As you know, I was recently waylaid with morning sickness. What this usually means is that I spend a significant amount of time in bed. Not so nice in many ways, but it always gives me the chance to read. Ever since I learned how to read, I have loved books. I will read just about anything I can get my hands on. I love Jane Austen and Father Brown mystery stories, and history books and biographies and books on health, and cookbooks and…. the list goes on.
When I was around the age of eleven, I loved wearing these comfy knit dresses with pockets in the front. I loved sticking one of my books in the pockets so that I could always have a book on hand to read. (Don’t I sound like such a nerd?! Being home schooled I didn’t do this in public, just at home). I was one of those children who got in trouble for bringing books to the table and reading late into the night. With my stories I was really transported into other worlds and given new ideas. There is a real wonder that children experience through books and I certainly experienced it!
That love of reading has stayed with me (and I still sometimes stay up much to late reading!). I have always felt that life would be sad indeed without books. But it was during this recent bed ridden, book full, time of mine that I had an idea of how to combine two of my loves, cooking and reading, in a new series. I could hardly wait to get back into my kitchen so I could start.
I thought it would be fun to cook my way through some of my childhood (and adult!) favorite books by sharing mock recipes of the food in the book. I don’t know about you, but there have been times when reading a book when the characters are enjoying their meal and my stomach positively growls and my mouth waters at the thought of their food! Why not make my own version of their food?
That’s what this series is all about-cooking a meal from my favorite books. Our first recipe will be shared next week. See you then!
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I love this idea, I can’t wait to see your recipes. It reminds me of the third Anne of Green Gables books where one of Anne’s roommates was reading The Pickwick Papers and then needs a snack because it always makes her hungry. I have the same problem with a lot of books when they start describing the meals they are eating. Just thinking about it reminds me that lunchtime is approaching.
I love Gladys Tabers’ books and she would sometimes give the whole recipe as she tells the story and it is so awesome. I love her book The Stillmeadow Road. (Its out of print, but I have found it at library book sales and vintage book sites online). Below is a site you can get more info about The Stillmeadow Road. I bet you fall in love with her books just like I did!
http://lifeonthecutoff.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/stillmeadow-farm/
Penny
P.S I love your website! Hope you feel better soon!
Can’t wait to see what you come up with! Im am such a book nerd! My favorite as a child were the chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. Thanks for all the wonderful recipes!
love it! I enjoy reading too, can’t wait to read the next post!
Mmmmm…How about Farmer Boy? I have always been a lover of books, and can still remember using my piddley allowance to go to the dime store and buy one of The Bobbsey Twins! (I know…really shows my age, eh?) My oldest shares the love and was always at the table, book in hand. Still is, even with a family of her own!
What a fun idea! I’m excited to see what you come up with.
Fantastic idea. I could have written your post. I have always wanted to eat the tea service that Jane is served at Rochester’s in Jane Eyre (or was it Rebecca at Manderly?). She never eats enough of it and I feel like all of those tasty treats are wasted. Sigh. I’ll have to think about this one. . .
What a wonderful idea. Two of the books that immediately come to mind that have the power to make my saliva run are: Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Farmer Boy”. These are two books we yearly/bi-annually read aloud as a family, and it usually sends one of the two parents to the fridge in search of some seasonal treats.
Jan Karon authored a cookbook after she completed the Mitford Series. It’s filled with all the Southern-style home-cooked meals that are in her books. My past roommate owned the cookbook, and I didn’t have a chance to try any before we moved on to our own new places. I would like to look through it again someday.
I can hardly wait!! Reading, food and creativity, what a great combination. Jules Vernes “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” has always had me curious about the food. Can you imagine being the chef on the Nautalus?
love this idea!
I am the same way… I would read everything… loved the Nancy Drew original books. As an adult I have loved Diane Mott Davidsons Gody Schulz series, she includes the recipes so I can make them. Reading and cooking are two passions of mine. I can’t wait to see what you share with us!
