Heart of the Home: Notes From a Vineyard Kitchen

by Susan Branch

With an emphasis on simple preparation and fresh foods, Susan Branch has created the perfect combination of illustration and prose and a celebration of food sure to become a classic of homespun delights. Susan Branch wrote the book completely written by hand and illustrated it with charming and beautiful color watercolors. Ribbon marker.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Art, Cozy, Foodie

159 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 1986

About the author

I'm the author of the Heart of the Home series of hand-written and watercolored books, and most recently, a three-part illustrated memoir that begins with The Fairy Tale Girl (as the appetizer), goes to Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams (for main course), and then (for dessert) it's A Fine Romance, Falling in Love with the English Countryside. (You can take the girl out of the cookbook, but you can never take the cookbook out of the girl.) Hope you love them. I've been waiting a long time to tell this story.

Follow Susan's Blog http://www.susanbranch.com/
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Susan's BOOKTOUR May-July 2016 http://www.susanbranch.com/coming-soo...

Reviews

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love anything by Susan Branch!!! She can do no wrong, if you ask me. I have never been disappointed and always feel uplifted and inspired by her work. I ordered this from her website and got the early release and SIGNED COPY:) Of course, I have had the original forever, but was excited to see how she updated the look and added new recipes and water colors,. The new addition recipe that I have tried so far is the Cranberry Tea Cake with Vanilla Sauce. It's to die for!!! Perfect with the holidays coming up and company in town. This cake is visually stunning too with the cranberries looking bright red and translucent. As always, her recipes are easy to follow and not too complicated and you get wonderful results. They are good for everyday and special occasions alike. Just crowd pleasers... each and every one. I always make something of Susan's when having a party and without fail, I get requests for the recipe. The book has the same wonderfully cozy feel and is done in Susan's handwriting and filled with her gorgeous art on each and every page. Plus, inspiring famous quotes that make you laugh and think;) This would make a wonderful gift for any SB lover or a nice introduction to the new generation. You will not be disappointed. Buy this book!!!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Susan Branch book was Heart of The Home. I bought it at a small decorating store near my home in 1986, cooked many of the recipes and loved it. I purchased the new 30th Anniversary Edition thinking it would make a great birthday gift for my mother. And it very well might, but I am keeping both of them!

[Gina House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, lovely and wonderful to read! Susan Branch’s gorgeously illustrates cookbooks never disappoint. Although there are very few vegan-friendly recipes, many could be adapted for me to enjoy. Every page is a delight to look at and her cheerful voice shines through every handwritten word and illustration. Highly recommended!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 30th Anniversary Edition of Heart of the Home, it has been revised and expanded. This is a beautiful book, with beautiful watercolor paintings, quotes about life & living, antidotes, ideas for entertaining and hostessing.

[Mamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the newest biggest fan of this author!! Her books are so beautiful! She hand paints and hand writes the entire book!! Just the beautiful art in ALL of her books are worth reading, but the recipes are delish and pretty easy. I highly recommend this book. If you enjoy home keeping, or cooking, or gardening you MUST check out her BLOG! There is SSOOOOOO much on her website/blog and it will surely brighten up your day. I've ordered a few of her books. I feel like she is an old girlfriend of mine as we like a lot of the same things....I'm currently reading her latest book, A FINE ROMANCE. If you like journaling or epistolary books, you will enjoy this!! Read that one as well!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty basic receipes but beautfully illustrated in a unique style. The author's prose gives it an additional personal touch.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the updated book cover and the additional recipes.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never rated a cookbook before because I rarely do anything but look through parts of it and try a few recipes in it, even if I am a proud owner of said cookbook.

I've cooked long enough to know these are quality recipes in this particular cookbook.

Susan Branch brings her special artistic touch by adding coziness and happiness to her books with her hand drawn pictures and pithy sayings that she adds to each page. These temptingly delightful recipes even take coziness to another level with food that feels like it came from your grandma's kitchen.

Not all these recipes have an old fashioned feeling. There are recipes for appetizers, sushi and stuffed artichokes.

None of them feel like they are too complicated for me to attempt. I'm looking forward to trying many of them.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading through a cookbook is always something I enjoy and when one of my library's Cookbook Book Club members asked for Susan Branch books, I was very excited. I've met Susan Branch twice and have a number of her books which combine food, lifestyle and memoir in a beautiful package.

Of course, that said, I did have a few group members who found reading the author's hand-drawn lettering a challenge. Everyone in the group enjoyed the recipes they made from this book. I made the Butternut Squash Bisque and it was tasty. I liked this recipe because it used potatoes to thicken and did not use milk or cream. (Sadly, I can no longer tolerate dairy.)

[Kat Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to the amazing Susan Branch. Way back in 1987. I fell in love with her hand drawn illustrations and writings. From the very first page...I'm talking the page where the copyright and the Publishers and the dates go, Susan personalizes it. Its as if she's talking directly to you & to me! The Dedication page had me in tears. This is no ordinary Cook Book my friends. This is like sitting across the table from your favorite Auntie as she shells peas or measures out the brown shugar for cookies. You sit with a steaming cup of coffee and you get all sorts of tips and quotes along with the recipes. My family grew up eating the cream cheese potatoes on page 77 and the lemon chicken on page 92. All the way through this book is a treasure. Susan's note on the endflap says so much as her about a person: "If you have a dream of your own, this book is proof that dreams do come true."

