holidays, crafts, and cookbooks

The next RA Roundtable will be on Wednesday, December 14^th at 9am in the Southern History Department at the Birmingham Public Library downtown.  The topic up for discussion will be art (any kind) and odd sized books.  Large or small, we want to hear about them all!  This is our annual holiday potluck so, if you are able, please bring a small dish to share!

Just in case you haven’t had a chance to make note of the 2017 calendar for RART, here ‘tis:

Feb 8 – humor/parody @ Springville Road

Apr 12 – bookgroups/popular fiction @ Homewood

Jun 14 – literature in translation @ Emmet O’Neal

Aug 9 – parenting/mentoring @ Hoover

Oct 11 – sci fi/fantasy/horror @ Pinson

Dec 13 – young adult @ East Lake

The Fall/Halloween season is in full swing in the Public Libraries of Jefferson County.  Here are a few examples!  

• Springville Road is having an all-ages Halloween Family Fun Night starting at 6pm on Monday, October 31^st.  
• All BPL staff at all branches have been invited to costume it up on the 31^st as well so visit them all and see what characters you find!  Great photo ops abound!  
• The Leeds Library will have an evening block party on the 31^st, fun for the whole family!  
• At Emmet O’Neal, the Children’s department is hosting the annual Library Dark & Grim Costume Carnival on Friday, October 21st beginning at 6pm, with a Tangled sing-along movie at 7. The Teen department (grades 7-12) is hosting a Halloween trivia night on Tuesday, October 25^th 6:30-8 and a horror movie double feature on Friday, October 28^th 6-10pm. The Adult department will have a horror movie double feature (ages 18+) on Saturday, October 15^th 5-9, a documentary about the Amityville haunting on Tuesday, October 18 at 6:30pm, and a literary Halloween trivia night on Thursday, October 27^th at 6:30pm.  Call the reference desk at 205-445-1121 to register a team of 2-4 people.

Yesterday, we met at the Woodlawn Library to discuss cookbooks, crafts, and holidays of all kinds.  I’d like to extend a big THANK YOU to Woodlawn (and to Pam and Sequoria!) for hosting and providing the yummy snacks!

Better Homes and Gardens Halloween Pumpkins & Parties:101 Spooktacular Ideas

I most definitely end up in the "pinterest fail" category when I try out these books, but many of the craft ideas, recipes, and decorating tips in this book are doable as-is, or with minimal tweaking.  

Holley, Emmet O'Neal

Gooseberry Patch Halloween: 200 Bewitching Recipes, Crafts,and Decorating Ideas

A friend has told me for years how awesome the Gooseberry Patch books are and now I'm a convert!  I made two recipes from the many offered here (snacks, desserts, cocktails, and more!) and they were both delicious and easy: the Bite-You-Back spicy roasted pecans and the kid-friendly Mummy Dogs.  I plan to try a couple of the crafts/decorations as well.  I'm even thinking about buying my own copy of this to have at home!

Holley, Emmet O'Neal

Christmas with Southern Living 2016: The Complete Guide to Holiday Cooking and Decorating

Like beauty in Emerson’s poem “The Rhodora,” Southern Living is its own excuse for being, especially at the approach of the holiday season. If you eagerly leaf through each new issue of the magazine, then the Christmas with Southern Living book series is something you should check out. Our department has just received the 2016 version and even if you don’t feel your crafting and cooking skills are in the Martha Stewart category, you can still revel in the gorgeous photography. And who knows? Some of the decorating schemes and recipes are fairly simple and you may find something you’d like to try. On page 39 there is a recipe for Salted Brown Sugar Butter that is only three ingredients: unsalted butter, brown sugar, and flaky sea salt. We are assured that “you will find endless dishes in which to use this butter, from topping cooked carrots and roasted root vegetables to slathering on dinner rolls and muffins.” Well, I’m sold. Something tells me this will find its way into my recipe file and my roasted root vegetables will be all the better for it. Take a look and you might find a decorating idea or recipe that will become one of your personal classics.

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

Thanksgiving: An American Holiday, an American History by Diana Karter Appelbaum

Most of us who grew up in this country have an image of Thanksgiving that includes a turkey dinner, accompanied by various sides such as cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and other personal favorites. Appelbaum’s history of Thanksgiving is interesting because of how it examines many different versions of Thanksgiving and how the holiday originated. The Pilgrim “feast” with the Native Americans may or may not have featured turkey, though it’s a possibility along with ducks, geese, or partridges. There may have been pumpkins and corn, but these were a regular feature of the settlers’ diet. There might also have been oysters, which may be where we get our recipes for turkey stuffing (“dressing” if you grew up in the South) with oysters in it. But whatever the food, the meal we think of as a feast emerged from circumstances where famine was more likely.

It hasn’t always been just a sit-down dinner with relatives and friends, either. During different periods of American history, Thanksgiving Day might begin with a skating party in the morning (helpful in working up an appetite for the afternoon dinner) and end in the evening with a gala dance. It was not until FDR’s presidential administration that the day for the observance legally became the fourth Thursday in November.  But one thing has not changed. One of the illustrations in the book is from the 19^th century and is entitled “After Dinner.” It shows a grandfather sleeping peacefully in an armchair with his grandchild slumbering in his arms. Apparently the “fall asleep after dinner” tradition is an absolutely vital part of the long and complex history of Thanksgiving Day. 

