When you literally need to feed an army...

We've all said it or heard it before. Someone says a recipe "makes enough to feed an army." But have you ever thought about what it would actually take to feed an army? J.G. Lewin and P.J. Huff did.

They are the authors of How to Feed an Army: Recipes and Lore from the Front Lines. Filled with trivia and interesting facts about wartime meals, the book takes a look at our military through a foodie's perspective. (Who needs to concern themselves with "Freedom Fries" when you have Freedom Fighting Foodies?) The people who came up with these recipes are true patriots, stretching every ration and using mind-boggling creativity (Vinegar Pie was a popular treat during World War I) to keep our troops fed. With each authentic wartime recipe, Lewin and Huff give the ingredients needed to make enough for an actual army (100 servings) as well as the version to feed 6-10 people.

Some of the recipes (like the ones for Lobster Newburg, Baked Tandoori Chicken and Greek Lemon Turkey Pasta) sound great. But there are others (like the Baked Bean Sandwiches or Hardtack) that remind you that the men and women who protect our great country sacrifice a great deal to do so.

That's why whenever I see a man or a woman in their military uniform, whether I'm walking through downtown or an airport, I look at him or her right in the eyes and say "Thank you." That simple act of appreciation rarely leads to a full conversation, as the welling tears and tightening throats tend catch us both off guard. But the heartfelt "You're welcome" says it all.

The beauty of being an American lies within the few seconds of that exchange. We might not be the same age, gender, race or share religious beliefs. What we do share is a deeper understanding - a bond that lives within moments like that. And, in a way, the recipes in this book celebrate that.