Quebec Poutine

1 bag frozen French fries 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese 1 jar beef or onion gravy (or packet of gravy mix) Poutine is a favorite snack for Canadians living in or visiting Quebec. EPD Photos Procedure Prepare French fries in the oven according to the instructions on the package. While the French fries are cooking, pour the gravy into a saucepan and heat it to just bubbling. Remove the French fries from the oven, scatter shredded cheddar cheese over them, and return them to the oven for one minute, just long enough to melt the cheese. Transfer the cheese-covered French fries to invidual plates or bowls, and drizzle with the gravy. Serves 8 to 10. 6 POLITICS, ECONOMICS, AND NUTRITION A major concern of French Canadians is the preservation of their French language and culture, since English is the dominant language in the rest of Canada and in their influential southern neighbor, the United States. A movement to separate the French-speaking province of Quebec from the rest of the country became a national issue in the 1970s; in 1980, voters defeated a proposal that would have granted Quebec its independence from Canada, but many French-Canadian separatists continue the campaign. Canadians in general receive adequate nutrition in their diets, and the health care system is funded by the government, covering about 75 percent of health care costs for Canandian families. 7 FURTHER STUDY Books Barbolet, Herb. Farm Folk, City Folk: Stories, Tips, and Recipes Celebrating Local Food for Food Lovers of All Stripes. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1998. Barer-Stein, Thelma. You Eat What You Are: People, Culture, and Food Traditions. 2nd ed. Toronto: Firefly Books, 1999. Chavich, Cinda. The Wild West Cookbook. Don Mills, Ont.: R. Rose, 1998. Claman, Marcy. Rise & Dine Canada: Savory Secrets from Canada's Bed & Breakfast Inns. 2nd ed. Montreal, Quebec: Callawind Publications, 1999. London, Jonathan. The Sugaring-Off Party. New York: Dutton, 1994. [Picture-book account of maple sugaring in Canada.] Stewart, Anita. Great Canadian Cuisine: The Contemporary Flavours of Canadian Pacific Hotels. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre, 1999. Tritenbach, Paul. Traveling Taste Buds: Delectable Dishes from All Over the US and Canada. Bishop, CA: Excellence Press, 2000.