Food and Book Pairings

Food and book combinations (especially fun for a themed book club get-together)!

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Go for a New Orleans theme with these menu ideas: Jambalaya with Red Beans and Rice - paired with Cajun Cake for dessert!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

My book club just read this last month and the host had the following appetizer menu: "Murdered dogs" (pigs in a blanket with sword skewers for toothpicks...she also used red food dye as blood!), red punch, strawberry chocolate chip cookies, and red hershey kisses (since the MC has an affinity for red).

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

A menu using the recipes from the book - of course!: Northern Style Chorizo, Champandongo (pictured below), and Cream Fritters.

And lastly...for the foodie who avoids their kitchen:  Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

A menu consisting entirely of take-out (Indian and Thai to be specific): Samosas, Pad Thai, Gang Kiew Waan (Green Curry), and Mango Lassies.

Latest Review: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home

I don't know about you guys but I am an ice cream fanatic!  I saw this adorable little book at the library and decided to bring it home with me to test out on our ice cream maker.

I've made ice cream at home before (like the good little ice cream lover that I am) but the consistency has never been quite up to my liking.  The desserts always turned out a bit harder than I prefer and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home claims to have a new DIY recipe to remedy this problem.  I won't give away any secret ingredients - sorry!  But I will say that her ice cream base is yum-tastic!

After going through the basics, the book is split up by season.  Each season is filled with delectable recipes and then ends with some mouth-watering sundae suggestions (like what's pictured above).  Here's some of my favorite flavor recipes:

• Spring: Savannah Buttermint Ice Cream
• Summer: Sweet Corn & Black Raspberry Ice Cream
• Autumn: Roasted Pumpkin Five-Spice Ice Cream
• Winter: Influenza RX Sorbet (citrus, honey, spices, and bourbon to cure the sniffles!)

Jeni Britton Bauer even includes recipes for macaroon ice cream sandwiches and homemade push-pops!  I highly suggest this book for any ice cream aficionado or for those who want to test out their ice cream makers!

5/5 stars

Foodie Fiction Review: The Love Goddess' Cooking School

Goodreads Summary:

Holly Maguire's grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine--a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like "sa cordula," an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can't make a decent marinara sauce, let alone "sa cordula." Maybe that's why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla's Cucinotta, she's determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother's legacy. 

But Holly's four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla's chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter's heart. Juliet, Holly's childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can't find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad, Liam, from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend. As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla's essential ingredients of wishes and memories in every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed--"and "tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness. 

My thoughts:
Fantastic foodie fluff!  I loved the remote island setting and all of the yummy descriptions of Italian food.  The premise of this book is similar to The School of Essential Ingredients - even though it's not as good, this bit of foodie fiction is still a really enjoyable read.  My favorite character is the spunky tween Mia - she's such a riot!  This is a lovely story about love, food, and friendship.  I heartily recommend for those in the mood for a light read and a penchant for Italian cuisine!

3.5/5 stars

Foodie February

I love reading foodie fiction - it's just so cozy!  Some of my past favorites include The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister, The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman, The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen, and The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - but I'm hungry for more!  So, I decided to have February be my themed month of reading foodie fiction.  Here's my TBR for this delectable month (in no particular order):

• Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
• The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher
• Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris
• A La Carte by Tanita S. Davis
• The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
•  How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal
• Tomato Rhapsody: A Novel of Love, Lust, and Forbidden Fruit by Adam Schell 

If anyone would like to join in and read some mouth-watering books, please do!  I'll also write some cookbook reviews and at the end of the month I will host a foodie book giveaway (book TBD)!  Yum, I can't wait to start!

If you want to join in the foodie fun, please feel free to add foodie reviews and/or giveaways any time this month in the linky below.

Book Lust: The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches

I ran across this book and immediately shrieked in delight!  Sandwiches are, by far and away, my absolute favorite food.  My goodness, just looking at the cover of The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches is making my mouth water.  There's variations on the BLT and the grilled cheese.  It also boasts classics such as the Reuben, the Muffaletta, and the Fluffernutter.  Oh, and it even has the recipe for a banana split sandwich - yum!

The author is also a food blogger.  You can check out her post on this delectable book here.  No doubt about it, this book needs purchased ASAP.  Any other sandwichies (aka: sammy-lovers) out there?

Twisted Turkey Day!

My group of friends held a Thanksgiving potluck with a twist...it was an all-day affair and every dish had to be a unique take on a traditional Turkey day dish.  Lemme tell you, it was delicious!!

Yummm...we had "Hot Browns" instead of traditional turkey (it's a Kentucky dish that is quite delicious)!

My friend Charlotte making the cream sauce for her delicious Hot Browns

The group enjoying our delicious spread!  Our meal: "Hot Browns," seafood stuffing, sour cream mashed potatoes, sour cream and cornflake green bean casserole, and triple-chocolate pumpkin pie!

ALSO...we did a brunch that was made up of a stuffing breakfast casserole and pumpkin pancakes...amazing!!