Reviewed by annieb123 on
Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook is a new cookbook for weddings, parties, and other social gatherings. Released 1st June 2019 by Barbour on their Shiloh Run imprint, it's 224 pages and available in spiral bound format.
The eARC provided was a 48 pages sample with recipes for (non-alcoholic)drinks, salads, desserts, main- and side-dishes, and helpful tips for cooking for a crowd, streamlining serving, and cleaning up.
The photography is appealing and warm and emphasizes the comfort and simplicity of good food with good friends and family. The typography and layout are homey, with recipes presented individually, organized by section.
Many of these recipes will be familiar to cooks who have had family recipes handed down for generations. The recipes all have ingredients listed in American standard measurements only. The written directions are clear and easy to follow. There is no nutritional information given for the sample recipes, and the contributors names are listed for each. I was surprised (and pleased) to see that some of the recipes included convenience ingredients. Also many of these recipes have large yields, perfect for parties, reunions, gatherings, etc.
There is a strong theme of Christian fellowship and worship and the important role that food plays in the social and religious structure of believers.
Five stars. (With the assumption that the rest of the recipes and book quality are to the same standard as the sample provided).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 6 August, 2019: Reviewed