Bingo 24: Getaway from South America
I’m swapping my free space for South America mostly because I don’t really have the time to go find something that fits, since I haven’t got anything immediately in mind. What I have instead is a cookbook, which I like to read both for fun and for use, by one of two board book writers I actually liked enough to try recipes from. It turns out that TheBakerMama Maegan Brown has at least two books out beyond Beautiful Boards, one for small plates and one for larger entertainment gatherings called Spectacular Spreads. There is a volume assumed here that sort of contradicts the introduction that suggests doing these for family-time can work, unless you’ve got a large family. The other problem for me is that given how very multi-component most spreads are, it’s going to get unrealistic in terms of expense as well. The book is pretty though, and it’s fun to fantasize a little about putting together something like some of the suggestions, at least the more realistic ones. Some options, like the milkshake bar spread, assumes you have multiple blenders at your disposal; the pizza spread assumes you have the oven capacity and people patience to bake individually created pizzas. I also love the idea of a toast topper bar, but that’s not practical for most parties. Who owns half a dozen toasters? That kind of assumption strikes me personally a little elitist, which is not helped by the general tone of the introduction. If not elitist, then ignorant of creating a traffic jam around the food area. It also sounds like anyone anywhere is expected to always have 20 different types of cereal and candy on hand, and yeah, no.
I also find it slightly strange that some recipes are open to convenience short cuts, while other very similar ones are not. There’s a cake recipe for what’s basically fun-fetti that requires you to bake your own cake, no alternative option suggested. You use this base for both a layered cake and cake pops. Then there’s a handful of settings that include cupcakes which involve a box cake mix; I take no issue with that by itself, not either option (scratch or box). I appreciate the flexibility the book offers in terms of make-your own or store bought, but the inconsistency strikes me as a little off kilter. Some of the sandwich spread sets, like in the baby shower and tea party themes actually do look pretty good, and I think this might be the first time I’ve actually seen a cucumber cream cheese sandwich recipe that makes sense; cream cheese by itself is usually too stiff for the kind of bread involved and this one solves that (from the look, I haven’t really tried it yet). The idea of a popcorn party strikes me as a really intriguing one, except who puts things like gummi bears or junior mints or frosted animal cookies in or on their popcorn? As an accompaniment, sure, but as “topper or mix-in”?
Here’s the recipe that confuses me the most, it actually illustrates both the intrigue and the nope factor throughout the whole book pretty well: pumpkin hummus in a pumpkin. The hummus involves chickpeas, pumpkin puree, olive oil, salt and seasonings. It’s the seasoning combo where this gets weird: sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, but then also garlic powder and paprika. Are we going pumpkin spice sweet, or are we going savory? The cinnamon etc parts can have savory applications, but then why do we need more sugar than salt? I also wonder why we don’t take advantage of having a pumpkin that we need to scoop, so why don’t we use the meat and the seeds from that same pumpkin for the rest of the serving suggestions?
