Murder Digs Deep

Murder, She Wrote - S2:E11

Jessica is roughing it on an archaeological dig in New Mexico; how fabulous!

She is researching a new book with the working title Murder at the Dig. But she’ll also be keeping Seth company as he’s one of a bunch of excited volunteers.

There is treasure in them there hills for sure.

Robert Vaughn plays Gideon Armstrong, the grouchy boss of the whole expedition.

He’s not interested in the zealous volunteers finding just “more pots”

as he’s after the big money items. He knows something that the others don’t about what might be under this particular patch of earth.

There are many mouths to feed at the dig, and Gideon’s glamorous wife doesn’t like eating in the open air.

She thinks that picnic style eating leads to being target practice for bugs. But if you have some plastic gingham tablecloths, a few metal plates and a tilly lamp or two, you could have a lovely alfresco meal incorporating Robert’s Stuffed Zucchini.

This would be a great vegetarian dish for archaeologists as you have to scoop out the flesh of the zucchini to make little boats with a teaspoon. Just like Seth digging his trench on the dig!

Robert Vaughn’s Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini 

6 medium zucchini/courgettes 

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 tablespoon oil

1 small clove garlic, crushed (optional)

4 oz mushrooms, sliced

2 tablespoons tomato puree

Salt and pepper

Pinch each of oregano and basil

¾ cup finely crushed cheese biscuits/crackers

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

1 oz butter

Preheat oven to 350℉.

Cut the stems from the zucchini, halve them lengthwise, scoop out the pulp and chop that up coarsely. Sauté the onion in oil until tender. Add the garlic and mushrooms and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the tomato puree, ½ teaspoon salt, black pepper to taste, oregano, basil, cracker crumbs and the chopped zucchini. Spoon the mixture into the zucchini shells. Place on a greased baking dish, sprinkle with the Parmesan and dot with butter. Pour ½ cup hot water around the zucchini and bake for 45 minutes until tender.

Serves 6

Next time on Murder, She Cooked a recipe from the kitchen of the fabulous Jayne Meadows.

A shout out to everyone who joined me for the Cabot Cove Watch Party on the 20th December. It was heaps of fun and there were calls for another so watch this space!

Congrats to Sherrie Graham in Novia Scotia who won the bingo!

I have had lots of lovely feedback about the Murder, She Cooked book over the festive season and I am thrilled that fans are enjoying it.

If you already have your copy and you are enjoying it, a nice review on Amazon means the world to us self-published writers. I’ll love you forever!

Here come all the linky-links! First - 15 years of posts about movie star recipes can be found here

My books can be bought here

My friend Tim’s live Murder, She Wrote shows are an absolute HOOT. Why not spend an evening with lots of other fangelas?!

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Cheerio for now, tune in for another fabulous episode next month.

If you have enjoyed this missive from Cabot Cove, please do share with any Murder, She Wrote fans you know - there are a lot of us about!