Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

savories

In literature, savory foods are often used to give us insight into characters' personalities. In Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot mysteries, the fastidious, orderly detective breakfasts on the same thing every day: two perfectly identical eggs and a piece of toast cut into perfect squares. In A Little Princess, the imaginative Sara Crewe copes with hunger by dreaming up a grand, exotic feast to sustain herself.

By observing the meals of characters, the reader is able to bond with them over one of the most fundamental shared human experiences: food. And when we cook their foods in our own kitchens, we connect with them even more. We bridge the gap between fiction and reality, making real that which was previously just fantasy.

As we prepare food we've read about in books and slide it out steaming from our ovens, characters become more than just words on a page — their world becomes a reality in our own homes.

apple of life bites

from The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

Makes 8 apple disks

"He knew which was the right tree at once, partly because it stood in the very center and partly because the great silvery apples with which it was loaded shone so and cast a light of their own down on the shadowy places where the sunlight did not reach."

This easy snack brings together sweet-tart apples, salty bacon, savory pecans, and smooth crème de brie for a fun twist on apple slices.

INGREDIENTS

4 slices bacon
1 Granny Smith apple
½ cup (approximately 2.5 oz) crème de Brie
3 tsp pecan chips, toasted if desired

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Fry the bacon and allow it to drain on a plate lined with a paper towel. Chop the bacon into bits.

2 Core and slice the apple into ¼-inch-thick disks.

3 Spread each disk with 1 tablespoon of crème de Brie. Sprinkle on the pecan chips and chopped bacon.

Serve at a magnificent Narnian feast!

Tea pairing

Tea with Tumnus, p. 126

badger's set salad bites

From The Borrowers by Mary Norton

Makes 15 salad bites

"They had hips and haws and blackberries and sloes and wild strawberries ... Think of a salad made of those tender shoots of young hawthorn ... with sorrel and dandelion ... Homily was a good cook remember."

These fresh and fruity salad bites offer a true balance of flavors: sweet berries, salty seeds, slightly earthy greens, and a bit of bite from the strawberry balsamic vinegar.

INGREDIENTS

15 dandelion greens*
8 small strawberries
30 blueberries (approximately ½ cup)
Edible flowers**
3 Tbsp salted sunflower seeds Strawberry balsamic vinegar***

Special Tools

15 toothpicks

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Rinse and dry your greens and berries. Check your greens for any that have bristly hairs on their spines. Store-bought dandelion greens usually come in bundles, so only choose greens with smooth spines from the bundle.

2 Trim your greens into 4-inch long strips and cut the strawberries into wedges.

3 To assemble, insert a toothpick through one end of a dandelion green and slide the green to the bottom of the toothpick. Slide a strawberry wedge and a blueberry width-wise onto the toothpick. Then slide on another strawberry wedge and blueberry. Insert the toothpick through the other end of the dandelion green. Depending on the flowers you use, they may be sturdy enough to be inserted onto the toothpick. Delicate blossoms can be tucked in beside the berries. To finish, sprinkle on some sunflower seeds.

4 Repeat Step 3 with the remaining salad components.

5 Sprinkle some strawberry vinegar onto the salad bites.

Serve while visiting your favorite Borrower at their badger's set home!

Tea pairing

Arrietty's Cherry Tree Tea, p. 119

* Dandelion greens can be found at most major grocery stores when they are in season, which is January through May.

** The salad bites pictured feature strawberry blossoms. Be sure to use flowers that are clean and free of pesticides and chemicals.

*** To make your own strawberry balsamic vinegar, coarsely chop 3 large or 5 medium strawberries and place them in a mason jar. Completely submerge the strawberries in white balsamic vinegar. Seal the container and leave it to sit overnight at room temperature. After that, strain out and discard the strawberries. Store the strawberry balsamic vinegar in a sealed mason jar in the refrigerator.

big apple hand pies

From James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Makes 12 hand pies

"And suddenly — everyone who had come over on the peach was a hero! They were all escorted to the steps of City Hall, where the Mayor of New York made a speech of welcome."

These savory hand pies are filled with melted Gouda and apple slices seasoned with thyme. Named for James's final destination — the Big Apple — their buttery, flaky crust topped with a dash of salt brings it all together into a tiny package filled with big flavor.

INGREDIENTS

¼ small Gala apple
1 tsp thyme*
1 — 2 oz Gouda cheese
2 sheets premade pie dough
1 egg, lightly beaten
½ tsp kosher salt

SPECIAL TOOLS

3-inch apple-shaped cookie cutter

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2 Slice the apple quarter into 6 slices. Cut the slices in half width-wise.

