and don’t enjoy cooking as much as you might?

What is your favorite sandwich?

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Thank you, Keli. That sandwich looks awesome. I'd say you've definitely made friends with your kitchen, AND made our visitors mouths water! 

Now, as an added treat, Keli is offering a signed copy of  A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, Calfornia as part of a book giveaway. Simply leave a comment answering one of her questions--include your e-mail address--and you will entered in a drawing via Random.Org.  The winning name will be selected on Weds. April 24th and notified by e-mail.  US entrants only, please. 

Meanwhile, happy reading . . . and Bon appetit!