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The Military Wives' Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances

Carolyn Quick Tillery
Cubmerland House Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781581826722
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (2/09)

Carolyn Quick Tillery’s “The Military Wives’ Cookbook” is not your ordinary cookbook.  Not only does the book contain many great recipes, but it provides the reader with a history lesson as well.  The Introduction goes all of the way back to The American Revolution and presents us with stories of different military wives such as those of Anna Warner “The Heroine of Groton,” and Mary Ludwig Hayes McCauley “Molly Pitcher.”  Tillery then continues on through the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the Post Civil War Era and relays to us stories that aren’t a regular part of the history books (at least not the ones that I was taught from).  Most historical accounts focus on the wartime actions of the Generals, Lieutenants, etc. and mention very little of their families, but this book does the exact opposite.  This aspect is what makes “The Military Wives’ Cookbook” so wonderful!  It is a cookbook that you will want to read like a regular book.

I found a perfect summary of the book in the introductory pages where Tillery states, “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 each of these 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.  Some menus recreate recipes from a historic account, such as ‘A Colonial Thanksgiving’ and ‘A Christmas in a Confederate White House,’ both of which describe holidays celebrated during wartime conditions.” (p. xxxiii)

The very first recipe in the cookbook that I tried was the one for “Cucumber Sandwiches.”  In reading historical novels, I have seen reference to these on numerous occasions, but have never actually made or tasted them.  The mixture of the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, cucumber, seasonings, and herbs was delicious and this is definitely a recipe that I will use in the future.  Another treat that I prepared were the “Raspberry Streusel Muffins” and I was very pleased with the results.  My family must have agreed that they were tasty also as all 12 muffins disappeared within a day.

There are many more great recipes that I am excited to try.  I plan on using the “Emerald Isle Dinner” menu for St. Patrick’s Day and look forward to trying the other international fare, particularly the German and Spanish recipes.  One of the main reasons that I love “The Military Wives’ Cookbook” is because anytime I make a recipe I feel like I am recreating a piece of history.  Using the menus and recipes in the book is a wonderful way to incorporate a mini history lesson into your family’s life.   

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