When I was young and just starting to learn how to cook, I always gravitated to cookbooks based on children’s books that I enjoyed. The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook, the American Girl cookbooks, The Secret Garden Cookbook and the Nancy Drew Cookbook were some of the first I ever read. However, an attempt to recreate… Continue reading Cookbook Reviews
Mysterious Letter Chili
About the Name: This is named for the 8th Nancy Drew book, Nancy’s Mysterious Letter. There are two versions of the book, one from 1932, and one from 1968. The ’32 version is the first Nancy Drew book to take place at a specific time, around Thanksgiving. It is also Nancy’s first trip to Emerson… Continue reading Mysterious Letter Chili
Togo Dogs
About the Name: This is named for Nancy’s dog, Togo. Togo first appears in the 14th Nancy Drew book, The Whispering Statue (1937). In his first appearance, he is a bull terrier and Hannah Gruen, Nancy’s housekeeper, protests that she doesn’t want to take care of him while Nancy is on vacation. During the next ten books, Nancy… Continue reading Togo Dogs
Old Album Meatballs
About the Name: First thing to note, the revised edition of the recipe changes the name from Old Album Meatballs to Red Gate Farm Meatballs. Since I already wrote about The Secret of Red Gate Farm, I’ll talk about The Clue in the Old Album here. The Clue in the Old Album is the 24th… Continue reading Old Album Meatballs
Detective Burgers
About the Name: This recipe is named after Nancy Drew’s occupation. About The Recipe: The recipe title is wrong. These are not hamburgers, but sloppy joes. Taste: These taste okay, but I found them a little dry. I added more ketchup to my second serving while my taste tester added more mustard. It… Continue reading Detective Burgers
Lilac Inn Consomme
About the Name: This is named for the 4th Nancy Drew book: Mystery at Lilac Inn. There are two versions of this book. In the first version, written in 1930, Nancy stops for chicken dinner at Lilac inn. Since this book was written in the Great Depression and this recipe has simple ingredients, I… Continue reading Lilac Inn Consomme
Captive Biscuits
About the Name: I’m not sure if this recipe is referencing a book or not. The first book that jumps to mind is the Captive Witness, #64, but most of the other recipes in this cookbook reference the first 56 books, long considered ‘the’ Nancy Drew books. The majority of people I meet who… Continue reading Captive Biscuits
Red Gate Farm Tomatoes
About the Name: Named after the 6th Nancy Drew book, the Secret of Red Gate Farm. In the book, Nancy and her friends run into a girl seeking work in River Heights. Nancy befriends her and when the girl cannot find work (due to taking place in 1931), Nancy and her friends decide to help… Continue reading Red Gate Farm Tomatoes
