Just Life| Soup Galore

It has been so cold and gloomy these past several days. All I am craving is a hearty pot of soup.

Unfortunately, I am not very good at making one. The only decent soup that I can make is barley soup. But I am not in the mood for barley soup. This cold weather calls for a hearty soup and I don't know how to make one.

I wish my mom was here now, but she is 1000's of miles away.

I think I should stop the self pity though!

For heaven' sake, I work in a library. Thousands of wonderful soup recipes are just a few shelves away.

So I am getting myself some cookbooks and I am gonna learn how to make some delicious soups.

You never know, maybe, I would surprise my mom with a hearty soup when she comes to visit this February. Just wish me luck.

Here are a few books that I am gonna check out:

• Soup of the day : 150 delicious and comforting recipes from our favorite restaurants 

• No taste like home : a celebration of regional Southern cooking and hometown flavor 

• Soup & stew

Signing off until next Monday- Panteha

Just Life| Just Like a Kid in a Candy Store

For me, working in a library is like being a kid in a candy store.

Every time I process our new books at the Troke Library. I come face to face with delicious pages like these:

So, this week, while processing new books, I came across these brand new cook books that I want to share with you.


The first book that I almost bit into was: Baking Chez Moi by Dorie Greenspan.

From the second book, Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food , I almost ate the following pages:

Now you have it, books are delicious and cookbooks are the most delicious of all, specially around Christmas time.

Signing off until next Monday- Panteha

Just Life | Let's Make Something Delicious

Did you know that your local library has countless cookbooks? So, what do you want to cook this week?

Are you in the mood for Chinese food? We have Chinese cookbooks in the library:

• Enjoy Chinese cuisine 
• Mastering the art of Chinese cooking Noodles

How about something French?  Oui Oui!!

• Barefoot In Paris
• The little Paris kitchen : 120 simple but classic French recipes           
• The French market cook : vegetarian recipes from my Parisian kitchen

Let's not forget some Italian food for weekend. 

• Fabio's Italian kitchen
• Molto gusto : easy Italian cooking at home 

Here are a few cookbooks for all the little chefs out there:

• Eat your math homework : recipes for hungry minds  

• The Disney princess cookbook  

So, instead of spending $25 on a cookbook, come to the library and checkout 25 cookbooks for free.

Happy cooking.

Signing off until next Monday- Panteha

 

The Reader Digests | Fried Chicken and Waffles

One of my favorite things about traveling is discovering new places to eat.  About a month ago, I went to Phoenix and was looking for something close by the ASU Downtown campus.  Lo and behold, Lo-lo's Chicken and Waffles was just down the road. Now, I had never tried this fried sweet and salty combo before, but I'll try pretty much any food once - no food discrimination here.  My friends thought it sounded gross.  Really, what's odd about it?  We eat chicken fried steak for breakfast, we dip bacon in maple syrup, we pair fruit and meat all the time, and we coat pretzels with chocolate. So, what's so weird about fried chicken and waffles?  Nothing! It's delicious!  We all loved it!

Lo-lo's....yummmmm

Where did this scrumptious creation come from?  Who was the genius who put this together for the very first time? Well, according to The History Kitchen, the first chicken-waffle mixers were the Pennsylvania Dutch.  However, the first FRIED chicken and waffles were served up at the Wells Supper Club in Harlem, New York around 1938. And the fried part is key, in my opinion.  Ann and John Wells served up the delicious combo to late night diners such as Sammy Davis Jr., and Nat King Cole.  The meal was perfect for binner, dreakfast, supfast, or brupper - the meal between dinner/supper and breakfast. I have no idea if any of those are real terms, but if someone takes them, I said it first!

The book was adapted to film - twice!

The Wells Supper Club closed down after a 40-year run, but you can still find plenty of chicken and waffle restaurants all over the United States. Some of the closest to SSCJPL are Gussie's Chicken and Waffles (SF), Home of Chicken and Waffles (Oakland), and Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles (LA Area).  

And, you can even find Chicken and Waffles in the library!  Pick up a copy of Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain, a 1941 book about (among other things) a single mother during the Great Depression who successfully opens up chicken and waffle restaurants in the LA area. Or, pick up a couple cookbooks about fried chicken and waffles and make some of your own! 

The Reader Digests | Blogging, Take Three!

Alrighty, I'm not going to beat around the bush here.  It has been a long time since I have blogged.  I actually forgot how to log on to our blogging site.  That is how much time it has been!  

So let's review my blogging fails...

First, I tried the Short Attention Span Challenge and I couldn't keep it up. It was too, well, challenging.  But truthfully, it's because I went back to school (after this post) and I just couldn't do all those projects combined with working full-time, parenting my kids, and grad school every week. 

Then, I tried Miss Moneypennypincher's money-saving blog.  Here's the deal, I ran out of money-saving ideas.  I guess if I was Suze Orman or Dave Ramsey, I would have more than a blog at ssjcpl.com (not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you!).

