Full Description

Military Wives' Cookbook

The Military Wives' Cookbook is a collection of recipes, anecdotal stories, and vintage photographs tracing the history and unique contributions of American military wives. Beginning with an Independence Tea Party featuring the foods served by the women of Edenton, North Carolina, at a party on October 25, 1774, it recreates the scenes and foods that recount the stories of the commitments and sacrifice that military wives have given the nation for more than two hundred years.

Presented in menu format, each chapter includes a story related to the recipes of the period ("A Colonial Thanksgiving" and "Christmas in the Confederate White House") and feature foods from around the world, including places like Morocco, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea.

The Military Wives' Cookbook is divided into six large sections:

• Teas and Coffees
• Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches
• A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style
• Alfresco Dining
• Over There: An International Affair
• Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations.

The women, through whose eyes these stories are told and whose recipes are shared, are truly remarkable. They often balanced the responsibilities of maintaining home and hearth, raising a family, managing a business, and supporting a war effort. In addition, they found time to extend themselves in friendship and hospitality to one another and to women in the places where they were stationed, earning them a well-respected reputation that continues to this day.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Excerpt

Excerpt

Reviews

Reviews

Months of Edible Celebrations Louise Valpor
most of you know, I’m not in the habit of doing cookbook reviews on this blog. However, there are a few reasons why I have chosen to do my first requested review.


The first is quite simple. I LOVE cookbooks. Above all, I treasure cookbooks which embrace "traditions, recipes, and remembrances" such as those anecdotal stories found in The Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Tradition, Recipes and Remembrances by author, wife, mother, attorney, researcher, and cookbook writer, Carolyn Quick Tillery. The vintage photographs tracing the history and unique contributions of American military wives are the frosting on the cake.

The next reason is pretty obvious. Friday, May 8th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. What do I do @ Months of Edible Celebrations? I try to commemorate an occasion with cookbooks, recipes, and tasteful morsels of historic events. Instinctively, I said yes to Carrie from Sourcebooks Inc. when she contacted me about offering The Military Wives Cookbook in honor of Military Spouse Day. However, I have another person to thank. Courtney, from Coco Cooks. Courtney was more than neighborly when she suggested to Carrie that she contact me about offering the Military Wives Cookbook. Thank you Courtney:)

Finally, not only is the Military Wives Cookbook flavored with all the binding ingredients of a classic cookbook, it offers us all an opportunity to reflect on the courage and strength as told by those battle scarred families left at home. Miraculously, they manage to "balance the responsibilities of maintaining home and hearth, raise a family, manage businesses, and continue to support the war effort." More often than not, military families are consistently uprooted awaiting the next deployment. Below is an excerpt from an interview Carolyn Quick Tillery had with Kathryn Rem of the State-Journal Register in November of 2008. (There are also a few recipes included from the book)

"The American military family averages a move every two to three years. Spouses often collect recipes and give them to someone else. She adds her own twist and gives it to someone else. That person adds a secret ingredient and gives it to someone else. These recipes evolve as they find their way around the world and to the American table," said Tillery, a third-generation military wife.
The Military Wives Cookbook
I stumbled upon an article published at the Military Spouse Network titled Military Spouses Get a Taste of Marine Life which lead me to a blog post at SpouseBUZZ titled I’ll Take "Wasted Time" For $200, Please. Reading through many of the articles and blog posts really hit home for me. You see, although my biological father was a Merchant Marine, who died when I was very young, I barely remember living with my mother and brother in Galveston, Texas. Much like the women who share their stories in The Military Wives Cookbook, I have faint recollections of related stories. Unlike today’s military wives, my mother seldom knew where my father was or when he might be home. I know my mother learned to become self reliant and my grandmother told us stories about the hundreds of socks and scarves she knitted for "the boys." Unfortunately, or perhaps, fortunately, I don’t remember much else.

The Military Wives’ Cookbook is a hardcover 333 page book measuring 9-1/4 x 7-1/4. It is divided into six sections which are preceded by United in Spirit a dedication from an unknown author, a personal foreword by the author which is flavored with "cherished childhood memories" as a daughter of a career officer in the United States Air Force and, the introduction which is perhaps, my favorite section, besides the recipes, of course. Here we are "formally" introduced to the women, through whose eyes the stories are told and whose recipes are shared. Anna Warner; The Heroine of Groton, Molly Pitcher, Margaret Corbin, Martha Washington and others are depicted during the American Revolution. The War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the women "warriors" of the Civil War are represented. Below is what Carrie sent me from the book’s press release.

The Military Wives’ Cookbook is a collection of recipes, anecdotal stories, and vintage photographs tracing the history and unique contributions of American military wives. Beginning with an Independence Tea Party featuring the foods served by the women of Edenton, North Carolina, at a party on October 25, 1774, it recreates the scenes and foods that recount the stories of the commitments and sacrifice that military wives have given the nation for more than two hundred years.
Presented in menu format, each chapter includes a story related to the recipes of the period (“A Colonial Thanksgiving” and “Christmas in the Confederate White House”) and feature foods from around the world, including places like Morocco, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea.

The six sections are:

Teas and Coffees
Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches
A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style
Alfresco Dining
Over There: An International Affair
Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations
Today, is a wet and dreary day in New York so I have chosen to skip the Tea and Coffee section and share a menu from section two, Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches.(click the image to enlarge)

Hearth and Home: A Soup Kitchen Party Young wives far from home found great comfort and fellowship in the company of other military wives. By 1898, America had become an empire. It was during this period that the women’s club movement was born in the civilian sector of American Life. Military wives soon joined the movement. These clubs were both social and service organizations. They raised money for worthy community causes, they joined book clubs and sewing circles, or they came together simply to entertain themselves with popular games. They met in homes for breakfast planning meetings and for business and social luncheon buffets. The tradition continues to this day. A favorite entertainment style was the buffet.

The Give-Away
It seems I have misplaced Carrie’s email concerning where visitors might be able to purchase the book should they so choose. I’ll be contacting her later this evening and leave that informations for you tomorrow. I checked over at the the Sourcebooks website but it didn’t seem to be loading in Safari. The cookbook is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon which also has five star reviews.

If you would like a chance to WIN! the book for free right here, the details are fairly simple. Let me first say though, not only would The Military Wives Cookbook make a wonderful addition to your reading cookbook library, it would also make a wonderful gift. I have a senior citizen friend that I take shopping each week. She’s 89 years young. She often tells me about her challenges raising six children and working a full time job while her husband was in the service during WWII. Despite gasoline rationing, food rationing, working and raising a family, she still managed to volunteer her time to the war effort. Amazing!!! I really think she would relate to the stories and the photographs. Heck, I think she would even reminisce about some of the recipes, especially the Red Velvet Cake recipe:) Tomorrow, I will share a few of the recipes with you. For now, the details.

At first I was going to offer this book simply by asking visitors to leave a comment. When I started doing a bit more research, it dawned on me how little I actually knew about the sacrifices military families endure. I realize everyone is busy in their own lives and in these economic times it is sometimes difficult to stop and thank those who enable us to enjoy our freedom each and every day. As Mrs. Obama so eloquently stated at Arlington National Cemetery, for Women’s History Month:

[Military families] They are mothers and fathers who have lost their beloved children to war. They are husbands and wives keeping the family on track while their wives and husbands are deployed, on duty. They are grandparents, aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers who are taking care of children while single moms or dads in uniform are away.
So, what I would like you to do is discover something you didn’t know about the life of our military families or share a brief personal experience in the comment section of this blog anytime up until May 8th; Military Spouse Appreciation Day. You can begin your search with the links I have left on this blog post or do a quick search in google. I will randomly (using the random generator) choose a winner Friday @ 3:00 PM. and announce the winner immediately. I’m curious as to what you will discover and look forward to your comments.

Econobusters Kris Price
Well, last week’s menu has turned into this week’s menu, for the most part. Day after day, something went wrong and the only meal that I had planned that got cooked was the Pineapple Beef menu. One day I had forgotten to thaw out the meat, the next day I was so busy that I just totally forgot to get the meal started until it was too late. Luckily, we had leftovers in the fridge and a planned night of fast food pizza.

So, instead of sharing a menu plan with you this week, I am going to review The Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances, a cookbook which presents its recipes in a menu format! Military Spouses Day is May 8th, so this is the perfect week to share this book with you!

From the press release . . . “This cookbook is a collecton of recipes, anecdotal stories and vintage photographs tracing the history and unique contributions of American military wives. Beginning with an Independence Tea Party featuring the foods served by the women of Edenton, North Carolina, at a party on October 25, 1774, it recreates the scenes and foods that recount the stories of the commitments and sacrifice the military wives have given the nation for more than two hundred years.

Presented in menu format, each chapter includes a story related to the recipes of the period (”A Colonial Thanksgiving” and “Christmas in the Confederate White House”) and feature foods from around the world, including places like Morocco, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Japan and Korea.

The Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances is divided into six large sections:
- Teas and Coffees
- Buffets, Brunches and Lunches
- A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style
- Alfresco Dining
- Over There: An International Affair
- Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations

The women, through whose eyes these stories are told and whose recipes are shared, are truly remarkable. They often balanced the responsibilities of maintaining home and hearth, raising a family, managing a business, and supporting a war effort. In addition, they found time to extend themselves in friendship and hospitality to one another and to women in the places where they were stationed, earning them a well-respected reputation that continues to this day.”

The Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances is a great cookbook! The historical stories are fascinating and the menus full of recipes that anyone would enjoy. I really like the fact that I can just open the book, scan the menus, find one I like start cooking. There are menus to suit everyone or any season, holiday or party theme . . . seafood, a summer luncheon, a lasagna dinner for company, meals from foreign countries or an Independence Day pig roast! All of the recipes are made from ingredients that can be found in any local grocery store or private garden.

I must admit that I’m often at a loss when putting together a menu for a large gathering. However, The Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances is going to help me with this when I need to plan future menus. This book would make a great gift for your friends or family serving in the military. I can’t wait to use mine to help me plan my next party!

Army Blogger Wife Hardt Korin
Military Spouse Appreciation Day is around the corner—May 8th. I’ll be busy with Field Day at my school, but I’m sure Gunner is planning some amazing celebration to thank me for standing by his side for the last 14 1/2 years, 4 year long deployments, and being the mother of our three children. (cough, cough)

Okay, so realistically, I am not one for surprises and I don’t like big deals made of most things.

Since marrying Gunner, I have become a huge fan of anything military related in my reading. I devour books filled with military history. I am intrigued by different time periods such as WWII and the Vietnam Era. While at a yard sale I stumbled upon a 4th Infantry Division yearbook. The yearbook was printed while the 4th ID was in Germany, and chronicled the occupation of Germany. I got it for a steal at a buck, and couldn’t believe my find. I’ve studied the pictures of the men and women and wondered what it was like for them to be in Germany during that time.

I was sent a copy of The Military Wives’ Cookbook by Carolyn Quick Tillery to review about a month ago. From the first email I received about this book, I was chomping at the bit to receive it in my mailbox.

When I received my copy, I was hooked, because it was stories about women like me—military spouses. Of course it is a cookbook, so I’ll get to that part, but the book starts out with an introduction covering military spouses that served from the American Revolution to the Global War on Terrorism today.

The recipes—
Presented in menu format style, each set of recipes is accompanied by a story that relates to it and is evocative of the period...When combined in a recipe and remembrance book, the recipes, narratives, and photographs provide a unique story in American history: her story!

The cookbook is divided into multiple sections: Teas and Coffees; Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches; A Taste of home: Dinner Family Style; Alfresco Dining; Over There: An International Affair; Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations.

Within each section are numerous recipes and stories about the military spouses, excerpts from letters home and pictures of military spouses from long ago. Of course I had to try out a couple of the recipes, so we made the "homemade walnut brownies" and they were excellent! The recipes are all easy to follow and it looks like most of them can be made with ingredients that I keep on hand.

I’ve already got another few recipes on the agenda over the next two weeks once we make it to the commissary. Even if you don’t like to cook, there are tons of stories and pictures in here as well.

And if you try the Black Forest Cake under the Valentine’s Dinner for Lovers menu, let me know how it tastes, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Bella Online Sue Simonds
This attractive hard covered cookbook from Cumberland House exceeded my expectations when it arrived. After briefly scanning the recipe contents, which I would look closely at later, I was completely taken in by the twenty-one page introduction to the book.

Preambled by a beautiful, United in Spirit, piece. Forward and acknowledgments, I was pleasantly pleased by the detail and research that surrounds these recipes, women and men’s lives and their families. The care that was taken to present this book in a manner that will make for more than a cookbook, but a book, well deserving of space in my bookcase. One that will be taken out and shared with friends and family sparking our own memories and stories of those in our families that have stood and served our country along with the women and men that proudly and unselfishly supported their spouses during those times.

