Block Parties and Poker Nights or Baking with the St Paul Bread Club

Block Parties and Poker Nights: Recipes and Ideas for Getting and Staying Connected with Your Neighbors

Author: Peg Allen

Across the country, folks are rediscovering potluck parties, progressive dinners, and other neighborhood gatherings as a way to forge bonds that endure long after the last dish is cleared away. From small, adults-only get-togethers to neighborhood extravaganzas, Block Parties and Poker Nights has dozens of creative ideas, for fun, fulfilling community events and the tried-and-true dishes that make them so memorable.

* Recipes for soup buffets, salad bars, and backyard barbecues *
* Welcome baskets for new neighbors and homemade treats to share *
* Tips on foods that travel well *
* Ways to support families in times of need with reheatable comfort food *
* Celebrations for all seasons, from Fourth of July bashes to Kentucky Derby parties*
* Suggestions for starting treasured holiday traditions like caroling parties and cookie exchanges *
* And, everything you need to know to throw a blow-out block party with all the trimmings *

Library Journal

Although there are other titles on potluck dinners, backyard barbecues, and similar themes, Allen's clever book is likely to strike a chord with many readers seeking "connection" in these often anxious times. She does include the block parties and poker nights of the title, but she goes beyond such occasions, starting with a section on "Breaking the Ice," which includes suggestions on how to welcome a new neighbor or how to meet the neighbors if you're new (or not so new), and finishing with "Good Times and Bad," which includes ideas and comfort food for "the tough times," ways to resolve a conflict with a neighbor or deal with other such crises, and more. The recipes are fairly standard-there are many old favorites here-but they are usually simple and many of them are easy to make for a crowd. Recommended for most collections. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Books about: Little Book of Cocktails or Making Sense of Wine

Baking with the St. Paul Bread Club: Recipes, Tips and Stories

Author: Kim Od

In St. Paul, Minnesota, a diverse group of men and women have found each other, united by a single passion: baking bread. Once a month, a professional production bakery is transformed into a lively forum for those hooked on this satisfying ritual. Veteran journalist and club member Kim Ode invites novices and masters alike to join these dedicated bakers in the kitchen as they share family traditions, experiment with new ingredients, exchange tips, and roll up their sleeves to work the dough. Over seventy favorite recipes emerge from intimate profiles of the club members who perfected them—from the accountant and her nearly flawless baguette to the former Iron Ranger who shares the secrets of her grandmother’s strudel-like potica. The club’s newest member, a book designer who was given a copy of The World of Breads nearly four decades ago, has since transformed the book’s anadama recipe into a peppery delight, swapping out molasses for chipotles and butter for bacon fat. Ode demystifies this ancient art with special sections on “Bread Wisdom for Beginners” and “Seasonal Favorites,” and club founder Dan “Klecko” McGleno offers a step-by-step guide to starting a bread club in your own hometown. Whether you prefer to bake in solitude or wish to build a community in pursuit of the perfect loaf, this book reveals the true heart of this everyday food.