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'!

 

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.

The Casserole Queens Cookbook

I think the subtitle of this book says it all..."Put some lovin' in your oven with 100 easy one-dish recipes"--after reading this book I couldn't agree more! Authors Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock have written The Casserole Queens Cookbook, one of the most entertaining cookbooks I have read in a while. The cover art is pure "vintage 1950's" with these two savvy women in pearls and dresses holding scrumptious casseroles. Once you open the cookbook, you realize that the book is so much more than 1950's cooking! The casseroles in this collection have a distinctly "contemporary" touch and are family-friendly fare that will appeal to adults and kids alike. I adore the recipe titles (i.e., Pimpin Paella and Frenchy Toast Casserole) and the personal stories that begin each recipe. The stories let the reader know that these recipes are 'tried and true" and mean something to each of the authors. Some of the casseroles are a little fancier than others but I think any home cook will find something to love in this collection. Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock (aka "The Casserole Queens") started their home delivery business in Austin, TX in 2006. They have been featured on Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Bobby Flay Radio on Sirius XM and on other television and radio shows. Check out their website at wwww.CasseroleQueens.com for other tasty meals that can be fixed on any night of the week!

Teach Your Kids the Joy of Slow Cooking

The library currently has several "Fix-It and Forget-It" Slow Cooker Cookbooks in its collection. Each one showcases a different type of meal such as entertaining, diabetic cooking, Christmas recipes or feasting with your slow cooker. I am very excited to be able to tell you about the latest entry in the slow cooker series, Fix-It and Forget-It Kids' Cookbook: 50 Recipes to Make in a Slow Cooker by Phyllis Pellman Good. The cookbook contains a series of recipes divided into the categories of breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinner and dessert. There is a great beginning section introducing kids to the characteristics of slow cookers and encouraging parents to let their kids cook with them by giving tips on how they can help. There are tips on how to measure, how to follow a recipe, safety tips and descriptions of the equpment you'll need to create these fabulous recipes. I especially enjoyed the lip-smacking lasagna and gooey chocolate pudding cake recipes and plan on preparing them with some favorite children in my life! The recipes are straight-forward, easy to use and the print on the page is big enough for a child to to read comfortably. I encourage you to don your apron and use this book to help your kids have some fun cooking time with you. If you enjoy this cookbook, I suggest you try out some recipes in one or more of the other books in this series.

Food Wars: North vs. South

I read the most entertaining book yesterday, Somebody Stole the Cornbread from My Dressing by Elizabeth Gourlay Heiskell and Susanne Young Reed. This book is a very humorous look at the comparisons and differences between the northern and southern parts of the United States by comparing each regions take on foods, social events and etiquette issues. The book is a series of essays followed by recipes (i. e., weddings) and each essay is a delight to read! Elizabeth and Susanne grew up in Rosedale, MS where Elizabeth met Luke Heiskell, married him and settled in Cleveland, MS where they raise three girls and she is an instructor at the Viking Cooking School in Greenwood, MS. Susanne (unfortunately) took a different route and after atteding Ole Miss and receiving her Ph. D. in Education, she fell in love with a Yankee named Charlie Reed, married him and moved to south-central Pennsylvania for his career and to raise their son Carter. This move gave Mrs. Reed a unique view on the differences between the North and South---she lives these differences everyday! My favorite story is about Susanne's first Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania, where she "saved up" her carbohydrate calories for her first taste of Thanksgiving dressing. She eyed the savory dish and closed her eyes for the first bite, but was stunned to find nothing but bread--where was the savory grittiness of the cornbread that she had been longing for? The story of the meal is hilarious and though Susanne has grudgingly come to appreciate bread dressing, her heart still belongs to the southern dressing she grew up loving. This is a cookbook as well as a story of southern culture, and something that should not be missed. If you like this book, try also reading Gayden Metcalfe's Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral and Jill Conner Browne's The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love.

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!

Magazines Help with Christmas Preparation

This blog post is by Evangeline, Local History Librarian



It's that time of year again...



In just a few days, the holidays will be upon us! You know what that means--food, food and more food! Now is a good time to start planning for those holiday meals and the library has just what you need. I'm not talking about our wonderful selection of holiday cookbooks, but our great assortment of magazines featuring the latest holiday recipes and decorating ideas. What better way to celebrate the season than with ideas from three of my favorite magazines for recipes, period--Country Living, Southern Living and Taste of Home. All three of these magazines contain classic "southern" and "country" style cooking. Their recipes are usually very easy to follow and full of flavor.



The November issue of Country Living features recipes from "The Great Thanksgiving Cook-Off." The magazine asked five chefs to come up with a Thanksgiving meal using traditional ingredients like turkey, stuffing, potatoes and cranberries. Some of the dishes that caught my eye included: cornbread stuffing with sweet peppers, onions and celery, roast turkey with hoisin gravy and roasted wild mushrooms with garlic and shallots. All of the recipes are listed in the back on page 120 and there are great ideas for leftovers beginning on page 111.



My all-time favorite magazine for recipes and all things decorative is Southern Living. I come from a long line of typical southern mothers. I learned from them how to cook and keep house on a budget starting at a young age and, as I get older, I appreciate those skills more and more. Southern Living's November issue offers four Thanksgiving menus that you can mix and match to suit your own family's taste. The menus start on page 93 and offer both traditional and non-traditional fare. The Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta picture on page 96 (recipe on page 98) looks fantastic and the Green Beans with Garlic (recipe on page 102) is a super simple recipe that will go well with any holiday meal. For a list of all the recipes in the November issue you can turn to page 140. Not the cook this Holiday? You may also want to check out the "Family Weekend Getaways Under $500" and the excerpt from Fannie Flagg's new novel I Still Dream about You.



Another go-to magazine for delicious recipes is Taste of Home. One of the reasons I love this magazine so much is that it is written and edited by every-day folks like you and me. The recipes are simple, down-home fare easily prepared by even a novice cook (Thanksgiving is definitely not the time to learn how to cook, however). In the October/November issue, page 54 has a recipe for Maui-inspired Turkey Breast Roll that looks simply delicious. There are ste-by-step pictured instructions to help and some quick and easy appetizer ideas on page 47. Another good article to check out contains tips by cookbook author Katie Lee.



If you don't want to worry with heavy cookbooks or if you want a new twist on the traditional holiday meal, the magazines here at the library are a good choice for you. Remember that the newest magazine issues do not check out, but you may make copies of any recipe that tempts you. Magazines that do check out may be kept for one week only and then they must be returned so that others may enjoy them. Please remember to take care of the library's magazines--they are easily torn and damged with food and drink. You can also find recipes on the magazines websites: http://www.countryliving.com/, http://www.southernliving.com/, and http://www.tasteofhome.com/.

Try a Taste of Thai

I have recently donned my "cooking hands" and dabbled with Thai cooking. I am a great fan of dumplings and chicken satay and was pleased when I received a bamboo steamer for my birthday! Wanting to broaden my horizons, I decided to check out the Thai cookbooks in the library. I enjoyed looking at the Complete Thai Cooking book by Hamlyn so much that I went ahead and purchased a used copy for myself. This book has beautiful full-color illustrations of 90% of the dishes listed in the book---the few pictures that aren't included are mainly of sauces or stocks. The book opens with a nice history of Thai cooking and a description of the equipment needed to make traditional Thai food. Also included is a glossary of "Cook's Terms" that defines many of the ingredients used by Thai chefs. Most of the recipes are on the left page of the book with a picture of the finished item facing it on the right page, and include the number of servings, the preparation time and the cooking time for the recipe. I can't pick out my favorite recipe, but I have decided to try the "Khun Tom's Pumpkin Soup" and the "Mushroom and Snow Pea Stir-fry" as soon as my cookbook is delivered. I really enjoyed exploring the dessert section of this cookbook---the coconut cream custard served in bowls made from banana leaves looks especially wonderful. If this book has made your taste buds salivate, try also Classic Thai Cuisine by David Thompson or The Food of Thailand by Sven Krauss.

