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“Dinner is where the magic happens in the kitchen.”  Kris Carr

If you are looking for quick, balanced dinner recipes with less waste and easy cleanup, then definitely check out “Everyday Dinners” by Jessica Merchant. One of the secrets to Jessica’s kitchen success is her easy 10 minute meal prep. You can learn all about the time-saving technique plus her tips for making veggies more enticing to picky eaters. Speaking of vegetables, Jessica supplies an abundant variety of vegetarian dishes. To start, there is Crispy Orange Cauliflower with Coconut Rice. Cheater’s Tomato Pie uses a trio of grated cheeses and fresh basil leaves atop a golden, flaky puff pastry crust. Smoky BBQ Baked Black Beans Burgers smothered in guacamole, sliced red onion and micro greens, or a bowl of hearty Tuscan Cheese Tortellini Soup would be a welcome addition to a meatless Monday dinner rotation. For meat lovers, Jessica shares her recipes for fragrant Lemon Butter Chicken, Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken with colorful bell peppers, red onion, and scallions, One-Pot Sausage, Greens, and Beans Pasta, kid-friendly Chicken and Bacon Ranch Puff Pastry Pizza, and lastly, Honey Dijon Pretzel-Crusted Salmon.

There are loads of delicious-looking recipes on the web and within cookbooks that require a long list of ingredients and a fair amount of time to make. However, at the end of the day, most of us are tired and just want our final meal to have a short ingredient list, with clear instructions and for it to taste great. America’s Test Kitchen is here to help with their latest book, “Five Ingredient Dinners.” With over 100 recipes to try, like Coconut Rice Noodles with Shrimp and Snow Peas, Loaded Sweet Potatoes, Skillet Tortellini with Sausage and Cherry Tomatoes, Cod with Cilantro Rice, Refried Bean and Cheese Melts, Grilled Flank Steak with Zucchini and Spicy Honey Butter, you may be adding lots of new meals to your dinnertime rotation. For a post-turkey leftovers option, try the Thanksgiving-ish Calzones baked with two kinds of cheese and dried cranberries.

Does the idea of spending less time in the kitchen preparing homemade dinners without sacrificing flavor appeal to you? If it does, then you’ll want to check out Jenna Helwig’s book, “Bare Minimum Dinners.” Her easy recipes and strategies can help you save time with shopping, preparing, and cleaning up. If time is scarce, then you’ll appreciate Cauliflower and Chickpea Tikka Masala, Enchilada Bowls, and Short Cut Salmon Burgers. All of these dishes and more can be on the table in 30 minutes or less. If quick cleanup is a must, one pot or pan recipes for Skillet Pizza, One-Pan Pierogi Supper, and Baked Chicken with Artichokes and Feta may be the answer. There is one chapter devoted to Instant Pot and Slow-Cooker dinners. They include Instant Pot Pork and Bean Burritos, Instant Pot Turkey Chili, Slow-Cooker Beef Ragu, and Slow-Cooker Big Batch Lasagna.

In her latest book, “Sheet Cake,” award-winning author and baking instructor Abigail Johnson Dodge reveals her easy-to-follow techniques for turning a simple half sheet cake into a fancier rolled or triple-layer cake. The sweet and spicy aromas of autumn will fill your kitchen when you bake Pumpkin-Ginger Cream Cheese Cake, Cinnamon-Bun Swirl Cake sprinkled with toasted pecans and cinnamon chips, or a Rolled Maple Walnut Cake filled with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream Frosting. Apples receive the star treatment in Cinnamon-Apple Upside-Downer Cake with a layer of gooey brown sugar, butter, and fresh apples. Apple butter, apple brandy and apple compote come together to make a fantastic triple-layer Brandy Apple Cake. Fall never tasted so good!

As Hispanic Heritage month ends, we take one more opportunity to celebrate authors who have been kind enough to share their unique and diverse voices with us.

Thrown in the Throat, the debut by National Poetry Series winner Benjamin Garcia is unapologetic in its examinations of society. Garcia explores through his poetic works how a country built by immigrants seems to revel in anti-immigration sentiments. The author also explores his own sexuality and the complex nature of being loved by a family that does not love who you are. Using unique style and composition, Garcia renders his history as an undocumented child with honesty and allows the reader a clear view of the life they led. With powerful verse and unfaltering confidence Garcia’s debut gives access to a voice that deserves to be heard.

