#cookbook roundup

[sfarticles]

Gifts for foodies: Pick up a book and get cooking

Check out my latest column

https://www.timesherald.com/2022/12/08/gifts-for-foodies-pick-up-a-book-and-get-cooking/

I know that I’m not alone when it comes to reading cookbooks, like the way one would read a novel. The cookbooks that interest me tell a story about the recipes and the author or have a unique theme. Who else is a fan of single-subject cookbooks? Those that feature one “starring ingredient in each of its recipes.

There are those who follow comedian Rita Rudner’s quote, “I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and say to myself, ‘well, that’s not going to happen.” However, they still enjoy a cookbook as a “prop”, or appreciate a beautiful coffee table book, where not one recipe is used, but the glossy cover has mouth-watering visuals.

This is the time of year when many cookbooks are released; just in time for gift-giving season. Going through my ever-increasing collection, I picked some for you to consider as a gift for the cooks on your list. I am sure you will find one to buy for the cook-in-you too.

Recently published, “Philadelphia Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite & Libation at a Time” by Jacklin Altman (2022, Globe Pequot, $21.95) is the perfect gift for those food enthusiasts on your list, especially those who live in the Philadelphia area. They’ll learn how to experience their local food scene. Altman, a Philly-based blogger writes,” Philadelphia is so much more than just cheesesteaks and the football team that finally won a Super Bowl in 2018. And, the food scene has been booming, with new restaurants, shops, and bakeries popping up year over year, bringing their own delicious flair to the city.” The chapters are broken down by neighborhood: Chestnut Hill, Chinatown, Fairmont/Museum District, Fishtown, Manayunk, Northern Liberties, Old City, Rittenhouse, Graduate Hospital, South Philly/East Passyunk, University City and Washington Square West. Bonus crawls include Vegan Eats, Café Crawl, South Philly Cheesesteak, Reading Terminal Market and one that when I visit is a must, Just Desserts. This book has put a visit to Philadelphia high on my list of cities to get to, for my food explorations.

I am convinced that Philadelphia is a mecca for food enthusiasts after reading the above title and the 2nd edition of “The Philadelphia Chef’s Table: Extraordinary Recipes From the City of Brotherly Love,” by Adam Erace and April White (2020, Globe Pequot, $27.95) The recipient of this book can recreate their favorite dishes from more than fifty of the city’s favorite restaurants and chefs. K’Far owner, Michael Solomonov and pastry chef Camille Cogswell share the recipe for Kale and feta borekas. Chef-owner Rich Landau of Vedge, shares his recipe for chilled cucumber-avocado soup with smoked pumpkin seeds. Marc Vetri of Vetri provides the recipe for spaghetti with green tomatoes and razor clams. Dessert afficionados will be able indulge in Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat’s carrot-pecan cake with maple cream cheese icing and Lolita’s cheesecake with cajeta caramel.

The title and whimsical cover of “Food IQ:100 Questions, Answers and Recipes to Raise Your Cooking Smarts,” by Daniel Holzman & Matt Rodbard (2022, Harper Wave, $35) caught my attention. The book will assist the reader in cooking better and smarter, and to increase their food knowledge along the way. They said, “It’s for those who love cooking, eating, and talking about food, but who aren’t necessarily as confident behind the burners as they would like to be.”   The book can be read from the first to the last page, or since each question and its answer stands alone, just explore those that questions and in-depth answers that interest you most. Questions such as:

●  Should I feel guilty for loving my microwave?

● What’s the difference between a $30 knife and a $150 knife?

● What’s the difference between nonstick, cast iron, stainless steel, and carbon steel pans?

● How do I cook pasta, and why does it always taste better in a restaurant?

● Italians, Germans, Israelis, Popeyes: who makes the best chicken cutlet?

● My roasted vegetables never get properly crispy. How do I make that happen?

● I bought an Instant Pot on Black Friday two years ago. Now what the hell am I supposed to cook with it?

● Why is the farmers’ market so damn expensive?

After the answers, there is a recipe that relates to the question. Think of the book as “Cooking 101” with an entertaining approach. The recipient will wonder how they ever got along without it.

Those on your Hanukkah gift list will appreciate “Jew-ish: Reinvented Recipes From a Modern Mensch,” by Jake Cohen” (2021, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $30). By the way, Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights begins at sundown on December 18 and ends on December 26, overlapping with Christmas. Matzo ball soup, Gefilte fish, brisket and bagels are some of the quintessential items when you think of Jewish food. Cohen’s book exemplifies that the cuisine is much more encompassing. He says, he reinvented the food of his Ashkenazi heritage and draws inspiration from his husband’s Persian-Iraqi traditions to offer recipes that are modern, fresh, and enticing for a whole new generation of readers.” For example, the recipe for Everything Bagel Galette incorporates many of the components of the everything bagel. How about macaroon brownies, spinach -artichoke kugel, pumpkin spice babka or matzo tiramisu? The vivid photography shows off the classics as well as his clever creations.

Kids who enjoy baking, especially decorating will appreciate “Cakes for Kids: 40 Easy Recipes that will Wow!” by Juliette Lalbaltry (2019, Gibbs Smith, $16.99) Start with one of the four foolproof cake recipes (chocolate, yogurt, lemon or rolled sponge) and then decorate away. The cover is “The Goldfish in a Bowl.” For Christmas there is “Rosy-Cheeked Santa Claus” or “Lollipop Christmas Trees.” “Tarzan’s Jungle is a masterpiece as is “The Pirate Ship.” The simplest of the recipes are noted by “Ready, Set, Bake” and the more ambitious ones requiring a bit more time (perhaps 15 minutes or so) “Warning: Masterpiece.”

What child doesn’t enjoy spending time in the kitchen, and then enjoying the results of their efforts? Cooking, or at least helping is the perfect activity for a cold winter day. Written for children ages 8 to 13, “The Complete DIY Cookbook for Young Chefs,” by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2020, $19.99) teaches them to prepare common store-bought items from scratch.  From peanut butter, chocolate hazelnut spread, and apple sauce to bagel chips, cheddar cheese fish crackers, and strawberry Pop Tarts, to vanilla no-churn ice cream, hot fudge, pancake mix, hot cocoa mix, they probably won’t go back to store bought.The symbols for each recipe denote if the recipe is for a beginner, intermediate or advance recipe, and if the recipe requires the use of a knife, microwave, stove, oven or no knife or heat required. I found the pages dedicated to secrets for “Success in the Kitchen,” “Decoding Kitchenspeak,” “What’s Up With Ingredients,” “How to Measure and Weigh,” and” Essential Prep Steps,”  provide the perfect introduction to cooking. The “DIY Mixes” chapter details ways for kids to make homemade holiday gifts.

A companion book to the above title, is “Kitchen Explorers: 60+ Recipes, Experiments, and Games for Young Chefs,“ also by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2020, $12.99. The workbook format structures at-home learning, making it easy for parents to use the kitchen as a classroom. Experiments using food, interactive games and kid-centered recipes allow youngsters to practice skills in a fun way. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on science experiments and activities, as I learned a few things along the way.  Experiments include “What Makes Fizzy Drinks Fizzy,?” “The Gooey Science of Melting Cheese,” Amazing Emulsions.” After the experiments are completed, the “Understanding Your Results” helps the learning process. The “For Grown-Ups” chapter, created by educational experts, helps guide learning, and connect lessons in the workbook to school curriculum.  With “STEAM,” kids will learn how cooking involves Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

You must know someone who loves pasta. Making pasta at home is the craze and you don’t have to have a machine to prepare it. “Fresh Pasta at Home: 10 Doughs, 20 Shapes, 100+ Recipes, with or without a Machine,” by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2022, America’s Test Kitchen, $29.99) will be a welcome addition to the cookbook shelf for those on your gift list who are into the craze. The book shares four master pasta doughs, including gluten-free, along with flavor variations. The editors said, “whether using a hand-cranked or machine, extruder, or rolling pin and elbow grease, incredible pasta can be made from scratch using America’s Test Kitchen techniques.” The “Fresh Pasta Do’s and Don’ts are helpful as is how to pair flavored fresh pasta with sauces. The recipes for sauces include the classics and new ones to savor such as Gorgonzola-Walnut Cream Sauce, Braised Kale and Chickpea Sauce and Sausage Ragu with Red Peppers. Giving this book as a gift might result in you being invited to a delicious pasta dinner!

For the vegetarian or vegan on your shopping list “The Complete Plant Based Cookbook: 500 Inspired, Flexible Recipes for Eating Well Without Meat,” by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2020, $34.99), is the book to help its recipients prepare meals that are not only healthy, where vegetables take the center of the plate, but in a tasty and creative way. And, one doesn’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to enjoy plant-based cooking. This style of cooking is popular because of the growing interest in healthier eating and sustainability. I found the makeovers of comfort foods quite interesting. For example, PB & J transforms into Sautéed Grape and almond Butter Toast, featuring fresh grapes sautéed with lemon and thyme, topping crusty bread slathered with almond butter. The book gives the reader inspiration to create plant-forward meals that don’t use processed ingredients. And, those beautiful photos are inspiring, as are their renown signature headnotes; “Why this Recipe Works.”

What cookbook roundup would be complete without one for desserts? I am sure you or someone on your list has a sweet tooth like I do. With more than 600 recipes, “Desserts Illustrated,” by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen (2022, America’s Test Kitchen, $45) includes cakes, pies, tarts, frozen desserts, candies, custards…every kind of dessert to put a sweet ending to a meal. The step-by-step photography makes it easy to follow the instructions. America’s Test Kitchen’s signature “Why this Recipe Works” headnotes for each recipe explains in detail the nuances of the creation. The editors said, “The only prior skill required for opening this book is loving dessert, and you’ll close it with a masterclass under your belt.”

Happy cookbook shopping!

Stephen Fries, is a newly retired professor and coordinator of the Hospitality Management Programs at Gateway Community College, in New Haven, CT. He has been a food and culinary travel columnist for the past 14 years and is co-founder of and host of “Worth Tasting,” a culinary walking tour of downtown New Haven, CT. He is a board member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Stephen@stephenfries.com For more, go to stephenfries.com.

[allwaswell16]

All the One Direction fics I read and enjoyed in March 2023. You can listen to my podcast to hear me talk about each of these fics as well as an overview of what was posted on ao3 including the fics on this month’s fic roundup which you can find here! Please let the writers know if you liked the fics by leaving kudos and comments! Happy reading!

Fanfictional Podcast #48 |  ko-fi | fic recs

—Louis/Harry—

✿ A Bright and Blazing Flame  by green_feelings / @greenfeelings

(E, 23k, a/b/o, part 4 of series) Bonded, engaged, and moved in together — there’s nothing to daunt Louis and Harry’s happiness. Until the past catches up to them and everything comes crashing down when they least expect it.

✿ Keep Me Closer by zanni_scaramouche / @zanniscaramouche

(T, 18k, a/b/o) Louis expects Harry to react poorly, maybe even file a formal complaint and that’s gonna suck ass but Louis won’t say shit cause he knows he deserves it, so he prepares an apology before Harry’s even turned around. What he doesn’t expect is Harry to fucking drop.

✿ In the Strangest of Ways by SunTomato / @sun-tomato

(NR, 17k, ghost au) when the haunting sounds of a melancholy piano piece accompanied by the vague shadow of a beautiful male figure appear, Louis is determined to find out who this beautiful man was and what happened to him…

✿ anything you want until the morning by honey_beeing

(M, 12k, strangers to lovers) A Late Night Talking AU where Harry and Louis find each other on the way to work every night and then learn to not let go of each other ever again.

✿ Wed’n Walk (Or, We Went to Amsterdam Together) by @hellolovers13

(E, 11k, fake relationship) When Harry had first started planning his honeymoon to Amsterdam, he had not envisioned ending up there with his best friend. Or getting fake-married to him for 24 hours.

✿ Station 28 by @justahappycloud

(G, 10k, strangers to lovers) Darling, you are my favourite accident by far.

✿ Awaken As Mine by thinlines / @thinlinez

(E, 9k, a/b/o) Omega Harry was sure he had found his alpha, but how to get reading crazed, bookworm Louis to look twice at him was a mystery for the ages.

✿ Grow as We Go by @larryatendoftheday

(T, 7k, breakup) a fic about growing up and choosing each other.

✿ Catastrophe (Or Not) by grapenight / @louiswolves

(G, 5k, pet fic) Harry's a crazy cat person and Louis is the vet he keeps bringing his cats to with minor concerns like "she's been acting weird lately" and "he didn't poop today so I'm worried" but it's really just excuses to keep seeing Louis everyday

✿ Soft Wings by @kingsofeverything

(G, 4k, tattoo au) Harry is a Dolly Parton fan who wants to get a tattoo in tribute to her. Louis is the tattoo artist.

✿ Cookbooks and Toothpicks and One Lizard by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup

(G, 3k, witch Harry) If there is one thing that Harry hates about Halloween, it’s what a spectacle everyone suddenly makes around him.

✿ when we're finished saying nothing by @disgruntledkittenface

(E, 3k, girl direction) An alpha/alpha AU inspired by Written All Over Your Face.

✿ I Hope You Choke (on those words) by Imogenlee / @imogenleefic

(E, 3k, musician Louis) Harry Styles had been head of security for concert venues for over eight years.Never in his career had he seen a musician as reckless when it came to personal safety as Louis Tomlinson.

✿ Never Seen A Boy Like YOU Before by @jaerie

(E, 3k, trans Louis) Of all the housemates out on the ranch Louis had had over the years, none of them could even come close to Harry. 

✿ Snow One Like You by cherrylarry / @beelou

(G, 3k, girl direction) The strangers to lovers stuck on a ski lift au

✿ Lapful Of Lou by hazzahtomlinson / @itsnotreal

(M, 2k, friends to lovers) they are both idiots and it takes a drunk Harry (with no brain to mouth filter) to get things going.

✿ Oblivious by grapenight / @louiswolves

(G, 2k, uni au) Louis and Harry are roommates, and Louis is instantly attracted to Harry.

—Rare Pairs—

✿ neither wanting more, neither asking why (series) by @justanothershadeofblue

(E, 40k, OT5) If Louis is the origin, Zayn the expansion, Liam the complication, Niall the solution, then Harry - Harry's the completion.

✿ The Hour of Us by sitandadmire / @niallziam

(M, 5k, Harry/Louis/Niall) the modern witches AU where Niall collects spell books, Harry is fascinated by plants, and Louis is ready to protect them at all costs.

✿ find our place by @nouies

(NR, 3k, Zayn/Louis) “Fuck!” Louis says as he hangs up the phone and turns it off. He hopes the call didn’t connect, otherwise he would have to change his number. Again.

[positivexcellence]

genpadalecki: when the holidaze hit, nothing beats a warm ’n cozy comfort meal —esp when it involves famed Italian cookbook author marcella hazan’s classic bolognese with sustainable @forcesofnature meat + veggies from the garden. 

(*non-meat eaters may opt for a @beyondmeat crumble or head to our stories for all-veggie alternative) **another pro/cheat tip from @genpadalecki: cooking the sauce for 2 hrs vs 4 hours came out just fine! ⏲️

nowadays, we recognize that it’s important to be mindful of where & how we source our food. force of nature’s meats are procured through regenerative agriculture, which creates nutrient-rich, tasty food that’s free of synthetics, chemicals, hormones or antibiotics. by supporting sustainable, eco-friendly processes, we can all take part in healing ecosystems & boosting land resilience, making our communities – and the planet itself – healthier. 💪🌎

p.s. keep an eye on our stories for a roundup of our fav cookbooks to help inspire your own holiday meals. 📖🥘👀🎄

marcella hazan’s classic bolognese:  1 tbs oil 3 tbs butter + 1 tbs for tossing the pasta ½ c  chopped onion ⅔ c chopped celery ⅔ c chopped carrot ¾ lbs  ground beef  Salt Black pepper 1 c whole milk ⅛ tsp nutmeg 1 c dry white wine 1½ c canned tomatoes, cut up, with their juice 1¼ to 1½ pounds pasta Freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese at the table

Directions: 1. Put oil, butter + onion in the pot and turn the heat to medium. Cook and stir the onion until it’s translucent, then add the celery and carrot. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring to coat them well. 2. Add ground beef, a large pinch of salt & pepper. Crumble the meat with a fork, stir well and cook until the beef has lost its raw, red color. 3. Add milk & let it simmer, stirring frequently, until it has bubbled away completely. Add nutmeg. 4. Add wine, simmer until it has evaporated, then add tomatoes & stir to coat all ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 hours or more, stirring from time to time. To keep it from sticking, add ½ cup of water whenever necessary. Stir to mix the fat into the sauce, taste and correct for salt. 5. Toss with cooked drained pasta, adding the tbs of butter, & serve with freshly grated parmesan.

[invisibleraven]

Bake Off AU. The real question is who is 'started making it, had a breakdown, bon apetit'

Love me some Bake Off! We'll ignore the fact that I don't think any of the himbos (aside from maybe Alex) should be trusted in the kitchen and go from there!

Luke would totally be the one to go off the recipe and make proper American s'mores instead of Paul Hollywood's weird British version-he comes last in the technical, but everyone agrees his version is way better than whatever the heck Paul thought s'mores were.

Julie likes to break out recipes from her parents heritage, showing off her love of spice, bold flavours, and fun design when it comes to the showstoppers. She is bad at doing things within the time limit though, and has to scramble every challenge to get it done in time.

Alex is totally the one to go started making it, had a breakdown, bon appetit-it earns him a handshake and Star Baker for the week, and nearly has another breakdown as a result.

Reggie learned to bake from MeeMaw, so he tries to impart love into every bake, keeping a picture of her on his station for inspiration. He takes major umbrage with Paul's version of challah and does it right, stating that he's you know, actually Jewish, and knows better. Paul hates him from there on out-but secretly agrees that Reggie is right-and a damn fine baker.

Kayla surprises everyone by winning-she was quiet and in the background for a lot of the competition, always finishing high, but never winning any challenges. She brings her all to the final and wows everyone, earning a well deserved win, and a cookbook deal out of it.

Bonus: In the roundup at the end, it reveals how many of the bakers ended up dating after the fact, and how they got Prue to make them a cake for their commitment ceremony. They don't invite Paul.

[crackinglamb]

hi on one of ur reblogs u said u use a private server on discord and i wanted to ask how u organize it?? i have my own as well but i think i have no idea how to really use it to take full advantage :/ any tips?

Sure! Short answer: I make a new channel for each subject I want to keep organized.

