A Taste of Fame and The Potluck Club Cookbook-Book Review

If you like reality television, church small groups and cooking-then you’ll enjoy reading A Taste of Fame by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson from the Potluck Catering Club series published by Revell. Reading this new book is similar to watching a reality show-with an added twist: inside the lives of the producers and the contestants.

A Taste of Fame by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson is a well written novel about church women who are members of a Potluck Catering Club. In this book, they unintentionally find themselves smack in the middle of a reality television show about cooking. When you explore the book you discover characters rich with personality, personal struggle and conflict resolution. It’s exciting to read from beginning to end.

I enjoyed reading A Taste of Fame by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson and found myself captivated by the main story and individual struggles of the characters. Written by two authors, the book contains a variety of character personalities from Donna the desirable bachelorette to Bubba the ambitious cook. Read the book and follow numerous characters from their small town to the big New Your city. Enjoy the view from the perspective of these diverse characters!

Since the book revolves around the Potluck Catering Club, several food dishes are mentioned in the book. What a delight to discover the recipes in the back of the book. I selected a few dishes to try, including the: Mississippi Mud Pie, Vanilla Latte Mix, Cappuccino Mix and even the Captain’s Stew. I found the food reminiscent of something my grandmother would cook- homemade flavor with simple ingredients. When I made the Mississippi Mud Pie my youngest daughter mentioned it in the dinner prayer, “Dear God, thank you for giving my Mom time to create this wonderful meal for us and making the delicious Mud Pie!”

I was inspired to try more recipes from The Potluck Club Cookbook by the same authors, Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson. Be warned: this cookbook produces enough to feed several women at a church supper. I found myself sharing the food with my in-laws and neighbors. We had so much food; my family of four was getting bored with leftovers-even the Mississippi Mud Pie! The book is good for large cooking events and filled with high-calorie dishes- a must for any potluck event!

Both books, A Taste of Fame and The Potluck Club Cookbook were given to me by the Revell Publishing for my review. I was delighted to read both books are write my opinion here and also for Amazon. Both books are available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker publishing Group.

My Amazon Rating 5/5

You may want to try Grandmother’s Coconut Chess Pie and taste the flavor yourself. You’ll find this recipe mentioned on page 83 in the book, as Linda says: “I inherited this recipe from my Grandmother Evans. It’s one of the best pies I’ve ever tasted!”

Grandmother’s Coconut Chess Pie

2                              eggs

1 Tbsp.                  flour (should be heaping)

1/8 tsp.                 salt

¼ Cup                    white sugar

¾ Cup                    white Karo syrup

1 tsp.                     vanilla

1                               unbaked pie shell

¼ lb.                       butter

12-14 oz.              coconut (can or bag)

Beat eggs well and set aside.  In mixing bowl blend flour, salt, and sugar, then add eggs.  Next add syrup and vanilla, beat until well mixed.  Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell.  Slice butter into thick slices and cover top of pie.  Sprinkle coconut on top of pie and bake for about 1 hour in 300 degree oven or until firm and brown.  Serves 8