Tag: cooking

Christmas table sorted

Xinxin

Read these popular recipes and save time preparing for the big Christmas cooking marathon. From traditional Christmas food to Instagrammable cake decorations, this selection of delicious recipes will take your stomach on a joy ride!

The Christmas table
“The Christmas table: festive menus & table crafts to celebrate the season in style. Planning the Christmas Day feast is an enjoyable thing to do each year for either a small or a large gathering of friends and family. This book showcases ways of organising the perfect menu, with  many fabulous recipes to choose from. Also, there are beautiful but simple suggestions for decorating the Christmas table with both modern and traditional themes.” (Catalogue)

Christmas express : quick, delicious & easy recipes for the festive season
“Preparing food for Christmas can often mean days of labour-intensive cooking. If you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is opening presents, then this book is for you. Using clever tricks and quality shortcuts, we show you how to create your favourite festive foods and flavours in a fraction of the time. It is all about spectacular food with minimum fuss. Enjoy over 100 illustrated recipes in this books.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Celebrating Christmas
“Over 100 new recipes to show off on Christmas Day and over the holidays make this a standout book to have and use for years to come or to give as a gift to a loved one. The fabulous recipes and ideas are right up to date and will guide the reader through the Christmas festive season. The book is themed by celebration opportunity- Christmas Eve Brunch Family Lunch Christmas Night Boxing Day There’s everything in this book that a home cook needs to know about the festive season.” (Catalogue)

Fill the tins : easy baking for home / Gray, Sophie
“This substantial, beautiful baking book gives you all the recipes and tips you need for successful home baking. Sophie Gray is an expert home baker with lots of helpful hints as well as a thorough and exciting range of recipes for every baking occasion. Including cakes and cupcakes; slices and tray bakes; bready things; pies and pastry; Christmas recipes; lunchbox stuff and more. Full of classic recipes plus fresh new tastes, this is the ONE baking book everyone needs to own.” (Adapted from Syndetic Summary)

Christmas basics : simple easy to follow recipes for the festive season
“This book is written by Pamela Clark, food write associated with Australian Women’s Weekly for 5o years. A lot of cooks come up with wondrous feasts at Christmas gatherings. This cookbook will teach you all the tricks for producing just about every recipe you’ve ever dreamed of that’s suitable for the holiday season. Included are tips, hints, accompaniments, time lines with photos to guide you through the many fabulous recipes.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Christmas with Kim-Joy : a festive collection of edible cuteness / Kim-Joy
“Kim-Joy’s baked creation was in the final of the Great British Bake Off 2018, and Baking with Kim-Joy was her bestselling debut book. Sharing her simple decorating techniques and delicious flavour, Kim-Joy will delight novice and seasoned bakers with her melted snowman cake pops, white chocolate igloos with marshmallow seals, penguin bao buns and incredible inspiration for designing your own magical gingerbread village.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids / Strand, Jessica
“Holiday Crafting & Baking with Kids will bring the whole family together for some good holiday fun. It’s for every occasion: Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s, and Boxing Day! Step-by-step instructions, helpful templates, and color photos make it a cinch for little ones to follow along. Best of all, the materials and ingredients are inexpensive, easy to find, and even easier to turn into amazing gifts and decorations.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

 

Lemonade stands and other things to make and sell

Xinxin

Whether you have a talent to show, baking to share, or just need fill up your kids’ school holidays, these books will help your crafts and produce go further, and even make a profit!

More sewing to sell : take your handmade business to the next level : 16 new projects to make & sell! / Lindsay, Virginia Keleher
“Take your handmade business to a truly professional level with practical advice from industry experts! Best-selling author Virginia Lindsay teaches you how to sell your handmade items for a real profit. This hands-on guide to the sewing business, including sixteen new sewing patterns, all copyright- and royalty-free, ready to customise for craft fairs or online shops. Make the most of your fabric, time, and resources when selling handmade totes, aprons, quilts, and more!” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Traybakes : 40 brilliant one-tin bakes for enjoying, selling and giving / Miles, Hannah
“Traybakes are one of the simplest forms of cakes and are always popular. The joy of a traybake is that it can be prepared in very little time and cut into easy and regular shaped slices or squares to serve or sell – and of course to eat! They transport easily in their tin and are just right for offering up at a bake sale. Every recipe fits the same standard tin size, so there is no hunting for specially sized equipment, and they each make 24 slices. Chocolate brownies and blondies, lemon meringue, red velvet and more.” (Catalogue)

The lemonade stand cookbook : step-by-step recipes and crafts for kids to make–and sell! / Strahs, Kathy
“Kids have been running lemonade stands for decades, whether to raise money for a new bike, for a charitable cause, or simply to conquer boredom. Inspired by dozens of kid experts from all over the country, the author has poured her expertise as a food writer, entrepreneur, and mother into the ultimate guide to setting up your own lemonade stand. Find delicious drinks, such as Classic Lemonade and Cold-Brew Iced Tea, sweet treats such as Polka Dot Blondies and Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallows, grab-and-go snacks such as Owen’s Cheddar Chompers and Sunflower Crunch Balls. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Sustainable market farming : intensive vegetable production on a few acres / Dawling, Pam
“Sustainable Market Farming is a comprehensive manual for farmers raising organic crops sustainably on a few acres. Targeted at serious growers, this practical book provides profiles of a full range of crops, information about new, efficient techniques and farm-specific business skills to help ensure a successful, profitable enterprise.” (Catalogue)

 

How to show & sell your crafts : how to build your craft business at home, online, and in the marketplace / Jayne, Torie
“For crafters who want to take their craft to a new entrepreneurial level, this book is the perfect guide. Using highly-visual, step-by-step tutorials, How to Show & Sell Your Crafts is packed with helpful branding, selling, and merchandising tips that no serious crafter should be without. Using the workspaces, shops, salons, and “through-the-keyhole” profiles of some of the world’s most successful crafters, readers will learn the best ways to merchandise and sell their items online, at craft fairs, markets, pop-up events, exhibitions, and in shops. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Paper Christmas : 16 papercrafting projects for the festive season / Dawe, Emily
“Emily Dawe shows you how to create and style your Christmas in paper, from greetings cards and gorgeous gift tags to beautiful bunting and seasonal snowflake table runners. Use wrapping paper, origami paper or card with a hint of glitter and a spark of inspiration to make your Christmas extra special.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

 

Gardening for Profit / Collyns, Kate
“More and more of us are discovering the rewards of growing our own food. But what about producing enough to sell, or even trying to make a living in this way? This book is for anyone who is interested in selling some produce for profit – whether just surplus from a vegetable garden or wholesale from a fully developed professional business. It has everything including: finding land; winning customers and marketing your produce; working out what equipment you’ll need (and how much to budget for); sourcing funding; and deciding which crops to grow.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

The big book of kombucha : brewing, flavoring, and enjoying the health benefits of fermented tea / Crum, Hannah
“Presents instructions for brewing and preparing the fermented tea known as kombucha, discussing its long history and health benefits, with recipes for smoothies, cocktails, sauces, salads, and puddings.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Creative calligraphy made easy : a beginner’s guide to crafting stylish cards, event decor and gifts / Lim, Karla
“Add a special touch to your next event with an elegant handwritten menu and place cards. Renowned calligraphy designer and instructor Karla Lim breaks down the complex craft into simple steps so you can get amazing professional results in your cards and gifts, while also enjoying this meditative process.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

 

Modern terrarium studio / George, Megan
“Clean lines and bold color: these aren’t your average terrariums. Author Megan George presents 25 easy-to-make terrariums and living landscapes that push the boundaries of traditional terrarium design.  An overview of the author’s favorite popular plants, including tillandsias, cacti, succulents, tropical plants and mosses.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

 

Live well, spend less – a booklist

Xinxin

Make every dollar work for you while also enjoying your food, home, and giving great gifts. Have a browse of the books below for tasty recipes that use everyday ingredients, decorating ideas to make your home yours in a rental, tips for growing food in the backyard, and living life well while also saving money.

Interested in one of these titles but it’s not at a branch near you? You can have books delivered to a branch near you, by clicking on the ‘Place Reserve’ button.

Here are also some useful and free resources:


Live well, spend less : easy ways to save money in every part of your life / Gray, Sophie
“This simple, practical and definitely not boring book on living well while spending less will appeal to families but also to students, flatters and fixed income households. It incorporates tips, suggestions and strategies  with a light-hearted, easy-to-apply and, honest approach. Covering all aspects of life, there are suggestions for making money as well using less of it.  Topics include: food, energy, cleaning, cars, outdoors; family life, kids and money, leisure, celebrations, looking sharp and presents.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

5 ingredients : quick & easy food / Oliver, Jamie
“Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated – that’s why Jamie’s Quick & Easy 5-Ingredient Food is sure to become your new best friend in the kitchen. It’s all about making the journey to good food, super-simple. Every recipe uses just five key ingredients, ensuring you can get a plate of food together fast, whether it’s finished and on the table super-quickly, or after minimal hands-on prep, you’ve let the oven do the hard work for you. We’re talking quality over quantity, a little diligence on the cooking front, and in return massive flavour. Each recipe has been tried and tested (and tested again!) to ensure the book is packed with no-fuss, budget-friendly dishes that you can rustle up, any day of the week.” (Catalogue)

Home sweet rented home : transform your home without losing your deposit / Grillo, Medina
“Stylish living in a rented space. You’ve got the keys from your landlord, moved into your new home, and the boxes are unpacked. Now you want to put your stamp on the place, but how do you do this when you can’t redecorate or renovate? Here, interiors blogger Medina Grillo shares her favourite tips, tricks and DIY projects for transforming a rented space. Learn how to create a gallery wall without damaging the paintwork, add a splash of colour with home accessories, update and improve fixtures and fittings — and make your rented house feel like home.” (Catalogue)

Easy on the pocket, easy to prepare : inexpensive family meals / Holst, Simon
“Who said eating needs to be complicated or costly? In Easy on the pocket, Easy to prepare, Simon Holst shows that doing both is within the reach of cooks of any ability.” (Catalogue)

Edible DIY / Baker, Lucy
“Based on the popular Serious Eats column by the same name, Edible DIY includes 75 easy recipes in five chapters: Crunchy, Boozy, Sweet, Spicy, and Jars. With plenty of packaging tips throughout, Edible DIY is the perfect solution for making inexpensive edible gifts in your own kitchen with everything from Chocolate-Peppermint Marshmallows and Coconut Granola to Homemade Sriracha and Espresso Barbeque Sauce. Illustrated with inspirational full-color photography throughout.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Grow all you can eat in 3 square feet
“Want to grow your own vegetables and food, but don’t have enough space for a garden? Don’t let lack of space get in the way of growing healthy, organic foods at home. Apartment dwellers, schoolteachers, and anyone else who wants to grow a lot of food in a little space will find a great small garden resource in Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet. Small-space gardeners, find your start in Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet, packed with information on window boxes, potted plants, patio gardening, raised beds, small square-foot gardening, container gardening, and everything else related to growing your own small garden. Whether you want to grow a full garden, grow tomatoes, grow an herb garden, or just pick up great tips for small gardens, Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet is the resource you need.” (Catalogue)

Budget bytes : over 100 easy, delicious recipes to slash your grocery bill in half / Moncel, Beth
“The debut cookbook from the Internet expert on making eating cheap dependably delicious. As a college grad during the recent great recession, Beth Moncel found herself, like so many others, broke. Unwilling to sacrifice eating healthy and well-armed with a degree in nutritional science, Beth began tracking her costs with obsessive precision, and soon cut her grocery bill in half. Eager to share her tips and recipes, she launched her blog, Budget Bytes. Soon the blog received millions of readers clamoring for more.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

The budget-wise gardener : with hundreds of money-saving buying & design tips for planting the best for less / Mendez, Kerry Ann
“The Budget-Wise Gardener is here with the inside scoop on nailing the best deals and having it all. Author and “plantaholic” Kerry Ann Mendez is a resourceful garden pro who knows where the bargains are hiding. In these tip-filled pages you will learn: How to select plants that pay for their keep and keep on giving; How to navigate catalogs and garden centers to your benefit; How to time your purchases to take advantage of deep discounts and giveaways; How to find treasures at plant, bulb, and seed swaps; and much more.” (Catalogue)

Op shop chic / Lyons, Rosie
“Op shops are treasure troves of the beautiful and unique. In Op Shop Chic, Rosie Lyons shows you how to recycle your pre-loved finds into sylish and original objects to brighten up your home, garden and wardrobe.” — Back cover.” (Catalogue)

A girl called Jack : 100 delicious budget recipes / Monroe, Jack
“In her first cookbook, Jack shows you how to adapt the way you shop to be less wasteful, and to value the techniques of inexpensive but good cooking. Her recipes are reassuring and just the thing to make confident, budget-conscious cooks of us all, suggesting great alternative ingredients and different approaches to getting a good result – this is real food for real people.” (Catalogue)

Low-cost living / Harrison, John
“This book offers practical ways to save money and energy and make better uses of your resources. When economic conditions are tough, we all need to watch our spending. John Harrison’s simple, tried and tested methods will help you to enjoy a better standard of living while saving money and helping the environment. Discover the benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables, raising chickens, making butter, cheese and bread, and brewing your own beer. Save energy, save on your bills. Harvest food for free and avoid waste.” (Catalogue)