Recipe Weekend: The Route 66 Cookbook by Linda Ly

  Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from Harvarde Comon Press, via Edelweissplis, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own

The Route 66 Cookbook shares recipes for the must-try breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and desserts from restaurants all along the Mother Road. Embark on a colorful culinary journey traversing America’s Mother Road with stops to recreate the best eats along the way.

Synopsis:

In The Route 66 Cookbook, acclaimed author and lifestyle blogger Linda Ly combines armchair travel with a traditional cookbook to celebrate 100 years of the United States’ most recognizable roadway. This unique compilation of recipes honors American transportation history with a location-specific focus, encouraging you to explore new flavors, places, and perhaps even future vacation destinations. 

Discover fascinating historical facts and figures from the route’s early days to modern attractions as you try recipes organized by state, starting from the eastern start of the route in Chicago, Illinois, and continuing all the way through to its western endpoint in Los Angeles, California, making pit stops in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. From cheap, quick eats to steakhouses and fine dining, this cookbook caters to varied budgets and palates. Recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all make an appearance, and drinks and desserts get their time to shine too. 

Throughout its recipes and destinations, The Route 66 Cookbook pays homage to America’s diverse cultural history. Of course, there are recipes for a variety of standard American fare, such as diner food, burgers, and multiple styles of barbecue, but German, Mexican, Asian, Indigenous, and fusion foods are also included:

• Apple Strudel – The Berghoff, Chicago, IL
• Blackberry Wine Cake – St. James Winery, St. James, MO
• Egg Cream – Monarch Pharmacy and Soda Fountain, Baxter Springs, KS
• Späetzle – Rock Cafe, Stroud, OK
• The Elvis Ugly Crust Pie – Midpoint Cafe, Adrian, TX
• New Mexican Posole – Silver Moon Cafe, Santa Rosa, NM
• Halibut Ceviche – The Turquoise Room at La Posada Hotel, Winslow, AZ
• Strawberry Margarita Pie – Chiquita Rosita's, Barstow, CA
• Spicy Seafood Soup – The Albright, Santa Monica, CA

With 66 recipes from the Midwest to the West Coast, The Route 66 Cookbook has it all, honoring an American road trip tradition and ensuring you can enjoy it even if you’re not on the road.

Recipe:

This recipe from the Clowndog Hot Dog Parlor is actually a 2 for 1,  and is the perfect example of the kitsch meets good food that you find along Route 66, and in the cookbook!

Review:

What is great is that the author ACTUALLY packed up her kids and hubs, loaded up the RV and drove ALL of Route 66 from Santa Monica, CA to Chicago,IL to find the restaurants and diners in this book, to speak to the chefs and to find out what is keep the Route still alive.

Part love letter to the nostalgia lore of Route 66, part fusion cookbook, part history of traveling across country, this book is perfect for the person who has it all or loves cookbooks that bring a different part of the world to you. The pictures will have you hunkering to get into the kitchen, and most of the recipes are fairly simple, from pantry items, or ones that are now easily accessible. Having travelled the Route many times, I would say she found many of my favorites, and a few new ones that I can't wait to go find!

About the Author:

Linda Ly is the author of The New Camp Cookbook, The Backyard Fire Cookbook, The CSA Cookbook, The No-Waste Vegetable Cookbook, and The National Parks Cookbook and the blogger behind the award-winning gardenbetty.com, a lifestyle site devoted to modern homesteading, green living, and adventure traveling. Nearly two million visitors turn to the blog every year for inspiration, tips, and tricks for eating well and living well, both in their backyards and in the great outdoors. Linda has been featured in national and regional media including Country Living, HGTV, Better Homes & Gardens, and Heritage Radio Network. Her passion for camping and cooking has taken her all over the American West, but she calls Bend, Oregon, home.