For some time now I have been
writing a monthly book review column for the Senior News
newspaper. The Senior News is aimed to the 50 and over crowd with
news relevant to seniors regarding various issues, humor pieces, and my review
column among other things. The newspaper is a giveaway at doctor offices,
stores, etc. and can be received by via a paid subscription. There are multiple
editions across the state of Texas and therefore there is some fluctuation in
content in each edition.
My column every month focuses on
books of interest to the Texas audience. Therefore books selected for the
column, fiction or non-fiction, are written by Texas residents, feature Texans
in some way, or would have some other connection to the Texas based readership.
At least two books are covered each month in the short space I am given.
Below is/was my November 2012 column
with the addition here of the relevant book covers……
The Book Of Burger
Rachel
Ray
Atria
Paperback (Simon & Schuster)
ISBN#
978-1-4516-5969-6
Paperback
(also available as e-book)
324
Pages
If you are looking for some variety with your
burgers, Rachel Ray has the book for you.
While there are recipes for outside grilling, Rachel Ray thinks of
burgers as a year around deal. The Book Of Burger isn’t just about
burgers, despite the title.
The book covers burgers of all types as well as subs
and other sandwiches. There is also a section on “Sides and Sauces” with
various fries and tater tots, various potato salads, and ones for onion rings,
devil eggs, and pickles as well as ketchups, dips, and gravies.
The
Book Of Burger goes far beyond the title resulting in
an interesting cookbook that features variety. You can use this book to make
things as simple or as complicated as possible. A definite drawback is the complete lack of
nutritional information in the book.
Cowgirl Chef: Texas Cooking with a French Accent
Ellise
Pierce
Running
Press Books
ISBN
#978-0-7624-4463-2
Hardback
(also available as e-book)
336
Pages
Cooking has always been a part of Ellise Pierce’s
life whether it was living back home in Denton, Texas or half a world away in
Paris, France. With a relationship under stress and her freelance writing
career tanked, she slowly found herself again by cooking. Gradually she built a
cooking career by teaching home cooking for other ex-pats living in Paris. This
and much more is explained in the introduction to Cowgirl Chef: Texas Cooking with
a French Accent.
Along with plenty of cultural information and interesting
facts such as the fact that jalapenos are not available in Paris, there are
recipes. Recipes that blend French cuisine with her Texas heritage. The detailed recipes are accompanied by
pictures and information regarding Paris or France in general providing local
color to the recipe being discussed.
Despite the lack of nutritional information in the
book, overall this is a very well done cookbook. In addition to the cooking
side of things, the over 300 pages cookbook also provides a lot of culture and
history information about Paris, France as well as the joys and sorrows of
Americans living abroad. Cowgirl Chef: Texas Cooking with a French
Accent is more than a cookbook. It is also a cultural awareness guide
and inspirational regarding reinventing yourself and adapting to new situations
and experiences.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2012
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