Caroline McCullagh

Caroline McCullagh

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Character Recipes

CAROLA LOVES TO COOK

A (non) friend once said about me, “Well, it’s obvious she enjoys her own cooking.” I didn’t think about it at the time, but later, I realized it was both an insult and a compliment. Like my character Carola, I love to cook and I’ve collected recipes all my adult life.

The first one in the collection was for the banana bread that was served at my wedding shower when I married my practice husband. (Fifteen years of practice—not a lot of fun, but I learned a lot and got some nice children out of the experience.)

During those fifteen years, I entered banana bread made from this recipe in the Tompkins County Fair in New York and won first place in the quick bread category. Well, my loaf was the only one entered, but still, a blue ribbon is a blue ribbon. I still have it.

So how could I not make food and recipes an important part of the lives of my characters: Anne, Jack, Carola, Ernesto, Hal, and Victor?

Carola, Anne’s housekeeper, has been an excellent cook from childhood, and she’s collected recipes from friends and family over the years. She taught Anne to cook when Anne was a bride. They’ve been cooking together for the almost forty years since. Here are some of their favorite recipes.

EASY ARCTIC CHAR

March 11, 2022 / Jared Kuritz / Character Recipes

Both Jack and Anne love Arctic char. Some people compare it to salmon, but it has a lighter, more delicate flavor. They prefer it raw when Jack pulls it from an icy Arctic stream, but cook it when they buy it in “the south.” (Serves 2)  2 6 oz. Arctic char filets 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 Tbsp. butter   Preheat […]

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BRAZILIAN BEANS AND RICE

March 11, 2022 / Jared Kuritz / Character Recipes

From Carola’s Brazilian neighbor, Sinclei: (Serves 6) 1 lb. dried beans—pinto, red, or black 10 cups water 2 cups onion, chopped 2 whole garlic cloves, finely minced, or more as desired 4 Tbsp. olive oil or more as desired, divided use 2 bay leaves salt and pepper to taste     Exact measurements don’t really […]

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AGUA DE JAMAICA (Iced Hibiscus Tea)

March 11, 2022 / Jared Kuritz / Character Recipes

This is a favorite beverage on a hot day anywhere Latinx people congregate, including at Carola’s house. It goes well with quesadillas. Bottom of Form Makes 2 quarts 1 cup water 3/4 to 1 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you want it) 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers 1/2 cinnamon stick, a few thin slices ginger, […]

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CAROLA’S QUICK QUESADILLAS

March 11, 2022 / Jared Kuritz / Character Recipes

This quick snack is one of Hal’s favorites.   For each serving: 1 flour tortilla thin slices of Monterrey Jack cheese or other cheese that melts well oil salsa (optional)   On medium low heat, warm one side of the tortilla until it just begins to bubble up. While it’s warming, brush the up side […]

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ANNE’S MOM’S SCONES

March 11, 2022 / Jared Kuritz / Character Recipes

(Serves 12) 2 cups  flour or 1 1/2 cups flour + 2/3 cup uncooked oatmeal 2 Tbsp. sugar 3 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 3 ozs. cold butter (3/4 of a stick, 6 TBS) 1 egg 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup raisins, sweetened dried cranberries, or minced crystalized ginger (optional)   Preheat the oven […]

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JOHNNYCAKE

March 11, 2022 / Jared Kuritz / Character Recipes

(Serves 6) 1/2 cup flour 2/3 cup cornmeal 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk 1/3 cup butter (2/3 of a stick)   Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.   Combine the dry ingredients. Mix in the milk. In the oven, melt the butter on a […]

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