Thanksgiving has finished for another year, and we at Smiley Library hope it was a happy one. Now, the December holiday preparations and festivities are in full swing. For some speedy dinnertime suggestions to keep everyone’s mood merry and bright, why not check out the following cookbook selections.
“Food52 Simply Genius” by Kristen Miglore contains her latest collection of tasty and approachable recipes for time-strapped home cooks. Turn frozen potato gnocchi into either an easy Asian-inspired sheet-pan dinner with chili crisp and baby bok choy or a skillet pepperoni pizza with kalamata olives and melted mozzarella. Most recipes include a “Great With” pairing suggestion such as ultra-smashed cheeseburgers with a salty coke. Finally, all vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dessert recipes are each grouped together as a category within the recipe index.
In this next time-saving cookbook, a little prep once a week, can quickly help you put together four complete home-cooked dinners. “Prep and Rally” by Dini Klein, offers 10 weeks of menus, each with a ready-made grocery list. You can take a picture of it with your cell phone before leaving for the store. Not sure what to do with any leftovers? Not to worry, as a whole chapter of creative meal suggestions and recipes is provided. Now you can make the most of what’s on hand and cut down on food waste. Breakfast, brunch, and sweet treats round out this family-friendly book.
For those of us who have dietary challenges, turn to Danielle Walker’s “Healthy in a Hurry” for fast and friendly mealtime inspiration. Danielle’s recipes are free of grains, dairy, and legumes, as well as, processed sugar, additives and seed oils. A sneak peek of what you’ll find includes kid-friendly creamy bacon cheeseburger soup, teriyaki salmon packets, spicy Cajun chicken pasta, and brats with warm potato salad and kraut. Dessert lovers might enjoy banana-chocolate mug cake, salted chocolate cuties, and refreshing pineapple whip.
Casseroles, skillets, Instant Pots, soup pots, and sheet pans are featured equipment in Melissa Clark’s new cookbook, “Dinner in One.” Melissa’s one pot or pan recipes are streamlined so that there is less mess, less work, and more flavor. Meatball sub sandwiches on garlic bread come together using a sheet pan, and take advantage of store-bought marinara sauce. Turkey and bean tamale pie could be made using any variety of ground meat and is ready in about an hour. Green shakshuka with avocado, chili, and feta is one of the fifty or so meatless recipes. With fewer dishes to wash and a speedy cleanup, you’ll have more time for holiday shopping, decorating, and wrapping presents.
On a chilly evening in late December, 2011, Russ Faria returned home to discover a shocking and unforgettable scene. There on the living room floor, lay his wife, Betsy. A dark stain of blood covered her face and pooled around her head. The blade of a black-handled kitchen knife was embedded in Betsy’s neck. She had been stabbed 55 times. The Troy, Missouri police, a judge, and jury believed Russ Faria was guilty of the crime. However, four days before her death, Betsy changed the beneficiary on her life insurance policy from Russ to her friend, Pamela Hupp. Did Russ Faria murder his wife or did Pam Hupp kill her for money? Find out the details in “
Brynhild Storset began life as a poor Norwegian farm girl in 1859. As a young girl, she dreamed of escaping poverty by marrying a wealthy man and having children. When this dream died, Brynhild crossed the Atlantic to start a new life in America, and she changed her name to Belle. Along the way, Belle’s dreams and ambitions turned dark. During her lifetime, Belle would become a dangerous serial killer, who murdered at least 40 men, women, and children. “
“
“What I’ve enjoyed most though is meeting people who have a real interest in food and sharing ideas with them. Good food is a global thing and I find that there is always something new and amazing to learn – I love it!” – Jamie Oliver
“
Whether you are slurping, scooping, or twisting them, noodles are a fun food to eat. “
Have you ever visited a Chinese Bakery? If not, then let Kristina Cho, in her new book “
“Gardening is medicine for our spirit, mind, and body. When we grow a garden that is in tune with the elements and the earth’s ebbs and flows, we’re cultivating more than meets the eye.” Juliet Blankespoor
It’s not too late in the season to start growing your own fresh veggies and herbs! In her latest book, “
“
If you are living with an autoimmune condition, avoiding certain foods can help you manage the level of your discomfort. In his book, “
In 2003, at the age of 26, Chris Wark found out he had stage III colon cancer. After surgery, Chris decided to incorporate the healing power of a whole-food plant-based diet as part of his recovery program. Whether you are healing from cancer or wanting to reduce your risk of developing it, the recipes in “
Danielle Walker is the author of several grain-free cookbooks, as a mother of three living with a diagnosis of severe ulcerative colitis. In her memoir “
“
For those of you who know the heartache and frustration of cycling through multiple diets without a long-term successful solution or who can’t stop eating sugary and highly processed foods, this next book offers hope and help. “
