Celtic Folklore Cooking

Rating:
Summary: A Good, Solid Book, Recommended!
Review: It's true that there were a few problems with the first printing of this book, including typos in the recipes. But I've seen a second edition of Celtic Folklore Cooking where these problems seem to be cleaned up. There is an extensive bibliography and acknowledments section, including credit for recipe sources, so I think Ms. Asala has done an excellent job toward researching this book. I found it a fun, user-friendly source for modern pagan feast day re-inactments. It's a good starting point for your own holiday-making.

Rating:
Summary: YUM. And the stories are great!
Review: My English husband was thrilled to find recipies in here he remembers from childhood. It has a wide variety of both foods and folk tales.

Rating:
Summary: My only problem was where to store the book!!
Review: The author starts the book by saying that one of her favorite things to do is read a good cookbook before going to bed. Well, that kind of devotion and interest to cookbooks is what makes this book such a wonderful blend of old recipes, old folklore, old songs, and old proverbs such a wonderful read! I have to admit my biggest problem was deciding if I should store this book in my cupboard with my other cookbooks, of if I should keep it in my Pagan Library for reference. :)

Most of the recipes are absolutely mouthwatering, and when you bake up a tasty meal from using recipes from this book, you can't help but feel a connection to the old Celtic people who used to prepare similar meals hundreds of years ago. And I never realized how much fun it is to prepare a recipe alongside a short blurb of how that recipe was used or "came to be". It makes for a great conversation at the dinner table. And to see how the recipe was prepared compared to how it's prepared today is just fascinating.

I have to admit a few of their tips were slightly shocking (I can't remember which recipe it was that used to be prepared by stirring it with the dismembered hand of a hanged criminal for extra flavor) to the point where I wasn't all that interested in eating the food, and a few of the recipes were slightly bland for my taste (easily fixed though). Also, some of the recipes call for slightly exotic ingredients (and slightly disgusting ingredients, like animal organs and such), but you can't deny that at least they're giving you the traditional recipe!! :)

Overall, this is a great book with wonderful history and folklore in it. Even if you won't use it for cooking, pick it up for quick facts about Celtic cooking history and folklore.


Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately, this book is not for me.
Review: The book has wonderful folk tales and proverbs. Some of the recipes looked fabulous, and I did want to try them. If you're looking for a cookbook with Celtic folktales and a strictly historical look at Celtic paganism, this book is not for you. While there are often references to Christianity in the course of discussing Celtic traditions, some Christians may find selected portions of the text overt and unwelcome. If, however, you are a pagan at heart, you will likely find this book a keeper.

Rating:
Summary: Filled with folklore and tales
Review: This book gives the tales that go along with the recipes. Iam drawn to the Celts and just had to get this book. I am a vegetarian, so there isn't much in this book that I can make except for maybe the breads, and some of the drinks & vegetable dishes. If you want heavy food loaded with cream and wild game this book is for you. I enjoyed it for the story telling and the explaination of why certain foods were eaten at certain times. The Celts are a mixture of Pagans & Christians so there are tales, folklore and info on both faiths as well.

Rating:
Summary: Filled with folklore and tales
Review: This book gives the tales that go along with the recipes. Iam drawn to the Celts and just had to get this book. I am a vegetarian, so there isn't much in this book that I can make except for maybe the breads, and some of the drinks & vegetable dishes. If you want heavy food loaded with cream and wild game this book is for you. I enjoyed it for the story telling and the explaination of why certain foods were eaten at certain times. The Celts are a mixture of Pagans & Christians so there are tales, folklore and info on both faiths as well.

Rating:
Summary: Best tasting reading from kitchen to bedroom
Review: With a delicious pinch of wry wit, a dollop of common sense, a large measure of Irish legend and enough flavor to fill the countryside, Joanne Asala has captured the sweet treasure at the end of the rainbow in Celtic Folklore Cooking. From the rich simplicity of Apples in Red Wine for Samhain to Marigold Pudding to celebrate Midsummer, she's created a charming, earthy, melt-in-your-mouth compendium of exquisite recipes that are easy to follow and coincide beautifully with this hedgewitch's idea of great food. Spiced with flair and fun, Asala's style and storytelling are as genuinely palatable as the recipes are edible. As engaging as any novel, this is also one bedtime read that promises (and delivers) sweet dreams that come in every flavor!