cookbooks

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

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Here are some of the new books coming to our shelves this week for you to add to your book list!

THE HOUSE OF CROSS

In Washington, DC, as the president-elect prepares for her inauguration, Detective Alex Cross is thrust into a high-stakes investigation when multiple Supreme Court candidates are murdered; tasked with delving into the mind of a cunning killer, Cross must confront the most dangerous aspects of his work for the sake of his family, city, and nation.

CHRISTMAS IN BETHEL

The New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Box returns with another quiet tale of parental love, the sacrifices they are willing to make for their children and the true meaning of Christmas.

CITY OF NIGHT BIRDS

After a career-halting accident, prima ballerina Natalia Leonova returns to St. Petersburg to confront her past and to decide whether to rejoin the stage amidst the cutthroat world of Russian ballet.

AMBER ALERT

An explosive portrait of Dirty South revenge, triple-dealing, and crimes of passion as a suburban mom’s high-end criminal past comes back to haunt her, endangering her children and propelling her into a high-stakes game she remembers all too well.

THE ICON & THE IDEALIST

Examines the intense rivalry between Margaret Sanger and Mary Ware Dennett in the early 20th century, revealing how their conflicting visions for reproductive rights and birth control access significantly influenced American women’s lives and shaped the broader movement for reproductive freedom.

BETTY CROCKER FOUND RECIPES

From Betty Crocker, the brand beloved by generations of Americans, a carefully curated treasure trove of more than 100 favorite vintage recipes found in the Betty Crocker archives, dusted off and so delicious you’ll love them on today’s table.

DEATH TAKES THE LEAD

APRIL 1891: Prudence MacKenzie is delighted to attend a riveting rehearsal of Waif of the Highlands with her dear friend, Lydia Truitt, whose cousin, Septimus Ward, stars in the play. But the drama continues after the curtain falls, as the women overhear a ferocious argument between Septimus and the play’s famous playwright-director, Barrett Hughes.

~Semanur

Daylight Saving Time

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Time is a funny thing. This year was a Leap Year and in a couple days, our clocks will spring forward, ushering us into Daylight Saving Time. Those sunny mornings we’ve had? Gone. Instead, we get evenings (hopefully) filled with sunshine and each day warmer than the last.  

I love a good theme and this week here are a bunch of books on various topics, all with the word “time” in the title. Enjoy! 

The Tatami Time Machine Blues by Tomihiko Morimi 

Einstein in Time and Space: A Life in 99 Particles by Samuel Graydon 

Georgia O’Keeffe: To See Takes Time by Samantha Friedman 

Yiayia: Time-Perfected Recipes from Greece’s Grandmothers by Anastasia Miari 

The Time of Your Life by Sandra Kitt 

For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel 

On the Origin of Time: Stephen Hawking’s Final Theory by Thomas Hertog 

Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny Odell 

Finding Time Again by Marcel Proust 

In the Time of Our History by Susanne Pari 

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister 

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson 

Happy reading and don’t forget to set your clocks an hour forward in the wee hours of Sunday morning! 

-Linnea 

National S’more Day

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If you haven’t made s’mores yet, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy this quintessential summer treat. Whether you make a fire, use a microwave, burn your marshmallows, or get a slight singe, just make sure you indulge in one of summer’s simplest, yummiest pleasures. And what better way to enjoy a gooey s’more than being in the great outdoors?

While s’mores may be the best part of a camping trip, certainly there are many other aspects involved that can add to the enjoyment of one’s experience. Below are a few books to peruse before setting out for a night underneath the stars, from what to cook, where to go, and how to camp if you’ve never camped before. 

The Campout Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Cooking Around the Fire and Under the Stars by Marnie Hanel 

Campfire Cooking: Wild Eats for Outdoor Adventures by B. A. Hoena 

Best Tent Camping Ohio: Your Car-Camping Guide to Scenic Beauty, the Sounds of Nature, and an Escape from Civilization by Robert Loewendick 

Cook It Wild: Sensational Prep-ahead Meals for Camping, Cabins, and the Great Outdoors by Chris Nuttall-Smith 

See You at the Campground: A Guide to Discovering Community, Connection, and a Happier Family in the Great Outdoors by Stephanie Puglisi 

50 States, 500 Campgrounds: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do by Joseph R. Yogerst 

-Linnea 

National Watermelon Day

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When I think of summer, I think of picnics and patios, badminton and the beach, and, maybe above all else, watermelon. The quintessential summer fruit, nothing beats biting into a big triangle slice of watermelon after a day spent outdoors.  

A picnic with simple food, shared with good people, is one of the best ways to spend a day. If you’re looking for some inspiration for summer days spent outside, a fresh slice of watermelon in hand, we’ve got you covered! 

