Welcome to our new Book of the Month! I’ve been looking forward to doing Harry Potter for a long time. I love the books, so it was really important to me that this menu do them justice. Several drafts later, I’m proud to say I’ve planned a menu that I think even Snape would be unable to resist; it’s fun, magical, and (of course) incredibly tasty. So let’s get started!
April Showers Bring a New Book of the Month
Goodbye, March. Hello, April! We’ve got warm, sunny weather here in Chicago, and I couldn’t be happier. The fierce wind is the only thing keeping me from serving dinner outside today. I can’t leave winter behind fast enough!
Dragon Scale Madeleines
Today, we reach the end of our Hobbit journey. It’s been a fun ride: we’ve shared nut bread with Beorn the bear-man, supped on woodland fowl with the elves, and even had escargot with the friendly thrush. But the party ain’t over yet–we haven’t even had dessert! Luckily, Smaug’s been kind enough to provide it for us.
Parmesan and Thyme Escargot
Please forgive my Pi Day ADD from last week. I promise to never deviate from the pre-determined menu again…unless of course it’s for something super awesome. Like Halloween. Or the Fourth of July. Or Bring Your Potted Plant To Work Day…which I’m sure is a holiday somewhere.
Happy Pi Day!
For those who haven’t heard of it, March 14th (3/14) is National Pi Day, a day set aside in honor of the number pi (which is commonly abbreviated as 3.14). It’s kind of a big day at my house. The Mister wears his pi shirt, I bake a ton of pie, and we invite a bunch of friends over to watch Waitress (a movie about pie). Tragically, this has been a really busy week for us, so I haven’t had time to make truckloads of pie. In fact, I only had time to make one super-quick pie, so I knew I had to make it count. And that’s where this little beauty comes in…
Roasted Hens in Woodland Wine
I must confess, I’ve never been a huge fan of elves. Elegance and refinement aren’t really my thing (for more information, see last week’s post on the awesomeness of dwarves). However, I have profound respect for the elves’ ability to throw a party. While trekking through Mirkwood Forest, Bilbo and the dwarves stumble upon an elvish feast complete with music, dancing, and (of course) buckets of food.
Beorn’s Nut Bread and Fruited Honey
Personally, I’ve always felt like dwarves from fantasy books don’t get enough press. They’re fearless, rowdy, and unabashedly hairy. What’s not to love? But when it comes to culinary appreciation, you can’t beat a hobbit. I mean, we’re talking about a race of people who schedule their entire day around six meals. Talk about folks after my own heart! Thus, it is with great excitement that I introduce The Hobbit as our new Book of the Month!
New Month, New Book!
Well, folks, it’s the end of February, which means it’s time to bid adieu to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. As much as I loved cooking up Witch Hat Calzones and Cyclone Cookies, I’m super excited for March. I’ve got a great new Book of the Month in store for you! It’s got everything a great story needs: grand adventure, dozens of loveable characters, and lots of food! Of course, this made the menu a blast to plan. Join us next week for the first installment!
Can’t wait ’til next week? Here’s a hint… 😉
Cyclone Cookies
I love me a good cookie, and I’ve had my eye on these spirally angels from The Curvy Carrot for quite some time. To me, they look just like the cyclone that picked up Dorothy, and the sprinkles around the edges add a little extra fun. The best part? They’re black, white, AND Technicolor…not to mention wickedly delicious. What a great way to wrap up this month’s menu!
Sweet ‘n Spicy Flying Monkey Wings
I recently realized I’ve been inadvertently taking a picnic/backyard bbq approach to this Wonderful Wizard of Oz menu. Maybe it’s Dorothy’s wicker basket…or this dreary February weather making me wish for summer…or simply my ever-present desire to have a barbeque.
Heck, let’s be honest. It’s most likely the last of the three. 😉