The Sookie Stackhouse Companion

minutes, or until the filling is firm.
    Submitted by Ali Katz

WICKED PEACH CAKE
    TIME: BAKING TIME 35–40 MINUTES • SERVES 8–10
    INGREDIENTS:
    1 box yellow cake mix
1 package peach Jell-O
½ cup peach schnapps, divided
3–4 good-sized peaches, chopped to make 1½ cups
½ box powdered sugar
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a Bundt cake pan.
    Prepare cake mix according to box directions. Add Jell-O and ¼ cup schnapps. Fold in peaches. Pour mixture into pan and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
    Let cake cool for a few minutes, then turn it onto a cake plate and let cool until just warm. Mix together ¼ cup schnapps and powdered sugar to make a glaze. Poke several holes into the top of the cake with an ice pick or similar-sized utensil before drizzling the glaze over the cake. Add more schnapps if glaze is too thick.
    Submitted in memory of Sharon Hicks

Drinks

CLASSIC SOUTHERN SWEET TEA
    TIME: 15 MINUTES FOR HEATING AND STEEPING • SERVES 8
    INGREDIENTS:
    1 quart water, preferably filtered
1 cup sugar
6 tea bags (flavor of your choice, but plain old Lipton is traditional)
Ice
    Place a heavy 2-quart stainless steel saucepan on the stove. Fill just over halfway with water.
    Add the sugar. Heat the water until the sugar melts, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat.
    Drop in the tea bags. Allow to steep for roughly 5 minutes, or to taste. The longer the bags steep, the stronger the tea will be. Remove the tea bags and discard. Add ice to the mixture and stir. Pour the tea into a pitcher. Serve by pouring into ice-filled glasses.
    Tip: Garnish with mint or lemon balm, if desired.
    Submitted by Denise Little

COUNTRY PORCH LEMONADE
    TIME: 15 MINUTES • SERVES 6
    INGREDIENTS:
    1 quart water, preferably filtered
1 cup sugar
3 lemons
Ice
    Place a heavy 2-quart stainless steel saucepan on the stove. Fill just over halfway with water.
    Add the sugar. Heat the water until the sugar melts, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat.
    While the water is heating, slice the lemons in half. Cut six perfect round slices to garnish with, one from each cut lemon half. Set aside the garnish slices. Juice the six remaining lemon halves. Strain out the seeds and pulp. Add the lemon juice and ice to the warm sugar water. Stir. Pour the lemonade into a pitcher. Serve by pouring into ice-filled glasses. Garnish each glass with a slice of lemon.
    Submitted by Denise Little

Inside True Blood
    Alan Ball Answers Questions from the Fans
    A lthough True Blood certainly wouldn’t exist without Charlaine’s celebrated bestselling novel series, there’s no doubt that the driving force behind the sexy, sassy television show is its creator, producer, and writer, Alan Ball, who was captivated with Charlaine’s wonderful characters at first sight and has reimagined them for television while staying true to their original versions at the same time.
    When I approached him for an interview about the series and his work, Mr. Ball said yes quickly and graciously. Rather than ask him questions that have no doubt been covered in other venues, I decided to allow the fans a rare chance to ask Mr. Ball questions about his work on True Blood and just about anything else Sookie-related that they desired. The response was overwhelming, and I selected the best questions to pass along to him. I’m pleased to reveal his answers here.
     
     
    How did you first discover the Sookie Stackhouse series?
    —RACHEL KLIKA
     
    I was early for a dentist appointment and stumbled upon the books at a nearby Barnes & Noble. I picked up the first book and couldn’t put it down. Once I got into the series, I knew it had to be a TV show.
     
     
    In Season 2 of True Blood , the maenad character Maryann Forrester (played brilliantly by Michelle Forbes) was developed to a fuller extent when compared to her role in the book by Ms. Harris. Why did you decide to develop this character further?
    —DEIRDRE BRENNAN
     
    Part of the challenge in adapting Charlaine’s novels is to create strong stories for the characters other than Sookie and still remain very faithful to the spirit of the books. We loved the maenad attacking Sookie and poisoning her with her claws, and then we looked for ways for her to interact with the other characters as well as being dangerous to Sookie. Ultimately, she gave us something for the entire cast to go up against.
     
     
    What was your motivation for having Bill ask Sookie