Kids and Camping

 

Cooking in a Can by Katherine L. White is the perfect activity book for kids who love to camp and cook! The newest book in our successful children's activities series introduces dozens of techniques for cooking outside. Author Kate White shows kids the beauty of cooking over a campfire, with dozens of delicious and easy recipes like Hot Rock Chicken and Wilderness Wonder Chocolate Cake. From cooking in a can to cooking in a paper bag to cooking on a rock, this activity book produces scrumptious results that kids of all ages will enjoy. Also included are dozens of related activities to keep kids busy, such as making a family banner to identify your camp, planning menus, and organizing cooking supplies and groceries. There are also tips on natural refrigeration, food storage and camp clean up. Chapters include topics such as:

• Cooking Over a Campfire
• The Outdoor Kitchen
• No Pot Cooking
• Hot Rock Cooking
• Pit Cooking
• Make-Your-Own Oven Cooking
• Spit Cooking
• Dutch Oven Cooking

The Girls' Guide to Campfire Activities by Elizabeth Encarnacion is an encyclopedic, nostalgic, and with just a tiny shiver of risk, this collection of enjoyable activities gives girls all the information they need to have the perfect campfire experience. They’ll learn the basics of building a fire; the difference between an A-frame and a teepee fire; how to put the flames out properly; a range of safety procedures; and first aid for minor burns. Girls will also find plenty of fun things to do as the embers glow: recipes for tasty treats, instructions on making a comfy campfire seat, camp songs to sing, and ghost stories guaranteed to frighten the pants off everyone. For those who can’t make it to the great outdoors, there are even suggestions for bringing the campfire experience inside, from starting a fire in a fireplace to making fondue-style S’mores. No fireplace? No problem! The kit includes a DVD of a super campfire with a singalong soundtrack and scary music for story hour. (from Amazon.com)

And here are a few more Kid's Camping Titles:

Cookbooks

Good Food--Fast!: Deliciously Healthy Gluten-Free Meals for People on the Go by Jason Roberts an internationally known celebrity chef, cookbook author, and cast member of the hit daytime talk show “The Chew” on ABC. (From Lyonspress.com) Food is fuel for the body and mind. Chef Roberts knows that if you plan better, you eat better, and he shares the healthy cooking techniques that preserve the inherent nutrients that are present in foods that come directly from nature. Eating well doesn’t have to be boring, tasteless, or time-consuming. With a little imagination, creativity, and advance planning, your life can truly open up to the world of gloriously rewarding foods. Good Food--Fast! includes 100 tasty and accessible recipes, such as Rosemary and Sweet Potato Frittata, for anyone who wants to eat healthfully without sacrificing flavor.

Next, we have Ani's Raw Food Essentials: Recipes and Techniques for Mastering the Art of Live Food. (from Alibris.com) Chef Ani Phyo is back with Ani's Raw Food Essentials, full of everything you need to know to master the art of live food. Phyo shows you how to whip up simple, fresh recipes using what you've already got in your kitchen while also offering tips on dehyrating and more sophisticated techniques. Looking for innovative meals that are healthy and delicious? Phyo offers everything from classic comfort foods like nachos and burgers to Reuben sandwiches and bacon, along with more gourmet dishes like risotto, angel hair pasta, and her "you-won't-believe-they're-raw" desserts. Ani's Raw Food Essentials once again proves that you don't have to sacrifice taste to reap the benefits of raw foods, all while living a greener lifestyle. Recipes include: Broccoli and Cheeze Quiche, Kalamata Olive Crostini, Cashew "Tofu" in Miso Broth, Grilled Cheeze and Tomato Sandwiches, Cheeze Enchilada with Ranchero and Mole Sauce, Pad Thai, Pesto Pizza, and many more.