If you won't, then I will!

Now (and hopefully forever-ish), I am undertaking a whole new blog!  And here is the premise:

Do I eat food? Yes.

Do I like food? Yes.

Can I talk endlessly about food? Yes!

Sounds like an obvious "blogging win" to me!

My new blog is The Reader Digests! Yum!!!

Every  Friday at 2 p.m. 

4 Kids | Eating Stuff

My esteemed colleague, Panteha, recently shared a popular Persian recipe -- green beans and rice. Sounds delicious and I can't wait to try it.

But it might be a while before I do any serious cooking again.

You see, I had a birthday brunch last week for my niece. Thank goodness my other niece helped me. It was a lot of work. Actually, the cooking wasn't so bad. The cleaning the house before was a lot of work. The cooking was quite a bit of fun.

So you know what brunch is, right? The dictionary tells us that it is a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch. (See how great it is to work at a library and have quick access to a dictionary whenever you want to look up the meaning of a word?!)

If you're in the mood to do some cooking, I say go for it! Visit your local library and check out the children's cookbooks. Helpful hint: look for the 641's and you'll find a ton of great cookbooks.

One I like a lot is Indoor S'mores: And Other Tasty Treats for Special Occasions by Nick Fauchald. There are quite a few good (and easy) recipes in this one, plus I just love the title: s'mores. In fact, I am going to go camping so I can build a campfire and then eat smores. What's not to love about marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers!?!

Did you know the Library also has lots of cookbooks by celebrity chefs? It's true! Rachael Ray even has a cookbook for kids called Yum-O!: The Family Cookbook. Rachael's recipes are pretty easy, don't take a lot of time, and are always, always yummy. And this book -- for the whole family -- features a lot of healthier recipes. And we all want to be healthy, right?

As with any books I mention here, be sure to ask library staff to help you place a request if you don't find the book you want at the library branch near you. It's really super-easy to get a book from another library branch!

Oh, back to the brunch we had last week. I'm sorry I didn't take any beautiful pictures of the food. I am afraid I was a little busy eating. Our menu? Glad you asked: 

• Pancakes -- plain and chocolate chip (with butter, syrup, and whipped cream)
• Quiches -- super easy made with crescent roll dough, and filled with cheese, zucchini, bacon, and onions
• Fruit parfaits -- blueberries, vanilla yogurt and strawberries, in that order, in honor of 4th of July
• Biscuits and gravy
• Bacon and sausage
• Juice and coffee

Let me tell you. We were all stuffed. Fun times. It's always fun to spend time with your family. I highly recommend it.

So, as always, happy reading. And a belated birthday shout out to P and P! 

4 Kids | Happy Birthday, America

We're getting closer to Independence Day, and all the wonderful events that celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

I have to admit I love this holiday. I love the patriotic wave that washes over all of us lucky to call the United States of America our home. When I visited the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., I was fortunate to see the original Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired Frances Scott Key to write the song that would become our national anthem. Words just can't describe the feeling you get when you stand mere feet from this amazing symbol of our great nation. If you want to learn more about this display at the Smithsonian, click here.

So in addition to the fireworks, barbecues and other fun activities we'll all partake in this Thursday, how about some great books that celebrate America?

So You Want To Be President by Judith St. George: This is a fun book filled with tons of trivia about our nation's presidents. Did you know that eight of our nation's presidents were born in log cabins? Did you know that William Howard Taft was the biggest president weighing more than 300 pounds? He even had to have a special bathtub built for the White House! And what about the pets that have lived in the White House? Of course there have been lots of cats and dogs, but did you know Benjamin Harrison had a goat and the Coolidges had a pet raccoon? Lots more to learn in this fun book! 

Back a few years ago I got to go on a ferry cruise tour of the Statue of Liberty. To be so close to this symbol of freedom and democracy really took my breath away. Maybe that's why I like Doreen Rappaport's Lady Liberty: A Biography so much. It's a beautiful tribute to the many people who played a role in the constructing of Lady Liberty, and recalls the sentiments of many immigrants who have laid eyes on her as they sailed into New York Harbor. 

Finally, because I'm always thinking about food, I have to mention U.S. History Cookbook: Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events From the Past by Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond. This book is a culinary journey through our country's history -- from cornmeal blueberry mush (believed by historians to be part of the first Thanksgiving) to noodle kugel (popular among the many Jewish people who immigrated to the United States from Europe) to baked macaroni and cheese (popular during the Depression because it was tasty and inexpensive). Check it out and start cooking!

Visit any SSJCPL branch library and check out these books! And in the meantime, have a safe and wonderful 4th of July!

Book Bucket List | Reading is Sooo Delicious!

