Free Murder at the Cooking School: Book 7 of the Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series by Dianne Harman Page A

said.
    “Well, let me answer that
question with a quote from Shakespeare in Hamlet, ‘There are more things in
heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’ In
other words, we sure don’t know everything.”
    “If we’re going to solve
this murder, we better find out everything.”
    “You’re absolutely right.
Mike, I’ve got to go back to the kitchen. It’s my night for serving, and I sure
don’t want to make the chef mad, even if she isn’t quite who or what she says
she is.” 
    “Try not to spill
anything, and I’m looking forward to the risotto. It’s one of my favorites, and
I don’t think you’ve ever made it for me.”
    “I always thought it would
be too difficult to make, but now I feel pretty good about making it. The
problem is it takes a lot of time to prepare, so it probably won’t go on the
menu at the coffee shop. See you at dinner.”

CHAPTER 15
     
    “Kelly, I think today is even more
beautiful than yesterday,” Mike said as he looked out the window. “I loved the
risotto last night. That’s a definite make it at home dish, and I was
particularly impressed you didn’t spill the soup while you were serving it. By
the way, I’ve never had chestnut soup before. It was delicious and went
perfectly with the risotto.”
    “It was very good, but
that gelato made the dinner for me. It’s in my recipe packet, and I can’t wait
to try that one when we get home. Mike, I know I’m changing the subject, but do
you hear something?”
    “I sure do. It sounds like
scratching at our door. Hold on; let me see what it is. Stay where you are.
I’ll take care of it.” He walked over to the door and opened it. As soon as it
was open, one hundred fifty pounds of fur bounded across the room, jumped on
the bed, and began licking Kelly.
    “Good grief, Kelly! Are
you going to let Caesar stay there?” Mike asked as he laughed at the sight of
Kelly pinned to the bed with a huge dog licking her face and wagging his tail.
    “I don’t think I have a
choice in the matter. Looks like Caesar has become my new best friend. Lie
down, boy, lie down.” With that command, the massive dog stretched his full
length out on the bed next to Kelly, and looked over at her with adoring eyes.
    “I’ll say one thing for
him. He’s well-trained. If I’m going to have to watch another male get in bed
with you, I’m glad that at least it’s only a dog,” Mike said chuckling.
    “What time is Chief Varano
picking you up today?”
    “Ten this morning, so I
won’t be here for lunch. Let’s get dressed and go down to breakfast. I
desperately need some coffee.”
    “Okay. Caesar, stay,”
Kelly said getting out of bed and walking into the bathroom. “Mike, give me ten
minutes, and I’ll be ready.”
    Mike sighed. He knew ten
minutes to Kelly meant at least twenty-five minutes. He was right. Twenty-five
minutes later Caesar, Kelly, and Mike walked down to the dining room where the
continental breakfast was being served. When they’d finished eating, Kelly
looked at her watch and said, “I think I’ll go into the kitchen now. It doesn’t
make much sense for me to go up to the room and immediately turn around and
have to come back down for class. Good luck today. Hope you and the chief make
a lot of progress.”
    “I know he’d like to. See
you, later. Enjoy the olive oil trip.”
    Kelly spent the rest of
the morning helping to prepare the lunch and evening meals. Lunch was a simple
meal of spinach and ricotta dumplings with a bean puree served on crostini and
a green salad. Dinner was to be more elaborate, consisting of roasted lamb,
green beans, a grilled pepper salad, and ending with something called “Granny’s
Tart.” Kelly’s only regret was that she couldn’t be at all of the stations to
see how each dish was prepared. She was resolved to the fact she’d have to use
the recipes when she got home rather than relying on her experience of actually
preparing the dishes
    “As I