Speaking Volumes: New cookbooks offer up culinary delights
By Mary Lysaght
Special to the Herald
We've noticed at the library that even with all of the food websites, blogs and apps available, people still love cookbooks. Anyone who has worked in a public library can probably give you a quick "641.5" when asked where the cookbooks are shelved. We have a fresh batch of new cookbooks ready for you to check out. I decided to borrow a few of them myself and randomly select one recipe to prepare. Here are some titles and the results.
For nearly 30 years, the Chicago Tribune has held a holiday cookie contest. Entrants must submit an essay explaining what makes the cookie special and what it means to them and their family. Twenty-five years' worth of top winning recipes have been compiled in the recent "Holiday Cookies: Prize-Winning Family Recipes from the Chicago Tribune for Cookies, Bars, Brownies and More." Flipping through the pages, I randomly selected a winner from 2000 -- Pumpkin Maple Dreams. I opted to leave out the raisins, as many find them disappointing in desserts. Think of the times you thought you'd spotted chocolate chip cookies, but they turned out to be oatmeal raisin. The cookies were
delicious, and I'm glad I didn't phone it in by using canned frosting. The provided recipe is much better.
"The Chew," daytime television's popular food and lifestyle show, has released a third book, "The Chew: A Year of Celebrations," edited by Ashley Archer and Jessica Dorfman Jones. My random selection was braised scallions and potatoes. It's described as a side dish for an Easter feast, but I'm a fan of potatoes in all forms at virtually any occasion. I would definitely make this dish again. The book also has craft, decorating and menu ideas for many themes, including holidays and for events such as showers.
Dorie Greenspan's "Baking Chez Moi: Recipes from My Paris Home to Your Home Anywhere," is a gorgeous new addition to the library's cookbook section. Greenspan writes the "Everyday Dorie" column for the Washington Post food section and has authored several award winning cookbooks. This book intimidated me at first, partly because of the French words and partly because it weighs more than I do. It is a big book. I think what impressed me though, is that the recipe I chose, Martine's Gâteau de Savoie, consists of only six ingredients, but if you follow the precise instructions -- no shortcuts or substitutions -- you will have an amazing cake. Greenspan believes that complicated is not necessarily tastier than simple.
Speaking Volumes, written by Manatee County Public Library System staff members, is published each Sunday. Mary Lysaght is the assistant supervisor of the Rocky Bluff Branch Library.
This story was originally published November 15, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Speaking Volumes: New cookbooks offer up culinary delights ."