Food & Gardening.

Like many people, I enjoy cooking, and I love to eat. I always thought I had a passion for good food and cooking, but after reading this book, what I call passion seems lukewarm.

La Cucina is the story of Rosa Fiore, a woman who used cooking as a kind of therapy throughout her life. And no one in could blame her for needing some therapy. After Rosa's first love was murdered by his own father (who happened to be involved with the mafia), she locked herself in la cucina and prepared all types of pastas: rigatoni, ravioli, spiralli, cannelloni, linguini. She baked ciabbata and focaccia. She brewed sauces of tomatoes, anchovies, saffron, and pine nuts. She bottled fruits and jams, cured meats, and made ricotta by the barrel. Then, when she had cooked everything on their estate, she packed up a few clothes and her parrot, and left to become a librarian in Palermo.

It wasn't until twenty five years later that another man entered her life, a foreigner. L'Inglese, an English chef, arrived at her library and awakened desires and passions didn't even realize she possessed. As they spent the summer cooking and discovering each other, anyone could see that it was too wonderful to last...and besides, disaster always seemed to follow Rosa.

Fans of Like Water for Chocolate and Joanne Harris may enjoyLa Cucina by Lily Prior.

Merry Hall By Beverly Nichols

In 1946 Mr. Nichols longed to escape post-war London, so he went looking for a small Georgian House, not too far from the city, with about 5 acres of land where he could create a garden.  He found Merry Hall.  It fit all his requirements, and he bought it, even though the Georgian lines of the building had been ruined by remodeling and additions, the interior was in shambles, the five acres were mostly weeds and nettles, and the gardener who came with the house was devoted to all the mistakes of the former owner.  With the help of his incredibly efficient factotum, Gaskin; the reluctant but expert aid of the gardener; the company of his cats, One and Four; and the occasional interference of neighbors, he turned Merry Hall into his dream house and garden.  He tells the story with classic deadpan British humor.

You don't have to be a gardener to enjoy this book.  (My favorite garden activity is to recline gracefully in the shade on a hot day with a cool drink and a good book.)  You do need to be prepared for strong prejudices, mostly about plants, but also about women and what Nichols considers the lower classes, and accept that he was a creature of different times.  He brings the best of those times alive most enchantingly.

Essentials of Asian Cooking edited by Chuck Williams, recipes by Farina Wong Kingsley

I'm not generally one who enjoys cooking from glossy cookbooks such as this title from Williams Sonoma but in this case I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and breadth of information and recipes.  When I first picked up the book I thought the focus was Chinese cooking, but I quickly found that the cuisine of no less than fifteen countries was represented including India, Burma, Japan and Vietnam.  Recipes for common meals such as noodles, breads and dumplings lead the home cook through simple everyday cooking up to more complicated dishes such as 5 Spice Duck.  Also included are suggestions of items for the pantry, techniques and menus.  I have made the Hot and Sour Soup two times now and just thinking of it now makes my mouth water!  You could display this title as a glossy coffee table book but pick it up and take it into your kitchen; your family and friends will thank you for it (and ask for second helpings!)

As a child, I loved fall, but these days it often means too many activities in too little time.  The last thing I want to think about when I get home is what to cook for dinner, so I'm a perfect candidate for make-ahead meals.  You know the concept.  You prepare a big batch of something and freeze it in individual meals, then just thaw and cook a meal when you need one.  I first tried this years ago, but most of the recipes were heavy on the cream of mushroom soup--not a good fit for my household.  I've continued to try each new make-ahead-cookery book, and my favorite is Fix, Freeze, Feast by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik.  

One thing that sets this book apart is that their recipes are based on quantities that you would find in your local warehouse store.  Rather than standing in the meat section trying to work out how many packages will give you enough chicken breasts for the recipe, you're already armed with a list that is in warehouse-tray multiples.  As someone who wants to spend as little time shopping as possible, I fully appreciate this feature. 

