Tag: September

Maple Butter Basted Steak with Rosemary and Roasted Garlic

Posted September 23, 2021 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes / 0 Comments

 

 

Would you believe me if I told you the Nancy Drew series is absolutely FULL of steak? Nancy and her friends eat it in at least FOURTEEN books! I haven’t made steak for the blog in eons, so I chose it as this menu’s entree and challenged myself to make it seasonal.

Lately I’ve been eating roasted garlic rosemary bread with maple butter on top, and it got me thinking about how well rosemary, maple, and garlic go together. Rosemary and garlic are my go-to aromatics for steak, so I decided to see what happened if I added maple to the mix in the form of maple butter, used to baste the steak as it sears. Oooooh man, you guys. It’s the coolest combo of savory, salty, herby, and sweet. A steak that’s been kissed by autumn.* dreamy sigh *

Plus, it’s a quick and easy preparation, which suits the steak served in THE PASSWORD TO LARKSPUR LANE, my favorite Nancy book so far. This. Book. Has. Everything: Carrier pigeons caught in plane engines, coded messages, kidnapped doctors, pigeon fanciers (raised eyebrow), and competitive diving. It’s a wild ride to say the least. 😀

Halfway through the book, Nancy and her friends help an elderly couple make a steak dinner as she investigates a mysterious blue flame that’s been popping up in their yard at night. Something tells me she wasn’t spending hours waiting for the meat to marinate, so a quick sear with aromatics and compound butter feels appropriate.

If you’re looking for an autumnal dinner to go with your cozy mystery book, this is the meal for you!

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No-Knead Rosemary Walnut Bread with Roasted Garlic

Posted September 9, 2021 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes / 0 Comments

 

 

When I was a kid, a row of Nancy Drew books with neon yellow spines sat on the bookshelf in my parents’ living room. I wish I could say I devoured them like a ravenous book beast, but . . . I never actually picked one up. Probably because my TBR was already massive, and I kept telling myself I’d start the series “when I had time.” I’m super embarrassed to admit it, especially since mysteries are my absolute favorite. But now I’m proud to say I’m FINALLY reading the series!

Here’s my take on the books so far: they’re fun, light-hearted little adventures, though a bit paint-by-numbers at times. My biggest quibble is that the character’s don’t experience much character development. However, that’s not surprising considering the series was written by a variety of ghostwriters (the author “Carolyn Keene” is a pseudonym). These books are meant to be quick, fun stories you can read in pretty much any order. If that’s what you’re craving, these books deliver. In fact, this series a perfect introduction to the mystery genre for younger readers, since it has fun with beloved mystery tropes without getting too gritty or disturbing. Plus, Nancy’s confidence, kindness, resourcefulness, and positivity make her a great role model.

Now let’s talk food! Lots of Nancy books have bread in them, and I’ve been looking for an excuse to share this Miracle No-Knead Bread from Pinch of Yum for ages now. It has become my favorite low-maintenance yeasted bread. Since you just mix the dough and let it rest over night, it’s perfect for when you want the flavor of a yeasted loaf but don’t want to deal with multiple rises, punching down dough, or kneading. To make it extra special, I decided to take my inspiration from the nut bread from THE SIGN OF THE TWISTED CANDLES, since it meant I could use my favorite bread flavorings: walnut, fresh rosemary, and roasted garlic.

This trio of flavors always manages to unlock something special in hearty, crusty breads, giving them a textural boost and a new delicate layer of flavor. Today’s bread is no exception. It shines the brightest when you cut thick slices and toast them with a bit of butter. Give it a try. You’ll thank me later. 😉

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Kiki’s Hottokeki: Japanese Pancakes from the COOK ANIME Cookbook

Posted September 10, 2020 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book Events and Tours / 0 Comments

 

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I’ve been a Studio Ghibli junkie for over a decade. Though every single Ghibli film is richly told and gorgeously animated, Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of my all-time favorites. There’s just something about that plucky little witch striking out on her own that captured my heart and never let it go. My preschooler loves it too, so much so that on the morning of his birthday, we watched the movie while eating pancakes—just like Kiki!

