Diana Lamb

‘Tis the season to start thinking about and planning for all of the holiday-related events that will be here before you know it. Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving, bringing a side dish or dessert, attending a potluck, or participating in a cookie exchange, Smiley Library’s cookbook collection is here to provide inspiration, helpful kitchen tips, and loads of delicious recipes. Here is a sampling from our new additions.

In his latest cookbook “Preppy Kitchen Super Easy,” much-loved social media star John Kanell brings us his current collection of “simple dishes that feel special.” Elevate your breakfast choices with make-ahead recipes like breakfast in a cup which are mini fritatas for protein on the go. Other choices are “Ice cream” overnight oats, strawberry French toast casserole using croissants, and overnight cinnamon rolls oozing with a brown sugar cinnamon filling and covered with cream cheese frosting. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, easy, cheesy popovers, browned butter and garlic mashed potatoes, sweet-and-spicy corn pudding, plus chocolate chunk-pecan pie bars may be welcome additions to this year’s feast.

These next two books cover the spectrum of portable baked goods from savory to sweet. Baby ham and cheese croissants, Pom’s Boxing Day sausage rolls, jalapeno cheddar shortbread buttons, and irresistible miso garlic butter party mix are a sampling from Jessie Sheehan’s “Salty Cheesy Herby Crispy Snackable Bakes.” If you participate in a cookie exchange or are looking to upgrade Santa’s plate of goodies, then check out “Zoe Bakes Cookies” by Zoe Francois. Some holiday-inspired choices might include chocolate brownie mint sandwiches, stained glass holiday cookies, granny’s espresso shortbread and soft molasses cookies.

“Baking in the American South” by Anne Byrn, pays loving tribute to southern bakers and highlights over 200 recipes for home cooks everywhere to try. Cornbread and biscuits are staples of southern baking and well represented here with a great variety of each. Cleora Butler’s jalapeno cornbread or Shelby Foote’s cornbread would be a tasty accompaniment for your next batch of chili. Soups and stews are so much better when eaten with hot biscuits and melted butter. Stella Park’s light and fluffy biscuits, Nathalie Dupree’s cream biscuits, granny’s sourdough biscuits and Mama Dip’s sweet potato biscuits will make it hard to decide which recipe to try first. Pie is the dessert of choice at Thanksgiving so do consider adding Jean Young’s sweet potato custard pie, Kentucky brown sugar, Zephyr Wright’s pecan or Betty Kennedy’s black bottom pie with a gingersnap crust to the dessert table alongside the traditional apple and pumpkin pies.

With all the extra holiday cooking going on, you may experience cooking fatigue or burnout. If you do, then turn to “What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking” by Caroline Chambers for a boost of inspiration and emotional support. What sets this book apart is that almost every recipe makes a complete meal that comes together in 15 minutes to 1 hour. Examples of 15-minute meals are spicy ramen and snap pea stir-fry, garlicky grains with asparagus and sausage, smashburger sammies, and cheater chicken tinga tostadas. The last chapter is a small but delicious collection of four desserts including caramelized peach snickerdoodle cobbler.