This is a book that I’ve been meaning to tell you guys about since it came out last May. Called Crackers & Dips
, it’s written Portland-based food writer Ivy Manning and is a fabulous resource for anyone with an itch to bake up their own crisps, flatbreads, and crunchy crackers.
Ivy is a friend of mine and we make a point of getting together to talk food writing shop and catch up whenever I’m back in Portland. I’ve had the opportunity to taste a variety of the crackers this book contains over the last few years and I can tell you with certainty that they universally fantastic (and are often just the thing to pair up with a dollop of jam).
This book is divided into six sections. You start with the classic cracker canon and then proceed onto recipes for crackers from around the world, whole grain and wheat-free crackers, crackers that are quick to make and bake, sweet crackers, and finally, a section featuring an array of dips and spreads. Ivy has truly left no cracker or dip stone unturned.
As someone who dearly loves the addition of rosemary to sweet things, these graham crackers are high on my list of things I plan to make from this book. I do believe they’d pair up nicely with a jar of pear and chocolate jam and they’d make a very nice addition to a gift bag of preserves and cheeses.
I’m also bookmarking this recipe for warm olive tapenade. I am ALWAYS looking for ways to use my stash of preserved lemon and this spread uses a full tablespoon, which is helpful in depleting that jar.
Bottom line? If you’re looking for interesting recipes for both gift giving and entertaining, this book should be on your shelf.
Well, this book has my name all over it. I love dips and have long wanted to make my own crackers. Thanks so much for calling it to my attention.
I’m curious if there are any gluten free cracker recipes inside. I’ve always been interested in making my own crackers and before I got up the nerve to try I found out I was gluten intolerant. Regardless this appears to be a beautiful book, thanks for introducing it to us!
I had this out of the library and there are definitely a few gluten free recipes included. And the illustrations are adorable!
I feel silly I just looked closer at your post and saw that you mentioned wheat free recipes. Yay, totally planning on picking this up!
This book looks great! I have made crackers before, and it is amazingly satisfying- one of those things we often forget can be made in your own kitchen! Crackers aren’t any harder to make than cookies, and though most good cooks would balk at serving store bought cookies, would not think twice about buying crackers! I can’t wait to check out this book, thanks for the recommendation! They’ll go great with the lemon curd I’m making from your Food in Jars cookbook!
Cheers!
Oh! And in a nod to “It’s a small world after all”-ness, Jen Altman, the book’s photographer, did the photography for my two newest books; Kristina Urquhart, the illustrator, is a close friend whose husband is filming the book trailer for one of those new books (and they were both over here last Sunday with their 10 week-old daughter); AND, Chris Bryant, the food stylist for the book, was the stylist on all 5 of my books with Lark, and I saw him at a photo shoot we did, at Jen’s house, about two weeks ago!!!! We are totally connected, Marisa!!!!
I love this cookbook. And as someone from Portland I especially love her blog and recipes!
Ooh! I love making crackers – so easy and you get to combine your own favorite flavors. And rosemary graham crackers? Wow. I need to check out this book.
Oh no……I can live on crackers and dip…..can’t wait to see this!