Monday, February 6, 2023

February/March Selection: The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan


Well, just a tad under the wire, like everything else in my life at the moment, here is our Cook the Books Club February-March selection, Jennifer Ryan's The Kitchen Front.  Her previous books have been truly delightful, and when I caught up with this one last year it immediately stood out as being perfect for our Cook the Books group. During World War II the stressful times at home called up food innovation and creativity from resourceful women and men too.

From the publishers

Two years into World War II, Britain is feeling her losses: The Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is holding a cooking contest—and the grand prize is a job as the program’s first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the competition would present a crucial chance to change their lives.

For a young widow, it’s a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. For a kitchen maid, it’s a chance to leave servitude and find freedom. For a lady of the manor, it’s a chance to escape her wealthy husband’s increasingly hostile behavior. And for a trained chef, it’s a chance to challenge the men at the top of her profession.

These four women are giving the competition their all—even if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together only serve to break it apart?

This novel is an inspiring one for sure, and with lots of retro food ideas that translate into our own times.  I'm looking forward to what meals everyone comes up with.  I loved Ryan's book and hopefully you all will enjoy it as well.  

If you are new to Cook the Books, what we do is read the current selection, then cook something inspired by the book and post it with our thoughts.  You can check out our Information page here.  Deadline for contributing your post is Friday, March 31, 2023.  Please comment with a link to your post when complete.

Aloha,
Claudia, Honey From Rock


Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies: The Roundup

Thanks to everyone who cooked along with Cecily, Kate and us this round of Cook the Books! It's time to roundup the entries inspired by Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman. I think most of us enjoyed the book, and I certainly enjoyed all of the delicious food it inspired. Get your drool cloths ready, because here we go!


First up is Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm found the book  "a delightful novel about accepting yourself, taking care of yourself and believing in yourself." Kudos to Wendy for joining us this month as she finished the book in the hospital after being hit by a car on a walk. She says, "I finished this book during that stint in the hospital.  When I returned home to continue my rehabilitation, my husband who had taken over all the household duties, was the perfect caregiver of all my needs, including meals. ... One night he made these chili lime chicken skewers, steamed rice and stir fry vegetables.  It was a delicious dinner and I thought that, if I were Miss Cecily, I would add it to my cookbook as "A Meal to Serve When Someone Comes Home from the Hospital After Being Smashed by a Truck."



Next was Camilla of Culinary Cam who stoped reading the book soon after starting, annoyed by Kate. She says, ..."Then, when I saw it pop back up in my calendar to post about the book, I picked it up again. And I'm glad I persisted, but because it ended up being a delightful read about friendship. And the recipes were quite inspiring!" For her dish Camilla says, "I read more about this new-to-me dish called Sole Véronique. Oh, and before anyone screams that this isn't a traditional Sole Véronique, I know. It's my take on the recipe with what I had on-hand.I will admit it's a rare evening when all three of my food critics (that's husband and two boys) agree that a dish is fantastic. This was one of those dishes. But you really can't go wrong with fresh fish, butter, cream, herbs, and roasted grapes! "



Cathy of Delaware Girl Eats said, 'I especially enjoyed the excerpts from the Food for Thought book such as “A cookbook should be equally at home on the kitchen shelf as the bedside table.  This cookbook was written not for those heroic housewives who, having produced a cordon bleu dinner for twenty, emerge from their kitchens triumphant.  I address, rather, the more easily dismayed to whom a gastronomic occasion is a challenge and a dilemma.”" And it inspired her Cheesy Baked Pasta Casserole, "This passage spurred thoughts of what I could make for the kids and was a great lead-in for a simple dinner of roasted asparagus and a pasta casserole laden with mushrooms. As it turned out, they enjoyed the meal so much that they all took “to go” bags home with them.Yea for grandma! Hope you enjoy too."