One certainly doesn’t have to be from a Military family to appreciate the sentiments that are contained within the three hundred plus pages of this book. Black and white historical photographs are placed throughout the book along with quotes, letters and statements neatly boxed and framed.

The book is laid out into easy to read sections and covers recipes by category starting with Teas and Coffees through an Independence Day Pig Roast. Filled with American classic dishes and also including, Korean, Japanese and European dishes along with a Kwanzaa Celebration, Confederate White House Christmas and a Colonial Thanksgiving.

From Peach Nectar and Basil Lemonade (page 27 and made with apricot nectar....yummy) to Mountain Trout (page 220) Pecan Raisin Pie (page 287) Yankee Doodle Pot Roast (page 176) Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Gravy (page 159) and even Sauerbraten (page 254) This is just a small sampling of the various recipes contained within, all with clear and concise instructions for making these dishes.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this hard cover treasure, The Military Wives Cookbook by Carolyn Quick Tillery. The book is available at the Amazon link below and also Sourcebooks, listed below.

An additional note of info for you..........

Military Spouse Day, this year, is Friday May 8th, 2009. First celebrated in 1984 and made an observance by President Ronald Reagan in recognition of the contributions of Military spouses to be acknowledged the Friday before Mother’s Day each year, recognizing their contributions to our nation’s defense.

Hushpuppy Nation Rick McDaniel
From the first wife who watched as her husband grabbed a musket in 1776 to the one who waits for her husband to return from Iraq or Afghanistan, military wives have shared the same worries, concerns, challenges and camaraderie.

Carolyn Quick Tillery, herself a military wife, has written “The Military Wives’ Cookbook,” a collection of recipes from generations of military wives with stories and historical photographs.

In the book, Tillery profiles some of the country’s earliest military wives, beginning with Anne Warner, wife of Capt. Elija Bailey, who served during the American Revolution; Mary McCauley (aka Molly Pitcher) who served with her husband John Hayes in the Pennsylvania Artillery for seven years during the Revolution; and Lucy Brewer, the first woman Marine who served during the War of 1812.

Tillery begins with a recipe for red raspberry tea similar to the one served on Oct. 25, 1774, in Edenton, N.C. at the Edenton Tea Party, one of the first political protests by American women.

While the recipes come from all regions of the country, there are plenty of Southern favorites such as fried chicken, fried catfish, buttermilk biscuits, red velvet cake and plenty of others.

The book is an interesting look at the women who have supported, and continue to support, those who serve our country.

Crazed Mommy Shari Keating
have a secret to confess, and nows as good a-time as any…

…come closer…

closer…

Ok. Now, ready?

I used to be a Navy Wife. I was married to a man in the United States Military for 5 years. My current (and lifetime) husband was also in the United States Navy. So I guess you could say I have some knowledge on the subject of being a Military Wife.

I now have so much more. Not to mention a continued respect for the wives who serve right along with their husbands! (And you can too!!*) Danielle (everyone should nave a Danielle in their life!) sent me a copy of “The Military Wives Cookbook” 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes and Remembrances by Carolyn Quick Tillery.

And yes, it is a cookbook. So no false advertising there. However, interspersed in between all the delicious recipes are stories about how dishes were prepared, quotes from famous military wives, and tidbits from every battle America has fought. I have to say, it’s an interesting read even beyond the recipes.

But the recipes!! The recipes span from simple fare to extravagant holiday dinners. You know the recipes are going to be something special when you see in the contents titles such as:

- Moroccan Magic
- An Idyllic Italian Afternoon
- Twelfth Night: A Williamsburg Buffet for Eight
- Company’s Coming Lasagna Dinner
- A Sunday Reunion With Very Dear Friends
- Rising Sun Breakfast From Japan

Many of the recipes are simple. Two of my new favorites are the Chocolate Amaretto Cake (pg. 178) and the Garden Salad (pg. 316). I’m also compiling several recipes to make for our family Sunday dinners. The entire section of An Idyllic Italian Afternoon is already planned for my Mother’s Day feast.

Now all I have to do is let the Hubby know…

Included in this book are interesting tidbits like the Significance of the Flag Folding Ceremony, which I have to admit is very interesting.

Also, ever wondered where the reference “A Cup of Joe” came from? The answer is in this book.

Want to learn how to make Rum Balls? We got you covered! Craving some Hot Mulled Cider? Well, crave no more! It’s all here!

Andrea’s Reviews Andrea Meyer
The Military Wives Cookbook
May 5th, 2009 by Andrea | Print This Post

The Military Wives Cookbook is more than just a collection of recipes. The Forward gives a brief history of U.S. military wives starting with the Revolutionary War and going through modern times. Every recipe pays homage to the women who have gone before with quotes from historical military wives—Libbie Custer, Frances Roe, and others—in the header notes and more quotes and brief narratives about other famous military wives throughout.

The book has six chapters of menus with various themes: teas and coffees; buffets, brunches, and lunches; family style dinners; alfresco dining; international dishes; and holiday celebrations. Each chapter has at least seven menus, some based on actual dinners such as Evie Foster’s Mah Jong luncheon. Paying her respects to all the places where military families are stationed around the world, the book has a lot of variety. Tillery included recipes for polenta, tomato and serrano salsa, candied yams, red velvet cake, New England clam chowder, Santa Maria style barbecue, baba ghanooj, pickled lemons, paella Valenciana, miso soup, sauerbraten, and bulkoki.

The writing has a sentimental tone, as one might expect from an author who grew up a military child and later became a military wife, but it is functional and practical, too. The menus make it easy to plan meals and gatherings, and most ingredients are readily available in the average grocery store, though some ingredients may require a trip to an Asian food store.

Because strawberries are coming in season, I made the Strawberries and Cream with Macaroons, a simple dessert with a bit of flair. It was easy to make and quite delicious, though I had to confirm the type of macaroons with Mrs. Tillery (coconut macaroons, not Cajun almond paste macaroons).



The Military Wives Cookbook would be of special interest to families with military connections, though it would also make a fine volume for someone interested in entertaining and learning how to create menus.

Creative Thoughts by Chelle Raechelle Masuda
I have never been much of a cook. In fact my bridal shower theme was based on the fact that I didn’t cook. So I received all these tools and such to help me out. They sat and waited till I had our daughter. That is when I learned to cook.

I am still learning. I enjoy cooking now. Although I have to admit I enjoy cooking the most when I am alone, not in a hurry and I can just enjoy the process. Yet there are plenty of times J & I have cooked together and had a blast.

