Welcome to the Blog Tour for Nellie by Amy Walsh, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Nellie
Series: Apron Strings #2
Author: Amy Walsh
Publisher: Walsh Mountain Publishing
Release Date: February 15, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance
Finances are tight for the O’Dwyer family who live on a mountain outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1931. Life gets even harder when their beloved Dadaí must cease work as a coal miner to become a patient at the West Mountain Sanitarium.
Nellie is her preferred name, but family and friends have heard Mam shout “Fenella Aileen O’Dwyer!” all too often with the countless predicaments she got herself into throughout childhood. So, it’s not altogether surprising when Nellie impulsively accepts a job as an assistant cook at the Clarinda House in a case of mistaken identity -- though she’s the last person her family would ask to prepare a meal.
Fortunately, along with determination, a talent for acting, and the gift of blarney, Nellie has Mrs. Campbell’s Cookery Book, a treasure she discovered at a Red Cross drought relief sale.
As her reluctant admiration for her employer grows, Nellie wishes she could be the sort of truthful woman of faith that Mr. Mason Peale esteems. If she confesses all, will she lose her job along with the friendships she’s formed at Clarinda House?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
Guest Post from Author Amy Walsh
Nellie and Hot Dogs
I’ll be honest, I enjoy a hot dog now and then. I have fond memories of hot dogs, French fries, and cream corn at Grandma Cooley’s house on many Sunday afternoons. She’d filet the hot dogs down the middle and fry them until the edges were dark brown and crispy. There was something about her coal stove that made everything taste so good. These days, I usually buy kosher hot dogs, or a brand of all beef, just to guarantee that there are fewer mysterious ingredients. Sometimes my husband just wants some franks and baked beans for supper. My kids are not so enthusiastic about that meal.
Hot dogs have been around at least since the 1600s in Frankfurt, Germany. They weren’t sold in a bun in the US until the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 (The Columbian Exposition). But they didn’t become popular until the Great Depression, Nellie’s era. One could buy a hot dog in a roll from a street vender for about five cents in 1931.
With Nellie’s father in the West Mountain Sanitarium, her family had to be even more frugal. The O’Dwyers were down to having meat once a week, and that would typically be something very cheap, like chipped corned beef or baloney. When one is used to beans as a main source of protein, like baked bean sandwiches, even cheap meat would taste good. I can only imagine how Nellie would have marveled the first time she opened the Clarinda House mansion’s Frigidaire and saw the abundance of meat.
Hot Dogs Recipes from the 1930s
Yay!
Hoover StewThis stew made with hot dogs, stewed tomatoes, corn, and macaroni was named after the president at the beginning of the United States financial collapse. Supposedly a group of women wanted to have a neighborhood party but they wanted to feed a crowd with the ingredients they had on hand, and that’s how Hoover Stew originated. I think I would enjoy this dish, how about you?
Source:
https://www.thefrugalnavywife.com/hoover-stew-recipe/Depression Sandwich I’ve actually had this same combination from Sonic – they called it the Chicago Dog. During the 1930s, this sandwich was a frankfurter topped with mustard, pickle relish, onions, a dill pickle, hot peppers, lettuce and tomatoes.
Poorman’s Meal This weiner and potato skillet meal also sounds like one I would eat with no grumping. You will love watching this 91-year-old grandmother make this dish.
https://youtu.be/3OPQqH3YlHA?si=omu9EUeE0e6JjW-X
What do you think of this combo? For me, it's NAY!
Speaking of nays, this one is
A Big Nay!
Jellied Bouillon with Frankfurters
The fabulous ingredients in this dish are unflavored gelatin, water, beef stock, hot dogs, hard boiled eggs, and diced celery.
Source:
https://www.tastemade.com/recipes/jellied-bouillon-with-frankfurters-source-500-snacks-ideas-for-entertaining-1953In the 1950s there was a new fad – gelatin. We will devote some time to gelatin in the Apron Strings Book Series Readers group on Facebook when Beatrice releases in April. I can’t wait!
About the Author
Amy Walsh writes historical and contemporary romance, mysteries, speculative fiction, and women’s fiction. She is a 5th-grade writing teacher in an urban public school. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children. Amy considers herself greatly blessed in the roles God has given her as an earthling, including aspiring wordsmith, teacher of youngsters, nature appreciator, tea aficionado, avid dessert fan, book fanatic, lover of family and friends, and Christ-follower.
Connect with Amy by visiting
walshmountainpublishing.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card, print copies of Nellie and Voices in the Sanitorium, and some historical memorabilia from the West Mountain Sanitarium!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 12, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 19, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Enter Giveaway
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