3 Toss the apple pieces in a small bowl with thyme and set aside.

4 Cut the Gouda into 12 1¼-inch squares. Set aside.

5 On a lightly floured surface, unroll the first sheet of pie dough (keep the second sheet in the fridge until you're ready for it). Cut 12 apple shapes out of the dough and evenly space them on the prepared baking sheet.

6 Place an apple slice in the center of each piece of dough and place a Gouda square on top. Brush the edges of the dough with the beaten egg.

7 Unroll your second sheet of pie dough and cut out 12 more apple shapes. Place them on top of the first set of cutouts and crimp the edges with a fork.

8 Brush the tops of the hand pies with the beaten egg and prick each one 2 — 3 times with a fork. Sprinkle with kosher salt.

9 Bake for 17 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Serve warm after a long journey to New York City!

Tea pairing

Summery Peach Tea, p. 126

* You can also substitute ½ tsp cinnamon for 1 tsp thyme if you'd like to emphasize the sweet flavors over the savory.

bread and butterflies

From Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Makes 10 bite-size sandwiches

"Its wings are thin slices of Bread-and-butter, its body is a crust, and its head is a lump of sugar."

The key to a good cucumber sandwich is delicacy and quality ingredients. Things like slicing the cucumbers thin and splurging on fancy butter (such as Kerrygold) go a long way here!

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup softened butter
1 Tbsp snipped fresh chives
10 slices white bread*
1 — 2 mini cucumbers, cut into 20 thin disks
10 3-inch lengths fresh chives
10 small sprigs fresh dill**

Special Tools

2½-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter

INSTRUCTIONS

1 In a small bowl, mix the butter with the snipped fresh chives and set aside.

2 Cut your bread into 20 hearts (you should get 2 hearts from each slice). Thinly spread the chive butter onto the hearts.

3 Cut 10 of your cucumber disks in half to make half- moon shapes. On 10 of your hearts, place 1 full disk near the bottom of each heart and a half-moon piece in each of the two curves near the top. It should look like the image below.

4 Place your remaining hearts on top, butter side down. Place a 3-inch length of chive down the center of each sandwich and 2 tufts of dill on each "wing."

Serve at a Mad Tea Party!

Tea pairing

Drink Me Tea, p. 121

* Breads that come in wider loaves like oatmeal bread work well for this recipe, since it will be easier to cut two hearts from each slice.

** Use enough to put 4 tiny tufts of dill on each sandwich.

cracked china deviled eggs

from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Makes 24 deviled eggs

"But whenever any of us are taken away our joints at once stiffen, and we can only stand straight and look pretty ... our lives are much pleasanter here in our own country." — The China Princess

I developed this recipe in honor of some of my favorite characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: the little china people. I love how they all have courageous spirits, despite being so delicate. The milkmaid takes no nonsense from anybody, and the jester doesn't let a few cracks stop him from doing headstands!

INGREDIENTS

1 dozen eggs Gel food coloring, various colors
1 cup mayonnaise
1½ Tbsp mustard
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp chives
½ tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Place the eggs in the bottom of a large pot. Fill with cold water until the eggs are under 2 inches of water. Place on high heat. When the water comes to a boil, remove from heat and cover for 7 minutes. Drain and allow the eggs to cool.

2 Fill 6 large mugs about â ..." full with cold water. Place the mugs on a baking sheet to avoid staining anything if there are spills. Put 3 — 4 drops gel food coloring in each mug and stir until completely dissolved.

3 When the eggs are cooled, gently crack each one in several places by tapping them against the counter and rotating as you tap. Try to create a lot of tiny cracks but not so many that the shell falls off.

4 Leaving the cracked shell in place, lower two eggs into each mug of food coloring. Put the mugs in the fridge for 7 — 12 hours.

5 Remove the eggs from the mugs and pat dry with a paper towel. Gently peel the shell from each egg, revealing the "cracked china" color effect.

6 Cut each egg in half lengthwise and set the yolk halves aside in a bowl. Set the white halves on a serving plate.

7 Mix the yolks with the mayonnaise, mustard, parsley flakes, chives, and salt. This can be done with a spoon for a coarse texture or with a hand mixer for a smooth texture. If using a spoon to mash the filling, make sure any chunks of yolk are small enough to allow for piping.

8 Spoon the filling into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe about 1½ teaspoons of filling into each egg half.

Serve to the lively porcelain China People in Oz!

