Archive | Cookbooks RSS feed for this section

Yummy New Reads: Happy Snacking, Don’t Die! and The Pumpkin Vice Cafe

22 Sep

Happy Snacking, Don’t Die!
by Alexis Nikole Nelson
I enjoy Alexis Nikole Nelson’s adventures foraging in her videos under her alias The Black Forager so I was delighted to see that she was coming out with a cookbook filled with vegan recipes, Happy Snacking, Don’t Die!. Since my dad was a biology teacher, we would frequently go on nature walks when I was child and one of my favorite moments was always in summer when the mulberry trees would be ripe and we’d get to sample the juicy berries. Mulberries are one of the featured plants that Nelson discusses along with some of my other favorite tasty treats that can be found in nature including: violets, morels, roses and black walnuts. The book begins with some tips such as useful tools and places to avoid while foraging. Then it breaks down items to forage during each of the four seasons with a description of what they look like as well as a few recipes to use with items such as acorn flour, dock crepes, and crab apple jelly. One of the reason I enjoy Nelson’s videos is her fun humor and ability to make foraging seem accessible, which is also seen in the text of the book, making it a fun read even if you aren’t yet ready to get foraging yourself. Of course I would recommend always being cautious when foraging since you have to worry about toxic look-a-likes and possible contamination of plants from pollutants or insecticides; consider doing additional research and seek out expert advice.

The Pumpkin Vice Cafe
by Ellie Alexander
The Pumpkin Vice Cafe is the 23rd book into Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery series about Jules, the owner and baker at her family’s business. I found it easy to jump into the story even without having read previous books in the series since Alexander does a nice job of setting up who the various characters are and the dynamic between them. This a fun cozy mystery that kept me guessing about who the killer of her friend’s wedding planner was since the story was filled with plenty of suspicious characters. There is also some added drama that Jules, the owner and a baker at the inn is pregnant so there is suspense about when she will be due. I plan to check out some of the previous books when I’m in the mood for a cozy mystery read and I’m looking forward to the next book which comes out in 2027 which will feature Lance and Arlo’s wedding!

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

Tags: , ,

Delicious Reads: Extra Sauce and Passport to Flavor

14 Apr

Extra Sauce: The Good, the Bad, and the Onions
by Zahra Tangorra
Extra Sauce is the new memoir by chef Zahra Tangorra. Tangorra’s opened the popular New York restaurant Brucie as well as the popup ZaZa Lazagna. The book is filled with adventures in the kitchen that will appeal to fan’s of Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. The chapters are defined by a variety of dishes many of whose recipes are shared. Two dishes that I plan to try to recreate are The Brucie Tag[gliatelle] and the almost Tuscan bean recipes from her time in Italy, both of which sound delicious. Although foodies will enjoy her culinary escapades, the emotional depth of the story primarily comes from her complicated relationship with her parents who also at one point had a culinary endeavor of their own. Her father’s recipe for potato salad and her mom’s apple strudel are amongst the family recipes included. Tangorra has a quick fire, quirky delivery which is infused with both humor and heart. The story is also a love letter to New York where Tangorra spent most of her life and therefore will especially resonate those familiar or enamored with the city.

Passport to Flavor: 100 Global Dishes You Can Make Anywhere (An International Cookbook. Delicious Recipes from Around the World)
by Abby Cheshire
Passport to Flavor is a fun cookbook of international recipes from Abby Cheshire who works as a cook on a private yacht and became famous for posting her dishes and adventures on TikTok and Youtube. This cookbook is divided by destination as diverse as cities in Bahamas, Ireland, India, and Vietnam (plus several more). At each destination there are dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a mixed drink and snack for cocktail hour to give the feeling that you are journeying with her crew by yacht on a world wide voyage and eating locally inspired dishes along the way. Little Chefs, as Cheshire refers to fans of her vlogging will enjoy the colloquial tone of the book. Advice on recipe adjustment is referred to as “throttle control” and substitution is an “alternate course.” I appreciated that she views the recipes as basis that she encourages home cooks to adjust to suit their needs. She includes “rogue waves” to watch out for aka advice on things that could go wrong such as under or over cooking. Dishes I’m planning to try include Charleston’s Bourbon Bread Pudding, Ireland’s Boxty with Smoked Salmon, Italy’s Pollo Al Tarragon, and Germany’s Apple Marzipan Cake.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries