Friday, December 12, 2014

Cookbooks: the gift that keeps on giving!


Cookbooks


I guess with new life in the house, I haven't been reading cookbooks like I usually do. However, I do still read and below are the cookbooks on my list to check out.

Here are my latest recommendations, many by authors whose cookbooks I already have.

Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed  Bryant Terry does it again (and again). His Vegan Soul Kitchen changed my cooking. I think this has more of a diaspora bent, but it is quite in the line of his usual fare. Great for newcomers to his style, but I don't see anything groundbreaking for those who have his other books.

I've been meaning to pick up Pati Jinich's Mexican Table: The Secrets of Real Mexican Home Cooking. I get sucked into her PBS show. She has a pretty songbird voice and quick, flavorful recipes. I'm betting her tres leches recipe is the truth.

The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food I really like Vietnamese food and like the influences of France, especially for the desserts.

Plenty More, by Yotam Ottolenghi helps along the adage, "Eat your vegetables!" Infinitely easier when armed with this cookbook and "Plenty", "Jerusalem" (my favorite) and "Ottolenghi".

I am curious to peruse Mama Dip's Kitchen, named after a North Carolinian's woman's restaurant. Plenty of southern cooking recipes I often yearn to make.

For the vegan potty mouth: Thug Kitchen. I will just leave it there.

B. Smith is on my mind, given her Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and recent struggles. I love this cookbook and use it often.

Marcus Off-Duty is probably closest to the way I cook. Samuelsson's chicken-fried steak on salad juxtaposed with quinoa with coconut, broccoli and cauliflower exemplify the meaty and earthy sides of indulgence, yet balance each other nicely.

It is now my goal in life to get invited over to Dorie Greenspan's home in Paris for dessert. But for now, I will consult this cookbook.

"You are what you eat" is an oft-quipped phrase, but I didn't curtail my wheat intake until I witnessed my newborn suffer. She is what I eat, too, at least for now. So, after a gastrointestinal consultation, I cut out wheat and dairy from my diet, adding back limited dairy. Every time I try some wheat, I am reminded that it is no longer welcome in my temple! As a food lover, cook and inquisitive person, I've thought of many ways to "have my cake and eat it too." I layer cheeses, turkey pepperoni on tomatoes, kale and onions sans crust for veggie pizza; I use chestnuts, coconut, tree nuts and flax to make delicious cookies and wrap blanched kale leaves around my favorite hot dogs topped with ketchup, onions, tomatoes and homemade cole slaw. But I still have a ways to go, so I will probably consult Dr. Davis' latest Wheat Belly cookbook.

You are probably wondering: How do I feed my voracious cookbook appetite? The "library". I get hardcover and Kindle library books; the latter I use through Overdrive, an app that links to my library and library card and enables me read and return books all day, every day. It is 1000% free and so convenient!!!!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

These are a few of my favorite things: a gift-giving guide

"Oh, you shouldn't have!"
Do you ever wonder if people really mean it? Here are some gift recommendations for people with inscrutable tastes...

A Google map of great places
Sometimes the best gifts are gifts of your time and efforts. Make a map of your favorite places or places you would like to try or visit. You can map them all out with comments and "gift" them with a hyperlink for nearby or visiting friends and family. Here is one I did for New Orleans: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ll=29.946605,-90.06815&spn=0.079429,0.154324&t=h&z=13&vpsrc=6&msa=0&msid=200281274416280337000.0004c1572431e1f8288e3

Leather goods spell Levenger for me. I love the quality, colors and functionality of their totes, portfolios and pens.

Anyone who sees me on a regular basis has seen me in clothes and shoes from Boden. They go up to size 18/20 and almost always fit well for me.  About 75% of their clothes, including woolens, silks and lined dresses, are machine washable! They are from the UK, so it's an online-only experience here in the U.S. Make good use of their garment measurements to determine your size for each article of clothing and check out the Clearance section. They also have great clothing for children and adults. I recommend Talbots (on sale) for work pants and Target for sweaters. I have at least 15 Target sweaters! Many of my 3-season coats and shoes are here: http://www.pinterest.com/oshunwave/spring-in-my-step/ and http://www.pinterest.com/oshunwave/play-clothes-closet/  

My favorite pregnancy styles-Tunics, low boots, straightleg jeans, leggings and off-shoulder dresses: http://www.pinterest.com/oshunwave/bumpin-style/ The best wardrobe thing I did while pregnant was to find an amazing strapless bra. I never had to worry about proportions and the strap sliding off; it always stayed up thanks to the bump, and I rocked some fun strapless outfits during the summer! My go-to: Lilyette Indulgent Comfort Strapless with Lift (on Pinterest)

Have a stylish friend, aunt, uncle, brother, grandma, mate or someone who just hates the cold? Head to Hats.com (ha!) They have some excellent-quality hats and some good deals, too!

For your book nerd
I am not a big t-shirt wearer, but I like Lithographs: "Unique t-shirts created entirely from the text of your favorite books." That's all she wrote!!

Want to buy an expensive kitchen electric appliance? Williams-Sonoma and Costco are my favorites, since you can return troublesome items with the most ease.

Some inexpensive kitchen items: 
personal Crock-Pot for work
Garlic Press-you can leave the peel on!
Kitchen Shears--take apart, so they don't get gunky

Perfumes? This is a gift I prefer to give rather than get. I have several dozen perfumes yet am extremely picky about them. I buy fragrance oils, beauty oils and essential oils from From Nature With Love. "Designer" perfumes are from Fragrancenet.combeautyencounter.com andScentiments.com. I tend to buy Eau de Parfums. Notice how I didn't mention department stores? The only department store purchases are for newer Estée Lauder (Modern Muse), Chanel (Chance Eau Tendre) or Lancôme perfumes with which I can snag a gift with purchase.

My main current perfume wardrobe: Crystal Noir by Versace, Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson (smells like Shalimar and SO cheap), DKNY Golden Delicious (smells close to "J'adore"; j'adore le prix!), Amor Amor by Cacharel, Champagne/Yvresse by Yves St. Laurent, L'Instant de Guerlain, Pamplelune by Guerlain, Flower by Kenzo as well as several Nina Ricci scents. My favorite night fragrances: Midnight Rain by La Prairie, Fancy Nights and Fracas by Robert Puiget. The best office fragrances: Elie Saab Le Parfum, Pamplelune by Guerlain, Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and Honeymania by Body Shop. Many of these are on "Just for the Smell of It" on Pinterest. For men? Kenzo Tokyo, Bvlgari Man Extreme and Bvlgari AQVA Marine and AQVA Toniq. Loved La Nuit de L'Homme by YSL but the scent disappeared too soon. My mom loves Annick Goutal's Passion. Fragrantica.com is a great online community for scent lovers, and you can get great perfume suggestions and comments.

OK, I need to give a shout-out to The Body Shop. I worked there 20 years ago and have been a fan before, during and ever since. I remember when Mango Body Butter first came out. I would mix scents and take home samples and make gift baskets. The best deals are when you become a Love Your Body member. I get insane deals and get points and free gifts. I seriously save hundreds every year and get sweet-smelling soft locs and skin as a result. And the still don't test on animals! Check out my Pinterest site for some of my favorite products.

The Sweet Smell of Christmas (Scented Storybook) Hardcover by Patricia M. Scarry, $8-$9 retail, is one of my favorite childhood Christmas books. It has a cute little bear and has six smells; I still remember candy canes, an orange, gingerbread, apple pie and a pine tree--from over 30 years ago! Scholastic has these books, and my daughter loves picking up these books at school.

Pippi Longstocking DVD set: Every year this movie would come on TV, and it was one of the highlights of the season for me. I often dreamed of a world with kids doing what they wanted, so I loved this story and shared the notion kids should be in charge!

NPR has over three hours of music from 2014. Make a mixtape for your bestie!