Elle Cosimano's FINLAY DONOVAN mystery series follows struggling suspense novelist and single mom turned-amateur-sleuth Finlay Donovan, whose fiction begins to tread perilously close to truth.

From Elle Cosimano: “I like to think of the Finlay Donovan series as comfort food. The last several years have been difficult for many of us, and nothing soothes the soul like a fun, fast, heartfelt story. The Finlay Donovan mysteries are the perfect one-pot dish—an amateur sleuth mystery that reads like a rom-com/cozy/thriller mashup! It’s the kind of book you can’t wait to bring to a neighborhood party and share with all your family and friends. In the spirit of comfort, I’ve shared some of Finlay and Vero’s favorite recipes in book club discussion guides, including Finlay’s lasagna recipe, Finlay’s Mom’s famous pot roast, and recipes for Nick’s So Hot Chili and His Very Impressive Biscuits—a fan favorite! All pair well with your favorite adult beverage and the latest installment of the series. From my home —and Finlay’s— to yours, we hope you enjoy them!”

In Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden, poet and scholar Camille T. Dungy recounts the seven-year odyssey to diversify her garden in the predominately white community of Fort Collins, Colorado. When she moved there in 2013 the community had strict restrictions about what residents could plant in their gardens.

From Camille Dungy: “During 2020, when I was home with my family, I felt like I was almost always either in the kitchen or the laundry room. My garden was one of the few places where I could escape. A lot of the food I describe cooking in the book is actually wild game acquired from hunter friends. Elk or pronghorn seasoned with sage, dried juniper berries, and a bit of cedar smoked salt, probably not ingredients easily accessible for most people. But I also describe a green garden tomato pizza I made towards the end of summer that I find quite tasty. Served in appetizer portions like a flatbread, I used a premade cauliflower crust for myself and a homemade pizza crust for my husband and daughter. Add a thin layer of pesto (homemade or store-bought), a layer of sliced green tomatoes — substitute green apples or red tomatoes depending on whether you want more sweet or more tart— feta cheese, and a sprinkling of rosemary. I love to add Kalamata olives, but I’m the only one in my family who likes them. It doesn't need to be super cheesy, but if that’s your preference, add some mozzarella cheese. Bake as you typically bake homemade pizza. Slice and enjoy.” 

Marie Myung-Ok Lee's novel The Evening Hero follows a Korean immigrant pursuing the American dream who must confront the secrets of the past or risk watching the world he’s worked so hard to build come crumbling down.

From Marie Myung-Ok Lee: “Yungman, the elderly protagonist has tried to leave Korea behind when he immigrated, but can’t stop craving the food. People may be familiar with nori roll—kimbap— but another favorite way to eat it is to use roasted and oiled seaweed (kim) and for each bite pile on your preferred rice, kimchi, and whatever other toppings you want —bulgogi, soybean sprouts, other pickled vegetables — it’s a homey way of eating familiar to all Koreans and not available in restaurants!”

Pictured: "A Gentleblend in Moscow” (Dill Weed) Chicken and Tzatziki; "Are You There, God? It’s Me, Marjoram."(Chicken Rub) Roast Chicken; "Dried and Prejudice" (Seasoned Salt) Butter Board; and "Grain of Thrones" (Everything Bagel Seasoning) Stuffed Celery. Find delicious Blends recipes on our Blends Bash page!