The Newlywed Kitchen’s Award-winning Four Cheese Mac n Cheese

A little over a month ago, my friend Ashley Rodriguez of NotWithoutSalt asked me to dinner. The catch? It would be a potluck featuring recipes from The Newlywed Kitchen. “A bunch of food bloggers and I thought it’d be fun to start a cookbook club, and yours was the first book that came to mind,” she said. “We would like to invite you to dinner, if you’re free.”

curried chickpea salad

Of course, I happily accepted. I was so honored that these wonderfully talented people were taking the time out of their busy lives to come together and cook my recipes. I will admit that I was a little afraid that some of them might find problems with the recipes, or that some of the dishes might not have turned out. Given the amazing talent gathered in the room there that night—all talented home cooks, great photographers, and prominent bloggers—I probably needn’t have wasted any energy worrying. The food was stupendous, as good as any that ever came out of my test kitchen. I am so glad the bloggers found the recipes simple and delicious.

pasta salad with arugula and cherry tomatoes

Bourbon-Glazed BBQ ribs

We ate around the table at sunset, the table crowded with moms, dads, toddlers, and babies, digging into our heaped plates of ribs, mac n cheese, and curried chickpea salad. Two of the desserts that night were successfully made gluten-free by Shauna (GlutenFreeGirl) and Jeanne (Four Chickens). Their versions of two of my favorite sweets in the cookbook—the super simple Samoa Blondies, and the towering Red Velvet cake with Bourbon Cream Cheese frosting—tasted virtually identical to the original recipes. I was enormously impressed.

Dijon mustard potato salad

As you can see, these dishes have not been styled in any way–and appear just as you would make them at home. It was such a joy to see them all together in one kitchen. The cookbook was such a dear project to me, and once I turned it in, it was a long wait–almost a full year!–to see the final product printed. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of just knowing that people are actually out there purchasing the ingredients and taking time out of their day to make these recipes. It is surreal. I am so humbled by the way the book was celebrated that night.

Blue Cheese Crackers

Chocolate Mudslide cookies with Marshmallows

Samoa Blondies (made gluten-free by GlutenFreeGirl)

Red Velvet cake (made gluten-free by Four Chickens)

A big thanks to all the food bloggers who participated in this cookbook potluck. I enjoyed every bite–you are all such great cooks! Thanks also to Dana Wootton and her beautiful family for generously opening up their lovely home to us all.