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!

June is Bridal Season

June is traditionally thought of as the month of brides and all things bridal. In fact, in the U.S. it is the busiest month for the wedding industry. I thought I would showcase a few books to help you with your bridal needs. One is specifically about weddings; two feature entertaining tips and tricks; and the last one helps you to let go if things in the marriage go south.

Weddiculous: An Unfiltered Guide to Being a Bride by Jamie Lee (with Jacqueline Novak) is a fresh, funny look at all things bridal. The author--a stand-up comedian, TV writer, and actress—talks about her experience planning her own wedding and gives practical and hilarious tips to other brides on how to not run yourself (and others) crazy during this stressful process. Jamie opens each chapter with a snippet of the kind of advice that big bridal business gives to potential brides; she then blows that advice out of the water! This book is worth the read even if you’re not planning a wedding.

Looking for ideas on entertaining in general? Why not check out Modern Hospitality: Simple Recipes with Southern Charm by Whitney Miller or How to Celebrate Everything by Jenny Rosenstrach?

Whitney Miller was the Season 1 winner of MasterChef hosted by Gordon Ramsay. This young woman hales from Poplarville, Mississippi and is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. Her book contains more than 75 original southern-style recipes, ideas for entertaining, and stories from her own family and traditions.

Jenny Rosenstrach includes more than 100 recipes in her book; each one designed to celebrate those days most special to your family. She includes complete menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve as well as ideas for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Super Bowl Sunday. She also includes notes on her own family rituals for holidays and birthdays and why it is important for families to celebrate together.

If your wedding doesn’t pan out into eternal wedded bliss, then, The Optimist’s Guide to Divorce by Suzanne Riss and Jill Sockwell may be worth reading. When their own marriages began falling apart, the authors looked and looked for advice to help them through their tough times. They both realized that they needed the support of other women who understood what they were going through. In this book they bring together that practical advice on everything from deciding to divorce, custody battles, and moving house to making a plan, budgeting for your new life, and jumping back in the dating pool. Most importantly, they teach women that it’s okay to hurt, but there is hope and healing on the horizon.

It's That Time of Year Again!

     Thanksgiving is just around the corner and, as always, we have plenty of cookbooks to help you with your holiday dishes.
     We also have the most recent holiday magazines to help you with new recipes for your holiday entertaining. While the newest issues cannot be checked out of the library, you can access our array of e-magazines through Zinio magazines on our website. Just type https://www.rbdigital.com/warrenms/service/zinio in your computer's web browser. You can also download the app for your iPad, iPhone, Android, and Kindle Fire device and take your E-zines wherever you go!

     The November issues of Country Living, Cooking Light, Food Network Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Rachael Ray Every Day, and Southern Living are chocked full of delicious takes on classic recipes. Why not try the Pumpkin Cheesecake on the cover of Country Living? Tired of pumpkin flavored everything? Then, Southern Living has a German Chocolate Pecan Pie. Yum! Cooking Light has a whole spread called "Thanksgiving Cook Book" that contains updated and healthier versions of classic dishes. How about some Whole-grain Spelt and Cornmeal Biscuits or Triple Mushroom Stuffing? (I'm getting hungry just writing this!)   From appetizers to dessert--and everything in between--you can find it in these magazines or in one of the hundreds of cookbooks we have here at the library. Bon Appetit!

   

Cookbooks Galore!

     It's that time again! We've gotten a brand new crop of cookbooks with which you can hone your culinary skills. This selection contains healthy and satisfying recipes that can tame the hungriest appetite.

     First, we have Jamie Deen's Good Food by Jamie Deen (of course) and his son, Jack. These classic recipes have been cooked and passed down for generations. There are chapters on soups, vegetables, sandwiches, desserts, and more. If you flip the book over, you get a special section called, Rooster's Cafe where Jamie's son, Jack, shares kid-friendly recipes that he loves. There are also family stories and tips for stocking your pantry and spice rack. Jamie and Jack's goal for this book is getting families cooking and eating healthful meals together. And, with recipes like Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons, Broccoli and Bacon Twice-Baked Potatoes, Lemon Shortbread Cookies, and Candied Orange Peel, who could resist trying these simple, delicious recipes with their own children?

     Next, we have Prevention RD's Everyday Healthy Cooking: 100 Light and Delicious Recipes to Promote Energy, Weight Loss, and Well-Being by Nicole Morrissey who is a registered dietitian and diabetes educator. This book was designed with the health conscious in mind. Morrissey has been posting light and healthy recipes on her blog since 2009. These recipes are well-balanced and delicious and each one includes complete nutritional facts and serving suggestions. She also includes information on adjusting portion sizes as well as converting recipes for gluten-free, vegan, and diabetic friends. Why not try the Zucchini-Sausage Pizza, Watermelon Slush, Baked Falafel, or the Coconut Shrimp and Chickpea Curry? What have you got to lose except pounds and bad eating habits?

     Along the same lines as the previous book is The Diabetes Comfort Food Diet by Laura Cipullo, RD, CDE and the editors of Prevention. With recipes like Guilt-Free Spinach-Artichoke Dip, Grilled Pork Tacos with Mango Salsa, Beef Stroganoff, and Creamy Pumpkin Mousse, who can resist these "healthified" versions of comfort food classics? This eating plan is approved by the folks at Prevention magazine and is designed to give you the tools you'll need to manage--and even reverse--your insulin resistance while enjoying those foods you absolutely love.

     Finally, we have Dinner Pies: from Shepherd's Pies and Pot Pies to Turnovers, Quiches, Hand Pies, and More by Ken Haedrich. The author's breezy style takes you through these 100 creative (and delicious) recipes that could be used as a tasty main course for your weeknight supper for family or that get together with friends this weekend. Haedrich gives his best tips and tricks for perfect crusts so that cooks of all skill levels will enjoy these savory recipes. There are recipes for Bacon & Tomato Mini Tarts; Cabbage & Brie Torta; Broccoli, Mushroom, & Ham Quiche; Classic Beef Pot Pie; and my all-time favorite Natchitoches Meat Pies!

Why not check out one of these new cookbooks today?

Bon Appetit!

Refresh Your Home for Spring!

     Spring is in the air and it's time to dust off those flower pots and clean out the cobwebs. We have a number of resources here at the library to help you with your spring cleaning and sprucing up. One resource that you may not have considered is our magazine collection. We have magazines available for check-out and digital magazines that can be viewed anywhere you have an internet connection.

     Thinking of starting a garden for the spring or want new ideas for your existing garden space? We have Mississippi Gardener, Southern Living, and Garden & Gun. Thinking of repainting and redecorating a room or two in your home? Why not check out House Beautiful, Traditional Home, or Country Living? Want to learn some new recipes to for that spring cocktail party. Why not check out Food Network Magazine, Rachael Ray Everyday, or Good Housekeeping?

     While the library offers a wide array of home decorating and improvement books, sometimes you want the latest styles and ideas to help you refresh your home. Magazines are a great way to do that. If you don't feel like coming into the library to check one of these out, then why not check out our online magazines? You can find them by following this link:
https://www.rbdigital.com/warrenms/service/zinio/landing?

Food and Great Literature Combined!

Let's start this review off with a warning - this is not a book to read if you're hungry.

In Voracious, author Cara Nicoletti brings her blog Yummy Books to book form with recipes from and/or inspired by books.

The book is divided into three parts.  Part one is Childhood and features sixteen recipes including:

•  Breakfast Sausages from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series
• Currant Buns from Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden
• Pea and Bacon Soup from E.B. White's Charlotte's Web

Part two is Adolescence and College Years.  It contains seventeen recipes including a fava bean and liver recipe based on Thomas Harris' book The Silence of the Lambs - never fear though.  This recipe uses chicken livers.

Part three is Adulthood, containing seventeen recipes such as:

• Brown Butter Crepes from Gillian's Flynn's Gone Girl
• Red Flannel Hash from Pam Houston's short story The Best Girlfriend You Never Had
• Challah from Isaac Bashevis Singer's story Gimpel the Fool

At the end of the books, there is a listing of the authors and their books that inspired the various recipes.  A great book for those who would like a new way to sink their teeth into their favorite stories.

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.

It'll Be Thanksgiving Before You Know It!

It's hard to believe, but in one month, it will be time for Thanksgiving. A lot of people tend to sail through this holiday in favor of Christmas, but I love Thanksgiving because it's not about presents or fancy decorations. This is a time for coming together with family and friends and giving thanks for all the blessings of the previous year. And, of course, it's about the food! Whether you celebrate with the traditional turkey and sides or do your own thing, the meal is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving gathering.
If you're like me, sometimes you want something a little different, but what to do? While most recipe sites on the internet have wonderful recipes, you often have to sift through dozens to find one that is right for you and your family. Here's an idea (an oldie but goodie) why not check out some of the holiday magazines here at the library? Even if the magazine you want cannot be checked out, you are certainly welcome to make a copy of any recipe you want for your personal use. We get a great many wonderful magazines with recipes galore: Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Southern Living, and, of course, Cooking with Paula Deen, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Cooking Light, Food Network Magazine, and Taste of Home. I encourage you to come in and thumb through the November 2013 issues of these magazines to see if you can find a new recipe or decorating idea for your holiday gathering.
My family is trying hard to eat healthier and Thanksgiving is no excuse to stop doing this. There are some wonderful lighter fair to be found. Instead of potato salad, why not try the pearled barley & corn salad found in Every Day with Rachael Ray (Nov. '13)? Rachael Ray also has a section of mix & match menus for the turkey, sides, and dessert.
Good Housekeeping has a section by Ina Garten - a.k.a. the Barefoot Contessa, which highlights a traditional, simple, delicious meal for Thanksgiving. It also boasts Ina's 10 simple steps for planning and enjoying your holiday. For example, Ina suggests making a game plan, writing out the menu and shopping list for each aisle of the grocery store. She also suggests prepping as much food as possible before the big day.
If you're not looking for lighter fair on your day, (I can't really blame you) then there are plenty of recipes, tips, and tricks in the November 2013 issue of Food Network Magazine. If you're a baker, how about trying the white chocolate-cranberry cheesecake on page 87? If you want to brush up on your kitchen skills before the big day, why not check out the section titled "Chefs' 50 Best Thanksgiving Tips"? I think I'll indulge for dessert and make the maple pumpkin pie with salted pecan brittle found on page 134 of Better Homes and Gardens (Nov. '13)!
Whatever you choose to do this Thanksgiving, remember that the library has magazines and cookbooks to help you with your holiday plans.

   

Beat the Heat with a Cool Summer Salad

In the steamy Mississippi summer time, I often do not feel like cooking a huge, hot meal for myself.  What better way to enjoy your supper, and celebrate the lovely abundance of summer gardens, than by making yourself a beautiful salad for dinner!  50 Spectacular Salads by Steven Wheeler is a Step-By-Step book that shows the reader how to make fifty wonderful salads, from main courses to special occasion dinners and sweet salads for dessert.  Each recipe is on the left side of the page with a full color picture of the finished product on the right-hand side.  Each recipe step is numbered and clearly marked and includes tips on how to arrange the salad prettily on a plate.  Especially handy is a small set of pictures on the left-hand side of the recipe page, that show what the recipe items look like, in case the reader does not know what arugula, etc. is.  The book opens with sections on salad leaves, dressings, equipment and how to grow a kitchen herb garden.  This is a great book for the beginning chef or an experienced one and it is great for helping you plan your next salad adventure!

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'!

