A.K. Smiley Public Library Blog

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

Diana Lamb

Comfort Food Recipes We Need in 2020

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“So what exactly is comfort food? It’s food that’s not just nourishing but it’s also emotionally satisfying.” Ina Garten
Without a doubt, 2020 has been a stressful and emotionally unsettling year. In times like these, many of us turn to food to soothe our frayed and jangled nerves. Which foods help you to feel better? Is it grilled cheese and tomato soup, pancakes, nachos, ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, macaroni and cheese or all of the above? No matter if it is hot, cold, salty, sweet, crunchy or creamy, you’ll discover something new or nostalgic to enjoy in the following cookbooks.
Ina Garten’s twelfth cookbook couldn’t have arrived at a better time and is appropriately titled, “Modern Comfort Food.” In it, you’ll find many familiar recipes that have been given an ‘Ina upgrade.’ These include Ultimate Beef Stew made with tender boneless short ribs, pancetta and a splash of Cognac to enrich this timeless meat and potato dish. Creamy Tomato Bisque served alongside Cheddar & Chutney Grilled Cheese sandwiches, are a welcome lunchtime duo. Roasted Sausages, Peppers and Onions are delicious by themselves, spooned atop a hoagie roll or over Fresh Corn Polenta. For something sweet and decadent, Ina has Bittersweet Chocolate Cake which is rich and dense like a brownie or lava cake, Milk Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream and Giant Crinkled Chocolate Chip Cookies sprinkled with sea salt while still warm from the oven.
Since 2011, Melina Davies has been keeping Angelinos well fed at her restaurants. Now you can duplicate Melina’s sought-after dishes in your kitchen with her debut cookbook, “Olive & Thyme.” Roasted chicken coated with an aromatic spice rub and slowly cooked in the oven with or without a nest of vegetables makes for a classic and satisfying meal. Any leftover meat may be used in a Classic Cobb Salad, Curry Chicken Salad or Spicy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with feta, cilantro and scallions tossed in a creamy Russian dressing with a kick. For some, mac and cheese is the quintessential comfort food. If you agree, then get ready for Melina’s version of this beloved dish. Bacon, Macaroni and Cheese blends parmesan, sharp white cheddar and gruyere cheeses with pasta and smoky bacon. The casserole receives a layer of toasted breadcrumbs for a crunchy golden crust. The photo alone is irresistible!
Muffins, biscuits, cornbread, cookies, pies and cakes are all here in “The Good Book of Southern Baking” by Kelly Fields. Flaky, multi-layered golden biscuits are attainable with Kelly’s The Baker’s Biscuits recipe. Other varieties to try are Angel, Drop, Beaten and Sweet Potato Biscuits. A Southern baking book would not be complete without cornbread. Willa Jean Cornbread is Kelly’s version which is baked in a cast iron skillet. For those who are short on time, grab a box of Jiffy corn bread mix and use the ideas listed on page 37 for additional sweet or savory ideas. Thanksgiving is almost upon us and this is the holiday to show off your mad pie baking skills. There are 18 delicious offerings to crown your feast like Apple Streusel, Sweet Potato and Toasted Honey Marshmallow or Pumpkin Pie with Roasted White Chocolate Cream.
Lastly, is a trio of books written by or about familiar people from television. They are “The Happy in a Hurry Cookbook” by Steve and Kathy Doocy, “Just Feed Me” by Jessie James Decker and “Friends: The Official Cookbook” by Amanda Yee with recipes for Bathtub Fried Chicken, Central Perk’s “Birthday” Muffins and The Moist Maker Sandwich.
The staff here at Smiley Public Library wishes all of you a safe and peaceful holiday season.

Killer Quesadillas to Creamy Chocolate Pudding — So Many Recipes!

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“You want happy endings, read cookbooks.”  Dean Young

Carne asada tacos, carnitas burritos, Baja fish tacos, killer quesadillas, and mushroom asada bowls are a sampling of the 75 recipes contained in “Trejos Tacos” by actor and L.A. restaurateur Danny Trejo. For something sweet, Danny offers both regular and vegan donuts in flavors like Margarita, cinnamon sugar, vegan berry and vegan coco loco. This book will make you instantly hungry for Mexican food!

Food allergies and dietary preferences are sweetly accommodated in Angela Garbacz’s book, “Perfectly Golden.” Now everyone can safely devour warm sticky pecan buns, pumpkin loaf cake, graham cracker cream pie, orange blossom cake with lemon buttercream frosting, rich chocolate ganache tart, and soft molasses cookies that are rolled in sugar before baking for a sweet crispy coating.

Simple, flavorful and wholesome fare is what you’ll discover in “Amish Family Recipes” by Lovina Eicher. Hearty and filling meals abound with chicken pot pie, Swiss steak, cabbage rolls and zucchini pizza casserole. The Amish are known for their baked goods and desserts. Save room for a warm slice of peach bread, frosted banana cake bars, sour cream apple pie, and cool, creamy chocolate pudding.

