Betty Crocker Found Recipes, Reviewed

 

 When we read books of various kinds, if the author is a good one, feelings are evoked. I don’t think I have felt quite so warm and snugly while reading a book as I did while reading this one. Betty Crocker Found Recipes (scheduled for publication November 26^th, so plan ahead) is an absolute delight for anyone who remembers her early cookbooks, magazine advertisements, and other bits of ephemera that would feature recipes of one kind or other. Paging through, I remembered meals that my grandmother used to make employing the use these old recipes. Seeing them all in this book, with beautiful photographs to accompany them, made me feel so loved. I know that sounds strange when talking about a cookbook, but that is how I felt. 

From beginning to end, this cookbook is an absolute delight. It is a collection of “found” recipes from the past. They have been re-created with modern kitchens in mind, and all placed into this one book. In addition to re-creating lost recipes, consumers who helped participate in the making of this book described favorite dishes they remembered from their past but for which they had no recipe, and using that descriptive information, Betty Crocker created replicas. I guarantee that you will find many old friends while paging through this book. I was amazed at how many memories came to mind while looking at these recipes. Suddenly, I was transported decades into the past sitting beside family members, now gone, enjoying Sunday dinner at grandma’s table.The book is divided into five sections:

Holiday Celebrations
Memorable Main Dishes
Warm from the Oven Breads
Irresistible Cookies and Bars
Better than Desserts 

The origins of the recipes are mentioned in a blurb proceeding each one, something I found as fascinating as the recipes themselves. The old advertisements peppered throughout the book were both a visual and nostalgic delight. Also included are individual cook’s (fan's) memories of the recipes that they had requested be included in the book.

  

If anything is lacking, it’s the absence of vegetable recipes. I happen to like vegetables a great deal, so was disappointed not to see any vegetable recipes contained within.This cookbook is unique, a joy to page through, and no doubt pure delight to cook from. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Young people will appreciate the recipes for their ease, variety, and failing to employee ingredients that are hard to find. Older people are going to love looking back to when they themselves made these recipes, and enjoyed sharing the results with their families.

 Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher Harvest Books, and Betty Crocker for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Gathering Boards by Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill, Reviewed

 

I am a bit charcuterie board obsessed, which is why whenever I see a unique board, book, or card deck relating to the subject, I succumb. What can I tell you? I love cute food. I also love easy and relaxed food and entertaining.

Gathering Boards by Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill (scheduled for publication June 4, 2024) is one of the best books on the subject that I have seen. More text than photos, although there are plenty of those, I enjoyed reading about Sarah and what she’d learned from her mother, as much as I did reading about the various ways to make food boards to serve, to gift, and to pair with cocktails. If you only buy one book on food boards, make it this one. 

Sarah stumbled upon food board entertaining quite by accident. Her mother (to whom the book is dedicated), like mine, knew that if you’re serving cocktails, you also need to serve nuts. Sarah took it one step further, grabbed three different types of nuts, dumped each into its own bowl, added bowls of olives, and put everything on the entrance hall table. When her evening of entertaining was over, no one commented on the dinner over which she had slaved, but more on the clever way that she had served snacks. I loved that story.

  

Everything that you need to know about charcuterie boards is in this book, from selecting an appropriate board, choosing your cheeses, choosing the proper knives, prepping, arranging, and serving. Not only that, but there are photos and ideas for making specialty holiday boards for holidays like Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Mother’s Day. Her “Lakeside Snackle Box” is one of my favorites, and one of her most inspired. All ingredients are assembled in a [clean] tackle box, making it not only immensely clever, but perfect for Lakeside or Seaside dining.

 

There are special sections in the book containing information and ideas on every day gathering boards for winter, spring, and summer, making seasonal entertaining so easy for you. You will also find recipes for cocktails, snacks, and making your own cheese spreads.

 

 I don’t think I have seen a book on the subject as cleverly put together as this one. From the beautiful photos, to the various recipes for accompaniments such as cocktails and dips, to the delightful stories of her youth, this is one of the most informative and readable books you’ll find.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher Globe Pequot, and Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.