from the archive


Tag: food


Cooking chez Dorie


"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.


Kitchen confident-ial


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.


Holiday feast inspiration


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.


Recipes you can trust


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.


Summer grilling put to the test


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.


DIY Chinese food


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.


Everybody eats


If you’ve spent time watching "Sesame Street" with a child, you probably remember the Joe Raposo song called “Everybody Eats." As the song says, eating is part of everybody’s life.  Whether you eat to live or live to eat, you might be interested in classes offered at Princeton Public Library where you can explore online offerings to enhance your appreciation of all things food and drink.


Flirting with a change of diet


Vegan. Despite my own vegan flirtations the word sounds almost militant to my ears. As if this change of diet should be accompanied by a manifesto, too drastic to do 'just 'cause'. Not so. There are many delicious and healthful foods that are 'vegan' and it's worth checking out our wide range of cookbooks just to see all the interesting options available. Whether you are looking for something new or contemplating a change of diet, there are a lot of ways we can help.


Apps for foodies


Did you know that when it comes to grocery shopping or finding the perfect recipe, there's an app for that? If you have a tablet or smartphone, choosing weeknight meals, sharing your edible creations, or planning a dinner party have never been easier. Here are a few of my favorite apps that can help bring out the inner chef in all of us.


Eating out on a budget


Like many families, my husband and I enjoy eating out at restaurants, which seems like a luxury when it is easy to spend at least $50 on a meal. I’d like to share several ways we stretch our weekly dining budget. With a little planning and effort, using these fabulous resources, you can stretch your money twice as far.

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Secrets worth sharing


What is it about secrets that make them so intriguing and worth sharing? Maybe it's that revealing something provides a sense of freedom from what holds us back, or that the idea of being an insider appeals to the competitive side in each of us. There are countless reasons why secrets are so alluring. I recently discovered two books that reveal excellent secrets. Some are frivolous, some are powerful – but they all make for very enjoyable reads.

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