 

Super Foods for Pregnancy

Many of my friends and family members are expecting new additions to their families, and better nutrition during pregnancy is a frequent topic of conversation for us.  I discovered a book that the library owns, that is a great find for expectant moms!  Nutritionist Fiona Wilcock's Super Easy Drinks, Soups, and Smoothies for a Healthy Pregnancy describes quick and delicious meals on-the-go, that are packed with the nutrition that moms to be and babies need.  The cover of this fabulous book is very attractive, and it is filled with full-color photographs of the recipes.  Why is good nutrition while pregnant and breastfeeding, so important?  It has been proven that what happens during the nine months

that a woman is pregnant, is a major determinant of her baby's long-term health and what she eats and doesn't eat will have enormous consequences throughout the baby's life.  Unfortunately, due to the major hormone changes during pregnancy, many expectant women do not enjoy the smell of cooking, do not crave food any longer or are nauseous.  The idea behind this book was to help pregnant women maintain a good pregnancy diet even when she can't eat as she'd like to, by having nutrient-packed food in liquid form.  The first part of the book discusses why hydration is important and focuses on ingredients, nutritional quality and drink-making equipment needed.  The second part of the book contains recipes, and even a section on how to make homemade stocks and non-alcoholic cocktails!  This book is a wonderful tool and the recipes can be used by any person who enjoys eating flavorful smoothies and soups.

Go Barefoot in Paris

Ina Garten is one of my favorite chefs on Food Network.  On her "Barefoot Contessa" shows she prepares tasty meals for her fans, using ingredients she purchases from the stores near her home in the Hamptons.  In her book, Barefoot in Paris, Ina shows readers how to prepare simple, rich French dishes in your own home.  Many of these recipes are classics and share techniques with the recipes.  Barefoot in Paris is also filled with stories of Ina's love of the city, bustling outdoor markets, and variety of shops, from the local charcuterie (butcher shop) to the fromagerie (cheese shop). This book ccelebrates the food that you find on every corner of the city.  The book is filled with beautiful photos and in my opinion, the souffle' pictures are the best ones!  The resources section has great full-color pictures of French ingredients that the reader needs to try, which are included in the book's recipes.  This book is a truly magnificent celebration of French cuisine and how to prepare it.  If you are itching to try your hand at preparing a new style of cooking, this recipe book has great ideas for you to try. 

Heavenly Icebox Pies

Nothing says spring to me like a cool slice of pie!  Tempt your tastebuds (and your culinary skills) with Icebox Pies:  100 Scrumptious Recipes for No-Bake No-Fail Pies!  Author Lauren Chattman's book gives lots of examples of delicious, make-ahead desserts for the beginner to advanced cook.  The recipes are imaginative, fun, and perfect for entertaining, special occasions or as an everyday treat. Besides your usual lemon and chocolate pies, the book includes instructions for making Gianduia Pie (with hazlenuts and nutella), a couscous and apricot pudding pie and a fig and walnut pie!  There is even a handy end section on "Dressing Up" your pie which includes directions on how to make a variety of sauces and fun things such as sugared nuts and nougatine (almond brittle).  With great photos and detailed directions, this book is a sure winner for any pie lover!

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

     Eat Drink Delta by Susan Puckett is a hungry traveler’s journey through the soul of the South.  According to Matt Lee and Ted Lee, authors of The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern Cookbook,  “Finally!  A book devoted entirely to the foodways of Mississippi’s Delta—cradle of the civil rights movement, birthplace of the blues, and a confounding culinary region where stuffed grape leaves cozy up to barbecue, tamales to fried green tomatoes, and kibbeh to lemon ice box pie.  Puckett makes sense of it all—town, by town, kitchen by kitchen, dish by dish—in an engaging travelogue that takes the reader to family-run roadhouses, seasonal tea rooms, postmodern bistros, and out-of-the-way juke joints.  In her sojourns, Puckett charmed the best recipes out of the region’s cooks, making this not only the best insider’s guide to the area but a superb Delta cookbook as well.”

