Death by Design - A Recipe & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Paula Darnell back to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Paula writes the DYI Diva Mystery series. Death by Design is the second book in the series and was released last month.

Traditional Version of Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich on Plain Hamburger Bun 

 

Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

Since Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery is set in Iowa, I thought it would be fun to include a recipe in the book for a popular menu item at hundreds of restaurants across the state. Of course, everybody makes it a little differently. My daughter and I got together to come up with our own version of this Iowa favorite, and this is the recipe that Laurel's cousin Tracey uses when she makes pork tenderloin sandwiches for Laurel and herself in Design, A DIY Diva Mystery.

Many people have never heard of a pork tenderloin sandwich, especially if they have never lived in the Midwest. The sandwich is especially popular in Iowa where it's been on restaurant menus all over the state for decades. The traditional version of the sandwich, features a six- to eight-inch-diameter flattened, breaded, and fried piece of pork tenderloin on a regular size hamburger bun. Of course, if you prefer, it can be dressed up with a larger fancy bun and all sorts of veggies and condiments. People who prefer the traditional version of the sandwich usually tend to select fewer condiments, which may be limited to dill pickles and mustard or ketchup.

Ingredients

1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound)

½ cup whole milk

2 eggs

½ cup flour

1 cup Panko bread crumbs

1 sleeve saltine crackers

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

peanut oil

4 hamburger buns

1.     Cut pork tenderloin into four equal pieces. Cut about three-quarters through each piece and spread to butterfly it. Put in a large sandwich bag or cover with plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet until about ¼-inch thick.

2.     In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, add milk, and beat well. Set aside.

3.     Pulverize the crackers in a food processor or by putting them in a one gallon baggie and pounding them with a mallet.

4.     In a flat pan mix flour, bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, salt, and pepper.

5.     Dredge tenderloins, one at a time, in egg mixture, and then in the crumb mixture, coating well on both sides so that the coating is as thick as possible without dropping off.

6.     Pour about ¾ inch to one inch of peanut oil into an iron skillet, large enough to accommodate each breaded tenderloin piece.

7.     Heat oil to 350 degrees over medium heat. When the oil is hot enough, pan fry each breaded tenderloins piece, one at a time, about 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown.

8.     When done, remove from oil, and drain on paper towels.

9.     Serve on a bun with condiments of your choice.

Makes four sandwiches.

Dressed-Up Version of Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich on Large Onion Bun

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Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery by Paula Darnell

About the Book

 

Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery  

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series  

Cozy Cat Press (June 20, 2019)  

Print Length: 184 pages 

DIY Diva Laurel McMillan rejoices when her student Jennifer's peacock pillow wins a design contest; that is, until Jennifer's husband Matt is smothered with the very same pillow. When the police confiscate her prize-winning pillow, Jennifer freaks out, and Laurel fears that Jennifer may be more upset about losing the pillow than about Matt's death. But the police arrest disgraced nurse Edna Elkins, not Jennifer. Begging Laurel to find the real killer, Edna insists she's innocent, but Laurel's not so sure, and when Laurel encounters Jennifer while walking her lovable Labrador retriever, Bear, she's left with more questions than answers. Should the crafty DIY Diva play DIY Detective or does Edna really belong in jail?

Includes recipes and pillow project instructions.

About Paula Darnell

An instructor at five colleges over the years, Paula Darnell most often taught the dreaded first-year English composition classes, but she's also been happy to teach some fun classes, such as fashion design, sewing, and jewelry making. Paula has a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a Master's degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno. Like Laurel, the main character in Death by Association, Paula enjoys all kinds of arts and crafts. Some of her memorable projects include making a hat and a cape to wear to Royal Ascot, sewing wedding gowns for both her daughters, exhibiting her textile and mixed-media artwork in juried art shows, and having one of her jewelry projects accepted for inclusion in Leather Jewelry, published by Lark Books. She sells some of her jewelry and hair accessories in her Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/PaulaDJewelry. Paula's interest in DIY craft projects and fashion led to her writing hundreds of articles for print and online national publications. Living in a guard-gated community governed by a homeowners' association gave Paula the idea for the setting of Death by Association. She finds that residing in an HOA community can be both a blessing and a curse. A Happy-New-Year greeting from her community association called on residents to “start the new year by reviewing your Rules and Regulations booklet,” something unlikely to top anyone's list of New Year's resolutions. Paula lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Gary and their 110-pound dog Rocky, whose favorite pastime is lurking in the kitchen, hoping for a handout  

Author Links:

Author's website - https://www.pauladarnellauthor.com/  
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PaulaJDarnell  
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18782445.Paula_Darnell
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/paulad0057/  
Etsy shop - https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaulaDJewelry  

Purchase Links - Amazon

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