Last spring, I spent the better part of four days tucked into a tiny cabin near Neumann University, working on my natural sweeteners book. I took a cooler full of food, a pile of cookbooks to use as reference when my own inspiration failed me, and a few things to read simply for fun.
Included in my pleasure reading was a PDF of Alana Chernila’s book The Homemade Kitchen, provided by her editor in the hopes that I might write a sentence or two of praise. After my first day of writing was over, I warmed some soup for dinner and settled down to read.
My original intention had been to read just a bit that night and then go to bed early. Instead, I sat at that little, formica-topped table and hungrily took in every word. Friends, I devoured this book.
Now, I had a feeling I would like The Homemade Kitchen before I even opened up the document. I am a fan of Alana’s writing and always feel a moment of anticipatory pleasure when I discover she’s posted something new on her blog. What’s more, since we met four or five years ago, Alana has become a dear friend. We don’t get to see each other too often, but whenever I find myself passing through Western Massachusetts, I point my car in her direction.
The reason I tumbled head first into these pages is that they bring together everything I want from a cookbook. It’s got appealing food, smart and sensible kitchen advice, wonderful writing, a glimpse into the author’s life, a pretty design, and glorious pictures.
When the physical book landed in my mailing box late last week, I was reminded of my time with that PDF all those months ago. While I haven’t cooked anything from it yet, I’ve broken the spine in half a dozen places and have littered the pages with post-it notes.
Just a few of the recipes I’ve marked include Broccoli Raab with Cheddar Polenta (page 61), Roasted Salmon with Yummy Sauce (page 163), and the Congee with Chicken and Greens (page 202). I’m hungry just listing them out.
Disclosure: The nice folks at Clarkson Potter sent me a copy of this book for review and photography purposes. No additional compensation was provided.
When I taught school, we had pot luck breakfast and I always brought a breakfast casserole. Prepare the night before, pop in the oven while getting dressed, nice and hot when I get to work. Easy peasy and everyone loved it.
My go-to dish is an almond skillet pie. Way easy to make, it’s a one bowl recipe that can easily be ready in an hour or pulled from the freezer and served.
My favorite potluck dish (to bring) is a family recipe — the best way to describe it is spinach, cream cheese, rice and eggs — baked and cut up into brownie-like squares! So simple and delicious!
Depending on how much time I have, homemade bread and pimento cheese or pasta salad.
The recipe comes from an old cookbook titled something like 365 ways to cook chicken. It’s a casserole with chicken and celery in a taragon cream sauce and is served over rice. It’s ridiculously rich, but a real crowd pleaser and memorable because taragon is not a common ingredient in potluck fare.
I usually take a salad, Greek or Caesar
Mac and cheese
I love bringing homemade baked beans. I cook them in my crockpot, they are always delicious and perfect with any combination of pot luck dishes.
Usually we bring chicken and barley, with seasonal veg.
Baked beans. Green bean bundles. Poppy seed cake.
Homemade bread is always welcome. I like to bring a couple of different loaves, maybe a cheddar or a lemon, rosemary, gruyere.
Potluck favs are either Sweet Potato Chicken Chili or a Fruit Cobbler. Oooh want to win this one!
Soup!
Potato casserole is a favorite to bring and always asked for
Ooey gooey Mac’N’Cheese with a side of stewed tomatoes. Yum!
I almost always am asked to bring my Lemoncello Tiramisu with homemade lemon curd.
Spinach salad with cranberries, bacon, walnuts and a balsamic vinaigrette. Add cherry tomatoes or other seasonal treasures for an extra kick.
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Spicy chili and cheddar jalapeño corn bread! 🙂
Spicy meatballs with Root Beer BBQ Sauce.
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway opportunity
“chosen at random and will be posted to the blog on Sunday, October 11, 2015.”?? May want to have the date changed seeing the 11th has past.
Fixed! Thanks!
My favourite potluck dish is homemade meat pie or Tourtiere. I serve it with homemade dill pickles and pickled beets along with a homemade spicy ketchup that is amazing
I often bring home made sesame or poppyseed rolls to a potluck.
My broccoli, Mac and cheese with chicken casserole, sometimes I switch out roasted butternut squash for the broccoli.
Seven layer salad or butterfinger cake are always a hit!
I like to make chili and cornbread. Always a crowd pleaser
Macaroni and cheese with bacon and roasted chicken…..it’s always a hit!!!!
For us and our friends, wouldn’t be a potluck without Cabbage Radish Salad. It includes fresh jalapeno, slivered almonds and a wonderful citrus dressing and is perfect for any season. Thanks for the intro to this amazing-sounding new-to-me writer!
Black bean vegan chili, with lots of toppings options, vegan and non
I like to bring a jam tart.
My favorite potluck dish is a green salad, with lots of chopped toppings. I line the bottom of a large plate with salad greens, and make columns of different toppings. That way, if someone doesn’t like tomatoes or olives or cheese, they don’t have to select any of that column.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese filled Cupcakes are a great potluck treat for the fall!
Meatloaf!
It may seem all too simple but homemade breadsticks are always a hit. With parmesean and salt sprinkled on.
Pie..whatever fruit is in season..Apple is always a hit
I always bring Pat’s Broccoli Salad – i am almost always coming from work and need to bring something cold or room temp! Book looks amazing
Having been to a lot of potluck dinners via band, scouts, and church, I would say my favorite dish to take is homemade mac and cheese for a winter dish, and a cold pasta salad with more fresh veggies than pasta for a spring or summer pot luck!
Kale salad with cranberries, carrots, and vinaigrette. Everyone says they don’t like kale, but they always eat it!
Definitely pizza monkey bread! Takes a little fussing with right before serving, but never fails to get polished off right after it hits the table!
Artichoke-jalapeno dip!
Favorite potluck dish for fall is Heidi Swansen Heirloom Apple salad.
i usually bring a fruit salad to a potluck. That way I know I have a fresh and healthy side available. And the kids always scarf it up. Would love to win this book! Thank you!
Cheesy potatoes are always a hit.
My go-to dish is my mother’s recipe for German potato salad.
I haven’t been to a potluck in ages, but the last time I brought food to someone’s house, it was these jam bars: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/11314/delicious-raspberry-oatmeal-cookie-bars/ They disappeared, but then again it was the only dessert present.
Barley, corn, and charred escarole (or other bitter green) salad with pesto dressing.
I take a cheese plate: a log of good local chèvre, sprinkled liberally with toasted walnuts and drizzled with honey from a friend’s farm, surrounded with water crackers. So good…though I do have to remember to track down my wee spreaders at the end of the evening.
I love bringing a pea salad. It’s both a quick dish to make up, and I usually have all of the ingredients on hand.
My favorite potluck dish is a mixed vegetable side dish made with whatever is fresh and good. I work for a farmer at a couple of markets. The latest featured cranberry beans, Brazilian eggplant, tomatoes and sweet and chili peppers.
my potluck dish is vegan coffee chili!
My stand by for potluck is egg salad. Being gluten free for health reasons is difficult when we go to potlucks so I always make sure I bring something like this that I can nibble on or in a pinch eat for my main course,
Favourite potluck dish is Schwatzies potatoes, delish!