My bookish friends, how often have you fantasized about wandering through Hogsmeade, slipping into the Three Broomsticks, and ordering yourself an excellent foaming hot tankard of Butterbeer? Or perhaps the tempting sweets of the White Witch from Chronicles of Narnia are more to your liking? Will it be Turkish Delight? Alice’s Looking-Glass Cake? Or Dauntless chocolate cake?
Some books are meant to be savored—some books devoured. Some, moreover, simply whet our appetites for food that we can never taste.
Or can we? Whether you’re culinary, literary, or both, I invite you to test out some of these fun cookbook compilations available in the library’s collection. Cook something right out of the pages of your favorite book! Be sure to check out some of these fun cookbooks.
The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory—More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Wizards and Non-Wizards Alike by Dinah Bucholz
Offers many a tempting treat for wizard or muggle (though those looking for butterbeer will be sorely disappointed). Explore Diagon Alley delights, treats from the train, Great Hall favorites, holiday fare and much more!
FEATURED RECIPE:Hagrid’s Rock Cakes
Hagrid’s rock cakes, which are mentioned no less than three times in the Harry Potter books, are a standard with tea and hard as a rock if made authentically (to make a more palatable version don’t over bake and leave them out for several days like Hagrid probably did).
The Alice in Wonderland Cookbook: A Culinary Diversion by John Fisher
Lewis Carroll fans rejoice! Here you can find recipes for an array of Wonderland delicacies such as Bread-and-Butter-Fly Pudding, ‘Eat Me’ cake, Ambidextrous Mushrooms, the Queen of Hearts’ notorious jam tarts, and many more. Includes illustrations and a humorous ‘Hints for Etiquette’ section.
The Book Club Cook Book: Recipes and Food for Thought From Your Book Club’s Favorite Books and Authorsby Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp
Looking for the perfect feast to accompany that book you just read? Look no farther than The Book Club Cook Book. With recipes for over one hundred popular titles (many of which are probably on your high school reading list like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, and The Grapes of Wrath) you’ll surely find a scrumptious accompaniment for your reading.
FEATURED RECIPE: Ambrosia
A traditional southern holiday dessert using citrus fruits. According to Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra’s dessert “made up for everything,” including getting stuck at the kiddie table and forced conversation with her cousin Francis.
The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking by Carolyn Keene
Are you totally mystified by cooking? Get a clue with Nancy Drew. Discover over 100 easy old-fashioned recipes such as Blackwood Hall Muffins, The Case of the Smothered Pork Chops, Old Clock Ice Cream Pie, and many more. Look for the magnifying glass on each page for Nancy’s secret ingredients, tips, and suggestions.
The Snacking Dead by D.B. Walker
Feed your brain to fight the living dead with over 50 survivalist recipes inspired by The Walking Dead comic series. From Guac and Load Guacamole and Squirrel Poppers to Backwoods Burritos, this cookbook will help you survive any zombie apocalypse.
FEATURED RECIPE: Saving Grace Grilled Pimento Cheese
When heating up your skillet to make this mighty grilled cheese be sure to make enough for everyone like the Pro Tip suggests: “scarcity of grilled cheese can cause dissention and even mutiny within survivor groups.”
The Redwall Cookbook by Brian Jacques
Devoted fans of the Tales of Redwall have likely fantasized about the tantalizing dishes served in the Abbey. Now, Redwall readers, you can create your own feast and taste Mole’s Favorite Deeper’n’Ever Turnip’n’Tatern’Beetroot Pie followed by a glass of Summer Strawberry Fizz and much more. Organized into seasonal recipes and filled with color illustrations.
FEATURED RECIPE: Spiced Gatehouse Tea Bread
Spiced Gatehouse Tea Bread is simple to make, perfectly spicy, and a delightful compliment to breakfast or a cup of tea.
The Narnia Cookbook by Douglas Gresham
From the Lamppost to the Castle at Cair Paravel, now you can eat your way through Narnia and enjoy such delicacies as Turkish Delight, Rich Plum Cake, Treacle Tar, Christmas Biscuits, and much more.
-Anna, Youth Services, Middletown Branch