Okay, some more detail. You start off with general channel when you make a server, so that's where I put things like my daughter's school schedule and my word totals when I'm keeping track for year end roundups. I have a few recipes in there too, so I can see them wherever I am and don't have to carry a cookbook with me (long distance relationships have interesting logistics, lol). But I also have channels for NaNo, links to interesting stuff or playlists, pics, fic ideas, separate ones for headcannons and snippets (this is where notes to myself go). My active OC's all have their own channel too, where I can keep anything referring to them in one place. Ideas, screenshots, general stats, any fanart I might receive, that sort of thing. I even have one for jotting down gift ideas for friends and family so I don't have to remember what people ask for.

Basically, I think of each channel as like a file folder. Everything related to the name of the 'folder' gets put there. I generally pin the first thing in the channel so I can get to the top really quick instead of having to scroll through it. I've had my private server for years now, so some of the channels are pretty full. I'll pin the items that I know I'll be referring to later too (for instance, the names of the people in the DAFF crew list for tagging in reblogs). I keep the channel names simple so I don't get confused by my own organizing system. I've never bothered to break up the channels by subcategory like you see in big servers, since I'm the only one using them.

Now, all this said, I'm primarily a desktop user. I honestly don't know how hard it is to do all this on mobile, since I rarely actually use it on my phone unless I'm sending myself a note or am in a voice chat. But I hope this helps, or at least gives you some ideas of where to start. Thanks for the ask. Happy organizing!

[profetizamos]

Easter roundup for @portersposse! so from Porter's Seasonal Celebrations Cookbook I chose to make the spinach apple tart. This is an apparent adaptation of some Elizabethan sweet spinach tarts, but I was forced to improvise when the book neglected to tell what I was supposed to do with the apples the recipe called for. I ended up lightly sauteeing them with my spinach puree, sugar, and spices. I was a little skeptical about this pastry, but it ended up being a lovely side dish to our lamb, sweet with only a bit of springy vegetal freshness.

My partner also made me a ruimentary kistka (device for applying wax to eggs) and I very shakily tried my hand at making wax-resist decorated eggs, kraslice in Czech. Since I made eggs, I traded an egg and some brandy for a light whipping with a homemade pomlázka.

My friends and I also took the opportunity to pick and sugar some violets--their destiny tbd.

Finally, my best friend and I made her grandmother's paska recipe, my best loaf of which I had blessed and ate on Easter.

Thank you Porter's Posse for encouraging my seasonal devotional practice yet again!

[crystal-lillies]

Some positive things, widespread and personal, from 2023

Hello all here's my annual good things roundup, and as always I'll be missing a good lot of stuff that happened bc I'm pulling from the top of my head and also I'm running late.

In no particular order:

Some great indie animation stuff this year, with Hazbin Hotel news and episodes of Helluva Boss continuing and then the Lackadaisy pilot and fundraising campaign success!

Got the end of The Owl House early in 2023, and while it was not the ending we all would have hoped for, it was an incredible ending all the same and absolutely so well made.

Avatar: The Last Airbender has a new official TTRPG game, several of the OG cast did a playthrough of it, AND the trailer for the live action TV series doesn't look half bad! Also, Toph's VA has been reacting to the series. Overall it's been a great year for ATLA fans.

CLAMP announced that the continuation of the CCS Clear Card anime is on its way, and the Clear Card manga finished this year! The kids are okay!

Game movie wins! Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, along with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, were both great adaptations and fun movies where previously adapted movies of the same properties were so awful they make Artemis Fowl look barely passable!

Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse was super freaking incredible cinema and stupendous animation and score. And the animators got a break from having to cram the Beyond the Spiderverse movie in a year jfc.

The WGA and SAGAFTRA strikes I wouldn't consider positives on their own; however, the overwhelming solidarity across the lines and from us the fans and everyone in the same working boat helped the WGA and SAGAFTRA strikers stick it to the studio execs being literal cartoonish villains and get the things they were asking for after a brutally long strike period where the studio execs absolutely wanted them all to lose their homes and suffer. Power to the workers! WGA and SAGAFTRA strong!

BARBIE. No notes. 100000/10. You go girl.

But also the meme of Barbenheimer, absolutely genius.

GOOD OMENS SEASON 2!!!! HOOO BOY Neil Gaiman really shook us to the core with these ineffable celestial lads

The Marvels was a lot of fun! Kamala Khan and adult Monica Rambeau finally got to the big screen and they were so good altogether with Carol Danvers! Sadly didn't get great box office, but the movie itself being good makes up for that in my eyes!

Wonka was also a lot better than expected! Very fun and wholesome and heartwarming! Not bad Timothee Chalamet, not bad.

Critical Role's The Legend of Vox Machina season 2 was incredible, and a Mighty Nein animated series was also announced to be in the works! Plus, we got a Mighty Nein live show in London! And Candela Obscura premiered this year as well! And the Exquisite Exandria cookbook dropped in August and it's been so amazing.