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

Occasions: Always Gracious, Sometimes Irreverent by Kate Spade

No matter what the occasion, this is a handy book to have around. With the signature grace and flair that characterizes her brand from clothing to home decorating, Spade covers just about everything you need to know for almost any kind of celebration, including a few things you hadn’t thought of. You will find advice on how to be a good host/hostess and guest, how to decorate, what should be in a well-stocked bar and pantry, what to do about the drunken guest wearing a lampshade as a hat, and how to stage every kind of gathering from a dinner party for a dozen to a midnight breakfast for two. A sample of advice on being a good host: “If you have houseguests frequently, it’s a good idea to sleep in your guest room once every few months. Then you’ll know firsthand what works, what’s missing, whether the pillows are perfect or the mattress too soft.”  I lost count of how many times I read something like this and thought, “That’s perfect and why didn’t I already know it?” So whatever kind of event you’re planning, take a look at Occasions and be ready for anything.

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

How to Spell Chanukah...And Other Holiday Dilemmas: 18 Writers Celebrate 8 Nights of Lights edited by Emily Franklin

Ring in the holiday with eighteen writers who extol, excoriate, and expand our understanding of this most merry of Jewish festivals as they offer up funny, irreverent, and, yes, even nostalgic takes on a holiday that holds a special place in Jewish hearts . . . and stomachs.

Pieces by Jonathan Tropper, Jennifer Gilmore, Steve Almond, Joanna Smith Rakoff, Adam Langer, and others address pressing issues: what is the weight gain associated with eating 432 latkes in eight nights? Offer joyous gratitude: “What a holiday! No pestilence, no slavery, no locusts, no cattle disease, or atonement. Thank God.” And afford tender truths: “You are reminded of your real gifts: a family you get to come home to.”

Whether your family tradition included a Christmas tree or a Chanukah bush, whether the fights among your siblings rivaled the battles of the Maccabees, or even if you haven’t a clue who the Maccabees were, this little book illustrates the joys, frustrations, and small miracles of the season.

Mondretta, Leeds

The American Book of Days: A Compendium of Information aboutHolidays, Festivals, Notable Anniversaries, and Christian and Jewish Holy Days by George William Douglas

Mondretta, Leeds

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2016: The Ultimate Go-To Guide for Special Days, Weeks, and Months

Find out what's going on any day of the year, anywhere across the globe!

If you're looking to tie a promotional event to a special month, travel to a music festival halfway around the world, blog about a historical milestone or do a celebrity birthday round-up on your radio show or Twitterfeed, Chase's Calendar of Events is the one resource that has it all.

The world’s datebook, Chase's is the definitive day-by-day resource of what America and the wider world are celebrating and commemorating. Founded in 1957 on a reputation for accuracy and comprehensiveness, this annual publication has become the must-have reference used by experts and professionals for more than fifty years. From celebrity birthdays to historical anniversaries, from astronomical phenomena to national awareness days, from award ceremonies and sporting events to religious festivals and carnivals, Chase's is the one-stop shop for everything that is happening now or is worth remembering from the past.

The 2016 Edition of Chase's Calendar of Events brings you:

• The Transit of Mercury
• Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Brazil
• The 25^th anniversary of the collapse of the USSR
• The 50^th anniversary of the first celebration of Kwanzaa
• The 75^th anniversary of Pearl Harbor
• The National Park Service’s 100^th birthday
• The 100^th anniversary of WWI’s Battle of Verdun and Battle of the Somme
• The 200^th birth anniversary of Charlotte Brontë
• Indiana’s 200^th statehood birthday

For librarians, broadcasters, journalists, event planners, public relations professionals, editors, writers or simply the curious, this is one reference you can't do without!

Mondretta, Leeds

Crafting with Mason Jars and Other Glass Containers: Over 35 Simple and Beautiful Upcycling Projects by Hester Van Overbeek

Follow Hester van Overbeek's easy steps to make a fresh flower-decorated tea-light votive for a garden party, store all your grains and pasta in large jars with vibrantly painted lids, or why not surprise a friend with the colorful "birthday in a jar"? There are lots of quick ideas that take no time at all, such as vacation memories in a jar, the table-setting jars, or the floral centerpiece that will charm all your guests. Some are elegant, some are homespun, but all make use of natural materials such as wood, shells, flowers, and leather to give an original but sophisticated feel to your home and garden. Once you are confident in making the simpler crafts, there are more intricate projects to try, using basic DIY techniques: make a fabulous drink dispenser, a desk lamp, or a rustic vase display by attaching jars to a weathered piece of wood. All the projects have clear step-by-step instructions and hand-drawn illustrations to guide you, so all you need to do is pick the project you want to make first!

Jon, Avondale

The Boy Mechanic Makes Toys: 159 Games, Toys, Tricks, and Other Amusements by the editors of Popular Mechanics

It’s vintage fun! This follow-up to The Boy Mechanic—Popular Mechanics’ collection of can-do ingenuity from the early 1900s—features more than 200 unique toys and games that anyone with a basic tool kit will want to make, plus the unusual and attractive rounded, flexibound format. Charmingly designed to capture that old-fashioned flavor, every imaginative project remains as engaging today as ever, with its appeal fully intact. There’s amusement for little kids, including a toy donkey that nods and wags its tail; a child’s playhouse and a miniature windmill; magic tricks, such as an “X-Ray” pack of cards and mystery coin box; items for the great outdoors, which range from a homebuilt canoe to a diving tower; plus gizmos and gadgets, “scien-terrific” motors and engines, and entertaining objects for an older child to create and play with.