Korean BBQ is a casual and practical guide to grilling with Korean-American flavors from chef Bill Kim of Chicago's award-winning bellyQ restaurants, with 80 recipes tailored for home cooks with suitable substitutions for hard-to-find ingredients. Kim teaches the fundamentals of the Korean grill through flavor profiles that can be tweaked according to the griller's preference, then gives an array of knockout recipes. Starting with seven master sauces (and three spice rubs), you’ll soon be able to whip up a whole array of recipes, including Hoisin and Yuzu Edamame, Kimchi Potato Salad, Kori-Can Pork Chops, Seoul to Buffalo Shrimp, BBQ Spiced Chicken Thighs, and Honey Soy Flank Steak. From snacks and drinks to desserts and sides, Korean BBQ has everything you need to for a fun and delicious time around the grill. (from Amazon.com)

The Flavor Matrix by James Briscione is a revolutionary new guide to pairing ingredients, based on a famous chef's groundbreaking research into the chemical basis of flavor. A groundbreaking ingredient-pairing guide, The Flavor Matrix shows how science can unlock unheard-of possibilities for combining foods into astonishingly inventive dishes. Briscione distills chemical analyses of different ingredients into easy-to-use infographics, and presents mind-blowing recipes that he's created with them. The result of intensive research and incredible creativity in the kitchen, The Flavor Matrix is a must-have for home cooks and professional chefs alike: the only flavor-pairing manual anyone will ever need. (from Amazon.com)

Designed for One! By Nancy S. Hughes is a cookbook full of Diabetes-friendly recipes. This book is for ONE. It does not contain recipes that can feed an army of 4 to 6 which can leave you with a week's worth of unwanted (and expensive) leftovers, it feeds ONE! This book contains 120 budget-friendly recipes for the dinner hour, including salads, vegetables, grains, entrees and even desserts. As with all Nancy's books with the American Diabetes Association, the recipes are extremely easy to follow with main stream ingredients. The book begins with a 'How To' chapter which helps the reader learn how to shop economically, store properly, stock up 'smartly' and cut corners like a pro in an easy, bullet-form manner. The chapters focus on dinner, but break down into sections, such as salads, sides, entrees (including a wide variety of recipes from grilled and roasted recipes to soups and stews, skillet dishes, stir-fries, hot and cold sandwiches and main salads) and desserts. (from Amazon.com)

Thanksgiving Recipes Time!

Don't forget that the library is a wealth of cookbooks and cooking/lifestyle magazines for use by our patrons.

Want a new recipe for mashed potatoes or a side that you've never tried before? We can help with that.

Have a family member or two who have special diets? We can point you in the right direction.

Want to go all out and cook recipes as close as possible to the original holiday? No problem!

Are you looking for recipes easy enough for your kids to make? We have those too.

Perhaps you would like to keep the little ones busy making crafts and decorations. We have books to keep them busy for hours.

We can even help you print off those recipes and decorating tips you've been saving on your Pinterest boards!

Planning Ahead for Thanksgiving!

Hard to believe, but it's less than 6 weeks until Thanksgiving!  Time to dust off old recipes or why not look through some of our many cookbooks and start a new family tradition?

A Thanksgiving Holiday Cookbook by Emily Raabe

Learn how to make turkey pot pie, corn pudding, and other Thanksgiving dishes.  Recipes are geared so that the whole family can join in!

Thanksgiving Entertaining by Lou Seibert Pappas

Everything from how to prepare a traditional New England style Thanksgiving feast to a more contemporary California influenced Thanksgiving meal.

Historical Thanksgiving Cookery by Robert W. Pelton

Want to try the Thanksgiving dinners that Americans in the past have enjoyed?  This volume contains the favorite recipes from the early days of our nation - from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War.








We have these and many other cookbooks - come in and explore!

How to Negotiate the Non-technical parts of Life

In years past, Shop and Home Economics were part of normal school life.  Now that those classes have become rarer, people are finding themselves in the real world without some of the basic life skills that those classes used to teach.

Here to fill in some of those gaps is The Useful Book by Sharon and David Bowers.  It is divided into two sections, color coded red for Home Ec and blue for Shop.

The first section covers the Home Ec part - Cooking, Sewing, Laundry & Clothing, Domestic Arts, and Life Skills.

• Cooking : Everything from the basic kitchen tools to identifying and handling lettuce as well as how to cook rice is covered.  
• Sewing : Begins with the basic skill of threading a needle and goes onto instruct readers on how to hem, repair holes in clothing, and even make a pillow.
• Laundry and Clothing : Instructs readers how to read and understand laundry labels, how to iron a shirt, and ends with learning how to fold a t-shirt the way you see them on retail shelves.
• Domestic Arts : Skills such as hand-washing dishes, mopping, removing gum from a rug, and Spring Cleaning.
• Life Skills : This chapter covers a variety of topics.  For example : making a household budget, setting a table for a formal dinner and stocking a first aid kit.