We have company coming this week and I am at such a loss as to what to cook. I got some great suggestions on Facebook and Twitter when I made a plea for help. I also looked at a really cool cookbook Sourcebooks sent me recently.

The Military Wives Cookbook by Carolyn Quick Tillery is so retro cool. It has some awesome recipes in it, that could feed an army :) Or at least take along to an army picnic! The cookbook is broken down into sections like Teas and Coffees, Buffets Brunches and Lunches to International cooking and Holidays.

My absolute favourite section is the Teas and Coffee section. I am so having a Garden Tea Party this spring or summer! Really it will be a playdate, but I am going to serve my moms some cucumber sandwiches, Tea Garden Spinach and Strawberry Salad with some Lemon Meringue Pie…. mmmmm. Doesn’t that sound divine? Where did all these wonderful traditions disappear to? How does on not have afternoon tea with their dearest friends while their children romp?

The cookbook also has some amazing stories, letters and history intertwined in the recipes. The vintage photographs are so beautiful. I am determined to be a better cook some day :)

Our Story Janeen Zumerling
I absolutely love cookbooks! I think I’m addicted and I’m going to need a whole wing added to my kitchen just to house them all. I was never really much of a cook. Before I got married, my idea of cooking was popping a Lean Cuisine into the microwave and sitting down with an open bag of chips. Once I got married, I decided that I should at least try to cook something. I had been given a few cookbooks as presents (thank you Mom) and I used those. Cooking didn’t seem that difficult as long as I had a good cookbook. Then my youngest was born and diagnosed with multiple food allergies. It wasn’t until then that I truly had to start cooking, and cooking from scratch. Again, luckily I found several good cookbooks.

When I was asked to review Military Wives’ Cookbook, I jumped at the chance. And not only is it a good (great!) cookbook, but it’s an interesting read about military life as seen through the eyes of the military family.

The book contains recipes that have been put down in a menu format. The sections are Tea and Coffees; Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches; A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style; Alfresco Dining; Over There: An International Affair; and Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations. Each section features several appropriate recipes along with pieces of historic information and snippets of letters written to and from those serving in the military. There are also old photographs of soldiers and their families featured throughout the book.

The recipes are easy to read and easy to follow. The cookbook itself is an interesting read. The stories and letters that are shared throughout the book give us a glimpse of what military life is like and how difficult, yet honorable, it is to be a military spouse.

Many of the blogs that I read are from military wives (past and present). I’ve read stories of their travels and how they survive while their husbands are away fighting for our country. It’s easy to forget that a war is going on. And it’s easy to forget that soldiers are still out there, fighting for our country. And unless you live it everyday, it’s easy to forget that there are families at home who love and miss them and are terrified for their safety every day.

This cookbook not only houses numerous delicious recipes, but also the love and strength that signify a military spouse and all of those “keeping the home fires burning”.

I give the cookbook 5 Stars! I highly recommend that you check it out. And I also want to point out that May 8th is Military Spouses Day. Don’t forget to say “Thank You” to those who are waiting for loved ones to return from duty.

THANK YOU to all of those serving in the military and the families that bravely sends their loved ones off to war (past, present, and future).

A few of the featured recipes in the book:
Southern Chicken and Dumplings
Homemade Walnut Brownies
Nanna’s Chicken-Fried Steak and Biscuits
Yankee Doodle Pot Roast Dinner
Egg and Sausage Breakfast Soufflé
Cheese Grits
Red Velvet Cake
Wild Rice
Raspberry Streusel Muffins

And there is so much more!!

More than an (Army) Wife Nikki S.
Military Spouse Appreciation Day on May 8, is right around the corner. If you’re a servicemember looking for a little something special for your spouse or if you’re the “silent” counterpart in the military couple and you’re looking to reward yourself for your job well done (or if you’re neither and you just like a good cookbook) then you should check out The Military Wives’ Cookbook by Carolyn Quick Tillery.

The Military Wives’ Cookbook isn’t your average cookbook (but then, most military wives’ aren’t your average wife). What makes it special is it encompasses “200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances.” In her introduction, Tillery (a military wife herself) details the journey of military wives throughout American history beginning with the American Revolution. How we began by serving, literally, beside our husbands in battle, to the earliest of PCS, to maintaining the homefront while our husbands serve in foreign wars. Throughout the book and incorporated in with the recipes are quotes and stories from military wives throughout the years like Libbie Custer and Frances Roe, along with military facts such as the meaning of the flag folding ceremony.

I’m not much of a creative cook, my signature dish, Macaroni Soup, consisting of 5 ingredients, 2 of which are salt and pepper, so I always welcome a new recipe book to get my culinary juices flowing. This one especially because a) I’m a military wife, b) I love all the tid-bits about those women that came before me, and c) I feel especially proud when I make these wives’ recipes that have seen some of history’s most important moments.

The Military Wives’ Cookbook is broken down into six categories:

1) Teas and Coffees
2) Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches
3) A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style
4) Alfresco Dining
5) Over There: An International Affair
6) Home For The Holidays and Other Celebrations

One of my favorite parts about this cookbook is that in each of these categories the recipes are presented in menu-style format. So if you’re like me and have zero creativity when it comes to creating your family’s meals (random pasta with meat sauce and garlic bread, anyone?), this is an excellent and much needed cookbook format. For example, in “Home For The Holidays and Other Celebrations” there is a Memorial Day Catfish Fry (coming up on May 25!) and the recipes for the proposed menu include:

Fried Catfish
Hush Puppies
Shredded Pork
Cole Slaw
Potato Salad
Sliced Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Sweet Tea

Individually most of the recipes sound amazingly delicious, so you could just as easily pick and choose from the different menus to create your own one-of-a-kind menu. Danielle, my SIL, helped me do just that. We flipped through the “Teas and Coffees” section and made ourselves our own Military family tea party, which was incredibly good. (I even ate the leftovers the next day for lunch…and I DON’T usually do leftovers.)

Blueberry Scones (An Independence Tea Party)
Devonshire Cream (An Independence Tea Party)
Cucumber Sandwiches (Lady’s Afternoon Delight: A Garden Tea Party)
Tea Garden Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing
(Lady’s Afternoon Delight: A Garden Tea Party)
Sweet Tea (Memorial Day Catfish Fry)

My only complaint (and it’s not big enough to stop me from using this cookbook) about the recipes is that most of them appear to take a lot of prep work and they yield over 6 servings. If you’re like me, a working “single mom” of an infant and wife of a deployed husband, you’re hard pressed to find the time to make a dinner that takes more than 15 minutes especially when you’re only feeding yourself. However, if you want to prepare a Sunday dinner (or a “Welcome Home, Daddy!” Post-Deployment Dinner) the extended family isn’t likely to forget and Grandma is watching the baby, The Military Wives’ Cookbook is a great addition to your cookbook shelf.

