Happy Wednesday everybody! Today I'm doing something a little different: I'm giving you a peek into the kitchens and homes of the amazing recipe testers – from all over the world – who have been testing recipes for the cookbook. All of the photos in today's post were sent to me by blog readers who volunteered to test recipes. I currently have a team of around 50 people, all over the USA and beyond (even as far as New Zealand!), not only testing recipes, but hosting dinner or brunch parties with their friends to share the food they've prepared. It's been so exciting to see everyone's enthusiasm for this project: I love all the wonderful photos everyone has sent, the great feedback, and especially seeing people gathered around the table, enjoying recipes from The Yellow Table. It's truly inspiring to see a community being built before the book is even out.

MB-Testing

Blog reader Mary Beth Hunt, testing recipes in her Nebraska kitchen.

For those of you who are recipe-testing for the book, you know it's a lot of work. (I wrote a blog post last year called Recipe Testing 101 that gives a good overview.) We sent each tester a menu of 4-5 recipes, with themes like "Winter Comfort Food" or "Gluten-Free Brunch" or "Light & Summery" to make it easy to host a meal afterward. My fanastic editor Lauren is overseeing the recipe-testing process (corresponding with the testers, keeping track of all the notes, etc.), and I can't think of a better person for a job. In fact, without Lauren, this book would probably not be out until next year. (Not kidding!) Each recipe in the book is being tested by 3 different testers (in different cities and regions), so we can compile all of the notes and make sure the recipes really and truly work.

Court-Roasted-Nuts

One of my high school buddies Courtney DeLozier, from Nashville, TN, tested these spicy cocktail nuts; her husband Jarod snapped pictures!

The recipe-testing process is really scientific – as the testers will tell you! – and Lauren sent everyone a detailed guide to follow, giving instructions on how to measure everything, what to look for at each step of the cooking process, plus lots of questions like 'How easy was this?' 'Would you make this again?' 'How many lemons did you need to get 1/4 cup of juice?' etc. Ultimately, we want to know: does this recipe work exactly as written? The testers prepare each dish, take copious notes, and photos, and send everything back to us. Lauren and I then discuss the notes, decide what needs to change in each recipe, and go from there. Sometimes, if there are too many issues with a recipe, I retest it myself and make adjustments. Here are a few pictures of some of the dishes that have been tested...

Christy-Scones

Shortbreads (for strawberry shortcakes!) tested by my good friend Christy Tenhaeff, in Rochester, NY.

Erica-Ragu

Blog reader Erika Croonenberghs, from Denver, CO, made the lamb ragu and pappardelle.

Jacqueline-Pizza

Jaqueline Anderson, from Arlington VA, tested my spelt pizza with ricotta and spicy greens.

MB-Crostini

Crostini with goat cheese and fig-olive tapenade, made by tester Mary Beth Hunt.

Several testers have written blog posts about the experience (here and here) and lots have hosted dinner and brunch parties, like the ones below. It has been SO fun seeing everyone's creativity: look at these beautiful table settings (some people even created little menus!) and the pretty food styling! But most of all, I just love seeing people spending time with each other around the table. It's what this book is all about, and I couldn't be happier to have so many of you already embracing this. Thank you!!!

Alice-Walter

My cousin Alice (Baird) Walter tested recipes and hosted this beautiful brunch in Louisville, Kentucky.

MB-Dinner

Recipe-tester Mary Beth Hunt hosted a French Bistro dinner (with her tested recipes) in Blair, Nebraska.

Erica-Dinner

Blog reader Erika Croonenberghs prepared a "Winter Comfort Food" menu (mid-summer!) for her family in Denver, CO.

Rachel-Newhouse

My good friend Rachel Newhouse created a "Spring Dinner Party" menu in Chicago.

P.S. If you're a tester, I'd love to hear what your favorite thing about the testing process was (and/or the hardest)! Feel free to comment below.

P.S.S. My sincere apologies if you wanted to test and didn't get the chance - we got such an overwhelming response, we simply couldn't use everybody who wrote. But please stay in touch...there will definitely be future projects!

(Opening collage photo credits, clockwise from L-R: 1 and 7 by Robert Cornelius; 2 and 3 by Gail Hardie; 4 and 8 by Megan Hartford; 5 by Christy Tenhaeff; 6 by Rachel Newhouse.)