Member Reviews
“The Secret Garden Cookbook, Newly Revised Edition” by Amy Cotler
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I had never read a cookbook before. Well, yes I have read recipes from cookbooks, but never really read one from cover to cover before. Since I do love reading novels set in 1800’s England, and, I have enjoyed reading ‘The Secret Garden’ I requested the opportunity to read this cookbook. This is way more than just a cookbook.. It is loaded with history and connections to the book in it’s title. Even if you do not particularly like to cook, if you do like 1800’s England. I think you really should check out this book. Happy Reading ! !
I grew up reading ‘The Secret Garden’ and I was so excited when I started to read this book. As anyone could imagine from the title,the cookbook is inspired by the story and by the food cooked in it.
Fifty recipes inspired by the atmosphere and by ‘The Secret Garden’ are presented,, adapted to modern times.
From breakfast to lunch and dinner ideas,from British staples to Indian inspired food, there is sure something for everyone!
My favourite one would be the savoury muffins with cheddar cheese, I can’t wait to try that one!
Very lovely book, I would have loved more pictures of the food but the graphics are very beautiful.
The secret Garden is a classic. It is one of my all time favorite books and movies. This cookbook gave me all of the feels. The recipes are simple and look and sound delicious.
Great for cozy reading or parties.
I have a few bookmarked to try out over the holidays.
Such a fun cookbook based on a child's book I loved growing up (and still love as an adult). The introduction made me think of how different food and cooking was during the Victorian time (and being very unfamiliar with British food). This is a book that I will use when theme baking with my 7 year old niece. It's great to read a bit of the history (Who Invented Teatime?) and the recipes are simple enough to do with my niece (under a very watchful eye of course).
As you can guess, this book is based on The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. No this isn't a retelling or an extension of the original story. Infact, the interesting twist in this book is that it is a cookbook which walks you through all the delicacies that have been made in the original story.
The book brings alive the food that Mary, Dickon and Colin experience throughout the story. Usually when we read a novel, or watch a tv show, there is this part of us which starts craving the same food that we read or saw. I personally experienced that. Even though, I don't like hot chocolate that much but when I read that after a long wintry night they settled with a cuppa hot chocolate and watched TV, that sounds something I'd wanna do and I start craving some hot chocolate.
So this book was such a great way to enjoy those cravings and you know it makes the story even more personal. This book has beautiful illustrations and is divided into 7 chapters which are specific and actually even reading these recipies makes my mouth water, can't wait to make them!
The only con that I found was the unclarity of specifics, like, the microwave instructions, the substitutions, etc. My personal favourite recipie from the book is lemon curd tarts, it sounded easy and also came with the microwave instructions. So yes, give this book a try if you are a fan of the story like me, and also foooood!!
If you ever wondered about any of the delicious foods in the wonderful classic THE SECRET GARDEN, wonder no more. Here are instructions for making the foods mentioned in the book, from Mary's porridge to crumpets for tea and some luncheon and supper dishes, and some of the foods Mary might have eaten in India are also included. The best part of this book is the history behind the book: how Mary and her parents would have lived in India, and how the household servant hierarchy worked, and what types of meals Mary would get in the manor versus Dickon and Martha at their cottage. It also explains what "kitchen gardens" are, and, how although they had fewer choices of food, the food would have been much fresher.
Illustrated with simple drawings and photographs of the food, plus that ubiquitous swirly calligraphy font that is on EVERYTHING today, this is a nice little volume of food and history (although the benchmark in this genre, THE LITTLE HOUSE COOKBOOK, has not been reached). I must admit that I was convulsed by a little notation about "Christmas Pudding" that referred to the traditional day that the pudding was made as "Stirrup Sunday." Sorry, it has nothing to do with horses, despite that "stirrup"! It is properly "Stir Up" Sunday, which are words that appear in the Anglican Church service on that particular Sunday.
Almost every child grew up reading children’s classics, such as The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Not only do these books have great storylines that children and adults enjoy (and remember forever), but the mention of food that the characters are eating during the period (Victorian, in this case) makes the books come alive. Kids who love food probably dream about eating those foods, and Amy Cotler, a professional chef and food writer, has memorialized some of the foods from the novel in a delightful cookbook, The Secret Garden Cookbook, Newly Revised Edition: Inspiring Recipes from the Magical World of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden. Reading this cookbook brings back childhood memories, and cooking from this cookbook makes it possible to put oneself into the roles of favorite characters while experiencing their culinary experiences.
There are charming introductions to each chapter that explain the mores of the day, and the differences between what the well-to-do characters are eating and those who are fairly poor are eating. While the differences are significant, the recipes for both rich and poor are very appealing. The recipes are decidedly English, and some are even classics, such as Welsh Rabbit, Savory Muffins Spiked with Cheddar Cheese (we would call these biscuits which are easy to make and very good), Kedgeree, and Cornish Pasties. Toffee Pudding is still popular in England today, and Cotler’s recipe is worth making. Since Mary’s childhood was partly spent in India, there are also recipes with an Indian influence, such as Mulligatawny Soup which is a family favorite.
