Intro

So I have a great idea for a Summer – or anytime – party. Step 1. Pick a cookbook. Step 2. Invite fellow food-loving folk. Step 3. Tell invitees to prepare one recipe from the book of choice. Step 4. Set out dishes. Step 5. EAT!

I can’t take credit for this brilliant idea which was actually the brain child of my lovely fellow hostesses, Dana from DanaTreat.com and Julie who is my right-hand lady in all things cooking class related (and lately in all areas of my crazy-life).

When I received a copy of Lorna Yee and Ali Basye’s new cookbook, The Newlywed Kitchen: Delicious Meals for Couples Cooking Together, I was overwhelmed by how many corners of the pages I creased with excitement at the thought of recreating dozens of dishes introduced in the book.

This party was the perfect solution. We sampled a wide variety of the recipes and I didn’t have to spend days in the kitchen making them all.

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I made the Blue Cheese Crackers. These were packed with blue cheese flavor and the texture.. well they just melted in your mouth. A touch of heat comes from the perfect amount of cayenne. Blue Cheese Crackers are a lovely addition to any cheese and fruit plate.

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I served the crackers with blueberries and local cherries, herb chevre and San Andre.

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Dana made the Curried Chickpeas. I could eat these by the bowlful. Seriously – so good. Creamy, spicy and a subtle tang from goat cheese in the sauce.

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Pasta salad with Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes

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Lorraine (@voraciousgirl) made Chocolate Mudslide Cookies.

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Julie made the Bourbon-Glazed Baby Back Ribs with Sweet and Smokey Barbecue Sauce. Anything that gets an overnight bath in beer and soda has got to be good, right?! Oh and they are.

Now I’m embarrassed to say there was a lot more food – Red Velvet Cake, Samoa Blondies, Macaroni and Cheese, etc. but I was too busy eating (then eating again) to take photos of the late comers. Check out Lorna’s blog for more images of our incredible potluck.

The party was a smashing success. The food was incredible and our job as hostesses was so simple as everyone else provided most of the food. We even had the honor of having Lorna in attendance.

I hope you get inspired by our cookbook party. I’d love to see pictures from your party!

 

14 Responses to “The Newlywed Kitchen Potluck”

  5. Dana

    What a fun idea, basing a potluck off of a cookbook. So often people I invite to potlucks reply, “but what should I make?” or “I don’t know what to make.” This way, you hand them the book and say pick something. I like it!

  9. amelia from z tasty life

    absolutely fantastic!
    I have a fellow friend blogger that belongs to a cookbook book club: I am always so jealous (she’s on the others side of the country, otherwise I would join the fun). I will propose this to my regular book-club, at least for one meeting!!!

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  12. Allison Zuniga

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