I only wish there were more recipes, and so novel many of them. Wonderful, with excerpts from the books and pictures. I'm interested in the adventure of snipping some young nettle leaves next spring for some Nettle Rolls! ( )

I love all things Outlander, and somehow didn't know the Outlander Kitchen blog existed before I saw this listed on Early Reviewers! So I was excited to find that, and doubly so to win a copy of the cookbook. I love that she uses recipes mention in the books, altered with ingredients (ahem, chicken instead of pigeon) that are easily obtainable at a grocery store. But the recipes still have that homey feel, and remind you of simpler (well, maybe) times. Definitely one that I will open when I'm looking for a new recipe to try. ( )

Summary: This cookbook (which started as a recipe blog) is a companion to the Outlander series of books. Specifically, this book presents recipes for food that is mentioned in one of the Outlander novels, along with the relevant quote and some history and commentary, if relevant.

Review: As I read (and re-read) the Outlander series, the food was not something that particularly stood out to me. Gabaldon's writing is descriptive but food is only very rarely the focus of a scene; mostly it exists as set dressing. What this means for this cookbook, though, is that in some places the recipes are pretty loose interpretations based on only a word or two in the book ("fried chicken" in the book morphs into a decidedly un-historical recipe for chicken that is brined in sweet tea before being fried, for example). The far extreme of this are places where the connection to the books is metaphorical at best - there's a quote from Dragonfly in Amber about Ian guarding Jamie's weaker side to preface a recipe for buttered leeks, which, while they sound tasty, and not out of keeping with a general Scottish-themed cuisine, are in here because they are "guarding the side" of your main dish. Actually, the *far* extreme of this is "Black Jack Randall's Dark Chocolate Lavender Fudge," which a) damn that's reaching, and b) I don't think I'll ever be making this, because c) fudge? for Black Jack Randall? Really?? Ew.

The recipes themselves run the gamut from being traditional recipes that have been adapted for the modern kitchen to more modern fare. There are fewer traditional Scottish recipes than I was expecting, which in retrospect shouldn't be that surprising, given the series's scope (although the classics - parritch, oatcakes, scotch eggs, etc. - are all present as well). This was somewhat disappointing as I was reading it, though, as I was hoping for more along the lines of the other literary cookbook I've read, Lobscouse & Spotted Dog, which made a point of locating authentic period recipes and then making them the original way, before interpreting them for a modern audience. I do get that that wasn't the particular goal of Carle-Sanders, though, and even when she uses historical sources for her recipes, the vast majority of the recipes seem to be reasonable for a modern cook, with minimal use of exotic or hard-to-find ingredients (although I still am probably going to continue to buy my puff pastry rather than make it by hand!) I haven't yet held an Outlander dinner party based on recipes from this book, but it's on my list to plan one, and there are also a number of recipes I'd like to try out just for their own sake. 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: If you like the Outlander books and like to cook or bake, then this book is a fun addition to your cookbook shelf. If you only like one or the other of those things, then this book might still be of interest, but probably not particularly essential. ( )

I remember picking up the paperback novel Outlander by Diana Gabaldon from the library's sale table. Historical fiction, a bit of time travel and a venue in the Scottish Highlands had me very interested. As with many Gabaldon fans, I fell in love with the series. This was my first book by this author.

The books are great but I must admit I wasn't a big fan of the TV show. The actor playing Jamie just isn't right (for me). Yes, I know I am in the minority regarding the actor playing Jamie but....it just doesn't work for me.

Still....being a fan of this series I knew I had to check out this new cookbook, Outlander Kitchen by Theresa Carle- Sanders. I am pleased to say this book is fantastic- a wonderful gift for the Outlander fan. Christmas is coming up so, keep that in mind.

Each recipe is preceded by a passage from one of the books (see below) and the photo of the pastry or dish and full recipe. This is enjoyable to read through without a thought to which of these recipes you want to try.

outlander1
The forward on this book is also interesting to read. It describes how our author came to find her passion in the kitchen after enduring a series of less-than-satisfying jobs. Many times I admit to scanning the beginnings with the dedications and thoughts. This one had me reading each and every paragraph. Interesting.

This photo was too good for me to exclude. She has a shiba inu, a breed I adore! Shibas are certainly not for the first time dog owner, too big a challenge, but I am fascinated with the breed. We still miss our Kobe who left us too soon but Aja, our 14 year old cream shiba, still rules the house. Ok, more pup info than I needed to share here....couldn't resist.

One of the recipes I wanted to try was a simple one, Mrs. FitzGibbons's Overnight Parritch. This oatmeal breakfast figures prominently in the books and it seems they have it for breakfast quite a bit.

Traditionally made from oatmeal and stirred with a spurtle (clockwise, to keep the devil away). Parritch, or porridge, evolved from pottage, a thick vegetable and grain stew that served as the mainstay of the European diet until the seventeenth century.

Full review and photos may be found at :
https://novelmeals.wordpress.com ( )

Absolutely GORGEOUS cookbook! Lots of tasty recipes combined with beautiful photographs and references to the Outlander series. There is a nice balance between recipes with simple ingredients and instructions and more challenging historical foods. The baked goods are especially intriguing to me and I can't wait to start testing them. You don't have to be a fan of the historical time travel romance series to enjoy this cookbook. You need only to be interested in period Scottish or English cuisine. I will update this review once I have tried a few of the recipes. ( )