Amy of Amy's Cooking Adventures said, "Cecily's book and recipes within are definitely the highlight of the story. In the afterward, we find that Cecily inspired by the author's own grandmother and the the (out of print) cookbook did exist. I have to wonder what the real Cecily's family thinks about this since the author admits that book Cecily is far meaner than her real life counterpart. I really wish I could get my hands on the real cookbook and that seems like it would be a worthwhile read!" For her dish Amy says, "I had several recipes marked to try, but decided to stretch myself with Potatoes Pave, which sounded fancy and delicious. I tried the recipe a couple months back and failed epically... I almost left it at that and posted my failure (by this time, the book was back at the library, so I didn’t have a back up plan for something to make). ...And yet…I just couldn’t let that failure sit and decided to give it another shot and I’m so glad I did. ...the potatoes were great! They reminded me of hashbrowns - which are always a hit in this house!"


Co-Host Debra of Eliot's Eats said, "I was a bit skeptical from the title (and I do think an alternate title would have been better) but I loved this novel. It’s a foodie book, sort of a realistic romance (meaning it’s not sappy) and a tale of female friendship that spans generations." For her book-inspired dish Debra said, "I loved how Cecily titled her menu selections and one night I was just inspired (or actually not so much). In a total homage to Cecily and partially inspired by Kate’s “Pasta on Pasta” meal, I present the following. “When there’s no protein in the house and you’re not going to the store yet you don’t want to make plain spaghetti with red sauce (and you have mushrooms to use)” Her Tomato Two-Times Easy Pasta w/ Mushrooms turned out well, "Delicious and easy. The toasted almonds just adds the right amount of crunchiness. The basil adds the right freshness."



Co-Host Simona of briciole said, "The story shines a light on the importance of mentors in one's life. Miss Cecily is not an easy one, but Kate perseveres, understanding that the elderly woman's sometimes sharp words come from a place of affection and wisdom." For her dish Simona says that ... "Kate could prepare this Avocado Salad for Ben whom in the story she scolds for buying store-bought guacamole instead of preparing it fresh. The salad was inspired by the avocado salsa cruda recipe in The Latin Table by Isabel Cruz. The main ingredient change I made is the use of arugula (rucola) instead of cilantro (coriandolo)."


Co-Host Claudia of Honey From Rock deserves kudos for posting while still recovering from a bad fall, says, "I for one was in complete sympathy with the grumpy old lady, Miss Cecily. After a bad fall in early November, spending the last few months in recovery and not able to get around as before, sob, sob. Well, I'm back at my computer at least, which is also acting wonky. And, at the absolute deadline for the book post. On the plus side, Bob has been stalwart throughout, my chauffeur and really big help and companion, as well as a great sous chef for the relatively simple meals we put together." For her dish Claudia says, "Kate, for her newly inaugurated Supper Club offers two pastas, against all tradition: tagliarini with crab, followed by pappardelle with cream, pancetta and new season's asparagus. With, Prosecco served for all. As it turns out, the grocer didn't have enough asparagus, so she subbed in green peas. There you have it. ... I was inspired to put a pasta dish together with the fresh green pea pods we had picked up from the market.Nothing too fussy, but I think in sync with the book. Especially with a nice glass of Prosecco. Meal For a Recovering Invalid and Her Sous Chef. He's very good at chopping things and stirring!"



Finally, at Kahakai Kitchen, I started out unsure of my book pick because I wasn't a fan of either Kate or Cecily, but they both won me over and I enjoyed the book --especially the recipe titles from the cookbook. Having another not-so-great couple of months with health flareups and crazy work schedule, I went for a Quick & Easy Shrimp Scampi Pasta, inspired by the fried scampi Kate cooks for the jerky Nick and the pastas Kate cooks for her pop-up dinner party. Informally this dish could be called:A Quick But Indulgent Dinner When You are Tired as Hell. I enjoyed it in a bowl with chopsticks, consumed on the couch after work while binging a new tv show. I highly recommend both the pasta and the show. 


I think I have posted all of the tasty entries for this round, but please let me know if I missed anyone. 

I will now turn things over to Claudia of Honey From Rock with our February/March selection, The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

Happy Reading and Cooking!

