I'm finally posting about my favorite food. PASTA. Honestly, I'm shocked I've held out as long as I have. I could eat pasta every single day. Confession: I might have actually done that in college and ballooned 40 pounds. So, I have learned the hard way that, no matter how much I want to, I cannot eat pasta every day. But, if I could request to eat only one food for the rest of my life, it would be pasta. (And maybe Chinese takeout. And some...
In my last post, I recommended some perfect books for summer reading. I'm now pairing that list with the perfect summer salad. Does anyone else barely cook on the stove during summer? Because that’s me. While I love firing up the oven or having a bubbling pot on the stove during the cooler months, I loath being cooped up in the kitchen during warm weather. For one thing, our Cottage kitchen is adorable but poorly ventilated, so even with the...
I had a tough time thinking about what recipe to pair with You Think It, I'll Say It ; the stories are so varied, and all of them lead you into different places. And, aside from a small mention of raccoon stew (um, NO), food wasn't prominently featured in this book. However, there was one theme running through many of the stories that really spoke to me -- the one that characteristically appears in so many of Sittenfeld's works -- and that is...
What's the book-inspired recipe for Stray City? The recipe I’m pairing with Stray City, which is about the lesbian who has an affair with a man, is Roasted Acorn Squash with a Turkey Sausage, Craisin, and Brown Rice Stuffing. I chose it because it’s mainly a vegetarian recipe. But, like main character Andy, it sneaks a little meat in there. (HA! Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.) Since the book is set in a city full of vegetarians and...
As I was reading The Broken Girls, I was trying to think of what recipe the story would inspire me to make. Food doesn’t factor real well into the novel – at several points, one of the main characters eats packets of crackers in lieu of dinner. *shakes head sadly* I wanted a good, hearty meal to shake the chill of the dreary weather, both here and in the book, and since the story takes place in Vermont, I decided that maple syrup had to...
Bring the flavors of 'Nawlins into your home with Creamy Cajun Shrimp.
Why is Creamy Cajun Shrimp the book-inspired recipe for The Hideaway? Though most of The Hideaway takes place in Sweet Bay, Alabama, the delicious city of New Orleans is a hugely influencing factor. So many 'Nawlins dishes mentioned in the book made my mouth water—chocolate pie, hummingbird cake (my favorite!), seafood gumbo. I loved the big, bold flavors when I was...
Obviously, after a book like The Bird Eater, you need comfort food. (Everyone eat their feelings!) In what I felt was an amusingly macabre moment, I realized that any recipe inspired by this book – The Bird Eater – has to include chicken. *dark laughter* You may feel a bit differently about poultry after reading this book, but trust me, this dish is worth overcoming your distaste. I’ve tried several versions of Tarragon Chicken at...
