Letourneau Sara - A literary afternoon tea: blends and treats for Alice, Bilbo, Dorothy, Jo, and book lovers everywhere

Copyright 2018 by Alison Walsh All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. Cover design by Abigail Gehring Cover illustration credit: iStockphoto Photographs by Alison Walsh Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-2910-0 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-2912-4 Printed in China For the Mister, my always eager taste tester, and for the Little Mister, who was with me every step of the way

by Sara Letourneau Have you ever wondered why food and drink appear so often in great stories? Or why we frequently find characters sharing meals with family, friends, and the occasional stranger? If your first guess is, Because the author wants to make us readers hungry, well, no one would fault you (or your taste buds) for thinking that way. But heres the truth: If literature is meant to reflect life, then why not use food, a part of our everyday lives, to make that reflection truly believable? Think about it for a moment. (Remember when Aunt Polly caught Tom Sawyer sneaking jam from the pantry?) It can evoke smells and flavors that bring a setting to life and stir up emotions that deepen a readers connection in the story. (Remember when Aunt Polly caught Tom Sawyer sneaking jam from the pantry?) It can evoke smells and flavors that bring a setting to life and stir up emotions that deepen a readers connection in the story.

Some stories such as Laura Ingalls Wilderss Little House series and Louisa May Alcotts Little Women even feature cooks and bakers as characters. And who can forget when the White Witch offered Edmund hot chocolate and Turkish delight in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe ? Or when Harry Potter and his classmates sat down for their first banquet at Hogwarts? Or when Alice stumbles upon the Mad Hatter and the March Hares tea party? The sharing of food is a natural opportunity for characters to interact and demonstrate their relationships, from family and friendships to travelers on the same road and villains tempting their prey. Indeed, food and drink have played a deliciously meaningful role in literature. Its something Ive relished as a lifelong lover of reading. Thanks to timeless stories like J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit and Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales , and more recent books like Laura Esquivels Like Water for Chocolate and Suzanne Collinss The Hunger Games , Ive lost count of how many times Ive smacked my lips over the proffered dishes or marveled over the conversations, arguments, and awkward silences that follow.

Even my nighttime reading involves nourishment; I have to have a mug of freshly brewed tea beside me, or else the ritual feels incomplete. And on top of all this, Ive wondered now and then how much funand how challengingit might be to recreate some of the foods Ive read about. Its not a far-fetched idea, since I also enjoy cooking and baking. But Ive always felt more comfortable following recipes than inventing my own. My imagination could play forever when it comes to writing stories, poems, and blog articles, but in the kitchen it usually grinds to a halt. Thankfully, thats where Alison Walsh comes in.

An avid reader herself, Alison has taken her enthusiasm to a whole other level, beginning with her food blog Alisons Wonderland Recipes . I discovered the site in 2015, and I was immediately drawn in by the charm and excitement she exuded in bringing much-loved dishes from fiction to edible reality. The variety of foods, easy-to-follow instructions, cleanly presented photographsall of it enticed me to return week after week to try the recipes at home. It also helped that Alison and I shared similar reading tastes and a passion for tea. And now, to say that Im thrilled about Alisons latest culinary and literary achievement would be an understatement. A Literary Tea Party puts a whimsical stir on literary cookbooks.

It doesnt just serve recipes inspired by foods from classic literature. It also presents carefully crafted and specifically selected dishes that are ideal forwhat else?teatime. From scones, breads, and finger-food savories to cookies and other bite-size sweets, this is an elegant and heartwarming tribute to the stories and characters that have stayed with us. Youll also find recipes for unique homemade tea blends that will bring additional warmth, fragrance, and complexity to the meal. And if youre not a tea lover, then maybe the hot cocoa, punches, and other beverages will tickle your taste buds. So make yourself a cup of tea and see which recipes catch your eye.

Do any come from books you read as a child and still rank among your all-time favorites? Try those foods first to savor the nostalgia and remember why you loved the book in the first place. And who knows? Maybe Alisons work will inspire you to plan a themed tea party, one with decorations, attire, and, of course, a menu drawing from some of the most memorable stories ever written.

Dear Reader, If you told me four years ago that Id publish a cookbookany cookbook, everI wouldnt have believed you. At the time, my love of cooking was just beginning to sprout, and my culinary experience was limited to meals for one and the occasional dinner party with friends. When I started my little fledgling food blog, Alisons Wonderland Recipes , all I knew was that I wanted to combine my new love of food with my lifelong love of reading. When Skyhorse emailed me about writing a cookbook, I had been blogging for three years.

My skill level was much higher than when I started, but I still had a lot to learn. I could concoct a soup and grill a mean steak, but I had no idea how to develop my own bread or cake recipes. Still, I knew one thing: there was no way I was going to say no! So I went for it. I didnt know the science behind things like baking and candymaking, but I learned. I compared reliable recipes and noted shared variables. I watched more YouTube videos about making Turkish delight than anyone ever should.

I made it my goal to add one completely original recipe to my blog every month to challenge myself to learn new skills. My point in saying all of this is that I didnt embark on this project because I felt ready; instead, I became ready by doing it. In the process, not only did I find that I was more capable than I thought, my efforts also jumpstarted my learning like nothing before. Im a much better chef, blogger, recipe developer, writer, and time manager than I would be now if Id passed up this amazing opportunity. If theres anything youre afraid youre not good enough for, dont let fear make your choices. We all have doubts about ourselves, but life has a way of helping us grow past those doubts, if we only let it.

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