Aloha, 

Deb of Kahakai Kitchen

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

December/January Selection: Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies

Hello Friends, 

I am hoping December finds you all well, and ready for another round of Cook the Books. I went through my TBR, both e-books and print, and felt myself called to Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman (June 9, 2020) for our December/January selection


From the Publisher: 

An unlikely friendship between two stubborn, lonely souls anchors this big-hearted book and dares us all to ask for more. 

When her life falls apart on the eve of her 40th birthday, Kate Parker finds herself volunteering at the Lauderdale House for Exceptional Ladies. There she meets 97-year-old Cecily Finn. Cecily's tongue is as sharp as her mind, but she's fed up with pretty much everything. 

Having no patience for Kate's choices in life or love, Cecily prescribes her a self-help book...of sorts. Thought for Food: an unintentionally funny 1950s cookbook high on enthusiasm, featuring menus for anything life can throw at the "easily dismayed," such as: 

  • Breakfast with a Hangover 

  • Tea for a Crotchety Aunt 

  • Dinner for a Charming Stranger

As she and Cecily break out of their ruts, Kate will learn far more than recipes. 

I like my books light and a bit heartwarming this time of year, and this one seemed like a good pick plus, I have owned the Kindle copy for a couple of years now, so it's high time to read it! And finally, who can resist a blurb like: 


Since our virtual foodie book club is full of exceptional ladies, I look forward to seeing what marvelous dishes this novel inspires us to make!

Deb, 

Kahakai Kitchen

Deadline for contributing your post: Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

Friday, December 2, 2022

Cooking with Fernet Branca: The Roundup


It's time for the roundup of Cook the Books' Club October-November edition for which we read Cooking with Fernet Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson. 
As I've done in the past, I will present our club members' contributions as a menu. I will start with cocktails, seeing as the title 'character' of the novel is a liqueur. For each, I will give you the official information (author, blog name and post title) and a quote from it — a taste: follow the link and read the author's take of the book and how the reading inspired the cooking. 

Cook the Books Club's Cooking with Fernet Branca-Inspired Menu 

Cocktails:
Hanky Panky Cocktail  
Whisper in the Dark 

Breakfast:
Parfait with Blackberry Jam  

Appetizer:
Chicken Liver Paté   

Soup:
Turkey Pasta e Fagioli and Pesto Bread

Salad:
Radicchio and lettuce leaf salad with carrot micro greens and persimmon 

Dessert:
Apple Crumble 

Cookies:
Fernet-Branca Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Florentines

Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the menu.



"I thought Fernet Branca was going to be a person!!!!  Imagine my surprise when I learned that Fernet Branca wasn't a chef but an Italian Liqueur.  I private messaged my friend Cam right away.  I was laughing so hard at myself that I could barely type... I was, however, inspired to explore Fernet Branca, learning that it is a bitter liqueur used in Italy as a digestif. I also found several recipes for cocktails using Fernet Branca. I do like bitter and often enjoy Compari so I decided to create a cocktail...  delicious!!  ."



"Anytime a book claims to be 'hilarious', I roll my eyes and prepare for the worst. Imagine my surprise when this one actually was funny. I even chuckled...out loud!... Gerald gag-inducing recipes are made hilarious by his misplaced confidence... Finally I found the Whisper in the Dark and this one was a winner... The bitterness of the espresso is just what the drink needed to tame down the bitterness of the Fernet-Branca, while mint brought out the surprising mintiness of the spirit. Finally, the sweetness from the Irish Cream and simple syrup were the perfect finishing touch."


"I found nothing to be culinarily inspired by except kasha, a rustic fiber-rich dish Marta feeds to Gerald after one of his near death experiences... Marta also receives some blackberry kompot from her infamous family in a care package. To celebrate my finishing of  this novel in the early morning, I decided to have some yogurt with oatmeal (my homage to kasha) topped with blackberry jam. Of course, Gerald would have added some anchovies to it... If I’d had more time, I would have made my own buckwheat granola or real kasha.  But, I had zero time... This recipe is simple but delicious."


