IN THIS ISSUE



*New Titles, Menus, Recipes, and Giveaways

*Novel Noshes



*Book, TV, and Song Blends

September fiction takes you on a culinary journey to New York's Lower East Side in the 1920s with knishes and martinis, Cape Cod during Christmas for bruschetta and cheesecake, and the American South, celebrated by a cookbook exploring the region's baking legacy. 

Top it off with book club menus from the authors of The Lost Bookshop and The Secret Life of Sunflowers.

What are you reading and cooking? Please let us know.

Judy Gelman

info@bookclubcookbook.com

BookClubCookbook.com

THE CHRISTMAS INN

Pamela Kelley

(St. Martin's Press)

Fiction / Romance

 A heartwarming holiday tale of second chances, family bonds, and rekindled romance set in a cozy Cape Cod inn during the magical Christmas season.

THE WHISPER SISTER

Jennifer S. Brown

(Lake Union)

Historical Fiction

In Prohibition-era New York, a young immigrant girl navigates the hardships of Ellis Island and running her family's speakeasy as she learns that the streets of New York are not paved with gold.

BAKING IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH

Anne Byrne

(Harper Celebrate)

Cooking

A collection of 200 recipes—from biscuits and cornbread to cakes and pies—and untold stories that explore the rich baking legacy of the American South.

Thanks to authors Evie Woods and Marta Molnar who recently shared a book club menu for our readers.

The Lost Bookshop is Evie Woods's novel about a vanishing bookshop— and three unsuspecting strangers who discover their own stories are as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. 

From Evie Woods: "The Lost BookShop has two different timelines, but one dish that appears in both is Shepherd's Pie. There are differing opinions as to whether this is an Irish or an English dish originally, but I don't think anyone will argue with the fact that it is a comfort food of the highest order! Opaline orders it at the Inn in Yorkshire while searching for clues about Emily Brontë and Martha & Henry order it in the Dublin pub, which ends up being their first date. Of course, they wash down their hearty meal with a pint of Guinness—a match made in heaven! I used to make shepherd's pie with minced beef, but that's probably considered sacrilege by the purists who would only use lamb. Either way, topping it off with the creamiest, smoothest mash is important. It's rich, it's moreish—and it sticks to your ribs!

As the prologue states, every good story starts with a cup of tea, so if you have any room after that scrumptious meal, I suggest the Moroccan tea Armand makes for Opaline in his garret in Paris. Taste the refreshing zing of peppermint leaves, the sweetness of the sugar, and the delicate spice of cinnamon mixed with gunpowder green tea and left in a pot to infuse, then poured from an alarming height into a glass. It always takes me back to my college days in France when I had many Moroccan friends and I loved the ceremony of making the tea every bit as much as the taste." 

The Secret Life of Sunflowers is Marta Molnar's novel based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law.

From Martna Molnar: “Any French or Dutch food—or a combination— would pair well with my novel. One famous Dutch option is Poffertjes— small pancakes, baked in an iron skillet— and traditionally served with melted butter and dusted with icing sugar. In the book, the heroine makes Stamppot. One book club made sunflower seed bread, sunflower seed butter, and sunflower seed cookies."

Give Book, TV, and Song Blends— spices, herbs, and blends inspired by literary, television, and music favorites. Blends are perfect gifts for the literature, television, and music fans in your life, guaranteed to make them smile and spice up their cooking.

Choose an assortment of 4, 6, or 12 Blends packaged in a spice gift box.

Visit Blends Shop

A Gentleblend in Moscow” (Dill Weed) Chicken and Tzatziki; "Are You There, God? It’s Me, Marjoram"(Chicken Rub) Roast Chicken; "Dried and Prejudice" (Seasoned Salt) Butter Board; and "Grain of Thrones" (Everything Bagel Seasoning) Stuffed Celery. Find more delicious Blends recipes on our Blends Bash page!