The Family Table: Mealtime Recipes and Conversation

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

This is a departure from the tried-and-true Company’s Coming formula,
the first in the series with an objective in addition to sharing great
recipes. Here the recipes are accompanied, not by the neighborly jokes
and quotes expected in a Jean Paré book, but rather by mini-homilies on
how to create quality time and pass along cherished family values.

The advice is dispensed in small servings, seldom more than four or
five lines at a time, so it is easy to digest. In content, there’s the
obvious “turn off the TV” and a few more-demanding ways to draw all
family members into the conversation.

The moralistic tone set by this material seems to be reflected in the
recipe selection, which is rather unimaginative. The choices are
practical everyday fare for busy families. Several recipes use shortcuts
such as cake mixes, and many are easy enough for older children to
prepare. Kid-pleasing ingredients, such as weiners, make repeat
appearances.

As in all Company’s Coming books, clear directions, easy-to-find
ingredients, and color photos that make the reader want to immediately
start cooking, are value-added features.