Tag Archives: Culinary

Books, Library News

Holiday Food

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For many, the holidays come with a familiar set of sensory memories that put us back into the mindset of past merrymaking. We hear the jingling of bells and the crackling of a warm fire. We smell pine and juniper, or cocoa warming on the stove. We feel the kiss of snowflakes on our cheeks as we arrive at the homes of loved ones, ready to share in the celebrations that accompany the season. Of course, no holiday would be complete without the sense of taste. The end-of-the-year culinary traditions bring a whole host of experiences that we’ve come to associate with celebration. Here are a few sources for spicing up your holiday fare.

Gatherings & Celebrations : History, Folklore, Rituals and Recipes for the Occasions that Bring People Together
Gatherings and Celebrations by Burt Wolf is a unique international exploration of holidays and food. Wolf pairs each holiday with a geographical region and then gives a bit of history about the holiday, the customs observed, and which kinds of dishes are frequently served. In the “Christmas in Germany” chapter, he describes the German Pfefferkuchen, spice cakes made with pepper dating back to medieval times and Spekulatius, hard gingerbread prepared in the likeness of St. Nicholas. Each section also has its respective set of recipes, and those wanting to try a German-style Christmas celebration can try the Roast Christmas Goose, Riesling Soup, or Red Wine Spiced Cabbage

To Every Season : A Family Holiday Cookbook
If you find yourself with kids who want to help out in the kitchen, Jane Zalben’s To Every Season: A Family Holiday Cookbook is a good collection of holiday favorites with simple, but delicious ingredients. If you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Pearl’s Potato Latkes are fun to fry together. For celebrants of Kwanzaa, Sweet Potato Pudding is a simple, sweet treat that will give your whole kitchen a festive aroma. For a fun project that will show off everyone’s artistic side, you can try Spiced and Iced Gingerbread Animals that the little ones will enjoy making just as much as eating.

Mr. Food Test Kitchen Christmas Made Easy : Recipes, Tips and Edible Gifts for a Stress-free Holiday
Holidays are times of joy, but they can also be stressful. We don’t all have hours to spend in the kitchen. Luckily, the Mr. Food Test Kitchen has your back with Christmas Made Easy : Recipes, Tips and Edible Gifts for a Stress-Free Holiday. This book offers many recipes that you can prepare in advance and heat when you’re about to serve. The Strawberry Breakfast Rollups are the perfect warm treat for a cold winter morning. There are also many recipes that are as easy to prepare as casseroles, but will still spice up the menu for a special holiday treat, such as the Ravioli Pesto Pie and Garden Sloppy Joes. Sometimes all it takes is a little inspiration to make an easy recipe into a holiday family favorite.

A Country Music Christmas : Christmas Songs, Memories, Family Photographs and Recipes from America’s Favorite Country and Gospel Stars
For something a little different, why not add the strum of a guitar into your Christmas celebration? A Country Music Christmas is a collection of family photos, memories, and recipes from a whole host of country legends. Make sure you grab the accompanying CD to put on while you prepare Alan Jackson’s Chattahoochee Cornbread and Cornbread Dressing, Willie Nelson’s Always on My Mind Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy with Cocoa, or Dolly Parton’s Jolly Cheesecake Pudding. If you and your family love country music, this is the perfect combination to celebrate the holidays.

No matter how you and yours celebrate the holiday season, we here at the Ivy Tech Northeast Library wish everyone a happy, safe, and sane season. Season’s greetings!

Books

Sugar & spice : sweets and treats from around the world / by Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra ; photography by Yuki Sugiura.

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Call number: TX783 .P343 2012

A delicious collection of international recipes from the award-winning author of Warm Bread and Honey Cake… This enchanting cookbook offers recipes for the best of the world’s sweets, tiny cakes and patisserie, from Indian milk sweets to the nutty filo dainties of the Middle East; from tiny French sponge cakes to Scottish fudge. Alongside over 120 easy-to-follow recipes, the author offers engaging narratives on the history of sweets—tales of trade and sea voyages that have enchanted children for centuries. All the sweets and cakes can be eaten in one or two mouthfuls—ideal for the family, entertaining, or gifts. Sugar and Spice is filled with stories from around the world and it is as much an armchair read as a practical cookbook. With beautiful photography and delectable design it makes the book itself an ideal gift and will be as much a treat as the recipes themselves. (From B&N)

Books

Love me, feed me : sharing with your dog the everyday good food you cook and enjoy / by Judith Jones

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Call number: SF427.4 .J66 2014