The recipes themselves are straightforward, with only a few steps and generally not requiring unusual ingredients.  If you aren't sure whether you'll like a recipe, it is usually simple to try it out by making only one meal.  It is also easy to adapt the recipes to allow for food allergies and family preferences.  Are you a fan of cream of mushroom soup?  They have a great recipe for that.  The authors write in a clear, friendly style that is a pleasure to read and inspires confidence. 

While others may spend Labor Day enjoying one last outing, I'll be freezing batches of chicken curry and snickerdoodles, thanks to Fix, Freeze, Feast. 

 

"Do you really need a recipe for a platter of figs? No. Is that the point? Yes."

Thus begins the new cookbook, A Platter of Figs, by author and Chez Panisse chef David Tanis. Although this is primarily a cookbook, it is also a kind of manifesto about the joys of eating and the benefits of simple cooking based on ingredients used only at their peak. To highlight this, the book is organized into four sections corresponding to the seasons and each starts with six sample menus to help readers get the most out of their ingredients and their cooking. Each suggested menu begins with a brief essay about its inspiration and the thoughts behind pairing certain ingredients or a particular method of preparation, which really helps the reader visualize the menus and dishes before they even start chopping. And, although most of the recipes are based in European cooking traditions (and somewhat heavy on the meat), some do touch on North American and African cuisines, making the book a little more flexible for vegetarians.

I like a cookbook with lots of illustrations, and the lush color photographs throughout this book do not disappoint. At least half of the recipes are accompanied by a full page photograph that really brings the food to life.  Even if you don't end up actually cooking anything, it's still a fun book to look through and is certain to inspire even the most reluctant of cooks. Lucky for us, there are still some fresh figs to be had in the markets, but hurry up, because they won't be here for long!

My sister and I have decided our next diet will be eating all the diet books that we have bought over the years.  As Teresa says there is plenty of fiber.  But before I pour the low fat sugar free ketchup over 100 Easy Ways to Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Minutes!!!!!  I thought I'd read 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet, by registered dietitian Elizabeth Somer.

Her strategies for losing weight are realistic, healthy and not easy!  Hope springs eternal in my chubby cheeks, but there is no quick fix, no miracle pill from a refined rare plant from the hills of Shangri-la. Darn!!

Ms Somers explains why diets don't work.  Actually it doesn't have anything to do with the diet per se; it is sabotage.  And guess who is the saboteur?  That's right me!  Or in your case--you!  The tools of sabotage are bad habits.  The author explains how to identify (or own up to) these diet destroyers and break them.   How many times have you said to yourself, I don't eat much. What you may not notice is, no you don't eat much at one sitting, but you are pretty much sitting and eating many, many times during the day.  Do you believe there are no calories in food taken off your spouse's or child's plates?  Surprise!

There are no recipes in 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet, there are quizzes for self-awareness and suggestions and solutions for breaking the bad and starting the good habits.  One that caught my eye: carry a glass of water in your dominant hand, so it isn't as easy to pick up those chips at the party buffet, or at least it will give you time to think about those chips as you switch your glass to the other hand.  I carefully read chapter six, Excuses, Excuses, Excuses; she took care of all of mine. Ya know what?  I am going to reread 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet and follow her recommendations.  I recommend that you read (and don't eat) this book.

One of the reasons for my lifelong fascination with France is that everything sounds so much nicer when it's said in French.  Case in point--crème brûlée.  It's only baked custard with melted sugar on top, right?  But just the name conjures up the richness of vanilla and cream, with that sharp flavor of caramel.  I can almost taste it.  Not surprising, then, that I devoured (figuratively) Crème Brûlée: More Than 50 Decadent Recipes, by Dominique & Cindy Duby. 

This is the kind of cookbook that is fun to look at even if you don't try any of the recipes.  There is a photo of every crème brûlée variation, from Classic Vanilla, to modern White Chocolate & Green Tea, to savory Mushroom, Bacon & Gruyère.  They are gorgeous, with garnishes of spun sugar, fruit, nuts, and herbs.  Almond-Roasted Apple Brûlée and Spiced Bread Pudding Brûlée are reminiscent of home-style comfort food.  And while Peanut Butter Brûlée might cause the traditionalist to cringe, for me it somehow brought back memories of searching Paris for that elusive staple of the American college student. 

