Carolyn Mark is, somewhat unfortunately for her solo career, best known for her work with Neko Case. Actually, it seems like every artist who works with Neko Case -- be it Ms Mark, Jon Rauhouse, the New Pornographers, or the Sadies -- seems to end up being labeled "frequent Neko Case collaborator."
Well, let's ignore all that. Let's ignore Mark's musical workings altogether, in fact. I'll mention the fact that she has a new album out this week on Mint Records, and its title is Let's Just Stay Here.
That's it, however. We're here to talk about Mark's cookbook, Terrible Hostess: Recipes for Disaster Volume II.
More a zine than a cookbook proper, as it's just 30 pages stapled with a cardstock cover, this is perhaps one of the most entertaining reads about recipes you'll find. It's a slim volume that I could easily see myself reading over and over again. The recipes are actual recipes, but have a certain poetry in their lackadaisical approach. Case in point: the recipe for "Miss Laura's Whisky Cake" contains the following lines:
"Pour in whisky to taste. Aw what the hell...add a little more. (No one's looking & you've been working hard...Have a belt for yourself.)"
The attitude carries over to the timing of the recipes. The first recipe in Terrible Hostess Volume II is timed to Herschell Gordon Lewis' She-Devils On Wheels. Most recipes have suggested musical accompaniment, as well as their alcoholic counterparts. There's quite a few drink recipes in here, too.
Mark's wit shines through in this book, and you'll be able to read through the whole thing in one sitting -- perhaps while listening to her new album, done with NQ Arbuckle? You'll be a little more amenable to the release when you've got Mark's prose in your eyes. I love her music, but Arbuckle's vocals overpower Mark's on most songs, and it's not as enjoyable as it could've been.
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