What a great idea! I love the books that include a recipe at the end! Hehe! But the classics of course don’t do this. I’ve thought about making some meals like Laura Ingalls as I read the Little House series to my son. I’m excited to see what the first recipe will be!
We used to have a book group that met for a lunch discussion with a food theme to match the book. It was wonderful. Sadly most of the members of the group have moved 🙁 We sure enjoyed it while it lasted.
After you mentioned “A Thousand Years Over a Hot Stove” in one of your posts, I put it on my Christmas list! My husband bought it for me, and I read it in record time. Can’t wait for this series!
I always think of Farmer Boy since Almanzo was the age that he was *always* hungry. Described food throughout the book…
This is a really good idea! I saw a book in the library once that were recipes from (I think) Little Women. Historically appropriate recipes that I think were mentioned in the book. Too cool!
Jennifer, (from a comment above), I looooved the Mitford series! I didn’t know there was a cookbook, I’ll have to check it out. I hope it didn’t have low-fat junk in it, though…?
Kelly
Raspberry tea from actual raspberry leaves is suppose to relieve some morning sickness. Brew the tea as an iced tea.
i’m totally looking forward to this series! i’ve always loved books… your description of how you were when you were younger reminds me of my bookwormy self. ive totally transitioned from loving fiction and hating nonfiction to now reading almost ALL non-fiction… and i recently just discovered food lit/writing as well! M.L.K. fisher! amazing!
Stephen Lawhead always makes my mouth water! Looking forward to what you will share, Kimi! Books are wonderful!
Hi, I just started a wonderful book titled: 52 Loaves by William Alexander, about his year-long (hilarious!) trials and tribulations about mastering a loaf of bread! He’s even endeavoring to do it from scratch: like really from scratch: he’s even growing his own wheat! He is also the author of The $64 Dollar Tomato which I will read next after finishing this one. I’m already learning a lot as well, and am feeling much, much better about my own bread “failures” 🙂 I was starting to get a complex!!….LOL
Consider trying Standard Process Phosfood Liquid for the morning sickness. Love your blog by the way.
My morning sickness has actually passed at this point. Thanks though!
This is the kind of book my best friend is actually writing right now because she loves books that talk about food and always wants the recipe so her 2nd novel is full of them! (Not published yet, just finishing it up). When it’s out I’ll let you know!
There is a series of books written by Wanda Brunstetter about an Amish girl named Rachel Yoder. In the back of book #2 there is a recipe for Rachel’s Hurry Up Cake. Book #5 has a recipe for Grandma Yoder’s Maple Syrup Cookies. I just finished reading these to my 9 year old daugher. It was so much fun to read about the item and then have a footnote to the recipe in the back! These books are historical fiction and tell the story of an Amish family through the eyes of Rachel, a young girl. It seemed almost magical to me to have the actual recipes in the back of the book. Wanda also has written a non-fiction book entitled: Amish Friend’s Cookbook, The Simple Life.
I am excited about the series! I too am a nerdy, home-schooled, book lover. Although Elvish waybread may be a bit out of our reach, The Three Musketeers really ate (and drank!) well, being Frenchmen and all.
Love this idea!!
My son and I have been reading the Little House books, and no. 3, Farmer Boy, is just filled with food! Those farmer boys and men ate a LOT and all the time! It’s amazing how much work the women and girls must have done to keep them fed. They’d have 5-6 options at breakfast, I kid you not.
What a cool series idea! I’ll love to see not only your food, but what books have tickled your fancy lately. 🙂 Katie
I’m so excited about this series! I was a voracious reader growing up and like you, didn’t have to hide this “nerdy” side since I was a homeschooler. I loved the “Chubby Girl Egg Scramble” post and can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve.
I actually do this on my blog, too, but with novels and poetry only, rather than children books. You might enjoy it – http://www.novelbite.com. I’ll be sure to keep an eye this series and see what delicious recipes you find in books!