There’s something deeply comforting, almost sacrosanct, about settling in with Tunes and Wooden Spoons III: Come In, the Kettle’s On! It’s the kind of cookbook that smells like warm bread, tastes like soft butter, and feels like the embrace of an old friend. Mary Janet MacDonald and her daughter Margie have brought us on yet another journey of food, family, and the unsung kitchens of the Maritimes—and practically every recipe here is a love letter to heritage, to community, and to the sense of home. https://www.tunesandwoodenspoons.com/cookbooks
If you’ve enjoyed Tunes and Wooden Spoons: Recipes from a Cape Breton Kitchen (2021) https://canadiancookbooks.ca/tunes-and-wooden-spoons-2/ and Tunes and Wooden Spoons: Love Without Measure (2022) https://canadiancookbooks.ca/love-without-measure-2/ you’ll recognize Mary Janet’s gentle voice, her mix of humour and heart, and the way the kitchen becomes a stage for storytelling and song.
The first book introduced us to her own kitchen, her cinnamon roll empire, and her rise to social-media fame during the early days of the pandemic. The second broadened the lens: Love Without Measure invites us into other grandmothers’ kitchens, gathers recipes and memories from women who built families and fed communities often without fanfare. You can purchase all three books at https://www.macintyrepurcell.com/?s=tunes+and+wooden+spoons or win the latest book in our Giveaway section.
Now, in Come In, the Kettle’s On!, Mary Janet and Margie take this even further: they literally “come in” to the homes of folks across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI—meeting grandmothers and grandfathers, home bakers, elders whose hands still knead dough or roll biscuits with care, even those who after hardship still find joy in baking, in caring, in offering a cup of tea. Even meeting a 102-year-old grandmother in Pomquet, Rita Landry, who still makes rolls for family and friends is part of this book’s magic.
What works beautifully here is how the book balances recipes with heart. You won’t just get instructions; you get personalities. You get glimpses of life: widowed seniors, fishermen’s families, communities holding fast to Acadian or Mi’kmaq or Cape Breton traditions. And the recipes reflect that: each dish seems inseparable from the hands that make it, the stories that lift it, the wind off the sea that influences the pantry, the laughter or tears that season it. The book is also very much a visual and emotional feast: Margie’s photography complements the food beautifully, making each kitchen look warm & inviting, each dish worthy of lingering over.
Of course, as the authors themselves note on their website TunesandWoodenSpoons.com, the series has become something of a phenomenon: first with the livestreams from Mary Janet’s home during COVID, then with the first two best-selling books. Their site gives behind-the-scenes, extra recipes, galleries, and more which deepen the engagement beyond just flipping pages.
Speaking of celebrity status – Cape Breton style – in our Recipe section you’ll find Mary Frances Leehy’s Cranberry Pecan Chutney. Perfect for upcoming festive gatherings. Mary Francis was featured on Tunes and Wooden Spoons and is the daughter of Natalie MacMaster (and Mary Janet’s niece), whose book we review in our Canadians + Food section, I Have a Love Story. Cape Breton is truly a community of food, fun and fellowship.
If I were to offer a mild critique, it might be that for readers unacquainted with Maritime culture, some of the local dialects, references, or proportions may take a moment to adjust to—but that is hardly a flaw; rather it’s part of what makes the books rich, authentic.
Bottom line: Come In, the Kettle’s On! doesn’t just conclude the trilogy—it honors it. It embodies what we love about Mary Janet’s cookbooks: warmth, generosity, regional pride, recipes you actually want to try, and stories that feed more than your stomach. If you’ve been a fan already, this is a must-have; if you’re new to the series, this is a splendid place to begin. The kettle is certainly on—and the table is waiting.
Contents and images used with permission by MacIntyre Purcell Publishing. https://www.macintyrepurcell.com/?s=tunes+and+wooden+spoons