“Everyone Can Bake” by Dominique Ansel teaches home bakers his foundation recipes and techniques for consistently better baking results. You might start with strawberry banana bread or lemon pound cake. Soon, you may be inspired to bake a show-stopping raspberry cream puff cake or hazelnut chocolate cherry cake filled with chocolate mousse and coated with a smooth dark chocolate glaze.

Some more new cookbooks to whet your appetite include: “The Feast of Fiction Kitchen: Recipes Inspired by TV, Movies, Games & Books,” “Clean & Simple Diabetes Cookbook: Flavorful, Fuss-Free Recipes for Everyday Meal Planning,” “Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen,” and “That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life.”

For more information on how to check out these titles using our Books To Go program, please visit our website, www.akspl.org, or call 909-798-7565.

Sweet, Scrumptious Summertime Staples

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“I just love to look at cookbooks, it’s almost like they’re comic books for me. I can’t look at them before bed; it gets me too excited.”  Katie Lee
“Everything Chocolate” by America’s Test Kitchen is a chocolate lover’s dream. Recipes for cakes, cookies, puddings, frozen treats, candy and sauces are waiting inside. Chocolate for breakfast? Yes, with 20 selections, you may choose to start your morning with a slice of Chocolate Zucchini Cake, Chocolate Granola or pair your morning coffee with a flaky Chocolate Croissant. Sprinkled throughout this book are recipes with nuts. White Chocolate-Macadamia Nut Cake is a taste of the tropics with a mango filling sandwiched between layers of white chocolate cake and chopped macadamia nuts embellish the outer white chocolate buttercream frosting. Frozen Snickers Ice Cream Cake is an easy no-bake peanut butter and chocolate extravaganza that only requires four simple ingredients. The hard part is waiting six hours for it to set up. More desserts of note are Chocolate Pavlova with Berries and Whipped Cream. It begins with a light and airy chocolate meringue base. Next is a layer of whipped cream which acts as a pillow for a mound of ripe berries, drizzled with melted chocolate. Followed by, Double Chocolate Dessert Waffles, Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake and Chocolate Avocado Pudding for a lower sugar, nondairy treat.
In her latest book, “Magnolia Table, Volume 2,” Joanna Gaines and her team have developed a new batch of recipes to feed and nourish the people you love. As a welcome surprise, you can now recreate Blueberry Sweet Rolls with Lemon Glaze, Pecan Pancakes with Maple Butter, Prize Pig and more which are served at Magnolia Press, Silos Baking Co. and Magnolia Table in Waco, TX. Quick and simple warm weather options abound like Street Tacos made with chicken, steak and pulled pork. A side of Cilantro Lime Rice and salsa would complement this meal. Grilled Bruschetta Chicken retains all the flavor without the bread and features ripe plum tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and the tang of crumbled feta cheese. Two easy and delicious sheet pan dinners may tempt you to turn on your oven. Honey Garlic Chicken with pineapple and Cajun Shrimp with corn and roasted potatoes are baked in under an hour. It wouldn’t be a Magnolia cookbook unless dessert was included and Joanna has given us a gracious plenty to end a scrumptious meal. Peach Cobbler can be created using fresh or frozen fruit which receives a sprinkling of cinnamon before baking and afterwards served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Strawberry Pie has a pale pink cool and creamy filling poured into a graham cracker crust then popped into the freezer to chill. Another no-bake treat is Jo’s Peanut Butter Balls that are dipped into melted chocolate bark. Also in the lineup are Tres Leches Cake, Baklava, Crème Brulee and a fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cake.
Thanksgiving’s star may be the roasted turkey. However, it’s the mashed potatoes, dressing and green bean casserole that we anticipate eating at our annual feast. In honor of the humble side dish, America’s Test Kitchen has gathered and tested over 1,000 recipes for our year-round enjoyment in, “The Side Dish Bible.” Right now with hot weather upon us, grilling outdoors and fresh salads help to keep us cool. Summertime is when sweet corn is at its peak and the recipe for Husk Grilled Corn gives it an irresistible smoky flavor. As an alternative to boiling potatoes on the stove, try one of the grilled potato salads such as German-Style Grilled Potato Salad. Fresh fruits and vegetables are in abundance and these salads will have you and your family eating them more often. Caesar Green Bean Salad is a twist on a classic with all the flavor and no lettuce. Other veggie-friendly choices are Sugar Snap Pea Salad and Zucchini Noodle Salad. Salads that feature fruit include Spinach and Strawberry, Peach Caprese and Watermelon-Tomato. When cooler weather returns and with it, our desire for baked comfort foods, this book is ready with tempting dishes like Twice-Baked Potatoes with Bacon, Cheddar and Scallions, Creamy Corn and Tomato Pasta Bake, plus Ultimate Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits.
These titles and many more are available through our Books-to-Go program. For more information, please visit our website at www.akspl.org or call us at 909-798-7565.

