The Great Canadian Literary Cookbook

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Sixty-five writers, participants in B.C.’s annual Festival of the
Written Arts, each supplied two recipes to this collection. To add
volume and variety, festival staff added their favorites and six authors
of successful cookbooks were asked to contribute a few special recipes.
The result is a substantial collection worthy of serious consideration.

Most of the writers, it seems, are interested in homey, unpretentious
food. There are pancakes, chicken stew, clam chowder, and lots of simple
desserts, such as rice pudding and oatmeal cookies. The impression is
that the authors are too busy eating, and writing, to spare time for
fussy concoctions.

For each contributing author there’s a one-page bio with a
black-and-white head shot and literary credits. The writers included are
novelists, journalists, poets, children’s authors—even a writer of
government reports.

Although this may not have been its objective, the book makes it clear
that writers are “just plain folks” with few pretensions. Who could
be intimidated by an author whose favorite recipe is Turkey Carcass Soup
or fudge made with canned milk? Consider Christie Harris, for example.
She’s the author of 21 published books, a Member of the Order of
Canada, and winner of numerous literary awards. Her recipe?—Creative
Blobs.

A book devoted equally to good eating and good reading.