Amy Hannon’s cookbook shares the same sense of hospitality she shows her her friends, family, & community. She welcomes you into her kitchen sharing old family recipes, strawberry cake among others, along with her family’s favorite meals including a good southern casserole or two. Beyond that, Amy gives you tips on how to care for your neighbors with the gift of food. This cookbook makes a great gift for a friend or yourself. Highly recommended for all levels of cooks whether it’s your first time in the kitchen or the 500th.

Personal Rating: 4.68
Star Rating: 5/5

Family, friends, friends of friends, out of town guests, the list could continue. We either eat or order take out. Either way, throughout our lifetimes we share meals with those we love. What better way to show we care about them than to cook for them?

Amy Nelson Hannon is the owner of Euna Mae's, a one-of-a-kind kitchen boutique in Springdale, AZ and she gives us a cookbook that reads like we're sitting at her table enjoying a conversation. This cookbook is more than just recipes. It's full of references to the people she cares about and a tribute to her grandmother, Euna Mae.

In the introduction Amy does just what the introduction is supposed to do. She tells us who she is and why she feeds people. We get personal glimpses into her childhood and she especially focuses on her influential grandmother. Amy tells her stories in such a charming way that you forget it's a cookbook.

Throughout the book we conclude that hospitality is a lost art. We get busy, too tired, and food is too convenient with today's take out and deliveries. The recipes in Love, Welcome and Serve are designed for gathering people and giving them wonderful experiences of friendship and food. This also includes allowing the cook to enjoy the company of others instead of being stuck in the kitchen.

The ingredients are easily found in grocery stores and don't take a lot of skill in prepping. The recipe instructions are easy to understand and because of this, there are many that I can't wait to try. One such recipe is the Hearty Homemade Chicken and Dumplins. It looks complicated, but after reading the recipe, it's definitely much easier than it looks.

This cookbook of heartwarming anecdotes and family friendly recipes is made complete with appealing photos. The pictures make you feel like your looking through someone's photo album and recipe box. You'll find these recipes hitting your table for the next gathering you have of family and friends.

Note: I received this a copy of this book from the publisher, Center Street, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a solid cookbook but in a market that is overloaded with great new content this book just doesn't stand out. Many of the recipes are ones that are familiar to me but nothing about them makes me think that THIS is the recipe I should be following. Also, I'm by no means a health nut and I do appreciate recipes that allow me to cut a few corners but the amount of food called for in these recipes that is either jarred, canned, or pre-packaged did begin to wear on me. Overall, not for me but could be appealing to someone looking for basic recipes that come together quickly.

A must own cookbook!
Full of warm stories and delicious food. Way too many recipes in this cookbook that you will need to make to not just buy your own copy. I just did.
I received a digital proof for review purposes from Netgalley. Then after my list of things I wanted to try went into double digits I just ordered my own copy.

Such a beautiful book to look through. I've tried Amy Hannon's recipes that she's shared online before. So I know without a doubt that all of this food will cook up deliciously. I can't wait for these recipes to become part of our family memories.

Anyone who is southern (or happens to be married to someone southern), knows that food is not only important, but southern food is comforting and a necessity to real happiness. Love Welcome Serve: Recipes that Gather and Give is a cookbook for anyone who loves cooking southern food for families and everyone else. Amy Nelson Hannon is a southern preacher’s wife, and has perfected the art of serving good comfort food to everyone she knows.

While the recipes in this book aren’t particularly fancy, they are for good dishes that people actually want to eat. There are easy dishes that are made with convenience foods for those cooks in a hurry, and dishes that are a bit more complicated for when cooks are looking for something on a slightly higher realm. There are typical “church cookbook recipes” and family inspired recipes passed down to new generations. Classic southern foods like Hearty Homemade Chicken and Dumplins, Signature Shrimp & Grits (Yummy!), and Comfort Chicken Pot Pie. Also included are unique, innovative recipes such as Fajita Guacamole Burgers, G-Dad's Pork Tenderloin with Parmesan-Garlic Cream, and Grilled Corn and Feta Salad. There is a good variety of salads, and is typical of southern cooking, mouthwatering desserts that are impossible to resist. Hannon has included basic recipes, including sauces, dressings, chicken stock, etc.

