Saturday, August 14, 2010

Everything Old Is New Again! Guest Post - Mary Jane Maffini

Mary Jane Maffini writes several mystery series, including the Charlotte Adams Organizing Mysteries. What a perfect reason to snoop, um, I mean sleuth in other people's homes! In fact, Charlotte says, "Show me your closets and you show me your secrets." Isn't that the truth? Welcome, Mary Jane!


Mysteries and baking seem like an ideal partnership to me. In fact in a perfect world you could nibble the baking results and savor the books while nestled against your pillows. What a great life!


In a related partnership, one of the delightful results of toodling around promoting my mysteries has been the warm and welcoming reaction of readers. Some of the tastes of this travel will stay in my memory forever. But every now and then, I just have to have the recipe. In particular I am thinking about Nova Scotia Oatcakes. I grew up in this gorgeous rocky province on the east coast of Canada. There is a strong Scottish heritage there and it shows in the traditional foods. Of course, it was tough going in Nova Scotia in the bad —I mean good— old days. Fresh foods would have been in short supply and the traditional recipes reflect this. Staples would have been butter or shortening, eggs, vanilla, flour, brown sugar and oatmeal. These simple ingredients were put together in many marvelously adaptive ways.


So, on with my story: On a book tour though eastern Nova Scotia, my mystery writing friend Barbara Fradkin and I were welcomed with open arms by the historic Village of Sherbrooke. Have a look: http://museum.gov.ns.ca/sv/index.php

The local librarians had knocked themselves out making this a special event. The Sherbrooke ‘ladies’ had set out quite a spread and the community center was jammed with readers. For years I dreamed of the fabulous oatcakes we had there. This past year, I was lucky enough to get that recipe from my friend, the librarian Lesley Brothers, who in turn made sure to get permission from the Historic Village of Sherbrooke for me to use it as it was part of their fundraising cookbook. Old-fashioned and so delicious, these oatcakes evoke childhood and church fairs and trips to visit Grandma. They are a hit with men, women and children and a sign that everything old is new again—and should be! They are also inexpensive and really easy. I should add that they’re particularly good nibbled in bed with a mystery. What’s not to love?



Sherbrooke Oatcakes



2 1/2 c oatmeal (not instant)

1 c brown sugar

1 c flour

1 tsp each - vanilla, salt, baking soda

1 c shortening ( I used butter!)

1 egg, beaten


Combine dry ingredients and cut in shortening or butter. Add vanilla
 and egg. Roll out to desired thickness and cut into shapes. 
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Dough may be chilled before 
rolling.



Mary Jane Maffini is a lapsed librarian, a former mystery bookstore owner and a lifelong lover of mysteries. She is a former President of Crime Writers of Canada. In addition to the four Charlotte Adams books, she is the author of the Camilla MacPhee series, the Fiona Silk adventures and nearly two dozen short stories. She has won two Arthur Ellis awards for best mystery short story as well as the Crime Writers of Canada Derrick Murdoch award and was nominated for a Barry Award in 2006.


Mary Jane’s latest Charlotte Adams book is Closet Confidential (Berkley Prime Crime, July 2010). She says she’s grateful for all the tips she gets from Charlotte although she wishes Charlotte would learn to cook. She lives, cooks and plots in Ottawa, Ontario, along with her long-suffering husband and two princessy dachshunds. Visit her at http://www.maryjanemaffini.com/

19 comments:

  1. Oh my stars...why do I always check in here before toddling off to bed?? This recipe is going to be made first thing in the morning ;-) True to form I will probably throw in some extras...perhaps raisins or cranberries...Thanks so much Mary Jane for this lovely bit of history, nostalgia and good eating. Closet Confidential is next on my pile!
    nanc

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  2. Mary Jane, hope you are feeling welcome. I love a recipe that comes with a story... little history, little economics and always heartwarming to hear stories of the people in the world like the ladies of Sherbrooke that just want everyone to see the best they can offer.

    Great recipe and great post

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  3. I love it when everything old is new again! This sounds delicious and I love the picture of the ladies! Thanks for being on the Mystery Lovers' Kitchen today, MJ!

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  4. This recipe sounds delicious and looks like it would be easy to prepare. Definitely a good thing to have close at hand when reading a wonderful murder mystery (have to keep your strength up) LOL

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  5. Ooh, MJ, this is great! I love a recipe I can make *today* without having to run out to the store first. I've got all these items here at home and I have all my daughters home today too. Perfect timing on your part! *grin*

    And... I'm *thoroughly* enjoying CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL. I'm only about 1/3 of the way through at this point but it's a book I always can't wait to get back to. Wonderful!!

    Julie

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  6. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I noticed Truffle and Sweet Marie are blogging today at KillerCharacters.com. How on earth did they get away from Charlotte long enough to post a blog? LOL I'm heading over there now to "talk" with them.

    Julie

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  7. What a lovely treat for you to receive. The cookies look fabulous.

    And yes, on to KillerCharacters.com to meet your sweet friends.

    Enjoy the day!

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  8. Mary Jane what a nice surprise to have you over here on Mystery Lovers Kitchen and with a great recipe as well. I should never open this up when Logan is sitting with me he wants to try everything he sees ha ha. This sounds so yummy and we are going to try it.
    The World of Book Reviews

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  9. Thanks, everyone. I always get very hungry when I am here for some reason. It's such a great spot! I am hopping back and forth between here and Killer Characters today. I am feeling the love!

    MJ

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  10. I LOVE oatcakes! Became addicted to them during a short stint in Edinburgh. Thanks for the recipe, I'm going to try these.

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  11. Thanks, Pattie T! Nova Scotia is more Scottish than Scotland, by the way. Lots of Gaelic roadsigns in Cape Breton.

    MJ

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  12. Can't wait to try your recipe. Love your insight into the ingredients reflecting the Scottish tradition in NS as well as fresh foods being in short supply. (We have plenty of fresh foods, but I still want these NOW -- I have a hot cup of coffee sitting here and they would be absolutely perfect for dunking.) Always glad to see you in our virtual kitchen, MJ!

    ~ Cleo

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  13. Thanks, Cleo! They are perfect with hot tea or coffee made the right way (as I have learned from your books)

    MJ

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  14. MJ-
    I had no idea you were from NS! I just spent most of July at my mom's house on the Bay of Fundy (best ice cream in the world). I love your recipe and can't wait to try it. Thanks for stopping by the kitchen!

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  15. I'm also making the Nova Scotia Oatcakes tomorrow morning. I have all of the stuff for my scones, but they will freeze and I want to try these they look wonderful. And I have some apple butter just waiting to join them. Thank you.....I think. LOL

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  16. What a small world, Jenn! First the librarian connection and now this. I am from Cape Breton (other end of the province and most of the characters in my Camilla MacPhee books are too. Lots of what we call micks and macks!

    Mare, please let me know. They are very easy and and authentic! Apple butter would be perfect. Wish I was dropping in!

    MJ

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  17. I love easy recipes...will save this one.

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  18. Mary Jane,
    We had these this morning and they were delicious!! I actually stuck to the original recipe as Mr. Nanc doesn't like cranberries and the whole family loved them. With a 16 y.o. son they didn't last long however so next time, I'll be doubling the recipe. Thanks again!
    nanc

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  19. Thanks, Dru. Hope you like them (I some more in my back pocket if they ask me back!)

    Thanks, Nanc! I am glad they were a hit!

    MJ

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