"Cookery" - CookBooks- Some of The Best Reads!

Vintage Cookbook



Some of the cookbooks in my home are just for display. I am not ashamed to say it, they look good in the kitchen.
The Tartine and Tartine Bread cookbook covers look so good. The venerable Alice Waters wrote the foreword for  the Tartine book after all!  I wanted to have it for display because I do not bake much. The breadmaker comes out, I bake and that is it, nothing fancy or flashy.  They do have some great recipes in the Tartine book but if the recipe takes up almost an entire page, my eyes start to glaze over. Patience,patience. And reality, the weekend arrives and all the enthusiasm to cook gets eaten by outings, shopping, errands and plain old exhaustion.
I  love cookbooks because I get a warm, happy feeling when I see them, I want to cook. Same thing with Nigella Lawson, I think she is phenomenal and her cookbooks are fantastic. I started reading Ms Lawson's recipes years ago in British Vogue when she was their food contributor and I was hooked. Her writing style was cozy, infectious and fun. I wanted to be Nigella in the kitchen.  I actually curled up on the sofa to read the Nigella Express Cookbook. Cooked anything? not yet. I drove DH crazy looking for Cream of Tartar for the Forgotten Pudding on page 136 of Nigella Express ( he remembers well).  Have I made it yet?.....well no. And, I have at least 30 recipes with tabs in that cookbook alone. She has the best recipes.  But can she actually get you to cook them? or just read and fantasize about it?  I know that Rachel Ray has millions of fans and I have actually cooked some of her recipes and they were all fantastic. Of course her 30 minute meals is on this list!
One of my dear friends in Ohio is a fantastic mom who cooks and bakes fantastic recipes often and I always admire her ability to do that and balance everything else as a mother to twins. Another friend in Canada gets me every time she sends a picture with a delicious meal she prepared and she always generously shares her recipes. There are many hard working heroines out there!
But how much time do I have? Not much. I like fast and easy but cookbooks are also wonderful to read depending on the author.  I like my mother's recipes best and that is how it is for most of us. But there are some great books out there.

The Food Network influenced some of the choices since we became familiar with some chefs from their shows on the channel.
Who are your favorites chefs? What are your favorite cookery books?  You may not like any of our picks and I am sure that we missed many cookbooks. We  would love to get your feedback.

Here are some of our  best reading and cooking Cookbooks out there!

Tartine Bread( inside look). by Chad Robertson and Eric Wolfinger

My favorite cookbook. My favorite cookbook author. My favorite TV show in Food Network

http://www.foodnetwork.com/nigella-lawson/index.html

Her latest one!

Sauces by James Peterson

Gravy as we call it. Pass the bread please!  This book has some great sauces for any and every occasion, watch out it is heavy!

What's Cooking in Guyana Link

Cuisine from the South American country. Chock full of recipes reflecting the contribution of five different races along with a  pinch of  British sensibility. Amazing food!

On Food and Cooking
Food and Cooking
Amazing read. The science of cooking combined with history and food. He examines the nature of digestion and hunger among other topics, truly amazing read

. La Cocina De Mama by Penelope Casas La Cocina De Mama link to Amazon
Great Spanish recipes, love it!





River Road Recipes by The Junior League of Baton Rouge River Road Recipes
Authentic creole recipes.


Lost Recipes by Marlon Cunningham Lost Recipes
Loads of comfort recipes.


How to Grill by Seven Raichlen How To Grill
That beer can chicken is truly delicious!


The Best Ever Vegetarian Cookbook by Linda Fraser  The Best Ever Vegetarian Cookbook
You will not run out of options with this great book!

Rachel Ray 30 Minutes Meals R Ray link
Be sure to check out 30 minute part 2.



Meals Made Simple by Real Simple Real Simple Meals
Great recipes from one of our favorite magazines. Easy and delicious recipes for all palates.


Once Upon a Tart- Frank Montesana and Jerome Audureau
Passionate foodies open a restaurant. What an adventure.

Hot Sour Salty Sweet by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid Hot Sour Salty Sweet Link
Great tour to Southeast Asia and its cuisine. Travel with the authors and learn how to use some those products in your grocery aisle.


The Foods Of the Greek Islands by Aglaia Kremezi Foods of the Greek Islands link
Delicious recipes from one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. The Greek are known for their use of greens to make anything, and there are some great recipes in this one.


Everyday Italian 125 recipes by Gaida DeLaurentis - Another chef who makes cooking very exciting and simple. I love her enthusiasm for food, which translates to her book. Check out her home line at Target, very cute. Gaida for Target

The French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keller French Laundry- We all want to know how he creates that magic, the cookbook is the closest like me you will ever get!

The Barefoot Contessa Family Style by Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa
I wish she could just cook a few meals for me, she makes it look so easy.

 Molto Italiano - Mario Batali
For those who have not had the privilege of eating at his famous  restaurants Babbos in New York. He has a wonderful show in Food Netwook.

Anthony Bourdain - Honorable mention to the man who opens a door to  life, culture and food from far flung places all over the world. Mr Bourdain plays a crucial role by giving us history lessons about different cultures and cuisines and I am grateful for his curiosity everywhere he goes and everything he does. Please try to read all of his books if you can. Check out his show on The Food Network, you have been missing a real treat.
Some of his best episodes - His visit to his wife's ancestral home of Corsica, his visit to Paris with famed chef Eric Rupert and his visits to Ghana,Namibia/South Africa and Vietnam. Simply amazing.
Cook's Tour LInk



One last one... the book that many people say changed the way they look at food.
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Link
" A fascinating journey up and down the food chain" Amazon.




Happy Reading!

My Quick Lunch- Fast Lunch for Vegetarians

I am not vegetarian, I eat fish but stay away from meat, chicken and pork.

Some days I am at a loss in terms of my choices for lunch, but this is my fast go to lunch.
It gives me energy and it is filling. I have to keep up with a four year old, enough said.

I have become very fond of something that I saw and bought on TV, the Pasta Boat.
It cooks pasta in the microwave and it is easy to use. I can whip up something else while that is cooking.

You need pasta, any type you like.
Bok Choy- you get your leafy vegetables taken care off.
Butternut Squash(cut into small chunks).

Cook pasta and steam the Bok Choy and Squash( I use a turbocooker or use a steamer).

Sprinkle the Bok Choy and Squash with Adobo Seasoning Adobo Seasoning while steaming. It gives the Bok Choy a wonderful flavor.





Once pasta is cooked, pile into a plate, top with the bok choy and butternut squash.

Top that with your favorite Pasta Sauce, Parmesan Cheese and Pepper.


Gia Russa

We like the Pomodoro Sauce from Target and Tomato and Basil from Gia Russa, they are both excellent!!


Enjoy!

Question of The Week - How do you boost your immune system?

It is a challenging balancing act, our many roles, daughter, sister, mom, wife, finances, family and for some of us working professionals.

How do we manage it all? and still manage to appear balanced and together in public is amazing? Women are amazing. We know what you are going through.
But are we really taking care of ourselves?

Some of us have help, to clean,cook and help us make it through the day. Single Moms I always applaud because you are doing the work of two and it is a job for 4:)!

Are we getting regular checkups? mammograms? Do you have a BP kit and check your BP every day?

What are you doing to stay healthy?

I went back to some things my mom gave me as a child,  which have made a huge difference in my energy levels(Cod Liver Oil, liquid form only in OJ) and I rarely get any colds. You can assume that my daughter is on the same regimen, the colds are not as often as other children. My hubby sometimes tags along :). I try to keep the blood flowing, walking or running, you have to get out and it keeps the colds away. My mother was one of the busiest, most active people on the planet and when her  illness forced her to a wheel chair and she continued to push for her therapy and her mental motivation to walk again never waned,but her body could not keep up until she passed away.  I think about my mom every time I feel the urge not to exercise, her mental toughness, pushes me out the door. Pilates changed my posture, strength and stomach muscles forever. Golf gives you a mental break and teaches life lessons like nothing else in this world. My one issue is getting enough sleep, I have not figured that one out yet!
That is what works for me, What works for you?




Here are some suggestions from Real Simple

Watch your fat- This you know! High fat diets make your immune system more sluggish. Aim for 25 to 30 percent of your calories from fat and from the good fats like Olive Oil, avocados,nuts and peanut butter. Limit the saturated fats like milk(whole),butter,high fat meats and trans fats(partially hydrogenated oils).

Stay in Motion- walking briskly,cycling,swimming for 45 minutes five times a week cuts down on sick days and enhances your body's defenses by 50 percent. Enough said.

Eat plenty of Protein- The amino acids in protein are the building blocks of the cells in your immune system and they help to create protective white blood cells and antibodies. Women should consume 50 grams of protein a day or get at least 10 to 15 percent of their daily calories from protein.
Lean protein, fish,skinless poultry,eggs,beans,soy products.

Music- Research shows that singing helps to lift a person's mood and the levels of antibodies that protect from invading germs. People who played a a musical instrument and sang along showed greater levels of those antibodies than those who just listened to music.

Pets- petting a dog or cat leads to a spike in secretory immunoglobulin A which helps to protect the body against germs trying to invade it.

Resolve to Relax- Find that time! It may be deep breathing or yoga, or painting or puzzles. Try to do it on a regular basis. The lack of stress releasers inhibits your body's response to invaders.

Probiotics(Danactive,Activia)- Studies have found that pro biotics products have an effect on respiratory illnesses and gastrointestinal issues.

Make Late Nights an Exception- Nine hours a night! Your body needs it. Women who are more active have better killer cells(white blood cells that attack germs) than women who felt tired.

Get 3 colors in every meal-Fruits and Vegetables in vibrant colors are rich in carotids, which helps immune cells surround and kill a virus. They also contain antioxidants and vitamins A and C. Aim for 5 to 9 servings a day.

Fit into your skinny jeans- Studies show that slightly overweight adults have an elevated level of cholesterol. When put on a low fat diet the subjects lost weight and lowered their levels. T Cell function also improved. Losing a few pounds can make a big difference.


Please give us your tips for staying healthy!