Sydney Mackenzie Knocks 'Em Dead Read online

  Ingredients:

  12 oz cooked elbow pasta

  4 Tbsp unsalted butter

  2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk

  2 eggs

  1 cup milk

  ⅓ cup flour

  4 cups shredded cheddar (or 2 cups cheddar and 2 cups mozzarella)

  Dashes of salt and pepper

  Preparation:

  Mix all ingredients in the crock. Cover and cook on low for 3.5–4 hrs, or until pasta is cooked. Don’t overcook or it will get mushy gushy.

  ROZ’S VERY FIRST EGG SALAD

  Ingredients:

  8 eggs

  ½ cup mayonnaise

  1 Tbsp yellow mustard (the sandwich spread, not the spice)

  ¼ cup chopped green onion

  Dashes of salt and pepper

  Preparation:

  Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for about 10 minutes. Remove eggs from hot water, cool, peel, and chop.

  Place the chopped eggs in a bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise, mustard, and green onion.

  Season with salt and pepper.

  Stir and serve on bread or crackers.

  CREAMY TOMATO SOUP

  Ingredients:

  2 (15 oz) containers chicken or vegetable broth

  1 (28 oz) can concentrated crushed tomatoes

  1 cup half-and-half

  Dashes of salt and pepper

  Cheese for topping (optional)

  Preparation:

  Combine broth and tomatoes in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When soup bubbles, stir in half-and-half and reduce heat to low. Season with dashes of salt and pepper and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring continually. Puree soup in a blender—might want to hold blender with an oven mitt.

  This is so good if you top with melted cheese: provolone, Asiago, cheddar, Gruyère, Swiss, etc. and serve with crusty bread.

  MRS. O’FLYNN’S CRANBERRY-TOMATO CHUTNEY

  Ingredients:

  5 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)

  1 (16 oz) can crushed tomatoes

  1 cup raisins

  1 cup sugar

  Dash of salt

  Preparation:

  Combine all ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool. Cover and refrigerate for 2 days before serving.

  TOMATO, MOZZARELLA, AND AVOCADO SALAD— FIRST PRIZE WINNER AT THE TOMATO BALL

  Ingredients:

  4 tomatoes, cubed

  3 big balls of fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed

  2 soft-ish avocados—peeled, pitted, and cubed

  3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

  3 Tbsp red wine vinegar

  ½ tsp basil—dried or fresh

  1 tsp sugar

  Dashes of salt and pepper

  Preparation:

  Toss tomatoes, mozzarella, and avocados in a bowl. Mix vinegars, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl. Pour dressing over salad and mix it up.

  You could serve this with crusty bread, toast, or crackers.

  ROZ’S VERY FIRST CHICKEN POT PIE

  Ingredients:

  1 pound cooked chicken breast

  2 jars premade turkey or chicken gravy

  1 bag frozen mixed vegetables

  1 package refrigerator biscuits

  Preparation:

  Preheat oven to 350°F. Chop chicken into bite-size pieces. In a large mixing bowl mix chicken bites, gravy, and frozen mixed vegetables. Flatten the refrigerator biscuits and line the bottom of a Pyrex dish or ramekins with dough. Bake biscuits for about 8 minutes. Pour the chicken mixture over partially cooked dough and top the mixture with more flattened dough. Bake until biscuits are browned, about 45 minutes.

  CORK’S CHICKEN PARMESAN RECIPE

  Ingredients:

  4 breaded chicken breast cutlets

  2 jars store-bought spaghetti sauce

  2 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

  1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  8 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced

  Preparation:

  Preheat oven to 400°F.

  Place chicken cutlets in a baking pan. Top with sauce, basil, and cheeses.

  Bake until chicken is cooked through, cheese is melted, and sauce is hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

  Acknowledgments

  Sydney Mackenzie Knocks ’Em Dead is what I’ve heard referred to as a “trunk novel.” That is, it was drafted long ago (circa 2008–2009) and put in a trunk for many years before finding its way to editing and publication. Luckily, I still write with the same wonderful group of partners as I did then. So, once again, thank you to Gale, Carolee, Josette, Jane, Chris, and Shannon.

  While I would hate to be lost in a tunnel under a haunted cemetery, if I had to bring someone with me, it would be my tireless editor, the wonderful Alyson Heller. This marks the seventh book we’ve worked on together. Aly, I’m so lucky to have you!

  When I think of my tombstone, I imagine it will be alongside the gang who constantly hears about half-baked plots, characters, and settings: Kevin, Ellie, Evan, Happy, and, of course, Mom and Dad.

  Most of all, thank you to my readers, the librarians, the teachers, and the parents who read and recommend my books. I hope you love Sydney Mackenzie Knocks ’Em Dead as much as Lost in Hollywood, Lost in Ireland, Lost in Rome, Lost in Paris, Lost in London, and Just Add Magic.

  CINDY CALLAGHAN writes stuff tweens love to read. Her books—Just Add Magic (2010), Lost in London (2013), Lost in Ireland (2016; previously titled Lucky Me (2014)), Lost in Paris (2015), Lost in Rome (2015), Lost in Hollywood (2016), and Sydney Mackenzie Knocks ’Em Dead—entertain young book lovers and reluctant readers alike. When asked what it is about her books that tweens love, she said, “The funny! Without a doubt, it’s the funny situations, characters, and dialogue. A few milk shakes and farts don’t hurt either.” Cindy’s first book, the much-loved Just Add Magic, is now a breakout Amazon Original live-action series.

  In addition to writing, Cindy’s passions include animal advocacy, exercising, moviegoing, weekends in the mountains, reading, podcasts, and girlfriends, all of which take a backseat to her three children, husband, and menagerie of rescued pets. She lives in Delaware.

  Aladdin · Simon & Schuster, New York

  Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids

  authors.simonandschuster.com/Cindy-Callaghan

  ALSO BY CINDY CALLAGHAN

  Just Add Magic

  Lost in London

  Lost in Paris

  Lost in Rome

  Lost in Ireland

  (previously titled Lucky Me)

  Lost in Hollywood

  And don’t miss the Amazon Original

  Just Add Magic TV adaptation.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ALADDIN

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  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  First Aladdin hardcover edition March 2017

  Text copyright © 2017 by Cindy Callaghan

  Jacket illustration copyright © 2017 by Dung Ho Hahn

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

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  Jacket designed by Jessica Handelman

  Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia

  The text of this book was set in Centaur MT.

  This book has been cataloged with the Library of Congress.

  ISBN 978-1-4814-6569-4 (hc)

  ISBN 978-1-4814-6570-0 (eBook)