TITLE: Opportunity lost! These potters are not bland as this book suggests

What happened here? Such a great idea! So many possibilities! But no follow through...... And that is a shame. This was a golden opportunity to highlight these artists. And what happens? ONE picture of each potter's work. And I noticed that the same pictures were used for intros to the different areas of North Carolina. What? Did the editors lose their steam and interest half way through the project?

Those who are traveling to North Carolina in search of artisan crafts can use this book as a reference to help plan their trip. But, really, the info included to help locate these potters is probably included somewhere in a simple, concise brochure with a small footprint. You don't need this book to find them. An afternoon of internet searching will be more helpful. Why? Because a bland picture of a fairly nondescript cook pot, might have you passing by a certain pottery, when a perusal of a potter's website, which shows their studio pieces, would start your heart beating fast in anticipation.

This is the type of book that will make a nice keepsake for those who visit these potters. Unfortunately, many of these potters create masterpieces above and beyond their kitchen/cook/bake ware. And the reader does not see that in this book.

Regarding the recipes: While there are some mouthwatering recipes that you will want to try, there are many others that will seem a bit too familiar to you.

There are tips in this book for special care that sometimes needs to be taken with pottery in the oven or on the stove top, but that is info that changes with the clay content, glazing and the way a piece is fired--and you will get the best info right from the potter.

It may surprise you to lean that Potters from North Carolina are not only artists, but they can also cook. Kiln to Kitchen: Favorite Recipes from Beloved North Carolina Potters, by Jean Anderson includes luscious dishes from dozens of potters in the area. These dishes are not only delicious, but served in beautiful pots that are handmade by the potters themselves.

The cookbook is set up by a chapter on each featured potter, and then includes recipes from each. The recipes are unique and varied, so there is something for every taste. Most of the recipes are fairly simple, and all have easy-to-follow instructions. Beautiful photographs are also featured, and the dishes are pictured in handmade pottery, making readers and cooks ready to go on a shopping spree for beautiful pottery. Unfortunately, all of the dishes aren’t photographed, so some guessing as to what the dishes look like is necessary. There are several of the recipes that are especially noteworthy such as Bobotie from Hewitt Pottery. This not-so-well-known curried meat casserole from South Africa (considered by some to be the National dish) has a custard topping that takes it from plain to ethereal, and is fabulous. Another is Mary’s Shrimp Casserole with Pimento Cheese Pinwheels (Yum!), as well as Danny’s Zucchini Bake and Aunt Dotti’s Crab Meat au Gratin.

This fun cookbook also includes dozens of desserts – mostly southern, so you know they are great. New Salem Peach and Blueberry Cobbler, Hal's Gingerbread, Coconut Pecan Pie, and Hickory Hill Pound Cake to name a few.

Although Kiln to Kitchen is very much like a church or community cookbook, since the recipes are gathered from non-professional cooks, the recipes turn out picture-perfect, and those tried so far have been great. This is a nice cookbook to own and will make a nice addition to anyone’s cookbook shelf.

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

3 out of 5

**OMG! I cannot believe that these reviews haven't been done! I am so sorry they are so late!!!**

I have many beautiful pieces of pottery that I had never thought to actually cook in. They were for show only. BUT, Jean Anderson has inspired me to prepare dishes designed to be served in my favorite bowls and accent their beauty while showing off my improved cooking skills. I've tried about half the recipes in this book. They received rave results from my friends and family. I have collected cookbooks for many years. This one has earned a place of honor on my kitchen shelves!

I was really excited to get a hold of this book! I own several of Ms. Anderson’s other cookbooks and have enjoyed them tremendously. Also, the idea of cooking in pottery is intriguing to me! Obviously, all recipes can be cooked in other cookware if you don’t have pottery.

Ms. Anderson first starts us off with her Introduction in giving us information on North Carolina’s Pottery community. She then gives us a Pottery Primer with defining pottery, giving us useful information on glaze types, and a Q & A on cooking in clay. She then gives us some information on Ingredients used in the recipes.

Each recipe chapter has a specific Potter with information on their company and contact info. Then we get that particular Potter’s chosen recipes. I have to admit, I was in recipe heaven when I opened up this book. A wide variety of recipes are included and not overly complicated ingredients or directions.

Just a small sample of the recipes I have marked to try:
• Pollo Arrosto Ripienom (Roast Chicken Italian Style)
• Tagliatelle alla Novarese with Portabella Mushrooms
• Summer Squash and Roasted Tomato Pie
• My Father’s Baked Beans
• Apple-Pecan Crisp
• Sweet Potato Bread with Walnuts and Dried Cranberries
• Grilled Corn Grits
• Butternut Squash Parmesan
• Lyn’s Couldn’t Be Easier Tomato Pie
• Bobotie

At the end of this fantastic cookbook, Ms. Anderson has a handy Address Book - An Alphabetical List of Potters with Contact Information. If you’re in the North Carolina area it’s a wonderful resource.
Then finally she ends the book with a Sources guide to Where to Buy Unusual Ingredients that are in the recipes in the book.

Overall this was a fantastic book, interesting and unique with tons of delicious recipes to try. I would love to have seen more photos of the finished recipes, especially inside the beautiful pottery containers. The recipe photos that were included in the book were delicious looking and I loved the various pottery dishes that were shown. It was a beautiful, well-made cookbook and I would definitely recommend it!

A very elegant book with some beautiful pottery, complementing the recipes that are served in them. The recipes are provided by a number of potters/potteries centred in North Carolina.
The recipes are very easy to follow and look amazing in there settings - beautiful photography . I would have like that all the recipes in the book had photos. unfortunately a lot missed out. Despite that, it is a lovely book with nice recipes and nice life stories that accompany them.

I really loved this book. Not only has it some info on pottery (such as glazes), but it contains a great variety of recipes, from Bobotie to pecan pie and a lot in between. If one loves pottery and cooking, I would highly recommend this book.

What a delightful book to read and look at! Adorable in every way. Appetizing and easy to prepare. The pots and how the dishes are presented is simply unique and worth trying. Makes a perfect gift!

What a treasure of a book. The recipes in this book are simple hearty one pot meals with every day ingredients that most people keep on hand. I also enjoyed reading about the various pots used to cook these meals. A very charming book which I know I will be using in the coming weeks to make a few dishes.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this title in exchange for an unbiased review.

A beautiful merger handmade pottery delicious recipes.I loved getting to know these creative Potter’s I want all the pottery .This is a true treasure combining art at the hands of potters and cooking.This book would make the perfect gift for lovers of the arts pottery and cooking. Highly recommend.#netgalley #northcarolinapress.