I’m delighted Mary DeMuth‘s second cookbook, The Irresistible Table, is now available because her Facebook and Twitter photos and descriptions of her family meals made me wish I lived next door…or at least within walking distance.
First, what I love about this cookbook is the stunning cover, which was designed and staged by her obviously talented daughter Sophie. Look, even if you’re not a cook, it’s a lovely book to display in your kitchen.
Generally, I buy cookbooks for the recipes, not for reading material outside of the kitchen. Mary’s, however, is unique in that it opens with suggestions on cultivating “the art of hospitality,” which is sadly missing from many homes today. As a former high school teacher, I know that 75% of my students didn’t eat meals as a family or were responsible for meals on their own. But, one doesn’t need to channel her inner Julia Child to adopt some of the ideas she presents here. In another section, she lists her favorite cookbooks and tells why she likes them.
The Irresistible Table is 150 pages of appetizers, drinks, breakfast, bread, veggies, dessert, meat, pastas, soups, and salads. Not only all they all 100% created by Mary, they’ve been taste-tested by picky eaters (in my family, that would be my children), and use “scratch” ingredients that don’t require trips to five ethic or international stores to locate. For those following Paleo or even gluten-free diets, there are recipes here that work. Also, these are recipes that won’t keep you in the kitchen and dirty nine different pans in the process.
My father, being Greek, introduced me to feta cheese early enough in life that I didn’t think, as my children said,”it looked like icky little rocks.” Mary’s recipe for Baked Feta is yummy, and a delicious spread on hot French bread (I live in New Orleans, so I have easy access to this!). We also loved the Roasted Asparagus. I haven’t tried yet, but plan to cook the Rolled Stuffed Pork Loin. I don’t often buy a pork loin roast because, well, I wasn’t sure how to dress it up. Mary’s recipe uses ingredients (simple ones) that I wouldn’t have thought of, and the finished product will be so impressive, she suggests dabbing a bit of flour on your face to suggest you’ve exhausted yourself in the cooking.
Two desserts I’m looking forward to trying, but may have to give a thorough test taste before serving my family, are the Nutella Cookies and the Grilled Pound Cake. Oh, the sacrifices I make. . .
After you click over to Amazon to purchase The Irresistible Table, be sure to visit Mary’s blog. She’s offering three free novels through February 28th for anyone who buys the paperback or Kindle version of her cookbook. All you need to is send her an electronic receipt, and she send you PDFs of her first three novels.
HAPPY COOKING!
Mary DeMuth has published fourteen books, both fiction and nonfiction. She and her husband, Patrick, have three children. After spending two and a half years church planting in France, Mary and her family are stateside where she continues to write, speak and mentor others. For more on Mary, visit her at www.MaryDeMuth.com.