Dimension 20 has been popping off this year as well, and several of its cast started Worlds Beyond Number, which is on a whole other level of inspirational and awesome.

On some personal notes, I got to spend time with good friends this past year (and getting one into TLOVM and Critical Role too, which has been fun)

And in that vein, I got into a bonafide Dungeons and Dragons campaign this summer, based from a oneshot I played in April by putting myself out there and trying something new. And man, this campaign has been one of the best things in 2023 let alone maybe my whole life. I'm so grateful to be a part of it and to keep going.

And this past summer, I got to go to a convention and meet several of my favorite actors including the cast of Smallville, Charlie Cox, Dante Basco, and Jason Liebrecht! It was so much fun.

I spent my birthday with my whole immediate family and went to Disney Hollywood Studios and had such a blast!

And I started more actively sending my writing out to litmags! While nothing has been accepted yet, I am ever more determined to be published!

There is much more good that happened in 2023 but for now, this is a good sample to end the year and beckon the new one forth with the same and even more positive vibes.

[forewordreviewsmag]

Book of the Day Roundup: November 28-December 2

From fantasy tales for young readers, to an enticing Jamaican-inspired cookbook, there's always something for every body in our weekly roundup!

Check out these titles you might have missed!

[breelandwalker]

I literally keep a file of notecards with recipes I've gotten from family or cookbooks or online, with notes about the tweaks I've made. (I noted some of these in my Autumn Recipe Roundup series too.) It's really been invaluable for keeping track of things over time, plus it's fun to see the little notes in my and my parents' handwriting.

You should be starting a recipe book. I don't give a shit if you're only 20-years-old. The modern web is rotting away bit by bit before our very eyes. You have no idea when that indie mom blog is going down or when Pinterest will remove that recipe. Copy it down in a notebook, physically or digitally. Save it somewhere only you can remove it. Trust me, looking for a recipe only to find out it's been wiped off the internet is so fucking sad. I've learned my lesson one too many times.

[reitmonero]

What Are the Best Bread Baking Cookbooks for Beginners?

If you’re eager to start your journey into the world of bread baking, finding the right cookbook can make all the difference. A well-chosen book not only provides you with reliable recipes but also equips you with the knowledge and techniques you need to succeed. Here’s a roundup of some of the best bread baking cookbooks for beginners that will help you rise to the occasion! 1. “Bread Baking…

[bargainsleuthbooks]

Book Reviews: Reagan: His Life and Legend; Fix-It-And-Forget-It Budget Meals; Friends and the Golden Age of Sitcom; Hemingway's Passions: His Women, His Wars, and His Writing #NetGalley #Edelweiss #ARCReviews #NewBooks #BookReviews

Time for another round-up of #BookReviews! A new book taking a look at Friends and the television landscape in the 1990s, a cookbook with budget meals, a book about #Hemingway and the women in his life, and a new biography on #RonaldReagan

I’m cruising along and getting through all my Advanced Reader’s Copies from NetGalley. In order to keep up with blogging about them all, I’ve decided to do more roundups like this. These books have either recently been published or will be published in the near future. Most books can be found at the affiliate links below or try your local library when they are released! (Amazon US) (Amazon CA)…

[sfarticles]

Cookbooks make great gifts for food enthusiasts

The shopping frenzy, an anticipated, annual, pre-holidays event, has started. Perhaps for some it began after last year’s holiday season.

Cookbooks are perfect for the food enthusiasts on your gift list. Whether they enjoy baking, international cuisine, cooking with a specific ingredient, favorite appliance or healthy eating, there is a cookbook for them, children included. I am the go-to person for friends who need suggestions for the ideal cookbook to purchase.

Fans of America’s Test Kitchen hit television show will appreciate “America’s Test Kitchen 25th Anniversary Cookbook: 500 Recipes That Changed the Way America Cooks” (2024, $45). The book celebrates the show’s 25 seasons on air. Did you know it is the most watched cooking show on public television?

The editors said: “This collection of recipes highlights ATK’s most important discoveries, brilliant techniques, counterintuitive tricks, eye-opening food science, and above all, failproof deliciousness from the past 25 years.”

Each member of the show’s cast provides Q&A that will bring the reader closer to knowing about those they watch cook on the show. Fans will enjoy their commentary describing the dishes that have become personal game changers.

For example, here are a couple of Dan Souza’s five memorable scientific discoveries: “Baking soda helps ground meat remain tender; temper chocolate in the microwave for the shiniest, snappiest coating.”

ATK’s signature headnotes, “Why this Recipe Works,” shares important details about each recipe.

“The Food Substitutions Bible: 8,000 Substitutions for Ingredients, Equipment & Techniques,��� 3rd edition, by David Joachim is a must in my kitchen. I assume occasionally, or more often; while cooking you have run out of an important ingredient.