The recipes are concise and easy-to-understand. There are actually dozens that will appeal to everyone. The photographs – and almost every recipe includes a photograph – are very nice, and will make it even more difficult to decide just which recipe to try. Personally, every recipe tried so far has turned out picture-perfect.

Because the author is a preacher’s wife, there are scriptures and references to Christian themes, which may or may not be a plus for readers. The theme of the book is, however, serving others by serving them good food and being of service, so these references are definitely keeping with the theme of the book, and remind us that there is joy in serving others.

All told, this is a book with plenty of fabulous dishes to cook for family and share with friends and acquaintances. It is a great addition to any cookbook collection and would be a good wedding gift for a new couple just starting out.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

#NetGalley

Amy shares her love for the cuisine. She creates amazing plates to delight anyone with a pitch of love and passion.

Hol-y cow this is an amazing cookbook! I have marked several recipes that I can't wait to try and if they're half a good as the one I did try, this is my new go-to cookbook. I made the Kitchen Sink Frittata and both my husband and I absolutely loved it. I even plan to get a better pan to cook it in so I can make it lots more. I can't wait to try more recipes!

What a beautiful book! I can think of people I want to gift it to, customers that will love it and I want my own copy. The thoughtfulness of her words and the beautiful photos not to mention the wonderful recipes, I can't wait to share this title. I really don't know how I haven't heard of it before now.

LOVE WELCOME SERVE
Recipes that Gather and Give
By Amy Nelson Hannon

I instantly fell in love with the charm of LOVE WELCOME SERVE. The introduction alone made me wish the author and I were friends. I know I would enjoy being in her kitchen, cooking and chatting the day away. She truly seems like a warm and genuine woman.

In the section, A Few Things About A Few Things, author Amy Nelson Hannon shares her favorite ingredients, what should be in a well-equipped kitchen, and all about a well-stocked pantry from cans and boxes to the freezer, everything is covered.

Three hundred and six pages contain seven amazing chapters with recipes that are sure to make your mouth water. Chapters featured are . . . 1) Bites That Welcome, 2) Picked, Tossed, and Chilled, 3) Meat, Mains, and Sturdy Soups, 4) Comforts and Casseroles, 5) Serve Alongs, 6) Sweet Tea, Sauces, and Such, and 7) For The Love Of Sweets. Each chapter features lovely, simplistic, country style photos that show the included dishes in a most delightful way.

Just a sampling of the wonderful recipes included are . . . Aunt Lori’s Cheese Ball, Sister’s Favorite Spinach Dip, Seafood Fondue, Lemon-Poppy Seed Fried Chicken Salad, Pickled Chow-Chow, G-Dad’s Pork Tenderloin and Parmesan-Garlic Cream, Brown Sugar Chili over Cheese Grits, Creamy Pesto Tortellini Soup, Roast Beef Cobbler, Cornbread Tamale Pie, Southern Breakfast Bowl, Bacon and Brown Sugar Collards, Johnson County Biscuits, Homemade Herby Ranch Dressing, Mama Grace’s Sawmill Gravy, Sheet Pan Banana Cake, Homemade Double Frosted Cinnamon Rolls, Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Pie, and so, so many more!

I could go on and on about why you should add LOVE WELCOME SERVE to your cookbook favorites, but I’ll just give you the main reason . . . You deserve it!

I really love cookbooks like this. You can really tell Amy loves to cook and entertain her family and friends. Her southern charm radiates her book. It had an inviting feel that was welcoming and the recipes accessible. She has some really useful information that will help regarding ingredients and equipment to use. I can't wait to try some of those delicious desserts.

This is one of my favorite cookbooks I have read. it has some good old fashioned southern comfort and humor. It is filled with delicious recipes, some tips on products to use, kitchen tools, and more. Most of the recipes look very easy to make with a limited amount of ingredients. The recipes are broken down into sections to make it easier for finding main courses or deserts. There are tons of great pictures that make you very hungry while flipping through the book.



