Wednesday, February 1, 2012

CHILI CHICKEN CASSEROLE & BOOK REVIEW: THE LAST PLEA BARGAIN by RANDY SINGER


A few days ago, I shared a recipe for Roast Chicken.  Now, if you're empty-nesters like us, a whole chicken means leftovers.  Today I thought I would share one of my ideas for that leftover chicken.  And no, the leftovers have not been in my refrigerator all this time.  I made the casserole last week and never posted it until now.  Just wanted you to know I haven't completely lost it.  LOL

CHILI CHICKEN CASSEROLE

6 ounces uncooked egg noodles
5 c cooked chicken, chopped
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp all-purpose flour
2 c milk
1 Tbsp shaved Parmesan cheese
1/2 c onion, chopped
1 Tbsp canned Jalapenos
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp cilantro
2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs
Broil noodles 10 minutes and drain.  Prehead oven to 375 degrees.  Spray large casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.  In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour, whisking for 2 minutes.  Whisk in milk and cheese, stirring 3 minutes, until thickened.  Remove from heat.  Add noodles, chicken, onion, jalapenos, mustard, garlic, and cilantro.  Pour in casserole dish.  Cover with bread crumbs. Bake 30 minutes.


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MUSIC TO COOK BY

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BOOK REVIEW


THE LAST PLEA BARGAIN
by RANDY SINGER    


Jamie Brock, ADA, has made and upheld a vow to never plea-bargain a case.  Until now.  But when Caleb Tate, a powerful defense attorney is suspected in the murder of his wife, Jamie has to make a decision.  Tate defended her mother's murderer a few years before, and forgiveness doesn't come easy to Jamie.  The chance to avenge her mother's death seems like the chance of a lifetime, but Tate may be more devious than she can handle.  If she puts him on trial, he threatens to destroy those closest to her.  Jamie's ethical dilemma is compounded by the question of the possible innocence of Antoine Marshall, her mother's murderer.  Jamie finds herself facing choices she never dreamed she would face.

Finally!  A novel that grabbed my attention and held on to the last page.  That hasn't happened since John Grisham's 1994 novel, The Chamber.  And just like Grisham, Randy Singer has had me contemplating ethical issues throughout the book.  This is not a book you finish and walk away from casually.  This is one that will have you looking at beliefs and ethics in a new way.  Do the ends justify the means?  How far does forgiveness have to go?  What is justice, really?

The biggest surprise of all was that this was Christian fiction.  In the past, so much of that genre has been poorly written, but Singer proves that it is possible to write a gripping novel with a Christian theme without resorting to sappy dialogue and bashing the reader over the head with his theology.  I will be looking for his earlier novels and certainly look forward to his future work.

5 stars

DISCLOSURE: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale House book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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Until next time, Happy Cooking!  : )

"We can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it." — Lyndon B. Johnson







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