The second section is Shop - Domestic Repair, Woodworking & Metalworking, Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical.

• Domestic Repair : Contains topics such as hanging pictures, patching holes in a wall, and caulking a bathtub.
• Woodworking & Metalworking : This chapter suggests tools for around the home, how to determine board feet, building a bookcase, and even how to make earrings. 
• Plumbing : Suggests tools and shows how to deal with clogs, leaks, and basic troubleshooting of plumbing problems.
• Electrical : Shows a basic electrical repair tool kit and also details how to winterize your home, steps to take to cut your electric bill, and how to install a light fixture or ceiling fan.
• Mechanical : Suggests basic garage tools as well as what you should carry in your trunk.  Topics covered includes a variety of basic maintenance steps for both cars and motorcycles such as washing a vehicle, detailing, oil changes, repairing a minor dent, and changing out windshield wiper blades.

The Useful Book is well named and contains topics useful to anyone.

New Cookbooks for Those with Special Dietary Needs

     The library gets quite a few cookbooks every year and I must admit that I can't wait for them to arrive! Many of our patrons--myself included--love to try new recipes and we genuinely love to cook. Unfortunately, if you are like me, then there are some foods that just don't sit well on your stomach. What do you do when there are certain foods you absolutely can't (or won't) eat? Well, we have all sorts of cookbooks for people who have special dietary needs. Most recently we have acquired three new titles that have recipes to hit the spot with those who are vegetarian or those who have food allergies.

     The first book is the Idiot's Guide: Gluten-Free Eating by Elizabeth King Humphrey and Jeanette Hurt. It seems everywhere you turn these days someone is talking about going "gluten-free," but what does that really mean? If you are looking for the answer to that question (and many more), then this is the book to begin your journey. You will learn the difference between celiac disease, gluten allergy, and gluten intolerance. Included are tips for spotting glutenous foods at the market, at restaurants, and when traveling. The authors offer guidance on how to feed gluten-sensitive children--even picky eaters--as well as meal plans to help the whole family thrive on a gluten-free diet. Although this book doesn't have any color photographs of its more than ninety recipes, readers will enjoy them nonetheless. Personally, I have always had good luck with the books from Idiot's Guides, they are always informative and, for those who are just learning about a new subject, they are quite easy to follow and understand. Also included are lists of glossary of terms, product and shopping websites, delivery websites, communities, smartphone apps, support organizations, and other instructional sites. You will also find the shopping list and and food log pages helpful when you are just starting your gluten-free lifestyle.

     The next title in this group is from Good Housekeeping; it's called Vegetarian: Meatless Recipes Everyone Will Love. Before you get to the recipes, there is a short introduction about what a vegetarian diet is, which foods are featured, and tips to help busy people make the most of their time and dollars. With more than sixty recipes--each with a full color photo--this book is arranged into six informative chapters. You can choose from classic vegetarian dishes like Vegetarian Chile, Ratatouille Rigatoni, or Eggplant Parmesan. Perhaps you prefer a hearty bowl of soup or stew. Choose from recipes for Hot and Sour Soup, Chunky Vegetable Chowder, or a classic French Onion Soup. For those who crave the lighter fair that a salad offers, then why not choose one of the Main-Dish Salad recipes? Try the White Bean Panzanella Salad or the Toasted Ravioli Salad. Maybe you're pressed for time. Then you may want to try one of the Quick Dinners or One Dish Meals. Mouth-watering dishes like Broccoli Pesto Spaghetti, Fast Fried Rice, Vegetable Phyllo Pizza, and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese are contained in the last two chapters. Because these recipes come from Good Housekeeping, you know the recipes are fine tuned for flavor and ease of cooking.

