What do you think?
Rate this book
The Prairie Table: Suppers, Potlucks & Socials: Crowd-Pleasing Recipes to Bring People Together: A Cookbook
Celebrate prairie life with this delicious combination of more than 100 recipes from Karlynn Johnston, bestselling author of Flapper Pie and a Blue Prairie Sky. Discover new and nostalgic prairie favorites, perfect for family dinners, potluck parties, picnic lunches, and gatherings of all kinds.Karlynn Johnston, beloved blogger behind The Kitchen Magpie, knows first-hand that meals made with love--cooked with comfort in mind, and filled with real ingredients--are greeted with the biggest smiles. In The Prairie Table, she captures the magic of families crowded around the kitchen table; of social gatherings, with picnic benches groaning under the weight of a multitude of dishes; of food eaten in wide-open spaces under sunshine-filled blue skies.Featuring more than 100 recipes--from salads to vegetable dishes; home-baked breakfasts to easy main meals; crowd-pleasing appetizers to portable desserts; a chapter dedicated to the Ukrainian heritage of the prairies, and much more!--The Prairie Table is filled with Karlynn's approachable and tasty dishes. Paired with gorgeous photography and candid stories, every recipe in this book can easily be cut in half for a smaller family meal or doubled for a large event, and there are even quick "cheater" recipes for when you are in a hurry. You can then complement each dish with the array of cocktails and mocktails featured in the final chapter of the book, written by special guest and popular Kitchen Magpie contributor, Karlynn's husband Mike (aka Mr. Kitchen Magpie).Whether it's Grandma Ellen's Cold Picnic Barbecue Fried Chicken, perfect for a hot summer day; Sweet and Sour Meatballs to bring to your community potluck; Mango, Avocado, and Arugula Salad that even the pickiest of eaters will love; Piña Colada Sour Cream Squares for unexpected visitors; or pitcher-friendly cocktails like Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Fizz, The Prairie Table brings quintessential prairie cooking to kitchens everywhere.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2019
About the author
Karlynn Johnston
4 books11 followersBlogger and author KARLYNN JOHNSTON can usually be found at home taste-testing new recipes and cocktails in her home studio kitchen for her website, The Kitchen Magpie. When she’s not there, you can find her thrifting vintage Christmas decor or working at her rural fixer-upper farmstead, Magpie Farm. Karlynn lives in Edmonton, Canada, with her husband and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 27, 2025
I found this at my local thrift store and I am in shock. I grabbed it immediately. I’ve followed Karlynn and her vintage dishes collection for years! Happily, she is also an Albertan, and this book made me lonesome for all things Canadian Prairie. I wanted a tray of dainties! (I’ve become so accustomed to the American “snack”.) Let’s have dainties of puffed wheat squares and Nanaimo bars and butter tarts and Saskatoon anything. Sadly some pages were ripped out of my thrifted book but I spent a delightful evening reading. The Ukrainian recipes were especially intriguing to me, as my Mennonite culture overlaps in certain areas and we join at the hip (wide ones, too) with our love of all the perogy variations.
Also, anyone who loves calico beans as much as I do, can be my friend. I love it that she makes them with her own baked beans recipe, and I think I’m going to try that.
Also, anyone who loves calico beans as much as I do, can be my friend. I love it that she makes them with her own baked beans recipe, and I think I’m going to try that.
July 25, 2019
The Prairie Table features down-to-earth, good 'ol Canadian recipes from the blogger behind the highly successful The Kitchen Magpie. In this cookbook, Karlynn Johnston shares over 100 recipes - from appetizers and main dishes to side dishes, delicious desserts and cocktails (compliments of Mr. Kitchen Magpie). These tasty yet doable recipes will encourage us to share more meals with those we love and remind us of the importance of reconnecting at the end of a busy day.
I immediately enjoyed the personable, friendly feel to Karlynn's writing as she shares the recipes she makes for her own family and big get-togethers. Organized into 8 chapters and with a nostalgic, retro vibe to its colour pictures, Karlynn weaves some of her heritage into the book by dedicating the first chapter to the tasty Ukrainian dishes she grew up on. As a Tater Connoisseur myself, I'm particularly smitten with the section on perogies. Oh .. my .. word. I'm eager to jump into her "Choose Your Own Perogy Adventure" section to learn how to make these wonderful little pillows of awesome.
