Senior News--- November 2012 Column

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