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If you love the Chronicles of Narnia books and movies, you’ll want to add the cookbook I’m reviewing today to your collection asap. As a Narnia fan, I know I cherish my copy.
I was sent a copy of The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook to review on the food blog and it’s my pleasure to do just that.
From the Back Cover:
Bring the Majesty of Narnia to Your Table!
Have you ever wished you could travel through the wardrobe with Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter, simply to taste some of the wondrous food they eat? Ever tried tucking a piece of toffee in the ground, hoping a toffee tree would grow so you could eat sweets for breakfast?
Now you can recreate the delicious meals from Narnia in the comfort of your own home without worrying about the White Witch or epic battles. Menus include more than 150 easy-to-make recipes for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner, and of course dessert.
Relive the magical and glorious world of Narnia as you cook your way through foods so good you’ll think Aslan delivered them himself.
•Breakfast with Trumpkin the Dwarf — Fire roasted pavenders
•Tea with Tumnus the Faun-soft — Boiled eggs and sugar-dusted tea cake
•Snack with the White Witch — Turkish Delight
•Dinner with the Beavers — Fried trout and homemade sandwich bread
•Dessert from Father Christmas — Plum pudding and Christmas biscuits
“Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably.”—C.S. Lewis
Dinah Buchloz is the author of the New York Times bestselling Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and four children. She had never been to Narnia but plans to visit as soon as she finds the right wardrobe.
The author, Dinah Bucholz, combines two of the most amazing things in the world (literature and food!) in a way that makes this much more than just a cookbook. Each recipe includes a “snippet” which allows you to revisit Narnia before you get to the meat of the matter… the recipe. I don’t know about you, but I’m always MORE than ready to visit Narnia.
Leaving’s the problem.
Before a couple of recipes in Chapter Two: “Snacks, Teas, and Meals on the Run,” the reader enjoys a brief visit Prince Caspian:
Doctor Cornelius wakes Prince Caspian in the dead of night to tell him he must flee, now that his usurping uncle King Miraz has had a son whom he will wish to see on the throne. Caspian’s tutor puts together a bundle of food and money for him to take on his flight to Archenland to seek the aid of its king. (Prince Caspian, Chapter 5)
In Chapter Three: “lunch and Dinner Menus,” there is a wonderful set of recipes for “Christmas Dinner From Father Christmas.” The recipes include Roast Goose with Fall Fruit Stuffing (the stuffing sounds completely out of this world, but this goose lover would definitely go with a different bird), Plum Pudding, Christmas Biscuits, Mashed Potatoes, and Onion Gravy. (See below for the Onion Gravy Recipe).
A few of the other recipes in The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook:
- Boiled Lobster
- Hearty Mushroom Soup
- Strawberry-Banana-Orange Drink
- Roast Chestnuts (Recipe Below)
- Steamed Bread and Butter Pudding
- Raisin-Stuffed Baked Apples
- Strawberry Sorbet
- Vanilla Mousse
- Whipped Cream Frosting
- Sponge Cake
- Vermicelli Soup
- Battle Biscuits
- Cold Roast Venison
- Homemade Sandwich Bread
- Best Ever Ham Sandwiches
- Chewy White Nougat
- And many, many more fun (and delicious) recipes.
Roasted Chestnuts Recipe
2 pounds chestnuts
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Wash the chestnuts well and line them up on a baking sheet. Score an X on each nut with a sharp knife.
- Roast for 45 to 50 minutes, until the shells peel away and the nuts feel soft when pressed
Serves: 6
Th Onion Gravy recipe, below, is ideal with a big gorgeous heap of fresh mashed potatoes. No biscuit in its right mind would complain about wearing it either.
Onion Gravy Recipe
3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1 Onion, Chopped
2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
2 Cups Beef Broth
Salt, to Taste
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to Taste
- Heat the oil in a small saucepan.
- Add the onion and cook until browned.
- Add the flour and stir to combine.
- Pour in the beef broth and stir until combined.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Cook over medium heat for another 5 minutes, until the raw flour taste disappears. Taste and season with Salt and Pepper.
See The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook: From Turkish Delight to Gooseberry Fool-Over 150 Recipes Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia
Also from Dinah Bucholz: The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook and The Unofficial Harry Potter Sweet Shoppe Kit!
