I'll be honest - picking out cookbooks for the library can be difficult. Until you've cracked open the book and tried to make the recipe, you don't know if it's any good: is it easy to follow? does it require hard-to-get ingredients? does it take 3 days to make? is it edible? And since there are really only so many ways to roast a turkey or grill a steak (sorry, Bobby Flay), I tend to lean towards getting cookbooks with very particular themes - a certain ingredient, a certain ethnicity, a certain cooking technique. Two of our newest cookbooks reflect this purchasing bias of mine.
Nuts: more than 75 delicious & healthy recipes by Avner Laskin presents many tasty ways to incorporate those yummy, high-protein little gems into your meals. Goat Cheese and Nut Spread, Couscous and Walnut Salad, Peanut Bread, Almond Shrimp Soup, Chocolate Macadamia Brownies and Marzipan Rounds are some of the delicious recipes in this book (which leans a little heavily on sweets and baked goods, but I don't have a problem with that). Don't the words 'crunchy, nutty goodness' just make your mouth water?
The New Polish Cuisine by Chef Michael J. Baruch introduces hearty Eastern-European cooking to those of us who didn't grow up in the Midwest (Baruch is a sixth-generation Pole from Chicago). Featuring a lot of soups, stews and starchy dishes, this is the perfect cookbook for the cold wet fall that will soon descend upon us (if it isn't here already). Dumplings, sausages, noodles and cheese might not be the healthiest of fare but these dishes will stick to your ribs and I bet they smell wonderful.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Goodies for gardeners
For those of you eternal optimists who think there might be some summer weather still looming on the horizon, of for anyone forward-thinking enough to be planning for next summer, we have a few new items of interest.
Balcony & Container Plants from A to Z, a Compass Guide put out by Barron's, is a little pocket guide with 200 color photos that would be handy to bring along with you when you go out to purchase plants for your garden. The guide focuses on those plants which would work best in the little spaces we find to squeeze in some color on our decks, porches and windowsills. The listings separate out balcony plants from container plants, the distinction being a bit shadowy in my opinion (it seems to be based somewhat on the size of the plant, but I dunno....). The entries do tell you the eventual plant size, bloom times, water and light needs, whether it works well as a hanging plant, and if any part of it is poisonous. A helpful guide to take along when you go to the nursery, but I would hesitate to use it to plan your container garden. Try one of our other wonderful books about container gardening for your design needs.
Gardener Jerry Baker has a very popular show on PBS called Year 'Round Gardening, and we have added some of his most helpful shows to our DVD collection:
Balcony & Container Plants from A to Z, a Compass Guide put out by Barron's, is a little pocket guide with 200 color photos that would be handy to bring along with you when you go out to purchase plants for your garden. The guide focuses on those plants which would work best in the little spaces we find to squeeze in some color on our decks, porches and windowsills. The listings separate out balcony plants from container plants, the distinction being a bit shadowy in my opinion (it seems to be based somewhat on the size of the plant, but I dunno....). The entries do tell you the eventual plant size, bloom times, water and light needs, whether it works well as a hanging plant, and if any part of it is poisonous. A helpful guide to take along when you go to the nursery, but I would hesitate to use it to plan your container garden. Try one of our other wonderful books about container gardening for your design needs.
Gardener Jerry Baker has a very popular show on PBS called Year 'Round Gardening, and we have added some of his most helpful shows to our DVD collection:
- Lawns
Flowers
Roses
Vegetables
Trees, Shrubs & Evergreens
Garden Magic I and II
Jerry presents loads of helpful tips to make your garden look better and grow healthier. He also shows viewers how to cook up some great garden tonics using common household items - these recipes can be printed off your computer, as well. True gardeners love to share their little tricks and ideas, and this is a great series for gardeners.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Here's to your health
The health-care section of our DVDs has gotten a little infusion of new blood this week, as we put a wide range of popular health topics on the shelves.
CrazySexy Cancer is the accompanying film to the book of the same name (which appeared in one of the library's Ad-Lib columns in October). Actress and photographer Kris Carr was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer at the young age of 31. In the face of this diagnosis, she set off on a journey of healing, trying out different alternative medicine cures and embracing a whole-health approach to life. She shares her tips (yoga, meditation, nutrition), but most importantly she shares her head-on approach to dealing with cancer.
We also have 4 DVDs in a series of Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions: Back Pain, Arthritis, Diabetes and Menopause. These films present a nice blend of traditional and alternative medicine, along with lifestyle and nutritional advice. Each disc begins with a 30-minute explanation of the medical condition presented by a Mayo Clinic specialist, as well as an overview of treatment options. Dr. Donald Hensrud, Chair of Preventative Medicine at the Mayo Clinic then takes the viewer to the grocery store and shows you how to eat healthy. Each film then ends with a gentle 40-minute yoga session that is specifically designed for your condition. The movements are easy for beginners, and will help ease stress and relieve symptoms. These DVDs are accompanied by a 52-page booklet with lots of helpful advice about reducing stress, which often aggravates medical issues. These films are a great resource for anyone who is looking for a holistic approach to staying healthy.
CrazySexy Cancer is the accompanying film to the book of the same name (which appeared in one of the library's Ad-Lib columns in October). Actress and photographer Kris Carr was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer at the young age of 31. In the face of this diagnosis, she set off on a journey of healing, trying out different alternative medicine cures and embracing a whole-health approach to life. She shares her tips (yoga, meditation, nutrition), but most importantly she shares her head-on approach to dealing with cancer.
We also have 4 DVDs in a series of Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions: Back Pain, Arthritis, Diabetes and Menopause. These films present a nice blend of traditional and alternative medicine, along with lifestyle and nutritional advice. Each disc begins with a 30-minute explanation of the medical condition presented by a Mayo Clinic specialist, as well as an overview of treatment options. Dr. Donald Hensrud, Chair of Preventative Medicine at the Mayo Clinic then takes the viewer to the grocery store and shows you how to eat healthy. Each film then ends with a gentle 40-minute yoga session that is specifically designed for your condition. The movements are easy for beginners, and will help ease stress and relieve symptoms. These DVDs are accompanied by a 52-page booklet with lots of helpful advice about reducing stress, which often aggravates medical issues. These films are a great resource for anyone who is looking for a holistic approach to staying healthy.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Culture 101
In today's busy world, who has time to develop into a true Renaissance Man? Much like watching our cholesterol and ingesting antioxidants, we know that there are books we are supposed to read and movies we are supposed to watch. If only there was a way to pick and choose - a way to select the most interesting 'classics' to squeeze into our schedules.
Well, by golly, there is! The Rough Guide to Classic Novels: from Don Quixote to American Pastoral by Simon Mason and The Rough Guide to Film: an A-Z of directors and their movies by Richard Armstrong et al. will help you find the best books and films to liven up your dinner-table talk.
Mason presents 229 novels from 36 countries spanning four centuries of literary endeavor, and he has selected them with an eye towards their enjoyability. He groups them according to their broad theme (rites of passage, families, satire, etc.) and then alphabetically by author. Following a brief plot synopsis and literary critique, he then includes helpful items such as Recommended translation, Where to go next, and Screen adaptation. This is a really helpful book for anyone who is looking for an entertaining Great Novel, and for anyone who is trying to badger their kids into reading some college-prep materials (good luck!)
The film guide is truly an encyclopedia, which makes for difficult reading cover-to-cover. However, it begins and ends with two helpful lists that balances out the dry encyclopedic form. The first section is composed of lists based on theme and geography; under each heading the reader will find 5 Great Directors, 5 Essential Classics, and 5 Lesser-Known Gems (each with the appropriate page number for cross-reference). Africa, Cinematography, Epics, Period Drama, and War are some of the available categories to guide the film watcher. The end of the book contains an alphabetical list of films reviewed within the guide - you can find the directors, and watch more of their movies. So the next time you're hankering for a good French film, or a film with a great score, let this book be your Rough Guide.
Well, by golly, there is! The Rough Guide to Classic Novels: from Don Quixote to American Pastoral by Simon Mason and The Rough Guide to Film: an A-Z of directors and their movies by Richard Armstrong et al. will help you find the best books and films to liven up your dinner-table talk.
Mason presents 229 novels from 36 countries spanning four centuries of literary endeavor, and he has selected them with an eye towards their enjoyability. He groups them according to their broad theme (rites of passage, families, satire, etc.) and then alphabetically by author. Following a brief plot synopsis and literary critique, he then includes helpful items such as Recommended translation, Where to go next, and Screen adaptation. This is a really helpful book for anyone who is looking for an entertaining Great Novel, and for anyone who is trying to badger their kids into reading some college-prep materials (good luck!)
The film guide is truly an encyclopedia, which makes for difficult reading cover-to-cover. However, it begins and ends with two helpful lists that balances out the dry encyclopedic form. The first section is composed of lists based on theme and geography; under each heading the reader will find 5 Great Directors, 5 Essential Classics, and 5 Lesser-Known Gems (each with the appropriate page number for cross-reference). Africa, Cinematography, Epics, Period Drama, and War are some of the available categories to guide the film watcher. The end of the book contains an alphabetical list of films reviewed within the guide - you can find the directors, and watch more of their movies. So the next time you're hankering for a good French film, or a film with a great score, let this book be your Rough Guide.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Viking Maid
Well, you've seen the posters all over town (and I mean all over town) and you've read the article in the newspaper, and now it's finally here: The Viking Maid is now part of the library's DVD collection.
A documentary that looks at the current state of the Alaskan fishing industry, and the concerns of commercial fishermen about the influx of farmed salmon on the market, this film is a home-grown project. Directed, produced and narrated by Kayhi alumni Chris and Tim Currall, Viking Maid follows the daily life of a commercial seining vessel (the film's namesake) as it plys the waters of Southeast Alaska. Fishing captain Russell Cockrum, crewman Jared Cockrum, and local scientists Gary Freitag and Phil Doherty are part of the film, as well as the familiar scenery of Southeast.
This film isn't exactly unbiased reporting (and the website for the film isn't exactly objective, either), but it will receive a favorable reception from Alaskan viewers - and fishermen in general - and it's always interesting to have a snapshot of Alaskan life. If you enjoy this film, you may want to check out some of the other films we have here at the library that look at the history of fishing in Alaska.
A documentary that looks at the current state of the Alaskan fishing industry, and the concerns of commercial fishermen about the influx of farmed salmon on the market, this film is a home-grown project. Directed, produced and narrated by Kayhi alumni Chris and Tim Currall, Viking Maid follows the daily life of a commercial seining vessel (the film's namesake) as it plys the waters of Southeast Alaska. Fishing captain Russell Cockrum, crewman Jared Cockrum, and local scientists Gary Freitag and Phil Doherty are part of the film, as well as the familiar scenery of Southeast.
This film isn't exactly unbiased reporting (and the website for the film isn't exactly objective, either), but it will receive a favorable reception from Alaskan viewers - and fishermen in general - and it's always interesting to have a snapshot of Alaskan life. If you enjoy this film, you may want to check out some of the other films we have here at the library that look at the history of fishing in Alaska.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
We're all 8 years old at heart
Two of our latest books will appeal to the little kid inside you, and that gut reaction you get when you learn something cool.
The Way Toys Work: the science behind the Magic 8 Ball, Etch A Sketch, Boomerang, and more is by Ed and Woody Sobey, and it is a triumph of reverse engineering (if you'd like to know more about reverse engineering, and safe ways in which to do it, the Sobeys have kindly included a section at the beginning of the book). Basically, this book takes all the toys that you, your parents and your kids have loved and literally deconstructs them. You get to see the inner workings of potato guns, Rubik's Cubes and Nintendos; you learn the basic principles behind the workings of Slinkys, Yo-Yos and Wiffle Balls; and they show you how to make your own Silly Putty, Play-Doh and Nerf guns. If you know a bright kid who likes to experiment, or if you are a guy under the age of 80, this book is a must for you to read.
Discovery! Unearthing the new treasures of archaeology, edited by Brian M. Fagan, is a great overview of archaeology today. We all know, deep down, that the field is not as exciting or dangerous as Indiana Jones movies - but there's still something inherently cool about unearthing ancient civilizations and the bits and pieces they left behind. Covering over 50 recent discoveries, each section in this book presents beautiful photos, descriptions of the site, and some of the theories that have been shaped around these artifacts. Best of all, many of the entries were written by the actual scientists who led the projects. From Civil War submarines off the coast of the southern U.S. to the origin of humans in Africa, the story of mankind's cultural development can be traced through these archaeological finds. This is not only a fascinating read, but you don't have to be entombed with snakes ("Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?").
The Way Toys Work: the science behind the Magic 8 Ball, Etch A Sketch, Boomerang, and more is by Ed and Woody Sobey, and it is a triumph of reverse engineering (if you'd like to know more about reverse engineering, and safe ways in which to do it, the Sobeys have kindly included a section at the beginning of the book). Basically, this book takes all the toys that you, your parents and your kids have loved and literally deconstructs them. You get to see the inner workings of potato guns, Rubik's Cubes and Nintendos; you learn the basic principles behind the workings of Slinkys, Yo-Yos and Wiffle Balls; and they show you how to make your own Silly Putty, Play-Doh and Nerf guns. If you know a bright kid who likes to experiment, or if you are a guy under the age of 80, this book is a must for you to read.
Discovery! Unearthing the new treasures of archaeology, edited by Brian M. Fagan, is a great overview of archaeology today. We all know, deep down, that the field is not as exciting or dangerous as Indiana Jones movies - but there's still something inherently cool about unearthing ancient civilizations and the bits and pieces they left behind. Covering over 50 recent discoveries, each section in this book presents beautiful photos, descriptions of the site, and some of the theories that have been shaped around these artifacts. Best of all, many of the entries were written by the actual scientists who led the projects. From Civil War submarines off the coast of the southern U.S. to the origin of humans in Africa, the story of mankind's cultural development can be traced through these archaeological finds. This is not only a fascinating read, but you don't have to be entombed with snakes ("Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?").
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Books for artists
We have a few new books on the shelves that would be great resources for any with an artistic bent or an inclination towards crafting.
Print, Pattern & Colour, by Ruth Issett, covers a variety of techniques for making beautiful patterned papers and fabric: monoprinting, roller printing, screen printing, stencils, dyes, and rubbed effects. Issett also explains what types of equipment, paints and dyes are needed for these processes. She includes an entire chapter of design ideas and hints for combining techniques to produce truly unique effects. This is a great book for quilters, paper artists, and Wearable Art fanatics.
Mixed Emulsions: altered art techniques for photographic imagery is by photographer (and former child actress) Angela Cartwright. She shows readers how they can move digital photography into the realm of art with the use of traditional artistic techniques and media. Layering, imprinting, stamping, painting, embossing on a variety of substrates can transform your images into works of art. A valuable tool for both photographers and artists.
Create Jewelry Crystals: dazzling designs to make and wear is by the editors of Beadwork Magazine: Marlene Blessing and Jamie Hogsett. Although most of the designs call for the use of easily-obtainable manufactured crystals, some of the necklaces and bracelets in this book use gorgeous natural rock crystals. The designs range from Victorian romantic to modernist, and the handy color chart at the beginning of the book will be very helpful if the reader decides to alter the color palette of the designs.
Beading With Charms: beautiful jewelry, simple techniques is by Katherine Duncan Aimone, and provides a greater variety of styles than you would think, as well as a range of difficulty levels in the techniques. The beginner designs simply call for the addition of charms and beads to an existing bracelet (readers get used to working with jump rings, crimp beads and wire), while other designs call for soldering, lacquering, weaving and wire bending. Necklaces, bracelets, pins and earrings are all included here and the instructions are easy to follow. My favorite idea is the charm bracelet made of old costume-jewelry earrings (I think I recognized an old pair of my grandmother's here).
Print, Pattern & Colour, by Ruth Issett, covers a variety of techniques for making beautiful patterned papers and fabric: monoprinting, roller printing, screen printing, stencils, dyes, and rubbed effects. Issett also explains what types of equipment, paints and dyes are needed for these processes. She includes an entire chapter of design ideas and hints for combining techniques to produce truly unique effects. This is a great book for quilters, paper artists, and Wearable Art fanatics.
Mixed Emulsions: altered art techniques for photographic imagery is by photographer (and former child actress) Angela Cartwright. She shows readers how they can move digital photography into the realm of art with the use of traditional artistic techniques and media. Layering, imprinting, stamping, painting, embossing on a variety of substrates can transform your images into works of art. A valuable tool for both photographers and artists.
Create Jewelry Crystals: dazzling designs to make and wear is by the editors of Beadwork Magazine: Marlene Blessing and Jamie Hogsett. Although most of the designs call for the use of easily-obtainable manufactured crystals, some of the necklaces and bracelets in this book use gorgeous natural rock crystals. The designs range from Victorian romantic to modernist, and the handy color chart at the beginning of the book will be very helpful if the reader decides to alter the color palette of the designs.
Beading With Charms: beautiful jewelry, simple techniques is by Katherine Duncan Aimone, and provides a greater variety of styles than you would think, as well as a range of difficulty levels in the techniques. The beginner designs simply call for the addition of charms and beads to an existing bracelet (readers get used to working with jump rings, crimp beads and wire), while other designs call for soldering, lacquering, weaving and wire bending. Necklaces, bracelets, pins and earrings are all included here and the instructions are easy to follow. My favorite idea is the charm bracelet made of old costume-jewelry earrings (I think I recognized an old pair of my grandmother's here).
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