For about a year now, I have been watching the Rachael Ray show on TV. She is a TV chef who has at least one cooking segment per show, as well as famous guests and current topics. I like her because she is down to earth, funny, and cooks easy but good tasting food. Also, she doesn’t have to be a perfect cook. She laughs at herself if she accidentally burns the bread. So, anyone can relate to her style of cooking.
When my kids were little, I made every dinner from scratch. Because I had to. I made meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fresh veggies. I even made lasagna just for them from scratch. They didn’t like the ricotta cheese, so I left it out. (That made them very happy!) Now they have grown and moved away, and I don’t have the inclination to cook as much. I kind of miss those old days.
I have a confession to make. I’m addicted to cookbooks: healthy cookbooks, dessert cookbooks, celebrity cookbooks, comfort food cookbooks—doesn’t matter. I’ve browsed through them all. I love flipping through the pages looking for new ideas during TV commercials, while relaxing after work, or to fill time waiting for an appointment.
We all know that eating is instrumental to survival, but in this day and age, there are so many food choices. I remember when you could only get strawberries when they were in season. With an improved way of delivering food to the grocery stores, consumers have many more choices than in previous years. I have seen cactus for sale and fruits I’ve never heard of in our local grocery stores.
Pie makes everything better. We would have world peace if everyone sat down together and shared a slice. In Dearborn, the place to eat a bit of heaven can be found at Cook's Corner Cafe on Main Street.
Did your garden produce a lot of zucchini? Never fear! Come to the library and check-out The Zucchini Houdini by Brenda Stanley.
This cookbook is full of creative recipes to help you use and enjoy this very versatile veggie. From main dishes to soups, salads, and desserts, you’re sure to find lots of tasty zucchini recipes!
MCPL has many cookbooks for checkout. Some of my favorites are the many versions of Taste of Home like Simple and Delicious, Almost Homemade and Healthy Cooking Annual Recipes. One of the things I really like about these books is the pictures that go along with the recipes. I find a visual aid so much more appealing that just the recipe in words. It not only helps me visualize how the food will look when cooked, but entices my taste buds to want to try it.
I have been a fan of Chef Ramsay for quite a while now, and recently, I have ventured into the tasty world of fixing some of his recipes. Before, I used to just cook, while I lacked the desire to cook. Cooking did not equal fun. However, I now need to make cooking fun for my little one. So, I put the two together and thought that Ramsay might just have the answer for me; low and behold, he did!
