Author: Cynthia

I was first introduced to Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache of the Surêté du Québec a couple of years ago when my book club read The Madness of Crowds.  A different kind of murder mystery, the story was set in the Canadian town of Three Pines.  The Chief Inspector is knowledgeable while kind and caring. He sees what others do not. He reasons, never jumping to unfounded conclusions.

I learned at that time that Penny had written a series with the characters Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, his second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and another trusted team member Inspector Isabelle Lacoste. Residents of Three Pines were introduced in the first book and continue to be characters in subsequent books.

A few weeks ago one of the ladies in my book club suggested reading The Grey Wolf, a new book by Louise Penny. I did not have a clue what it was about but trusted my new friend’s opinion, so I picked up the book after our meeting at our local Barnes and Noble. I was delighted when I started reading and found familiar “friends” on the pages. Upon finishing the book, I decided to start reading the series from the beginning.

I hadn’t yet acted on the decision to read the entire series. However, I made it to a hotel without a book. Luckily, a lovely outdoor mall was nearby, and I noticed a Barnes and Noble there. This would be the perfect time to dig in from the beginning! So I went to inquire about the first book in the series.  That night I began reading the book. (I read in bed; it helps me relax and fall asleep easier). Within two days I had read the entire book, Still Life. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  While a murder mystery, it is “light” reading. The characters are inimitable and engaging, each with his or her unique personality.

On the Gamache Series website, Louise Penny writes: “These books are murder mysteries, but they’re not about murder. They’re about love and belonging, about loyalty and choices. And the courage to be good.” I think this is much of the reason I enjoy the books.

Penny is a good writer. The stories are easy to read. I find it fascinating to read the clues along with the investigative team and try to figure out who the culprit was.  While each book can be read stand alone, I am enjoying solving murder mysteries along with Chief Inspector Gamache and his team … and the people of Three Pines.

I encourage you to check out Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache / Three Pines books if you enjoy catching clues and solving puzzles. And following the lives of quirky individuals whom you begin to include in your list of friends.

With more than one hundred cookbooks on my bookshelf, one would think I don’t need another. Yet after a trip to the great southwest my cousin was compelled to provide me with one we had seen in Taos. Seed to Plate; Soil to Sky by Lois Ellen Frank contains modern plant-based recipes using Native American ingredients. Chef Walter Whitewater is the culinary adviser.

Linda, my cousin, and I have traveled together for over fifteen years. We consider ourselves foodies. Although she is not a vegetarian, she does appreciate vegetables, having grown up on a farm where her mother had an extensive garden. She is the one who selects where we eat when we travel. She studies menus, looking for those that have at least two options for me while also offering dishes that sound good to her. Over the years, I can’t think of more than one or two places that turned out to be less than delish.

One of the great things about living in America is the diversity of cuisine available due to the melting pot we are. Interestingly, many of the dishes we eat today come from other cultures. Although the cuisine is readily available in restaurants, the ingredients are available year-around in grocery stores.

Melissa K. Nelson of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa states “very few know and understand the Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and deep kinship relationships that Indigenous Peoples historically had and still have today for these ‘life sustainers’.” The cookbook serves not only as a source of recipes to use with The Magic Eight but offers insights into the use and development of these sustainable culinary sources.

“The Magic Eight were given to the world by Native Peoples of the Americas.” The book is divided into chapters, eight of which focus on one of the primary ingredients: corn, beans, squash, chile, tomato, potato, vanilla, and cacao.

You are probably thinking, you eat these ingredients frequently. Absolutely! You are probably also thinking “I don’t care for squash!” Yet what is better than a yummy pumpkin pie in the fall or a grilled zucchini with lemon herb dressing? Some ingredients are so familiar that we take them for granted. And that is a steppingstone for expanding our palates. Calabacitas, for example, is a traditional stir fry with roasted green chiles, zucchini, yellow summer squash, onion, and corn. Easy to make and yummy to eat. And you are eating squash!

When I first tried sweet potato and black beans I was shocked at the delightful mix of flavors. Now sweet potato and black bean tacos or enchiladas are “go-to’s” when I want a quick, nutritious meal. I always have tortillas on hand, but with this cookbook, I could make my own!

I could go on and on about the recipes in Seed to Plate; Soil to Sky. Some are easy. Some are a bit more challenging.  All the ones I have tried have been delicious.  I’m still making my way through the recipes.

Admittedly, mine rarely look as pristine as the gorgeous full color pictures of ingredients and finished dishes, but they aren’t bad.  If you are looking to better understand Native American culture while trying new week-night dishes, give this book a nod. I’m guessing you will be inspired!

ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎬ (Happy Eating in Cherokee)!

On occasion I need to change out the shelf paper for a cleaner, smoother base. Recently and by accident I ran across the most wonderful shelf liner. When I bought it, I was in a hurry and could not find shelf liner anywhere in the big box store. As I rounded the corner, I found some on an end-cap so grabbed a couple of rolls, which came in plastic containers, and off I went.

Opening the blister pack I noticed faint grid lines in the black surface. At first, I thought I had picked up a faulty liner. But to my surprise, the quarter-inch grids were designed to make measurements easier. Now let’s be real. It is difficult to cut straight lines that fit just right in any given shelf.

But … drum roll please! I realized I did not have to use scissors! I simply slid the liner into the shelf, folded it along one of the grid lines, and pulled. Yes, indeed! Just pulled along the line and had a perfectly neat edge.

This miracle product is called Zip-N-Fit, and it is made by a company we have all come to trust: Con-Tact.  I was so excited I went back for several more rolls!

The shelf liner comes in clear and can be used in the refrigerator. It also comes in gray and tan. I bought black, first. Regardless of the color, the shelf liner can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. So not only does it go on easily, it stays and cleans up easily.

Since I find myself continually organizing and cleaning, I’m excited to find a product that helps me do both in one fell swoop.