Martina's Kitchen Mix

Starred review from October 1, 2018
Country music singer McBride (Around the Table) offers up a stellar collection of personal and family recipes. She starts with a series of tasty breakfast options, many of which can be made a day ahead, including cranberry-orange-almond granola, cheddar biscuits with bacon, and grandma’s cinnamon rolls. She also includes a superb cocktail and appetizer chapter, which highlights a luscious whipped feta crostini with roasted garlic, tomatoes, and herbs; tangy vodka limeade coolers; and a surprisingly appealing recipe for bacon-wrapped olives. Salads are simple and unfussy but still top-notch, such as romaine salad with buttermilk dressing, and kale Caesar salad with quinoa and chicken. In addition to numerous soups and sandwiches, she offers up hearty main dishes, including chicken and potatoes with roasted lemon and rosemary sauce; pot roast with gravy; and pan-roasted halibut. Side dishes are plentiful and comforting: roasted asparagus with lemon, Parmesan, and garlic; roasted summer vegetables with herbs; sautéed spinach; and creamy garlic pasta with Parmesan. She ends on a sweet note with an amazing collection of desserts, including chocolate-cherry cheesecakes with Biscoff crust and pistachio lemon-drop cookies. Fans and home cooks alike will delight in McBride’s outstanding recipe collection.