Did you know that Military Spouses Day is this Friday, May 8? In honor of Military Spouses Day, Sourcebooks has asked me to share with you The Military Wives’ Cookbook: 200 Years of Traditions, Recipes, and Remembrances by Carolyn Quick Tillery.

This is more than a cookbook, it’s full of stories and photographs illustrating the rich history of American military wives. I even read one, about military wives during the American Revolution, as a bedtime story to one of my daughters. Each recipe is preceded by a brief anecdote or quote, such as, “Yes, we are sometimes called camp followers, but we don’t mind. . . We know all about the comfort and cheer that goes with us, and then–we have not been left behind!” [Frances Roe]

Because of the wide variety of situations and locales where American military wives are stationed, the recipes cover a broad range: from cheese grits, to beef fajitas, to Confederate plum pudding, to champagne punch, to peanut brittle (I’m looking forward to trying this one!).

The Military Wives Cookbook contains six sections:

• Teas and Coffees
• Buffets, Brunches, and Lunches
• A Taste of Home: Dinner Family Style
• Alfresco Dining
• Over There: An International Affair
• Home for the Holidays and Other Celebrations

My favorite is the Teas and Coffees section, with categories such as An Independence Tea Party; Midwinter Tea with Friends; Lady’s Afternoon Delight: A Garden Tea Party; and Morning Bridal Shower Coffee for Twenty-Five.

Fascinating and sometimes tear-jerking, The Military Wives Cookbook weaves together scenes, foods, and stories that offer a glimpse into more than 200 years’ worth of history of the American military wife.