I am a natural introvert, and I honestly don’t cook very much on normal days; still, sometimes I dream of lavish dinner parties, themed summertime cocktail gatherings, tea parties, and picnics. I do occasionally gather with some aunts and cousins for tea parties, and I once had a Lord of the Rings movie marathon where […]
It had been well over a year since the last time I baked chocolate chip cookies. After following a low carbohydrate diet for the past several months, I could no longer tame the voice in my head that had been pleading for homemade cookies. I dug out my treasured copy of “Kathleen’s Bake Shop Cookbook,” […]
My inbox has been deluged with summer reading recommendations– from publishers, from professional organizations, from other libraries and from some famous people. Taking a quick survey of summer reading lists I’ve been sent over the month of June (not counting the summer reading lists we have been busy making for adults, for kids and for teens), there are […]
Princeton is a town of foodies.The evidence is in the recent explosion of unique and upscale restaurants downtown and the multitude of specialty food shops in the area catering to those who like to explore the culinary arts in their own kitchens. Cookbooks remain perennial favorite items to check out at the library or purchase at the Friends Used Book Store, even with dozens of places online to explore and save a vast array of recipes.
"Miam-miam" is the appreciative exclamation you'll hear in Paris, as a delicious mouthful of food is consumed. To the American ear it even sounds like "yum, yum." Dorie Greenspan brings the art and craft of French cooking to life in her books as she shares recipes culled from 16 years of part-time Paris residency.
The holidays are the perfect time for at-home chefs to shine and display their enviable talents. After all, there's nothing that can impress a crowd quite like a delicious home-cooked feast. But this time of year can also be extremely daunting for those of us who are still trying to figure out the difference between broiling, braising, baking, and browning. Here are some cookbooks that truly start with the basics (how to boil water, anyone?) and include recipes that can make even the most novice cook more confident in the kitchen.
With the holidays around the corner (including Halloween), I have pulled out one of my favorite cookbooks and I am drooling over all of the fantastic fall and winter recipes in Ree Drummond’s book, "The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays." These step-by-step recipes, complete with pictures for reassuring guidance, might just provide the inspiration you need for your up-and-coming holiday table.
Recently, I have been on the hunt for recipes that are not only impressive, but also reliable. When I have company over for dinner, I tend to make the same few dishes over, and over again, knowing they are failsafe and delicious, but lately I have become somewhat tired of the same old recipes. Knowing the upcoming months will be company-filled I thought it was time for some new meal ideas.
Now that the long winter months are finally over, I have been itching to break out the grill and kick off a great summer. I, for one, have never been as successful as I would like with grilling meat and vegetables, so I thought I would turn to Princeton Public Library’s grilling collection for a little guidance and inspiration.
There are tons of awesome cookbooks out there. The library's collection on the second floor is proof of that. Spend five minutes browsing it, and I challenge you not to come away with your arms full of diverse, beautiful, glamorous titles to borrow. But what if, like me, you love cookbooks but don't have the patience, courage, or finesse to actually make any dishes? Just like that old adage, "those who can't do, teach," my motto is "those who can't cook, read!"
I often hear people talking about that one Thanksgiving guest who is “a vegetarian," and the question surfaces, “What can I serve him?” If you think about it, though, after the roast beast, most of the other dishes are actually vegetarian and vegan, because after all, it is a celebration of the harvest, and of families, and friends coming together. The roast beast is ‘kind of’ extra.
For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed baking a variety of different sweets and candies. Above all I enjoy baking and eating cookies. Nothing, in my opinion, beats a warm cookie. They can be one of the easiest and quickest deserts to make while being delectably irresistible.
I recently discovered and fell in love with a book that makes do-it-yourself Chinese food fun and, more important, easy. In the past I have always avoided making my own Chinese food because the required ingredients and cooking techniques were so foreign to me and so many of the essential ingredients are rarely on hand.
The new season of Mad Men starts on April 7th. If, like me, you fell in love with Mad Men from the beginning, you are anxiously awaiting what is supposed to be the penultimate season.
Today, August 15, 2012, marks the 100th birthday of one of the most beloved chefs in history, Julia Child. American icon, author, and television star, Julia catapulted into fame with the 1961 publication of her bestselling cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
It may not be the Olympics, but in my house, it is definitely worthy of an award. “Real Simple Easy, Delicious Home Cooking: A Year of Fresh, Healthy Recipes for Every Occasion” is the latest cookbook I’ve checked out of the library, and it is a terrific resource for fuss-free, healthy recipes using a minimum of ingredients.
Subscribe