Another voice that brings their own perspective is John Paul Brammer in his book of essays: ¡Hola Papi! How to come out in a Walmart Parking lot and other life lessons. Originated as an online advice column, ¡Hola Papi! began as a commentary on the somewhat racist interactions the author received on Grindr. Overwhelmed by the responses he received, Brammer decided to respond with honesty and to be a source of help for his readers. In this collection of essays, Brammer looks inward in order to give the best advice he can by sharing his own experiences, no matter how embarrassing or heartbreaking. From figuring out how to define race, to writer’s block, to understanding one’s own identity, ¡Hola Papi! is an introspective look at the questions we ask ourselves and gives not the answer we want but the internal reflection we need.

Speculation Fiction for Dreamers: A Latinx Anthology, allows several authors a chance to explore the themes of identity and belonging through the lens of speculative fiction. Focusing on a new generation of authors also gives new perspectives on ever enduring themes such as identity and the desire to belong. The anthology starts off with a mysterious young boy with strange dreams, a mother who sews and keeps dark secrets, and a world in which neither are welcomed. Another story deals with a future America that is divided along the lines of culture and race leading to secession and the establishment of new nations. Each story allows the author a chance to explore a world set by their own rules and thoughts. The outcomes are intriguing and give widely different answers to the question of what if?

Come check out these books and more at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15. It is a celebration of the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

We invite you to visit Smiley Library and check out our wide selection of both fiction and nonfiction books celebrating the richness of Hispanic heritage. Here are a few of our favorites.

Quiara Alegría Hudes’ new memoir, My Broken Language, tells her story of growing up with a white atheist father and Lukumí practicing Puerto Rican mother in West Philadelphia. “Qui Qui” grew up fascinated by her mother’s extended family, but confused about where she fit in. The family would alternate between speaking English and Spanish depending on whether her father was at home, resulting in Hude’s titular “broken language.” Hudes describes her lifelong obsession with language and music, which culminated with her attending Yale and Brown Universities and becoming a renowned playwright. This book is a joyous and thoughtful examination of identity, belonging, and community.

Gordo, a collection of short stories by Jaime Cortez, takes us into the world of a teenage son of migrant workers in California’s Central Valley during the 1970s. In each story, Gordo navigates between his two worlds – middle school and the fields. Along the way, he wrestles with bullying, body issues, and homophobia. Gordo is whip-smart and kind, but also painfully aware that he doesn’t meet the cultural expectations of Mexican-American men, much to the disdain of his father and classmates. The stories in this coming-of-age tale run the gamut from sweetly funny to heartbreaking. Gordo is a character who will touch your heart and stay on your mind long after closing the book.

Horizontal Vertigo: A City Called Mexico, written by Juan Villoro and translated by Alfred J. MacAdam, explores the vast history of Mexico City, where Villoro was born and raised. His essays combine history, personal memories, and observations about the sprawling shape of the city, which was built horizontally because of the earthquakes that have racked the area through the ages. Throughout its complex history, Mexico City has earned its reputation as both a dangerous landscape and a thriving metropolis. Villoro expertly takes the reader through the city with a personal touch. If you enjoy reading about travel and history, you’ll be sure to enjoy this one.

Fans of magical realism will enjoy The President and the Frog by Carolina De Robertis. This novel tells the story of the aging former president of a Latin American country (the actual country is not revealed) who is interviewed by a reporter about his history of leading his country out of violence and into peacefulness. Once a tyrannical guerrilla fighter, the former president reveals that he discovered the path to peaceful leadership while in solitary confinement as a political prisoner with only a boisterous, talkative frog for company. Perhaps this talking frog was real and perhaps he wasn’t, but it doesn’t actually matter, as the president credits him with teaching him the way out of darkness. De Robertis’ lyrical prose, deep with symbolism that rings true in these troubled times, is sure to captivate you.

All these books and more can be found in the new book section. We also have many books in Spanish in our world languages collection. Come on by and take a look!

For more of our books, new and older, examining Hispanic heritage themes, please see our National Hispanic Heritage Month reading list.

Teens, this week is Banned Books Week, a time when libraries across the U.S. affirm and celebrate your freedom to read. Every year, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom releases a list of its top ten most challenged books for the year and guess what? Young adult titles invariably dominate the charts. Congrats, teens (ha)! Last year was no exception. YA titles like “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie, “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brandon Kiely, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, and “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas all made last year’s list.

The truth is, these books (and many, many others) may indeed contain parts that offend you. They might use language or deal with topics that make you cringe. They might very literally say things that hurt you. It’s not that librarians think every book ever written is worthy of praise and your time. We find some books offensive, even repulsive, and we might secretly wish no one would read them.

