Looking for something new? Investigate one of these new cookbooks for inspiration:
 Cooking in Everyday English |
 Cookin' for Trouble |
 Sizzling Skillets |
 Martha's Entertaining |
 Essential Pepin |
 Southern Cooking Bible |
You can win an all-expense-paid trip to meet Discovery-Planet Green reality TV stars The Fabulous Beekman Boys in Sharon Springs, N.Y., take a tour of the Beekman 1802 Farm and have dinner with the boys by taking part in the Beekman 1802 Heirloom Recipe Contest.
Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge – The Fabulous Beekman Boys – literally pulled recipes out of the dirt for their newly released Beekman 1802 Heirloom Recipe Cookbook. They said they received inspiration from what was growing out of the ground around their farm.
They wrote, “The meals we love and that have been passed down through generations of family members are heirlooms in and of themselves and the book includes over 100 recipes that we’ve adapted from our family archives, each given our own little Beekman 1802 twist. The recipes are both simple and ingenious. Comfort food has to be as easy to make as it is pleasing to eat.”
Now you have a chance to see if you can match the Beekman Boys by submitting your own heirloom recipes at your library. You can also win an autographed copy of the book or Terrain kitchenware.
Just fill out the entry form with your favorite family heirloom recipe and enter your favorite family heirloom recipe.
Explain what makes the recipe so special to you, then give it to your local librarian to be entered for a chance to win a signed copy of “The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook and the grand prize trip, farm tour and dinner.
Visit the contest website or official entry form (PDF) for more information.
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vegan Baking – Provides over one hundred fifty recipes for muffins, breads, cakes, cookies, and pastries without using eggs, dairy, or other animal products.
Modern Hospitality: Simple Recipes with Southern Charm – Known by TV viewers as the Mississippi belle whose demure demeanor belied nerves of steel and true culinary skill, America watched Whitney Miller crush the competition and become the first winner of MasterChef Season 1. Now Whitney’s long-awaited dream of writing her first cookbook has come true as she shares her favorite recipes and entertaining secrets in Modern Hospitality.
Peas and Thank You: Simple Meatless Meals the Whole Family Will Love – Collects recipes and stories from a family eating healthy and delicious versions of America’s favorite foods, including chocolate chip cookies, enchiladas, and biscuits.
Coming to a library shelf near you:
 Tomatoland |
 Beekeeper's Lament |
Looking for a healthy snack to counteract all of those delicious holiday treats you’ve been nibbling? Then take a look at Mark Bittman’s latest, The Food that Matters Cook Book, companion to his book, The Food that Matters.
The book has all sorts of recipes including main dishes and desserts but I found his suggestions about snacks to be surprisingly easy and tasty.
Pan Fried Chickpeas
1 Can of chickpeas, drained and dried thoroughly
3 T olive oil
Pinch of salt
1/2 T to 1T of one of the following: cayenne pepper, cumin, Chinese 5 spice, garam masala, smoked paprika, chili powder
Heat the oil in a saute pan large enough to accommodate all of the chickpeas in one layer over medium high heat. If you don’t have a pan large enough, fry the chickpeas in smaller batches. Fry the chickpeas until they’re slightly brown, shaking the pan a few times. It should take about 20 minutes. The chickpeas should have a slight crunch when done.
Once they’re evenly browned, pour the chickpeas into a bowl and toss with the spice of your choice.
Nosh happily.
Stop in to the New Richmond Branch during library hours for a recipe exchange. Drop off a recipe for the holidays. You can also leave a recipe for anything fun, interesting or easy! Look through the recipe cards that are here and choose one to take home.
New books from the culinary world:
 America the Edible by Adam Richman |
 Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro |
 Cooking for Geeks by Jeff Potter |
 Geometry of Pasta by Caz Hildebrand |
 Gourmet Cookie Book |
 Southern Plate by Christy Jordan |
Which ‘wich?
Did you know that November 3rd is Sandwich Day? It was on this day back in 1718 that John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was born and the culinary world has been all the richer for it! Whether you’re a fan of the humble peanut butter and jelly or prefer a gourmet treat, the sandwich has been satisfying hungry tummies since the Earl of Sandwich created this meal between two slices of bread nearly 250 years ago.
Check out cookbooks about sandwiches.
October is National Apple Month.
Does anything evoke autumn quite like the smell of apples? Apples do it for me because I have fond memories of going to a local orchard as a child, sitting in front of their enormous fireplace and biting into the flesh of a deliciously ripe and crisp apple, surrounded by the sight, scent, smell, and taste of all things apple.
Overwhelmed by the choice of dozens of apple varieties at markets and groceries? Check out The Best Apples to Buy and Grow.
Relax with a mug of mulled cider, enjoying the last bit of October calm before the start of the holiday frenzy. Learn to make your own cider.
In the mood for some baking? Try a recipe from Apple Pie Perfect.
