Recipes inspired by celebrated works of literature and the passages that feature them. By Shaunda Kennedy Wenger & Janet Jensen
Emma from Bookish in Crickhowell gives us an insight into what’s good to read this month
The Book Lover’s Cookbook features nearly 200 recipes that were prepared, served or mentioned in great books. From salads to breads, soups to desserts, each recipe is accompanied by an extract from the book that highlights the featured dish. Sprinkled throughout with marvellous anecdotes about writers and writing.
‘In our favourite stories, friendships were forged over pie crusts, comfort was served in a bowl of macaroni cheese and romance sparked over a first dinner date’
This book includes recipes inspired by the work of Charles Dickens (Carrot Pudding), Charles Frazier), Charlotte Brontë (Privileged Tart), Ernest Hemingway (Macaroni Cheese) children will love C.S. Lewis’s Turkish Delight from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Edmund’s Favourite Turkish Delight
- sunflower oil, or other neutral-tasting oil, for greasing
- 25 g powdered gelatine
- 255 ml water
- 4 tsp rosewater
- 450 g caster sugar
- 3-4 drops red food colouring
- 3 tbsp icing sugar
- 1 tsp cornflour
Method
- Lightly oil a 20x25cm baking tin.
- Mix the gelatine, water and rosewater in a large heavy-based pan and add the sugar.
- Heat gently until the sugar and gelatine have dissolved, stirring continuously.
- Bring to the boil without stirring.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, stir in the food colouring and leave to cool for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the mixture into the oiled tin and leave to set for 24 hours.
- Cut into squares.
- Mix the cornflour and icing sugar together and toss the Turkish Delight in the mixture.
- Store in an airtight container, between layers of greaseproof paper.
