cover image Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook

Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook

Theresa Carle-Sanders. Delacorte, $35 (352p) ISBN 978-1-10-196757-7

The most interesting recipe here is the one used to create the book itself. Ingredients include Diana Gabaldon’s series of Outlander novels and novellas, which have been published in 26 countries. Add to that a large dose of pop culture via the Outlander television series, now in its second season on the Starz network. And finally, top with Carle-Sanders, a mega-fan of the show who is also a chef and food writer. Having already created a themed recipe for each TV episode at the behest of the Starz social media department, along with an Outlander Kitchen website, she has now gone to print with this official companion cookbook featuring more than 100 recipes. She self-mockingly, yet accurately, describes this work as, “an 18th-century Scottish cookbook based on a time-travel story.” Each recipe is preceded by a paragraph or two of Gabaldon’s writing from which the chef took culinary inspiration. A typical mise-en-scene begins with a bit of the saga: “I thought I’d best tell Young Ian to unsaddle the horse... Then I’m going to the root cellar to fetch up some onions for a tart.” This is followed by straightforward instructions for an onion tart. A tasty photo reveals the dish’s destiny, but only fans of the series will know how Young Ian turns out. (June)