Whether you love cookbooks or just cooks — and great books — I think you’re going to love this idea: In October, Penguin Young Readers is launching the Puffin Plated Series, to reissue select classic novels that will feature accompanying recipes by celebrity chefs like Ina Garten, Giada de Laurentiis and Martha Stewart.
This goes along with my theory that food makes anything better. Even Jane Austen.
First up is Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, with the Plated Series version featuring recipes by Garten, de Laurentiis, Stewart and interestingly, Trisha Yearwood. You’ll be able to follow along and create a holiday dinner with gorgeous photos and recipes for dishes like baked him, root vegetables, pecan pie and fruitcake cookies.
That’s enough to feed all of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
Sugar Cookies from the Puffin Plated rerelease of Pride and Prejudice | Photo: Penguin Random House
From what we’ve seen, the recipes look absolutely inspiring and exquisite — and what we’re excited about is how the food component may help bring classic stories to life for new readers.
Imagine hosting a YA book club for your kids featuring the new version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, while serving a modern teatime menu by Martha Stewart that the kids help make.
By the time you get done whipping up a batch of Linzer tarts, French macaroons, exquisite sugar cookies, and a perfect, spice cake, your own Mr. Darcy (or at least a bunch of 21st century kids) will be putty in your hands.
Both of the full-color, illustrated books will be released by Penguin Random House in-mid October. Read an excerpt from A Christmas Carol or get more info about it or Pride & Prejudice on the Penguin Random House site.
