Friday, April 1, 2022

Guest Author Brenda Chapman Introduces her Tuna Pie

Vicki Delany here and today I’m pleased to introduce MLK readers to Canadian author Brenda Chapman. I love this recipe for tuna pie. It looks fabulous. I’ll let Brenda introduce you to her and her books

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Thank you, Vicki, for inviting me to share a recipe and news about my new mystery series, introducing Ella Tate in Blind Date: A Hunter and Tate Mystery. Here is a bit about the book:

True crime podcaster Ella Tate is shaken to her core by the horrific assault and murder of Josie Wheatly, a teacher she has never met … because not only had Josie moved into Ella’s vacated apartment three months earlier, but her Facebook photos reveal a striking resemblance between the two women. Within days, two people close to Ella are harmed, and she fears that she’s become the target of twisted revenge from her crime-reporting days. Reluctantly teaming up with her neighbour Tony, a hairdresser who loves the finer things in life, and Liam Hunter, the persistent detective assigned to the cases, Ella struggles to stay one step ahead before she becomes the target of the final kill.

Ella lives hand to mouth in a cramped third floor apartment in Ottawa. She has little money and even less interest in cooking, so today I’m showcasing a simple, cost-saving recipe passed on to me from my sister in the hopes Ella gives it a try in the next book because she could really use a good meal. While tuna pie doesn’t sound all that exciting, I can attest that the finished product is tasty, filling and nutritious — much like a quiche — and goes great with a salad. The dish is made with ingredients often on hand and has become our go-to mid-week meal when I don’t feel like a trip to the grocery store.



TUNA PIE

For rice shell, combine:

2 cups cooked rice (I use brown)

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 tablespoon chopped onion

¼ teaspoon dried marjoram, crushed

1 slightly beaten egg.

 

Press into bottom and sides of a lightly buttered 10” pie plate or 10 x 6 x 1½“ baking dish.

Layer one 9-ounce can tuna, drained and flaked, evenly over rice shell.

Combine:

3 beaten eggs

1 cup milk

4 ounces (i.e., 1 cup) cheddar (or Swiss) cheese, shredded

1 tablespoon chopped onion

¼ teaspoon salt

dash pepper

¼ teaspoon dried marjoram, crushed

 

Pour mixture over tuna.

Bake in moderate oven (350) for 50 to 55 minutes or until a knife inserted just off center comes out clean.










Brenda Chapman is a Canadian crime fiction author with over twenty published novels. In addition to short stories and standalones, she writes the Stonechild and Rouleau police procedural series, the Anna Sweet mystery novellas for adult literacy, and the Jennifer Bannon mysteries for middle grade. Her latest release is Blind Date: A Hunter and Tate Mystery is the first in a new series. Brenda’s work has been shortlisted for several awards, including four Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence. You can contact her at Website: www.brendachapman.caFacebook & Instagram: BrendaChapmanAuthor. Twitter: brendaAchapman




Brenda would like to offer a copy of her newest book, Blind Date, to one lucky reader. US and Canada entries. Contest closes Monday April 4

 To enter, please leave a comment below, letting us know if you’ve ever been to Canada’s capital city, Ottawa.  If you have, what did you like (or not!) about it. 


41 comments:

  1. That looks delicious, Brenda. Thanks for joining us, and all best luck with the new series!

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    1. Thanks so much, Edith - thank you for inviting me to post!

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  2. I love tuna (and pie) but have never heard of tuna pie. I'm definitely trying this!

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    1. Thanks Alicia - I hope you enjoy!

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  3. I discovered your Stonechild books when the first two suddenly became available as audiobooks from the library, and read the them back to back. I hope you do more in this format, so I can join up with the duo again.
    Margo, in Canada, who has been to Ottawa many times but never for the tulip festival - a real treat that I hope to see someday.

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    1. Thanks Margo - Blind Date will be released in audiobook format later this month and will be available everywhere. The tulip festival is a beautiful time of year to visit.

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  4. I was searching for something different to make for this Friday in Lent. Up pops your recipe....it looks delicious!! I have never been to Canada (yet).
    sharonquiltsatyahoodotcom

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    1. Sharon - It's a simple but tasty recipe and great heated up the next day. I hope visiting Canada is on your bucket list :-)

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  5. What a yummy sounding dish and rather simple to make to boot. I will be trying this for sure.

