The Recipe Box

By: Viola Shipman

Narrated by: Susan Bennett

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Filled with cherished memories and treasured recipes, The Recipe Box is a touching tribute to the women and food that unite us and connect our past to the present." (Richard Paul Evans, number-one New York Times best-selling author)

In The Recipe Box, beloved author Viola Shipman spins a tale about a lost young woman and the family recipe box that changes her life.

Growing up in northern Michigan, Samantha “Sam” Mullins felt trapped on her family’s orchard and pie shop, so she left with dreams of making her own mark in the world. But life as an overworked, undervalued sous chef at a reality star’s New York bakery is not what Sam dreamed. 

When the chef embarrasses Sam, she quits and returns home. Unemployed, single, and defeated, she spends a summer working on her family’s orchard, cooking and baking alongside the women in her life - including her mother, Deana, and grandmother, Willo. One beloved, flour-flecked, ink-smeared recipe at a time, Sam begins to learn about and understand the women in her life, her family’s history, and her passion for food through their treasured recipe box. As Sam discovers what matters most, she opens her heart to a man she left behind but who now might be the key to her happiness.  

The Recipe Box is a warm and heartfelt audiobook listeners will love.

©2018 Viola Shipman (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

We bake because we love someone

This isn't my usual fare, but sometimes to rest from my special forces, murder mysteries, and sci-fi first loves, I look for recipe stories, you know, the ones that take place in coffee shops, catering businesses, cookie kitchens, or pastry pantries. These usually involve murders the women must solve, and vary widely in quality. This book has no murder, no "action" and yet it was delightful.

This is a multi-generational love story, love for the land, for serving others, for family, for heritage. There is only a little confusion as the story jumps through time to tell various stories, but you can get through it. These are normal, everyday events that all our families have gone through, but are the stuff of lore and love. It ends up being interesting all the way through as you hear how the women of the orchard handled hardships and good times and changing times. And how the recipe box ties them all throughout. The narration is good, and maintains the tone of groundedness. This is well-worth your time, and you might enjoy trying some of the recipes.

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4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Good story!

Living in northern Michigan, I loved this book. I was eager to download it, as I adore stories about the past, and especially about food. I listened nearly straight through. Very enjoyable listen, and the narrator did a great job. My only complaint is that I was hoping for recipes that were authentically "old." They obviously aren't. The very first recipe mentioned for apple crisp called for Honeycrisp apples, which Michiganders know aren't native to Michigan and weren't even developed until several decades later than the 1930s that the recipe supposedly originated. It would have been a better story if the author used real recipes from that generation -- it would have given the novel more authenticity. Still, overall a great story.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Recipes and More

I enjoyed this book once I got into it. Seemed slow at first. I gave it 5 stars because the story was family generational, a New York love story, and a whole lot of recipes. The story is based in Michigan which attracted me as a midwestern girl. I love Susan Bennet’s narration. I enjoyed learning about the apple orchard business and the many recipes the grandmothers put together. A lively book sometimes that made me laugh out loud.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not enough stars!

Not enough stars for how much I enjoyed this book.
I liked the audio version but to get the most from the recipes, a print version is preferable. I have ordered the book and 3 more for family members because the way the family is connected by food is like our family.

Pie = love

The past can at times be something many want to forget, however in this cast the past is a jewel that continues to shine its light for all to see. With in this story the history of the recipe box the traditions the values that are a part of this family and how they have grown and survived so many years are in the story’s they share and the food they cook, the characters with in are sooo clearly brought forth and given life by Ms Shipman that u feel
You know these people. The love and laughter from Grandma willow the sheer frustration you feel at Sam not seeing the magic in her family line and sweet Sexy Angelo who is the wildcard who figures out how to reach Sam. This book is so much yet words can almost not truly define the magic the emotion you will feel taking this journey to the heart of the RecipeBox.

Quaint orchard stories!

I really enjoyed the home harvesting and family baking and community love shown through the book. I plan to share with a few people that love growing and making foods themselves. Ver enjoyable listen

Loving inspiring and tasty

Feel good strong and inspiring
Story.. didn’t want to stop listening. Full beginning to end story

Perfect for a baker.

As much as I love Audible, I wish I’d bought the hard copy of this book simply for the recipes recited in the story. A wonderful blend of a family story and the food that ties the generations together.

addictive

really enjoyed. I did not want to stop listening. now I want to organize my recipe box.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful