Today we’re celebrating the third week of Carina Prioleau’s New Year’s Brunch for the women of my Deadly Force romantic suspense series. Last week the women were drinking Bucks Fizzes and eating Vidalia Onion Toasts and getting to know each other. Today, Carina has decided to serve the next course, Spinach & Strawberry Salad, in her morning room. She has a secret to share with the other women and felt that showing was better than telling.


Carina Prioleau: “Sarah, Juliet, Samantha and I have been having a wonderful time talking about the things we love and hate, the movies that make us cry and the books that make us laugh. Then, of course, we started talking about the men in our lives. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much to add since I’m a widow and still dealing with that loss. But it did, surprisingly, make me happy to see Juliet and Samantha so joyful in their relationships. Although I wasn’t alone in my quiet sadness. I could tell that Sarah has had healthy dose of heartache as well.

But since this is supposed to be a party, I made a decision. You see, most people see me as a heartless bitch. I’m a U.S. Senator and a wealthy woman in my own right. And, yes, sometimes I get so wound up in my job and my sadness that I don’t outwardly show patience or empathy. Honestly, I swim with sharks in the political world and there’s little room for softer emotions.

Yet, there is one thing I do that always warms makes me happy. I’m the chairwoman of a foundation I founded that collects and delivers toys to sick children in the local Savannah hospitals around Christmastime. I have a committee but I could use a few more people and I’m about to ask Juliet, Samantha, and Sarah to join. To bribe them, I take them into my morning room–for Spinach & Strawberry Salad–so they can see the pile of Christmas presents that are still being delivered. My program is so popular that now I’m receiving presents all year long. and, yes, I may be asking them to help me wrap after lunch, maybe while we have dessert.

Very few people know that I run this program–I hide behind the foundation that funds the committee–so sharing this part of my self is huge for me. It’s a step forward toward keeping my promise to my twin brother Calum. I promised him that this year I’d try to make more friends. And since I’d do anything for him, I said yes. I’d do anything to make him happy and keep him safe. Including blackmailing politicians and arms dealers. Just ask the men of the Deadly Force series. They know all about that.”


Spinach & Strawberry Salad

Course Salad
Prep Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

Salad

  • 4 cups fresh spinach leaves
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries washed and sliced
  • 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts roasted and chopped (optional)
  • 1 cup goat cheese crumbled

Dressing

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 3 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Vidalia onion coarsely chopped

Instructions

Salad

  1. Wash and dry t he spinach and put into a large salad bowl.

  2. Toss in strawberries and nuts and goat cheese.

  3. Toss the salad with the dressing or serve the dressing on the side.

Dressing

  1. Blend all the dressing ingredients in a food processor. Once smooth, pour into a dressing bottle.


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