Also, don’t forget that Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, May 10, and if your mom is a military wife The Military Wives’ Cookbook would be an awesome way to show her how much you love her and to let her know you still enjoy her cooking!

Snow Bound in the Yukon Donna Minchon
I received a copy of this pink camo covered cookbook to review. I was surprised at how much I liked it besides being pink it was fill with information, quotes and tidbits before each recipe about the history of the military.Though I’m not much of a military buff, the information is geared toward the wives of military men which is very interesting.

The cookbook is divided into categories and then put into menus as a display for bridal showers to tea parties to large dinners with many guests. It’s a really very charming cookbook to read. There is every variety of recipes in this book from traditional baking recipes to international fair. There are many recipes in this book that I would like to try, I’ve only had the opportunity to use one so far and it was a Pineapple Punch which was really quite delicious!

The Menu under Teas and Coffees was Sunrise Coffee and it included the following recipes

Quiche Lorraine
Golden Sunrise Muffins
Crumb-Toppped Apple Coffee Cake
Seasonal Fresh Fruit Tray
Fresh Fruit Dip
Assorted Fruit Juices
Coffee
Tea
Pineapple Punch

Under this menu alone, there are a few recipes I would like to test out and give a taste. I really look forward to using this cookbook in the future.

Hooah Wife and Friends Greta Perry
OK quit your laughing that I am reviewing a cookbook. By now you all know that this girl is domestically challenged in the kitchen. That being said, I’m a huge book junkie, including cookbooks. I was blessed with a son who enjoys being in the kitchen (someone was looking out for me) so things are looking up for the Perry family. Then again, the New Orleans area offers the best food on this planet, so nobody is starving here. Well without further ado, here is my review…

“The Military Wives’ Cookbook will undoubtedly be seen next to the collection of Polish Pottery in every American military kitchen in the years to come. The presentation of this book, both inside and out is done flawlessly. The vignettes of military history and stories from wives, pictures tastefully strewn throughout and the wonderful collection of simple but time-honored recipes, cook up a true crowd pleaser.”

~Greta Perry (Hooah Wife)~

CocoCooks Courtney Nzeribe
I was fortunate to receive an email from Sourcebooks asking if I could take a look at their Military Wives Cookbook,200 Years of Traditions , Recipes, and Remembrances. This treasure of American historical lore and modern vignettes is the brainchild of an accomplished Military wife herself , Carolyn Quick Tillery.She’s a go getter who having a law degree and retired form the Air Force, decided she needed a ’portable career’ as her husband , still in the Air Force was constantly assigned all over the world in various posts.So she combined her love of history and food , thereby forging a career. A pretty successful one at that.
I admit, I know nothing about the whole military culture and lifestyle. As an account executive I had an account on a naval base and saw a glimpse. I envied those PX Stores for the great deals.What I did see was my hard working sales staff who may have had a spouse in service and was used to the ordeal of moving around , or them being way , and surviving on limited means. I saw the cadets come in every few weeks after graduation to pretty up a bit and get their cosmetics before heading off to some new assignment. For many it was there first time away from home perhaps. I admit I am pretty privileged and spoiled at times, but I can recognize the great sacrifice those that serve and their families make for our country. It takes a strong woman, or man to support that spouse in service. Lets honor them on Friday May 8th , which happens to be Military Spouse Day.Our current First Lady of the United States, Michele Obama has vowed to focus on aiding Military families.
Military Wives Cookbook is chock full of recipes from today to 200 years ago. I was expecting Americana type of recipes, which there were plenty, but also got some international ones , reflective of the wives travels all over the world. The author assembles the recipes into menus with themes. For example a Colonial Thanksgiving or Christmas in the Confederate White House. The cookbook is divided into 6 sections:
Teas and Coffees
Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches
A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style, Alfresco Dining
Over There: An International Affair
Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations
It was hard to pick a recipe to try out. But I was drawn to the Old Fashioned Banana Pudding, because it reminded me of my mother and is a tradition in the Black community and others as well . You will find this at every event or picnic this summer. A lot of people fake it with pudding mix and vanilla wafers. I like it old school.
Note I was out of Vanilla wafers but had Vanilla Biscuits , that worked fine. A coworker of mine uses shortbread , which is also a great substitute. I shamefully admit I polished this off and gave a bit to a neighbor. Nothing was wasted. It was that good. I might play on this recipe with chocolate chips or banana rum one day.

Reviews by Heidi Heidi Strawser
I love cookbooks and the opportunity to review them doesn’t present itself very often; so when I got the e-mail about this one, I jumped at the chance! This cookbook combines two of my very favorite things - cookbooks (new recipes) and history. Throughout the pages of this cookbook, you’ll find interesting tales of military wives all throughout the history of the U.S. These historical accounts include pictures (which I just love) and quotes. The tales are fun and heartwarming to read.

The recipe sections are divided into the topics listed above and the recipes are put together as "menus". For example, the Teas & Coffees section is divided into 9 sub-sections. Each one contains information and a menu. It’s a very clever and unique way to put a cookbook together, and made this cookbook fun to read (and not just another source for recipes).

I am anxious to try some of the yummy-sounding recipes and will gladly add The Military Wives’ Cookbook to my ever-growing cookbook collection!

My Home Sweet Home Online Dawn Camp
Did you know that Military Spouses Day is this Friday, May 8? In honor of Military Spouses Day, Sourcebooks has asked me to share with you The Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances by Carolyn Quick Tillery.

This is more than a cookbook, it’s full of stories and photographs illustrating the rich history of American military wives. I even read one, about military wives during the American Revolution, as a bedtime story to one of my daughters. Each recipe is preceded by a brief anecdote or quote, such as, “Yes, we are sometimes called camp followers, but we don’t mind. . . We know all about the comfort and cheer that goes with us, and then–we have not been left behind!” [Frances Roe]

Because of the wide variety of situations and locales where American military wives are stationed, the recipes cover a broad range: from cheese grits, to beef fajitas, to Confederate plum pudding, to champagne punch, to peanut brittle (I’m looking forward to trying this one!).

The Military Wives Cookbook contains six sections:

* Teas and Coffees
* Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches
* A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style
* Alfresco Dining
* Over There: An International Affair
* Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations

My favorite is the Teas and Coffees section, with categories such as An Independence Tea Party; Midwinter Tea with Friends; Lady’s Afternoon Delight: A Garden Tea Party; and Morning Bridal Shower Coffee for Twenty-Five.

