Get Cooking with these New Cookbooks!

'Tis the season for cooking...and we have some great new cookbooks just waiting to provide you with a bit of inspiration. Here is a sampling of some the best:

Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi
Ottolenghi, an acclaimed London chef and New York Times food columnist, is not known for his simple recipes. Recipes in his previous cookbooks, Jerusalem, Sweet, and Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi to name a few, will send you off in search of little known ingredients and often involve many steps to complete. If you persevere, you will be justly rewarded, but no one would call these recipes simple. That is why his new book, Simple, has been embraced with such enthusiasm. Many of the recipes have fewer than 10 ingredients and can be prepared in under 30 minutes.

Everyday Dorie: The Way I Cook by Dorie Greenspan
Dorie Greenspan is another well-known and award-winning cookbook author. Her just-published Everyday Dorie contains casual, easily-made recipes that Greenspan cooks for friends and family. "I don't do fussy - I do inviting and comforting". If you get hooked on Greenspan's recipes, check out her 2016 title, Dorie's Cookies.

Now and Again by Julia Turshen
Julie Turshen wrote a great cookbook in 2016 called Small Victories that celebrates home-cooking. In her new title, Turshen embraces easy, inexpensive, wholesome cooking, gets creative with leftovers and inspires readers to gather people around a table. 

Cook Like a Pro: Recipes and Tips for the Home Cook by Ina Garten
Most home cooks are friends with Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) and her cookbooks. Cook Like a Pro is her 11th cookbook. There is a reason she has so many fans. Her recipes are accessible yet produce impressive results. You may find a new batch of go-to recipes in her latest offering.

Summertime, Food and Fun

So here we are, in the warm and steamy summer in Chicago, and the food festivals are off to a terrific start, from neighborhood rib and burger fests to Taste of Chicago and Taco Fest. Tacos are my favorite so I try really hard to make it to that festival every year. Check out some of the festivals around town and check out some food fiction listed below, whatever your favorite. Enjoy!

Cooking for Picasso
Kitchens of the Great Midwest
When In Doubt Add Butter
Pomegranate Soup
How To Cook a Tart
Broccoli and Other Tales of Food and Love
The Book of Unholy Mischief

The Love Goddess’ Cooking School

The Joy Luck Club

For Your Sweet Tooth

Candy is Magic: Real Ingredients, Modern Recipes by Jami Curl, the owner of the Quin Candy Company in Portland, Oregon, is passionate on the subject of candy, and her cookbook promises to teach readers the behind-the-scenes sleight of hand necessary to make great candy at home. Curl uses real ingredients (such as fruit flavorings that come from actual fruit) in gumdrops, caramels, and lollipops. People who are timid about candy-making will find Curl’s detailed instructions encouraging. Her lesson on making caramel—a task that can put fear into the heart of even the most stalwart cook. Take a look at Candy is Magic: Real Ingredients, Modern Recipes by Jami Curl

Readers can learn to make lollipops, gumdrops and marshmallows, all using fruit purees made from scratch. And on days when candy making seems like too much, there are simpler recipes, including homemade colored and flavored sugar sprinkles, peanut butter hot fudge sauce, and a pan of s’mores made with homemade marshmallows. Balancing kid-friendly lollipop flavors (peach, caramel) are Pinot Gris and Rosé, ones for those with more mature palates. Unique flavor combinations can be found throughout the book, and include coffee, orange, and smoked salt caramels, and iced tea and lemonade gumdrops. Curl’s enthusiasm for her craft makes this cookbook a pleasure to read; she is the ideal coach for would-be candy makers. These homemade treats would make great gifts. Here is an NPR review of this deliciously sweet book.

The History of Our Food

Why do we eat the things we do? And how did this come to be the case? Read the fascinating histories behind some of our most common and beloved ingredients.

Butter: A Rich History by Elaine Khosrova

From the ancient butter bogs of Ireland to the sacred butter sculptures of Tibet, Khosrova details its surprisingly vital role in history, politics, economics, nutrition, even spirituality and art.

