Elena Craig

I reviewed the Unofficial one in late September 2021, and it was glowing. This one tried hard to be the other one. Didn't work. Mummy Scorpion Pie, here, is lobster pie. I remarked on the Unofficial one that it was pecan pie there. I like that the two were different in that regard! This, too, is a standard Americana cookbook but I feel like...it tries too hard, or more likely, the first one was so fun and campy that I thought an official one wouldn't measure up. It doesn't. The Unofficial one had several recipes and mocktails that I could see myself cooking and eating. Here, not a single one. I wasn't even disappointed in myself, which actually made me feel bad. There are boozy drinks that are pretty, but wow, boring. This version caters to a higher-end clientele who are far more experienced cooks. The Unofficial one, I felt, was for everyone. This was for...not everyone. The book tries to capture the campy tone of the Unofficial one and like...why? I mean, I get why. It doesn't "fit." I can't figure out how it could be different, though. The references are odd. And the synopsis? "Delightfully creepy"? No, the book is not and neither is the movie really. Then again I like horror, and probably have a very different understanding of that phrase.

This didn't work for me, but will be beloved and appreciated by many others. I hope cooks who use this find great delight in it, and that their dinner parties, meals and gatherings succeed..… (altro)