Jon, Avondale

How to Show & Sell Your Crafts: How to Build Your Craft Business at Home, Online, and in the Marketplace by Torie Jayne

For crafters who want to take their craft to a new entrepreneurial level, this book is the perfect guide. Using highly-visual, step-by-step tutorials, How to Show & Sell Your Crafts is packed with helpful branding, selling, and merchandising tips that no serious crafter should be without. Using the workspaces, shops, salons, and "through-the-keyhole" profiles of some of the world's most successful crafters, readers will learn the best ways to merchandise and sell their items online, at craft fairs, markets, pop-up events, exhibitions, and in shops. Plus, you'll learn how to build a personality-driven brand, create a memorable blog or website, improve your photography skills, and analyze your results to help move your business forward into the future.

You start by learning how to optimize your workspace to improve creativity and profitability, then how to build a strong brand name and Internet presence on Etsy and across multiple social media platforms. Lastly, learn how to get your work out into the marketplace, engage customers, and use the insider secrets offered in this book to set yourself up for success and grow your sales!

Jon, Avondale

Bead Pendants & Necklaces: 20 Beautiful Jewelry Designs by Susan Beal

These 20 beautiful projects range in skill level from beginner to experienced, allowing you to build new skills as you complete one project and move on to the next. A fully illustrated techniques section teaches you the basics of jewelry-making and gives you a base to build off of so that you can even create your own brand new designs.

Jon, Avondale

The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook: Sweet Treats for the Geek in All of Us by Rosanna Pansino

The long-awaited first cookbook from the creator and host of the Internet’s most popular baking show, Nerdy Nummies: a collection of Rosanna Pansino’s all-time favorite geeky recipes as well as sensational new recipes exclusive to this book.

The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook is quirky, charming, and fun, featuring the recipes behind Rosanna Pansino’s celebrated, one-of-a-kind creations, as well as beautiful, mouthwatering photographs throughout. It is the perfect companion that you’ll turn to whenever you want to whip up a delicious treat and be entertained all at once. And best of all, these treats are as simple as they are fun to make! No need for costly tools or baking classes to create these marvelous delights yourself.

The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook combines two things Rosanna loves: geek culture and baking. Her fondness for video games, science fiction, math, comics, and lots of other things considered “nerdy” have inspired every recipe in this book. You’ll find the recipes for many beloved fan favorites from the show, such as Apple Pi Pie, the Chocolate Chip Smart Cookie, and Volcano Cake; as well as many new geeky recipes, such as Dinosaur Fossil Cake, Moon Phase Macarons, and the Periodic Table of Cupcakes. The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook showcases Rosanna’s most original and popular creations, and each recipe includes easy-to-follow photo instructions and a stunning shot of the finished treat in all its geeky glory: a delicious confection sure to please the geek in all of us!

Jon, Avondale

Southern Spirits: Four Hundred Years of Drinking in the American South, with Recipes by Robert F. Moss

Ask almost anyone to name a uniquely Southern drink, and bourbon and mint juleps--perhaps moonshine--are about the only beverages that come up. But what about rye whiskey, Madeira wine, and fine imported Cognac? Or peach brandy, applejack, and lager beer? At various times in the past, these drinks were as likely to be found at the Southern bar as barrel-aged bourbon and raw corn likker. The image of genteel planters in white suits sipping mint juleps on the veranda is a myth that never was--the true picture is far more complex and fascinating. Southern Spirits is the first book to tell the full story of liquor, beer, and wine in the American South. This story is deeply intertwined with the region, from the period when British colonists found themselves stranded in a new world without their native beer, to the 21st century, when classic spirits and cocktails of the pre-Prohibition South have come back into vogue. Along the way, the book challenges the stereotypes of Southern drinking culture, including the ubiquity of bourbon and the geographic definition of the South itself, and reveals how that culture has shaped the South and America as a whole.

Samuel, Springville Road

GENERAL DISCUSSION:  The Homewood Library has a magnificent program series on cocktails let by local writer and bartender-at-large, Clair McLafferty!  Here’s the lineup for 2017 (sorry for the creases, it was folded up in my purse):

cooking, crafting, and art

In attendance:

Holley, Emmet O’Neal
Jon, BPL Avondale
Mary Anne, BPL Southern History
Kelly, BPL Springville Road
Jiemin, BPL Central
Samuel, BPL Five Points West
Mondretta, Leeds
Michelle, Irondale
Maura, Trussville
Pam, BPL Woodlawn

A big THANK YOU goes out to Michelle and the fine folks at the Irondale Library for hosting, and feeding, the RA Roundtable last week!  The crafting and art book display was an inspired idea that I hope other hosting libraries will consider emulating (*wink, wink*).

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 14th at 9am at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest for a discussion of mysteries, thrillers, and horror.  I hope you’ll be able to join us!

I was voted in again (it’s me, Holley!) as moderator for the 2016 JCPLA Roundtable season and we have a great line up coming up next year!

February 10, 2016 @ BPL Five Points West - Consumer Health

April 6, 2016 (avoiding ALLA) @  BPL Avondale - Audiobook/Digital downloads                    

June 8, 2016 @ Emmet O’Neal - LGBT Fiction

August 10, 2016 @ (TBD) - Debut Fiction

October 12, 2016 @ BPL Woodlawn - Celebrations

December 14, 2016 @ BPL Southern History - Art/Oversize/Worst Donations

Please consider sending in your personally created annotation for the book(s) you shared with RART this morning.  In addition to adding flavor to the regular blog post, I will anonymously post the review on the title’s Encore entry on your behalf! 