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

Only Kurlansky, winner of the James Beard Award for Excellence in Food Writing for Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World, could woo readers toward such an off-beat topic. Yet salt, Kurlansky asserts, has "shaped civilization." A piquant blend of the historic, political, commercial, scientific and culinary, the book  is sure to entertain as well as educate.  

Garlic: An Edible Biography by Robin Cherry

While this book does not claim that garlic saved civilization (though it might cure whatever ails you), it does take us on a grand tour of garlic's fascinating role in history, medicine, literature, and art; its controversial role in bigotry, mythology, and superstition; and its indispensable contribution to the great cuisines of the world.  

Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages by Anne Mendelson

In a recipe book that is part cultural critique and part culinary history, Mendelson reaps nearly 400 fascinating pages from that most elemental of ingredients. 

Laurie Colwin

Warm and comforting, the lovely books of author Laurie Colwin were about urban life and relationships between those who thought they might never find love. Colwin was also a columnist for Gourmet magazine and wrote several books about food and cooking. Her writing is just the right amount of charming for a cold winter’s read.

Family Happiness
Polly lives happily until she finds herself in a sweet, but painful love affair with painter Lincoln Bennett.

Happy All the Time
A comedy of manners about two couples and how they find love.

Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen
About the joys of preparing and eating simple food.

Turkey Crimes and Capers

This week take a break from the food prep and the shopping to read a Thanksgiving-themed mystery. It could be a good way to get you in the holiday spirit instead of a turkey-induced coma. Here is a short list in no particular order.  Enjoy!

Turkey Day Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery by Leslie Meier
A Fatal Feast: A Novel by Jessica Fletcher
Dead Hot Shot: A Loon Lake Mystery by Victoria Houston
Bittersweet by Susan Wittig Albert
The Grave Soul by Ellen Hart
A Catered Thanksgiving by Isis CrawfordZero-Degree Murder by M. L. RowlandThankless In Death by J. D. Robb
Second-Hand Stiff by Sue Ann Jaffarian
Death Rides Again by Janice Hamrick
Skating Under the Wire by Joelle Charbonneau
Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis

Founding Foodies

The Founding Foodies: How Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin Revolutionized American Cuisine By Dave DeWitt

This is a great and concise title on how our founding fathers really were the first foodies in the land. Jefferson and Washington were plantation owners and experimented with crops and vegetables in their particular states. Franklin spent time in France as the U.S. ambassador and definitely enjoyed himself while there! He also was a early supporter of corn. Jefferson used his time in France to discover new plants and vegetables and had some of them brought back to Monticello.

This book goes into detail about food (and drink) during colonial times and how the tavern really helped the growth of the democracy. There is also a lengthy section with recreated recipes. There is a very detailed appendix with historic colonial foodie sites to visit. And perhaps best of all - an extremely detailed bibliography for more books both on Washington, Jefferson and Franklin, but food and living during colonial times. A fun read.

For more on the founding fathers and food try:

Founding Gardeners: the Revolutionary Generation, Nature,and the Shaping of the American Nation by Andrea Wulf

or

A Rich Spot of Earth: Thomas Jefferson's Revolutionary Garden at Monticello by Peter J. Hatch

In honor of Pi day..

Here's some titles with the other "Pie". (No calories in these pies!)

Pie Town by J. Lynne Hinton
(Domestic Fiction) When new priest Father George Morris and a young hitchhiker named Trina arrive in Pie Town, New Mexico the townsfolk are resistant to welcoming newcomers, until Trina and Father George unwittingly transform the town and its people.

World of Pies  by Karen Stolz

(Young Adult Fiction) In a small town in Texas in the 1960s, young Roxanne journeys toward adulthood as she copes with a pie-baking contest that becomes a lesson in racial politics, a crush on the new female postal worker, and the death of her father and her mother's remarriage, in a novel that features recipes following each chapter.

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by C. Alan Bradley
(Mystery) Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is propelled into a mystery when a man is found murdered on the grounds of her family's decaying English mansion and Flavia's father becomes the main suspect. (First in a series)

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
(Historical Fiction) In 1946, writer Juliet Ashton finds inspiration for her next book in her correspondence with a native of Guernsey, who tells her about the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club born as an alibi during German occupation.

Some Days There's Pie by Catherine Landis
(Domestic Fiction) Follows the adventures of Ruth, a woman who has run away from her life, with the help of Rose, an elderly, kindly reporter suffering from a terminal illness.

Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
(Cozy Mystery) Hannah Swensen thinks she killed a former high school football hero with her car, until an autopsy reveals the victim was dead before Hannah even hit him, his shirt covered in stains from a blackberry pie. (Part of the Hannah Swensen series) 

Downloadable eBooks:

Like Sweet Potato Pie by Jennifer Rogers Spinola
(Christian Fiction) Witness as Shiloh's new life in Virginia crumbles around her. The house she inherited from her mother is much more than a place to live--it represents Shilohs changed life and what little financial security she has. But her half sister is contesting their mothers will and the IRS is threatening to take it for back taxes. She's also discovering Gods ideal when it comes to love and romance. When Mr. Right shows up will she recognize God's hand or let circumstances and prejudices blind her heart to the love of her life?

White Christmas Pie by Wanda E. Brunstetter

(Amish Fiction) In this bittersweet holiday romance set in Amish country, Will Henderson, a young man tortured by his past, meets Karen Yoder, a young woman looking for answers as they both become involved with a desperate father searching for his son.

Toast to the New Year

Ring in the New Year with one of these novels inspired by spirits (without the hangover).

Happy New Year!

Midnight Champagne by A. Manette Ansay. Wedding guests offer opinions and predictions about the future of the new bride and groom--April Liesgang and Caleb Shannon, who have known each other for just three months--in a novel about the the complexities of love.

Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath. Struggling with a broken relationship, credit card bills, the FBI's inaccurate profiling computer, and a band of street thugs, Chicago Police lieutenant Jacqueline Daniels works on a serial murder case alongside her binge-eating partner, Herb. First in the Jack Daniels mysteries series.

The Martini Shot by Peter Craig. Aging action-film star Charlie West is forced to confront his demons when his illegitimate teenage son shows up in search of the father he never knew.

The Merlot Murders: a Wine Country Mystery by Ellen Crosby. Returning to her Virginia vineyard home after the unexpected death of her father, Lucie Montgomery is dismayed by her father's gambling debts, and discovers that someone had a lot to gain from her father's death and the sale of his winery.

Vodka Neat: a Faith Zanetti Thriller by Anna Blundy. Moscow correspondent Faith Zanetti is in trouble with the local authorities when her estranged husband, a Russian black marketeer, confesses to a murder that had taken place when they were married, and the police think that she had been his accomplice in a crime that she cannot recall because she had been drinking the night of the killing.

Cookies!

I don't know about you, but I'm inundated by cookies - at home, at work, at friends' homes, everywhere! So, if you can't beat 'em, might as well join 'em. Here are some books with bakers playing a crucial role. And, if you haven't had your fill of cookies or cakes or pies yet, some of these titles even include recipes. Remember, there are no calories consumed in just reading about sweets!

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanna Fluke

Cookie-baking sleuth Hannah Swenson must protect her reputation when a popular delivery man is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah's cookies scattered around him. Includes recipes.

Sugar Rush by Donna Kauffman

Leilani Trusdale sets up her own cupcake business on Sugarberry island in Georgia, but when her former boss, Baxter Dunne, wants to film a segment of his cooking show at her bakery Lielani has to come to terms with her true feelings about him and her own future. Includes recipes.

Bake Sale Murder by Leslie Meier

When Lucy Stone stumbles upon the dead body of Mimi, the annoying and whiny wife of local developer Fred Stanton, she launches her own investigation into the murder, a quest that makes the killer nervous and results in threatening notes.

Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray

Ruth draws on her talent for concocting delectable cakes and desserts when her family begins to disintegrate around her--her husband loses his job, her mother moves in, and her long-estranged father shows up at the door with no place to go. Recipes included.

