Kelsey Banfield - The Family Calendar Cookbook: From Birthdays to Bake Sales, Good Food to Carry You Through the Year

2015 by Kelsey Banfield

Published by Running Press,

A Member of the Perseus Books Group

All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions

Printed in China

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014956344

E-book ISBN: 978-0-7624-5527-0

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing

Cover and interior design by Ashley Haag

Edited by Kristen Green Wiewora

Typography: Adobe Caslon, Bodoni Antiqua, and Brandon Text

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Do you dream of being the person who knows exactly what to make for PTA meetings, new moms, or the allergen-free school party? Are you tired of scrambling to find a good recipe every time you are asked to bring food to an event or entertain for the holidays? The secret is to make the same thing every time. All new moms will love you forever if you bring them baked chicken enchiladas or comforting tomato soup. The only birthday cake youll ever need for your children is a moist vanilla layer cake with milk chocolate frosting. The holiday season is no time to try something new. With a roster of recipes from sparkling spiced shortbread, to the best-ever ham, to giftable homemade baking mixes and preserves, youll be all set.

The Family Calendar Cookbook is a fresh and necessary look at all the cookingNew Years Day brunch, birthday parties, homemade teacher gifts, dinners for new parentsrequired of parents throughout the year.

On-demand cooking requires a lot of recipes from a lot of sources. The Family Calendar Cookbook consolidates all of these recipes in one easy to use, practical guide on how to make and present easy, delicious, well-loved food for every occasion. This is the index card box you need if your mother did not pass one on to you. These are the recipes you will make every year.

When my daughter, Daphne, began preschool in 2009 I was introduced to a whole new cooking world. Not only did I cook daily meals for our family, I also cooked for birthday parties, picnics, teachers, and with the children in Daphnes classroom. I hosted large family holidays involving out-of-town guests with children. Every month had special occasions for which I was called upon to produce food above and beyond my everyday fare.

At first I tried to think of new recipes for every occasion. For birthday parties and bake sales I experimented with endless variations of cupcakes to make sure I always brought a new and interesting flavor. While I am an experienced home cook, coming up with all these new recipes was difficult and they didnt always work out perfectly. And every time I went somewhere, people just asked for my double chocolate cupcakes with vanilla bean frosting, beloved by children and adults. Why was I bothering to make up new variations when I already had a hit on my hands? I tossed the experiments and stuck with my tried and true. Now every time I arrive at an event, people are so excited Ive brought their favorite. It has become the only cupcake recipe I need.

The best solution to on-demand cooking is a set of go-to recipes for every occasion. Having a repertoire is the easiest way to manage the ongoing cooking needs that send other parents scrambling.

Every spring for the past three years Ive made the same scrumptious bacon and green chile quiche for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. In November I prepare the same make-ahead holiday gifts of vanilla extract, multigrain pancake mix, and spiced butterscotch sauce. Friends look forward to them so much, one mother told me she plans a few menu items around them for her holiday entertaining. No matter what time of year a new baby arrives, I have a cache of recipes for meals specifically geared toward new parents, such as my perfect braised chicken thighs and nourishing pesto soup. Every year Daphnes class asks me to come in and make mini baked banana bread muffins and decorate graham cracker gingerbread houses. I am the person everyone turns to for a recipe for a quiche that travels well, kid-friendly party food, or the perfect slow-cooker meal to serve a crowd.

In addition to building the ultimate recipe reserve, Ive learned how to simply and beautifully present my food and gifts without employing complicated stencils, jigsaws, and glue guns. When I bring spiced chocolate bark to a hostess, I turn to my favorite packaging technique, a simple paper take-out box lined with polka-dot tissue paper and tied with matching ribbon. At the end of summer I always wrap the tops of apricot preserves jars in inexpensive gingham cloth and attach handwritten paper hanging tags so they are gift-ready in the pantry all winter long.

Whether it is entertaining a large crowd at home, carting portable snacks to school, or preparing sweets for a bake sale, there is no need to stress out about what to make.

The Family Calendar Cookbook covers the seasonal cooking needs of a typical household and includes from-scratch recipes for every event. In addition to birthday parties and portable potluck food, I tackle such prickly scenarios as allergy-friendly recipes for a classroom, meals for friends in need, and a summer potluck on the beach. This book will also elaborate on manageable and tasteful ways to present food for occasions without requiring any prior crafting skills or special equipment.

The Family Calendar Cookbook is your go-to source for no-fail, no-stress recipes to serve your family and community.

TIPS FOR NO-STRESS KITCHEN SUCCESS

When it comes to running my home kitchen, I dont subscribe to any hard-and-fast rules. Cooking for others should be a joyful way to show your love, not a rigid, stressful exercise. I believe recipes are meant to be tweaked and favorite dishes should be made time and again. It is fine if something doesnt look picture perfect, so long as it tastes amazing. Over time Ive picked up little tricks here and there that have helped me achieve no-stress success and curate the go-to recipe repertoire. Before we get to the recipes, I want to share them with you.