Dolen Perkins-Valdez's novel Take My Hand is the story of a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible injustice done to her patients.

From Dolen Perkins-Valdez: 7-Up Cake

“I mention 7-Up Cake in the book, and that would be a nice food pairing. I don't have a favorite recipe but it's pretty simple to make, and there are many resources online.

In the book, the grandmother makes one. It's an old-fashioned Southern recipe that arose when people discovered 7-Up could substitute for baking powder. At least, that's what I've heard! My grandmother used to make them all the time.”

Abraham Verghese's novel The Covenant of Water is an epic of love, faith, and medicine, set in Kerala, South India, following three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret.

From Abraham Verghese: "The dishes mentioned in The Covenant of Water aren’t difficult to make but do require spices that may not be handy, such as asafetida, turmeric, mace, and cardamom, for example. A simple dish that’s often mentioned in Covenant is kanji --or congee as it might be better known to many readers. The word 'congee' is derived from the Tamil word 'kanji.”  It’s essentially rice porridge. Kanji takes different forms in different countries and even in different states in India, but it’s simply white rice cooked (and slightly overcooked) in excess water (or miso or chicken stock) along with salt, pepper, and ginger. Toppings could include shredded chicken, scallions, bacon, roasted garlic, roasted sesame seed, or steamed fish. Add soy sauce, Tabasco, or chili sauce to your taste. Papads from the Indian store are easy to make in a microwave and are great to crumble into the bowl like crackers. Kanji is meant to be a simple affordable dish, a full meal. For dessert, ripe plantain, sliced lengthwise and fried in a pan with butter and sugar is a nice touch. To drink—since fresh palm toddy is hard to come by— I suggest Indian beers which tend to have a unique flavor, such as Taj Mahal, King Fisher, or Golden Eagle. Enjoy!”

"Are You There, God? It’s Me, Marjoram"(Chicken Rub) Shepherds Pie; "A Gentleblend in Moscow” Dill Dip; "Late Show with Stephen Clove-bert" (Yucatan Recado Rojo Rub) Tacos; "Game of Scones” (Black Onyx Cocoa Powder) Swirled Banana Muffins. Find delicious Blends recipes on our Blends Bash page!