The French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook

Mireille Guiliano is the #1 bestselling author of French Women Don't Get Fat, the ultimate non-diet book on how to enjoy food and stay slim. This cookbook is the follow-up to her diet book, as it contains recipes that are the cornerstone of her philosophy. Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook is filled with mouthwatering, simply prepared dishes that favor fresh, seasonal ingredients and and high taste. The recipes are created with easy cooking methods and emphasize pure flavors and ingredients. Eating with pleasure as well as in a healthy way is important to the French woman (as it is to all women :) and Guiliano also includes recipes for desserts and chocolate as well as advice on entertaining, menu planning and wine selection. This cookbook is a great choice for anyone wanting to experiment with great French recipes as well as trim their waistline! The cookbook also contains stories from Guiliano's childhood in France, her life in Paris, Provence and New York and tales about travels and meals for business acquaintances, friends and family. Mireille Guiliano sums up the book when she says it is "a beautiful, practical lifestyle guide to living well, eating wonderfully, and getting the most out of life with the least amount of stress." Guiliamo was born and raised in France, is married to an American, and divides her time between New York City, Paris and Provence. Visit her online at http://www.frenchwomendontgetfat.com/

Try a New Mexican Dish

I have discovered the most adorable new mexican recipe book! 500 Mexican Dishes, by Judith Fertig claims to be "the only compendium of Mexican dishes you'll ever need," and I believe she is correct! This collection of recipes offers a full range of authentic Mexican recipes, from appetizers and snacks to numberous fajitas, casseroles, sauces, and grilled dishes. Also included are recipes for for entertaining a crowd including festive desserts and both hot and cold drinks. I especially enjoyed the recipes for classic Mexican basics like soft corn and flour tortillas, which is a skill I have always wanted to learn. The recipes in this book are not from one region of Mexico, but instead relect the geographic diversity of the country. Each recipe includes a full color picture of the finished product, as well as several pages of variations on certain recipes with the basic recipe referenced. The book is a small size, too, which makes it perfect for standing on your kitchen's recipe holder! The introduction also includes definitions of the different regional cuisines and descriptions of crucial ingredients and equipment needed. Authoer Judith Fertig formally trained at La Varenne in Paris and Le Cordon Bleu in London. She is a Kansas City-based food writer whose work has appeared in international newspapers and magazines. She is also a cookbook author, culinary instructor, and food stylist and has appeared on several national and local television and radio programs.

Gourmet Game Night

While many types of entertainment have suffered during the recession, the popularity of board games is on the rise. And with more game nights at home, there of course is the need for more hours d'oeuvres. Gourmet Game Night by Cynthia Nims comes to the rescue and applies several different snack strategies in an effort to eliminate such social dilemmas as sticky playing cards, greasy dice, and stained Monopoly money. Skewers make for a perfect hands-off approach to treats like lamb and olive kebabs and herb-marinated shrimp. Sandwiches are a time-honored way to stay dainty. Among the ten offered are chicken salad with orange and walnuts and petits croque monsiers with Gruyere and plum tomatoes. And if it is a food that cannot be stabbed or placed between slices of bread, it can probably be miniaturized and self-contained. Witness the baby baja tacos, where seafood, cilantro, and sour cream are wrapped tight in a six-inch tortilla, or the stuffed large pasta shells with kale-rocotta filling. Nims also includes tiny desserts such as mocha cheesecake bars and large drinks like lava lounge punch, with rum and Chambord, to help placate sore losers.