CraftFail: When Homemade Goes Horribly Wrong by Heather Mann

Pinterest is my Matterhorn; a Matterhorn that I have never bested.  As a veteran craftfailer, I adored this book.  It is a comfort to know that I’m not the only one that has WAY more ambition than talent.  Heather Mann, publisher of the CraftFail.com blog, has compiled the worst of the worst of the craft fails that have been submitted to her and they'll keep you laughing long after you’ve turned the last page.
Holley, Emmet O’Neal

Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay

I love this book beyond all reason, but it is nearly impossible to read it without internet access at hand as you will want to look up every single artwork Finlay mentions in her quest to explore and understand the physical materials that color our world as well as the social and political meanings that color has carried through time. From the secretive world of aboriginal art in Australia to the modern Chilean farmers breeding and bleeding insects for their viscous red blood; from traveling ancient silk trade routes to crossing the Mediterranean, join Finlay on a global adventure of epic proportions.
Holley, Emmet O’Neal

The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum

If you’re an accomplished cake baker, you NEED this book. And even if you aren’t, have a look at it anyway and it may inspire you to attempt cake baking you thought was far beyond your skills. The Cake Bible is one of the most beautiful cookbooks I have ever seen, with mouthwatering photos that will make you want to lick the pages. And it always helps to know what the finished product is supposed to look like.

Some reviewers on Amazon said that they didn’t care for how specific the instructions were and that the recipes didn’t allow for substitutions, but for a cook like me the specific instructions would be a great help—whenever I try a new recipe I always follow the instructions exactly and then tweak afterwards if I think I can improve it, though it would be hard to imagine improving on these incredible creations. For each cake, Beranbaum gives precise instructions, lists of needed supplies, and helpful explanations for why each recipe needs this particular combination of ingredients to turn out right. And there are different levels of difficulty; if you don’t think you can attempt one of the more spectacular items like the Art Deco Cake, try a pound cake or loaf cake instead.

I don’t have a bucket list written out, but on the one I carry around in my mind, one of the items is to try and make a cake from this cookbook—a cake? Or maybe two or three? And how to choose? As a chocolate lover, I can definitely hear some of the fudgier alternatives calling my name. But whether I ever make anything from it or not, The Cake Bible passes my prime test for cookbooks: it is an enjoyable read for its own sake. Find her online at http://www.realbakingwithrose.com/.

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

A Cookbook for Poor Poets and Others by Ann Rogers

I broke one of my rules for Readers Advisory and went “off catalog” for this cookbook, because it’s not in the system and it deserves to be. Rogers is a child of the Depression era and this book was inspired by her ideas of the perfect “nickel dinner”: i.e. real food that was cheap but good. The closest thing to this ideal was “a big fresh roll—the French or Italian kind—the crust shattering with the first bite . . . it smells of yeast and wheatfields and waterfalls and salt flats . . .” Out of this idea the perfect rules for the civilized nickel dinner emerged, and they are:

Always have fresh bread.  Always use butter. And always serve wine.

The first version of Poor Poets came out in the 60s and even then the cost of living was catching up with the nickel dinner; today it would be considered an impossible dream, as you can hardly find a decent ten or fifteen dollar dinner. But the principles remain the same. Poor Poets is about food that’s frugal but tasty for those lean times when no checks have been coming in, and there are some more extravagant recipes for more prosperous occasions. Some of the common sense advice that still applies:

“Let the ‘weekend specials,’ not the palate, be the deciding factor in what to eat when.”

“Ground beef was invented for Poor Poets.”

In the Instructions for Western Chili: “This is a no-panic recipe for the ingredients  can be varied every which way. Furthermore it will feed up to twelve if it’s served over macaroni, rice, or corn chips.”

Since no one can be practical all the time, some novelty recipes are included, like Javanese Rijstafel (basically a buffet with mounds of steamed rice and about fifty different sides to serve over the rice), or Leckerlein, a type of cookie/cake that takes up to two years to make since the cookies are soaked in rum and aged. Most people don’t have that kind of patience—I know I don’t—but the recipe is interesting and there are plenty of others for sweets that don’t take nearly as long.

In 1979 there was a new edition: The New Cookbook for Poor Poets and Others. It may now be time for an even newer addition, since life keeps getting more expensive. But keep that dream of the nickel(?) dinner going with Rogers’ fundamentals. Don’t forget the fresh bread, the butter, and the wine!

Poor Poets on Cookbook of the Day:

http://cookbookoftheday.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-cookbook-for-poor-poets.html

Poor Poets at Willow Manor:

http://willowmanor.blogspot.com/2010/06/poor-poets-and-others.html
Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

The I Hate to Cook Book by Peg Bracken

(powells.com) "There are two kinds of people in this world: the ones who don't cook out of and have NEVER cooked out of The I Hate to Cook Book, and the other kind... The I HATE TO COOK people consist mainly of those who find other things more interesting and less fattening, and so they do it as seldom as possible. Today there is an Annual Culinary Olympics, with hundreds of cooks from many countries ardently competing. But we who hate to cook have had our own Olympics for years, seeing who can get out of the kitchen the fastest and stay out the longest." —Peg Bracken

Philosopher's Chowder. Skinny Meatloaf. Fat Man's Shrimp. Immediate Fudge Cake. These are just a few of the beloved recipes from Peg Bracken's classic I Hate to Cook Book. Written in a time when women were expected to have full, delicious meals on the table for their families every night, Peg Bracken offered women who didn't revel in this obligation an alternative: quick, simple meals that took minimal effort but would still satisfy. 50 years later, times have certainly changed — but the appeal of The I Hate to Cook Book hasn't. This book is for everyone, men and women alike, who wants to get from cooking hour to cocktail hour in as little time as possible.
Kelly, BPL Springville Road

How to Quilt: Techniques and Projects for the Complete Beginner by Rachel Clare Reynolds

(powells.com) This is the ultimate go-to quilting guide for the complete beginner - no prior knowledge of quilting, or even sewing, is assumed. Ten fully illustrated techniques are included, covering everything a novice needs to know, including skills such as rag quilting, hand-tied wadding, English paper piece and square work. The techniques are accompanied by nine simple projects, enabling the reader to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice. Projects include a pin cushion, lavender-filled keepsake, bed/cover, bed runner, throw, cushion, tea cozy, scarf and cot quilt. Approachable and friendly in style, this beautifully illustrated book aims to give beginners the confidence to take up quilting, then use it as a basics skills 'bible' to have to hand when they need it.
Kelly, BPL Springville Road

Knitting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti

(powells.com)  Righetti gives readers what they've asked for: advice on making all different garments, working with new patterns and different kinds of yarn, and even an introduction to her own legendary history. Neither aggressively hip nor bafflingly encyclopedic, Knitting in Plain English offers basic principles that will make any project---from a basic blanket to an intricate sweater---rewarding. Having Knitting in Plain English on the shelf is like having your own knitting teacher available to help at all times with any thorny problem.
Kelly, BPL Springville Road

Sheet Pan Suppers: 120 Recipes for Simple, Surprising,Hands-Off Meals Straight from the Oven by Molly Gilbert

(powells.com) It’s the one-pot meal reinvented, and what is sure to become every busy cook’s new favorite way of getting dinner on the table. It’s Sheet Pan Suppers—a breakthrough full-color cookbook with more than 120 recipes for complete meals, snacks, brunch, and even dessert, that require nothing more than a sheet pan, your oven, and Molly Gilbert’s inspired approach.

The virtue of cooking on a sheet pan is two-fold. First there’s the convenience of cooking everything together and having just one pan to clean up. Then there’s the cooking method—roasting, baking, or broiling—three techniques that intensify flavors; in other words, food tastes better when cooked on a sheet pan (move over, slow cooker). But the real genius here is Molly Gilbert’s fresh, sophisticated approach. There are easy dinners for weeknight meals—Chicken Legs with Fennel and Orange; Soy-Mustard Salmon and Broccoli; Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Squash, Apples, and Onions. Special occasion meals—Rack of Lamb with Herby Bread Crumbs and Buttered Carrots; Asparagus and Black Cod in Parchment. Meatless meals—Israeli Couscous-Stuffed Peppers. Plus surprise extras, including in-a-snap party snacks—Baked Brie and Strawberries, Corn and Crab Cakes with Yogurt Aioli; quick brunch dishes like Greens and Eggs and Ham, and Baked Apricot French Toast; and, of course, dessert—Stone Fruit Slab Pie, Halloween Candy S’mores. Maximum ease, minimal cleanup, and mouthwatering recipes. In other words, a revelation that will change the way we cook.
Kelly, BPL Springville Road

White Trash Cooking and Sinkin’ Spells, Hot Flashes, Fits,and Cravin’s by Ernest Matthew Mickler

(powells.com) A quarter-century ago, while many were busy embracing the sophisticated techniques and wholesome ingredients of the nouvelle cuisine, one Southern loyalist lovingly gathered more than 200 recipes—collected from West Virginia to Key West—showcasing the time-honored cooking and hospitality traditions of the white trash way. Ernie Mickler’s much-imitated sugar snap-pea prose style accompanies delicacies like Tutti’s Fancy Fruited Porkettes, Mock-Cooter Stew, and Oven-Baked Possum; stalwart sides like Bette’s Sister-in-Law’s Deep-Fried Eggplant and Cracklin’ Corn Pone; waste-not leftover fare like Four-Can Deep Tuna Pie and Day-Old Fried Catfish; and desserts with a heavy dash of Dixie, like Irma Lee Stratton’s Don’t-Miss Chocolate Dump Cake and Charlotte’s Mother’s Apple Charlotte.
Kelly, BPL Springville Road

(cookbookvillage.com) Sinkin Spells Hot Flashes Fits and Cravins cookbook by Ernest Matthew Mickler, author of White Trash Cooking, captures more of Ernie's recipes and stories. Anna Bell's Fudge Pie, Aunt Fanny's Fishfried Oysters, Wee Jean's Turniped Sausage Casserole, and Beulah Harris's Double Freezed Ice Cream are some of the recipes found inside Ernie's cookbook.
Kelly, BPL Springville Road

How to Mix Colors (Pocket Art Guides) by Gabriel Martin Rig

(powells.com) Art students and amateur painters alike will find advice and instruction in Barron's popular Pocket ArtGuides series. This book explores the fundamentals of choosing and mixing colors as it applies to watercolors, acrylics, and oils.
Samuel, BPL Five Points West

Artists’ Techniques and Materials (Guides to Imagery) by Antonella Fuga

(powells.com) An artist's materials--the bold brushstrokes of a Van Gogh oil painting, the sparkling gold leaf in a Byzantine mosaic, the fragile translucence of a porcelain vase--are not just the accessories of his or her work. They are the physical embodiment of the artist's creative vision and a reflection of the historical context in which they were used.

