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Have you tried one of our featured recipes? Send us a review or a recipe of your own to recipereview@wutheringbites.com.
Past Featured Recipes:
Survival Food
One of the funnier sections of Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, is the description of the food that he and his little brother Toph would eat. As he says, "Neither Toph nor I...ever developed any interest in food, and much less in cooking–both of our palates were stunted at five, six years old, at fruit rolls and plain hamburgers. And though we daydream aloud about the existence of a simple pill, one pill a day, that would solve our daily requirements, I recognize the importance of cooking regularly, though I have no idea why cooking regularly is important." This sentiment is reflected in the "recipes" he reveals for such concoctions as "The Saucy Beefeater," "The Saucy Chicken," "The Crunchy Chicken," and "The Crumbling Wall." These basic, minimally flavored dishes can be easily recreated for your book club, and can be found pages 88-87 of the paperback Vintage Books edition. Or, you may want to try a our suggested variations below. Another idea is to go with a San Francisco-themed menu, which could be very tasty indeed.
Saucy Beefeater-A quick, weekday, stroganoff-like entree.
Saucy Chicken Over Couscous-Stir-fried chicken mixed with an orange-infused teriyaki sauce.
Read about A Hearbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Grits, Four Ways
A southern institution, grits, or hominy grits, can be prepared in a plethora of ways, as either a hot cereal, side dish, or used as a key ingredient.
Louisiana Shrimp and Grits-Tomato-ey shrimp served over a bed of hot, steaming grits.
Georgia Grits Waffles-These waffles are crisp and tender on the outside, with rich, creamy centers.
Grits and Cheese-Comfort food of the highest order.
Rosemary Cheese Grits Casserole-Crispy golden brown grits cakes are layered with a rosemary perfumed tomato sauce.
Read about Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote
Iconic Chicago Food
One would think that a book involving time travel would not be so thoroughly grounded in a place, but not so for The Time Traveler's Wife. It's all about Chicago. Below are some tasty recipes and food ideas from the Windy City.
Shrimp de Jonghe-A buttery, garlic-y baked shrimp dish with crisp breadcrumbs and almonds.
Chicken Vesuvio-Originating in the Italian-American restaurants of Chicago in the 1960s.
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza-A pizza that you can really sink your teeth into.
Eli's Style Cheesecake-Inspired by the famous Chicago cheesecake purveyor.
Other famous foods and snacks that were created in Chicago: Wrigley gum, Twinkies, Cracker Jack and Tootsie Rolls.
Read about The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Down Home Cooking
The Known World takes place in a fictional county in Virginia. A book with a Southern locale always makes for a tasty menu. Below are a few recipes that Katie, a member of our book club prepared for our gathering, along with a couple of southern classics.
Tomato Salad-A simple salad, best made with locally grown, seasonal tomatoes.
Collard Greens-Richly flavored with smoky ham hocks.
Grits and Cheese-A rich, flavorful side dish.
Baked Virginia Ham-Great for a party as it feeds a crowd and can be served hot or at room temperature.
Blackberry Crisp-A sweet finish to the meal.
Read about The Known World by Edward P. Jones
Reason for Vegetarianism
Food does not play an important role in Goodall's book, so there aren't many gastronomical cues to be found within its pages. She herself says, "To this day, food is supremely unimportant to me." With her tireless and supremely devoted work as an environmentalist, it's not surprising that she's a vegetarian. Below are some tasty vegetarian dishes that we think you'll enjoy.
Hot Artichoke Dip-A perfect party dip for fall. Serve with thin slices of crusty bread or crackers.
Braised Cauliflower with Curry and Yogurt-Yogurt acts to enrich the flavor of the cauliflower and mellow the curry spice.
African Pumpkin Stew-A simple vegetairna stew, packed with nutrients. We think Jane would approve.
Banana Bread-Best when made with ultra-ripe bananas.
Read about Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey by Jane Goodall
Brazilian Bites
The action of the novel takes place all over the world, but the memoir is written in Brazil, hence the Brazilian recipes below. Included with the traditional fare is a flourless chocolate cake. A perfect accompaniment to this dessert would be coffee (the much-maligned beverage of the novel), however, it's just as good with tea, which is how we had it.
Caipirinha-The signature cocktail of Brazil.
Brazilian Black Beans With Bacon (Tutu Mineira)-An easy, flavorful side dish.
Crazy Rice (Arroz Loco)-A colorful Brazilian rice dish with raisins, bell peppers and corn.
Shrimp With Bahian Peanut Sauce-Marinated grilled shrimp served with a chunky, flavorul peanut sauce.
Flourless Chocolate Cake-A decadent chocolate cake that is a perfect match for coffee (or not)!
Read about Memoir From Antproof Case by Mark Helprin
Spanish Delights
The most fun part of this book discussion was the delicous food we had! Gambas al Ajillo (garlic shrimp), empanadas, and Spanish rioja and sparkling wine—simply divine!.
Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)-Succulent shrimp melds perfectly with mellow garlic, Spanish sherry and a shot of lemon juice.
Banana Black Bean Empanadas-Baking instead of deep frying makes these a snap.
Potato Tortilla-A classic Spanish side dish.
Read about The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Recipes from Crescent
These recipes can also be found in the back of some editions of the novel. We thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes that WutheringBites member Susan prepared for our discussion.
Tabbouleh-Homemade tabbouleh is wonderfully fresh and light.
Mjeddrah-A comforting mix of rice, lentils and lightly caramelized onions.
Gh'rayba-Light and tender cookies with just a hint of orange blossom water.
Stuffed Grape Leaves With Lamb Shanks-We had a vegetarian version of stuffed grape leaves from a deli, but if you have the time and patience, try these.
Read about Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber
Read about Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks
Classic American Recipes for America's Women
Imagine doing all of your cooking over a live fire. Yikes. Thankfully, by the turn of the century, most American homemakers had the luxury of electricity and refrigeration. Many of the dishes we think of today as classic American fare evolved during this era.
Oysters Rockefeller-Originally created at the famous New Orleans restaurant Antoine's in 1899, this rich dish of butter and oysters was appropriately named after the richest man of the era, John D. Rockefeller.
Pot Roast With Caramelized Vegetable Gravy-A one-pot meal that is both economical and time-saving, a boon to the homemaker of the early 1900's—and any other era for that matter.
Victory Garden Chicken-Vegetable Soup-This soup is inspired by the victory garden trend of World War II, when everyone was encouraged to grow their own vegetable so that more supplies could be sent to the troops.
Classic American Apple Pie-The name says it all.
Read about America's Women by Gail Collins
Treats for Tea
The afternoon tradition of British high tea is generally
thought to have begun in the late 18th century as a way
to ease the hunger pains before supper. It originated with
the British middle classes, and consisted of hearty savory
items. High tea has changed over the years to include anything
from the most elegant of pastries to the simplest of sandwiches.
It's a wonderful tradition and a great way to break up the
day and share a bit of conversation, good food and a spot
of revitalizing tea.
Chicken Curry Tea Sandwiches
Cucumber, Radish, and Watercress Sandwiches With Truffled Goat Cheese
Cucumber Sandwiches
Cranberry Black Pepper Chutney
Read about Atonement
by Ian McEwan.
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