Book Review: Cursed Cooking: A Horror Community Cookbook and Food Horror Anthology edited by A. C. Bauer

“Delicious desires await within. Crack the spine and taste the forbidden.”

📚

Cursed Cooking is a hybrid anthology/cookbook composed of food horror fiction and community recipes enriched by interludes of gorgeous, vivid artwork. The book is divided into three courses: Appetizers: 100-Word Horrors and Hors D’oeuvres; Entrees: Short Stories and Main Courses; and Desserts: Flash Fiction and Sweet Treats.

Favorite fiction contributions for this reader include:

• “Tartare” by T. L. Beeding, a raw and gruesome lesson in vengeance.
  
  
• “Papa Napoli’s” by Dorian J. Sinnott, a horrific and blackly funny account of freshly grated cheese.
  
  
• “Where are the Delegates” by Eric Fomley, a delectable and deeply unfortunate story of errors and offerings.
  
  
• “The Lingering Oil” by Eric Raglin, a haunting tale of bad decisions, abysmal working conditions, sizzling rage, and liberating realizations.
  
  
• “Burnt Biscuits and Gravy” by Alison Thayer, a brutal and misogynistic slow-burn of abuse, murder, and comeuppance.
  
  
• “Death by Chocolate” by Mariah Southworth, a monstrous tale of mysterious carnage, strange symbols, and last-minute wedding cakes.
  
  
• “Consider the Jelly Doughnut” by Kurt Fawver, a gory, sticky-sweet story of neglect, anger, hatred, and satisfaction.
  
  
• “Cracking” by Steve Loiaconi, a spooky and nightmarish story of spectral crustaceans and grisly revenge.

Top recipes on this reader's near-future cooking/baking list include:

• Lazy Bones Chicken Noodle Soup by Kerry E. B. Black, a cozy, hearty recipe for cooks in a hurry.
  
  
• Sweets for the Dead by M. Belanger, a simple, sweet spirit-offering in the form of two-ingredient cakes.
  
  
• Brown Sugar Chocolate Drop Cookies by R. Haven, a delectable, brown-sugar-based reboot of traditional peanut butter blossoms.
  
  
• Blackberry Jam Bars by Desiree Horton, a rich, gooey, and comforting dessert that can be customized to suit any flavor preference.
  
  
• One-Bowl Chocolate Tea Cake by Meranda Tuttle, a mess-free, tea-based cake with varying flavor profiles.

Thank you to Cat Eye Press for sharing an eARC of Cursed Cooking for review consideration. Chock-full of scary stories and intriguing recipes, it offers a unique and creative horror/cooking mash-up, contains something for everyone, and is a whole lot of fun.

🖤Amanda