August 20, 2018
Lifestyle blogger Bowler (of Domestikatedlife) presents the basics of cooking for friends and family with more than 85 seasonally inspired recipes reflecting New England seasons . Each one features menus for different occasions: in spring, for example, a Garden Luncheon includes a seasonal vegetable crudité platter, as well as a mushroom, asparagus, pea, and leek risotto; and for an Easter Egg Hunt Brunch, Bowler suggests honey almond granola, deviled eggs with chives, and baked breakfast strata with goat cheese and Italian sausage; a Farmer’s Market Dinner Party includes crispy crab cakes and seared scallops. Summer features a classic New England clambake (clams, mussels, lobsters, corn, potatoes, and kielbasa);s; and menus for Berry Picking Potluck (including blackberry naan flatbread, strawberry orzo salad, and blueberry cobbler), and Grilled Pizza Party (simple pizza sauce, roasted garlic, pizza antipasto salad). Autumn brings pumpkins, apples, maple-based dishes, and a Thanksgiving dinner menu with sweet potato–stuffed mushrooms and skillet apple-sausage-corn bread stuffing. Winter’s holiday menus for Christmas Open House and New Year’s Day luncheon offer such appetizers as an apple-walnut baked brie and pear-and-Gorgonzola bites for effortless entertaining. Though this is not a traditional regional cookbook, Bowler’s “just stick with the basics” planning techniques and love of New England deliver an inspiring and comforting cuisine. Her meticulous details, and chatty style are sure to please her fans.