Homefront Cooking

June 1, 2018
Food unites, especially when combined with memories and family stories. Wood and her collaborators have amassed 50-plus recipes and story contributions from military veterans and their relatives. The collection begins, naturally, with reveille, that wake-up call signifying breakfast, and doesn't forget potluck and comfort foods, plus healthy choices and quick-to-make dishes. Slop will bring a smile to any cook's face, with its combination of ground beef, pork and beans, and spaghetti. Croatian crepes, bibimbap, and sauerbraten, on the other hand, remind contributors of foreign military stations and home-away assignments. The cooking itself is basic, and the instructions well-intentioned. What will grab attention and hearts are the many narratives of those who served, from great-uncle Private Timothy Cusack (buried three days before WWI's end) to the pictures of the grandfather who inadvertently wooed and killed a Canadian moose. Some of the book's proceeds will be donated to the Robert Irvine Foundation, which supports military personnel through morale and welfare programs. Conversion charts included.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)