The Quilter's Kitchen

Elm Creek Quilts #13

by Jennifer Chiaverini

In The Quilter’s Kitchen, Anna Del Maso revisits the kitchens of Elm Creek Manor, past and present. As she records beloved recipes and creates original dishes seasoned with love, she rediscovers how the gifts of the table bring friends and family closer than ever.

Anna Del Maso had known that she wanted to be a chef since she was in the seventh grade. “Somehow everything in my life ends up being about food,” she realizes, as she begins the latest of her food-themed quilts. Her twin passions have converged in a brand-new position as head chef for Elm Creek Quilts, Waterford, Pennsylvania’s popular quilting retreat.

As she joins the circle of quilters at historic Elm Creek Manor, Anna is eager to preserve the manor’s culinary heritage, dating to 1858, while also celebrating the new favorites of their many guests. Yet as Master Quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson well knows, the manor’s kitchen, last updated in the 1940s, can’t create food that compares to the state-of-the-art quilting instruction for which Elm Creek Quilts is renowned.

A full renovation of the kitchen must be completed by the start of the new camp season. Though the task is daunting, Anna is assured in her belief that “A kitchen is the heart of a home.” As she and Sylvia begin to dismantle the old to make way for the new, Sylvia’s reminiscences remind them both of just how many of the manor’s traditions have involved food and celebrations. Whether the feast is one of the holiday menus prepared and enjoyed by generations of Bergstroms, or one of the Welcome Banquets and Farewell Breakfasts that have become hallmarks of Elm Creek Quilt Camp, there is a story for every recipe, and a recipe for every story.

Genres: Fiction, Quilting, Chick Lit, Cookbooks, Food, Historical Fiction, Cooking

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2008

About the author

Jennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. She has also written seven quilt pattern books inspired by her novels. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin. About her historical fiction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, these novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years."

Reviews

[Pammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very quick read with lovely endpapers, this book doesn't qualify as a novella, let alone a novel. Richer in recipes than characters or plot, it looks more like a grade-school short story writing exercise with filler pages than a complete work of any kind. I find it unthinkable that this is part of a "series." The entire "story" fits on the endflaps, and I'm not kidding(The time frame is also roughly two days). Most of the recipes look enticing, but are simple enough they can be found elsewhere, if they even need to be written down to be recreated. The concept is cute enough, but I read a children's book over the summer with a similar format (Everything on Waffles)that had much more substance. It left me feeling like I bought an empty box with a pretty wrapper.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is worth buying just for the wonderful recipes it contains. Because of these recipes though, I do have to warn that reading this book won't take very long. The recipes are numerous and included within the story itself so the book is actually only about half as long as it looks. I'm not going to take the time to recap the rest of the books as there are twelve that come before and it would take a whole review just for that, but even so, this book could be read as a stand alone.

Sylvia, and the new cook Anna, are busing cleaning out the cupboard of Elm Creek Manor. Elm Creek Manor plays host to a quilter's retreat during the warmer months and now that they have a new cook to help with all the people who need fed, they need to redesign the kitchen as well. Desperate to fit in as she is so new, Anna wants to make the kitchen the perfect place that produces wonderful meals, but she doesn't want it to feel different than the rest of the manor. She wants to find a way to tie the rest of Elm Creek into this future redesigned kitchen.

Sylvia is helping her with the cleaning out and as they work through the cupboards she finds family treasures and heirlooms. Each discovery brings back a memory and she happily tells Anna the meaning behind each piece. The items also follow a theme and we can see the chapter range from Harvest to Thanksgiving, to Christmas and beyond in sequential order. This of course fits in perfectly with the recipes located at the end of each chapter.