Claudia of Honey from Rock prepared Chicken Liver Paté

"I had many actual laugh out loud moments going through this humorous and satirical novel, usually due to the unexpected, totally deadpan delivery... I forget now where I saw a reference (in this book?) to Fernet Branca and chicken livers, but pursuing that thread, found a  recipe from The Washington Post for one. That sent me on a search for Chicken Liver Paté, which seemed more doable and could easily incorporate said Branca in place of other spirits... I'm saving the bulk of it for a wedding party next month, but had a few delicious samples, of course."



"I made something that I was craving, Pasta e Fagioli and Bread with Pesto to dip into it... I think you have to be a fan of farce, especially British farce and humor to fully appreciate the book]... Overall, an amusing romp, it kept me reading it to see what would happen... I had some leftover Thanksgiving turkey legs and I wanted a soup with pasta and beans--so of course pasta e fagioli, and then I put the pesto from the eggplant dish onto some French bread with a little dusting of parmesan. Simple (and edible, thank you) comfort food."

"The story and the events are somewhat outlandish and hilarious. The protagonists, Gerald and Marta, whose voice and perspective we hear in turn, keep the reader's attention and so does their turf war... The inspiration for my salad came not from Gerald's creations, but from a connection I made between bitter liqueur and its digestive properties, and bitter greens, like beloved radicchio."


Cathy of Delaware Girl Eats baked an Apple Crumble

"The quirky narrative chronicling the adventures of a lost soul living in Tuscany highlights the Italian bitter made with 27 herbs and roots whose aggressive flavor mimics bitter black licorice. It's referenced throughout the book including dishes made with it... I took inspiration from the author's musings in the narrative, particularly one referencing tennis which caught my eye... OK, the narrator Gerald wasn't being particularly complimentary to apples, but indeed the connection to apples had been made and I decided on an Apple Crumble as the dish to prepare to honor this book."



"Satire! Fine. Still, this is one of the strangest books I've read in a long time... I had a bottle of Fernet-Branca on my shelf, so I sipped while I read this strange book... It's an amaro, a bitter alcohol that is served as a digestif. But it originated in the mid-nineteenth century by an herbalist in Milan who marketed it as a cure for worms, cholera, and even menstrual cramps... It's distilled, blended, and aged in oak barrels for a year... Since I definitely was not about to attempt any of Gerald's recipes, I thought I would use it as an extract in a cookie. It was subtle enough to be intriguing. "
"This is a book about food... it is just not food that many people would choose to eat. There are so many examples of disgusting sounding food, but a lot of it is based off of normal recipes... I ended up deciding on making something that I have never made before... I don't have a ready supply of pigeon's eggs to try and recreate an acorn mavlisi so instead, I have made florentines. I did recall that I have seen them made on Great British Bakeoff at least once, so this is Mary Berry's recipe."

A great Thank you! to everyone who joined in this edition of Cook the Books.

I believe all the submissions I have received are presented in the roundup. If you find anything missing or in need of amendment anywhere in the roundup, please do let me know.

And now, I’ll pass the baton to Deb of Kahakai Kitchen who is hosting the December 2022-January 2-23 edition in which we are reading the novel Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman.

Arrivederci a presto!

Simona, of briciole

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Announcement: Our Next Four Selections

Ready for another great set of reads? Here is the announcement of the next four selections of our book club. Drum roll, please!

Deb (Kahakai Kitchen) opens the series with Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman (June 2020) for the December 2022 / January 2023 edition



Cook the Booksters, it’s time to help me whittle down my foodie TBR stack. According to Amazon, I purchased the e-book in October of 2020 so two years is actually not bad given the number of books I have yet to read! Besides that, I like something light for a big holiday month and the slowdown of the month after, and this book tagged as women’s fiction and friendship fiction seems like it will fit the bill. 

From the publisher: 

An unlikely friendship between two stubborn, lonely souls anchors this big-hearted book and dares us all to ask for more. 

When her life falls apart on the eve of her 40th birthday, Kate Parker finds herself volunteering at the Lauderdale House for Exceptional Ladies. There she meets 97-year-old Cecily Finn. Cecily's tongue is as sharp as her mind, but she's fed up with pretty much everything. 

