Welcome to Not Your Usual Suspects! While our focus will be on murder and mayhem (with a healthy dollop of romance), during this lead up to Christmas, I'm delighted to focus on the holiday. As a thank you for visiting with me, I'll select a reader at random from the comments to receive a copy of On Her Trail, my suspense-with-ghosts, which was released by Carina Press in June 2010.I love Christmas. I love the food, the decorations, the music. I love spending time with friends and family, love the way strangers on the street smile and wish me a Merry Christmas, and did I mention the food?
It's a joyful time, certainly, but it doesn't leave you with a lot of free time! Like many of you, I lead a busy life. Too often, the only time I have to read is just before bedtime. And I barely manage fifteen minutes before my eyes refuse to stay open any more.
But the week between Christmas and New Year... ah, that's my time. That's when I settle into my favorite comfy chair with my eggnog and read. This year, I have a grand selection to choose from, just from among my fellow Carina authors. I recently bought an e-reader and have downloaded a number of Carina mystery and suspense titles to keep me happy over the Christmas break. Good food and good books--does it get any better?
Now I'd like to know what you do over the Christmas break. Is the time filled with frenzied activity? Do you hunker down and stay warm?
Before I go, I'd like to give you a final gift, Dear Reader. This is a traditional French-Canadian recipe that IS Christmas to me. (Did I mention that I like food?) I hope you enjoy it, too. The quantities will vary according to the size of pot you have. Use a heavy pot with a lid. This dish is easy and delicious, but definitely not for vegetarians.
CIPÂTE
You will need:
- Chicken, veal, pork, rabbit, moose (any kind of meat your prefer) cut into one-inch cubes NOTE: you will be limited by the size of your pot
- Peeled and sliced potatoes - 1/4-inch thickness
- Peeled and sliced onions - 1/4-inch thickness
- Salt, pepper, spices to taste
- Chicken or beef broth (your preference)
- Pastry -- enough to cover the top and also to use in between layers (I use the ready-made stuff from the store)
Ready? Okay. Now, place a layer of potatoes on the bottom of your pot, followed by a layer of onions, then a layer of been (or chicken, or veal...). Season with salt and pepper and any spices you favour. Then add one-inch-wide strips of pastry in a criss-cross pattern. Repeat the layers with a different kind of meat until you are near the top of your pot. Don't forget to season as you go along. When you're close to the top, pour in about a cup of broth. Then cover everything with a solid layer of pastry, with slits for venting. Cover with the lid.
Cook at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for four to five hours. Check every hour or so. If it looks too dry, add some broth.
Merry Christmas!
24 comments:
Yum. That sounds great. I, too, love to read in that down week between holidays. Usually presents. I hope your holiday is wonderful and your career is straight to the moon.
Yum! Sounds de-lish. What's not to like about meat and pastry?
How do you pronounce the name of that dish, Marcelle?
Marcelle, it's fortunate I read this post only a half hour before lunch because now I'm starving!!! Thank you for sharing!
I will be reading that week as well, and writing too. I like to divide that time. And yes, most likely cleaning as well. :)
Thea, from your "lips" to God's ear, as they say! Thanks for your kind wishes and may your career keep you happy and well fed (note to self: stop thinking about food). Merry Christmas!
Julie, I'll try to transcribe it phonetically. I think it would go: "see-powt". That's with the French-Canadian accent, of course. And Maureen, you sound as bad as me, cleaning over the Christmas holidays. But it feels so good to see everything in its place...
I love new recipes and this sounds delicious - thanks! My life is pretty crazy around the holidays but I find time to enjoy a fire with my family. Amidst the hustle and bustle, I find work a comforting quiet time. Gotta love being a writer!
Wynter, my single greatest regret since I moved to my new place is the loss of the wood stove. There is nothing like cozying up to a fire in winter.
Oooh - love recipes, and this one looks great! (And...your book looks fantastic, Marcelle!)
Now I'm so hungry!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you've reminded me I need to clean!
Our house is a mix of relaxed and frenetic depending on the sugar levels of the kids and squirrel spotting success of our brand new dog. Christmas should be fun :)
Thanks, Sunny! The recipe is practically foolproof. Trust me, I'm no cook but it works out for me. Enjoy!
You've just sent me back to the kitchen. Sounds great (although I am the fool in the kitchen this may not be proof against I will give it a try)
Aww... a new dog? That should be so much fun! Have fun, Toni!
B.A., I hope the recipe works as well for you as it does for me. It's the one time of the year I can actually fool people into thinking I can cook.
Sounds delicious. I rarely cook except for this time of year when I never seem to stop!
I'm all in favour of easy recipes and that sounds delicious. I'll give it a go! Maybe I can fool people into thinking I can cook too. :)
Christmas does seem to inspire, doesn't it, Josh? And good luck, Shirley! May you be a hero in your family, too.
Hmm! That recipe sounds wonderful! My Christmas break is coming up next week. I plan to relax and catch up on all the movies I've put off seeing and try and whittle down my TBR pile ; ).
Interesting looking recipe. I shall have to try it some time.
Christmas break ... hmmm ... I'd like to sleep in, but with a toddler, that's hard. :) At least I can spend as much of the day as I want in my p.j.'s. I will try to squeeze in some reading and writing. Got lots of books on my TBR list and would like to get through at least some of them!! Thanks for the yummy recipe, Marcelle. It sounds marvelous!! :)
Movies, books and good food. Does life get any sweeter...?
I am happy to announce that the winner of the copy of my book, On Her Trail, is B.A. Binns! B.A., contact me at marcelle.dube [at] gmail.com so I get your particulars.
Thanks, everyone, for participating. It was fun!
Congrats, BA!!
Hey, Marcelle:
You are so talented. And you cook too! Nice to see your well deserved success.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Much love from your friends Russ and Rita in Vancouver.
Aw shucks... Thanks, youse guys! Merry Christmas to you, too!
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