I wasn't sure what to think of the location of the recipes at first. From a reading standpoint it would have made more sense to put them all at the end. But really, I think Chiaverini made the right choice as having the recipes at the end of each chapter made it easy to see which were for a specific occasion. You could definitely tell when something was supposed to be served or when the ingredients would be found easily based on the location in the book. As a sneak peak, here are some of the 102 recipes featured in the book:

Cider Cheddar Fondue
Denver Omelet
Chestnut Dressing
Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache
Spicy Meatballs
Mushroom Soup with Fresh Rosemary
Quilter's Coffee

Since this story was so short, Chiaverini didn't have a lot of detail put into the writing. The stories Sylvia shared with Anna were heartwarming though and it was nice to see the interaction between the two characters as it showed Sylvia being very welcoming and understanding of Anna's feelings. While this story was a bit on the smaller side, it was definitely charming.

I loved this book. As an avid quilter and a big fan of cooking in the kitchen, it was a mix of both of my favorite things. I definitely plan on making quite a few of the recipes and if I do, I'll be sure to edit this review with the results. On to cooking and quilting!

The Quilter's Kitchen
Copyright 2008
204
plus a metrics equivalents page, Acknowledgments for recipes page, and Recipe Index

[chucklesthescot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't really sure what to rate this book. I was given this through bookcrossing as I have been looking to read the entire series since discovering an interest in quilting-though I have yet to start any projects!

While this book is classed as book 13 in the series, it is not really a book at all. It is a recipe book with a few pages in each chapter talking about where some of the recipes fit into the history of Elm Creek's Sylvia. It is really used to show the new quilter and chef Anna, learning about her new friends and traditions from Sylvia's stories and looking for a way to fit in.

The recipes didn't interest me as I don't cook so I just skimmed past these pages to read the narrative, which I found interesting. Other reviewers suggest that these stories have already been told in other books which explains why some have given it just 1 star. Luckily I have only read the first book in the series so it was all new to me and I quite liked it. I might have held a different opinion had I read the whole series in order!

It might be a good starting point for a new reader as it seems like it could be a good stand alone book to introduce you to Sylvia and her life. Those following the series are perhaps more likely to view it as a cheap filler.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slight novella in the series with some good recipes. Enjoyed it and ready for the next in the series.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable little one focused on a new character.

[Julie Wallis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Agree with other reader’s comments. Too short in content for story. So much more could’ve been developed here and followed true traditions of the Elm Creek series. I’ll be trying a couple of the recipes though. Love the idea behind the book, but I truly missed the story content!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A recipe book interspersed with Sylvia's memories of Elm Creek.
Most of the recipes seemed simple, but were created by Sally Sampson, who was nominated for a James Beard award for one of her cookbooks, so I suspect they are tasty.

[Janis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part novella, part cookbook, but a pleasant read, nonetheless.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A freebie from the library overstock racks. Something light while I recover from existentialism.

This isn't so much a novel as it is a cookbook with a little bit of story attached. And what there is of a story isn't very good. There are NO STAKES for the characters. It's literally 200 pages of two women cleaning out some kitchen cabinets.

I guess the central ...conflict...? is "what to do with these meaningful scraps of fabric that are too worn out to use for their intended purpose?" and anyone who has any experience quilting, or perhaps even those who have simply read the title of the series, is thinking all along: "Are..you gonna put them in a quilt? I bet you're gonna make a quilt. Just stop talking and make a quilt."

I think I might have another book of the series somewhere in my home, and I guess if I find it I will read it, but I can not recommend for others, even if they are as crafty as I am. That said, I will put this in the kitchen with my cookbooks. May as well try out some recipes, because the plot never filled me up.

[Miriam Robarts · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book browsing in the library. This book had a cute idea of writing recipes in with the story, but as the other reviews say, it's a very empty story that could have been told in a few pages.

It was very repetitive and never went anywhere.

The first recipes seemed to be dumped into the middle--tripping it up instead of tying into the story. The later ones made more sense, but it seemed like they were trying too hard to string together a story when there never was a real plot. I got the feeling that this was an early draft instead of a finished book.