Life is a Party: Deliciously Doable Recipes to Make Every Day a Celebration by David Burtka 

The Forest Feast Gatherings: Simple Vegetarian Menus for Hosting Friends & Family by Erin Gleeson 

The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket by Marnie Hanel 

Good Day for a Picnic: Simple Food that Travels Well by Jeremy Jackson 

The CSA Cookbook: Thinking Inside the Box by Linda Ly 

Share: Delicious Sharing Boards for Social Dining by Theo A. Michaels 

Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations by Nicole A. Taylor 

-Linnea 

National French Fry Day

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Last week was National Fried Chicken Day, this week it’s National French Fry Day! What is it about July that makes us want to celebrate all the fried foods? Whatever the explanation is, I’m ready to celebrate! 

Let’s expand our celebration beyond just French fries and show some love to the potato. The potato, as we know, is extremely versatile. From fries to tots to baked to mashed, the potato can do it all. No matter how you choose to indulge in your potato love, we’ve got the cookbooks to help you achieve those goals: 

The Side Dish Bible: 1001 Perfect Recipes for Every Vegetable, Rice, Grain, and Bean Dish You’ll Ever Need by America’s Test Kitchen 

Dinner in an Instant: 75 Modern Recipes for Your Pressure Cooker, Multicooker, + Instant Pot® by Melissa Clark 

The Love and Lemons Cookbook: An Apple-to-Zucchini Celebration of Impromptu Cooking by Jeanine Donofrio 

The Vegetable Butcher: How to Select, Prep, Slice, Dice, and Masterfully Cook Vegetables from Artichokes to Zucchini by Cara Mangini 

Best Side Dishes Ever: Foolproof Recipes for Greens, Potatoes, Beans, Rice, and More by Monica Sweeney 

The New Midwestern Table: 200 Heartland Recipes by Amy Thielen 

Tots!: 50 Tot-ally Awesome Recipes from Totchos to Sweet Po-tot-o Pie by Dan Whalen 

-Linnea 

National Fried Chicken Day

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What could be a more fun day to celebrate than National Fried Chicken Day? The United States may not have a shortage of incredible fried chicken restaurants to enjoy, but why not try making fried chicken in your own kitchen? From classic fry recipes to air fryer hacks, making fried chicken has never been easier. Fried chicken lovers, unite! 

Fried & True: More than 50 Recipes for America’s Best Fried Chicken and Sides by Lee Schrager 

Adventures in Chicken: 150 Amazing Recipes from the Creator of AdventuresInCooking.com by Eva Kosmas Flores 

Air Fry Everything! by Meredith Laurence 

Southern Snacks: 77 Recipes for Small Bites with Big Flavors by Perre Magness 

The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners: Easy, Foolproof Recipes for Your Air Fryer by Laurie Fleming 

The Unofficial Dollywood Cookbook: From Frannie’s Famous Fried Chicken Sandwich to Grist Mill Cinnamon Bread, 100 Delicious Dollywood-inspired Recipes! by Erin K. Browne 

The “I Love My Air Fryer” 5-ingredient Recipe Book by Robin Fields 

-Linnea 

Happy New Year!

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It’s that time of year when we all choose how we want to improve or adjust in the new year. We’re full of hope and ambition, the fear of abandoning our resolutions yet to creep into reality. Our resolutions tend to be pretty similar year after year. How many of us vow to read more, spend less money, watch less television, or pick up a new hobby? And how many of us, after weeks of good intentions, let those goals fall by the wayside as ~life~ gets in the way? You are not alone! And if your goals match any that I listed, you’re not alone there either. 

According to statista.com, a lot of us share the same resolutions:

To help achieve those goals and stay on track longer than a month or two, maybe some of these books will be handy!  

If you… 

Want to cook more meals at home: 

The Weeknight Mediterranean Kitchen: 80 Authentic, Healthy Recipes Made Quick and Easy for Everyday Cooking by Samantha Ferraro 

The Easy Vegan Cookbook: Make Healthy Home Cooking Practically Effortless by Kathy Hester 

Eating Well Made Easy: Deliciously Healthy Recipes for Everyone, Every Day by Lorraine Pascale 

Want to spend less time on social media: 

How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price 

Growing Up Shared: How Parents Can Share Smarter on Social Media-and What You Can Do to Keep Your Family Safe in a No-Privacy World by Stacey Steinberg 

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport 

Want to reduce stress: 

The No-Nonsense Meditation Book: A Scientist’s Guide to the Power of Meditation by Steven Laureys 

Stress Less, Accomplish More: Meditation for Extraordinary Performance by Emily Fletcher 

The Extremely Busy Woman’s Guide to Self-Care: Do Less, Achieve More, and Live the Life You Want by Suzanne Falter 

Want to exercise more: 

Hiking Ohio Gary S. Williams 

Running Well by Sam Murphy 

How to Rock Climb! by John Long 

Want to learn a new skill: 

Hoop Quilts for Beginners: 15 Designs Using Easy Patchwork and Embroidery by AnneMarie Chany 

HTML and CSS by Joe Casabona 

Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook & CD: Listen, Practise, and Learn 

Want to spend less money: 

Little House Living: The Make-Your-Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple, and Self-sufficient Life by Merissa A. Alink 

The 30-Day Money Cleanse: Take Control of Your Finances, Manage Your Spending, and De-stress Your Money for Good by Ashley Feinstein Gerstley 

Wise Craft: Turning Thrift Store Finds, Fabric Scraps, and Natural Objects into Stuff You Love by Blair Stocker 

I hope some of these books help you create a plan or spark ideas for how to keep going on your resolutions. But remember, It’s Okay to Break Your New Year’s Resolutions! 

