February 2021 Prime Picks
The
Culinary Corner
America's
Test
Kitchen
www.americastestkitchen.com
These new
titles are
top picks in the Test Kitchen series of foolproof guides for all levels
of
cook, and should be in any serious culinary collection.
Toaster oven
users
may think they already know how to work their ovens, but Toaster
Oven Perfection: A Smarter Way to Cook on a Smaller Level
(9781948703482, $26.99) provides recipes designed make the toaster oven
more than
a reheating device.
Recipes
demonstrate
how to use the toaster oven to bake small batches of cookies or muffins
or
roast smaller cuts of meat, and broil casseroles. This provides a
satisfying
array of dishes that especially excel in their smaller proportions and
usefulness in less than a large family oven.
The Complete One Pot (9781948703345,
$34.99) features over a
hundred recipes that can be produced in less than an hour and focuses
on
several key time-saving kitchen devices, from skillet to Dutch oven and
Instant
Pot, as sources for quick one-pot productions.
From toasted
meals
and cooking stages to dishes that lend to different devices, the
signature 'why
this works' forward explains the science of producing foolproof results
while
recipes such as Meatball Subs with Roasted Broccoli (for the sheet
pan), Lamb
Pita Sandwiches (for the skillet), and a skillet-roasted Chicken with
Potatoes
provides appealing dishes for the entire family.
Also notable
are
excellent-quality color photos of finished dishes and sidebars of
information
on such important subjects as poultry safety and handling, along with
introductory sections that place different cooker approaches
side-by-side, as
in a Classic Pot Roast that can be done in the Dutch Oven, Instant Pot,
or slow
cooker.
Meat Illustrated (9781947703321, $40.00) comes from the editors of Cook's Illustrated and addresses all kinds of questions on how to prepare and cook different cuts of meat.
From a basic
anatomy
lesson about various animals and retail cuts to why some recipes work
better
with particular cuts than others, this survey assures foolproof results.
Full-page
color
photos accompany recipes that hold international influences, as well,
such as a
Grilled Boneless Short Ribs with Argentine Pepper Sauce or a Russian
Beef and
Cabbage Soup.
The standard
'why
this recipe works' discussions preceding each dish offer invaluable
insights
that teach about the differences between a superior recipe versus one
that
doesn't quite work.
These are
all outstanding
productions, highly recommended for all levels of home cook.
Asian Green
Ching-He Huang
Kyle Books
9780857836342
$24.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Asian Green: Everyday Plant-Based Recipes Inspired
by the East is
especially recommended for vegans who look for plant-based dishes that
excel in
different flavors while eschewing the traditional main dish focus on
meat and
dairy.
It
emphasizes flavors
intrinsic to Asian cuisine, but creates many dishes not to be found
elsewhere,
such as a Grilled Miso Corn with Red Cabbage salad that mixes cashew
butter and
miso paste with grilled corn, then places it in a shredded red cabbage
and
cherry tomato base.
From a
stir-fried
Korean Garlic & Spinach Jap Cae noodle dish filled with
veggies, sesame
seeds, tamari, and chilli to Fragrant Minced Soy Stuffed Aubergines, an
author
creation inspired by Sichian cuisine, Asian
Green is packed with flavor and appeal, accented by color
photos, and
presented in a way that non-vegan cooks and eaters interested in robust
flavors
will also be attracted.
Coconut
& Sambal
Lara Lee
Bloomsbury
9781526603517
$35.00
www.bloomsbury.com
Coconut & Sambal: Recipes From My
Indonesian Kitchen comes from
an Indonesian and Australian chef and food writer, and pairs lovely
photos of
food and Indonesian scenery with recipes and comments that explore the
nation's
flavors.
Other
Indonesian
cookbooks on the market lack these visual embellishments or may focus
on a few
islands' cuisines, but Lee's survey probes classic dishes from the many
different regions of the Indonesian archipelago, from a spicy hot
Chilli Prawn
Satay with Rica-Rica from Sulawesi to the author's grandmother's fried
soft-boiled eggs in a spicy paste made of nuts, brown sugar and chilies.
The scope of
the
recipes, paired with the chili heat index rating and sambal match
notes, makes
for an extraordinary collection especially recommended for those who
enjoy hot,
spicy foods.
The Great
Kosher Meat
War of 1902
Scott D. Seligman
Potomac Books
9781640123588
$32.95
www.potomacbooksinc.com
The Great Kosher Meat War of 1902: Immigrant
Housewives and the Riots
That Shook New York City tells of a rebellion that initially
began as a
nonviolent event, but grew to an all-out war pitting butchers against
Jewish
women tired of being gouged by the price of kosher meat.