I tried a couple of the recipes before this review -- my daughter and I made the Cake Mix Cookies (using cherry chip - deelish!) and I'm relieved to know that Karlynn (like myself) is a serious banana hoarder. I am not alone. Phew! Her Banana Gingerbread Loaf was a great way to reduce my cache of frozen 'nanas and it was big time yum. I also plan to make many more recipes including: Beer and Orange-Glazed Salmon, Curried Honey Chipotle Sweet Potatoes, Make-Ahead Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole...
I love that Karlynn's writing and recipes have a casual, homey feel. I'm not one for snooty cookbooks that make me feel bad for not knowing certain hard-to-find ingredients. Her 'down home cook who loves food and family' vibe fits me to a T and I'm sending Karlynn a big High Five for her Cheater recipes. Life is busy and sometimes you have to make a quick meal with a few not-from-scratch ingredients that make life easier. Life's too short for food guilt.
With good tips, a wonderful down-home feel and a great selection of doable recipes, The Prairie Table will get home cooks into the kitchen and eager to share their new culinary skills at family dinners, dinner parties and large potlucks.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Appetite Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I immediately enjoyed the personable, friendly feel to Karlynn's writing as she shares the recipes she makes for her own family and big get-togethers. Organized into 8 chapters and with a nostalgic, retro vibe to its colour pictures, Karlynn weaves some of her heritage into the book by dedicating the first chapter to the tasty Ukrainian dishes she grew up on. As a Tater Connoisseur myself, I'm particularly smitten with the section on perogies. Oh .. my .. word. I'm eager to jump into her "Choose Your Own Perogy Adventure" section to learn how to make these wonderful little pillows of awesome.
I tried a couple of the recipes before this review -- my daughter and I made the Cake Mix Cookies (using cherry chip - deelish!) and I'm relieved to know that Karlynn (like myself) is a serious banana hoarder. I am not alone. Phew! Her Banana Gingerbread Loaf was a great way to reduce my cache of frozen 'nanas and it was big time yum. I also plan to make many more recipes including: Beer and Orange-Glazed Salmon, Curried Honey Chipotle Sweet Potatoes, Make-Ahead Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole...
I love that Karlynn's writing and recipes have a casual, homey feel. I'm not one for snooty cookbooks that make me feel bad for not knowing certain hard-to-find ingredients. Her 'down home cook who loves food and family' vibe fits me to a T and I'm sending Karlynn a big High Five for her Cheater recipes. Life is busy and sometimes you have to make a quick meal with a few not-from-scratch ingredients that make life easier. Life's too short for food guilt.
With good tips, a wonderful down-home feel and a great selection of doable recipes, The Prairie Table will get home cooks into the kitchen and eager to share their new culinary skills at family dinners, dinner parties and large potlucks.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Appetite Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 10, 2019
Adorable real food cookbook. Cheeky writing and someone to spend time in the kitchen or dinner table with.
January 13, 2021
I lot of great recipes my family would eat. :)
November 30, 2019
Homey and charming, but I didn't find any recipes I wanted to try, as these recipes are not really the way I cook or eat. (Boxed pistachio pudding is a salad ingredient here.) The author is a blogger and has a big following, so this book may well appeal to many. Give it a try!
July 3, 2019
This was such a fun, heartwarming book filled with recipes that are down-to-earth, mouthwatering, and definitely doable. Reading a book such as this is enough to lift anybody's spirits. It did mine.
May 28, 2019
Her latest cookbook, The Prairie Table, focuses on this idea of communal dining building and sustaining strong connections between people. The Prairie Table is all about the kind of warm and generous hospitality I grew up with. It's talking about both everything and nothing with friends and strangers alike -- after all in the warmth of my memories, strangers were just friends I hadn't met yet! The crucial element is having lots of food and drink -- I agree wholeheartedly with Johnston's comment: "We just have this crazy need to feed people" (4) when she's talking about how her family entertains. It's how my family entertained too! I appreciate how Johnston harkens back to the time when "socials" were the thing that brought everyone together and how she makes this both current and relevant for today's busy modern life.