     The final book I'll talk about is Cooking Allergy-Free by Jenna Short. This book of one hundred fifty recipes was developed for those who have food allergies. Each recipe is labeled wheat-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc., so that you will know which of these recipes will satisfy the sensitive tummies in your family. The author also offers simple substitutions to convert each recipe for an individual's food allergy. She also denotes whether a recipe is vegetarian or vegan. All of the recipes contained here are kosher. You will find dishes such as Kale and Barley Soup, Rosemary Skillet Chicken with Mushrooms and Potatoes, Edamame Sliders, and Blueberry Lemon Crumble Pie. The author also includes an entire chapter devoted to giving you the essential information about grocery shopping, stocking your pantry, and tricks for setting up your kitchen to be allergen-friendly. She also offers menu suggestions to make it quick to plan weeknight dinners or even a party!
     All three of these books (and many more) are available for check-out from the library. They can be found in the non-fiction section around the 641.563 call number. For non-fiction books, you may check out four of the same subject at one time and keep them for three weeks. If no one has requested any of your books, then you are more than welcome to renew them by coming in to the Circulation Desk or call us at (601) 636-6411. Bon Appetit!

What Are You Cooking?

With the holidays coming up, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the wonderful cookbooks and cooking magazines here at the library. We even have holiday cookbooks in the children's department!
Some of our wonderful cookbooks include: Paula Deen Celebrates! by Paula Deen, Historical Thanksgiving Cookery by Robert W. Pelton, Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers, and Thanksgiving Entertaining and Thanksgiving & Christmas put out by Williams-Sonoma. These books offer recipes and tips for making your holiday special. For instance, in Thanksgiving 101, author Rick Rodgers offers step-by-step instructions for carving the turkey as well as the best way to deep fry you holiday bird. He also includes a section titled "Thanksgiving Menu Planner" to give you some ideas about what to serve for your meal. Historical Thanksgiving Cookery offers recipes from the Revolutionary War through the time of the Civil War. This small book also offers historical excerpts on famous historical figures who enjoyed the dishes featured. If you need any help finding these or other titles, feel free to ask the Reference Desk for help!

We also carry some of the most popular cooking magazines available. We have Better Homes & Gardens, Cooking Light, Country Living, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Food Network Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Martha Stewart Living, and Taste of Home. Some of these may be checked out for one week at a time, or, if you prefer, you may make copies of the recipes you think you would enjoy. Don't forget about our public access computers that allow our patrons and guests to pull up websites for these magazines as well as other recipe sites.

Celebrate National Library Week, April 13-19 @ the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library!

National Library Week 2014 will be packed with exciting programs at the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library!  This year’s theme for the week, April 13-19 is “Lives Change @ Your Library”  This year’s 56th Anniversary of this nationwide observance, sponsored by the American Library Association, celebrates libraries, librarians and the activities and information available to all people. Throughout the week, library staff and guest presenters will host programs for the community.

     National Library Week is a great time to “meet” your friends and family at the library.  Show your support of Mississippi’s Libraries, and your commitment to your community, by visiting us during this special week.  Here is a list of programs:

—Learn how to “Garden With Herbs” on Tuesday, April 15 at 12:00 PM in the library auditorium. Warren         County Master Master Gardener Joelyn James will teach participants how to grow herbs.  The event is a Brown Bag Lunch—attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and drinks and dessert will be provided by the library.  .—Now that you’ve learned how to grow herbs, attend our “Cooking with Herbs” program on Wednesday, April 16, 2014  at 12:00 PM,  hosted by Chef Chris Brinkley, of Anchuca Historic Mansion and Inn.  Chef Chris will create his famous fresh herb marinade and then teach attendees how to make a bruschetta appetizer  using the marinade.    The event is a Brown Bag Lunch—attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and drinks and dessert will be provided by the library.

 —On Thursday, April 17 at 4:00 PM,   Blues harmonica player Bobby Rush will present a “Senior Ciizens Play the Blues” where he will teach Senior Citizens how to play the harmonica.  There is a limit of 30 participants and registration forms are available at the library and the Vicksburg Senior Center.  Registration will be on a first come-first served basis and completed forms must be turned in to the library.  Participants will receive their own harmonica and a great lesson from a famous musician!

—Friday, April 17 9:00-11:00 AM, we will celebrate our loyal supporters with “Customer Appreciation Day!’  Join us for coffee and cookies and some great conversations about books and movies.

     We would like to especially thank the members of the Board of Supervisors and our Mississippi Legislators during this week. Warren County provides over 80% of the money needed to run our library and we are thankful for their support.

Yummy!

     Anyone who knows me also knows that I LOVE cookbooks. For the past couple of weeks, I've been thumbing through two of the newer cookbooks we have here at the library. The first one is Hors d'Oeuvres: New Edition by Victoria Blashford-Snell and Eric Treuille.

