Okay, it’s warm weather, spring is in the air - yes, here in Virginia it is anyway - and in Atlanta too I hear. And today I received my copy of Caravan Cookbook: An Inspirational Guide to Family Cooking. It ROCKS. If you like cooking and food and camping - you will love this book. The link above is an affiliate link, cause I don’t get paid to review books - I just love checking out new stuff and the affiliate link helps me with my habit. I’d say that 80% of the books I receive I don’t post here because I’m just not thrilled with them. Only the thrillers get a post here - the others get an Amazon review or a post elsewhere or never see the light of day because I just don’t like them.

But this is another one of the RVing, or Caravaning as it’s called in Europe, books from a UK publisher I love. Both books they’ve sent in the Caravaning series (The other was “My Cool Caravan” which is amazing - a collection of RV’s or caravans, from all over the UK). The quality of the construction and photos and pages of books rivals ANYTHING I’ve ever seen in the U.S. Seriously. Just holding their books is like holding 800-thread count sheets - so smooth and inviting. Anyway, the recipes in this book are designed for camping - but would be amazing in any kitchen. There are about 30 recipes I’ve never seen - but that look so good - like Lettuce Soup (yes, LETTUCE), ham (Parma or proseuto) and peach salad (YUM!) for that salty and sweet taste…it sounds odd, but the photos make it look yummy! There’s a potato and bacon salad that’s on my menu for later this month, right after the Tomato and Basil tart - which is a lot like a pizza. You use puff pastry instead of pizza dough, cherry tomatoes, basil and pesto…or the pork loin simply marinaded and slathered with pure maple syrup instead of the traditional bar-b-que sauce.

The directions and descriptions are written for the Brits - so “hob” and “knob” and several of the terms for cookware, stove, fire, and utensils are a little odd, but fun to read. Actually the whole thing is a fun read. It’s easy to tell the author has children since she references them in the recipes and has versions without spices because the children don’t like chili for instance, and the adult version - with chili, because the kids do. There are Thai dishes, lamb, chicken, deserts and even a great recipe for Pink Lemonade (from pink grapefruit). If you’re tired of the same old cookbook - check this one out. It’s not only a culinary treat, but a visual one as well. Cannot recommend it highly enough! The ONLY thing I didn’t like about it was there is no calorie, fat, sodium analysis of any of the recipes. If you’re on a diet you’ll have to do the figuring yourself. On the other hand, you get the distinct sense someone whose cooking you love has just shared their very personal and special recipes with you and I like that! Every page is a photo and they did not skimp on photography quality. Beautiful, beautiful images of food, camping, cooking. If nothing else just sitting and looking at the pictures could take up an entire afternoon.

I think it’s like $16.29 on Amazon (PRE-ORDER PRICE!!) - and I’d have happily paid $24.95 or even $34.95 for it. Excellent, excellent cookbook! Kudos to Monica Rivron for writing it! Well done!