I didn't know it was part of a series until I searched for it on goodreads. Although, it did seem like it was gearing up for another volume as a couple of characters were mentioned--hinting at a story line, but it was never even started, let alone finished.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book in the Elm Creek Quilt series and is the 13th novel. It is centered on the current day, with looks back in history. Rather than a full blown story, it is primarily a recipe book with the background of the preparation of the kitchen for remodeling as Sylvia and Anna clean out and pack. Sylvia remembers various short stories about certain items that they find and the recipes revolve around these particular stories. There are descriptions of holiday events, picnics, and more recent events with the quilting camp. Anna and Sylvia come up with some novel ways to honor the past as they move into the future with a modern kitchen. Had I not known this was the format, I might have been disappointed, but I thought it was a nice way to incorporated Elm Creek Quilts into a mini cookbook. It was a quick and easy read and I look forward to trying some of the recipes in the book.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does not have much of a story line to it but some yummy recipes I look forward to trying out. ( will come back and log them if i remember) I have read in the past books in this series and enjoyed them and thought maybe one day taking up quilting. It did share a neat Thanksgiving tradition that I want to start with my family. On Thanksgiving having a cornucopia on the table and each one of us put something in it that we are thankful for for that year. (anything from a note, pictures etc..) hummm that reminds me I think my mom has a really nice painted ceramic one at her house just wrapped up and never seen the day of light.. Interesting in the book they find family heirlooms that have been tucked away and reminisce about the memories and traditions...

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quilter's kitchen an Elm Creek Quilts novel with recipes by Jennifer Chiaverini
This book is mainly about the kitchen at Elm Creek Manor. It is being renovated and Ana got the job to be the chef.
Lots of food and recipes that are served at the quilter's camp. Lots of stories about newly found dishes that hold a
place in Sylvia's heart and family. Love all the stories about the holiday foods.
Love the history of the feedsacks in quilting and farm work. Love hearing about all the treasures they find!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed many of Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilt stories. This one is billed as a novel with recipes. I think it is better described as a recipe book with a short story. Sylvia Compson and her new head chef, Anna, are dismantling their old kitchen to prepare for a modernization. While they clean out cupboards they reminisce about things they find, and about the history and traditions of the house and of the Quilt Camps that have been held there. The recipes take up a large part of the book, and they all sound delicious. I read it in a few hours, but I really didn't feel as if I'd read a novel.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Elm Creek Quilts novel is just ok. It is basically a cookbook with a very short story mingled within. One of the newest additions to the quilters, Anna Del Maso, is the main character, along with Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, featured in this book. I was hoping to have Chiaverini develop her character some more, but she didn't. Instead book 13 reminisces more about the history of the Manor and retells stories from previous novels. Since the majority of the book is recipes, The Quilter's Kitchen is a quick read.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book introduces a new character, Anna Del Maso to the Elm Creek quilers. Anna will be the new head chef at the Manor and as she and Sylvia dismantle the kitchen in preparation of remodeling, Sylvia shares some of the traditions of the Manor.

The book has some wonderful recipes related to the traditions of the Manor, which remind me of my Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and I'll be trying them soon.

[Alma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is part of the Elm Creek Quilters series. It purports to be a novel, but the plot is extremely simple and thin, being only a short story about cleaning out an old kitchen and reliving the memories of meals made there. I’ve tried one recipe for mushroom soup which was pretty good and another for “Parmesan Puffs,” a kind of cheesy shortbread cooky that wasn’t a puff at all. (That one was a one-time experiment!) “Shoo-fly Pie” sounds interesting.

[Loralee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Chiaverini usually has engaging plots, characters whose problems interest the reader, and historical detail deftly tied into the story. This book lacks both story and cohesion, and is really more of an excuse for a cookbook. If you want to sample some recipes, go ahead; otherwise, all you need to know from this book is that Sylvia and Anna find a long-lost cornucopia during a kitchen clean-out which they decide to use for a new quilting tradition (see the Quilter's Holiday.)

[Myrna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I love the Elm Creek Quilters, and it was really neat seeing the recipes. The story itself wasn't very long, and the book was mainly recipes, but there were a few hints of...what? a relationship change, maybe? Anyway, I'm looking forward to trying Summer's Vegetarian Chili!

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more a recipe book with a short story that fits in with the recipes. A new chef is helping the owner of the Elm Creek Manor clean out the kitchen cabinets before a new kitchen is installed.
They find small hidden treasures that add to the story.

[Lain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have liked a little more "meat" to this. The recipes look great, but there wasn't enough exposition in between.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very very short book, about half is recipes. I wouldn't count this as part of the series, but rather a companion to the series

[Steph S · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Let's not discard things arbitrarily just because they clash with the paint and granite." ...
"Agreed. If I want to toss something out but you want to keep it, I'll let you have the last word. This kitchen will be your workspace, after all." ...
"But it's more than that [...] A kitchen is the heart of a home." ...
"It never occurred to me, but perhaps the kitchen is just as important as the front foyer is for offering our guests a warm welcome to the manor."

This short novel very simply explores the idea of rediscovering old memories, traditions and histories and putting into action a plan to preserve them for many years to come.

While the entire story consists of two women cleaning out an old, soon-to-be-renovated manor kitchen across the span of a single day, it is rich with many years of reminiscing that makes one feel like the story has gone on for much longer (in a good way). As each new item of sentimental value is pulled out of a cupboard, brought down from a high shelf or scraped from the dark corners of drawers, a new story is brought to life about the time, person and event that item relates to. And not only the story behind the item, but several recipes at the heart of those memories too; these recipes then appear at the end of each chapter for the reader to recreate, if they so wish.

It's an added bonus to see smudge marks or stains on a page of a borrowed library book to show that readers have, in fact, recreated some of these recipes.

"[...] I can only imagine what we'll discover tomorrow."
"More keepsakes, more memories," Sylvia promised. "As well as more things that should have been thrown out long ago. Sometimes I wish my ancestors had been more discerning about what they kept and what they threw away."
"But aren't you glad they weren't?" Anna protested. "[...] I saw the look on your face when you rediscovered them, and all those memories came to the surface. You wouldn't have missed that for the world, and I wouldn't have either."

A light-hearted, quick read. That is, if you don't stop to make each of the 100+ recipes given throughout!

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini is book 13 of the Elm Creek Quilts series set in contemporary Pennsylvania. Professional chef Anna has just been hired by Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, Master Quilter and founder of Elm Creek Quilts. Elm Creek Manor, founded in 1858, has a kitchen wretchedly out of date. Sylvia has agreed to a complete transformation into a modern professional kitchen to serve delicious meals to fifty-plus Quilt Campers daily. Today Sylvia and Anna start to clear out the old kitchen cabinets, to make way for the renovation.

As they work, Sylvia is pleasantly surprised by long-forgotten items that bring back memories from the generations of Bergstroms. As Sylvia relates Bergstrom family traditions, Anna begins to feel like she will truly belong at Elm Creek Manor with Elm Creek Quilters. Anna silently vows to preserve those precious memories with a welcoming kitchen that will be a favorite gathering spot for quilt campers. When they find handwritten holiday recipes from Sylvia's great-aunt Lucinda, Anna resolves to prepare those treasured meals for Sylvia and the rest of the Elm Creek Quilters in the coming holidays. A quick, joyful read jam-packed with recipes. Each family anecdote includes a set of recipes for a complete meal.

Not just holiday meals are described, but also historic traditions such as the Harvest Dance and Quilting Bee. In Great-great-aunt Gerda's day, daughters would learn to sew by piecing quilts, and a worthy young woman was expected to complete twelve quilt tops by the time she reached marriageable age. The thirteenth quilt was to be her masterpiece, as fine a quilt as she could make, putting the best of her needlework talents on display as evidence that she had learned all the sewing skills she would need as a wife and mother. When the young woman became engaged, all the bride-to-be's female friends and family would gather for a quilting bee, when the thirteen pieced and appliquéd tops would be quilted and finished.

[Robynne Lozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not going to repeat the background of this series. I am sure that most people already know it.

The story in this book however is somewhat lacking. This is a relatively short story. Pretty much all dialogue - which takes place between Sylvia Bergstrom Compson and the new cook she has hired - Anna del Maso. Anna was offered the job of Chef at Elm Creek Manor in Pennsylvania during the Quilting Season (roughly Spring thru Autumn).

Anna agreed to take the job, only if the Old Kitchen was demolished and updated. Sylvia agrees.

So while Sylvia and Anna are clearing out the cupboards, prior to demolition day, they find some old treasures belonging to various members of Sylvia's family. So Sylvia gets to talk about her family history. THIS Is the main reason why I love this series.

At the end of each chapter of Quilters Kitchen are lots of recipes. From all over the place. Germany, Italy, America and elsewhere.

The quilts are lovely. But I am not a quilter.

The Recipes are nice. But I am not a cook.

I am reading this series pretty much entirely for the family history.

This series is mostly about the people from the Bergstrom family down through several generations.

Please keep in mind that the Bergstrom family are entirely fictional. So far I have found only one book that has a family tree. That book was Quilters Legacy.

But there are also several Elm Creek Quilting Sampler books that show photos and patterns of some of the many quilts that are mentioned. There is also one companion book that gives details about places and people mentioned in the stories. As non fiction books, these are more expensive than the novels. I do plan to get these but I have to save my pennies.

[N Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elm Creek Manor needed a new chef for their quilt camps. Anna got the job but really doesn't know the staff. In order for Anna to accept the chef position, Sylvia (owner of Elm Creek Manor) agreed to renovate the kitchen.

This small book takes place over just a day as Sylvia and Anna get to know each other and Sylvia retells stories and memories of days gone by. Most of the memories have been covered in other novels (this is #13 in the series), but over the years I have forgotten many of them.

This book only took me a couple of hours to read. Most of the 200 pages were recipes that I had no interest in looking at but appeared to be foods that were served over the years at the Manor. Since I had read all of the books in the series, I had to include this one, too. It wasn't a waste of time, but I did miss the whole gang.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in the series is a bit of a departure. It's really a cookbook with a bit of a story in between. Anna, the new chef at Elm Creek, and Sylvia are cleaning out the kitchen to ready the space for renovation. As each cabinet is opened, new items are discovered and discussed. Sylvia tells Anna some of the history of Elm Creek Manor and there are accompanying recipes. If you're a fan of the series, you will recognize many of the recipes, but there are some new ones that reflect Anna's personality and talents. Of course, there's a recipe for Gerda's apple strudel. I can't wait to try it out!

Caution, though -- there is really very little text. It's a nice addition to the series, but this is a very quick "read".

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read of the series and I will certainly look for the other books.

This is book 13 of the series the Elm Creek Quilts, based in Pennsylvania.
Anna Del Maso has been hired as a chef for the Elk Manor which was founded in 1858. Sylvia Bergstrom Compson has hired her. Sylvia and Anna are cleaning the kitchen so it can be updated with new appliances and utensils such as pots and pans. They are finding family treasures to Sylvia that have been in the cupboards for a long time such as recipes, aprons, tablecloths and dishes.
It was a stand alone read but I would have liked to read some of her earlier books of the series. I found this book at a thrift store,
Full of recipes. Only 206 pages so a fast read. A 5 star rating.

[Suzanne Mundy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a dud. And I was very disappointed; especially after enjoying all the other books in the series. I guess being #13 says something about it. Bad luck personified! There was very little narrative and a lot of recipes. Perhaps for a baker, this might have been a plus, but I was reading the book for the narrative! Hopefully, #14 "The Lost Quilter" will be a better read. I am going to give it a shot anyway. I should have been alerted in regard to "The Quilter's Kitchen" given that it was only 191 pages. I am not happy. It was a waste of my valuable time. Shame on you, Jennifer Chiaverini! Shame! Shame! Shame!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this very "lite" quick reading book.
Sylvia Compson, Master Quilter and owner of the Elm Creek Manor and newcomer, Chef Anna DelMaso get to know each other better. As they prepare to have the kitchen renovated, Sylvia shares stories and traditions that have taken place through many years of long ago and even most recent. Anna has been feeling like she will always be the "newbie" but Sylvia is doing all she can to catch her up to their Circle of Friends.
Many "family" recipes are also shared in this book just in time for Thanksgiving.
I think "A Quilter's Holiday comes next as I try reading these in chronological order :)))