Reviews and Blog Posts: cookbooks

Not Your Average Bowl: Snacks, Soup and Salads

100 Calorie Snack Cookbook

Set yourself apart from the crowd this Super Bowl Sunday by choosing to snack smarter. The LA Times reports that on average every viewer watching the game will consume 1,200 calories and 50 grams of fat. Check out these great cookbooks with healthy recipes for snacks, appetizers, soups and salads. Your Home Team will cheer for leading them to a win with these great recipes.

Hearty Winter Meals

Crazy for Casseroles, by James Villas

On chilly, dark winter nights, we all want to eat something hearty.  We need comfort and simplicity, but without spending an entire evening in the kitchen.  One-pot meals and casseroles are the answer and Denver Public Library has plenty of helpful cookbooks!  Need some titles to satisfy your hunger and keep you warm?

Recent years have given us many new cookbooks that emphasize convenience, with a focus on one-pot meals and spending less than an hour on family dinner.  On the other hand, casseroles may require some assembly, but these new cookbooks have given us fantastic updates to old-fashioned classics.  It's hard to beat the all-in-one combination of vegetables, grains, and protein- especially when the flavors touch on all of our tastes.  The leftovers are nice, too!

How about a recipe that uses up day-old rice and is a snap to prepare?

 

Yet Another End of the Year List

It seems like everyone from the New York Times to NPR is coming out with Best Books of the Year lists right now. As "best" is subjective,  I instead offer you some of my favorites in various categories. Most of these are 2010 books, but are some are older books that I first read or listened to this year.

Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (no zombies): The Passage, Justin Cronin

Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (with zombies): The Reapers are the Angels, Alden Bell, Feed, Mira Grant

NPR's Best Cookbooks of 2010

Whether you are looking for a great cookbook to get started or for a gift for your favorite chef, NPR's list of the 10 Best Cookbooks of 2010 is sure to make anyone's mouth water!

3 Cookbooks

I've recently read three amazing books about cooking that have revolutionized the way I think about food and its preparation. Some are sweet, some are saucy but all are delectable!

The I Hate to Cook Book by Peg Bracken

Cute little cake "pop" seeks baker wanting new adventures

Move over cupcake, there's a new treat in town. Just when we thought cupcakes were the be all, end all in cute along comes Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats by Bakerella.

Angie Dudley has popped to fame with her popular baking blog bakerella.com, not to mention appearing on The Martha Stewart Show. Cake Pops chronicles the creation of this tasty morsel with fabulous step by step photos. It is also refreshing that she encourages you throughout the book to try your own combinations of flavors and ingredients.

More Books on Mini Sweet Treats:

Chew and Review: Creamy Gazpacho Andaluz from Cook's Illustrated

Creamy Gazpacho Andaluz

I finally had a chance to whip up a batch of Creamy Gazpacho Andaluz from Cook's Illustrated. The farmer's market veggies were begging to get into this cold, creamy and zesty soup. Watch the video to see how easy this dish was to make.

Since moving into our new (old) house recently, we've missed our chance to start up a vegetable garden in our backyard. I'm really struggling through the end of summer without my fresh-off-the-vine tomatoes, last minute addition of chile peppers, and warm roasted beets. So lots of my recipes right now are including fresh farmer's market veggies as well as gifts from friends' gardens (Thanks friends!).

Chew and Review: Culinary Magazine Collection

Bon Appetit cover

Have you ever noticed the fantastic collection of cooking magazines at your local library? I'm kind of addicted to them. This week's recipe review will be picked from your favorite of three: Bon Appetit, Cook's Illustrated or Cooking Light. Take the poll and help me choose!

Right after I gave birth to my son, I found it difficult to complete an entire novel so I started checking out the library's magazines. Reading in short spurts; I could do that! And what a great variety. I especially appreciate the culinary magazines:

A Blender, A Vegetable and an Ice Cube Tray

blender baby food

It really is that easy to make your own baby food! I love the idea of knowing exactly what is in the food my daughter is eating and I’ve found that making our own baby food takes just a small amount of time and effort.

We’re still on simple fruits and vegetables, but in one afternoon I made enough food to last for several weeks. After the food is steamed and/or pureed I pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. These “ice cubes” make the perfect serving size for my hungry six month old!

Chew and Review Poll: Eat Me

Eat Me book cover

Update: The people have spoken and the winner of the poll is: Mac n Cheese Pancakes! Look for the next installment of Chew and Review to see how the recipe turns out.

Looking for new and interesting ways to cook for your family, friends or just yourself? Look no further than your local public library. Our collection of food related materials is huge:

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