Even casual book club members know that half the fun of discussing the latest “it” book is eating and drinking while you do it. Now, there’s a new book that will help you plan the perfect menu. Former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Kate White has put together “The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook” (out March 24), full of recipes from modern literary favorites such as Lee Child, Mary Higgings Clark and James Patterson. Here, we share “Gone Girl” author Gillian Flynn’s recipe for Beef Skillet Fiesta. Want some more book and food pairing? Click here for three suggestions. Beef Skillet Fiesta Be warned: I am no gourmet. I come from a long, proud Midwestern tradition of meals made from snack chips and canned soup. My characters tend to follow suit: They like their food simple and tasty. So here’s my favorite stove-top recipe, Beef Skillet Fiesta, which my mom cooked for her family and I now cook for mine. Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients: Directions: 2. Add salt, chili powder, pepper, tomatoes, corn, and bouillon and bring to a boil. Stir in green pepper. Bring to a boil again.
3. Stir in rice, remove from heat, and cover. Let stand for 5 minutes.
4. Fluff with a fork.
5. Serve with cottage cheese. (The cottage cheese part isn’t strictly required, but highly recommended—cottage cheese makes everything better.)
Note: If you prefer regular rice to Minute rice, cook the rice separately and spoon the Skillet Fiesta over it.
Excerpted from The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook edited by Kate White. Reprinted with permission from Quirk Books.
Recipe by: Gillian Flynn
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup diced onion
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 12-ounce can corn
11⁄4 cups beef bouillon
1⁄2 cup thin strips of green pepper
11⁄3 cups Minute rice
1. Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain. Add onion and cook until tender.
Gillian Flynn’s book club recipe
Steve Legato
