The Family Calendar Cookbook

The highest praise I can give a book is to say I wish I had thought to write it myself, and that’€™s exactly how I feel about The Family Calendar Cookbook by Kelsey Banfield.
Holiday meals, birthdays, potlucks, school events, and annual celebrations make up a lot of family life and there is almost always the need for a perfect recipe. Like me, I’€™m sure you’€™ve found yourself stumped on what to bring to the school bake sale or teacher appreciation luncheon. I’€™m sure you also wish you had a back-pocket chocolate cake recipe and an easy, dependable menu for all of your holiday gatherings, right? Luckily, this indispensible roster of reliable recipes provides inspiration for all of those occasions, plus the many other events penciled into your yearly calendar.

Divided by the seasons (I love that for quick reference) this charming cookbook is packed full of practical ideas that are well suited to busy families who enjoying cooking together. I immediately noticed there wasn’€™t a single photo tucked into the 300-plus pages, something that normally would have bothered me, but instead there are whimsical illustrations littered throughout the pages, which I surprisingly adore.

I purchased this book over a month ago and it hasn’€™t left my coffee table as I’€™m truly reading my way through the pages. I’€™ve bookmarked plenty of recipes for my summer entertaining (turtle s’€™mores and cherry-lime slushies, anyone?), and look forward to cooking my way through the pages as I approach the special occasions I have planned for the remainder of the year.

What special event are you cooking for next? I’€™d love to hear about your menu.