This latest volume in the popular Guide to Imagery series discusses the materials and processes used in eight media: painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, mosaics, ceramics, glass, and metalwork. Within each of these categories, Antonella Fuga examines the range of materials and techniques that have developed over the centuries. For instance, in the chapter on drawing, she analyzes the use of charcoal, red chalk, and pastels, among other media. Capsule descriptions in the margins list essential information about the subject under discussion, and details of the artworks employed as examples are called out. The book concludes with a brief overview of contemporary techniques. Richly illustrated with artworks from many of the world's important museums, this book provides art enthusiasts with new insights into the creation of many of the world's great masterpieces.

Samuel, BPL Five Points West

Lidia’s Commonsense Italian Cooking: 150 Delicious andSimple Recipes Anyone Can Master by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich

(powells.com) Lucinda Scala Quinn, author of Lucinda’sRustic Italian Kitchen and long-time executive food editor for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, has been a frequent guest on Martha, co-host of PBS’s Everyday Food, and host of her own Martha Stewart–produced TV show on the Hallmark Channel, Mad Hungry. The down-to-earth, home-style Italian recipes in this cookbook are the kind of food she grew up on, making this book a favorite of hers. The book has stunning photographs by acclaimed photographer Quentin Bacon along with mouthwatering recipes, like Gnocchi with Pesto, Bucatini Puttanesca, and Linguine with Clams, which readers are sure to visit again and again when making Italian classics at home.
Samuel, BPL Five Points West

Quick & Easy Japanese Cuisine for Everyone by Yukiko Moriyama

(amazon.com) Here is the perfect introduction to a new sphere of Japanese cuisine. Besides the popular party foods such as Sukiyaki and Shabushabu, included are other Japanese modern and daily menus. Full of delicious recipes for health-conscious persons, this book is ideal for nutritious and budget saving recipes. Every recipe comes with practical step-by step photographs.
Samuel, BPL Five Points West

Middle Eastern Home Cooking by Tess Mallos

(powells.com) Tabouleh, Chicken and Orange with Sweet Rice, Lamb and Okra, Stuffed Tomatoes, Figs in Syrup, and a range of flavorsome coffees are just a few of the tempting and delicious recipes you will find in Middle Eastern Home Cooking. Discover how simple it is to create these and other tantalizing Middle Eastern dishes in your own kitchen. With beautifully illustrated, easy-to-follow recipes, Middle Eastern Home Cooking features a mouth-watering selection of dishes that anyone can make.
Samuel, BPL Five Points West

Sweet Paul: Eat & Make: Charming Recipes + Kitchen Crafts You Will Love by Paul Lowe

(powells.com) It began as a little blog highlighting the recipes and crafts of the Norwegian-born food and prop stylist Paul Lowe. Six years later, Sweet Paul is an online magazine followed by millions and a print quarterly sold nationwide in specialty stores. Praised by the New York Times as “a trove of seasonal delights,” it is turning heads with its easy, elegant food and style-setting aesthetic.

Divided into Morning, Brunch, Noon, and Night, with color palettes to match, Sweet Paul Eat and Make includes breakfast dishes like Morning Biscuits with Cheddar, Dill, and Pumpkin Seeds and brunches like Smoked Salmon Hash with Scallions, Dill, and Eggs. For lunch, there’s a super-quick Risotto with Asparagus, and for dinner, Maple-Roasted Chicken and a stunning Norwegian specialty, Worlds Best Cake. Rustically chic craft projects; paper flowers made out of coffee filters, a vegetable-dyed tablecloth, and a trivet from wooden clothespins; will captivate even those who are all thumbs.
Jiemin, BPL Central

The Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook:2001-2015

(amazon.com) This newly revised edition of The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook includes all 15 seasons (including 2015) of the hit TV show in a lively collection featuring more than 950 foolproof recipes and dozens of tips and techniques.
Mondretta, Leeds

How Can it Be Gluten Free Cookbook: Revolutionary Techniques, Groundbreaking Recipes

(powells.com) Gluten-free cooking takes a quantum leap forward with this collection of groundbreaking recipes and revolutionary techniques. We tried thousands of recipes (most were pretty awful) before we figured out the secrets to making favorite foods without gluten. In this landmark book we'll tell you what works (and why) and share the simple and economical recipe for the America's Test Kitchen's Gluten-Free Flour Blend as well as comfort foods like Lasagna with Hearty Tomato-Meat Sauce, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, and tender and moist Meat Loaf.

Learn how we reinvented the rules of baking to produce tall, light-textured Classic Sandwich Bread, Chewy Sugar Cookies with crackly tops, the ultimate Chocolate Layer Cake, flaky and tender Pie Dough for Deep Dish Apple Pie, decadent Fudgy Brownies, and more. We include an extensive basics chapter that's a road map for understanding the science of gluten, and offer taste test results of gluten-free products. Our test kitchen doesn't settle for second best, why should you? This is the gluten-free cookbook you've been waiting for.
Mondretta, Leeds

Heart of a Small Town: Photographs of Alabama Towns by Robin McDonald

(powells.com) With 126 color photographs and 30 quotes from noted Alabama storytellers, Robin McDonald creates the "mood" of small towns everywhere as they quietly retire from service.

Heart of a Small Town is Robin McDonald’s paean to a time when small rural communities all over this country bustled with life. Concentrating on Alabama, he draws his subjects from those areas of the state that have been bypassed by major highways and left somewhat deserted. Places like Verbena, Mentone, Burnt Corn, Newbern, Epes, and Enterprise; places in the Black Belt, in Wiregrass Country, in the Piedmont. There he records common objects—screen doors, broken sidewalks, storefront displays, neon signs, rusting pickup trucks, kudzu-covered walls, and church windows—with an uncommon sensitivity.

Matched with quotations from writing that grew out of these places, the images take on an unusually vibrant life. Robin McDonald's photographs are animated and enriched by the lyrical quotations borrowed from southern writers, some less well known, like Augusta Evans Wilson and Viola Goode Liddell, and some well known, like Truman Capote, Zelda Fitzgerald, James Agee, Vicki Covington, and Rick Bragg. They echo with the hopes and joys and the struggles and grief of folks who have called these places home.
Mondretta, Leeds

Visions of the Black Belt: A Cultural Survey of the Heart of Alabama by Robin McDonald and Valerie Burnes

(powells.com) In Visions of the Black Belt, Robin McDonald and Valerie Pope Burnes offer a richly illustrated tour of the Black Belt, the fertile arc that represents the cultural efflorescence of Alabama’s heartland. Like knowledgeable friends, McDonald and Burnes guide readers through the Black Belt’s towns and architecture and introduce the region’s great panoply of citizens, farmers, craftspeople, cooks, writers, and musicians.

A constellation of Black Belt towns arose during Alabama’s territorial decades, communities like Selma, Camden, Eutaw, Tuskegee, Greenville, and many more. Visions of the Black Beltrecounts their stories and others, such as Demopolis’s founding by exiles from Napoleon’s France. As an escarpment of clouds scuds across an indigo sky, the ruins of Alabama’s lost capital of Cahaba reveal the secrets of its lost squares. Also on this picturesque tour are the Black Belt’s homes, from artless cabins wreathed in fern to ozymandian manses wrapped by stately columns, such as Kirkwood and Reverie.

Among the emblematic houses of worship lovingly photographed in Visions of the Black Belt is Prairieville’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, noted for its “carpenter gothic” style. Also reflecting the region’s history of faith are poignant graveyards such as Greenville’s Pioneer Cemetery with its homespun memorials of seashell-and-concrete and the elegant marbles clad in ebon lichen of Selma's Live Oak Cemetery.

In photos and text, McDonald and Burnes bring to life the layers of history that shaped the Black Belt’s tastes, sounds, and colors. Their gastronomic discoveries include the picant crawfish of the Faunsdale Bar & Grill and Gaines Ridge Dining Club’s famed Black Bottom pie. They bring the sounds of the Black Belt to life by presenting a wide range of musicians and musical events, from bona fide blues and soul masters to Eutaw’s Black Belt Roots Festival.

Including two maps and more than 370 full-color photographs,Visions of the Black Belt offers a timeless message of faith, determination, and the rich simplicity of living in harmony with the rhythms of the land and nature. Published in Cooperation with the Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center, Camden, Alabama
Mondretta, Leeds

World of Geekcraft: Step-by-step Instructions for 25 SuperCool Craft Projects by Susan Beal

(powells.com) Geek meets craft in this fun collection of 25 kooky projects for geeks of any affiliation, from D&D dice earrings, Star Trek pillows, and Super Mario cross-stitch to Star Wars terrariums, a Morse code quilt, and much more.

Organized by difficulty from Not a Jedi Yet to Warp Speed, World of Geekcraft covers a range of popular crafting techniques including beading, quilting, applique, embroidery, and needle felting. Best of all, it's easy to get started with step-by-step instructions and handy templates included in the back of the book. With lots of photos and plenty of geekery throughout, this one-of-a-kind book shows that geek and craft go together like...pixels and cross-stitch.
Michelle, Irondale

Summer Cocktails: Margaritas, Mint Juleps, Punches, PartySnacks, and More by Maria Del Mar Sacasa and Tara Striano

(amazon.com) Whether you’re lounging by the pool, cooking over a grill, or relaxing in the hammock, you need a great drink. And with Summer Cocktails, MarТa del Mar Sacasa and Tara Striano will help you discover your favorite fair-weather friends, from Peachy Keen Punch to Ginger-Lemongrass Piña Colada.Summer Cocktails features more than 100 seasonal recipes for punches and pitchers, frosty drinks, classics and throwbacks, and more. Craft your beverages from the bottom up with underpinnings straight from your summer garden, including Strawberry-Rosemary Shrub, Rhubarb Syrup, or Tomatillo and Coriander Tequila. Plus, round out the perfect party with savory snacks to match your cool drinks. Cheers!
Michelle, Irondale

Calling All Cooks by the Telephone Pioneers of America Alabama Chapter

(amazon.com) First published in 1982, this cookbook continues to be in demand. It contains recipes handed down from generation to generation through family and friends. Whether a novice or an expert, no cook's kitchen should be without it.
Michelle, Irondale

A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker

Another knitting classic. Comprehensive source for knitting patterns and motifs, from the very basic knit-purl combinations, to cables, to detailed lacework. These can be incorporated into various projects. This volume does not contain garment- or item-specific instructions, so it is a timeless resource.
Maura, Trussville

Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac: Projects for Each Month of the Year by Elizabeth Zimmermann

This is a classic knitting book written by a legend in the knitting world. Her conversational writing style is charming, witty, and encouraging. The book contains projects that are basic and adaptable. She shares her experiences and difficulties with the reader and offers advice and encouragement to knitters of all experience levels. Includes interesting commentary on the historical and cultural aspects of knitting.
Maura, Trussville

