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.
In summer months, my fave is mango quinoa salad. Fall & winter, I love to bring kale & white bean soup. So I have two favorites, sorry. ?
Cucumber, tomato, and onion salad to cut the richness of the BBQ.
I like to bring cheesy potatoes. They are a hit!
Hard to say, as I don’t have the opportunity to go to many potlucks, but people seem to like my oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate chip cookies, zucchini cake, apple pie, applesauce, crabapple tart, chocolate beet cake, split pea soup, and so on–I’d pick something that can be made ahead of time (at least in part) and that’s gotten good past reviews from folks.
I make really good deviled eggs. My favorite are roasted garlic and asiago cheese with toasted bread crumbs on top. Also good is caramelized onion with kalamata olives with prosciutto on top. There are not any leftovers that’s for sure.
This time of year my favorite thing to take would be lentil soup!
I like bringing crackers, cheese, and oven roasted tomatoes (recipe from this website, stored in the freezer).
Lately my potluck dishes have been pepper jelly over cream cheese with pretzel crackers. I made pineapple, mango, and raspberry this year and I already need to make more for Christmas gifts.
I usually bake something: cakes, cupcakes, muffins. I like baking with fruit, so it’s a lot of apple, pear, cranberry, banana, parsnip cakes, and more!
Hi! One of my favorite things to bring to a potluck is German chocolate cake. I use the cooks illustrated recipe and it always disappears! I prefer to do desserts most of the time.
Wow, favorite potluck dish? I have a few…Baked ziti with homemade sauce or Crockpot Eggplant Parm are two winter favorites. I like to make huge salads in the summer…like a tossed green salad with fresh baby lettuces and romaine to give it some heft, but I decorate it with all sorts of goodies like chopped dried apricots, cashews, fresh herbs chopped fine like dill, basil, tarragon, parsley, carrots, cukes, tomatoes, red onion or scallions, radishes and fresh summer edible flowers like nasturtiums, Johnny Jump-Ups or Pansies, anise hyssop, daylily buds and big crunchy homemade croutons, and shavings of parm.
We do a table dinner once a month. Everyone brings an organic dish and a large table is set up and we eat he most fabulous food. Last week’s offerings were a sour dough vegan pizza., homemade siracha ketchup, vegan coleslaw, veggie tian and more.
I love church pot lucks & church cookbooks! But to pick a favorite dish! I would say any salads.
During the fall and winter it has to be chili or scalloped potatoes
I like to make strawberry pretzel salad for potlucks. Everyone I know loves it.
I really love making homemade bread for potlucks. What kind depends on the theme (if any), but beer bread, classic Italian bread with a fermented sponge, and cinnamon bread are among my go-tos.
I love baking so I normally bring cookies to potlucks
I have a nice recipe for fruited wild rice salad. I make nice bread, so will often bring an interesting loaf, and pickled dilly beans or carrots.
I love to make a chinese vegan casserole. Ramen(ish) noodles, Gardein faux mandarin chicken, veggies, sweet and sour sauce. Super tasty and easy! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Confetti Spaghetti – everyone’s favorite. Super easy to make and transport.
I like to bring little jars of rice pudding.
Hi, My favorite potluck dish, if the season is right, is apple pies made w/ local Northern Spy apples. mary in Cincinnati
Red cabbage slaw with miso dressing
A quinoa & kale salad.
I am always told to bring strawberry salad with toasted pecans and sweet vinegrette
I get asked to make Sante Fe salad. It has black beans, corn, zuchini, red bell pepper, red onion and avocado with a jalapeño pepper vinaigrette. It’s great on top of burgers, served with tortilla chips or just as a salad!
A huge crock of mixed beans with a lot of bacon and ground beef – sauce is made with barbeque sauce. Good in warm or cold weather !
Chocolate chip cookies are always a favorite.
Cheesy hashbrowns casserole, yum!!!
I bring a quinoa salad with black beans, sweet potatoes, and avocado. And pie for dessert!
I love to bring roasted vegetables – colorful, seasonal, with some fresh herbs.
Some kind of crisp (whatever’s in season), with homemade vanilla ice cream.
I like to make a fruit platter, with dip made from marshmallow fluff and cream cheese.
A gigantic fruit salad, sprinkled with fresh mint leaves, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and honey. Usually monochrome: nectarine, mango, orange, cantaloupe and peach; or strawberries, red apples with their peels, raspberries, cherries, watermelon, guava and papaya.
Pickled shrimp is always a crowd pleaser and so, so tasty! When in season, I like to make a watermelon, cucumber and asian pear salad with a tangy apple cider and honey vinaigrette loaded with mint and shallots.
I like to bring green beans that have bacon, garlic salt, onions and pepper added. I also tend to make snickerdoodles or some other type of cookie.
I love to bake and with just two of us empty-nesters watching what we eat, a potluck is a good excuse to bake a cake or make a large bowl of brownie trifle.
Dessert! Current fave is a Dark Chocolate Brownie topped with 3 kinds of nuts (pecans, walnuts & hazelnuts) and sea salt.
I usually bring yeast rolls (my great-grandma’s recipe) if I have the time to make them. If I want something quicker, then I’ll do cheesy mustard cauliflower as a side dish.
I once had this black rice salad at a potluck and now make it every time. It’s dressed with a multi-herb and sesame pesto – so good!
Pesto pasta with oven roasted tomatoes
My new favorite potluck dish is your recipe for figs in whisky sauce, partnered with goat cheese and a baguette. People love it and it’s so easy.
My favorite potluck dish is any dessert – it is always welcomed! At our work Christmas potluck I bring Frankfurter Brenten springerle cookies (a nod to my German heritage).
My favorite pot luck dish is Caprese salad with fresh tomatoes and basil. Everyone enjoys snacking on it while they are waiting for the main event.
My favorite potluck dish is either seasonally-themed cupcakes (pumpkin spice jack o’lanterns right now!) or a simple cauliflower mac n cheese.
Pesto orzo pasta salad.
I love cheesy potatoes (with crushed cornflakes/butter on top).
My friends and I have brunch potlucks and I always bring a huge batch of cinnamon rolls with maple coffee icing, my favorite!
Veggie mac & cheese! I just add in chopped veggies (whatever is in season – onions and mushrooms and cherry tomatoes is a personal favorite) to shells in a pretty standard cheddar cheese sauce. Yum!
I love to bring jambalaya!