Alison Walsh - A Literary Holiday Cookbook: Festive Meals for the Snow Queen, Gandalf, Sherlock, Scrooge, and Book Lovers Everywhere

Copyright 2020 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 Erin Seaward-Hiatt and Daniel Brount Cover illustration from Shutterstock Photographs by Alison Walsh Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-5496-6 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-6170-4 Printed in China For the Little Miss, a true hobbit at heart ContentsForeword In times of crisis, two things never fail to bring consolation: good books and good food. At the time of this writing, during a global pandemic, this has never been more true. While deprived of normal life, people in quarantine are coping by baking and reaching for long-beloved comfort reads.

In my home, my husband bakes fresh sourdough bread daily that we eat with jam in the afternoon while I read aloud our favorite books to my four children. This little quotidian tradition is a delicious glimmer of beauty and goodness during a time of suffering. Wonderful food and good stories comfort us. They remind us to be hopeful when our lives seem dark. And sharing meals and stories around a table reminds us that we are human beings who are made to feast. We are wired for festivity just as we are wired for story.

Perhaps this is why stories about feasting are forever imprinted on our hearts. The classic tales that hold our hearts are stories we inhabit. We see ourselves attending a feast at Redwall Abbey, being offered a taste of Turkish delight by a mysterious queen, or smelling the intoxicating scent of the March familys Christmas breakfast being carried over snowy lanes to offer to the poor Hummels. Our mouths water each time we reread these familiar passages, but, alas, the feasts are only in our imaginationsuntil now. Alison Walsh offers us the opportunity to bring the feasts of literary classics to our own homes! The fantasies of joining the Cratchits at their Christmas table, sampling Ma Ingallss maple candy, or sharing Cottleston pie with Winnie-the-Pooh are fantasies no longer. Each of these authentic recipes is meticulously informed by the text inspiring it.

Whether youre ready to put on an apron or brew a cup of tea and cozy up with some literary recipes, you will be delighted. This lovely book offers you the chance to rediscover classic tales and bring them to life in your kitchen. So join your friends within the pages of beloved books with friends around your table! No matter what storms rage outside, it is always the right time to celebrate the gift of a good book and a tasty meallet this beautiful cookbook be your guide. Haley Stewart, podcaster, speaker, and author of The Grace of Enough and The Literary Medicine CabinetIntroduction Dear Reader, People are often surprised to hear that I havent always loved cooking. In fact, I did my fair share of whining whenever I needed to help make dinner as a kid. It wasnt until I bought my first cookbook in college that I realized food could be a creative outlet.

After that, it didnt take long for me to fall hopelessly in love. But I have always loved books. As a toddler I would pull out the two biggest books we hadthe dictionary and the Bibleand patiently scan page after page, not understanding a word yet completely engrossed. When I really learned to read, I devoured books insatiably. Looking back, it seems inevitable that I began to incorporate fiction into my food, first with my literary food blog, Alisons Wonderland Recipes, then with cookbooks. When I sat down to write A Literary Holiday Cookbook, I wanted to create a cookbook both food lovers and fiction lovers could enjoy.

It was important to me that this book welcome readers of all culinary skill levels. Naturally, I wanted to push the boundaries of my own culinary skills and creativity, but not at the expense of ease of use. I firmly believe you shouldnt have to know a ball whisk from a fish spatula to enjoy food from your favorite literature. I feel the same way about holiday food. After all, holidays were created to be celebrations, and thats how they should feel. You shouldnt have to be utterly intimidated by roasting a turkey or baking an elegant dessert.

It should be fun, and you should be able to look at the recipe and think, I can do this! Thats why, within these pages, youll find recipes written for a variety of skill levels. The Mouse King Cheese Bites from The Nutcracker () is four recipes in onejoconde sponge, homemade strawberry syrup, almond buttercream, and ganache. Yet even the challenging recipes are designed to still feel approachable for anyone looking to learn a new skill. Each recipe is broken down into clear, digestible steps, with techniques and terms clarified for anyone who might be unfamiliar. The whole wheat bread mentioned earlier gives detailed instructions for shaping your loaf, and even the opera cake is broken down into easy steps. The roasted turkey and goose recipes dont involve brining, trussing, or elaborate stuffing.

Instead, I went for glazes, spice rubs, and aromaticseasy ways to elevate such dishes from plain to elegant. In short, no matter who you are or whether you know how to chiffonade basil, there is a place for you at this holiday table. Take a seat next to Jo March and Aslan, let Gandalf pour you a drink, and join all the beasts of Redwall in a festive song. The holidays are here! Alison Jo Marchs Hot Cocoa Mix, Tips, Tricks, and Substitutions E very chef needs a few good shortcuts up their sleeve to save the day when theyre short on time or dont have a special ingredient on hand. Here are my favorite kitchen tips and tricks: DIY Double Boiler. If you dont have a double boiler, just place a regular ceramic bowl over a saucepan filled with boiling water. Quick Buttermilk Substitute. Mix 1 cup milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Room-Temperature Eggs.