Having no patience for Kate's choices in life or love, Cecily prescribes her a self-help book...of sorts. Thought for Food: an unintentionally funny 1950s cookbook high on enthusiasm, featuring menus for anything life can throw at the "easily dismayed," such as: 

  • Breakfast with a Hangover 

  • Tea for a Crotchety Aunt 

  • Dinner for a Charming Stranger

As she and Cecily break out of their ruts, Kate will learn far more than recipes. 

It has some good reviews, so I am hoping we find it enjoyable and it provides some fun inspiration in the kitchen!  

Aloha,
Deb, Kahakai Kitchen

Deadline for contributing your post is Tuesday, January 31, 2023

For the February / March edition, Claudia (Honey from Rock) chose The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan (February 2021)


Ryan's previous books have been delightful, and when I caught up with this one, I immediately realized it would be perfect for our Cook the Books group. During World War II the stressful times at home called up food inspiration and creativity from resourceful women and men too.

From the publishers

Two years into World War II, Britain is feeling her losses: The Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is holding a cooking contest—and the grand prize is a job as the program’s first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the competition would present a crucial chance to change their lives.

For a young widow, it’s a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. For a kitchen maid, it’s a chance to leave servitude and find freedom. For a lady of the manor, it’s a chance to escape her wealthy husband’s increasingly hostile behavior. And for a trained chef, it’s a chance to challenge the men at the top of her profession.

These four women are giving the competition their all—even if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together only serve to break it apart?

This novel is an inspiring winner for sure. I just finished it and believe you all will enjoy it as well.

Aloha,
Claudia, Honey From Rock

Deadline for contributing your post is Friday, March 31, 2023

For the April / May 2023 edition, Debra (Eliot's Eats) has chosen Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April 2022)

This past summer Lessons in Chemistry showed up on my radar. I think I was first made aware of it from a "Summer Reads" section from one of my culinary magazines. Nephew II and I were visiting an independent bookstore in July and I bought the book there. It's been sitting in my TBR stack since then. I have started it and I do love the ironic humor. The 60s fascinate me (the whole Mad Men vibe) so I'm looking forward to finishing it. Here's the abbreviated book blurb:
Elizabeth Zott is a trained chemist. In the early 60s, this is a man's world but she makes a place for herself and finds love (but maybe not acceptance). Fast forward a few years and Elizabeth is now a single mother and surprisingly enough, a television star with a beloved cooking show. Her approach is unique, “combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride." As "Supper at Six" (the title of her show)
The publisher's blurb promises "Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist." From the first few pages, this has promise.

Debra, Eliot's Eats

Deadline for contributing your post is Wednesday, May 31, 2023

To round up the list of selections, for the June / July 2023 edition Simona (briciole) chose the Food Americana by David Page (May 2021)


As we co-hosts confabulated about the next four selections for our long-running club this book was mentioned and I chose based on the subtitle "The Remarkable People and Incredible Stories behind America’s Favorite Dishes." It reminded me of an earlier choice I made for the club, Twain's Feast by Andrew Beahrs, which looked at foods popular in Twain's time. I thought this would be a way to jump forward to the present and look at foods popular today.  
The remarkable history of American food. What is American cuisine, what national menu do we share, what dishes have we chosen, how did they become “American,” and how are they likely to evolve from here? David Page answers all these questions and more. 
I'm looking forward to reading stories of foods that are common around me but weren't a short while ago. 

Simona, briciole

Deadline for contributing your post: Monday, July 31, 2023.

Remember that membership in our book club is open to anyone and we hope you will join us by reading these selections and creating inspired recipes. For more information about participating, click here.  

As always, specific announcement posts can be found at Cook the Books at the beginning of each two-month period and the current selection is always shown on the right side of the homepage.

To recap:

December 2022 / January 2023: Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies
 by Vicky Zimmerman (hosted by Deb at Kahakai Kitchen)


February / March 2023The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan (hosted by Claudia at Honey from Rock)

April / May 2023
:
 Lessons in Chemistry
 by Bonnie Garmus (hosted by Debra at Eliot's Eats)











June / July 2023
 Food Americana by David Page (hosted by Simona at briciole)















Happy reading and cooking!