Fascinating and sometimes tear-jerking, The Military Wives Cookbook weaves together scenes, foods, and stories that offer a glimpse into more than 200 years’ worth of history of the American military wife.

Trying Our Best Leanne Mackey
I have quite a few cookbooks and I’ll be honest.... very few ever get cracked open. Ever.

What can I say, I’m not a really adventurous eater, tricky recipes intimidate me, and as if that weren’t enough now I have a child who is deathly allergic to eggs and peanuts so when I look thru a cookbook every great recipe has an egg... or six in it.

But when I got my copy of "The Military Wives Cookbook" I couldn’t put it down. Here’s the thing, its a cookbook AND a book. Great idea isn’t it?

It’s an amazing collection of of very personal stories, letters, and photos of the lives of military wives... over 200 years worth. Moving would be an understatement.

Moving because, despite being decades, even centuries apart, there is still something in common.

Just like those before us, we stand with, and behind, our husbands, where ever they may go. Sure we are partners in love and life, but more often then not we are the ones who stay behind. So much of their life is in constant flux, but we try our hardest, despite some unusual circumstances to keep the home life normal.

If normal is your children thinking that every family does laundry in loads of whites, darks, and Marine green and that every one’s daddy wears a flight suit to work and goes away for months at a time.

But then again normal is a subjective thing right?

I found myself looking at some of the pictures, reading some of the words in the letters and being able to remember those very same emotions. Granted it was a very different war then those before, but none the less, I’ve kissed my husband and sent him off to war. I know the feeling of sitting by and waiting for a letter. I don’t know what those military wives would think of all the 24 hr news coverage but I do know some of what they were feeling.

Despite the advancements of the day, internet, tv, central air, flushing toilets, the conveniences of life have come a long way but the emotions are still very much the same.

And this book is authored by someone who knows the trenches and those emotions well. Carolyn Quick Tillery has been both a military brat and a military wife and obviously brings her respect for the role of military wives to her writing.

Personally speaking, I think this book would be fascinating for anyone, after all it is still a cookbook and there are wonderful recipes in here, and some very interesting history. But I really do think its a must read for military folk. And would make a great "welcome to the military family" gift. I’m thinking of getting it for my mother in law for mother’s day.... obviously a belated mothers day but still, its the thought that counts.

Not only did I love to read about the history of certain military customs and just the history period but I found some great egg free recipes thanks to the shortage of eggs during wars.

Something else prior military wives and I have in common, I’m dealing with my own egg free issues over here and can appreciate their problems. I found a great egg free biscuit recipe that was super simple and there is a recipe for a spice cake made without the rationed eggs and white sugar.

Now there is also a sour cream coffee cake recipe that sounds amazing but well... has eggs in it so I’ll have to try that one on the down low, lest I have to try out the epi pens all because big momma is craving coffee cake. But admit it it does sound yummy doesn’t it? You should go get a copy of the book.

A Flyover Blog DK Raymer
Welcome to this very special Red Friday post. As most of my regular readers know, I am a writer who has trouble keeping up with my own projects, so I rarely take on something else - like a book review. I happily made an exception in this case, because the subject is near and dear and this little book is so deserving of all the attention it can get.

Friday, May 8th is Military Spouse Day, the day set aside to honor the unsung heroes that keep it all together back home while their significant other is off serving our country. Sourcebooks has published a wonderful book by author Carolyn Quick Tillery. The Military Wives’ Cookbook is much more than a collection of recipes; it is a glimpse at the past 200 years as seen through the eyes of American military wives. Ms. Tillery went above and beyond with this project; this book was a labor of love. She presents photographs, letters, and personal accounts throughout the book and introduces us to some fascinating and resilient women. Recipes are presented menu style and include homestyle cooking and dishes from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Morocco and Spain.

I spent an entire evening reading this book, wishing I could have attended the Memorial Day Catfish Fry, the Mah Jongg Luncheon at Evie Foster’s, or help Sarah Borginis prepare her Simmering Soup Pot Dinner at Fort Texas while it was being shelled. This book is an absolute gem and will be treasured by cooks and U.S. military history buffs alike. Oh, and if you’re stuck for a Mothers Day gift, this would be a dandy. Thank you, Carolyn Quick Tillery and Sourcebooks!

My Army Wife Life Brittany Williams
Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day! A day where the nation recognizes all the things that we as Spouses do for our Service Members. So, give a Military Spouse a hug today, will ya?

A few weeks ago, I was sent a copy of “The Military Wives’ Cookbook” by Carolyn Quick Tillery, and asked to do a review of it in honor of Spouse Appreciation Day. Always a fan of a good cookbook, I quickly said yes and was excited to start pouring through some of the recipes.

The first night that I actually opened it up and looked at it, I was sitting at the dinner table with a girlfriend of mine, and we were flipping through it together. What I loved about it was that along with the recipes [which I will get to in a second] it is full of old pictures of Soldiers and their families, along with stories and letters of military past; a quick little snapshot into what life was like prior to our time. The introduction alone gives a little synopsis of most of the wars this country has fought in, so if you’re looking for a history lesson while you’re cooking in the kitchen, the “Military Wives’ Cookbook” is for you. :)

The recipes are broken up into six different sections:

* Teas & Coffees
* Buffets, Brunches & Lunches
* A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style
* Alfresco Dining
* Over There: An International Affair
* Home for the Holidays & Other Celebrations

I thought this was nice change from the typical “appetizers, poultry, meat, bread, etc” labels that typically come associated with cookbooks these days. The “Teas & Coffees” section in particular, while I don’t typically throw tea parties (and I don’t really know who does anymore), the recipes were very brunch oriented, filled with recipes such as blueberry scones, cranberry orange muffins, creamed chicken croissant, and a savory salmon spread. Along with all of these recipes (which in every section, for the record, are grouped together so that you would have a menu plan for an entire meal. Love it!) there were plenty of recipes for making your own tea. After All, it was the “Teas & Coffees” section!

The section of the cookbook that I most enjoyed was the Alfresco Dining section. This seemed to be the section that I tried most of the recipes, simply because a) they were fairly simple and b) as a Spouse with no kids whose Husband is deployed, I really only cook for one these days [you can also find the story behind the Flag Folding Ceremony and why it’s significant in this section!]. The Dinner Family Style section has some great recipes as well — I just don’t cook that much food. And I loved the miso soup recipe in the “Over There” section.

