Book Review: Fireside Warmers
New Camp Cookbook Fireside Warmers: Drinks, Sweets, and Shareables to Enjoy around the Fire by Emily Vikre
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A cookbook for people who enjoy the outdoors and love life! There’s plenty of camping cookbooks out there, but this one should quickly rise to the top of the heap. It’s clear that author Emily Vikre gets out of the house as often as possible. Her personality and enthusiasm is woven through her recipes and advice. I even caught a few side-references to ‘you had to be there’ crazy memories from her past.
But it’s not a rambling memoir, she’s got her priorities in order, too. The books starts off early with all sorts of playful variations on the classic camp treat, s’mores. I think my favorite recipe is for Norwegian stick bread. I’m a bread maker and always looking for new twists (see what I did there) on a favorite comfort food. What a clever way to bond and tell stories around a fire, brandishing sticks full of food.
All these tasty temptations are going to need to be washed down, of course, and there’s plenty of drink options for that. Lots of them are boozy and creative, like the chamomile tea toddy. Emily makes no apologies for enjoying an adult beverage, and I like that. I’ve seen too much apologetic, toe-scuffing the ground timidness when it comes to presenting a delicious spiked drink, but you’ll find none of that attitude here.
Oh! I must mention the food photography. It’s amazing. The photos are beautiful AND match the recipes closely. For the first time in a long time, I feel like a cookbooks photos were either taken by the author, or she had a close involvement with the process.
If you don’t get far from home often, all these recipes would jazz up an evening on the patio near a fire pit, too. Invite over a few neighbors and make some memories. My thanks to author Emily Vikre, Quarto Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Lori Alden Holuta
Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of Mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables and herbs when she’s not writing, editing, or playing games with a cat named Chives.
