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Photo © Jen Altman & Roost
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Handmade Gatherings, Recipes
& Crafts for Seasonal Celebrations and Potluck Parties, Roost Books (April 8, 2014) by Ashley English is charming
from beginning to end. It was easy for me to feel an immediate kinship with
this author because I, too, grew up with parents who were always hosting or
going to parties. As a young child on the periphery, I was fascinated by all of
the preparations involved. I also loved party food (that seemed just perfect
for my pudgy little hands), and the engaging way in which it was served --
threaded onto skewers, speared by toothpicks with fancy tops, or presented in
its own individual dish that made me feel a willing participant in a doll's tea
party. This book was a little bit like reliving that delightful part of my
youth.
But there is a deeper lesson to be learned here other than just how to throw a wonderful party with easy-to-make recipes and delightful crafts that are simple enough for anyone to do. It is about living life, realizing that just about anything is worth celebrating, and actually doing something about it. In short, everyone should read this book.
How many times have you felt blissfully happy over something quite simple, say, spotting that first cucumber on the vine, smelling the heady fragrance of the first summer rose, or receiving a long anticipated book in the mail? For English, these are causes for celebration.
Don't slog along through the year waiting for some traditional holiday, do what English does and throw a party to celebrate the emergence of spring and summer, the welcome arrival of bees, the bustle and homegrown goodness of farmer's markets, or the soul satisfying art of canning. Each party plan is well described and each features recipes, crafts, and table setting ideas, all of which are very doable. The parties are all interactive with guests, both young and old, participating along with the host, learning and teaching, while having fun and nourishing body and soul.
When I saw the section on making up seed packets of pollinators for the party that celebrates bees, I pulled out my instructions for making seed packets, and rubber stamps that I will use to embellish them. My party will celebrate Zinnias in bloom on the deck, and I'll give away packets of seeds that I have harvested myself.
There is also a
party that celebrates canning with a craft of making jar tags that are stamped
using an inked piece of okra. As an avid jam and jelly maker (both sweet and
savory) I'm going to have a canning party as well, and gift attendees with mini
jars of my basil jelly and strawberry margarita jam. I will be trying her
recipe for quick pickled ramps as well.
The party
celebrating stone fruits had my mouth watering, think peach cobbler baked in a
cast iron skillet, bourbon iced tea served with mint and peach slices, boozy
maraschino cherries, not to mention chocolate cherry hand pies, and plum
liquor.
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Photo © Jen Altman & Roost
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The autumn party
will have you longing for fall. Here she teaches how to make mulling
spice packets for mulling wine, or cider, assembling jars of soup mix, and
making your own homemade root beer.
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Photo © Jen Altman & Roost
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Photo © Jen Altman & Roost
Books
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One cannot help but
feel enthusiastic while reading this book, salivating over food, decor, and the
sheer brilliance of celebrating simplicity. I can hardly wait to get started!
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Photo © Jen Altman & Roost
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Disclosure: I was
given a free digital copy of this book by NetGalley, but the opinions expressed
here are entirely my own.
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