All in all, I found the cookbook to be very interesting. It’s obviously not your typical cookbook, and not all the stories are that interesting [I for one thought the two pages on Lisa De Los Santo’s weight loss journey and how she helps others stay fit was very random and out of place]. But the recipes are all pretty easy, and while a handful of them required some ingredients that I had never heard of, and therefore will never make because I have no clue where to get said items, I can definitely see myself using this cookbook from time to time.

All in all, I would recommend it to other MilSpouses out there, and may actually give this as a gift to a few others who I know would enjoy it.

Olive Tree Stephanie Shepherd
I have to say, this has been one of the most fun books that I’ve been sent to review. The Military Wives’ Cookbook is a compilation of over 200 years of tradition, recipes, and remembrances. An exerpt from the book:

“Whether you are a military spouse, of whom there are approximately 2.5 million (active, retired, reserve), or simply a patriot, you will love hearing htese stories of courage, commitment, and sacrifice. Presented in menu format style, each set of recipes is accompanied by a story that relates to it and is evocative of the period.”

This cookbook is FULL of history and the accompanying recipes. My almost-kindergarten is going to be doing some reading in early American History this coming year ... how much fun would it be to pull out this cookbook and make (or host) an Independence Tea party. Let me share with you the recipes suggested for an Independence Tea:

Liberty Tea
Edenton Tea Cakes
Blueberry Scones and Jam
Fresh Strawberries and Blueberries
Devonshirt Cream
Lemon Curd
Apple-Almond Amaretto Tart
Shortbread Cookies

Yum!

As for myself, when I was sent this cookbook, I thought long and hard about what recipe to try. I finally settled on Blueberry Scones (although as a disclaimer I did substitute blackberries because I had some in the freezer).

Yes, they were good. :) This cookbook is definitely worth checking out!

On this Military Wives’ Appreciation Day, please say thank you to someone you know who is serving alongside their husband! Pattie & Alicia, I thank you on behalf of my family for supporting your husbands so well while they serve. Thank you. :)

Living Out Loud Becky Perry
Did you know that today, May 8, is Military Spouse Appreciation Day? In honor of this occasion, I want to tell you about this awesome cookbook that I have the privilege of reviewing.

I predict The Military Wives’ Cookbook by Carolyn Quick Tillery will soon become one of my favorite cookbooks. I have loved looking through pages and pages of traditional recipes - recipes your own mom would make.

When the boys and I study the American Revolution, you can be sure that this cookbook will be in the stack of books that we will be looking through. There are all sorts of excepts and quotes and letters of the women who were married to the troops that were fighting.

There are lots of menus included and the instructions for the recipes are very down to earth. Some are longer than I like to make but there are also plenty of recipes that are simple and easy to make.

This is a wonderful cookbook and is well worth your time and persual.

Chirky Jessica Ferris
I love cookbooks. I love cookbooks and I love cooking (though I hate cleaning the dishes) and I love good food. And I generally like history, as long as it is interesting. (Which, listen: history is NOT ALWAYS INTERESTING.) So when a publisher sent me a copy of the Military Wives’ Cookbook, I was intrigued because it’s a cookbook (score!), presumably has good food (score!) to cook (score!), and is filled with little historical anecdotes about our country’s military wives.

Never Apart In Heart Kim Foster
Today is Military Spouse day, so I would like to wish all of my fellow MilSpouses a happy day!

Also in honor of Military Spouse Day, I’d like to take a second to talk about The Military Wives Cookbook by Carolyn Quick Tillery. I received this book about a month ago and I have sat down with it a few times. This book is different than most cookbooks because it not only contains recipes, but has stories and photographs of military wives of the past. I did enjoy reading poems and letters and stories from the past, and I think they are interesting. What I liked most about the book was the section titled: Over There: An International Affair. This had recipes from abroad that I loved. I am a big fan of middle eastern cuisine, so I was glad to see some of that included. There were also some great recipes for some punches and drinks that I will definitely be trying. I can honestly say that I doubt I will be making cucumber sandwiches anytime soon… but that this book did have some great recipes. I love a good cookbook, but I love them more in the traditional sense. This book might not replace my grandmothers hand me down book… I will be sure to reference it from time to time for something a little different.

So all in all this was a good book. If you know someone that likes to cook and likes a little history with it, this book is for them. And it is adorable. (Good job to the person who designed it! The pink with the blue stripes, and the star! Good touch)

Raising a Healthy Family Charlene Polanksy
Today is Military Spouse Day! As a military wife who also grew up in a military family, I learned at an early age that gatherings, from formal ceremonies to backyard picnics, all have special meaning to military families. The recipes, traditions and fellowship are something to be cherished and passed down.

Author Carolyn Quick Tillery, who currently manages the United States Central Command Family Readiness Program, has pulled together an amazing collection of recipes, anecdotal stories, and vintage photographs tracing the history and unique contributions of American military wives inThe Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances. Beginning with an Independence Tea Party featuring the foods served by the women of Edenton, North Carolina, at a party on October 25, 1774, it recreates the scenes and foods that recount the stories of the commitments and sacrifice that military wives have given the nation for more than two hundred years.

Presented in menu format, each chapter includes a story related to the recipes of the period (“A Colonial Thanksgiving” and “Christmas in the Confederate White House”) and feature foods from around the world, including places like Morocco, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea.

One of my absolute favorite recipes featured in the book, Texas Sheet Cake, is one treat I remember being at so many picnics, gatherings and teas. A true classic.

The Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances is a perfect gift for any military spouse - any time of the year. The stories behind the recipes make this a true keepsake as well.

A Mom’s Review Amanda Compton
Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. And, while I’m not a military wife I still wanted to acknowledge them and this day. To celebrate I wanted to share with you a cool new cookbook sent to us for review. It’s a great cookbook just in time for this special day. It’s called The Military Wives’ Cookbook.

This cookbook is a little different than other recipe books I own as each recipe is accompanied by a descriptive story that relates to that recipe so you get to know a little bit more about the history behind that recipe which is pretty interesting.

Whether you are a military wife or not this is still a great recipe book to own. Recipes from the book range from Yankee Doodle Pot Roast Dinner to Grilled Artichokes and Shrimp with Pesto Pasta.

Capturing Today Paulette Mastin
Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and as a military spouse, I want to share with you a delightful cookbook that I’ve had the opportunity to review for Sourcebooks.

The Military Wives’ Cookbook, by Carol Quick Tillery is a delightful cookbook, with mouth-watering recipes and glorious tidbits of historical information complete with photos that provide insight to the many roles and sacrifices that have been made by military spouses in years past.

