I posted and asked about this earlier - I can't believe I didn't find
my answer in my earlier Google searches on her name, since she died in
1988! She would have been 58. No indication as to how it happened that
I can find, but I know she was a smoker. Very sad - she was a fun
writer. She also illustrated her books - plus the late Herb Caen's only
kids' book, which is called "The Cable Car and the Dragon"! (For those
who don't know Caen, it takes place in San Francisco.)

Some of her book titles:

http://www.target.com/gp/search.html...Ninde.+Byfield

("The Glass Harmonica" is also known as "The Book of Weird" - a better
title, since it's a slim - and humorous - encyclopedia of medieval
fantasy terms. There are 5 glowing reviews in Amazon.com for it.)

Article on the cookbook:
www.postgazette.com/food/20000406vint7.asp

Recipes include "Elizabeth Barrett's Brownies," "Swordfish
Agamemnon," "Spilt Milk Pudding," "Curried Favor"(a very spicy lamb
dish), "Cornish Hens Suttee," "Cheesecake Under the Covers," "Caesar's
Goat,"(made with veal) "Cooked Goose Full of Beans," "Pomegranates
Inferno," "Turkish Delight," "Suleyman's Comfort"(lamb with rice,
currants, pinenuts, etc.), "Chocolate Chili," "Golden Eggs" (deviled
eggs with caviar), "Tacos for Talking To," "Shoulder of Lamb to Cry On"
(stuffed with truffles) "Nest Eggs" (with chipped beef and kidney
beans), "Piggy Bank Beef" (stroganoff), "Ether" (macaroons with fruit,
cream and brandy), etc.

Not all the recipes are expensive, believe it or not!

However, I found it necessary to turn up the heat for both the brownies
and the milk pudding - and the latter benefited from a reduction in
sugar as well. Suleyman's Comfort also has too much rice. Oh, and for
anyone who doesn't know, a #2 can means an 18- or 20-ounce can.

Do check it out! There are 11 copies or so for sale in abebooks.com.
She wrote funny comments next to every recipe. Plus a long introduction
on the art of eating in bed.

Lenona.

"If you've just seen 'Captains Courageous' (on TV) and if you're crying
like a baby long before the last commercial, don't be embarrassed. The
minor woes of life are painful and deserve something on your stomach.
These (deviled) eggs, accompanied by a glass of champagne, will wash
down the lump in your throat."

-Byfield.