-Linnea 

National Hispanic Heritage Month

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Today marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which will last until October 15. On September 15, Mexico celebrates their independence from Spain, with most Central American countries celebrating on September 16, and Chile celebrating on September 18. It is a time for the United States to acknowledge and commemorate the contributions and achievements of Hispanic Americans. The influence of Central America is everywhere in the United States, from food to culture to language.  

Interested in cooking? Try these Mexican cookbooks: 

Chicano Eats: Recipes from My Mexican-American Kitchen by Esteban Castillo 

Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in México by Ricky Martínez 

Plant Powered Mexican: Fast, Fresh Recipes from a Mexican-American Kitchen by Kate Ramos  

Planning your next vacation? Explore Central America and beyond: 

Lonely Planet’s Best of Central America 

Fodor’s Essential Chile

Footprint: Belize, Guatemala & Southern Mexico

Love history? There’s plenty to learn: 

Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries, and the Fate of the Great Mexican-American Migration by Alfredo Corchado 

Diego Rivera by Pete Hamill 

Our America: A Hispanic History of the United States by Felipe Fernández-Armesto 

El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America by Carrie Gibson

And of course, there are plenty of authors with rich bibliographies to further expand our appreciation: 

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova 

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo 

Violeta by Isabel Allende 

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez 

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez 

-Linnea

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

semanurLeave a comment

Check out this selection of new releases for your enjoyment coming this week!

The Ink Black Heart (A Cormoran Strike Novel) by [Robert Galbraith]

The Ink Black Heart : The latest installment in the highly acclaimed, internationally bestselling Strike series finds Cormoran and Robin ensnared in another winding, wicked case. A gripping, fiendishly clever mystery, The Ink Black Heart is a true tour-de-force.

The House of Fortune : Alive with the magic of Amsterdam, the enchanting new historical novel from the author of the sensational New York Times bestseller The Miniaturist, which has sold more than two million copies. A feat of sweeping, magical storytelling, The House of Fortune is an unputdownable novel about love and obsession, family and loyalty, and the fantastic power of secrets.

The Thread Collectors : 1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities. Loosely inspired by the authors’ family histories, this stunning novel will stay with readers for a long time.

Lady Joker, Volume 2 by Kaoru Takamura

Lady Joker : This second half of Lady Joker, by Kaoru Takamura, the Grand Dame of Japanese crime fiction, concludes the breathtaking saga introduced in Volume I. Inspired by the real-life Glico-Morinaga kidnapping, an unsolved case that terrorized Japan for two years, Lady Joker reimagines the circumstances of this watershed episode in modern Japanese history and brings into riveting focus the lives and motivations of the victims, the perpetrators, the heroes and the villains.

Feeding Littles and Beyond : An inspirational, accessible family cookbook that offers everything a parent needs to bring joy and love back into the kitchen, by the baby and toddler feeding experts behind Feeding Littles and the New York Times bestselling cookbook author of Inspiralized.

Number One Fan : Terrifying and timely, set against the backdrop of convention culture and the MeToo reckoning, Number One Fan unflinchingly examines the tension between creator and work, fandom and source material, and the rage of fans who feel they own fiction.

~Semanur

No-Bake Treats for the Dog Days of Summer

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Beat the heat and the boredom with these no-bake cookbooks! It can be hard to gather the motivation to cook in these hot summer months but good thing we don’t always have to. There’s plenty of sweet treats to make without turning the oven on. Here are a few cookbooks to try out and remember, when it comes to dessert, sharing is caring! 

No Bake Makery by Cristina Suarez Krumsick has over 80 recipes for small bite treats that you can make without using an oven! Learn how to make key lime pie, peanut brittle, marshmallow pretzel bars, and more, and learn baking techniques such as decorating your treats and tempering chocolate. 

Haven’t you always wanted to eat a cheeseburger made from rice crispies? Look no further than Jessica Siskin’s Treat Yourself!: How to Make 93 Ridiculously Fun No-Bake Crispy Rice Treats. Making food look like other foods or objects is “in” right now and you too can be a part of the action and make rice crispy treats into a camera, sushi, even a menorah. Siskin provides all the tips and tricks, so don’t worry if you’ve only made rice crispy treats shaped like rice crispy treats. Definitely a fun, creative way to fill your day! 

And what is summer without ice cream? But who wants to deal with churning and ice cream makers? Fortunately, No-Churn Ice Cream by Leslie Bilderback has our back and has compiled over 100 recipes without any special equipment. You’ll learn the basics (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry) and tons of variations, so no need to keep buying pints at the store! 

Enjoy all your new-found techniques for these no-bake treats to satisfy your sweet tooth all summer long! 

-Linnea