It's a
lively story
of how these women took control of lives that were being affected by
commercial
interests, how cartels worked to keep meat prices high for Jewish
buyers
despite government efforts, and how the women who ventured into this
arena of
defiance ultimately won their battle.
It fills in
a missing
piece of New York history and is very, very highly recommended reading
for a
wide audience, from readers concerned about New York events and
little-known
confrontations to those with an interest in either American culinary
history or
immigrant struggles.
Reviewer's Choice
The Better
Days Book
Olivia Gibbs
Schiffer Publishing
9780764360947
$19.99
www.schifferbooks.com
The Better Days Book: 52 Ways to Have Happier Days
promotes a
variety of proven solutions to depression, from getting physical
exercise in
the form of a bike ride to crafting, going out with friends, or wishing
happiness to another person.
While some
of the
group activity solutions won't be applicable until Covid is reduced,
many, from
brewing tea to cozying up a personal space with candles and new
decorations,
are fine approaches to improving even a newly solitary life.
The approach
and décor
of this book makes it especially appealing to pre-teen and teen
readers, who
will find the bright, colorful pages and very simple keys to living
better are
inviting and perhaps approaches to life that they might not have
thought about.
The Book of
Forms: A
Handbook of Poetics
Lewis Turco
University of New
Mexico Press
9780826361882
$29.95
www.unmpress.com
The Book of Forms: A Handbook of Poetics
appears in a fifth updated
edition to provide poets with a practical reference to poetic forms of
all
kinds.
More than
just a
listing of poetic structures and terms, however, The
Book of Forms acts as an invitation for poets to explore
different forms they may not be familiar with, pairing a lively
discussion with
examples packed with poems that are lively and revealing.
Readers can
choose The Book of Forms as either
a fine
gathering of contrasting poetic works, or a series of terminology
discussions,
definitions, and application examples that foster possibilities for new
opportunities in poetry writing.
Framing
First Contact
Kate Elliott
University of
Oklahoma Press
9780806167114
$39.95
www.oupress.com
Framing First Contact From Catlin to Russell
features a rare set of
first contact images that document the initial meetings of European
explorers
and Native Americans. It explores the artistic, sociological, and
historical
meaning of these images and how they are depicted.
Chapters
review the
choices made during these representations and discuss works from the
1840s
through modern times. They include a variety of paintings and artistic
renditions that illustrate underlying prejudices and perceptions.
Readers thus
gain not
only a powerful historical examination, but a visual depiction of
history that
holds insights into the interpretive and representation process itself.
These
choices,
blended with the artistic analysis, making Framing
First Contact From Catlin to Russell an exceptional study
that offers many
unique insights. It's a highly recommended pick for arts, sociology,
and Native
American history holdings alike.
Island
Zombie:
Iceland Writings
Roni Horn
Princeton University
Press
9780691208145
$35.00
www.press.princeton.edu
Island Zombie: Iceland Writings comes
from an artist who first
visited Iceland in 1975 at age 19, finding in its rugged landscapes and
beauty
an attraction that influenced her creative writing and art.
Island Zombie gathers writings about the
island, its culture, and
others who were influenced by its beauty. This juxtaposition of styles
results
in a special blend of literary and artistic reflection that imparts a
rare 'you
are here' feel to the Iceland experience, even for those who may have
never visited
the country.
The expanses
and open
starkness of the country are captured as Roni Horn traverses it: "I never found out where I was going.
When darkness fell, the rain came too. I kept moving though, looking
for a
sheltered place in the landscape. But there was nothing. A vast flat
plain: no
landmark, not even a hill or an outcropping, no vegetation, no
variation; just
the unpausing horizon: black below and darkening quickly above."
Her poetic
descriptions of Iceland's darkening skies and jagged beauty is highly
recommended reading for anyone who ever envisioned traversing that
country's
byways, as well as those who have made the journey and want a reminder
of its
landscapes and feel.
Sometimes
You Have to
Lie
Leslie Brody
Seal Press
9781580057691
$30.00
www.sealpress.com
Anyone who
enjoyed
feisty female investigators in their mid-1960s middle grade reading
years likely
well knows the classic Harriet the Spy,
but few will likely know of the life of author Louise Fitzhugh, who
created the
endearing Harriet character.
This
biography of a
lesbian who wrote novels for children provides a powerful survey of
Fitzhugh's
influences, perspectives, and achievements, and how she created a story
about
an 11-year-old spy who operates outside the norms of her peers.
From other
works
about child gangs and changing peer friendships to Fitzhugh's ability
to
capture the concerns of her times in stories for children, the extent
of her
life and works, as well as the evolution of Harriet
the Spy from its initial proposal to Harper Publishers to its
final
incarnation, is engagingly revealed, as is gay life during Fitzhugh's
era.
Readers of
Harriet
who want in-depth insights about her author's life and times will find Sometimes You Have to Lie a powerful
inspection of not just one woman's life and literary trajectory, but
the
changing social norms of her era.
Young Adult/Children
Mr. Penguin:
The
Catastrophic Cruise
Alex T. Smith
Peachtree
9781682632139
$16.99
www.peachtree-online.com
Mr. Penguin: The Catastrophic Cruise
reaches ages 8-12 with a
lively adventure that returns Mr. Penguin and his spider pal Colin to
the
limelight in the third book of the series.
Here, Mr.
Penguin is
taking a luxury cruise with Colin, who will be performing with the
Ladies
Choir. The cruise seems just the ticket for much-needed relaxation, but
when a
mystery and a stowaway evolve, Mr. Penguin instead finds his flippers,
once
again, full of trouble.
The blend of
humor,
mystery, and lovely drawings by Alex T. Smith creates a compelling read
which
holds much more text than a graphic novel, but many of the visually
appealing
elements that will draw even reluctant readers to this story.
Penguin
www.penguin.com/kids
Picture book
leisure
readers will appreciate the treats of these new publications from
Penguin
Publishers.
Marilyn
Nelson's Lubaya's Quiet Roar
(9780525555551,
$17.99) features lovely paintings by Philemona Williamson and tells of
a girl
who loves to be alone, listening and daydreaming rather than
interacting with
others.
When news
from the
outside world enters her family's home, they choose to participate in a
demonstration. Here, Lubaya finds that her unique talents actually lend
to
visual creations that support a message she is too shy to deliver in
other
ways.
The strength
of her
efforts makes an important case for using one's talents to communicate
in
different ways.
Oliver
Jeffers
provides an inspiring survey in What
We'll Build: Plans for Our Together Future (9780593206751,
$19.99).
As a father
and
daughter build plans for putting together and taking apart
opportunities, they construct
a new life together using special tools to create a home and foster
love.
A simple
dialogue
("What shall we build, you and
I?") invites young readers and read-aloud parents to consider
the many
ways love and shared experience can be fostered, teaching tolerance
along the
way ("You don't always lose,/and you
don't always win./So we'll build a gate to let them in.").
Jane Yolen
and Heidi
E. Y. Stemple's I Am the Storm
(9780593222751, $17.99) features lovely art by Kristen and Kevin
Howdeshell and
comes from a mother and daughter who share stories of different
experiences
during storms.
As young
readers learn
about various storm survivors and their cooperative efforts, they
receive
lessons on not just physical endurance, but psychological paths towards
building better relationships, connections, and helpfulness.
These are
outstanding
books that young picture book readers will find appealing.
Sleeping
Bear Press
www.sleepingbearpress.com
Chick Webb
became
known as the 'King of Drums' in the 1930s swing jazz era, offering
exuberant
embellishments at the Savoy Club that sparked discussions around the
country.
Stompin' at the Savory: How Chick Webb Became the
King of Drums by
Moira Rose Donohue (9781534110977, $16.99) reaches picture book readers
ages
6-10 with a lively 32-page biography of Webb's early years and
influences,
including a solid introduction to black musicians of his times, his
legacy, and
how he formed his own influential swing band.
Laura
Freeman's
colorful drawings accent this survey, which is especially recommended
for
picture book collections looking for appealing, different
African-American
biographical sketches about achievement.
Julia
Richardson's Little Dandelion Seeds the World
(9781534110533, $16.99) reaches ages 4-8 with its lyrical story of the
dandelion's presence around the world.
Dandelions
grow on
every continent. This botanical observation includes scientific facts
about
them, geographical notes, and a very easily-read, appealing text that
follows
dandelion seeds on their journeys and encounters with other creatures
around
the world.
Both are
appealing, unique
recommendations for picture book collections.
Spring Stinks
Ryan T. Higgins
Disney
9781368060912
$9.99
www.disneybooks.com
Spring Stinks tells of springtime in
Soggy Hollow, which delights
all the animals except for grumpy Bruce, who has nothing good to say
about the
season.
As other
animals
cajole him to be cheerful, Bruce resists all efforts at seeing anything
good,
until he gets into enough trouble that even his best friend can see
that Spring
might, indeed, smell just a little.
The whimsical, funny story about attitude and discovery creates a tale that is appealingly fun and different, suitable for either read-aloud or use as an easy reader for the young.