This gem has more than 200 recipes and a slew of step-by-step sequences to show you how to create each delectable little morsel. Asian pork balls, marinated Mediterranean olives, roast beef with horseradish cream finger sandwiches, mini sticky orange cakes, triple chocolate biscottini, and Thai chicken skewers are just a few of the delicious and simple recipes this book offers. There are also handy "Cook's Note" sections located throughout the book to help with preparation. Probably my favorite features are the seasonal menu planners for parties as well as the "how much will I need" sections at the beginning. This is a great book to pick up if you are planning a shower, cocktail party, or just some nibbles with friends!

     The second book I've been perusing is called PIES: Sweet and Savory by Caroline Bretherton. As the title says, this book contains both sweet and savory pies as well as how-to sections on different kinds of pie dough (although, many recipes can be made with purchased dough). The recipes in this book are quite a bit more complicated than the above tome, but they are still pretty easy if you have done a bit of baking in your lifetime. You'll find recipes for chicken and cheese empanadas, shephard's pie, pot pie, quiche, chicken pasties, apple strudel, plum crumble, Normandy peach tart, cherry lattice pie, chocolate tart ...you get the picture! (Boy, I'm making myself hungry!) Now, check out one of these, or any of our myriad of cookbooks, and go cook somethin'!

 

Get Cooking with the Pioneer Woman

Many of you might be familiar with the "Pioneer Woman Cooks" show on Food Network.  I have to admit, I was a little reluctant to watch it---I was trying to figure out what I had in common with a woman who lives on a ranch and cooks for hundreds of people????  Fear not--the Pioneer Woman is just like your or I!  the Pioneer woman, (aka, Ree Drummond) has an interesting story.  She lived for years in Los Angeles, and then made a pit stop in her small Oklahoma hometown on her way to a new, exciting life in Chicago.  On one fateful night during her visit, she met the Marlboro Man, in her words "a mysterious cowboy with steely blue eyes and a muscular, work-honed body"...and before she knew it, she was in love.  They married and moved to his ranch in the middle of nowhere, where Ree was thrust into taking care of animals, four young children, and often a host of hungry ranch hands.  Ree Drummond calls herself an "Accidental Country Girl and Ranch Wife," and her new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks is a collection of photos, rural stories and lovely recipes that have defined her experience in the country.  The recipes have full color photos and step by step instructions all with the goal of helping you, and other urban cooks, slow down, remember the joys of family, nature and great food and enjoy life.  Check out more from the pioneer woman at her blog,  www.ThePioneerWoman.com

The Garden to Kitchen Expert

The library just received an interesting book for cooks and gardeners alike. The Garden to Kitchen Expert written by Judith Wills and Dr. D. G. Hessayon contains over 680 recipes for the fruit and vegetables that you grow at home. The book contains classic recipes, methods for everyday cooking and new ideas for making the most of an "abundance" of one particular crop. There is also a great section on how to serve your produce fresh, without cooking and also how to store, preserve and pickle the things you grow. Each fruit and vegetable is presented, with full color pictures, followed by sections on storing, no-cook recipes, basic cooking and then fancy recipes. The book contains a wonderful recipe and produce index and covers almost every fruit and vegetable imaginable. Good news---even if you don't grow your own fruit or vegetables, you can still use the recipes in this book to prepare the ones you buy in the store!

Everyday Easy Recipes

The library recently ordered a wonderful series of books, the "Everyday Easy" series published by DK. This 6-cookbook set is based on content previously published in "The Illustrated Kitchen Bible" and "The Illustrated Quick Cook." The books are: Cakes and Cupcakes, One-pot, Freeze-Ahead Meals, Chicken, Cheap Eats, and 30-Minute Dinners. I love the format of these books--they have great illustrations and beautiful colored pictures of every recipe. There is even a technique section in every book--for example, in Cakes and Cupcakes there is a technique section that shows you step-by-step how to make a jelly roll and in the Freeze-Ahead Meals book, there is a section on "Instant Desserts." Each recipe has a convenient illustration on the bottom of the page stating how many servings the recipe makes along with preparation and cooking times. These books would be ideal for the beginning or advanced cook as they teach techniques as well as recipes. Look for these six new books on our "New Non-Fiction" shelves or reserve one of them today!