My girls have looked through this book with me and we’ve made a list of some recipes we’re sure will become family favorites, such as:

Shortbread Cookies
Savory Salmon Spread
Grandmother’s Lemon Pound Cake
Roasted Rosemary Chicken
Crab Puffs
~ and there are so many more!

Take a moment today to thank a military family for their sacrifices for our freedoms; and be sure to go to the Sourcebooks website to get a copy of The Military Wives’ Cookbook - you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!

KristenMcLane.com Kristen Mclane
Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day - the Friday before Mother’s Day which President Reagan set apart in 1984 as a day to recognize and honor military spouses. I am not a military spouse but I am joining others in saluting those who are. Take for example my friend Alicia. Her blog gives me a glimpse of what it means to be a present day military spouse. Alicia’s Navy husband has been deployed in a classified location since January 2009. Alicia writes about being a military wife and mom at Experiencing Every Moment. Part of the job, or not, the military lifestyle is not without sacrifice on the part of the spouse.

I recently had another peek at the life of a military spouse when Sourcebooks sent me a review copy of The Military Wives’ Cookbook:

The Military Wives’ Cookbook is a collection of recipes, anecdotal stories, and vintage photographs tracing the history and unique contributions of American military wives. Beginning with an Independence Tea Party featuring the foods served by the women of Edenton, North Carolina, at a party on October 25, 1774, it recreates the scenes and foods that recount the stories of the commitments and sacrifice that military wives have given the nation for more than two hundred years.

A little bit of background about me is that I love cookbooks. I’m one of those kitchen nerds who checks out cookbooks from the library for fun. So I eagerly agreed to get my hands on a brand new cookbook. What I hadn’t counted on was how much I would get wrapped up in the stories and photographs accompanying the recipes. (Perhaps I would have gotten better grades in high school had there been recipes included in my history books.) Many of the recipes in The Military Wives’ Cookbook have historical significance while others are tried and true recipes that have been passed from family to family (or military base to military base) over the years.

Another thing that I liked about the cookbook is that it is divided into a “menu” style layout with six sections (useful for entertaining). The six sections are:

Teas and Coffees
Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches
A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style
Alfresco Dining
Over There: An International Affair,
Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations

With over 300 pages of recipes and inspirational stories, my opinion is that The Military Wives’ Cookbook is an excellent resource for dinner and more!

Army Household 6 Tammy Munson
Last month I was asked to review a cookbook for military wives, I accepted and I thought I hope it is not like all the other cookbooks I’ve seen. Boy was I wrong! (note the time/date because I don’t admit I’m wrong often LOL)

This cookbook - The Military Wives’ cookbook by Carolyn Quick Tillery is AWESOME! Of course, it has recipes like all the other cookbooks I have, but its has SO much more too! The recipes are great , I’ve tried several of them and they are “YUMMO“!

I grew up eating Red Velvet Cake from McKenzie’s Bakery in New Orleans as a kid. I loved it! Many of the recipes I’ve tried didn’t come close until I tried the recipe in this book! It was awesome and reminded me so much of being back at my Maw Maw’s house eating Red Velvet Cake for dessert! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it!!

The best part of this cookbook is the quotes and stories that go along with them. Each recipe includes a story and/or quote that relates to that recipes and is evocative of the period. It tells the story of what Military wives were going through at that time. It tells about the history… or rather HER-STORY!

This cookbook shows the courage, sacrifice and commitment of the Military Wives - past and present!

Mommy Mommy Land Robin Mizrahi
I was sent a cookbook to review for you guys about a month and a half ago. And I was supposed to have the review up yesterday, and haven’t even cooked anything out of it yet. To be fair though, I haven’t cooked anything out of it because I was so busy reading it and all the stories it holds. See the book is called The Military Wives Cookbook 200 years of traditions, recipes, and remembrances by Carolyn Quick Tillery. It is filled with little tidbits of information, like the significance of the flag folding ceremony, and pictures of camp followers and General Custer, along with stories, anecdotes, poems, and letters peppered through out the book. Combines that with how many of the recipes just sound really really good, and i am sure you can guess what happened, yes, time got away from me and I haven’t yet tried a recipe , but I have dogeared many a pages to come back to.

Why surprised me the most about this book is the recipes! When I heard I was being sent a military wives cook book with over 200 years of recipes, I was thinking cheap filling food. Stuff that you could feed an army with on pennies a day. I wasn’t really expecting recipes that made me drool while reading them. Like elegant Beef Wellington with Madiera sauce, Moroccan Watermelon Cooler, Black forest cake, Grandmothers Lemon pound cake, Cappuccino cheesecake, and grilled Lobster in Champagne butter sauce just to name a few.

I think the recipe I am going to leave you with is Liberty Tea. It just seems fitting in today’s world, when we all need to pull our selves up by our bootstraps, be more self sufficient and purchase foods that are close to home.

Liberty Tea was part of an Independence Tea Party held by 51 ladies on October 25, 1774 in Edenton North Carolina to express their indignation over the newly imposed British Tax on tea. The ladies vowed while sipping Liberty tea that they would no longer drink of the Britishes wares.

Ingredients:
6 oz. Red Raspberry leaves, unsprayed
1/4 oz. peppermint leaves, unsprayed

Mix the leaves together and store in an airtight opaque container. To prepare tea, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 Tsp of the herbal mixture. Steep 10 minutes, strain, and add lemon and honey to desired taste.

Running from the Little People Heather Thomas
I was recently sent a copy of The Military Wives’ Cookbook to review just in time for Military Spouse Appreciation Day. To call this just a cookbook is a terrible understatement. There are so many amazing stories of military wives from times past and their stories of sacrifice and commitment.

The book is divided into themed sections such as "Teas and Coffees" and "Alfresco Dining" each packed with recipes that make my mouth water. Since the book arrived, I’ve been sick from a new pregnancy so I haven’t had the chance to make any of the recipes yet but I’ve so enjoyed reading the stories and planning which recipes I want to make. First on my list is the Jalapeno Cheese Bread!

This is a great book that I’d recommend for anyone who has married into the military! This summer is PCS season and I know we are always looking for going away gifts for the spouse to show them our love and this would be perfect! It’s also great if you are looking for door prizes for your next OSC or ESC function.

Customer Reviews:

Specs / Support

Trade Paper Specfications

• Length: 9.00 in
• Width: 7.00 in
• Height: 0.00 in
• Weight: 27.00 oz
• Page Count: 368 pages