The Romantic Prairie Cookbook Arrives!

Last week, when I opened my mail box, a fat manila envelope lay inside.  The return address revealed the package to be from publisher Ryland Peters & Small in New York City.  And inside the envelope was a copy of Fifi O’Neill’s new book: The Romantic Prairie Cookbook!

After winning a copy of her first book, Romantic Prairie Style, serendipitous circumstances led to a photo shoot with Fifi and photographer extraordinaire Mark Lohman at my home.   

The September photo shoot was actually two-fold: the first part of the day was spent shooting the house for a magazine while the latter part was spent styling and shooting food.  (But at the time, I couldn’t share that  tidbit of information since it wasn’t publicly known that the follow-up to Romantic Prairie Style would be a cookbook.)

In the ensuing six months since the shoot, to say I’ve been eagerly anticipating the cookbook would be a massive understatement.

The Romantic Prairie Cookbook is a feast for the stomach and eyes

And when I cracked open The Romantic Prairie Cookbook, it was quickly apparent that Fifi and Mark delivered once again. 

The styling and photography in The Romantic Prairie Cookbook are simply breath-taking. Mark and Fifi visited many gracious properties and people in their journey to create the book, and so not only are there plenty of mouth-watering food photos, but interspersed with the recipes are charming portraits of farm animals, children, pets, and country vistas.  

The recipes featured in the book are wholesome, family-tested, and honest.   There is no pretension here, just good food, often from ingredients straight from the garden or pasture.  

My husband and I prepared five dishes and we were honored that they all made it into the book.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Spaghetti Squash with Fresh-Grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Venison Stroganoff

Jacob enjoying a Lemon Cupcake

Apple Crisps with Fresh Whipped Cream

all photography by Mark Lohman

I’ve savored leafing and re-leafing through the book, and can’t wait to try out the many recipes I’ve already marked.  Even though this is technically a cookbook, it could easily double as a coffee table book, too!

Though I'm obviously biased, I can't recommend The Romantic Prairie Cookbook enough.  It will hold a special place on my kitchen shelf along with other treasured cookbooks. Many thanks to Fifi and Mark for the opportunity to be a part of this!

-Erin