But (and this is a big “but”) we do believe that you should be able to seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction, a.k.a. enjoy what’s called intellectual freedom. It’s one of the core values of librarianship. We believe that it is your job/privilege/responsibility, in collaboration with your families, to determine what is right for you to read, and we believe that about every single person. And because everyone is different, with different values and different political viewpoints and different thresholds for revulsion, we resist censorship in all its forms. Basically, library workers are like glasses-wearing superheroes who passionately defend your right to read things that might make you sick (just kidding, we don’t all wear glasses). You’re welcome!

All that being said, let me tell you about some frequently challenged YA books that you may or may not want to read to celebrate this year’s Banned Books Week.

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s funny, it’s heartbreaking, it’s relatable, and according to the American Library Association, it gets challenged A LOT for several reasons, including “profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author.” This book definitely offers an opportunity for you to check in with your family and decide if it’s a good fit for you.

The story is about Junior and his life on—and off—a Spokane Indian Reservation. When Junior leaves the “rez” to attend and play basketball at an all-white high school across town, he finds himself stuck between two worlds, and rejected by both. Junior is a victim, an outsider, a hero, a ruffian, a survivor…a lot of the identities many of us experience in high school, but on an exponential scale. If you like books that wrench your guts but still leave you hopeful, then this book might be one you are relieved to still find on the library shelf.

“All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brandon Kiely, another of last year’s most challenged books, is a story told from two perspectives. Rashad is sixteen when he is mistaken for a shoplifter at a corner store. The situation quickly escalates, misinterpretations ensue, and he is fiercely beaten by a police officer. Quinn Collins, Rashad’s classmate, witnesses the scene, but feels conflicted about coming forward with the truth about what he saw, as the police officer is a close family friend.

Tensions boil as calls of racism and brutality echo through the community. This book explores the agonizing effects of one violent moment from the points of view of two American boys. According to the American Library Association, “All American Boys” was on this year’s Top Ten Most Challenged list for “profanity, drug use, and alcoholism and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be ‘too much of a sensitive matter right now.’”

Teens, in the American Library Association’s “Freedom to Read Statement,” they list a series of propositions designed to help librarians and publishers understand how to best protect your freedom to read. They write, “We do not state these propositions in the comfortable belief that what people read is unimportant. We believe rather that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours.” We wish you free reading in the days ahead and trust you to think critically, even about those titles you decide to put down.

For more information about Banned Books Week, visit www.bannedbooksweek.org.

Adventurous spirits, human-animal connections, incredible journeys, kindness of strangers, danger, and unexpected fame—these three new non-fiction books have all of these things in common, and more. They also rank highly on my list of interesting books that I thoroughly enjoyed.

“The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey across America” by Elizabeth Letts is a story you won’t soon forget. In the fall of 1954, 63-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins, who had pretty much lost everything and had been told she only had a couple of years to live, decided she wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. She set out on horseback with her dog, very little money in her pocket, no maps, and no real plan, except to get to California. Her journey of over 4,000 miles took over a year and was packed with unexpected events and lots of kindness from strangers. Annie’s story and travels were picked up by the Associated Press and she became quite the humble celebrity.

“Nala’s World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe” is a modern-day adventure which in many ways parallels Annie Wilkins’ story. Dean Nicholson and a friend decided to ride their bikes around the world, but not far into their journey, the friend decided to return home. Nicholson chooses to venture on alone until he discovers an abandoned kitten on the side of a remote mountain road and she becomes his traveling companion. Their bond and story captured some attention on the internet and now they can be followed on their own Instagram account, @1bike1world, on YouTube, and on worldwide news media. Nicholson has used this attention for good by raising money for animal sanctuaries and other environmental causes. He and Nala have made friends all over the world and they are still traveling on.

“World Wild Vet: Encounters in the Animal Kingdom” is Dr. Evan Antin’s accounts of traveling to take care of wild animals in their environments. His “office” can be found in oceans, jungles, on the savannah, or in his Thousand Oaks practice. His travels and perilous adventures have taken him to six continents. Dr. Antin’s concern for the animals and their conservation is evident, along with his desire to educate people about these precious creatures. There are color photographs included, but I admit to taking to the internet to look up some of the more unusual animals he describes, but does not show. Dr. Antin can also be followed on Instagram and YouTube, as well as on his show, “Evan Goes Wild,” on Animal Planet.