Land of Milk and Honey: The Roundup

Well, we had a good variety of dishes inspired by this strange, dystopian novel.  As well as some strong likes and dislikes!  Here they are, in order of posting.  Please visit all the links for the full stories, and leave comments on them.

First off, and really outstanding I must say, was Amy, of Amy's Cooking Adventures, with her Mirror Glazed Galaxy Cake.  Just beautiful, and so appropriate for the book.

She said, in brief, "Yeah…even though I’m usually all for dystopian stories, this one did not do it for me. It was bizarro land.

Next in was Debra of Eliot's Eats who brought a Green Juice Smoothie to the table, celebrating all the green that the damaged planet was missing.  She really enjoyed the novel, saying "I thought this was one of the best books I have read in a while. I could not put it down."

Next, Marge of The Intrepid Reader and Baker made us a dessert, Japanese Strawberry Shortcake.  Sounds good to me!  She noted that, "It's fair to say I didn't love this book, and I was glad when it was done, but sometimes that is what being in a book club is about right? You read the selection knowing that it might not be the kind of book that you would normally read."  Yes truly, we sometimes do get stretched!

Then Simona of Briciole, arrived bringing us a serving of Radicchio with Red Grapes, "a little bitter and a little sweet" and the contrast in taste and color seems quite appealing.  She had mixed thoughts about the novel, and mentioned "Readers who enjoy dystopian stories may agree with the praises bestowed upon this one." 

I, Claudia Honey From Rock, came in last, just under the wire, with a meal based on the "the years-old fish and bioengineered flour" mentioned in the Publisher's Weekly review in the introduction post. Ventresca Tuna in a Bechamel Sauce with Brazilian Cheese rolls made from tapioca and breadfruit flours. The curly kale would not have been available to the rest of the planet however. Or probably the Béchamel sauce with its butter and milk.  I was among the group who didn't really enjoy the book.  

I hope no one got left out.  If so, let me know.  

News Flash!!  I did miss this very early post which came in on Christmas Eve of 2024!!  My Apologies to Wendy, of A Day on the Life on the Farm, who brought us a very comforting Roasted Vegetable Soup with Pomegranate arils.  She said, in brief:  "There is tons of food in this novel including prehistoric animals that were brought back to life from DNA by the scientists working in this lab." (The mountain research center where the chef was working)

Now we're on to our next selection, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, a memoir by Ina Garten, and hosted by Debra of Eliot's Eats.

February/March Selection: Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

Back when the FoodNetwork was all I would watch on a Saturday afternoon, I enjoyed the dulcet calming voice and recipes of Ina Garten on The Barefoot Contessa. I really hadn’t thought much about her these past years even though her Boeuf Bourguignon recipe is my go-to Christmas dinner dish. This summer, however, I reviewed Cooking in Real Life by Lidey Heuck. (Lidey was an assistant for Ina for many years.) Then I heard an interview with Ina on Fresh Air promoting her upcoming memoir. I pre-ordered it. I had no idea that she had worked in the White House, that she spontaneously bought a specialty food shop in the Hamptons, and that she was a very reluctant FoodNetwork Star. I guess I wasn’t much of a fan girl back in the days of The Barefoot Contessa. Long story short… the February/March selection is Ina’s most recent book.

From the publisher:

Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose. From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

I hope you’re inspired by one of her personal tales like “1000 Baguettes” or “It’s Always Cocktail Hour in a Crisis." Perhaps you’ll choose a recipe from one of her thirteen cookbooks! Regardless, I think this will be a fun and interesting read. I always like a good food memoir. Posting deadline is March 31, 2025. Just leave a comment below with your link.

If you're new to CTB, check out the Guidelines  page here. We're a fun bunch so please join us. Just read Ina's book, get inspired, pop into the kitchen and create and then post about it. 

Until then...

Debra 
Eliot's Eats