    We have never been to Canada. The closest I've been is to Niagara Falls, but our time was limited and we stated on the states side. I would love to visit Canada some day though. Maybe as a trip through on our way to Alaska. I'd much rather travel through land and see it all than go by cruise so many talk about.

    Thank you for the fabulous opportunity to win a copy of "Blind Date". Shared and hoping to be the very fortunate one selected.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Thanks Kay and I hope you make it to Canada some day. There is so much to see and do.

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  6. Your recipe looks delectable and so appetizing. I have been to Ottawa many times and enjoyed every visit. I was born in Montreal and lived there for many years. We had relatives in Ottawa whom we would visit. I miss those days when we would drive there and have memorable visits. Blind date sounds enthralling. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Ottawa and Montreal are two lovely cities and well worth visiting - different vibes but both so diverse and interesting. I hope you make it back some day!

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  7. I know Ottawa very well and love the city. Throughout my life when I was young and then a little older there were important family events to attend. I always looked forward to these special weekends. Summertime meant exploring the areas and seeing cousins. When I was 16 I took an American cousin there during her summer vacation. I still think of that summer. Blind Date would be greatly enjoyed together with your tuna pie. I will make it for sure. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I also love Ottawa in the summer! Tuna pie and Blind Date would make for a good supper :-)

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  9. I meant to post as Brenda and not my other blog account - I am also 7 Criminal Minds! Brenda

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  10. I have never been to Ottawa, but I would love to visit Ottawa some day.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks Dianne - Ottawa is a great destination for a holiday!

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  11. Your recipe looks really good. Will have to make it soon! I have never been to Ottawa, would like to visit some day. Thanks for the chance!

    jarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for your comments and good luck!

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  12. Nice. And if you want to splurge, you could use canned salmon.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  13. Salmon is a definite option!

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  14. Tuna Pie sounds good! I’ve been in Canada in the past but not as far as Ottawa.

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    1. Thanks Pat - Ottawa should be on your bucket list!

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  15. This tuna pie sounds really good and delicious. I was wondering - with the rice crust is it crunchy or after baked like a pie crust??
    I have only been to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and always loved staying in that area. Touring Canada is on my "to do" list, my grandparents were in love with Montreal and went numerous times.
    lindalou64(@)live(dot)com

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    1. Thanks Linda - The crust can be crunchy around the edges but not overly so. I think you'll enjoy touring through Canada if you get the chance. Montreal is a lovely city in the summertime.

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  16. Your tuna recipe sounds delicious. No I have never been to Canada’s capital city, Ottawa.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. Thanks Nancy - I hope you can make it to Ottawa one day!

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  17. I’ve been looking for good and wholesome recipes to make with tuna. This looks to be just what I was looking for. What a wonderful idea and I will look forward to making it!! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!

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    1. I think you'll enjoy it, Gisela! Tuna pie is quite filling too!

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  18. The recipe looks great, I will be trying it soon. I've not been to Ottawa. Thank you for the chance to win. madamhawk at g mail dot com

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  19. I've never been to Ottawa, just Niagra Falls. I like tuna so will probably try this Tuna Pie. conney.parkhurst@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks Conney - Tuna pie is one of our go-to recipes so worth a try for sure :-)

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  20. lnchudej@yahoo.com Once a week when I was growing up, my mother made tuna casserole. I loved it & have missed it. My husband & children didn't like it so I haven't made it in decades. I'm going to make this recipe for Tuna Pie though because it sounds taste-wise very similar to the casserole but anything that looks like a pie is usually a hit with my husband. :) I've never been to Ottawa. I'll put it on my list of places to visit. I enjoyed a week in Montreal & Quebec though. Beautiful country!

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    1. I also love tuna casserole - tuna pie is more quiche-like, but has lovely flavours. I think you can't go wrong visiting Ottawa!

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  21. Oh the book sounds so good!
    And the Tuna Pie. Never heard of it before. It looks good! Thanks for the chance!

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    1. Best of luck! The book and recipe should both hit the spot :-)

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  22. I've been to Whitby many times but never to Ottawa. The tuna pie sounds yummy. Do you think the shell would work with orzo or spaghetti noodles instead of rice? Darn those picky eaters!

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  23. Try it with rice first and then decide how to make orzo or noodles work - you'll need to be a bit creative I think. Rice gives a nice shell-like base.

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  24. I sure have been to Ottawa. I lived there for six months and I have been back many times for work and play. I last visited in December, including a stop at the Museum of Nature.

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