I’ve always loved epic fantasy. The genre has been a staple
of my reading lists ever since I can remember. The old favorites line the bookshelves,
and the new discoveries fill space on the apps on my phone. There’s nothing
better for a commute on Boston’s crumbling public transit system than a story
that pulls you in so deeply you nearly forget your stop. In the era of indie
publishing, my go-to authors for epic fantasy have been Terry Simpson and
Melissa McPhail.
I first read McPhail’s work when Cephrael’s Hand was new. Through a post on a Facebook group, I
volunteered to help with a blog tour, and aspired to do a review. My timing was
off. My then-boyfriend-now-husband was just moving in, and digging into a 600+
page novel wasn’t going to happen. Fortunately, the blog tour organizers had
premade materials to post in lieu of a review. But for the 150 or so pages I
read at the time, the story made an impression.
Fast forward to this year, when my commute became longer
after a move, and I had been looking forward to delving into this series anew.
What I love about the Pattern of Shadow
& Light series is its complexity. Much like George R.R. Martin’s work,
you’re introduced to dozens of characters, each with detailed motivations and
quests. The worldbuilding is beautifully described, from its geography to the
magic the characters wield. With the fourth novel just released, I look forward
to continuing with the series.
Early on in Cephrael’s
Hand, we meet Trell of the Tides, a man who lives as a guest in an adopted
kingdom. His past is unknown to him, and he is encouraged to seek out the
truth. In a long journey, he meets a group of sisters who beg to travel with
him, and they come to a city called Sakkalah. They stay at the elegant Inn of
the Four Faces, and are presented with the following meal: “Roast green peppers
were stuffed with beef and pork mixed with spices, raisins, and almonds and
smothered in walnut-pomegranate sauce; lamb with potatoes and carrots was
served with golden tomatoes, and a baked dish of roasted eggplant with
vegetables, dates, and digs amazed them with its rich complexity. They picked
from a host of side dishes, and were offered a never-ending supply of warm,
toasted flatbread and excellent wine.”
I highlighted the passage and made a note. This is exactly the kind of cooking that sends
my imagination flying. One of the aspects of worldbuilding I take the most
delight in when writing my own novels is figuring out if I can get the reader
to feel as though they’re at the table with the characters. In this case, I was
instantly drawn in and not only following the conversation with Trell and his
companions, but enjoying the smells coming from the kitchen, and marveling at
the platters placed on the table. The culture I was being introduced to was all
the more relatable. A list of ingredients formed in my mind.
Taking a bit of creative license with the original passage,
I came up with the following—hopefully it will inspire you to seek out the
series and join Trell at the Inn of the Four Faces as well!
Stuffed Peppers and
Roasted Eggplant with Date Syrup and Spiced Yogurt Topping
Stuffed Peppers
3 green peppers
1 lb. beef and pork mixture
1 red onion
1 15 oz. can kidney beans
1 15 oz. can fire-roasted tomatoes
Penzey’s Turkish seasoning and Aleppo pepper to taste
3 tbl. olive oil
~1 cup broth (vegetarian or beef)
½ to 1 cup pomegranate seeds
Add olive oil and heat skillet. Dice onion and fry until it
turns brown. Add beef and pork mixture, stir until brown. Add fire-roasted
tomatoes, kidney beans, and seasoning. Meanwhile, cut green peppers in half,
remove seeds, but leave steps so the peppers hold their shape in the oven.
Spread pepper halves in large casserole pan. Pour broth no
more than half-inch deep into pan as a bath for the peppers. Spoon beef mixture
into pepper halves, and cook at 350F for about 30 minutes, or until peppers
have softened. When plating, top with fresh pomegranate seeds.
Roast Vegetables
1 large eggplant
1 head cauliflower (I used orange cauliflower for color)
1 large sweet potato
Olive oil to drizzle on vegetables
Salt and pepper to taste
Date syrup
Topping for vegetables
2 tbl. tahini
¼ boiling water
1 clove of garlic, or 1 tbl. crushed garlic scapes
½ cup Greek yogurt
1 tbl. pomegranate molasses
¼ cup olive oil
Pinch of Aleppo pepper
Mix tahini and water, add garlic (or scapes), yogurt,
pomegranate molasses, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Stir until thoroughly
mixed. Set aside.
Cut eggplant and sprinkle with salt. Let rest for about 20
minutes to remove bitterness, rinse and chop, place on roasting pan with
chopped cauliflower and sweet potato. Drizzle with olive oil and season with
salt, pepper, and Aleppo pepper. Roast at 425F for about 30 minutes or until
soft, turning over midway through or as needed.
When plating, top with a generous spoonful of yogurt
dressing, and drizzle date syrup.
