
Carols and Cookbook Club!
Sundays in SSJ Advent 2023 are devoted to two things: Holiday Carols and Winter Cookbooks. First, we’ll be listening to, creating, or otherwise doing something musical. Second, we’ll be choosing a few recipes to test or transform from three really appealing winter cookbooks. The first goal of each micro-cookbook-club will be to find something we love which we can make of a Sunday. The second goal of the club will be to set aside a fish recipe from each of the three cookbooks we try to help build our annual Feast of the Seven Fishes on the fourth and final Sunday in Advent, Christmas Eve!
Holiday Concert! Home Made Christmas!
This first Sunday of Advent, we’ll be attending a concert at a local venue. Then, we’ll choose a favourite recipe or two from this week’s winter selection: Yvette Van Boven’s Home Made Christmas.

I know this is going to sound odd, but I don’t think the cover does this cookbook any justice. I mean, it’s a gorgeous photo of a cinnamon roll wreath. And it will certainly draw a holiday crowd. But inside, my goodness, this book is SUMPTUOUS! The recipes are divine and the photos by Oof Verschuren are absolutely goregous! Just look at the soup below!

I only recently discovered this cookbook via e-loan from the public library. And now that I have picked up my own copy, I’m excited to bring it into the kitchen and try everything in it!! But, for the purposes of a Sunday micro-cookbook club on a day in which we need to travel to and attend a concert, I think we’ll attempt one of von Boven’s amazing soups and a starter. I love the idea of her Shrimp bisque & creamy anchovy rouille, though I may have to save that for our Feast of the Seven Fishes. So, it’s more likely we’ll try her Wild mushroom soup with hazelnuts (pictured above) or the Parsnip apple soup with curry, celery oil and smoked almonds. To go with, it’s likely the Mini Brie and Whiskey Cocottes or one of the roast vegetable mains like the Roasted Cauliflower with Goat Cheese Cream or the Celeriac Roast with Citrus Sauce. Then, who knows? Indubitably, I’ll spend the entire evening afterward poring over this beautiful book! I mean, I haven’t even gotten to the sweets.
Results to follow here and on Instagram.
Update!
We made Oatmeal Pancakes for Breakfast, followed by the Mini Brie and WhiskeyCocottes, Wild Mushroom Soup with Hazelnuts, Swede (for Celeriac) Roast with Citrus Sauce, and Lemon Syllabub with Crunchy Oats








ON THIS DAY
2022: Caroling
2021: Scrabble, the Holiday Edition
2020: Family Card Games & DIY Holiday Bridge Mix
2019: Provide Baby Blankets via Plan Canada
2018: Christmas Cookie Wars
2017: Family Book Exchange
2016: Massey Hall Christmas Concert
2015: Create an Elaborate Christmas Colouring Page
2014: Compose and Perform an Original Christmas Carol
2013: Make & Eat Honeycomb and Turkish Delight
2012: Support the World Wildlife Fund
2011: Tree Trimming Party
Leave a Reply