I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

The first thing that caught my eye were the great photos -- including one of 'well-loved' bundt cake pans; it was so nice to see not-so-new items. I've got weird attachments to my old pots and pans (not that they make my food taste any better). Then one of the first recipes was for "Aunt Lori's Cheese Ball' - I didn't know what a cheese ball was, and that it can actually be made! I enjoyed the recipes (toasted coconut and bacon popcorn -- WHAT?!) which were southern and modern enough for me to get excited about cooking (it's hard when ingredients can't be found where I live).

Love Welcome Serve by Amy Nelson Hannon is subtitled Recipes that Gather and Give. The focus of the book is easy Southern recipes that allow you to minister to others through food. Be warned that this is a serious Southern cookbook meaning it is not a health food book. When people are hurting or need a pick me up, they do not want diet food though. I found several Southern favorites (broccoli salad) as well as some new recipes (fajita guacamole burgers). I also appreciate that the author encourages readers to simply cook for others rather than focus on making everything Pinterest/Instagram perfect.

I was excited to get a copy of Amy Nelson Hannon’s Love Welcome Serve cookbook because, being from the South, I always look for different twists on Southern favorites.

Mrs. Hannon seems like a nice lady with a ton of personality. I like the personal paragraphs before each recipe – you really get to know where she’s coming from for the recipe and how much she or the family enjoyed it. There are great photos and the instructions to the recipes are clear and descriptive.

I made the Grilled Corn Salad with Feta and really enjoyed it! Instead of grilling the corn, though, I microwaved it for a few minutes, then pan charred it before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. Mainly I did this because I don’t have a grill, and also was able to forego a bunch of butter added during the corn cooking. It’s a simple, delicious little salad, with a nice dressing.

That said, I noticed quite a few of her recipes had Velveeta and/or cream in them, making them much heavier than I prefer. Take note, it’s definitely not a lightened recipe cookbook! A lot of the recipes I already had from some Junior League and church cookbooks – just standards with nothing different to add. I was hoping to get a few new Southern recipes (although there are some good looking salads!).

I look forward to trying a few other recipes soon – Sister’s Favorite Spinach Dip, Cheese Grits, and Chili and Brown Sugar Pork Chops with Pan Gravy.

Author Amy Nelson Hannon demonstrates true Christian charity after she opened her kitchen boutique to encourage the art of cooking and Christian hospitality. As the author writes "the Love Welcome Serve lifestyle means living with an awareness that people have emotional, spiritual, and physical needs." That pretty well sums up her book.

Some of the recipes you'll find include:

Creamy Chipped Beef Dip
Potluck Broccoli Salad
G-Dad's Pork Tenderloin with Parmesan-Garlic Cream
Comfort Chicken Pot Pie
Bacon Brown Sugar Collards
Sunday Sweet Tea
Hello Dolly Brownies

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

Something was wrong with the format when I downloaded the book. It tried to load up the file using Overdrive. The file never actually came through and I wasn't able to download it in a different format.

What a wonderful book- there is a plethora of great tasting dishes well within the abilities of the home cook. Sharing food is a profound way of sharing love with your family and friends and the author brings that dimension here.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Easy, comforting meals with equally easy to follow recipes!

This book is for everyone that loves the feel that comforting homemade meals bring!

It has a nice mixture of different recipes without going overboard.
It goes from appetisers to dessert, has a nice mixture of big bowl kind of meals and smaller portions.
I also felt as if a lot of the recipes in the book could be combined with each other of someone is looking for an entire menu to make, they can defiantly find it all in here and find the best fitting recipes that make it all seem like you spend way longer than you did planning it all out.

The only thing i personally found a bit disappointing -which i don't know if that is going to change in the actual released book or not- is that there are not enough pictures of the actual food in this book! I LOVE cookbooks with basically too many pictures of all the dishes in it. Its a personal preference but its just what i enjoy the most.
And while there are some pictures in this book i thought there could have easily been the double amount.

Its a great book, i love that everything is made from scratch and super easy to follow recipes, making this book perfect for all levels of cooking!

If you want a cookbook that gives you nice home-y feeling recipes, highly recommend this book!