Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O'Shaughnessy

 

Lasagna Means I Love You   by Kate O'Shaughnessy  

360 pages

Nan was all the family Mo ever needed. But suddenly she's gone, and Mo finds herself in foster care after her uncle decides she's not worth sticking around for. Nan left her a notebook and advised her to get a hobby, like ferret racing or palm reading. But how could a hobby fix anything in her newly topsy-turvy life? Then Mo finds a handmade cookbook filled with someone else's family recipes. Even though Nan never cooked, Mo can't tear her eyes away. Not so much from the recipes, but the stories attached to them. Though, when she makes herself a pot of soup, it is every bit as comforting as the recipe notes said. Soon Mo finds herself asking everyone she meets for their family recipes. Teaching herself to make them. Collecting the stories behind them. Building a website to share them. And, okay, secretly hoping that a long-lost relative will find her and give her a family recipe all her own. But when everything starts to unravel again, Mo realizes that if she wants a family recipe -- or a real family -- she's going to have to make it up herself. 

A Mark Twain Nominee for grades 4-6.  This was a sad book with a very happy ending.  Sad because a young girl who has lived with her Grandma since her mother passed away, is now an orphan and no one wants her, even the Foster family that says they will adopt her.  But in the end she finds a family and also finds out that she doesn't need someone else to make her feel special.  She learns a new hobby and makes new friends along the way.

Air Fryer Cookbook: 70 Delicious Recipes

 Air Fryer Cookbook: 70 Delicious Recipes by Good Housekeeping - 128 pages

I've been thinking about getting an air fryer so I checked out this book to see possible recipes.  I found several I would love to try.  It also gave recommendations on the air fryers they suggest buying.

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson
(A Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #9)
291 pages

"When caterer Goldy Schulz is offered a temporary stint hosting a cooking show for PBS, she jumps at the chance.  After all, she could use the money--not to mention the great exposure.  Plus taping the shows at Colorado's posh Killdeer Ski Resort will be fun.  A little cooking, a little chitchat.  What could go wrong?

"The answer: everything!  When Goldy has to do one of her shows live for a PBS telethon, the broadcast is riddled with culinary catastrophes--from the Chesapeake Crab Cakes right down to the Ice-Capped Gingersnaps.  But the deadliest dish of all comes after the cameras go off--and a baffling accident claims a life.  Then a series of suspicious mishaps places Goldy's own life in jeopardy, and she knows she'd better whip up her own crime-solving recipe, and fast--before a deadly dash of danger ends her cooking career once and for all..."  --from the publisher

I love these characters and hadn't read one in this series in a long time.  The plot had a few problems, but I so enjoyed visiting Goldy's world again that it didn't spoil the experience for me.  Don't read this one first, though, or you might decide not to read the others.  Then you would miss out on some fun cozy mysteries.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime - Ree Drummond

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime - Ree Drummond - 400 pages

So, I don't usually read cookbooks cover to cover, but I like Ree's blogger style; that's were she started, so this isn't a book that's just page after page of recipe with no explanation or context.  She tells the story of each recipe with humor, levity, and humility, plus a huge side of gorgeously rich photography.  I only buy cookbooks with lots of pictures, but this one blew the holy cheddar cheese wheel out of pretty much everything else on my shelf.  It is, in a trite and overused word: GORGEOUS!  The layouts are fantastic and feature step-by-step photos, the recipes are doable for a home cook but rich and relatable, and mingled in between those recipes is the story of her family and their lives on the ranch.  Little details make the relevant content pop: scrollwork borders, floral accents, nature photos and silly captions.  The recipes are great, and the delivery is just as engaging as the food.

Included here are strategies for maximizing your pantry potential, plan-ahead components and meals that freeze for emergencies and sharing, side and main dishes offering a wide variety of culinary tastes (Asian to all-American), soups, salads, and suggestions at the end of each recipe for what recipes play nicely with it from the rest of the book.  Between the authoring and editing, this book was really well thought out, and it's organized in a way that's simple and accessible.  Yee haw, Ree!

At Home: Sarah Style by Sarah Richardson

At Home: Sarah Style by Sarah Richardson, 276 pages

At Home Sarah Style is a very colorful book with many beautiful pictures on decorating urban spaces to country cottages.  Her style ranges from casual elegance to her designs inspired by nature.  I especially enjoyed looking at the pictures in this book.  A big bonus to this book is the recipes included in the back.

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier, 361 pages

Gingerbread Cookie Murder is a collection of three Christmas murder mysteries by three bestselling authors.  What could be better this time of year than a cup of cocoa and some Christmas mysteries?  This is a good book to get a sampling of these three popular authors.  I had never read anything by Joanne Fluke, and I found the first story by her quite enjoyable.  An added bonus, mixed between the chapters are Christmas recipes.

Fix-It And Forget-It New Cookbook by Phyllis Good

Fix-It And Forget-It New Cookbook: 250 New Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes!  by Phyllis Good, 381 pages

What could be better than fix-it and forget-it?  This book contains 250 recipes for your slow cooker.  From the quick and easy to the more challenging, this cookbook offers it all.  The beginning of the book has some helpful tips and myths of crock pot cooking.  If you are looking for a delicious main dish, a soup, stew or casserole, you will find it in this cookbook.  The book also contains desserts and bread recipes (I did not know you could cook bread in a slow cooker).  What I love about this cookbook is that the recipes are simple.  The pictures are a great part about this cookbook.  Every dish is this book makes you want to dive right in! Also, in the back of the book is a handy substitution guide.

Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson

Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson, 359 pages

It's the winter holiday season and caterer Goldy is up to her eyeballs in parties to cater. While setting up for the staff party at the local library, a body is found - one of the local map collectors. And the game is afoot while Goldy tries to figure out who committed the heinous crime.

Of course, more attacks and deaths follow before this crime is solved. Be sure to look for recipes at the back of the book!

Sticks and Scones by Diane Mott Davidson

Sticks and Scones by Diane Mott Davidson, 3001 pages

Book 10 in this series about a caterer in rural Colorado starts with a home invasion. Goldy thinks she hears a noise in the middle of the night. And then another. Finally a shot gun blast and the blaring of the security alarm confirm her worst fears.

With her husband out of town and a big catering event just a few days away, Goldy and her family move into the local castle - that's right - a castle.

The week that follows is filled with murder and mayhem - and lots of great food! Be sure to check the back of the book for recipes!

The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson, 303 pages

The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson, 303 pages

Book 3 of the Culinary Mystery series by Davidson finds our favorite caterer at Halloween and busy with several school centered functions.  It's not long before a body is found and the police can't work fast enough to keep up with Goldy's investigation.

Filled with very intelligent high school seniors and their over zealous parents this book will make you think twice about sending your child to private school.

Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay

Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay, 304 pages
(Library Lovers Mystery book 1)

Oh boy, where to start on this disappointing, yet aptly named book. For one thing, _EVERY_ character was way too stereotypical from the overweight-Barney Fife Chief of Police to the smarmy boyfriend/victim. (Even the effervescent children's librarian dresses up like Eric Carle's Hungry Caterpillar to do storytime). The story follows Lindsey Norris, newly-made director of the Briar Creek Library who has your typical cantankerous reference librarian, geeky pages and silly children's librarian all on her staff. All is well in the homey little town full of knitters, picturesque seasides and New England recipes until the local celebrity children's author is murdered and the Children's Librarian becomes the prime suspect. Of course you can't have someone accused of murder in a small town without the over-dressed, overly aggressive local news reporter (who doesn't care what the truth is) trying to harass the next big story out of the locals.  I'm surprised my eyes didn't get stuck in the back of my head from rolling them so much. Unbelievably, I finished the story. Was I surprised of who the murderer was? Nope. It was pretty much an open shut case from the very beginning.

Beating The Lunch Box Blues by J.M. Hirsch

Beating The Lunch Box Blues by J.M. Hirsch, 198 pages

If you need healthy lunch ideas for yourself or your family, I would say this is your go to book.  With a forward by Rachael Ray, this book is full of colorful pictures and recipes.  From dinners to leftovers to lunches, the author gives you recipes for a dinner and then ideas to turn the meal into a healthy lunch.  The author includes details on how to pack the lunches and containers to use.  There is a fast & easy chapter as well as a salads chapter.  The author does not fail to give new, fresh and easy ideas to liven up anyone's lunch box.

A Sweet Taste of History: More than 100 Elegant Dessert Recipes from America's Earliest Days by Chef Walter Staib

A Sweet Taste of History: More than 100 Elegant Dessert Recipes from America's Earliest Days by Chef Walter Staib published in 2013 236 pages

Chef Staib is the proprietor of the Philadelphia City Tavern, a faithful reproduction of the original tavern established in 1773.

I love desserts. I mean I REALLY love desserts. As I read through this book I could see the founding fathers sitting around a table and feasting on these wonderful foods. It makes one realize that our ancestors really knew how to cook and how to eat.

All most all of these recipes can be cooked and enjoyed at home. I personally prefer my wife's gingerbread, but the one in this book looks good also.

One doesn't think of Ice Cream and Sorbet as being colonial. But it was. Though I would love to try Thomas Jefferson's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream recipe, I am afraid it may be along time before I have the courage to try Dolly Madison's Oyster Ice Cream (one cup of Chesapeake oysters in one and a half quarts of ice cream)! Maybe Oyster Ice Cream is very good, maybe I am being silly. Maybe not...

The Feast Nearby, by Robin Mather

The Feast Nearby, by Robin Mather, 272 pages

This non-fiction work is a combination of short essays and recipes.  The author, a food journalist, lost her job and husband in the same week.  Her retreat was to a tiny cabin in rural Michigan, where she set about raising chickens, bartering for goods with neighbors, preserving up a storm, living on $40 a week and re-discovering herself.  The short sections made this easy to read, several of the recipes were worth copying, and if you are someone prone to dreaming about running away to the middle of nowhere and homesteading, this might be worth your attention.