• 5 Star Reads
  • Audiobooks
  • Books on Screen
  • Children’s Books
  • Christian
  • Fiction
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes For Books

  • Home
  • About
    • Who Are We? Reviewer Bios
    • 5 Star Reads
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Join In
    • 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub
    • Children’s Classics
    • Kids’ Picks
    • What’s on Your Nightstand
  • Link To Us
  • Contact
    • Advertise

The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook

January 24, 2013 by Carrie

Why yes, yes I did squeal when I heard about The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook. Then I squealed louder when it arrived on my doorstep.

See, I have a thing for Narnia. (Both of my boys are named after C.S. Lewis in some form or fashion.) Every year (in July) I host the Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge over at Reading to Know. I look forward to returning to Narnia every year. More recently I have had the pleasure of bringing my children along for the adventurous ride. What better way to indulge my reading passions than by cooking up dishes inspired by or taken from the Narnia books themselves?!

This fantastic cookbook is absolutely lovely. Hard bound with embossed letters, it simply looks magical. As the subtitle informs, there are over 150 recipes included inside, each with a brief explanation of where you can find the inspiration or reference for the dish. (Yes, Turkish Delight is most definitely included!) The recipes range from easy to complex. For instance, the “Marching Towards the Battle: Battle Biscuits” are relatively easy. Eel Stew, on the other hand, is a little more complex.

As author Dinah Bucholz explains in the Introduction, not all recipes are particularly suitable for children. Some recipes do call for alcohol and so she explains that it is up to the parent to decide when a substitution is called for. While some recipes can be prepared by children, the majority of them require adult oversight. (And, in some cases, adults should be the ones preparing the meal.) Regardless of what age is more appropriate to handle the knife, it is a sure fact that all ages can enjoy the imagination involved in eating a meal straight from Narnia!

Dinner with the Beavers? There are recipes for fried trout, boiled potatoes with butter, homemade bread, a “gloriously sticky marmalade roll” and, of course, tea. Shasta’s breakfast with Duffle the Dwarf and his brothers? Bacon, eggs and mushrooms, porridge and cream, toast and butter and spiced brown sugar coffee. Or perhaps you are in the mood to create a multi-course feast such as would be found at Cair Paravel? You might be making anything from fried spinach to small game birds. No recipe for Marshwiggle. Stringy, you know.

The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook is just plain fun. My imagination is on fire at the moment, trying to think out and plan how I shall create feasts for us to enjoy as a family, especially in July when we spend time reading through Narnia. I think it might also be fun to throw a Narnia-themed party and invite some friends to join in on the fun and frolic with us. I love the idea of bringing Narnia more to life through the senses – the smell and the taste of Narnia. (Minus the eel soup.) It promises grand times and I’m so happy to be in possession of this book!

Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge
Many, many thanks to Sourcebooks for sending a copy of this title my way in exchange for my honest opinion. My honest opinion is: this is awesome!

Carrie enjoys hosting the Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge in July over at Reading to Know. She tries her best to focus on other books and subjects during the rest of the year.

Filed Under: Carrie, Food and Drink, Fun and Games, Gift Ideas, Non-Fiction

« This is How I Save My Life
Sweet Tooth »

Comments

  1. Ms. Yingling says

    January 24, 2013 at 6:50 am

    I’ll have to take a look at this! Have you seen the Owen Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica? (Here There Be Dragons) C.S.Lewis is a character in the books!

  2. Amy says

    January 24, 2013 at 8:19 am

    But of course! I’m surprise I didn’t hear the squealing on the opposite side of the country! 🙂

  3. Barbara H. says

    January 24, 2013 at 10:18 am

    That does sound like a fun resource. I think I’ll pass on the Eel Stew, though. 🙂

  4. Stephanie Kay says

    January 24, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    What a fun book!! We’re using Chronicles of Narnia for our literature study this semester and next year. Eating foods from Narnia would certainly bring it alive!

  5. Annette {This Simple Mom} says

    January 24, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    Shucks. My grocery store doesn’t sell eel. Where would one buy eel???? Other than directly from the fisherman….

    Your joy is a bit contagious!

  6. Shonya says

    January 24, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    Oh, this looks like too much fun! We might NEEEED a copy of this! ;D

  7. Heather Carrillo says

    January 24, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    Wow! That sounds SO fun!

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books. We are a team blog dedicated to sharing reviews and information about children's lit, fiction, memoir, and more. Read More…

Reviews

5 Minutes for Books

Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor

MEET OUR TEAM



Connect With Us


Pinterest

Community

Cybils Logo Draft 3

Affiliates




Download an Audiobook to Your iPod for only $7.49


Disclosure:

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Recent Posts

  • The Fox Hunt: A Refugee’s Memoir of Coming to America
  • True Stories from an Unreliable Eyewitness by Christine Lahti
  • Good Neighbors
  • Mama’s Belly
  • Then She Was Gone

Categories

Disclosure Policy    |     Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom

Let’s Socialize

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5min4books

Copyright © 2018 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316