Just a few months ago, I learned that one of my favorite food-in-fiction bloggers, Diana Ault, was coming out with an anime-themed cookbook called COOK ANIME. I asked Diana if I could make a recipe from her book for my fiction-themed cookbook post series, and guess what: she said yes AND she told me it had a recipe for Kiki’s pancakes! 😀

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Father Brown’s Death by Chocolate Cupcakes with Mystery Filling

Posted September 3, 2020 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes, Holidays / 2 Comments

 

 

I’ve loved the BBC show Father Brown for years, but I only recently got a chance to read the collection of short stories on which it’s based. Like many adaptations, the show diverges from the source material in key ways, but I think it stays true in the ways that matter most.

Arguably the biggest difference is that the literary Father Brown is always traveling. I don’t think you ever actually visit his own parish, which means recurring characters like Mrs. McCarthy, Lady Felicia, and Sid exist solely in the show. But don’t worry—Hercule Flambeau, master thief and Father Brown’s nemesis, is still around to stir up trouble! 😉

When one of my readers requested a Father Brown recipe specifically inspired by the stories, I was intrigued to say the least. To fans of the show, the iconic food is Mrs. McCarthy’s strawberry scones. But no Mrs. McCarthy in the stories means no scones. I was going to have to get creative. And I LOVE getting creative! ^.^

The stories mostly only mention food in passing, but one reference stands out. In “The Flying Stars,” Father Brown has to turn out his pockets, and among a few coins and priestly paraphernalia is a stick of chocolate, heavily implying that he always likes to keep some on hand. After reading that, I knew my recipe was going to be a rich, chocolatey dessert.

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Pippi Longstocking’s Pepparkakor Heart Cookies

Posted September 5, 2019 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes / 0 Comments

 

 

I finally got around to listening to the Pippi Longstocking audiobook a few months ago, and, guys, I just gotta say…it’s a total gem! I looove Pippi. She reminds me of Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes. I remember the artist (Bill Watterson) saying that kids and adults like Calvin for almost opposite reasons, and I totally see Pippi the same way. Kids love her grownup qualities (Independent! Confident! Super strong!), and adults love her childlike qualities (Imaginative! Spirited! Fearless!). I definitely want to read this one to my kids when they’re old enough. For now though, I’ll just have to settle for making them goodies from the book. ^.^

I thought there wouldn’t be much food in it since it’s so short, but it’s actually PACKED with all kinds of yummy goodness: pancakes, ham, cold roast, cream cake, cookies, and more. The food that stood out to me most was the cookies. They show up in multiple scenes, but my favorite is the one where Pippi is cutting out heart shapes from dough rolled out on the floor. They’re specifically called “pepparkakor” (a traditional Swedish ginger cookie). Since I’ve never made them before, I tracked down a recipe from Daune at Cottage in the Oaks. I added a little cream cheese frosting because I want it on all my spiced desserts from now until forever. I’ll admit the frosting is not strictly authentic, but it IS strictly delicious, which is all that really matters, right?

These were so fun and easy to make: the perfect weekend baking activity with little kiddos! 🙂

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Sarah’s Sea Glass Candy

Posted September 27, 2018 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes / 0 Comments

 

 

Blue and gray and green. In Sarah Plain and Tall, these are Sarah’s favorite colors because they are the colors of the sea. To wrap up this month’s menu, I wanted to make a dessert reminiscent of Sarah’s home in Maine. I loved the idea of making sea glass candy—especially since sea glass reminds me so much of the little ocean treasures she shows Anna and Caleb—so I decided to go a step farther and make them in Sarah’s favorite colors too!

I used this sea glass candy recipe from Make Life Lovely, which turned out great. The instructions are simple and easy to follow, and the final product is delicious. I’m really pleased with the colors too. They came out with just the right misty, ocean-y feel I was hoping for. And they were delicious! They actually taste a lot like cotton candy. I wouldn’t recommend serving them to very young children since the ends can be a little sharp, but they’re great for older children and adults. We ate them right up! 🙂

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Homemade Bread Bowls

Posted September 20, 2018 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes / 0 Comments

 

 

When I was growing up, my mom liked to make soup, stew, and chili extra special by serving them in bread bowls. It made eating that much more fun for us kids, and mom loved that it cut down on dishes! 😉 When I started working on my Sarah Plain and Tall menu, it became clear to me early on that a nice hearty stew would be my entree. I’ve made a variety of soups, stews, and chowders here on the blog before, so when I tried to think of a way to make this one special, my mind immediately went to bread bowls. They get major nostalgia points from me, and they just contribute so well to the rustic prairie feel I wanted to create for this menu.