Books Dish about the Lives of Four Top Chefs

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Julia Child once remarked, “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”

For Julia Child, Ruth Reichl, Jose Andres and Anthony Bourdain, food has been their passion and a driving force in their lives and careers. All four memoirs can be checked out as audiobooks on our Overdrive database.

“Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child” by Bob Spitz chronicles the extraordinary and inspiring life and career of this pioneer in television cooking shows. Follow Julia as she makes her public television debut in 1962 at the age of fifty. With her easy-going manner, enthusiasm and unforgettable voice, Julia soon captivated audiences and won the hearts of the American public. Little did anyone suspect the lasting impact she would have and it all started with an omelet.

Before joining Gourmet Magazine as editor in chief, Ruth Reichl also held a powerful position as food critic for The New York Times. Remaining anonymous is key for reporting a truthful and unvarnished restaurant review. Once restaurant managers realized who she was, Ruth’s picture was circulated to every eatery in town. “Garlic and Sapphires” is a lively tale chronicling her incognito capers as Miriam, Chloe, Brenda, Betty, Emily and Molly to stay one step ahead as a critic in disguise.

On the April 6th cover of Time magazine stands chef Jose Andres with a tall paddle in one hand and a giant kettle at his side. He was being recognized for his humanitarian aid in feeding masses of people affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This is not the first time he has come to the rescue of people in crisis. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico with 155 mph winds. The island was flooded, without power and desperate for help. In “We Fed an Island”, listen to Jose tell the amazing and uplifting story of what happened from arriving four days after the hurricane to eventually preparing nearly 4 million meals for the residents of Puerto Rico and giving them hope.

Chef, author and world traveler, Anthony Bourdain left us too soon. He had a profound influence upon workers in the food industry as well as the general public. For many, his departure left a hole that will be hard to fill. Fortunately, we can listen to Anthony tell his own tales from his memoir,  “Medium Raw”. In this follow-up to “Kitchen Confidential,” he provides us a tasting menu of topics such as career experiences, overseas adventures, fatherhood, celebrity TV chefs, plus much more.

We have some exciting news to share! If you have been longing to check out books again from the Smiley Library, the wait is over! Our latest program, “Books to Go,” allows our patrons to select library materials from our online catalog and pick them up by appointment. For more information, please visit our website at www.akspl.org or call us at (909) 798-7565.

Seven Books to Help You Cook Your Way to Better Health

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“Good nutrition is not only about avoiding disease later, but about thriving now.” Mark Hyman

Several years ago, Dan Buettner introduced us to the five regions in the world where people lived very long healthy lives in his book, “The Blue Zones”. These regions are Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica and Loma Linda, California. Buettner’s latest book, “The Blue Zones Kitchen” takes us on a culinary journey into the lives and kitchens of seniors who share their wisdom and traditional recipes that have contributed to their longevity. A sampling of these 100 dishes to try are Okinawan Glazed Greens, Tender Bean, Potato and Onion Stew, Longevity Smoothie Bowl, Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Mint and Onions, One-Pot Lasagna Soup and Chinese Five-Spice Banana Ice Cream with Roasted Pineapple.

In his previous book, “Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?” Mark Hyman outlined what he believes are the foundations of a healthy diet. He advocates for a plan rich in plant foods, limited grains and dairy, free of refined sugars, fruit in moderation, clean sources of protein and healthy fats. Now, his follow-up book, “Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?” helps us put this diet into practice with 100 nutrient-rich, whole food recipes. Here is a sampling of what’s in store: Golden Cauliflower Caesar Salad, Seared Scallops with Avocado-Yuzu Sauce, Poached-Egg Power Bowl, Peppered Steaks with Roasted Oyster Mushrooms and Orange-Blackberry Almond Scones. Nutritional Analysis information for each recipe is located toward the back of the book.

Parties and celebrations are some of the sweet joys in life. Laughter, fun, happy conversation and food all contribute to a memorable occasion. However, sometimes party fare can present dietary challenges to both guests and hosts. Author and co-creator of the Whole30, Melissa Hartwig Urban understands this and shares 150 party-worthy recipes in her latest book, “The Whole30 Friends and Family.” These dishes are free of added sugars, alcohol, grains, legumes and dairy. So what’s left? To start, try some Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Jalapeno Poppers, Warm Spiced Olives, BLT Potato Skins and Smoky Roasted Cauliflower-Garlic Dip. Also, Grilled Steak and Peach Salad, Sonoma Chicken Salad, Pork Chili Verde, and Pina Colada Coleslaw. Desserts are fruit-based like Berry-Coconut Cream Shots and Citrusy Watermelon Strawberry Shortcakes. No matter if you are hosting a backyard barbecue, a family brunch or bringing a dish to a baby shower or office potluck, you can relax because these recipes are both healthy and tasty.

If the above books have whetted your appetite for healthy living, you may also want to check out these new titles, too. “Fix It with Food” by Michael Symon, “Ketofast” by Joseph Mercola, Michael Gregor’s “How Not to Diet” and “The Collagen Diet” by Josh Axe. Here’s to your health!