Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The author of the novel Life at These Speeds turns his attention-gleefully and surprisingly-to cornbread in a quirky cookbook that boasts delicious recipes and a nice bite of cornbread history. After an introduction in which he proclaims that cornbread should be the country's official bread (new U.S. citizens should get a piece of it after the swearing-in) and unofficial bread, too (it ought to be on all fast-food menus), Jackson offers a brief account of the foodstuff's place in America's past. Interesting tidbits abound: archeo-botanists think it was popcorn that clued people into corn's edibility some 7,000 years ago; corn is both grain and a vegetable; and in 1917, a cookbook suggested that bleary-eyed early risers make "1917 War Coffee," in which molasses-coated toasted corn was supposed to stand in for ground coffee. Jackson's recipes include both basic (Sweet Cornbread is cakey and rich) and highly inventive (Popcorn Focaccia is excellent, and involves Jackson's own method of milling flour from popcorn) breads. Other treats include Caramel Corncake, classic Griddlecakes, Crinkle-Top Sugar Cookies and Honey Snail, a sweet yeast bread Jackson says can be eaten so many ways that it's "pure breakfast anarchy." Humble cornbread has found an impassioned champion and a creative baker in Jackson. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Jackson, whose first novel, Life at These Speeds, was published last year, just loves his cornbread (he's also on a mission to make "cornbread" one word instead of two, as Webster's and other dictionaries prefer). His amusing, rather egocentric cookbook offers "A Pithy and Perfunctory History of Cornbread in These United States," along with 50 recipes for cornbread and its cousins, from Creamed Corn Cornbread to Tamale Pie to Caramel Corncake. Some readers will find the book very entertaining, while others may find Jackson's oh-so-clever style a bit grating; and his topic is a rather narrow one. For larger and regional collections. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
