Recently, I was offered a free copy of The Unofficial Hogwarts for the Holidays Cookbook by Rita Mock-Pike. As an avid fan of the Harry Potter series, who was I pass up this combination of literature and cooking?

The cookbook is organized by season with further categorization by event. Just reading the table of contents should transport the reader to the world of Hogwarts.

I love that the first chapter is dedicated to the train ride to Hogwarts. When starting the series, the magic of the food available during that trip was tantalizing. It immediately made me wish that I were a child and had such a train on which to travel.

Studying the recipes in this chapter, it seems that with a wee bit of effort, you could bring some of that food magic to life. From pumpkin pasties to licorice wands to chocolate frogs, you now can enjoy the treats offered to Hogwarts students.

The recipes themselves are detailed. Like any good cookbook, there are images of every item. No need to wonder if you followed directions correctly, simply compare your final product to their image.

This cookbook follows a school year calendar, moving from the fall train ride through other fall events, such as Start-of-Term Feast and Halloween. In winter you’ll find recipes for Yule Ball and New Year’s Eve. The arrival of spring brings an Owl-Mail Feast, as well as a Classic Castle Breakfast. The recipes conclude with summer and dreaded (but delicious nonetheless) celebrations for Cousin’s Birthday and Uncle’s Important Dinner Party.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan and enjoy time spent in your kitchen, this is a cookbook to add to your collection.

The author received a free copy of the cookbook but received no further compensation for this review.