posts may contain Amazon affiliate links, which earn me a small commission when you buy (but doesn't cost you anything extra). Occasionally I receive free products and/or run sponsored posts—this will always be stated clearly in the post. Thank you for supporting this blog.

This website contains some quotations, excerpts, and screen clips from copyrighted material. These uses fall well within the copyright doctrine of "Fair Use".
Thursday, November 9, 2017

Lavender-Lime Soda | The Welcome Home Diner

Lavender-Lime Soda | The Welcome Home Diner
Lavender Simple Syrup
Welcome to the TLC Book Tours stop for The Welcome Home Diner, the latest food-centric novel by author (and food blogger) Peggy Lampman! This is a novel for all of you foodies out there—it'll make your mouth water from page one with a melange of Polish and Southern-inspired food descriptions, as well as homegrown and locally sourced ingredients and creative recipe ideas.

The Welcome Home Diner is the story of two cousins who take a chance by opening a diner together in the "fertile ground" of Detroit, betting on the billions of dollars that are going into its revitalization. The Michigan setting makes this book that much more special to me, since I grew up there (minus 3 high school years) and attended college there...although I've always been a "west coast (of Michigan)" girl. But I've been to Detroit and have friends in the area, and have a soft spot for any part of the mitten.

Like I said, go in armed with the knowledge that if you aren't hungry, you will be before too many pages. There are even a handful of recipes included at the end of the book, giving you the option of bringing some food from The Welcome Home Diner to life in your own kitchen.

And while I do feel the main focus is food, there's plenty of relationships, community, family, life, and a cast of colorful characters woven into the pages and storyline. I'd definitely take a little roadtrip to walk through this diner's front doors and sit in a sunny spot.
Lavender-Lime Soda | The Welcome Home Diner
Since there was so much, I stopped taking physical notes of the food early on (I could have filled up several pages with my observations). And while one of my favorite foods is mentioned and made with local ingredients...greens with potlikker (pass the corn pone!)...I couldn't get something that was mentioned very early on out of my head. I would adore being able to walk into a diner and order a house-made soda. Fortunately they are pretty simple to make at home with the help of a flavorful simple syrup, freshly squeezed juice, and a bottle of club soda.

You inhale a tingling blast of aromatherapy when lavender-lime soda is placed between your hands.

The Welcome Home Diner by Peggy Lampman


The Welcome Home Diner

author: Peggy Lampman
publisher: Lake Union Publishing (October 10, 2017)
genre: Women's Fiction
paperback: 352 pages

"foodie" read: Oh yes.

opening sentence: I take my seat behind the breadboard and plunge my hands into the sticky mound.

teaser: Betting on the city of Detroit’s eventual comeback, cousins Addie and Samantha decide to risk it all on an affordable new house and a culinary career that starts with renovating a vintage diner in a depressed area of town. There’s just one little snag in their vision.

Angus, a weary, beloved local, is strongly opposed to his neighborhood’s gentrification—and his concerns reflect the suspicion of the community. Shocked by their reception, Addie and Samantha begin to have second thoughts.

As the long hours, problematic love interests, and underhanded pressures mount, the two women find themselves increasingly at odds, and soon their problems threaten everything they’ve worked for. If they are going to realize their dreams, Addie and Samantha must focus on rebuilding their relationship. But will the neighborhood open their hearts to welcome them home?

about the author: Peggy Lampman was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. After earning a bachelor’s degree in communications—summa cum laude—from the University of Michigan, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a copywriter and photographer for a public-relations firm. When she returned to Ann Arbor, her college town, she opened a specialty foods store, the Back Alley Gourmet. Years later, she sold the store and started writing a weekly food column for the Ann Arbor News and MLive. Lampman’s first novel, The Promise Kitchen, published in 2016, garnered several awards and accolades. She is married and has two children.
Peggy Lampman, author

connect with the author: website | blog | facebook | twitter

recipe inspired by the book: Lavender Lime Soda

tlc-tour-host

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


Yield: varies (+ 3 cups simple syrup)
Lavender-Lime Soda (and Lavender Simple Syrup) recipe

Lavender-Lime Soda (and Lavender Simple Syrup)

prep time: 1 hour and 30 MINScook time: 1 MINStotal time: 1 hours and 31 mins
This fizzy lime soda is rounded out with smooth, fragrant lavender; it's a delight for the senses!

ingredients:

For the Lavender Simple Syrup:
  • 2 cups cold water
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup food-grade dried lavender flowers
For the Lavender-Lime Soda (amount listed for 1 serving, multiply as needed):
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Lavender Simple Syrup
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from approx. 4 medium limes)
  • 8 ounces (1 cup) cold Club Soda

instructions:

Make the Simple Syrup (yield: 3 cups)
  1. Combine water, sugar, and lavender in a medium pot and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Once all of the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and allow to steep for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Strain the mixture into a jar or bottle with a lid (discard solids). Refrigerate until cold before proceeding. Will keep covered in fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Lavender Simple Syrup
Make the Lavender-Lime Soda:
  1. Stir the lavender simple syrup and lime juice together. Pour the club soda over. Enjoy immediately!

notes

This is easily multiplied (and the recipe makes enough simple syrup for 8 servings), but I recommend making a big batch only if you're going to serve it fairly quickly, so that the club soda does not lose its fizz.
Created using The Recipes Generator




Would you like to comment?