It's not just a pretty book, though.  It will inspire both the novice and the experienced cook.  There is information on ingredients, equipment, and basic technique, but there are also sections on pairing crème brûlée with wine and developing your own variations of the dish.  The only difficulty with Crème Brûlée is deciding which recipe to try first.  Bon appétit!

I can't remember when I first heard about Orangette, the foodie blog written by Molly Wizenberg, but ever since I started reading it, I've been hooked.  I'm not usually drawn into personal blogs written by people I've never actually met, but there's something about this one that's different.  It's wordy by blog stardards, yet I'm never bored and am constantly looking forward to her next update.  Wizenberg writes primarily about her life and cooking, two things which are bound together in an inseparable way; one always seems to be influencing the other.  She is generous enough to share recipes with her readers (along with charmingly retro Polaroid photos, usually of the final results) and I can confirm that the Broccoli Soup with Lemon-Chive Cream is a winner.   Her writing and recipes on the blog share the same qualities:  homey and cozily familiar, yet sharp, interesting and contemporary.

This style is mirrored in her new book A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From My Kitchen Table.  Loosely gathered in chronological order, each mini-chapter centers around an important event in Wizenberg's life in which food and cooking were central elements: spending an evening with her parents roasting tomatoes during a particularly prolific summer in the garden, the French-Style Yogurt Cake with Lemon that led her to true love, or the eggs she made for her father when he was ill with cancer.  Her book is a poignant memoir of grief, but it is also filled with romance, wonderful memories and the importance of home and cooking for those you love.

101 Kid-Friendly Plants: Fun Plants and Projects for the Family by Cindy Krezel

Last time I blogged I wrote about gardening books for adults; today I'm going to write about a great book to get you and your kids working with plants.  As more of us transition our lives "green" it's a good idea to bring the younger generation along with us and show them the joys, spills, thrills, and the beauty and deliciousness of growing plants.   Indoor and outdoor activities are included with special projects such as butterfly gardens, herbs in pots, gardens for cutting flowers as well as an extensive list of plants suitable for children to use.  Color photographs extend the use of this book and makes identification and recognition of plants easier for children to learn.  Gardening with children reignites the joy of working the earth that most of us experienced as children, rejuvenates us and helps us establish a lasting connection with the earth and our children. 

 The Puget Sound area is fortunate to have quite a few gardening stars living, working the earth, and writing about gardening. Although many people first think of Ciscoe Morris when they think of gardening, I would like to introduce you to several other writers I turn to when working in my garden or giving advice at Master Gardener clinics.  Mary Robson has written two guides perfect for the neophyte and adept gardener alike: Washington and Oregon Gardener's Guide: Proven Plants for Inspired Gardens and Month-by-Month Gardening in Washington and Oregon: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden All Year.  Who doesn't want to have a beautiful garden and do less work - everyone I think!  Valerie Easton has several great books that take the guesswork out of what grows well in our area: A Pattern Garden: The Essential Elements of Garden Making and Plant Life: Growing a Garden in the Pacific Northwest.  I'm a sucker for fragrance and one of my favorite guides for placing the best plants in my garden is Fragrance in Bloom: The Scented Garden Throughout the Year by Ann Lovejoy.  Ann is also a masterful cook and showcases the bountiful produce from her garden and inspires us to do the same in Fresh From the Garden Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Kitchen Gardens.  Take a look at Ann's other books; you will be amazed at the variety and depth of subjects offered.  If pruning is on the horizon for you I highly recommend Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning: What, Where, When and How to Prune For a More Beautiful Garden.  Cass is not only a recognized expert in pruning and landscaping (and founder of Plant Amnesty) she is a funny and engaging writer as well.  Steve Solomon is an opinionated gardener and a well-know proponent of sustainable gardening.  Growing food all year long is possible in our climate and Steve shows how it can be done.  Gardening When it Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times and Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades are two of his books that offer expert advice on helping every family become more self sufficient.  So what's keeping you inside? Get out and get growing!