The Prairie Table is organized into eight chapters: Ukrainian Dishes, Breads, Buns, + Baked Goods, Small Bites + Nibbles, Salads + Vegetable Sides, Main Dishes, Dainties + Cookies, Portable Desserts, and Libations. Just like her love of vintage glass and kitchenware her recipes have a decidedly retro feel. And, at the very end of her book she helpfully added a Glassware Index for curious, vintage-obsessed people (like me) who want to know the names and producers of the different types of vintage glassware that graces her beautiful photos. The recipes come from Johnston's own kitchen -- so there are no special-dietary considerations. For my vegetarian family, I found more than enough crowd-pleasing recipes to satisfy my people.
Recipes like her slow cooker Red Curry Pumpkin, Chickpea, and Sweet Potato Soup is a great vegetarian meal to serve on a weeknight or to a crowd at a dinner party or potluck (if you sub the butter this would also work as a vegan meal too). I served this warming, comforting dish with big slices of sourdough. Other meal recipes such as the Gnocchi Pesto Caprese Salad is great to bring as a potluck offering or just enjoy as a hearty lunch. This dish is also a great example of the recipes Johnston refers to as "cheaters" because you can rely on store-bought ingredients (the pesto and gnocchi here) as time savers without sacrificing any flavour! She knows all about how busy family life can get, so it's great that she's mindful of making a home cook's time in the kitchen count!
For me, the standout recipes in the book come from her Ukrainian Dishes chapter. Drawing from her own Ukrainian roots and family recipes, she's filled a chapter with what I consider to be the greatest hits food-wise when you're thinking about dishes common to Ukrainian Canadians: Pierogies, Nalysnyky (filled crepes), Cabbage Rolls, Perishke (filled buns), Egg Noodle Casserole, Borscht, and Nachynka (cornmeal casserole), just to name a few. Even if you're not of Ukrainian heritage, her chapter offers a useful and delicious way to learn how to cook these amazing dishes.
As for myself, with the first couple recipes I tried from this chapter -- Perishke (Filled Buns) and the Ukrainian Onion, Cream, and Dill Sauce -- I was immediately transported to my grandmother's kitchen. In all honesty, the first bite of my own, homemade Perishke had me bawling (homesickness can hit at any time!) and it also had me in a state of wonderous disbelief -- with one part of my brain screaming "THESE TASTE EXACTLY LIKE PERISHKE!" with the other part saying "well, what did you think they would taste like??" I had never made Perishke before because my grandmother always does but, now, living on the other side of the country, Johnston has given me a little bit of home to enjoy. It's also given me a tangible way to share these traditional recipes with my daughter because, unlike me, she won't be spending all her free time at "The Farm." In my opinion, it would be wrong to serve Perishke without that signature Onion, Cream, and Dill Sauce but this sauce is great because it's so versatile. My grandmother would often serve it with (what us kids called) "banana potatoes" (my grandfather grew the most incredible variety of creamy, yellow-fleshed fingerlings). The kitchen garden on the farm always had an abundance of white onions and fresh dill, which are the backbone of this sauce. When you try making this recipe just use the fresh dill, otherwise the taste just won't be the same.
I think one of the most iconic Ukrainian recipes that almost everyone knows about is the Pierogi (also referred to as Varenyky depending on what region of the Ukraine your family came from). Here, Johnston has given two family pierogi/perogy recipes. One weekend afternoon my daughter and I gave Grandma Kay's Polish Pierogi Dough a try. Velvety in texture and a jiffy to roll and re-roll out, we spent the afternoon making our own blueberry-filled pierogies. Completely delicious, I kept with my own family tradition and served them with a generous dollop of sour cream mixed with brown sugar. I love how Johnston really gives such great perogy making tips and advice. If you've always wanted to give making these a try her recipes would be a great place to start.
To say that cooking from Johnston's The Prairie Table makes me homesick is probably one of the very best compliments I can pay her. Reminding me how recipes like the ones in her book would grace the tables of family potlucks, barbecues, and gatherings brings such a warmth into my heart, as does her poignant and humorous way of writing. Even if you're not from the Prairie, let Johnston's devotion to encouraging families to congregate around the table inspire you.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Appetite by Random House for providing me with a free, review copy of this book. I did not receive monetary compensation for my post, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The Prairie Table is organized into eight chapters: Ukrainian Dishes, Breads, Buns, + Baked Goods, Small Bites + Nibbles, Salads + Vegetable Sides, Main Dishes, Dainties + Cookies, Portable Desserts, and Libations. Just like her love of vintage glass and kitchenware her recipes have a decidedly retro feel. And, at the very end of her book she helpfully added a Glassware Index for curious, vintage-obsessed people (like me) who want to know the names and producers of the different types of vintage glassware that graces her beautiful photos. The recipes come from Johnston's own kitchen -- so there are no special-dietary considerations. For my vegetarian family, I found more than enough crowd-pleasing recipes to satisfy my people.
Recipes like her slow cooker Red Curry Pumpkin, Chickpea, and Sweet Potato Soup is a great vegetarian meal to serve on a weeknight or to a crowd at a dinner party or potluck (if you sub the butter this would also work as a vegan meal too). I served this warming, comforting dish with big slices of sourdough. Other meal recipes such as the Gnocchi Pesto Caprese Salad is great to bring as a potluck offering or just enjoy as a hearty lunch. This dish is also a great example of the recipes Johnston refers to as "cheaters" because you can rely on store-bought ingredients (the pesto and gnocchi here) as time savers without sacrificing any flavour! She knows all about how busy family life can get, so it's great that she's mindful of making a home cook's time in the kitchen count!
For me, the standout recipes in the book come from her Ukrainian Dishes chapter. Drawing from her own Ukrainian roots and family recipes, she's filled a chapter with what I consider to be the greatest hits food-wise when you're thinking about dishes common to Ukrainian Canadians: Pierogies, Nalysnyky (filled crepes), Cabbage Rolls, Perishke (filled buns), Egg Noodle Casserole, Borscht, and Nachynka (cornmeal casserole), just to name a few. Even if you're not of Ukrainian heritage, her chapter offers a useful and delicious way to learn how to cook these amazing dishes.
As for myself, with the first couple recipes I tried from this chapter -- Perishke (Filled Buns) and the Ukrainian Onion, Cream, and Dill Sauce -- I was immediately transported to my grandmother's kitchen. In all honesty, the first bite of my own, homemade Perishke had me bawling (homesickness can hit at any time!) and it also had me in a state of wonderous disbelief -- with one part of my brain screaming "THESE TASTE EXACTLY LIKE PERISHKE!" with the other part saying "well, what did you think they would taste like??" I had never made Perishke before because my grandmother always does but, now, living on the other side of the country, Johnston has given me a little bit of home to enjoy. It's also given me a tangible way to share these traditional recipes with my daughter because, unlike me, she won't be spending all her free time at "The Farm." In my opinion, it would be wrong to serve Perishke without that signature Onion, Cream, and Dill Sauce but this sauce is great because it's so versatile. My grandmother would often serve it with (what us kids called) "banana potatoes" (my grandfather grew the most incredible variety of creamy, yellow-fleshed fingerlings). The kitchen garden on the farm always had an abundance of white onions and fresh dill, which are the backbone of this sauce. When you try making this recipe just use the fresh dill, otherwise the taste just won't be the same.
I think one of the most iconic Ukrainian recipes that almost everyone knows about is the Pierogi (also referred to as Varenyky depending on what region of the Ukraine your family came from). Here, Johnston has given two family pierogi/perogy recipes. One weekend afternoon my daughter and I gave Grandma Kay's Polish Pierogi Dough a try. Velvety in texture and a jiffy to roll and re-roll out, we spent the afternoon making our own blueberry-filled pierogies. Completely delicious, I kept with my own family tradition and served them with a generous dollop of sour cream mixed with brown sugar. I love how Johnston really gives such great perogy making tips and advice. If you've always wanted to give making these a try her recipes would be a great place to start.
