Each of the five books in The Rick Podowski and The Hefty Trio series contain seven ethnic (Polish, Italian, Irish, Mexican) recipes and information about seven wineries. A wine is then paired with the recipe. A reader who completes the series will have learned about thirty-five boutique wineries and have thirty-five recipes paired with the appropriate wine. Four of the pairings from Murder Before The Bell are presented below. Click on the link to see the recipe.
In Murder Before the Bell, Rick Podowski and the Hefty Trio fight to save their friend accused of murdering the school principal. The story begins when Rick arrives at Central High School and sees the administration building engulfed in flames. Later, the police discover the charred body of the principal and as the police start to gather evidence to frame the acting principal, Rick and the Hefty Trio start their own inquiry.
They discover that their friend and the principal are both involved in illegal activities with a South Vietnamese Colonel who runs a language school on the campus every Sunday. The community loves the Colonel and is unaware that he owns a house of prostitution in the neighborhood and employs a local Mexican gang for security. A rival gang wants part of the action and the excitement begins.
This dish is a favorite of both Rick and Erin. Rick likes to serve it cold with the pinkness of the salmon highlighted by the green watercress sauce. It's the perfect dish to take to a picnic or a potluck. An Armitage Pinot Noir goes well with this dish because it has a light nose and allows for the flavor of the salmon to dominate.
Pollitos en Vino Tinto (Little Chickens in Red Wine with Naumann Vineyards Tre Rosso Cali
The heat of the summer makes us want to spend less time in a hot kitchen. Heavenly Fettuccine is light and very simple to make. Serve it with Italian bread, a garden salad, and a light fruity Barbera.