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful - from the handwritten recipes to the imaginative drawings and delightful quotes - a New England treasure!

[R. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great as always. Found the changes and additions! Some one will be getting a copy for Christmas. Glad they're not on Goodreads. Lol

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you have the first one, buy this one, too! Sweet additions are included and it's beautiful, stunning really. Susan Branch's books are a testament to personal style. Her style is unique and consistent, a gift she shares. I wish there were more home themed cookbooks and story books like this. I treasure them.

[Sherry Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read one book by Susan Branch that I have not loved. She is one of those people you feel you have known forever and that you are indeed her girlfriend. There were a lot of recipes in this book that I remember making or my mom making that I had forgotten about and are so good. I love her artwork and the fact that she hand writes all of her books.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't begin to explain how much I love Susan's recipe books. There are so many great recipes (all hearty and scrumptious sounding, if not what some people consider "healthy"). Right now, I have to borrow the books from my library, but I hope one day to own them.

If you enjoy good storytelling, beautiful art, and delicious food, please check out her books.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really fun to read the first book that Susan wrote. I thought of how she had started this book thinking that it was a project that she wasn't sure how to get printed. Yet she did and it changed her life.

[Robin Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook is beautiful! I haven’t tried any recipes yet, but plan to right away! I adored her artwork and lettering throughout the book! Such a cozy, country home feel to it! I plan on finding more books from this author.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed the Autumn book from this series a little bit more, but this is still delightful. While some of the recipes are a little dated at this point, they are still quite appealing and the illustrations are simply charming.

[Jay Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The recipes are ok, nothing really stood out EXCEPT a really easy way to make Asian dumplings. Those are a must. But the main problem with the book was the font they used. It was meant to look like handwriting but honestly was hard to read. It's really hard on the eyes.

[J K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how personal the stories are that go along with these simple family recipes. 💗

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine cookbook!

[Janna Odenthal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book with wonderful recipes.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to read through and look at. Didn't see any recipes I would make, bit still fun.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cookbook illustrated with folk-art type drawings from Susan Branch's life in a cottage on Martha's Vineyard.

[Christina Karvounis · Rating 5 out of 5]

*reviewing 30th Ann edition* Read when first published and I relished the 30th anniversary reread. This is such a unique cookbook and has inspired many gatherings!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook is beautifully illustrated, with handwritten recipes. Much of the content feels dated almost 40 years after it was published, but there are some good classic American recipes in here.

[Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart of the Home: Notes from a Vineyard Kitchen is another charming and aesthetically pleasing cookbook by Susan Branch. While I've found the other couple of books I've picked up by her to be kind of hit and miss, this one was a true delight, and I've already tried a couple of the amazing sounding recipes included within.

Her beautiful illustrations go nicely with the varied recipes she's included within, and I love how so many would be the perfect dishes to whip up if you happen to have company coming over. Most of the recipes seem simple to make, but look delicious, and it's enjoyable that she included a section for every single meal plus desserts and appetizers and entertaining tips.

My one complaint with this book is the same thing I've mentioned with some of her previous titles, and that is the fact that the font that some of the book is written in is hard to decipher, and makes some of the recipes a little bit more complicated to follow.

Overall, however, this is a wonderful book for anyone who is enthusiastic about creating a welcoming home with delicious dishes to prepare for family and friends, and I'd definitely recommend picking it up if you get the chance to do so.

Final Rating: 4/5.

[Karen Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful recipes and illustrations, though I read this mentally subtracting ingredients that my family can't eat. So much butter! (My husband) So many peppers, chili and otherwise. (Me) Lots and lots of salt. (Both of us.) But I'm sure these ingredients can be worked around, and I can't wait to try out some of the recipes. I enjoyed this particularly, Susan Branch's first book, since I had just finished her biography "Nantucket, Isle of Dreams," wherein she tells about writing and publishing it. I seem to be becoming a Susan Branch fan. A slower, gentler way of life, in tune with nature and the seasons.

[Mae Leveson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stepping into Susan’s world is like greeting an old friend. In my imagination, I’m in her kitchen at Martha’s Vineyard, watching as she prepares her favourite recipes. Maybe she’ll let me help and share some of her tips for the perfect dessert.

The summer beach party sounds like such fun. I won’t spoil it for those of you who haven’t read her book, but let’s just say that her recipe is very comprehensive!

I love her illustrations and the care that went into this book is amazing. It really is positive proof that dreams can come true.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! Discovering Susan Branch's 'cookbooks' has been a delight. I use the term cookbook lightly - that is indeed what her delightfully illustrated books are, but they are also a treasure trove of favorite quotes and childhood memories.

All of Susan Branch's books are fun and the recipes delicious - the first might be the best just because. I always anticipate another arrival. Her website www.susanbranch.com is a fun destination