What Can I Bring? Cookbook by Anne Byrn
Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (November 10, 2007)
ISBN-13: 978-076114392
Back-of-the-book blurb: Potlucks and picnics, dinner parties and church socials, fundraisers, toasts to the teacher, reunions, cookouts—it’s the busy age of shared meals, which means with every invitation comes the question: ” What can I bring?” Anne Byrn, an inspired cook, problem solver, and bestselling author of The Cake Mix Doctor cookbook, knows exactly how to answer the question. Cutting through menu block, here are over 200 delicious suggestions for crowd-pleasing food that’s designed to travel.
She is Too Fond of Books‘ review: My first FTC-compliant post was a demo/review of Marie’s White Bean and Basil Spread from this cookbook. At the time, I promised a full review of the book would be posted “in the next week or so.” Well, time flies when you’re having fun; here’s the review, “in the next month or so.”
Anne Byrn, The Cake Mix Doctor herself, has built a brand around her talent for improving convenience food with tweaks to the recipes and ideas for wow-worthy presentation. What Can I Bring doesn’t offer recipes for doctoring up mixes and convenience foods; the recipes are, for the most part, “from scratch.” There are some recipes that include “a can of diced tomatoes,” but every dish doesn’t require the cook to open a can or box.
The thick paperback cookbook includes recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, sides, and desserts. I didn’t try anything from the final chapter of the book, but I’m very curious about “It’s a Gift!”. This section contains wonderful suggestions for hostess gifts from your kitchen, such as Marinated Olives, Glazed Nuts, and Cranberry and Apple Chutney.
Each recipe includes a small sidebar of “tote notes.” My Sweet and Sour Broccoli Salad suggests:
Transfer the salad to a serving bowl, but don’t garnish it with the bacon. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you’re ready to leave. Carry the bacon separately in a small plastic bag and scatter it over the salad just before serving.
Another sidebar includes prompts to note made for, prep notes, don’t forget, special touches, and bring again?. I write in my cookbooks, and appreciate the dedicated space for these notes.
In addition to Marie’s White Bean and Basil Spread, we tested Beth’s Manicotti. This is a pasta casserole, intended to serve 6-8 as a main course, or more people as one of several dishes at a potluck dinner. Our family of two adults and four children devoured the delicious pasta meal, which we ate with crusty bread and a simple green salad.
I liked the recipes we tried, and will make other dishes from this book. However, even more than the recipes, I enjoyed reading the tips and ideas on planning, transportation (if bringing the dish to someone else’s home), and presentation. Byrn has checklists for both a potluck host (set a card at the serving table, indicating where food for each course should be placed) and guest (bring appropriate serving utensils for the dish you’re sharing; and label them with your name).
If you like a color photo of each finished recipe, you won’t find it in What Can I Bring?. As I noted in my review, The Cake Mix Doctor Returns has small photos of each cake at the front of the book, but What Can I Bring? is missing those thumbnails. I didn’t mind the omission; I’m learning to be a more confident cook (and these recipes are all fairly straight-forward), so I actually enjoy not having that yardstick of a food-styled picture to live up to.
See what else is happening in the kitchens of the blogosphere this weekend. Check out Beth Fish Reads’ Weekend Cooking to find links to other food-related posts. There may be book reviews, recipes, kitchen gadget tips and tricks …
I have this one too, but I admit that I haven’t made a thing from it yet. I love Anne Byrn’s cookbooks — especially the cake ones.
I think I was sold on the book by the title alone! I am always asking that question – secretly hoping that the hostess will tell me exactly what is needed and I don’t have to be creative. I will definitely check out this book in the near future.
I love the idea of the tips and hints about how to transport, and keeping the dish fresh until you arrive at your destination. This is always the issue, isn’t it? Like I need one more cookbook, but I may have to check this out (as well as Kathy’s Pioneer Woman cookbook that she reviewed today!). I always have to touch cookbooks before I buy them!
I haven’t seen this one but I’d like to find it and thumb through it. Like you, I write in my cookbooks and have to adjust my cooking for high altitude too, so having a space for that would be a plus for me in addition to her little hints and tips. Nice review!
It sounds like a great cookbook, but I have to admit that I like photos in cookbooks. Sometimes it’s the photo that draws me to the recipe. Great review, as always.
I like the set-up of this book, with places for notes and information about transportation. And it sounds like a great resource to have on hand.
Although I prefer cookbooks with photography, this one still sounds great. I’ll see if I can ‘preview’ it from the library!
I’m attracted by the title and the tips for transporting foods. We seem to be involved in more and more potlucks among the retiree crowd. (No one wants to cook the whole thing anymore.) I often don’t make a dish just because it might not travel well. I’ve had too many food spills on a car’s backseat to risk another one. I’ll check this book out.
Hi!
Sounds like a good cookbook. I’ll have to watch for it. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend.
Sherrie
Sherrie’s Stuff
This sounds like a good one and I know I would get plenty of use out of it. I bought the Cake Doctor years ago and loved some of the recipes I tried!
I was not familiar with this one, although I do admit that I have her Cake Mix book…I must say however that I am all for the big color photos.
I had forgotten until now how much I liked this cookbook…it’s been awhile since I looked through it, but I’m pulling it back out today!
Another cookbook that I need to have! I also think I would really like the section for notes and the tips for presentation. This one is going on my list for sure! Thanks for the great review! I am glad that you enjoyed the recipes.
This sounds like a great cookbook!
That looks like an awesome cookbook. I’m always looking for recipes like this.
Hmm. Even though my version rarely looks like the picture I find it does give me some reference point.