Dollar-off Coupon for Voodoo Nights on Smashwords

 Ten French Quarter mini-mysteries featuring New Orleans' favorite sleuth Wyatt Thomas. Gumshoe Thomas is joined by voodoo mambo Mama Mulate, Cajun bartender Bertram Picou, NOPD homicide detective Tony Nicosia, and many other denizens of the Big Easy. Join them for tales of lust, murder and voodoo in the world's most interesting city. $2.99.

If you’re an ebook reader, please check it out on Smashwords and save a buck.

Promotional price on Smashwords: $1.99
Coupon Code: EB43D (not case sensitive)
All ebook formats
Expires: May 29, 2011

Eric’sWeb

Caddo Lake Green Tomato Relish - a weekend recipe

Caddo Lake is the largest natural lake in Texas. The lake’s history is as diverse as pearls and steamboats, and Caddo remains one of the most beautiful and mysterious lakes in the entire United States.

My Dad was born in Trees City, once a boomtown a few miles from Vivian. Jeems Bayou separates Vivian and Trees. During heavy rains in the area, it will result in water rising over the highway, leaving a boat the only way to get to Trees City from Vivian.

I remember, as a kid, fishing from the side of the road. My parents, Grandmother and I were not the only ones, hundreds of others joining in to reap the harvest of fish from the fabled lake.

There were always fishing camps both on the Texas and Louisiana sides of the lake. These camps would have a ramp for launching boats, and would rent boats, and sell bait, fishing gear and pop. Each camp usually had a restaurant where the locals went for catfish, hushpuppies and Cole slaw.

Kool Point, near Oil City, no longer has a restaurant but Pelican Lodge, not far from Trees City is still open. I always love eating at Pelican Lodge when I visit Vivian. It is far off the beaten path and only the locals really know where it is. One condiment all of these restaurants serve is green tomato relish. It is probably best prepared in large batches, and then canned (bottled) but here is a recipe for a single batch, suitable for one dinner.

Caddo Lake Green Tomato Relish

Ingredients

• 3 green tomatoes, large, rough chopped

• 1 onion, large, rough chopped

• 1 hot green pepper, chopped

• 1/3 c sugar

• 2 Tbsp salt

• 1 c vinegar

Directions

In a small pot, bring the sugar, salt and vinegar to a boil, and then add vegetables. Return contents of the pot to a boil for two minutes. Chill and enjoy.

Eric'sWeb

Gondwana Press Releases Eric Wilder's First Novel as Ebook

Gondwana Press has released Eric Wilder's Ghost of a Chance in eBook format. The novel features cowboy detective Buck McDivit in a mystery set on a lonely island in Caddo Lake, the largest natural lake in Texas. The full-length mystery is available in all eBook formats for 99 cents. Read Ghost of a Chance and check out all the adventure, romance and mystery in Book 1 of the Buck McDivit Mystery Series.

Amazon-Kindle

Barnes & Noble-Nook

Smashwords-All formats

Last Fire of Winter - free verse poem by Kelli Novakowsky

Facing the facade of my fireplace. The logs I fetched burn. My skin would be tan if I were facing the sun. The fire warms me like summer's sun. I observe life differently. I realize burning the logs gives me more time to experience life with pleasure. I lie down, I sit up I roll over, like I did when I was young and I tanned in the sun. I fantasize about a beach, a lover. Thank You fire, whether you are from burning logs or sun.

Eric'sWeb

Marilyn's Jalapeno Cornbread - a weekend recipe

  Cornbread is a staple for every good southern cook. When it comes to making cornbread, few can compete with my own wife, and wonderful southern cook, Marilyn. Here is her cornbread recipe using jalapenos, her daughter Shannon’s favorite.
Ingredients

• 2 ½ c cornmeal

• 1 c flour

• 2 Tbsp. sugar

• 1 Tbsp. salt

• 4 tsp. baking powder

• 3 eggs, lightly beaten

• 1 ½ c milk

• ½ c cooking oil

• 16 oz. can cream corn

• 2 jalapeno chili peppers, chopped and seeded

• 2 c sharp cheddar cheese, grated

• 1 onion, large, grated

Directions

Combine first five ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl, mix milk, eggs and cooking oil, and then combine with cornmeal mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients, and then pour into two well greased baking pans. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes, or until done.

Eric'sWeb

Ghosts of Caddo Lake - pics

Broken Pier, Caddo Lake near Uncertain, Texas



Ghost Trees near Trees City, Louisiana




   

Ghost Pier, Caddo Lake near Pelican Lodge



Los Angeles Literary Pub Crawl, February, 2010, Suggested Drinks

  Eric'sWeb

Eric Wilder - Wild Turkey and Water

Big Billy's Texas Pintos with Tomatillo Salsa Verde - a weekend recipe

Big Billy loved his beans. Once when he was staying with me and Anne, he cooked up pinto beans, complete with his special tomatillo salsa Verde. He also whipped up a pan of cornbread using ingredients he found in our pantry. To say the meal was wonderful is an understatement. It was sublime!

Ingredients

• 1 lb dry pinto beans

• 29 oz chicken broth

• 1 onion, large, chopped

• 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ c tomatillo salsa Verde

• 1 tsp cumin

• ½ tsp black pepper, ground

• 1 c water

Directions
Soak beans overnight in a large pot with ample cold water. Drain and place the pinto beans in a crock pot. Pour in the chicken broth and water. Stir in onion, jalapeno, garlic, tomatillo salsa Verde, cumin, and black pepper. Cook for 8 hours.

Eric'sWeb

Gathering of Diamonds Book Trailer

 

Big Billy’s Tomatillo Salsa Verde - a weekend recipe

Big Billy’s green sauce was to die for, and goes well with many dishes. Here is his special recipe with tomatillos.

Ingredients

• 1 lb tomatillos, husked

• ½ c onion, finely chopped

• 1 tsp garlic, minced

• 2 Poblano peppers, minced

• 2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped

• 1 Tbsp oregano, chopped, fresh

• ½ tsp cumin, ground

• 1 ½ tsp salt, or to taste

• 1 Lime, juiced

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender. Puree until smooth. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer about 15 minutes.

Eric'sWeb