Mason Dixon Knitting: Outside the Lines: Patterns, Stories,Pictures, True Confessions, Tricky Bits, Whole New Worlds, and Familiar Ones Too by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne

Creators of the popular Mason-Dixon knitting blog, Gardiner and Shayne are knitting friends from New York and Nashville, who want everyone to know how much fun knitting can be! The book includes a variety of projects, plus personal stories, advice, and irreverent humor. Also check out their earlier book, Mason-Dixon knitting: the curious knitters' guide stories, patterns, advice, opinions, questions, answers, jokes, and pictures.
Maura, Trussville

Alabama Stitch Book: Projects and Stories CelebratingHand-Sewing, Quilting, and Embroidery for Contemporary Sustainable Style by Natalie Chanin

Sewing projects and stories from Florence-based fashion designer Natalie Chanin, with information on hand-sewing, garment construction, decorative motifs, embroidery, and clearly illustrated instructions for basic stitches. This book encourages appreciation for the history of the garment industry in Alabama and the many hands involved. Includes patterns and instruction for 20 projects.
Maura, Trussville

Bob Moody’s Birmingham: A City in Watercolor by Bob Moody

(amazon.com) Selected watercolors (dating from the 1960s-2014) capture the beauty of Birmingham landmark places, including its industrial sites, city center, its commercial districts and neighborhoods.
(Jon, BPL Avondale)

Chloe’s Vegan Italian Kitchen: 150 Pizzas, Pastas, Pestos, Risottos, and Lots of Creamy Italian Classics by Chloe Coscarelli

(powells.com) "Cheese and creamy sauces are a staple in classical Italian cooking, making it a huge challenge for vegans. Coscarelli (Chloe's Kitchen and Chloe's Vegan Desserts) does the near impossible by offering delicious vegan versions of Italian classics with inventive twists that will please and satisfy. She also provides menu ideas and suggestions for gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free substitutions. Many recipes include notes or make-ahead tips that will help busy or new cooks. Butternut bruschetta with caramelized onions, and herbed risotto cakes with arrabbiata dipping sauce are simply scrumptious. Artichoke hash browns, braised kale with pine nuts and cranberries, and pomegranate roasted brussels sprouts offer smart and appealing variations of everyday veggies. Pasta, always a main Italian staple, is equally appetizing in Coscarelli's hands including artichoke pesto pasta salad and white lasagna with butternut squash and spinach. She also includes appetizing soups and salads. Heirloom tomato toast, simple yet so appealing, and meatball sliders made with brown rice and mushrooms will appeal to any palate, while Chloe's Rawsagna, a raw lasagna with pine nut ricotta and sun-dried tomato sauce is just stunning. Desserts such as Florentine bar cookies, Nutella cinnamon rolls, and banana coffee cupcakes are also sure to gratify. Filled with old favorites and new dishes sure to become mealtime staples, this collection will delight vegans, vegetarians, and all those looking to eat healthier meals. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Jon, BPL Avondale

Healthy Slow Cooker Revolution: One Test Kitchen, 40 Slow Cookers, 200 Fresh Recipes

(amazon.com) America's Test Kitchen had a simple goal: Create quick and easy foolproof slow cooker recipes that taste as good as meals prepared on the stovetop or in the oven. They had one more stipulation: They wanted their selections to be healthy, not the fat-heavy main courses featured in many slow cooker cookbooks. It took nearly a year of testing, 1,500 recipes, and $20,000 spent on groceries to find the finalists: 200 new, easy-to-make slow cooker recipes. True to its trusted source, the winning recipes collected here include delicious weekday and holiday meals; snacks, sides, and desserts.
Jon, BPL Avondale

Birmingham’s Best Bites by Martie Duncan, Chanda Temple, and Arden Ward Upton

(amazon.com) You'll find some of your all-time favorite restaurant recipes in Birmingham's Best Bites. Both old and new are featured and an easy to use format. Inspired photograph's make this a pleasing book for any kitchen.
Jon, BPL Avondale

The Baking Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum

(powells.com) This comprehensive guide will help home bakers to create delicious, decadent, and spectacularly beautiful cakes of all kinds with confidence and ease. With her precise, foolproof recipes, Rose shows you how to create everything from Heavenly Coconut Seduction Cake, Golden Lemon Almond Cake, and Devil's Food Cake with Midnight Ganache to Orange-Glow Chiffon Layer Cake, Mud Turtle Cupcakes, and Deep Chocolate Passion Wedding Cake.
Jon, BPL Avondale

Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole Foods Lifestyle by Diane Sanfilippo

(powells.com) Achieving optimal health without calorie-counting, diet foods, or feelings of deprivation has never been easier. Practical Paleo explains why avoiding both processed foods and foods marketed as "healthy" — like grains, legumes, and pasteurized dairy — will improve how you look and feel and lead to lasting weight loss. Even better — you may reduce or completely eliminate symptoms associated with common health disorders! Practical Paleo is jam-packed with over 120 easy recipes, all with special notes about common food allergens including nightshades and FODMAPs.
Jon, BPL Avondale

Check out these great and/or funny online resources!


The Gallery of Regrettable Food




What to Eat in Birmingham

Regretsy - Alas, this blog is no longer with us (that article is obviously out of date, since the forum and archive are also no longer present) but a memorial Tumblr, Missing Regretsy, is doing its best to channel that departed spirit.  I can neither confirm nor deny that searching #regretsy on Twitter and Instagram is a productive use of time.

Sweet Paul

Mason Dixon Knitting



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