(soon to be) Family Favorites

Recently when chatting with one of the long-time members they suggested the idea that as cooks - we all must have a long list of things we've been meaning to make!

• Go find you the dog eared pages of your cookbook
• Look back at each of the reels that you’ve bookmarked
• Find that photo from a magazine page you saved
• Experiment with a dish you’ve been thinking of serving this holiday season.

Try any of these recipes on your Feast Family first and see if they are indeed a future favorite!

We'll be gathering in a cozy spot, the Hooper-Hathaway House at The House of Seven Gables. Built in 1682, it once sat on Washington Street and housed Salem’s “Old Bakery". Scheduled to be demolished for a new structure in 1911, Caroline Emmerton purchased the building and moved it next to the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion. It will be a real treat to share a meal in this cozy colonial treasure.

Bonus
Need a way to organize your recipes? Have you tried Eat Your Books?
You add the titles of your cookbooks and they become searchable by ingredients, cookbook title, author or food type. This simple tool helps me dig into my own shelves and reveals recipes I didn't even know existed.

WHAT TO PACK

1. Your recipe
2. Your plate, bowl, and silverware
3. Small containers to take home leftovers

WHAT'S INCLUDED

1. Tables + Chairs + Linen
2. Serving Utensils
3. Non-Alcoholic Beverages + Drinkware

TIPS + IDEAS

1. Go out of your comfort zone. Try a new technique or work with ingredients you've never used before.
2. There's no guarantee your dish will remain HOT by the time we are ready to eat. Consider recipes that not only travel well but can also be served at room temperature. Either way, you're welcome to bring a heating element, crock-pot, or warmer. Check with us first to see if there's an available outlet at the venue.
3. Be sure to read through ALL of the recipe instructions beforehand to make sure you have the proper tools, dishes, and ingredients. (We’ve made that mistake and wound up empty-handed.)

FIRST TIME HERE?
Welcome! Keep reading...
INSTRUCTIONS : How our Cookbook Club works

1. RSVP via Meetup. The event fee (paid online) secures your seat. This automatically removes the cumbersome waitlist and maintains a consistent level of participation. All funds go toward venue rental fees and Meetup costs. If you would prefer to pay in cash, message me and I'll manually add you to the list. Thank you!
2. Get your hands on the cookbook to flip through and pull a recipe. You can ask your library to retrieve it from their network, borrow from a friend, or purchase from a local retailer. If you're in a pinch, let me know, and I'll email you some snapshots of recipes to choose from.
3. Pick at least 1 recipe to make for the event. Note: To avoid recipe duplication, take a moment to check the comments section and see which recipes have already been posted. Just in case, have a backup recipe selected in case your first choice is already taken.
4. In the comments section below (not in the chat box), share which recipe you (and your guests, if any), will be bringing. Please do this at least 48 hours before our event, as we will print menus.
5. Day of the event (or the day before). Prepare your recipe according to the directions provided in the cookbook. As tempting as it might be to alter the recipe or make a substitution, please follow the instructions as closely as possible. This will allow the group to truly experience the author's array of recipes. Note: No need to double the recipe. There will be more than enough food to enjoy!
6. Packing your own place settings is one of the ways we hope to keep costs low. Make your plate, bowl, and silverware part of our story. Tell us about your vintage store finds or your aunt's wedding china you never use. There are endless variety and incredible backstories.
7. Don't forget to bring some small containers to take home leftovers. You'll have the best lunch the following day, guaranteed.

Can’t wait to prepare + share,
Brenda and Jim