The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila |

The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

July 12, 2012 by jenniferhazard

Alana Chernila, mother of two and author of The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying & Start Making, visited Longfellow Books in Portland for a reading not long ago. Alana’s gorgeous cookbook is chock full of simple recipes for breads, cheeses, snacks, pasta, and more delicious everyday dishes.

After browsing through the book, MP couldn’t wait to test some recipes. Before each recipe, Alana includes humorous personal anecdotes, which help inspire confidence. In a chapter on dairy products, Alana writes; “Ricotta was the first cheese I made at home. When I witnessed the separation of curds and whey, I could not help but announce to my empty kitchen, ‘I’m a cheese maker!’”

No wonder she chose ricotta to start—there are only 4 simple ingredients in the recipe (whole milk, lemon juice, heavy cream, and kosher salt)—and the results are so satisfying. All you need is a little patience and time to prepare.

Make this ricotta for extra special stuffed shells or lasagna.

After having success with ricotta cheese, MP decided to try the basic yellow cake recipe for a friend’s birthday. CP#1 deemed this the best cake batter she’s ever tasted, and MP would agree. The cake itself is dense and delicious… so much better than boxed!

There’s nothing better than celebrating with a homemade cake.

We used Alana’s tangy cream cheese frosting for our cake.

CP#1 selected cornbread for our last test. This simple recipe features maple syrup as a sweetener rather than sugar (love that). MP was able to make the recipe in 30 minutes. We all enjoyed warm cornbread for dinner to accompany our barbecued chicken and beans. Alana calls cornbread, “safety in a pan,” and she’s so right. This is a recipe you can count on for comfort every time you serve it.

An easy and delicious cornbread for summer barbecues.

If you couldn’t tell already, MP adores this cookbook. She can’t wait to try making graham crackers, sandwich bread, mozzarella, peanut butter cups (yes!) and yogurt with the kids.

To learn more about author Alana Chernila, visit her blog, Eating from the Ground Up.

Posted in Books, Food | Tagged 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying & Start Making, Alana Chernila, book review, cake homemade pantry, cookbook review, cooking with kids, cornbread homemade pantry, cute potato cookbook giveaway, cute potato giveaway, cutepotato.com, eating from the ground up, eating from the ground up blog, homemade ricotta, longfellow books, maine, Portland, random house, ricotta homemade pantry, The Homemade Pantry | 26 Comments

26 Responses

on July 12, 2012 at 2:01 pm | Reply Bodi

Hey Jen – Sounds delicious! All of it. Glad to see that you are having a good summer.
- on July 13, 2012 at 3:52 pm | Reply jenniferhazard
  
  Miss you, Bodi! We’ll make you something special next time you’re in Maine.
on July 12, 2012 at 2:06 pm | Reply maria durost

I would love this cookbook! I tried making my own goldfish crackers…i liked them more than the kiddo 🙂
on July 12, 2012 at 2:09 pm | Reply Gail Minichiello

The cookbook sounds delicious. We have started making some more of our food, but finding time can be challenging. I think we just have to be selective!
- on July 13, 2012 at 3:51 pm | Reply jenniferhazard
  
  Gail, I completely agree. Cooking should be fun! I aim to make one or two new recipes a week… always depending on our schedule.
on July 12, 2012 at 2:21 pm | Reply Cathy Davis

One day I’ll win one of these giveaways – I will sure love to win this one. My family, especially my husband would be one happy man if I make if this cornbread and homemade cake!
on July 12, 2012 at 2:41 pm | Reply ida

ooooh! would love to win this! looks like a great book!
on July 12, 2012 at 2:58 pm | Reply Morrigan B.

This looks like a great cookbook! I’m always looking for new ideas- I’ll definitely have to check this one out!
on July 12, 2012 at 3:21 pm | Reply Sheila

Another great giveaway. This book sounds amazing.
on July 12, 2012 at 4:07 pm | Reply Suzanne

This looks fantastic.
on July 12, 2012 at 4:07 pm | Reply Susan Baxter

I’ve got yogurt down, so a few more pantry basics would be great to learn.
on July 12, 2012 at 7:02 pm | Reply Sarah

Sounds like a great cookbook!
on July 12, 2012 at 9:06 pm | Reply Carolsue

I’d love to add this to my cookbook collection! Thanks for the giveaway!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
on July 13, 2012 at 8:07 am | Reply TTT

You had me at cornbread. Our family would LOVE to have this in our kitchen. thank you for the offer.
- on July 13, 2012 at 3:50 pm | Reply jenniferhazard
  
  Tracey, if you don’t win, I’ll happily hand deliver you a cornbread!
on July 13, 2012 at 12:40 pm | Reply Mandy Blank

This would be such a fun cookbook to win!!!
on July 13, 2012 at 1:30 pm | Reply Joan O.

I’ve had my eye on this one and it’s on my wish list. What fun it would be to win one. You baked a beautiful cake and the cornbread looks good too.
- on July 13, 2012 at 3:49 pm | Reply jenniferhazard
  
  Thanks, Joan!
on July 13, 2012 at 1:54 pm | Reply Jessica Hunt

This book sounds incredible!! I would LOVE to try out those recipes!!!!!
on July 13, 2012 at 10:00 pm | Reply Kathy Schoenherr

Thanks for the great giveaway.
on July 14, 2012 at 11:22 am | Reply Kaye

This book sounds great. I’ve been avoiding mixes for year, but there’s always more to learn. Ricotta — yes!
on July 15, 2012 at 7:44 pm | Reply Samantha Remington

Sounds amazing! I love making everything homemade whenever possible.
on July 16, 2012 at 6:04 am | Reply bpal

The cookbook sounds delicious, thanks!
on July 16, 2012 at 9:29 am | Reply Dan Zarin

Looks like a great one!
on July 16, 2012 at 11:05 am | Reply Laura

I love the idea of being able to make the basics!
on July 16, 2012 at 1:13 pm | Reply Rachel C.

Would love this book! need advice to fill up the pantry with goodies not aren’t just jam.