Five Happy Things

Novels for People Who Love to Eat

In an effort to have fewer email providers chop my emails in half because they’re so dang long, I’ve moved my inspirations (book recommendations, favorite recipes, and awesome artists) to their own newsletter every Wednesday. Think of it as a quick way to fill your cup in the middle of the week. 🥰

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This week I am all about the food, so I’m sharing five books (or series) that make me hungry. 🤤

In my mind, any Nero Wolfe book is at the top of this list. I always want to make what Fritz is making! No - I always want to eat what Fritz is making. Many of his recipes are crazy complex and I like to cook more simply. But he makes even simple food sounds so yummy! Listen to this bit about griddle cakes from The Mother Hunt. . .

As for toppings, Fritz serves several different kinds: wild-thyme honey from Greece or Syria, Puerto Rican molasses, blackberry jam, guava butter, and sometimes just brown sugar. At ten o’clock I was in the kitchen at my breakfast table, sprinkling brown sugar on a buttered sour-milk griddle cake, with the Times before me on the rack.

Delicious!

Here are four more books (or series) that make my mouth water. . .

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2. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder - all of the Little House books are full of food descriptions, but Laura’s family is often hungry. Almanzo’s family, on the other hand, had absolutely astounding abundance. A single breakfast might include pancakes with butter and maple syrup, sausage and gravy, oatmeal with thick cream, fried potatoes, doughnuts, and apple pie. I distinctly remember reading this as a kid and being so jealous that he got to eat TWO pieces of apple pie with his breakfast - conveniently overlooking the part where he had to get up at 5 am in the freezing cold to help milk the cows. 😂

3. Kinsey Millhone mysteries by Sue Grafton (another one where I’m recommending an entire series - start with A Is for Alibi). Kinsey is no gourmet, but she still loves to eat. Whether she’s moaning a little bit over a warm hard-boiled egg sandwich, drooling over something delicious baked by Henry, or even eating one of Rosie’s awful meals, the descriptions of food are always terrific.

4. Chief Inspector Gamache mysteries by Louise Penny. Another mystery series! What is it about food and murder? I love the moments in every book when the team gathers at the Bistro to discuss the case. They almost always eat sandwiches and salads, and I happen to think there’s not much better than a really good sandwich. Seared duck with fig confit, and baby arugula on toasted sourdough? Sign me up! And then there are the potlucks at Clara’s house. . . drool. If you’re new to Three Pines, start with Still Life.

5. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg - I love southern food, so every meal described in this book makes me happy. This just sounds like a perfect dinner to me. . . When Mrs. Threadgoode saw what she had on her plate, she clapped her hands, as excited as a child on Christmas. There before her was a plate of perfectly fried green tomatoes and fresh cream-white corn, six slices of bacon, with a bowl of baby lima beans on the side and four huge light and fluffy buttermilk biscuits. Is it healthy? No. Is it delicious? Oh, yes!

I should also mention - even without the food descriptions these are all terrific books! I’ve read all the Nero Wolfe and Kinsey Millhone, and the only reason I haven’t read all of the Gamache books is because I save them for when I’m in a reading rut. 😂

If you have a favorite book that makes you hungry, tell us about it in the comments so everyone can see!

You can find past newsletters with book recommendations here.

Enjoy!

Best,
Wendi
❤️

PS - Just a quick reminder that my Thanksgiving Weekend Sale is happening now. Use the discount code CHILLY for 20% off your entire order at Shiny Happy World through Sunday night.