Gatherings Cookbook Contents
Chapters
The Gatherings cookbook: Bringing People Together with Food by Jan Scot and Julie Rosendaal is the perfect guide to at-home entertaining. It features over 100 delicious, easy to make recipes for gatherings such as Weekend Brunch, Showers, Pie Party, The Pantry Party, Kid’s Birthday Parties, Big Family Gatherings, Fall Harvest Dinner, Sunday Supper, Date Night for Two, Cocktail Party, Book Club, Beer Tasting, Retro Game Night, Sleepover Party and just in time for the holidays, Holiday Open House.
Colour photos and helpful tips on organizing successful gatherings are scattered throughout the cookbook.
Jan Scott, a professional event planner and food writer, lists rules for entertaining at home that apply to:
- how to prepare and serve food
- how to treat your guests
- how to prepare your house for entertaining
Also included is a food quantities guide on how to feed a crowd which will be very helpful in planning holiday gatherings.
Date Night Recipes
I made the Simple French Onion Soup from the Date Night chapter in the book for the night my husband I were home alone. This soup with caramelized onions in a rich beef broth, flavoured with red wine, topped with crusty bread and GruyÊre, and placed under the broiler until the cheese starts to bubble,  is just one of the recipes listed for Date Night. Add the Pear, Avocado and Roquefort Salad, Mussels with Garlic, Tomato and Lemon, No-Bake Chocolate Pots de Crème with Orange Whipped Cream, and you have a fabulous, cozy meal to share on a quiet evening.
Simple French Onion Soup Recipe
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) butter
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
- 2 medium Spanish onions, thinly sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 sprig thyme
- 1 tsp (5 mL) kosher salt
- 1 tsp (5 mL) sugar
- ½ cup (125 mL) red wine
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (500 mL) beef stock
- salt and pepper
- twoâfour 1-inch (2.5 cm) thick slices of baguette, toasted
- 2 oz (60 g) aged cheddar or Gruyere cheese, grated
- Melt the butter and olive oil in a stockpot set over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bay leaf, thyme, salt and sugar, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until the onions begin to soften and colour. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for an additional 10â15 minutes, or until the onions are very caramelized.
- Discard the bay leaf and stems from the thyme; pour in the wine, scraping the bottom of the pot as you stir to lift the browned bits from the bottom. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the beef stock and bring the soup back up to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Taste and season the soup with salt and pepper, if necessary.
- Preheat the broiler. Divide the soup evenly between two oven-safe bowls. Top each serving with a piece or two of bread and half of the grated cheese. Transfer bowls to a rimmed baking sheet and place in the oven. Cook until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
Cookbook shelf worthy?
My family is all about gatherings whether for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, suppers and reunions, well, anytime could be a reason for gatherings at our home. One of my most memorable gatherings is our annual family reunion. Family from near and far gather at a family member’s home with food they prepared to share. It is a fun full day to eat, drink, catch up with family news, and participate in planned activities.
The Gatherings cookbook gave me a fresh look at how to successfully plan in advance and change up my recipes to step out of the box and include a different variety of food. It’s a must-have to include in your cookbook shelf!
Disclosure
Recipe excerpted from Gatherings (Whitecap Books) by Julie Van Rosendaal and Jan Scott
Photo by Julie Van Rosendaal and Jan Scott for Gatherings (Whitecap Books).
Disclaimer
I received the Gatherings cookbook from Whitecaps Books to review. The opinions are my own.
My Cookbook Addiction is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon at no extra cost to the consumer.
Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.) says
Liliana thanks for joining in the virtual tour! LOVE the idea of French onion soup on Date Night (especially when the weather turns chilly!).
Liliana says
Thanks for inviting me Mardi! I really enjoy participating in the virtual blog tours.
A Canadian Foodie says
Hey! YUMM_O! Now I need your recipe for the rich beef stock. That is the hardest part for me when making French Onion Soup. This is clearly a winning recipe! The photo is incredible and it is also on my list to make – AFTER I conquer making that beef stock!
Happy Holiday!!!!! XO
Valerie
(PS – you are missing the link on my Man Candy đ )
Liliana says
Valerie, I have to confess I didn’t use homemade beef stock for this recipe as I really don’t have a recipe for one. I too should learn how to make a good beef stock. Nevertheless, this recipe was delicious! Sorry about the omitting the link.
Jan @ Family Bites says
Thank you SO much for taking part in the blog tour this week and for sharing your thoughts on the book. I’m thrilled that you mentioned the Date Night chapter as it’s one of my personal favourites.
Liliana says
Jan, as much as I love to entertain, it’s nice once in awhile, to have a quiet supper at home. The menu was perfect!
Libby says
Looks good! Love French Onion but always looked like such time commitment. Definitely going to check this one out!
Linda says
This looks delicious.
Charmian @TheMessyBaker says
I havenât made French Onion Soup in years. This has me looking for my soup dishes! Lovely. Just lovely.
Robyn says
So I have a confession which is that I’ve never made French Onion Soup!! I can’t think of a better recipe to start with!
Sally Moore says
Hey Lili! This site continues to astound! I have nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award! Check it out here:
http://samooreblog.blogspot.ca/