From the esteemed food editor and author Judith Jones, a charming, practical guide to sharing the pleasures of home cooking with your dog.
Doesn’t man’s best friend deserve a little more than cardboard-dry kibble day in and day out? Judith Jones thinks so, and in this delightful new cookbook she offers up more than fifty home-cooked recipes, both time efficient and finance friendly—among them Salmon Cakes, Wild Mushroom Risotto, and Shepherd’s Pie—that she’s loved and shared with her own canines.
Jones explains the nutritional benefits of substituting, or supplementing, store-bought food with a diet of fresh, home-prepared ingredients. She offers helpful extras like advice on portion size, what to do with scraps, and the latest research on controversial ingredients such as garlic (newly vindicated), ginger (use sparingly), and eggplant (an acquired taste, but scrape out the seeds). Though many of the recipes are simple to prepare, using basic techniques and ingredients home cooks are likely to have on hand, Jones never compromises flavor or variety; when a full recipe—her mouth-watering Moussaka, for instance—is too complex for a dog’s palate or digestive health, Jones gives detailed instructions on how to modify your pet’s share.
Jones balances her recipes, tips, and techniques with endearing accounts of life with her own dogs, including her very first, a Scottish terrier; a poodle who charmed a French chef into serving up a haute-cuisine feast gratis; and her current Havanese pup, Mabon, who occasionally contributes his own two cents within these pages. She also includes the thoughts of some of her canine- and food-loving friends, Jacques Pépin and M. F. K. Fisher among them. With Love Me, Feed Me to guide you, planning what to put in your dog’s bowl becomes a natural part of deciding what to put on your own table, and your dog will savor mealtimes all the more because of it.
Filled with the practical wisdom and verve of a master home cook and lifetime dog lover, Love Me, Feed Me can only lead to a happier, healthier dog. (From B&N)
Books

Michael Symon’s 5 in 5 : 5 fresh ingredients + 5 minutes = 120 fantastic dinners / Michael Symon

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Call number: TX833.5 .S98 2013

With his boisterous laugh and Midwestern charm, Michael Symon has become one of the most beloved cooking personalities on television. For ABC’s The Chew, he developed a brilliant, simple formula to help home cooks pull together fresh, from-scratch meals on weeknights: a maximum of five fresh ingredients that cook in five minutes. This cookbook ties into the segment, featuring dazzlingly quick, satisfying dinners that the whole family will love.
Michael first teaches readers how to set up their pantries with essentials that make whipping up dinner easy. Then he shares 120 recipes for pastas, skillet dinners, egg dishes, grilled mains, kebabs, foil packets, and sandwiches illustrated in 75 photographs. This is streamlined cooking for busy families and firmly solves the “what’s for dinner?” conundrum for home cooks everywhere. (From Google Books)

Books

Molto Batali : simple family meals from my home to yours

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Call number: TX723 .B3276 2011

The bestselling author of Molto Italiano and Molto Gusto shares 120 of his favorite seasonal recipes in month-by-month menus perfect for celebrating with family and friends
For Mario Batali, privilege is also a responsibility. Dedicated to giving back, the renowned chef believes that sharing is crucial to leading a fulfilling life—especially at the table. That spirit of togetherness is at the heart of Molto Batali, a collection of festive and delicious recipes meant for sharing with friends and family throughout the year.

From lush summer salads to hearty winter braises, the seasonal dishes in Molto Batali—all easy to prepare and made with simple ingredients—enliven any dinner table, from a weeknight meal to a holiday celebration. Better yet, the recipes are organized into perfectly paired combinations for stellar meals. Each month features a sumptuous main course such as Leg of Lamb in a Clementine Crust; three toothsome pastas such as Wine-Stained Gemelli with Sausage “Meatballs” and Eggplant; four delectable veggie sides such as SautÉed Rutabagas with Chile, Mint, and Maple; a rustic, flavorful soup such as Green Garlic Soup; and an indulgent dessert such as Nectarine and Black Pepper Cheesecake.
The tantalizing recipes in Molto Batali reflect Mario’s passion for food and family, his belief in the importance of eating together, and the joy that comes when we share lovingly made meals. This same spirit of community and family informs the charitable work of the Mario Batali Foundation, the mission of which is to feed, protect, educate, and empower children—encouraging them to dream big while providing them with the necessary tools to become an active force for change in today’s world.(From Google Books)

 

Books

The Founders of American Cuisine: Seven Cookbook Authors, with Historical Recipes / Harry Haff

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Call number: TX715 .H1238 2011

This work describes seven historic chefs and authors who had profound influences on the creation of American cuisine. The first section includes biographical information and an analysis of the cultural and culinary significance of Amelia Simmons, author of the first known American cookbook; Mary Randolph, whose Southern Cuisine is considered the first regional American cookbook; Miss Leslie and her bestselling 19th century work; Lafcadio Hearn’s La Cuisine Creole; Charles Ranhofer’s influence on the role of the modern chef; and Victor Hirtzler and his California cuisine. The second section includes selected recipes from each author’s books, with notes to aid adaptation by the modern cook. (From Google Books)

Books

11. Try a New Cuisine

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Did you know the Ivy Tech library has an outstanding collection of  cookbooks that cover all parts of the world and eating styles? Check out cook books that specialize in different world cuisine, such as Indian, Thai, Caribbean, Italian, French, Russian, Japanese or other national foods. Try one of our hundreds of cookbooks for your next summer meal.