To say that cooking from Johnston's The Prairie Table makes me homesick is probably one of the very best compliments I can pay her. Reminding me how recipes like the ones in her book would grace the tables of family potlucks, barbecues, and gatherings brings such a warmth into my heart, as does her poignant and humorous way of writing. Even if you're not from the Prairie, let Johnston's devotion to encouraging families to congregate around the table inspire you.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Appetite by Random House for providing me with a free, review copy of this book. I did not receive monetary compensation for my post, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 7, 2020
Borrowed from the library originally, I liked it so much I bought it - didn't want to give it up.
May 22, 2019
I love, love, love Karlynn Johnston's recipes. I'm an avid follower of her daily online recipes. So I was thrilled to get this cookbook today. Seriously the cold chicken picnic drumsticks are the best! My kids beg for them in our picnics. BBQ chips coating! Mmmmm
Most of her recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients are all ones I recognize. There's also some trickier recipes but the instructions are so clear. A fantastic section of all time loved Ukrainian recipes too!
Great photographs and great recipe selection. Thank you Kitchen Magpie!
Most of her recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients are all ones I recognize. There's also some trickier recipes but the instructions are so clear. A fantastic section of all time loved Ukrainian recipes too!
Great photographs and great recipe selection. Thank you Kitchen Magpie!
July 11, 2019
There is something here for any event, especially Manitoba events. The first chapter is Ukrainian Dishes. SO HAPPPY!
Totally going to try:
Medivnyk (Ukrainian Honey Cake)
Tropical Coleslaw
Rum 'n' Cola Glazed Picnic Ham
Slow Cooker Beef Dips
Classic Canadian Butter Tarts
Chocolate Dipped Banana Meringues
Prairie Cherry Black Forest Trifle
Ambrosia Salad Squares
Iced Coffee & Cold Brew Coffee
Amaretto Sour
Totally going to try:
Medivnyk (Ukrainian Honey Cake)
Tropical Coleslaw
Rum 'n' Cola Glazed Picnic Ham
Slow Cooker Beef Dips
Classic Canadian Butter Tarts
Chocolate Dipped Banana Meringues
Prairie Cherry Black Forest Trifle
Ambrosia Salad Squares
Iced Coffee & Cold Brew Coffee
Amaretto Sour
June 4, 2019
Please, and I cannot stress this enough, adopt me, this book gave me serious hunger pangs and now I need to call my mom and ask her to make me her crepes. We call them fancy sandwiches, not pinwheel (maybe a North End thing?), and my favourite filling is cream cheese and maraschino cherries.
June 25, 2019
Added to wish to purchase list
November 11, 2019
I borrowed this from the library and am now considering buying it. That should say a lot! Down to earth recipes, mostly intended for casual settings and sharing, with Canadian and Ukrainian twists. Really reminded me of refined versions of my own hometown classics. What I've tried so far has been delicious! And aside from Saskatoon berries, all the ingredients are easy to get in your average grocery store.
July 25, 2024
4* I love the culture that Karlynn brings to her audience. Canadian prairie life, Ukrainian, mom, hostess... all these flavors combine in a cookbook that is full of love and yummy food. I will be trying at least a dozen of the recipes soon. I guess it's a 4 star book for me, because I'm not really into the whole cocktails section.
December 30, 2019
Adorable photos (please may I have all of those vintage dishes and glasses?) and fun to read. Will I make all of these? No. But it felt like a modern take on those old cookbooks your grandma has. There are some definite keepers too. Buttery mushroom rice has my name all over it.
March 16, 2020
I'm not sure if I've ever stopped on a page of a cookbook and gone straight into the kitchen to bake it. But that's what I did with the blueberry muffin recipe in this book. And they were so so good. I definitely recommend this cookbook.
January 28, 2021
Nice Cookbook
The recipes are fairly mundane but I gave it an extra star for the beautiful photos of vintage Bartlett and Pyrex! Absolutely gorgeous.
The recipes are fairly mundane but I gave it an extra star for the beautiful photos of vintage Bartlett and Pyrex! Absolutely gorgeous.
February 1, 2024
Beautiful book, full of amazing recipes.
November 8, 2024
Would enjoy cooking through this when I have a chance.
October 11, 2025
I love this cookbook more every time I borrow it from the library! Simple and delicious homemade recipes. ❤️
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews