Food for Love: Let's take a culinary journey with author D.V. Stone

J. Arlene Culiner Food for Love, Guest Post, Food and Vegetables, Creative Cooking …

14 Apr 2023

Foods, spices, and an excerpt from Sophia’s Magic Beans

Spring is a short season in New Jersey, USA. Usually, it’s quite different for Northern Florida, where we winter. Here in Florida, spring feels like it begins in February. NJ is usually still in winter mode. Florida turns green. The Live Oaks shed their leaves, and the grass goes from brown to verte. In New Jersey, the colors come out. Purple crocus, yellow daffodils, multi-colored tulips. Now don’t get me wrong, I love green. But there’s something about having nature provide a world of jelly bean hues.

My character in Sophia’s Magic Beans appreciates a colorful world. Her name is Calliope, and she owns a candy store. When was the last time you ventured into an old fashion candy shop? Did it turn you back into a child with wonder? It did me. Last year I stumbled across one last year while I was writing this book. Woodend shelves lined with glass jars. Lollipops on display spinners. It was magical. But I’m a savory kind of person. I love veggies. Farmer’s Markets are one of my favorite places. Can I confess coming across the Mushroom Man nearly made me faint? I spent a lot of money with this delightful vender.

We’re traveling the next two weeks heading from The Great Bend of Florida to the Highlands of New Jersey (aka, The Garden State). We’ll overnight in Georgia with a, get this, Harvest Host. This is an organization that offers free, yep, free overnight camping spots. Our stop (doing a happy dance) is at a Farmer’s Market! After that, we’ll be heading to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Ya’ll know Dolly Parton, right? She hails from that area.

I hope to cook my haul from the market over the campfire. Then we’re off to Indiana for a few days. Our last stop is outside Cleveland, Ohio. Does anyone know Christmas Story? The one with Ralphie and the Red Ryder BB gun? The house from the movie is there. Bonus! We were watching Guy Fieri from the Food Network, and one of his relatives has a restaurant in the area. I’ll be Googling that.

After that, I’m looking forward to the color of home. Watching my jelly bean-colored flower beds do their thing. Cooking fresh vegetables. Haunting the farmer’s markets. I might give canning a go this year. I haven’t done that since living on a farm in the 70s with my mom.

So I know this is a foodies blog, and I hope I haven’t disappointed you. I do have a recipe—sort of. (Pictures are attached) to one of my favorite things to cook. Here are the steps…

1. Go get fresh vegetables, including aromatics and herbs. Grab everything that appeals to you. Smell them. Squeeze them (just a bit). Put them in the basket you bought a while ago because it was pretty. Oh, wear something colorful, like a sundress or Hawaiian shirt. Add a floppy hat. Make it an event.

2. Laugh. Ask the vendors about what they like and how they cook it. I had more fun at a market where everyone spoke Spanish except me, and I wanted to know how hot the peppers were. Giggles and pantomime ensued. *put a hot pepper in the basket. If you don’t like caliente, get a milder one or something other than a green bell. Not that I’m against the green bell. It does have its place, but there are so many other varieties.

3. Don’t think of prep as a chore. Make it a family or friend event. Unload and take a picture of your loot. A selfie is better with your fun outfit and floppy hat. Don’t change. Remember that apron in the back of the drawer? Put it on over the top.

4. Make sure your knife is sharp. Slice, dice, chop, taste, and toss until it resembles a carnival carousel. Repeat until your colossal bowl of vibrant goodies is pleasing to your eye. A kaleidoscope of fresh bounty.

Am I painting a picture for you? I hope so.

5. What herbs did you get? Were you adventurous and outside of your typical spice rack? I love my spice rack and add to it often, but on my deck, I grow chives and varieties of parsley, basil, dill, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Oops, shouldn’t it be parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme? (Go ahead, sing it. You know you want to.)

6. Salt is essential.

7. Don’t forget citrus. Lemon, sure, but what about limes? Or dare I suggest Oranges? Brighten that bowl up with a bit of acid.

8. I have become a fan of trying different aromatics. Shallots, leeks, Elephant Ear garlic (which is in the Leek family), white onion, red onion. Yellow has its place but why here? We’re on an adventure.

9. Now, to the spices. Remember number six. I like fresh, coarsely ground pepper. Let’s talk paprika for a moment. I found a paprika guy at one of the markets. Yes, there are quite a few varieties. My spice rack has several different kinds. Sweet (the type from the store that just says paprika), smoked, hot Hungarian, etc. I like a bit of heat, so most often hot, but wow, look at those veggies. What if we sprinkled some smoked? Not a lot. Just a pinch.

10. I also pinch in crushed red pepper flakes. Not a lot. Just a little. Something to surprise your palette.

Do you see what I mean by sort of a recipe? In one of my books, Shay is known to play with her food. You should too. Try something new. Different. Go on an adventure. Do you like traditional recipes? I do too. I open the book, read it over, close it, and go at it. Use recipes for inspiration but take an adventure. I often hear people say they hate to cook. I think it’s because they don’t look at it like I do. Or you do. Don’t be afraid. Go on a culinary journey.

Sophia’s Magic Beans

In a small New Jersey town, sometimes fairytales do come true.

Calliope Novak’s candy store made it through the shutdowns, but she still struggles with everyday costs. She juggles chores, work, and making time for Sophia—her six-year-old. Personal life? Non-existent.

Luke O’Brian confronts his boss and mentor after discovering his law firm’s involvement with a crooked politician and is reminded of the non-disclosure agreement he’d signed. He can’t break it without evidence—evidence that he can’t access after he’s escorted out of the building by security. Devastated, he reluctantly returns to his hometown to regroup.

Lake Unami in Northern New Jersey is a magical place. Rainbows and unexplained coincidences seem more normal than not. Guardian angels, bookstore owners, and an endearing cast of characters all come together to bring happiness and love to Calliope, Sophia, and Luke.

🌶🍄🌶

Excerpt

“Boardwalk Books. Can I help you?”

“Sophia Rose Baylor, what are you doing answering the phone?” Calliope held the phone out and glared at it like her daughter could see the mother’s look. “Where’s Mrs. Booker?”

“She’th right here. Aren’t you, Mithus Booker.” That toothless lisp was hysterical, and if Calliope wasn’t so startled to hear her kid answering the phone at another business, she would’ve died laughing. “I’m in training.”

Calliope bit her cheek. “May I speak with your boss, please?”

“Wanths to talk to you.”

“Calliope, dear. Everything is fine, and my newest employee has been charming customers all afternoon.”

🌶🍄🌶

Theme(s): Small Town, Friends to Lovers, Workplace, Second Chance Love, Other Holiday
Page Count: 96

5-Star Review- Nicki

I am a Pennsylvania girl with a Jersey heart, so I loved the small-town resort setting of Sophia’s Magic Beans. The village came alive and popped right off the pages. How fun to have a series that takes place in Lake Unami-Fingers crossed. I adored Calliope, the strong heroine with her colorful hair, clothes, and personality. The opening scene had me rooting for her and I remained engaged the entire read. If you are looking for a romantic novella to curl up with for a night or two, I highly recommend this story. This is my first book by D.V. Stone and I will be ordering more.

https://www.amazon.com/Sophias-Magic-Beans-Spring-Things-ebook/dp/B0BTCGGPY9

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sophias-magic-beans-d-v-stone/1143005804

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sophias-magic-beans/id6445591530

universal link

https://books2read.com/Sophiasmagicbeans

Book Trailer https://youtu.be/G7s9ducg96E

🌶🍄🌶

Bio

D. V. Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre, traditionally and independently published author. She writes books people want to read. Whether romance or fantasy, contemporary or mid-grade, her stories are about the importance of friends and family. About overcoming obstacles, often with humor.

Around the Fire is a popular weekly blog where she introduces both established and new authors giving an insider’s look into their lives and books as well as tidbits about her own life.

Now retired, she is a full-time author and incorporates her life experiences into her books.

As a former Emergency Medical Technician, she volunteered in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. At the same time, she worked as a professional EMT in a women’s state prison. She was the proprietor of a coffee shop and a small restaurant/ice cream stand in the following years. After those, she was a manager in an animal emergency hospital, while her last position was in a human medical office.

When not behind the wheel of 2Hoots—a 41-foot long 13.2 feet high 5^th Wheel camper, she rambles around town in Northern New Jersey in a white Camaro. She also loves travel and history.

D.V. is a wife to an amazing husband, mother to one son, and not your average grandma to three beautiful grands. A woman of faith, she believes and trusts in God.

“My greatest pleasures are spending time outside with friends and family, cooking over the open fire, sipping a glass of wine, and reading.”

Hali, her rescue dog, always reminds her to let readers know, “Woof, woof.” Which is loosely translated as support your local animal rescue.”

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