     With colorful photos and interesting writing, this is a great book for an armchair traveler.  And since some of the places mentioned are relatively close, I’d have paper and pen handy to make a list so I can get out of that armchair and give them a try.  There is a chapter on Vicksburg covering the city’s favorites along with some recipes.  Alas, the recipe for the glazed carrots they make at Walnut Hills is not included.   Is your favorite listed?  Check it out and see.

Homestyle Quilts: Simple Patterns and Savory Recipes

I discovered a very delightful book today!  Being a quilter, I enjoy examining every new quilting book that arrives on the library's shelves.  Homestyle Quilts:  Simple Patterns and Savory Recipes by Kim Diehl and Laurie Baker is a wonderful addition to the library's collection.  The book is unique in that it pairs quilting patterns with recipes---for example, the "Bygone Baskets" is paired with a "Sante Fe Soup" Recipe that one of the author's quilting friends served the quilting group for lunch.  Both the quilting and the recipes are easy to follow, with detailed pictures and descriptions of the patterns and the quilting process.  The book is great for beginners as well as advance quilters.  My favorite aspect is that the authors show updated views of older quilt patterns, using contemporary fabrics.  There is also a great "Quiltmaking Basics" chapter listed at the end of the book which showcases illustrated techniques. 

Mexican Recipes in Your Slow Cooker

I'm a huge fan of my slow cooker---I cook with it at least twice a week at my house!  I enjoy being able to come home to a meal that has cooked safely all day, without me having to lift many fingers to fix it.  The library has many slow cooker recipe books available, but we just received a very intriguing new one-The Mexican Slow Cooker by Deborah Schneider. I must admit, at first glance, the recipes in this book look a little complicated.  Basically, the slow cooker is used in these recipes to perform the "gentle cooking" of the recipe with the cook having to perform "prep work" and "finishing touches."  The slow cooker cornbread recipe looks delicious as well as the Enchiladas Suizas and Mole.  Also included are great recipes to make tasty-looking tortillas that you can fill with one of the meat recipes included in this cookbook.  I believe this recipe book is better suited for the more advanced cook, and there are plenty of authentice recipes to choose from!  

The Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet

The library has received a great new diabetes book, The Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet! The idea behind this book is that beating diabetes, or improving your blood sugar, involves the basic concept of eating less and moving more.  Now, we all know that is a great theory, but actually putting that into practice is tough! The weight-loss experts at the Mayo Clinic have put together a great combination of diet tips, recipes, good and bad habits, the food pyramid and other ideas to help you lose weight and keep it off. The book is well written and the tips are easy to follow. This book is geared toward all types of diabetics, newly diagnosed or not, and will provide great inspiration for all readers.

Fabulous Slow Cooker Meals

I have been using my slow cooker a lot lately, because it's an easy way to cook great meals while being away at work and it does not heat up the house as much as using the oven.  The library has many wonderful slow cooker recipe books, and one of the latest ones we've received is wonderful!  The Everything Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook by Rachel Rappaport contains 300 recipes fit for any cooking occasion.  I really enjoy this cookbook because it has a lot of "foundation" recipes that can be used as the basis for other recipes (such as roasted vegetable stock, poached chicken, roasted garlic and carmelized onions.)  The recipe book opens with a great chapter on how to cook healthy meals in the slow cooker, and includes a section on how to adapt your favorite meals for the challenges of the slow cooker.  The recipes in this book are diverse---from appetizers and snacks, dips, chili, meat and vegetable main dishes, to desserts and recipes for a couple or a crowd.  The book ends with two appendices discussing slow-cooking tips and how to make your favorite recipes lower in fat. This book is great for anyone who is an "old hand" at using their slow cooker or a beginner.   If you like this book, try alos Dana Carpender's 300 Low-Carb Slow Cooker Recipes.