The recipes are easy-to-follow and call for common ingredients. Included are recipes for Garden Picnics, English teas, Yorkshire Breakfast, as well as Cottage Food from Dickon’s family (The sticky Gingerbread Parkin is especially appealing). Recipes from the kitchen garden are worth looking at also. The recipes tried so far have turned out perfectly.
There are two negatives: One, all of the dishes aren’t pictured; however the photographs that are included are excellent, and Two, the book only includes 50 recipes and the $19.95 price tag is a bit steep for a book with only 112 pages.
Anyone who enjoys classic books and loves the food references in them will enjoy this fun cookbook. Cotler has done an excellent job of capturing the aura of the time period and the novel.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
I love these cook books, I think they are such a great idea. I want to buy them because they are visually beautiful and I want to create what I see, but I'm not a fan of the modern photographs. It seems that the author goes to all this trouble of transporting me to the storybook world (which I love) only to have the illusion spoiled by the photos. I really wish they were created in a more vintage, rustic, old fashioned style, keeping with the overall aesthetic of the book.
Great for those who love the book organizer the author. Some nice English recipes and nice images. Quotes from book placed and other tips and info with recipe. Nice recipes to look at and make.
I received an ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
I loved The Secret Garden as a child and still adore it today, so I jumped at the chance to read this Secret Garden cookbook! And what a gorgeous traditional cookery book it is! This book would make a beautiful addition to any cookery book collections or shabby chic kitchens!
I love how each section of the book tells you information about things back in the victorian times such as the foods they ate, how they cooked the food/meals they made and also how they served it.
Some recipies are simple and some a little more complex, and I loved how it also included some Indian dishes and simple picnic foods aswell.
Honestly, this book is beautiful and I'm so glad to have been given the chance to read and review it.
This cookbook is positively delightful. The Secret Garden was a favorite book and movie of mine as a child and the nostalgia factor fully delivers in the best way. My memories are of an incredibly beautiful world in England and it was likely my first exposure to what I imagined England to be like as an American - the old, creaky, gorgeous home along with the garden itself. What a wonderful world to bring to life with food! And as an American, it's especially fun to see English cuisines so well constructed and explained - I made the coddled eggs for breakfast this morning! The book is a bit difficult in terms of actual usage for me with dietary restrictions (I'm celiac) but I can definitely see that a few recipes would be worth the effort to modify but this book is definitely more about the rich writing and world building surrounding the recipes than the jammy recipes inside (though they do look delicious!). This would be a great book to give as a holiday gift to anyone with a love for The Secret Garden.
This recipe book is as enchanting as the novel. Lots of wonderful recipes from Yorkshire, but also from India. Far more interesting though are the bits of information strewn in between the recipes.
I read Francis Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden after my mother told me she had read it as a girl, and that her mother had read it as a girl. It was the only book my mother ever mentioned having read as a child.
The beloved children's classic story tells the story of Mary Lennox who had lived a life of ease in India; after cholera takes her family, she is sent to live in England. Adjusting to her new life, the lonely girl meets local boy Dickson and together they discover and revive a neglected garden. Although rife with dated colonialist and racist attitudes, the basic story of regeneration is timeless.
Food plays an important role in the book, and cookbook author Amy Colter shares recipes inspired by the story, newly revised and updated to appear with the release of the new The Secret Garden movie. Quotations from the novel regarding food are interspersed.
Colter's chapter introductions informs readers on many subjects from the typical Victorian meals to what was in a kitchen garden to the history of tea.
So many of these recipes are homely and wholesome and nostalgic.
Chapters include:
Yorkshire Breakfasts; Coddled Eggs are so simple--why don't we made them every week? I do make my own cocoa mix--this recipe has a dash of cinnamon!
A Manor Lunch; this casual meal could include Potato Snow, Roasted Chicken with Bread Sauce, or Welsh Rabbit.
An English Tea; I am now dreaming of Warm Cranberry Scones with Orange Glaze and Fruit Tea Loaf!
From the Kitchen Garden; Wholesome fresh food including Sweet Glazed Carrots and easy Summer Berry Pudding.
Dickon's Cottage Food; Tattie Broth, Pease Pudding, Yorkshire Oatcakes--this is my idea of comfort food!
A Taste of India; Exotic recipes from Colonial India includes Fruit Lassi, Mulligatawny Soup (which I make frequently!), and Fresh Magno Chutney.
Garden Picnics; Including the easy to transport Cornish Pasties, brought to my home state of Michigan by immigrants working in the copper mines--a complete meal.
This is a delightful book.
I was given access to a free egalley by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
I love the beautiful cover to this book with the gorgeous colors that bring you right into the garden. The inside pages are filled with recipes, history of food, and book quotes to further transport you to the Secret Garden novel. The mouthwatering recipes mostly make me want to host an afternoon tea or go have a picnic. The Secret Garden Cookbook celebrates fresh foods and a time when people would get their food from their own gardens. There are many of great dishes included, but I was excited especially to see a couple of Indian dishes in the book. Any fan of The Secret Garden will enjoy this cookbook.
I read this cookbook courtesy of the publisher, via Netgalley.
I ADORE bookish cookbooks, and this one is 1) based on one of my favorite childhood books, 2) highlights recipes from one of my favorite places on the planet (which I visited in person this year!), Yorkshire, 3) incorporates loads of interesting historical and cultural anecdotes along with relevant book excerpts, and 4) does this all in a gentle, breezy tone that is perfect for middle grade readers AND adults to enjoy.
I really wish this book had existed when I was about 11 and reading Frances Hodgson Burnett's books. I can imagine reading this cookbook and trying out the recipes with my mom or grandma!
The very organization of the book is educational, especially for kids, with sections on Yorkshire breakfasts, manor lunches, English teas, kitchen gardens, cottage food, Indian dishes, and garden picnics. I want to try a number of recipes. I've made Parkin before, but the version in this book looks very good--and doesn't need golden syrup, which is great, as it's hard and/or expensive to get in America. I also have my eye on the Jam Roly-Poly, and Cornish Pasties, and others.
This is the kind of cookbook that's fun and informative to read, even though I have yet to give the recipes a try.
4 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy cookbooks and classic novels.
A cookbook with recipes and tibits from the time period of The Secret Garden. AUTHOR has spent time researching the foods mentioned in the book, and cookbooks written during the time period to share similar recipes to the ones Mary, Colin, and Dikon would have enjoyed. She also includes an entire section on Indian food and Anglo-Indian food as during this time period India was colonized by England. Some of the recipes are updated versions for modern cooks, while others are fairly true to their original recipes.
The cover drew me to this cookbook. The illustrations are absolutely darling, and made me want to dive back into the world of the The Secret Garden. I was especially excited to read this one after enjoying The Little Women Cookbook so much! I love that the author of this book did a lot of research related to not only which dishes were mentioned in the book The Secret Garden, but also into recipes from cookbooks written in that time period. While some of the recipes are updated for modern cooks and palates, some are also fairly true to their original versions. I loved learning more about the world during the time of the book through tidbits of history and every day life that were shared in these pages. I also enjoyed that she talks a lot about the history of colonizing India and how that influenced both the book but also the culinary history of England. The excerpts from The Secret Garden containing the particular dishes were also so sweet and brought a lot of nostalgia to the cookbook. I think that flipping through this lovely book will definitely inspire readers to have an Anglo-Indian tea or classic English breakfast of their own. From recipes for English crumpets, to fresh mango chutney, Welsh rabbit, and Cornish pasties this book has many tempting recipes. I will definitely be picking up a copy of this for my own shelves after it publishes on 1/14/20.
Love all the Victorian anecdotes. Such a fun cookbook to read and enjoy. Who doesn’t remember the secret garden. Cute cookbook
I absolutely love bookish cookbooks! They make me happy in my heart. :) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of my favorite classic children's books. I've loved the story of a sad little girl discovering a hidden, overgrown garden and bringing it back to life since I was a little girl myself. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to review the new edition of this cookbook!
This book is definitely going into my collection of bookish cookbooks! Each section of the book has a bit about the Victorian traditions regarding food, serving food, and cooking meals. Each recipe is accompanied by a bit of background, color photographs and illustrations, and a concise, easy to follow, recipe. The layout is easily readable, and visually appealing. The recipes are varied, ranging from main courses to tea and lighter fare such as cucumber sandwiches. It also includes some dishes from India and picnic foods.
Lovely cookbook! And definitely an awesome companion for a much beloved classic book!
**I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book from Quarto Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**
What a lovely cookbook a perfect companion to te Secret Garden.Lovely photos quotes from the novel delicious recipes n.I will be gifting this to friends from young girls to grown up women who all love The Secret Garden and will treasure this cookbook.#netgaley#quartobooks
Inspired by the classic children's book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This book was first published in 1911, early in the reign of George V, though according to Wikipedia it is set at the turn of the century, so just at the end of the Victorian era. Mary, the truculent heroine, was born in India before being orphaned and taken to her uncle's house in Yorkshire at the age of 10.
There are 7 chapters:
1-Yorkshire Breakfasts
2-A Manor Lunch
3-An English Tea
4-From the Kitchen Garden
5-Dickon's Cottage Food
6-A Taste of India
7-Garden Picnics
The book has bags of charm and it is very well produced. The selection of dishes and treats is good. I was sceptical about the recipes however, given that they are for traditional English or Anglo-Indian items written by an American for an American audience and I was curious about their authenticity. I turned first to parkin. I grew up on this, my mother is from a northern English farming family. The ingredients that distinguish parkin from a ginger cake are black treacle and oatmeal. This recipe calls for molasses (close) and rolled oats (hmm maybe oatmeal is not available in the US). I was bemused by the inclusion of honey. My mother would baulk at adding cinnamon and cloves but there are other parkin recipes that include them. So a mixed review I guess.
I will try some of the recipes and revise my review accordingly before posting on Amazon. I've given a provisional 'maybe' rating.