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson

A new stint hosting a cooking show for PBS turns sour for caterer Goldy Shulz when the taping session at one of Colorado's most exclusive skiing resorts is plagued by accidents and death. Includes recipes.

Bran New Death by Victoria Hamilton

Merry Wynter incurs the enmity of Binny and Tom Turner after moving to Autumn Vale and converting her late uncle's castle into a muffin bakery, and so when Tom is found murdered, she investigates in order to clear her name.

On the Road Again

Cold? Bundled up? Tired of the insides of your house? It might be time to armchair travel and plan next year's traveling adventure. 

Want to do a Road Trip?  Foodies Jane and Michael Stern take to the American byways and back roads to discover American cuisine at its finest in their memoir of their early (and humorous) adventures, Two for the Road: Our Love Affair with American Food. They wrote the book Road Food and started the Road Food blog for those travelers who want eat at other local establishments other than a chain fast food joint on the side of the intersection. In a world before Yelp and the Internet, the Sterns were the people to go to when you wanted to find out about good road food.

On a bit of a different kind of road, there is the book On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome with Love and Pasta by Jen Lin-Liu. The title of this delightful book is a play on the legendary Silk Road, the major trade route between Asia and Europe. Chef and cooking school founder Lin-Liu (Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China ) wanted to settle a burning question: Who really invented the noodle? To do this, she embarked on a cooking and eating journey through China, Central Asia, Iran, Turkey, and Italy. She was occasionally joined by her husband, Craig, who adds charm and a personal feel to her culinary adventure.

Want to get away with the girlfriends? Are they your book group buddies too? Take a look at this title, Off the Beaten Page: the Best Trips for Lit Lovers, Book Clubs, and Girls on Getaways by Terri Peterson Smith.  

It has some great ideas for simple literary field trips close to home, and thoughtful essays describing each destination's literary heritage and attractions. From New York to Chicago, Memphis, Miami, Santa Fe and more there are various three-day itineraries that include such lit inspired excursions such as Santa Monica through the eyes of noir crime master Raymond Chandler; a Devil in the White City view of Chicago in the Gilded Age; an exploration of Edith Wharton's elite Newport, Rhode Island, while talking about other side trips in the area. There are location specific reading lists for each destination and along with a profile of an author who current lives and works there. It also covers various book festivals around the country.

Get ready to read about your next trip now.

Decadent reads

They say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but I have to be honest, a book with covers (and titles) such as these look pretty good to eat, I mean: read!

Be sure to have a box of chocolates or a plate of cupcakes handy when you read.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
When the beautiful and mysterious Vianne moves to Lansquenet and opens a chocolate shop across from the church, the inhabitants of the tiny village find themselves torn between the solemn law of religion and the joyful rewards of Vianne's confections.

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
When one of her famous Red Velvet cupcakes is thought to have caused the death of her rival--a scandalous Lake Eden legend who was trying to steal her boyfriend--Hannah Swensen becomes the unlikely suspect in a murder investigation.

Illegally Iced by Jessica Beck
When donut shop owner Suzanne Hart's argument with the local blacksmith ends in murder, everyone in the town of April Springs believes that she is responsible, and, to get out of this sticky situation, she must catch the killer herself.

How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue
When former best friends Annie Quintana and Julia St. Clair form a tentative alliance to open a cupcake shop, they become the target of a dangerous enemy bent on sabotaging their bakery, while they try to get past the betrayal that tore them apart years earlier.

When in Doubt, Add Butter by Elizabeth Harbison
Dedicating herself to her culinary patrons, private chef Gemma Craig goes home every night to boxed cereals until an unexpected event compels a confrontation with the past and an unexpected romance.

Entertaining Fiction

Over the next few months, you may be giving a dinner party or attending one, or maybe a more casual get-together will be your choice.  But whatever form it takes for you, the entertaining season is frequently fraught with family problems, disasters in the kitchen or occasionally (in the literary world) murder and mayhem.  Here are a few books centered around food and eating that will get you in the mood for the holidays (except the murder part, of course!).


The Dinner Party by Howard Fast.
Ordinary events evolve into an intricate interplay of power and passion, idealism and ambition, when a prominent senator and his wife, their two college-age children, the wife's parents, and two key administration officials and their wives gather for dinner.

Dolce Agonia by Nancy Huston.
On a snowy Thanksgiving evening in a small college town, poet Sean Farrell hosts a dinner party and through each guest discovers something profound about his life.

The Banquet Bug by Geling Yan.
An unemployed Chinese factory worker, Dan Dong masquerades as a journalist in order to gain invitations to free state-sponsored, gourmet banquets, but, in his guise, he is drawn into the middle of a conspiracy and scandal that leads from the depths of society to the highest levels of Chinese government.

Entertaining Disasters by Nancy Spiller.
An unnamed freelance writer for the LA glossy Food Writer undergoes a panic-stricken week before she must host the exclusive dinner party that she has actually invented in her columns.

There But For The by Ali Smith.
When Miles Garth locks himself in an upstairs room during a dinner party and communicates only through notes slipped under the door, his involuntary hosts beg help from childhood friend Anna, who is unwittingly thrust into the family's surreal world.

Symposium by Muriel Spark.
As the guests assemble at American painter Hurley Reed's London dinner party, they wonder about the lateness of Hilda Damien, who at the moment is being murdered. By the author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. 

Cake Boss For a Day, Sensational Smoothies, and More!

Ever wanted to learn how to work with fondant?  Love to create bakery masterpieces?  All teens ages 13-18 are invited to learn more about mini-cake decorating from GBS Foods Teacher, Kelli McDonald, as she takes students through a decorative journey.  Event takes place Friday, June 29th from 1-2:30PM.  Put on your smocks and get ready to frost!
Food programs for teens have become quite popular at the Glenview Public Library.  We have had the pleasure to work with Whole Foods Northbrook for the past two years, and will do so again in February 2013 when we will host Iron Chef 3! 

Another great food-related program this quarter will be Scrapbooking and Smoothies on Saturday, July 21st from 2-3PM.  Teens ages 13-18 will be able to bring 4-6 photos to create their own scrapbook page.  All materials will be provided, as well as a healthy fruit smoothie! 

And don't forget to register for the Summer Reading Program, Reading Is So Delicious, starting June 9th for a chance to win some AWESOME food-related gift cards and other prizes.  Read books, magazines, listen to music, or attend a teen program all count in the quest for raffle prizes.  Program runs June 9-July 29th.  Teen Grand Prize Raffle Prize will be a Movie Basket, with a $50 Crown Theaters gift card, movie candies, popcorn, and other tasty treats.  Grades 9-12 only. 

Any questions about teen programs can be directed to Nicole M. Mills, Young Adult Librarian, at 847-729-7500 x2613. Registration can be done online at http://www.glenviewpl.org/ and click on Calendar and Events.

Food on Film

Have you noticed all the hype with food lately?  Where to eat, what to cook, who cooks it best, all the cookbooks and morning TV demonstrations, and now picnic and grilling season is in full force.  Here is a list of films about food to check out at your next trip to the library.

Big Night
The story of two brothers whose Italian restaurant is on the brink of bankruptcy. Their only chance for success is to risk everything they own on an extravagant feast for bandleader Louis Prima. But their big night is complicated by a lovers' triangle, a sneaky restaurant rival, and the hilarious perfection of chef Primo.

Julie Julia
Julie Powell wants to be a writer. Trying to find a challenge in her life, she decides to cook her way through Julia Child's 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' in one year, and to blog about it. As Julie begins to find her groove as a cook, and her voice as a writer, the project takes on a life of its own, while providing an interesting biography about Julia Child herself, celebrating the life of one of America's most beloved chefs.


Babette's Feast
With the mysterious arrival of Babette, a refugee from France's civil war, life for two pious sisters and their tiny hamlet begins to change. Before long, Babette has convinced them to try something other than boiled codfish and ale bread-- a gourmet French meal! Her feast scandalizes the elders, except for the visiting General. Just who is this strangely talented Babette, who has terrified this pious town with the prospect of losing their souls for enjoying too much earthly pleasure?


No Reservations
Master chef Kate Armstrong revels in the sense of power and control her career affords. When her sister is killed in an automobile accident, her nine-year old niece Zoe comes to live with her. Kate's life is turned completely upside down and she is suddenly forced to split her focus between work and family. Nick Palmer is the fun-loving, sous chef, whom Kate perceives as a serious rival. Even as they clash, Kate is drawn toward Nick, eventually coming to the realization that Nick offers something that she needs both in her restaurant kitchen and her new life with Zoe. Based on the German movie Mostly Martha listed below.


Mostly Martha
Martha is the chef who fusses and obsesses over each dish before it leaves the kitchen. The demands of her job and her natural shyness keep her from meeting new people. When her sister suddenly dies, Martha adopts Lina, her eight-year-old niece, completely changing both lives. Martha gets unexpected help from Mario, Martha's hunky new sous chef, who is not only a whiz on the chopping block but knows sundry magic tricks and jokes to keep Lina's spirits afloat. Just as Martha starts to grow attached to the girl, Lina's erratic father shows up demanding that he take her back to Italy with him.


A Moveable Feast
Salutes traditions across the country by bringing six of America's favorite chefs together to represent the diversity of food and culture that make the United States the world's greatest melting pot. Features Chris Kimball (America's Test Kitchens), Ruth Reichl (Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie), Lidia Bastianich (Lidia's Italy), José Andrés (Made in Spain), Rick Bayless (Mexico One Plate at a Time), and Ming Tsai (Simply Ming). Bonus: Q&A with the chefs, recipes, and behind-the-scenes.


Fast Food Nation
When a marketing executive for a huge burger chain finds a nasty secret ingredient in their burger recipe, he goes to the ranches and slaughterhouses of Colorado to investigate and finds that the truth is sometimes difficult to swallow. This film will have you questioning your food choices. Greg Kinnear is fabulous in this film.

The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love

With Spring in the air, the itch to garden is strong! But until we can do so, take a peak at this memoir. 

The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball is the story of a couple who took a chance on each other, and took a chance on creating a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. Their farm is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. and is a 500 acre draft horse powered farm that provides a full diet for 200 people. This book is the story of their first year. Full of information about short season growing, butchering and trying to revitalize a farm that had not been farmed in years, Kimball makes us cheer them on as they go through their growing pains; both in their personal relationship and preparing the land.

This is definitely a book for those who always wanted to farm (in a non-concrete sorta way), and for those who are interested in CSA farming and eating organic.

If this title is checked out - try these similar farming and gardening titles:

This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader by Joan Dye Gussow

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

The Quarter-acre Farm: How I Kept the Patio, Lost the Lawn,and Fed My Family for A Year by Spring  Warren

Get your seed catalogs out now! 

December Programs Shine for Teens!

We have 3 exciting programs scheduled for December to fit every teen need!

December 2nd is the next Teen Game Night event. Each month, two giant screens and large Boomchairs are available in the Community Room for ages 13-18 to have fun gaming. The Library owns Nintendo Wii, XBOX360, and Playstation 3 along with a variety of different games, or teens may bring in their own games to share. Pizza and pop are available each time for all who participate. Since the new Library has opened in October 2010, we have averaged 15 teens at each gaming event. A true success!

December 17th we will host a Card Stamping program. For those that like to scrapbook, this is a perfect way to get creative and make fun holiday cards to send to friends and family. Our staff expert, Monique Flasch, will be on hand to show teens different stamping techniques and various ways to showcase talent with card stamping. All materials will be provided.

Only two short days later we will have our annual Cookies in a Jar program! December 19th teens will be able to make two cookies in a jar---oatmeal and MandM---to bring home to use either as a gift, or for themselves. Instruction tags as well as all ingredients and embellishments will be provided. This has become very popular over the past two years and will hopefully follow the trend this year as well! Pick a holiday-inspired jar topper and ribbon to finish off the look.

Registration is now in progress! Don't miss out on the fun, register today! Go to the Glenview Public Library's web site at http://www.glenviewpl.org and click on Calendar and Events, or call 847-729-7500 and ask for the Reader Services Desk. A staff person would be happy to assist you. Register for yourself, or for a group!

Any questions please contact Nicole M. Mills, Young Adult Librarian, at 847-729-7500 x2613 or email nmills@glenviewpl.org.

Let's Bake and Decorate!

According to Chase's Calendar of Events, October is National Bake and Decorate month. What better time of the year to do this than when the days are winding down, the summer madness is over and we're starting to get that cocooning feeling.  So, for those of us who maybe need a little help with cooking and decorating, or just looking for fresh ideas, here are several resources available at the Library.

One of the magazines that the Library subscribes to is Sandra Lee Semi-homemade. Her mantra is "Keep it Simple, Keep it Smart, Keep it Sweet, Keep it Semi-homemade. Her recipes typically include a pre-made item, such as  pie crust or a box of cake mix.  In the latest issue (September/October), she has recipes for Caramel Spice Cake and S'mores Tarts, both of which look deliciously good. Also included in this issue are money saving meal recipes.

For those that need visual aid, there are several DVDs that you can watch. One is called The Complete Guide to Cake Decorating and Baking - a comprehensive introduction to everything there is to know about baking and decorating cakes. And when you're ready, you can't go wrong with Martha's Baking Favorites. Martha Stewart goes over techniques and the basics before showing you how to do the actual baking of cakes, pies, and cookies. It's all "good things".

As far as decorating, the September/October issue of Chicago Home and Garden Magazine has an article on "Color - room to room paint schemes", with tips on how to choose paint color that will flow from one room to the next. 

From the Home Decorating Series " You Can Do It" with Christopher Lowell, there are 3 DVDs available: Seven Layers of Design and Color Courage, Savvy Surfaces and Merchandising the Home, and Nurturing Spaces and Double Duty. Or perhaps you want ideas on how to "bring new life to old finds". If that's the case, then watch Chris Olsen's Refresh Remix Restyle for easy step-by-step instructions.

These are just a few of the magazines and DVDs on cooking and decorating that you can find at the Library.

The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious and Perplexing City

David Lebovitz was a pastry chef for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse. He decided at one point to move to Paris. His adjustment to living in a foreign country became the material for his blog. His book, The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious and Perplexing City is based on some posts from that blog and more.

While Lebovitz offers some lovely recipes and advice on where to go in Paris, the book is really not a travelogue. It is more of an expat's love letter to his adopted city, even when he thinks it is a wacky place. Some points of fun: he earns more respect from his neighborhood vendors after it is found out he is a pastry chef, how customer service is non existent in certain shops, giant French supermarkets vs local markets, and the joys of French cheese and chocolate.

Written with gentle humor, Lebovitz encourages the reader to come over to his side of the pond to experience it all for themselves. Or at least buy some French cheese and chocolate to munch on while reading it! A Francophile's dream and a fun read.

The Love Goddess' Cooking School

When Holly's Grandmother Camilla dies, she inherits her business - a cooking school, and her house, but does she inherit her 'second sight'? In The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate, that is the question her small Maine town neighbors want to know. But Holly has had problems in her own life, and can't make a marinara sauce. She's not too sure that continuing the cooking school is such a good idea after all. But when she has four students sign up for classes, she decides to give it a try.

Senate does a great job at creating a small town community where everyone knows about everyone else's business. And Holly discovers that her grandmother's life was not all joy and roses. Filled with great characters and greater descriptions of food (you will be craving Italian after this one - trust me), the reader will enjoy reading about Holly's struggles in the kitchen, glimpses of Camilla's strength, and their cooking students growth, both in the kitchen and in their personal lives.

Makes one want to take an Italian cooking class if they are going to be that cool! A fun summer read.

MF