So, I see you’re here for the Second Batch.

Now we know you love to eat books. Don’t deny it. I saw you drooling and licking some of the cookbooks from the First Batch. Oh, you don’t actually eat the books, you just like to make and eat the food from the books?

Alrighty then, dig in:

THE LOUISA MAY ALCOTT COOKBOOK, compiled by Gretchen Anderson, pictures by Karen Milone (Little, Brown, 1985). How I love this little book; it contains 28 recipes grouped with scenes from Little Women and Little Men. What is especially notable is that the recipes were initially researched, tested, and compiled by Ms. Anderson when she was just nine years old! She did this for a school project, combining her love for Alcott’s books with her favorite hobby, cooking. So, we start out with the famous Christmas morning scene, where the March girls decide to take their breakfast to a poor family. To authentically recreate this, you might try Buckwheat Cakes, Muffins, or Farina Gruel. Or, remember when Marmee was sick in bed with a cold and the girls fixed her breakfast? They made an Omelet with Baking Powder Biscuits.

 Now, if you’re like Jo, with the best of intentions, but a disaster in the kitchen, you’ll need more practice (with the Fire Department on alert). But if she could make Molasses Candy, so can you. The recipes from Little Men are solid, traditional American fare, such as Gingerbread, Steak and Potatoes, and Apple Pie. Can’t go wrong with those, and all the recipes are rated for level of difficulty. A word about Karen Milone’s pen-and-ink drawings: brilliant! Aside from book scenes, she’s diagrammed some of the cooking techniques — little eggs cracked in bowls! Little rolling pins! Squee!

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So, are you ready to get delicious?

Okay, I know you’re already scrumptiously talented and have excellent taste when it comes to all things bookish, but I thought I’d tempt you today with some seriously divine, ambrosial offerings — literary cookbooks.

At this very moment, I’m strapped down to my desk chair, because just thinking about excerpts from beloved, classic books alongside recipes derived from or inspired by the stories, propels me into a state of acute culinary bliss. *Butt rises in chair* See, this topic is actually dangerous — but for you, I’ll take my chances.

I’ve been collecting literary cookbooks for quite some time. While not all the dishes I’ve tried have knocked my socks off, I’ve always been happy just reading the recipes, and appreciating the connections they have with the works. For me, this is a satisfying way of enhancing the enjoyment of a story, since it deepens my understanding of character, historical context, and setting. And if the recipes just happen to be good, it’s all gravy.

Though all of these cookbooks are based on children’s books, they are actually suitable for cooks and would-be cooks of all ages. They’re great for adults who like to revisit old favorites, and will provide hours of fun for grown-ups and kids to work together in the kitchen. And, unlike recipes from ordinary cookbooks, these are seasoned with just the right dash of literary flair.

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