NOTE: When Easter rolls around, these eggs are a creative alternative to traditional dyed eggs. You can also use black dye to turn them into Halloween eggs.

deeper 'n ever turnip 'n tater 'n beetroot pie

from The Rogue Crew: A Tale of Redwall by Brian Jacques

Makes one 9-inch pie

"There ain't no better cook in all of Mossflower than Friar Wopple. She makes pies an' soups, an' pasties ... an' deeper 'n ever turnip 'n tater 'n beetroot pie for the moles. Best food you ever tasted ..." — Uggo

The ultimate root vegetable dish, this savory pie boasts buttery herbed crust and hearty diced vegetable filling with a flavor reminiscent of Thanksgiving stuffing. Like all the recipes eaten by the beasts of Redwall, it's naturally vegetarian ...but I won't fault you if you add some diced chicken!

INGREDIENTS

Filling

1 cup chopped sweet onion
½ cup butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 cup white turnip, peeled and cubed
1 cup parsnip, peeled and cubed
1 cup beets, peeled and cubed
1 cup carrots, peeled and cubed
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced mushrooms
3 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

Binding Mix

4 red potatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp salt
1 Tbsp parsley flakes
1 tsp rosemary
1 room temperature egg

Pie Dough

1¼ cups flour
½ tsp salt
½ Tbsp thyme
½ Tbsp rosemary
6 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed
¼ cup cold water

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine all filling ingredients in a large bowl; stir until the vegetables are evenly coated with the olive oil. Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and evenly spread out the vegetables on it. Roast for 45 minutes, stirring halfway through. At the 15-minute mark, prick the red potatoes from the binding mix 4 — 5 times with a fork and place them on the baking sheet with the vegetables for the remaining cook time.

2 While you wait, make the pie dough. In a medium bowl, stir together all the pie dough ingredients except the butter and water. Cut the butter into the flour mix with a fork. Stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time with the fork until the mix holds together when pressed with fingers but isn't soggy. Gather it into a ball and flatten into a 4½-inch disk. Wrap the disk in plastic and freeze 15 — 20 minutes or until firm but not hard.

3 Roll the dough out on a floured surface until it reaches 12 inches across (if the dough is too stiff to roll, work it with your hands until it becomes pliable). Line a pie plate with the dough. Trim the edges and decorate if desired.

4 Remove the vegetables from the oven. Mash the red potatoes in a large bowl and stir in all the other binding mix ingredients. Stir the roasted vegetables into the binding mix 1 cup at a time. Pour the mix into the pie crust.

5 Bake for 15 minutes at 400°F. Turn the oven down to 350°F and bake another 25 — 30 minutes or until the crust and top of the pie begin to lightly brown.

Slice and serve warm to the wonderful beasts of Redwall!

delicious avalon apple tart

from Vita Merlini by Geoffrey of Monmouth

Makes 1 8-inch tart

"The island of apples ... gets its name from the fact that it produces all things of itself ... Of its own accord it produces grain and grapes, and apple trees grow in its woods from the close- clipped grass ..."

This savory tribute to Avalon's namesake fruit is filled with Gala apples, acorn squash, and pearl onions topped with Welsh Cheddar cheese. The rustic style and hearty flavors combine to make a side dish reminiscent of King Arthur's grand medieval feasts.

INGREDIENTS

Pie Crust

1¼ cups flour
½ tsp salt
½ Tbsp thyme
½ Tbsp rosemary
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
[¼ cup cold water

Filling

12 pearl onions
3 oz Welsh or Irish white Cheddar cheese
½ Gala apple
½ lb acorn squash
1½ Tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp each salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1 To make the pie crust, stir together the flour, salt, and herbs in a medium-sized bowl. With a fork or pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mix until the mix has a crumb-like texture with bits of pea-sized butter throughout. With a fork, stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time until the mix just holds together when pressed with fingers (but isn't soggy).

2 Form the dough into a ball. Flatten and shape it into a 4½-inch disk. Wrap the disk in plastic and freeze 15 — 20 minutes or until firm but not hard.

3 While you wait for the dough, start on your filling. Cut the onions in half and remove the peel from the outside. Cut the cheese into 1-inch squares. Cut the apple into 8 wedges approximately ¾-inch thick. Cut the squash in half, remove seeds and pulp, and cut into 8 wedges, the same thickness as the apples. Combine all in a medium bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

4 Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it reaches 12 inches across (if the dough is too stiff to roll, work it with your hands until it is pliable). Starting 2 inches from the edge of the dough, alternate placing slices of squash, apple, and onion in concentric circles until you reach the center of the dough. Tuck cheese squares between the slices.

5 Fold and pleat the edges of the dough over the outer edge of the filling, allowing the folds to be rough and uneven for a rustic look.

6 Bake 45 — 55 minutes until the filling is tender and the crust has begun to turn golden brown.

Serve during an Arthurian feast!

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Excerpted from "A Literary Tea Party"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Alison Walsh.
Excerpted by permission of Skyhorse Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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