Store-bought bread bowls are great if you’re short on time (we always used the Panera sour dough rolls when I was a kid), but making your own can be lots of fun. I tracked down this quick recipe from Taste of Home, and it turned out great! The bread tastes delicious when you fill it with stew or thick soup, but I enjoy it sliced up with a spread of homemade farmer’s cheese too!

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Beef Stew with Bread Bowls

Posted September 13, 2018 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes / 2 Comments

 

 

It seems strange to think that in almost 5 years of blogging, I’ve never done a post on beef stew. In fact, I couldn’t believe it at first. When it became clear to me while reading Sarah Plain and Tall that beef stew was the most prominent entree, I automatically started hunting through the blog to see which version I’d already made…only to my options wide open! (However, our rabbit and lamb stews are delicious, so I’d check those out as well).

So for my very first beef stew post, I’m sharing a recipe from my childhood. This Old-Time Beef Stew recipe from Better Homes and Gardens is the one my mom uses, and it’s what I think of whenever I imagine beef stew. In fact, she was visiting us while I made it, so she was able to give me a few pro tips to pass on to you guys for the ultimate stew experience!

I love how this simple, savory recipe allows the three main ingredients—beef, carrots, and potatoes—to shine, each without overshadowing the other. The beef is tender and juicy, while the carrots are sweet and the potatoes are their wonderful, humble selves. It’s exactly the kind of stew I can imagine the Whittings eating as they read their letters from Sarah!

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Farmer’s Cheese

Posted September 6, 2018 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes / 0 Comments

 

 

Guys, I made CHEESE!! 😀 I’ve been inching my way towards trying cheesemaking for years, and this week I found just the right recipe to inspire me to take the plunge. And it was fun! I’m so glad I did it, and I’m definitely doing it again.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s focus: new book menu. Starting today, we’ve got a new book of the month, and it’s Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan! I read it beginning to end on a long car ride a couple months ago, and I just knew I had to make a menu for it.

Much like my Little House on the Prairie menu, I wanted this one to feature rustic foods inspired by farm life. I knew homemade cheese would make a perfect appetizer, but I didn’t want anything too complicated. Cheesemaking has simultaneously fascinated and intimidated me for ages, so as much as I wanted to try it, I avoided recipes with scary words like “rennet” and “calcium chloride.” After all, I figured farmers like Jacob Whitting in Sarah Plain and Tall often had to make do with little, so I wanted a cheese that I could make with just some basic ingredients.

That’s when I found out about farmer’s cheese. It’s a simple, relatively quick cheese that, though pretty flavorless on its own, is fantastic when you mix a few choice seasonings into the base. There are several varieties, but I like this version from Pocket Pause. It’s one of the more basic recipes I’ve seen, and it turned out great on my first try! It’s a little like feta, except denser and less tart. Depending on how long you drain it, it can have a similar crumbly texture to feta or be a bit more spreadable. I spread some on bread for a quick snack, but you can also crumble it on a top of a salad, serve it on roasted vegetables, or put it in a sandwich.

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Amelia’s Homemade Marshmallows

Posted September 28, 2017 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Book of the Month Recipes / 5 Comments

 

         

In Amelia Writes Again, Amelia tells the story of how her sister Cleo invented a marshmallow game when they were little. The rules: squish a jumbo marshmallow until it’s sticky, then throw it on the ceiling. See how long it sticks and catch it in your mouth when it falls!

I would be lying if I said I didn’t try to play this once as a kid (Mom, if you’re wondering what that weird gray streak on my bedroom ceiling was, now you know). Reading about this game is one of my fondest memories from the Amelia books, so I decided to try my hand at homemade marshmallows for our dessert this month!

This recipe comes from the America’s Test Kitchen youtube channel. The steps are simple, reliable, and easy to follow. I wound up with great marshmallows on my first try, and I’m planning on tweaking the recipe to make chocolate marshmallows for Christmas!

NOTE: This recipe needs to set overnight.

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