Perhaps the pan the recipe calls for was borrowed by a friend. Perhaps you’re looking to experiment with a recipe handed down to you by changing the flavor or texture. What do you do? Substitute.

You might think the internet has the answer, however the author said,” It doesn’t always have the answer or accurate replacements.”

He gives the information needed to improvise with confidence.

The vast number of substitutions cover timesaving, healthy and vegan subs. The charts and measurement tables help the cook understand the nuances of various chilies, vinegars, rice, salts, oils and other ingredients, plus how to substitute one for another. Cooking and baking at high altitude, complete with volume and pan equivalents is discussed in easy-to-understand charts.

The author writes, “Some of the greatest cooking discoveries have been and continue to be made by substituting one ingredient for another, one piece of equipment for another, or one cooking technique for another.”

The visual appeal, ease of preparation, social nature and countless themes have made grazing and charcuterie boards a craze. For those on your list who enjoy entertaining, “Grazing Boards,” a deck of 50 cards, by Theo A. Michaels (2024, Ryland, Peters & Small, $24.99) makes the perfect gift.

Along with the cards is a 64-page book beginning with guidelines and tips to create a grazing board or table. How to choose the right board, planning, shopping, slicing meats; how to choose the right balance of textures, colors and flavors; how to create visual anchors starts the booklet, followed by recipes for dips, sauces and pickles, finger foods and hot foods to incorporate on the boards.

The cards have stunning photography of the board on one side with the shopping list and assembly instructions on the other side. From a “Game Night Wings ’n’ Dips tray,” “Fruits de Mer Platter,” “Build-Your-Own Taco Tuesday” to a “Kosher Charcuterie Board,” “Butter Board,” and perfect for holiday brunch, “All-Day Brunch Sheet Pan,” there’s a theme to satisfy all tastes. Maybe you’ll even be invited to your gift recipient’s party and experience their creation from the deck.

Those who enjoy Southern cooking coupled with Southern food history will welcome “When Southern Women Cook: with History, Lore, and 300 Recipes with Contributions from 70 Women Writers,” by the editors of America’s Test Kitchen, Toni Tipton-Martin and Morgan Bolling (America’s Test Kitchen, 2024, $40).

The book covers every region and flavor of the American South.

The editors said, “From Texas BBQ to Gullah Geechee rice dishes, the book tells the stories of the unnamed women firing the flames of stoves at Monticello; gallant Prohibition-era rum runners; and bootleggers like ‘Queen’ Maggie Bailey, who supported her community by selling moonshine.”

Southern cooking goes beyond fried chicken and biscuits (there are eight recipes for each in the book). The recipes pay tribute to the diverse group of women who created them and their place in the history of Southern food.

Morgan Bolling, executive editor of creative content for ATK’s Cook’s Country, said in the introduction: “The stories in this book show that food can be a lens through which to learn about our shared history, to pay homage to those who came before us, and to help build a better, tastier future.”

The recipes include classics as well more modern ones. From baking powder biscuits, cast iron baked chicken, peach cobbler to the Cuban sandwich, Po’boys, Mint Julep, Planter’s Punch and Moravian Cookies, the coverage of dishes is superb.

The editors said, “The recipes present an intricate patchwork quilt that is Southern cooking.”

Cooking is a hands-on activity children enjoy, allowing them to be creative, bond with the family and experience new flavors. The 10th anniversary edition of “Cooking Class:73 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Make (and Eat!), by Deanna F. Cook (2024, Storey Publishing, $19.99) was recently released, a perfect gift for the kids on your gift list.

The recipes were tested by kids, making sure they understood the directions. The first chapter teaches what tools to have handy, how to measure, how to safely use a paring knife plus other kitchen tools. One, two or three spoons on each recipe denotes the skill level needed to make the recipe.

For example, one spoon: “You can cook most of these recipes without needing a hot stove or using a knife.”

Kids will learn how to set a table, including creative napkin folding. The step-by-step photos with directions under each make it easy for young chefs to make the foolproof recipes. Parents will appreciate that cleanup is covered!

The chapters include: “Breakfast Café,” “Lunch Lessons,” “Snack Attack,” “Eat Your Veggies,” “My First Dinners” and “Time for Dessert.” The pull-out pages help the young chefs put the finishing touches on their creations with place cards, mealtime conversation-starter games, recipe cards, and stickers for labeling their homemade food…perfect for gift giving.

Titles of books catch my attention, as they’re intended to. “One Bake, Two Ways: Fifty bakes with an All-Plant Option Every Time,” by Ruby Bhogal (2024, Interlink Publishing, $35) is a title that piqued my curiosity.

This one is the perfect gift for the bakers on the gift list. Bhogal, who has a degree in architecture, began baking as a hobby but then competed as a finalist on “The Great British Baking Show.” The title features recipes, first in its conventional form, and then with a plant-based alternative.

“This isn’t a book where the vegan recipes are shoved at the back or added last minute for tokenism,” she said. “This is a book where both sides of the diet are celebrated, and not one where anyone misses out. Everyone gets cake!”

The baker you gift this book to will find creative approaches to mouth-watering delights with two approaches. With recipes like these, Coconut Cake with Whipped Ricotta and Mango Cream, Fruited Focaccia with Plums, Cherries and Lemon Thyme, Dark Chocolate Velvet Tart with Dulce de Leche, and Strawberries and Macadamia Nuts; are you tempted to buy a copy for the baker in you?

Halloumi burgers with smashed avocado and tomato relish, Chinese sweet corn soup with egg ribbons or whipped tahini with a mountain of panko on asparagus, the recipes in “Delicious Tonight: Foolproof Recipes for 150+ Easy Dinners,” by Nagi Maehashi, a New York Times best-selling author (2024, Countryman Press, $35), are creative, unfussy, international and clever, and anything but ordinary.

The book will become the recipients cooking school, with a QR code for each recipe that leads to a how-to video. The videos, stunning and sumptuous photos, paired with the organization of each recipe makes this a must-have, stand-out cookbook.

The author writes: “I know you know how to read a recipe! But here’s a little map featuring some pointers on how to follow the recipes in this cookbook, highlighting the different elements on the page.”

She explains each element: “Introduction: This is the part where I tell you why your life is not complete until you’ve made this!; Notes: Superscript numbers (footnotes) in the recipe direct you to the notes; Glossary: At the back of the book there is a glossary with information on ingredients that might not be familiar to you, or where I have something extra to say. See glossary if text is marked with an asterisk; QR code leading to the video.”

If you are familiar with the author’s website RecipeTinEats.com that has half a billion views annually, you won’t be surprised at the quality of the book and recipes within.

“Being a homebound tester and writer of everyday recipes has brought me into the public eye at a level that I just never imagined nor ever sought,” Maehashi said. “Cooking, eating, photographing, and sharing recipes of damn tasty food with people around the world, with Dozer (her dog) by my side, is what makes me happy. Full stop, end of story.”

Since we are finally getting some winter weather, at least we are in the Northeast, I want to include “A Cookbook for Winter: More than 95 Nurturing & Comforting Recipes for the Colder Months,” by Louise Pickford, (2024, Ryland Peters & Small, $30) in this cookbook roundup.

I’ll be featuring this title in a future column, but for now I thought you’d want to consider this book for those on your list (or you) who live where the mercury dips on the thermometer. They’ll enjoy the hearty dishes and embrace the colder months while gathering around the table for shared moments of joy, warmth and camaraderie.

Now, happy book shopping and my best wishes for joyous holidays.

Stephen Fries is professor emeritus and former coordinator of the Hospitality Management Programs at Gateway Community College in New Haven, Conn. He has been a food and culinary travel columnist for the past 17 years and is co-founder of and host of “Worth Tasting,” a culinary walking tour of downtown New Haven, and three-day culinary adventures around the U.S. He is a board member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Email him at Stephen@stephenfries.com. For more, go to stephenfries.com.

[cavenewstimes]

Whipping Up Delicious Creations: Ultimate Cookbook Roundup

Whether you’re a master chef or just starting out in the kitchen, a good cookbook can be your best friend. From traditional family recipes to innovative culinary creations, cookbooks come in all shapes and sizes to suit every taste and skill level. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most exciting and mouth-watering cookbook options on the market today. Get ready to take your cooking…

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri's shouting out the Special Olympics on the occasion of the New Jersey summer games. You can participate, volunteer, or just cheer on the athletes at an event near you. Nicole's listening to a podcast called Scamanda about a scammer named Amanda (see what they did there?), while Catherine's family is jumping on the charcuterie board train with the help of Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings. ​ Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup April 2023

Report of the Annual Policy Workshop on Children and Armed Conflict 2023 Read the full report by clicking on the title above or HERE

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Check out my cookbook fundraising campaign, in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Before the Bridge Senior K9 Rescue, and Tiny Tim on Wheels Foundation. Accepting recipe submissions until May 31st.

[healthyhabitshappylife]

👉 21 Free Keto Recipes 

Counting carbs but still craving pies, cakes and sugar-rich treats? 

That’s why we set out to create this cookbook for you – to give you a roundup of delicious and easy keto recipe ideas that you can easily prepare at home – with things that you actually have in your kitchen at the moment.

✅ Yummy and easy recipes

✅ Family-friendly recipes

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Click on the link below to download your free keto cookbook today: => 21 Free Keto Recipes