News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

This month’s Recent Picks gives you a choice of different flavours from around the world.

My Greek kitchen / Mary Valle.
“Welcome to Mary Valle’s Greek kitchen, a place to share simple food, warm laughter and tradition. Mary’s passion for the food of her childhood is in every one of these classic recipes, handed down through generations and enlivened by her own modern twists. Indulge in the fresh scents of oregano and lemon; lamb roast that melts in your mouth; sticky baklava; light almond biscuits, and the tender juiciness of a great moussaka. With personal memories and stunning images, this is the cookbook with which to begin your journey into Greek food for every occasion.” (Global Books)

50 Great Curries of India / Camellia Panjabi.
“Here are 50 authentic Indian curries, each accompanied by a full-colour photograph so that you can see colour, texture and appearance. Try White Chicken Korma, a Muslim court dish blending Moghlai and Nawabi cuisines or Prawns in Sweet & Hot Curry, with it’s delicately balanced sweet, hot and sour flavours. The Gujarati Mango & Yoghurt Curry is a tasty treat for vegetarians….while Lamb with Plums is a new recipe that combines the sweetness of fruit with the spicy aromas of cinnamon and chilli.” (Book Jacket)

My Abuela’s Table : An Illustrated Journey into Mexican Cooking / by Daniella Germain.
“Journey to the heart of Mexico in My Abuela’s Tble – a richly illustrated cookbook exploring the delicious food and fond memories of cooking under the guidance of a supportive food-loving grandmother.” (Book Jacket)

Latin Grilling : Recipes to share, from Patagonian asado to Yucatecan barbecue and more / Lourdes Castro ; photography by Tara Donne.
“Having directed a culinary academy in Florida, and currently teaching food science at New York University, Castro (Simply Mexican) provides a well-thought-out syllabus balancing the love of grilling up a fiesta with the often overlooked culinary reality that Latin America is “a huge region made up of many countries.” Employing 90 different recipes, she creates 10 cookout menus, each with a cocktail, starters, entrees, sides, and a dessert, and each representative of different locales and their various influences.” (Publisher Weekly)

A Gourmet Tour of France : legendary restaurants from Paris to the Côte d’Azur / Gilles Pudlowski & Maurice Rougemont ; [translated from the French by Kerrin Rousset and Carmella Abramowitz-Moreau].
Prominent restaurant critic Gilles Pudlowski leads the reader on a tour across the heartland of gourmet dining, sharing menu selections from his favourite restaurants along with the stories behind the accomplished chefs and their kitchens.” (Library Catalogue)

The Japanese Grill / byTadashi Ono & Harris Salat ; food photography by Todd Coleman ; location photography by Jun Takagi.
“A full-color cookbook that introduces American palates to authentic Japanese-style grilling, with 95 recipes that skillfully blend traditional ingredients, modern twists, and the sizzle of a hot fire to create remarkable meals.” (Syndetics summary)

Whispers from a Lebanese Kitchen : a family’s treasured recipes / Nouha Taouk. “Nouha Taouk is a Lebanese-Australian from a vibrant family cooking tradition. In this book, she shares the stories of her grandmother, Citi Leila, and the unique bond between the women in her family, created through cooking together. Culinary secrets and childhood memories are told over kneading bread, pickling vegetables and hand-moulding falafel. The traditions passed down from generation to generation are shared alongside authentic recipes for baba ghanoush, kofta and a rich array of Lebanese sweets.” (Library Catalogue)

A Cook’s Year in a Welsh Farmhouse / Elisabeth Luard ; photography by Clare Richardson.
“In an old farmhouse on the slopes of a mountain lying between Tregaron and Aberystwyth, Elisabeth Luard brings the produce of the land into her kitchen and turns it into delicious food. This book is her response to the changes she sees in her garden and the surrounding countryside throughout the seasons, with distinctive recipes at the end of each month’s chapter. It is the story of a year spent planting and picking in the garden, roaming the countryside with her grandchildren and introducing them to the pleasures of rural living.” (Global Books)

Turkey : Recipes and Tales from the Road / Leanne Kitchen. “Make an evocative journey into the diverse cuisines and culinary customs of regional Turkey. Turkish food traverses the extremes of sophistication – from the refined cooking of the Ottoman court to the rustic simplicity of peasant food. From spicy red lentil kofte and slow-roasted lamb with pomegranate juice to rose cream meringues and Turkish coffee custard, Leanne unveils not just the inspiration for her collection of authentic and contemporary recipes but the very essence of Turkish hospitality.” (Library Catalogue)

This month’s emphasis for Cooking (Recent Picks) is on healthy food; but it also includes sweet things and preserves.

Healthy children’s lunches : 52 brilliant little ideas for junk-free meals kids will love / Mandy Francis.
“Healthy Children’s Lunches is the indispensable guide to feeding your children well, without resorting to diet fads or having to give in to pester-power. Packed with down-to- earth, simple and fun recipes and advice, Healthy Children’s Lunches will help all parents give their children the nutritional head start in life they deserve. Part of the fantastic new Brilliant Little Ideas series, Healthy Children’s Lunches is compact, fun to read and fantastic value. We have selected the very best ideas from our database of inspiring ideas and stripped them down to the absolute essentials. It is simply brilliant.” (Global Books)

Rawlicious : delicious raw recipes for radiant health / Peter and Beryn Daniel.
Rawlicious introduces readers to a lifestyle that marries long-term health benefits and higher energy levels with delicious and simple raw recipes. Rawlicious covers a broad spectrum of recipes and raw principles, from basics like stocking your raw kitchen, juicing, salad preparation, and making smoothies, to more advanced, gourmet dishes. Stunning full-color photos throughout will inspire readers to get into their kitchen, and clear, easy instructions to 144 recipes will encourage them to stay.” (library catalogue)

River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook / Nikki Duffy ; foreword by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall ; photography by Georgia Glynn-Smith.
“This book takes the sting out of teaching children to savour good food that’s wholesome as well as delicious. It demands time and energy to cook individual meals for every member of the family, so Nikki Duffy offers the easy alternative of making tasty food that will appeal to young and old alike. She also devotes a section of the book to non-judgemental advice on hotly-debated topics such as breast feeding versus bottled milk, when to wean babies onto solid food, and how to ensure that your children have a balanced diet.” (Amazon.co.uk)

Hungry Girl 300 Under 300 : 300 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Dishes Under 300 Calories / Lisa Lillien.
“The #1 “New York Times”-bestselling Hungry Girl is back with another fantastic volume full of simple recipes for delicious, low-calories breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes, each under 300 calories.” (Syndetics summary)

Bitesize: Macarons, Cakepops & Cute Things.
“Bitesize: macarons, cakepops and cute things offers a delicious assortment of indulgent sweet bites to whip up when that craving hits. With grown-up versions of fun treats like popsicles, whoopie pies and cakepops, as well as adventurous flavour combinations using classics like macarons, cupcakes and tarts, there is something for everyone. These tempting recipes include Blueberry mojito popsicles, Classic red velvet whoopee pies, Vanilla bean and candied ginger cheesecake pops, Gingersnap and peach ice-cream sandwiches, Persian rose macaroons and Mini churros with chilli chocolate. This series is perfect for entertaining – you’ll find something amazing for every occasion.” (Global Books)

Tart and sweet : 101 canning and pickling recipes for the modern kitchen / Kelly Geary and Jessie Knadler.
The craft of canning has undergone a renaissance, becoming a cornerstone of the artisanal food movement. This manual provides a modern tutorial on small-batch canning.(Syndetics summary)

Yes – vegan ebooks!
Did you know that some of the most popular, and some of my favourite, vegan cookbooks are available from our Overdrive eLibrary?   And most are sitting on the shelf, so to speak, right now so you can beat that reserves queue.   If the book you want is on loan you can also reserve ebooks, just like you would ‘normal books’ -  in fact its even better as ebooks are free to reserve!

Here’s a selection of titles -
How it all vegan! : irresistible recipes for an animal-free diet / Tanya Barnard & Sarah Kramer.
“This 10th-anniversary edition of the book that introduced the tenets of vegan living and eating includes a new color-photo section and new recipes as well as a new Introduction by co-author Kramer.” (Syndetics summary)

Veganomicon : the ultimate vegan cookbook / Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.
“It’s easy to live vegan 24/7 with this collection of 250 recipes, menus, and color photos for dishes that taste even better than their non-vegan counterparts. The cookbook offers innovative recipes for all occasions, convenience, easy-to-find ingredients, and gluten-free and tofu-free options.” (Syndetics summary)

Appetite for reduction : 125 fast & filling low-fat vegan recipes / Isa Chandra Moskowitz ; with Matthew Ruscigno.
“Bestselling vegan chef Moskowitz is known for making groundbreaking strides in vegan cooking. “Appetite for Reduction” offers 125 delicious, big-portion recipes that are fewer than 400 calories per serving, low in fat and sugar, and high in fiber.” (Syndetics summary)

For newbies to Overdrive this is a link to help you get started and provide you with all the relevant ebook information.  Happy downloading!

Cake Days : Recipes to Make Every Day Special / Tarek Malouf and the Hummingbird Bakers.
“The bestselling, hugely popular Hummingbird Bakery is back with a wonderful new collection of easy and delicious cupcakes, layer cakes, pies and cookies to suit all occasions in this beautiful book. The Hummingbird Bakery has brought their mouth-watering yet easy-to-make cupcakes to kitchens everywhere and this time they show readers how to bake delicious cakes and other sweet delights for those days of the year that are just meant for indulgence – such as birthdays, Easter, Valentine’s and Christmas – as well as those times when you just deserve a little treat.” (Amazon)

Simple Vegan! : delicious meat-free, dairy-free recipes every family will love / [edited by Sarah Scheffel].
“Whether you’re embracing a vegan lifestyle, adding a few vegan dishes to your meal plan, or cooking for a guest, this book is your road map to delicious vegan food! From Pumpkin Waffles to Polenta with Spicy Eggplant Sauce to Deep Chocolate Cupcakes (and even Mac and Cheese!), this tasty collection offers 100 irresistible recipes the whole family will love-all triple-tested by the Good Housekeeping test kitchens.” (Syndetics summary)

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef : A Love Story with 100 Tempting Recipes / Shauna James Ahern and Daniel Ahern ; photography by Lara Ferroni.
“From the authors of the much-loved food blog, Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef, the book includes evocative photos, cooking techniques, and 100 chef-tested recipes–inspiration for anyone who has to eat gluten-free.” (Syndetics summary)

Classic Country Recipes / food director, Pamela Clark.
“This is a collection of the most familiar and most appealing country recipes. It’s old-fashioned comfort food that more and more of us are returning to. Lamb roasts, slow cooked stews, steamed puddings, date and walnut loaf. Many of us remember eating these dishes at our grandmother’s table and are delighted when we find them on restaurant menus, but we have no idea how to make them. Classic Country Recipes is a treasury of those special food memories too important (and too delicious) to forget.” (Global Books)

Simple Café food / Julie Le Clerc ; photography by Shaun Cato-Symonds.
“Simple Café Food is a stunning collection of Julie’s favourite café-style recipes. Originally printed in 1999, this book has been reprinted many times and is now revised and updated for 2011. From antipasti, salads, breads and soups right through to delectable preserves and sweets, this book is a necessity for every home cook.” (Global Books)

The Recipe for Life : healthy eating for real people / Sally Bee.
“Bestselling author and home cook Sally Bee is back with a collection of deliciously simple recipes that show how easy it is to follow a healthy diet for life.Many of us know the principles of healthy eating but actually incorporating them into daily life is much harder. Whether it’s eating more fruit and vegetables, reducing fat without losing flavour or feeding a family after work without the aid of a take-away menu, Sally Bee explains how to make good food second nature.Sally isn’t a dietician, but a busy mum who knows how tough it can be to change eating habits. Her down-to-earth advice and realistic approach is borne from her own experience of life-threatening heart disease, which she recovered from thanks to her own delicious and easy-to-follow eating plan.” (Global Books)

This month: vegan cooking, eating well, what the great ate, and fast, fresh and simple meals for everyday and any occasion…

Appetite for reduction : 125 fast & filling low-fat vegan recipes / Isa Chandra Moskowitz ; with Matthew Ruscigno.
“Bestselling vegan chef Moskowitz is known for making groundbreaking strides in vegan cooking. “Appetite for Reduction” offers 125 delicious, big-portion recipes that are fewer than 400 calories per serving, low in fat and sugar, and high in fiber.” (Syndetics summary)

The simple art of Eating Well cookbook : 400 easy recipes, tips and techniques for delicious, healthy meals / by Jessie Price & the Eating Well test kitchen ; principal photography by Ken Burris.
“At last–the comprehensive guide to cooking and eating healthier from that most trusted authority: “EatingWell” magazine. This volume contains 300 easy recipes, tips, and techniques for delicious, healthy meals.” (Syndetics summary)

What the great ate : a curious history of food and fame / Matthew Jacob and Mark Jacob ; with illustrations by Rick Tuma.
“In What the Great Ate, Matthew and Mark Jacob have cooked up a bountiful sampling of the peculiar culinary likes, dislikes, habits, and attitudes of famous-and often notorious-figures throughout history. Here is foodAs code: Benito Mussolini used the phrase “we’re making spaghetti” to inform his wife that he’d be (illegally) dueling later that day.As superstition: Baseball star Wade Boggs credited his on-field success to eating chicken before nearly every game.In service to country: Thomas Jefferson, America’s original foodie, helped popularize eggplant and ice cream. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

Fast, fresh, simple : 160+ fast recipes, fresh flavours and simple standbys for every day and any occasion / Donna Hay.
Combining vibrant flavours and fresh ingredients with simple, no fuss techniques, is the perfect companion for everyday cook.

Who hasn’t been watching some version of Masterchef over the last year?!  I just wanted to let the fans know about some of the Masterchef cookbooks we have in our collection.

Mexican food made simple / Thomasina Miers ; photography by Tara Fisher.
Masterchef actually began on British TV  in the nineties and many contestants have gone on to work in the food industry.  One former winner is Thomasina Miers, who became a chef, opened a restaurant and wrote this cookbook – and if you like Mexican food you’ll really enjoy this book!  While you may have to hunt about to find some of the ingredients, the wonderful recipes and flavours make it worth the effort.  It also explains all the ins and outs of Mexican food and cooking so you’ll learn how to put an authentic Mexican meal together.

Comfort food / [Greg Mehigan] ; food photography by Dean Cambray.
My favourite Masterchef TV show is the Australian version.  This book is from one of their judges, Gary Mehigan – one of Australia’s top chefs and restaurateurs.  In this book he covers all his favourite home-cooking recipes, but with fancy, chefy twists.  There’s wonderful photography too!
We also have the first Australian Masterchef winner Julie Goodwin’s book.  (Adam, the second series winner, is expected to publish a book in May – I’m keeping my eye out for it).

MasterChef New Zealand : the cookbook : volume one / FremantleMedia.
And of course, we have the book from the New Zealand Masterchef which screened last year.  All the contestants, and the judges, have contributed recipes and so far this book’s been quite popular.

I have to admit though, that my favourite competitive cooking show is Top Chef.  So for all those other Top Chef fans out there – you haven’t missed out!  The library has this show covered too!

Well really, how could you ever be sick of cupcakes?!  But for those looking to extend their cutesy-baking repertoire, here’s some suggestions from me.

Biscuiteers book of iced biscuits / Harriet Hastings & Sarah Moore ; photography by Katie Hammond.
Firstly, the Biscuiteers show you how to make pretty, retro (and quirky) iced biscuits.  Definitely for those wanting to improve their icing and design skills.

A zombie ate my cupcake! : 25 deliciously weird cupcake recipes / Lily Vanilli ; starring Paul Parker ; [photographer, David Munns].
The zombie treatment gives cupcakes a whole new twist!  Very weird and I only recommend for those who want to spend time shaping these humorous and detailed creations.

Marvellous mini-cakes / Ilona Chovancova ; photography by Ilona Chovancova.
My pick would be  mini-cakes – the mini-cake being a stylish, tiny, muffin-cake hybrid, and a big trend in Paris apparently.  They’re a good way to experiment with creative cake-baking without going the whole hog.

Harvest to heat : cooking with America’s best chefs, farmers, and artisans.
While most other foodies have been caught up in Annabel Langbein fever, I’ve been enjoying something a bit different.  Harvest to Heat is an American cookbook by Darryl Estrine and Kelly Kochendorfer, advocates of using sustainable, organic and local ingredients.  They have drawn together top US chefs – such as Rick Bayless, Thomas Keller and Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio – to create recipes that showcase artisanal and regional produce.  Its certainly not everyday cooking, but it is inspirational!  And the photography and styling are great – I totally recommend.

We have a few cookbooks that should please your kids this month. Two in particular you can use to craft beautiful party cakes: Decorated cupcakes and Cake characters. Another, Healthy lunchboxes for kids, will be helpful if you run out of ideas to fill your child’s lunchbox. Healthy eating is also predominant in our selection with heaps of vegetarian recipes, others with pulses, seasonal food and low GI ingredients. And whether you want to entertain friends and family at home or blow them away with exotic fare, you are spoilt for choice with this month’s Cooking Recent Picks.