The Quilter's Kitchen

[Holly]

In the tradition of every character needing their own book, comes The Quilter's Kitchen. Anna was introduced to Elm Creek in Circle of Quilters. In that book, she interviewed to become one of the new Elm Creek Quilters but was, instead, hired as the head chef for Elm Creek Manor. This book covers one day as Anna and Sylvia clean out the Elm Creek Manor kitchen in preparation for a major remodeling.
Anna is trying to find her place among the quilters and, predictably, the story is full of Sylvia's reminiscences and she shares her memories with Anna as they come across old family heirlooms. Elm Creek stories are always about traditions and here we learn more about the Bergstrom family feasts and celebrations. Elm Creek stories are also about Sylvia helping the younger members learn about life and their place in it, and this book is no different. Lessons are learned, the kitchen is cleaned and a new quilt is planned.

The book is as much a cookbook as it is a novella. As a recipe is mentioned as part of a memory, the real recipe is shared at the end of a chapter.

While I like the story's premise that "a kitchen is the heart of the home" and "gifts of the table gather family and friends close", I think that you can have too much of a good thing. I don't think that every character needs their own story. Having said that, I did enjoy the book.

A short, easy read.