Continuing Monday’s theme of Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache mystery series, I thought I’d share some things from the publisher’s related blog.

There is a lovely selection of recipes and gorgeous photos to admire and to choose from for each of the books here.

There is also a PDF download of a short cookbook, The Nature of the Feast which includes a preview excerpt of book #12, The Great Reckoning.

My own Bistro-esque recipe below the cut:

While the following recipe is not from Penny’s books, and it is probably nothing like the gourmet meals that Gabri Dubeau creates and serves at Olivier’s Bistro, this is something that my family enjoyed earlier in the week.

Chicken BBQ Packets with Mashed Potatoes & Carrots

• Chicken Tenders
• BBQ sauce, your preference; we used Stubb’s
• Shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)
• Shredded carrots
• French style or string green beans
• Potatoes for mashing
• Sliced Carrots

Create tin foil packets for each diner. Layer the ingredients: Shredded carrots first, then green beans, 3-4 chicken tenders, and cover the chicken with barbeque sauce. Close the packets or cover with foil. Bake for 20 minutes at 350°. After 20 minutes, uncover for 10 minutes.

In the meantime, cut potatoes into chunks and boil until soft. Drain. Mash potatoes, adding 1 stick of butter, approximately 1-1 1/2 tablespoons of salt, and milk, and mix thoroughly. Other additional options for adding to the potatoes include chives, sour cream, shredded cheese to taste.

When the chicken is cooked, sprinkle on a generous helping of shredded cheddar cheese in each packet, continue to bake for 15 minutes or less.

Serve with mashed potatoes and sliced carrots, with dinner rolls or biscuits if you’d like.