Yummy Treats with Bobby Flay

I was watching the Food Network yesterday during lunch and spent a nice half-hour drooling over Bobby Flay making homemade lamb chili with a red pepper relish, a cumin creme fraiche, guacamole and fry bread. It looked so delicious! When I returned to work, I was inspired to explore some other recipes in cookbooks written by Bobby Flay. One cookbook that caught my eye was Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries and Shakes. The book discusses all sorts of relishes and condiments to elevate the "classic burger flavored with salt and pepper" to the status of a gourmet meal. After you've mastered the burger, you can experiment with making the best French fries, whether they are grilled, fried, or oven roasted, or made from potatoes, sweet potatoes or plantains. You can then top off your meal with a scrumptious, creamy shake! The recipes in this book are easy to follow and have beautiful colored photograph illustrations. I love Bobby Flay's relaxed manner and way of teaching--this cookbook is perfect for any level of cook. If you aren't fond of burgers, the library also has several other Bobby Flay cookbooks you could try! Bobby Flay is the chef-owner of three Mesa Grill restaurants (in New York City, Caesar's Palace Las Vegas, and the Bahamas), Bar Americain, Bobby Flay Steak and Bobby's Burger Palace. You can discover more information about Bobby Flay by checking out his website at http://www.bobbyflay.com/.

New Cookbooks for Diabetics

As more people in the United States, and our community, are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, more books are published to help these folks win the fight over this disease. The library recently received two new book donations to help with meal planning for diabetics. The first title, Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy gives lots of tips on how to enjoy food while managing your diabetes. Author Hope S. Warshaw, a nationaly recognized expert on healthly eating and diabetes, acknowledges that meal planning can be one of the hardest parts of managing diabetes. This is a new edition of her best-selling guide, and it is divided into three sections: 1) basic nutrition and healthy eating goals for pre-diabetics and diabetics; 2) an explanation of each major food groups with tips and strategies on how to fit the food groups into your diet; and 3) how to put your healthy eating plan into action. The book is easy to read and would be a helpful guide for someone newly-diagnosed with diabetes or needing a "refresher course" on how to keep their blood glucose levels on target. I especially enjoyed the section on how to read food labels! So, once you've figured out how to eat when you are a diabetic, exactly what do you eat? Nancy S. Hughes' The 4-Ingredient Diabetes Cookbook gives lots of simple, quick and delicious recipes using just four ingredients or less! The book opens with some handy tips about kitchen tools and preparation basics. There are recipes for each food course, from beverages to snacks, vegetarian dishes, seafood, vegetables and fruit sides and desserts. The book has a big typeface and includes "Cook's Tips" on each recipe. The book also includes the Exchanges and nutrition information for each recipe and both books have been endorsed by the American Diabetes Association.

Southern Cooking With Family Recipes

The September 2008 cover of Redbook magazine caught my eye.

“Country Music Singer, Trisha Yearwood dishes up some NEW family recipes with down-home heart.”

I read the magazine article where Trisha talks of putting a cookbook together with her mother and sister. She speaks of asking her mother for measurements of ingredients to which she would reply with, “Oh, just sprinkle in the salt.” I laughed when I thought of my own experience of asking my grandmother for her recipe of Sour Cream Coconut Cake and my mother of how to make homemade biscuits. Not following a recipe, they would try to explain how to make these. For myself, I need a recipe. My grandmother took the time to measure out the ingredients for the Sour Cream Coconut Cake. She wrote the recipe down for me and signed it with Love, Nannie. I thought it very sweet of her. I now can make the delicious cake but no such luck with the homemade biscuits. I just buy them frozen.

After reading the magazine article I thought, I’ll check the library catalog to see if we have a copy of this cookbook. Sure enough, there it was. My wait on the reserve list was well worth it. I found the family stories entertaining and couldn’t help but reminisce over some of my own family times cooking. I love southern food and I can’t wait to try some of the new recipes.

The title of the cookbook is, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen.