From Book to Table: Creating Literary-Inspired Cocktails and Snacks

This one is for all the foodie bookworms out there. Let’s be real: books and food were made to go together—it’s the book-to-table concept! We couldn’t help but come up with some great drinks and snacks to complement our fabulous book boxes. Generally, a glass of wine with a cheese platter or a great cappuccino and slice of cake will do, but we felt it was time to kick it up a notch.

We decided to combine the joy of reading with a little culinary creativity. Whether you’re hosting a book club or simply enjoying a quiet evening with a good book, we’ve got you covered!

Ship of Dreams Box

Our March 2024 magical “Ship of Dreams” box featured Sisters of Fortune by Anna Lee Huber, plus three stunning custom gifts that bring this beautiful book based on a true story to life!

Anna Lee Huber expertly weaves real historical figures and events into this vivid, surprising, and emotionally powerful novel about longing for independence and love and the moments that irrevocably change even the best-laid plans.

Based on the true story of the Fortune sisters, three young women each find themselves at a crossroads when they board the RMS Titanic in the spring of 1912—discover how that maiden voyage would transform their lives in profound and unexpected ways.

Titanic Tea Punch

Ingredients:

2 cups black tea (brewed and cooled)

1 cup cranberry juice

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup gin

Slices of lemon and orange

Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Combine the tea, cranberry juice, orange juice, and gin in a large pitcher.
• Add ice cubes, lemon and orange slices.
• Stir well and serve.

Mocktail Titanic Tea Punch

Ingredients:

2 cups black tea (brewed and cooled)

1 cup cranberry juice

1/2 cup orange juice

Slices of lemon and orange

Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Combine the tea, cranberry juice, and orange juice in a large pitcher.
• Add ice cubes, lemon and orange slices.
• Stir well and serve.

Elegant Tea Sandwiches

Ingredients:

8 slices of white bread

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cucumber, thinly sliced

Fresh dill

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Spread cream cheese on each slice of bread.
• Layer cucumber slices on half of the bread slices.
• Sprinkle with fresh dill, salt, and pepper.
• Top with remaining bread slices and cut into quarters.

Within The Garden Walls Box

Our August 2023 Adult box “Within The Garden Walls” featured Under the Tamarind Tree by Nigar Alam, plus four incredible and unique gifts that brought this powerful read to life!

A compelling, heartbreaking debut novel about the echoes of Partition and four friends whose dark secrets lead to a life-changing night that comes back to haunt them decades later.

Captivating and atmospheric, Under the Tamarind Tree shows us the high-stakes ripple effects of generational trauma and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.

Tamarind Twist

Ingredients:

2 oz tamarind juice

1 oz rum

1 oz pineapple juice

0.5 oz simple syrup

Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Combine tamarind juice, rum, pineapple juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
• Shake well and strain into a glass.
• Garnish with a slice of pineapple.

Mocktail Tamarind Twist

Ingredients:

2 oz tamarind juice

1 oz pineapple juice

0.5 oz simple syrup

Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Combine tamarind juice, pineapple juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
• Shake well and strain into a glass.
• Garnish with a slice of pineapple.

Spiced Nut Mix

Ingredients:

1 cup almonds

1 cup cashews

1 cup walnuts

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
• Mix nuts with olive oil, garam masala, paprika, and salt.
• Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The Cocoa Deception Box

You will definitely want to grab the December 2021 Adult "Cocoa Deception" box featuring The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes. It includes four of our amazing gifts that bring this novel to life, plus a signed bookplate and letter from the author!

Growing up in Spain, Puri was always aware that her deep love for chocolate was a gift passed down from her father. However, it wasn't until his passing that she discovered another legacy left behind for her—a cocoa plantation in Vinces, Ecuador, affectionately dubbed “París Chiquito.”

A captivating tale for admirers of Julia Alvarez and Silvia Moreno Garcia, this riveting narrative whisks you away to the vibrant terrain of 1920s Ecuador. It masterfully intertwines familial intrigue, perilous enigmas, and the authentic historical backdrop of a town heralded as the “birthplace of cacao.”

Cocoa Deception

Ingredients:

1.5 oz dark rum

1 oz chocolate liqueur

0.5 oz cream

Cocoa powder for garnish

Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Combine dark rum, chocolate liqueur, and cream in a shaker with ice.
• Shake well and strain into a glass.
• Dust with cocoa powder.

Mocktail Cocoa Delight

Ingredients:

1.5 oz chocolate syrup

1 oz coconut milk

0.5 oz cream

Cocoa powder for garnish

Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Combine chocolate syrup, coconut milk, and cream in a shaker with ice.
• Shake well and strain into a glass.
• Dust with cocoa powder.

Chocolate Churros

Ingredients:

1 cup water

2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 cup flour

Oil for frying

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Chocolate sauce for dipping

Instructions:

• Combine water, 2 tbsp sugar, salt, and 2 tbsp oil in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in flour until the mixture forms a ball.
• Heat oil for frying. Pipe dough into hot oil and fry until golden.
• Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll churros in the mixture and serve with chocolate sauce.

The Untold Stories Box

Experience our February 2024 “Their Untold Stories” adult box featuring The Women by Kristin Hannah, plus four incredible gifts that bring this remarkable and powerful story to life!

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in Southern California's sun-drenched, idyllic world and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country have too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

Heroine's Highball

Ingredients:

2 oz bourbon

4 oz ginger ale

0.5 oz lemon juice

Lemon twist for garnish

Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Combine bourbon, ginger ale, and lemon juice in a highball glass with ice.
• Stir gently and garnish with a lemon twist.

Mocktail Heroine's Highball

Ingredients:

2 oz ginger ale

4 oz sparkling water

0.5 oz lemon juice

Lemon twist for garnish

Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Combine ginger ale, sparkling water, and lemon juice in a highball glass with ice.
• Stir gently and garnish with a lemon twist.

Patriotic Popcorn

Ingredients:

8 cups popped popcorn

2 tbsp butter, melted

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

Red and blue sprinkles

Instructions:

• Drizzle melted butter over popcorn and toss to coat.
• Melt white chocolate chips and drizzle over popcorn.
• Sprinkle with red and blue sprinkles and toss to combine.

Conclusion

Attention to detail is everything, and when it comes to creating incredible drinks and snacks, presentation is everything! We recently launched The Once Upon a Book Club Boutique and are so excited about our products. They are simply every book lover's dream!

But let’s get back to the presentation—we have the perfect glasses and plates for your drinks and snacks! Both of these are part of The Summer 2024 Collection, which contains stunning, high-quality items inspired by an array of timeless and beloved classic novels. 

Happy entertaining! If you enjoyed this blog, you may want to check out our blog Culinary Tales: Books That Whisk You Away To Foreign Kitchens!