The Church Supper Cookbook: A Special Collection of Over 375 Potluck Recipes from Families and Churches Across the Country
While slick television cooking shows and high-profile celebrity cookbooks are all the rage these days,The Church Supper Cookbooktakes us back to a simpler time when potluck suppers would inspire each guest to bring their specialty dish to the table, whether it was that "fabulous lemon pie you make" or lasagna or ham loaf. We love these types of dishes because they remind us of childhood, of home, of "the good old days," but sadly, it seems, we can never quite duplicate them at home using a standard cookbook.The Church Supper Cookbooksets out to rectify that situation by presenting 375 of those homespun favorites, collected from parish members of churches across the country.Filled with quiches and casseroles, pasta salads and potato salads, hearty breads and upside-down cakes, this book will surely transport readers to the potluck dinners of their past. These sorts of dishes--such as Spaghetti Pie, Chicken Sour Cream Bake, and cheesy Spinach Squares--are treasured not only because they are tasty, but also because they're easy to prepare, inexpensive, and hearty enough to feed a crowd. As such, the recipes, as you might expect, rely heavily on canned goods, pre-made sauces and frozen vegetables, and sour cream, bacon, cheese, and butter for flavor. So, if you're on a diet or prefer your meals to be made with fresh ingredients or from scratch, steer clear of this cookbook. But if you are drawn to kitschy Americana, or yearn for Pineapple Upside-Down Ham Loaf,The Church Supper Cookbookcertainly fits the bill.--Robin Donovan