This last Saturday marked the beginning of the 2013 Summer Reading Program! Have you signed up yet?  The library branches will be featuring a number of food related programs through July 31.  You might want to check out:

•  Summer Reading Kick Off at the Troke Library Thursday June 6 at 6:00 p.m.
• SSJCPL Cooks will be at the Manteca Branch Library on June 11 at 2:00 p.m, at the Maya Angelou library on June 18 at 5:00 p.m, and at the Ripon Branch Library on June 20 at 2:00 p.m.
• Pasta Making Workshop at the Tracy Branch Library on June 11 at 4:00 p.m.
• Cake Decorating Demonstration at the Tracy Branch Library on June 25 at 4:00 p.m.

Here at the Manteca Branch Library, we just got in some pretty delicious looking cookbooks.  So in honor of Summer Reading, I'll feature a few of them today.

Eat St. Recipes from the Tastiest, Messiest, and Most Irresistible Food Trucks by James Cunningham features two of my favorite things: food trucks and easy recipes.  The recipes in this book are from food trucks all around the country like Le Truc and Roli Roti from San Francisco and Skillet Street Food from Seattle.  This book has recipes from Maple-Bacon Cupcakes to Kimchi Quesadillas and everything in between.

Curtis Stone, host of Top Chef Masters, has a new cookbook out too.  Curtis Stone's What's for Dinner? features a lot of meals that look like they took a lot of time, but are pretty realistic for the average home

cook.  The wine-braised short ribs and spiced apple pie look particularly appetizing.

Sandra Lee's Every Dish Delivers features a whole year of recipes.  What I like about Sandra Lee is that her recipes feature ingredients that you can easily find at your local supermarket.  She has recipes for New York Grilled Strip, Breakfast for Dinner Cakes, and even Fortune Cookies.

The Wanderlust Librarian | Off The Grid and in my belly

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted about food trucks? I've come back to report on Off the Grid. This is the weekly food truck gathering at Fort Mason. My friend and I got there early so we could scope out what was available. It's always nice to do a lap before committing to a location (if you can name the movie, I will squeal with glee!). While there were at least a dozen or more food trucks, there were an equal amount of food stalls. Some of the gems we saw were: a popsicle stand that sold some fun and unusual flavors, horchata kettle corn,       and made to order dumplings.

The night was made sweeter by a non-food truck...the AT&T truck. There were charging stations for telephones and a huge television that showed the San Francisco Giants game. Food AND a ball game for mere duckets? Bonus!

My friend, Lizzie, and I  were dismayed that a majority of the trucks there did "Asian Fusion". To be frank, it's taking Asian food and putting it into a burrito or a taco. Korean food? In a taco with kim-chee. Indian food? Tikka masala in a burrito. Want to make it nachos? Put it on top of french fries. I admit.... the french fry idea makes life worthwhile. I love carbs.

Unbeknownst to me until the night we were there, the huge truck gathering at Fort Mason only goes on until mid-October. Not to worry, there are still smaller pods that meet weekly at places around the City! When the weather gets better next year, check the Off the Grid site to visit the huge food pod!

Useful tips:

• Come early to get some free parking outside of Fort Mason. (To their credit, the parking fees are reasonable if you have to park inside.)
• Come early to visit the Friends of the San Francisco Library book sale located inside the Fort Mason complex.
• Come early to see what food is available and how much things are. 
• Come early to get a place to sit and to save spots while your friend gets food.
• Get an adventurous food friend that is willing to share food. It's a great way to try different food and talk about it! 

While the weather is cold and you're inside, try and make your own "fusions" by trying out recipes from the following books and putting them in a tortilla!

50 Great Curries of India would help set a great base for any type of meat / veggie

The One Dish Chicken Cookbook - getting a tasty chicken dish made would set you up for delicious leftovers, right?

Salad as a Meal  - Salads make great wrap stuffing!

Until next time: explore, explore, explore!

Adventure is out there!

Enjoy these pictures from Off the Grid! 

Fat Face Popsicle stand from Davis! 

I was waiting for dessert... they ran out. I heard it was delicious

Amazing garlic noodles from the An the Go truck.

An the Go has my heart! 

BLT Taco from the Taco Guys

Don't take my seat! 

The fresh choices from The Taco Guys

Food, Food, Food!! | Cookbook Friday

This blog will be dedicated to the celebration of food, glorious food.   There may be some fun drink and restaurant chatter, too.   When your name is “Peaches,” you have to write about food.  I AM food!  I not exactly a foodie, because I am as finicky an eater as your average 8 year old but I do love to read and talk about food.

Initially I want to remind all of you that every library in this system has a terrific collection of cookbooks.  The primary call number for cookbooks is 641.  (You can always ask a librarian to show the section to you.)   I want to highlight some cookbooks for children in this blog, because we have some terrific ones!

First I want to highlight one of my favorite food books for children; It’s Disgusting and We Ate it! True Food Facts From Around the World and Throughout History.  By James Solheim.  Here’s a fun fact that is in fact, disgusting:

“From the mushrooms on your pizza and the yeast in its crust to the mildew behind the sink, fungi are everywhere.  In fact, there are millions of fungi in your house that you never even say ‘hi’ to!  You breathe them in every breath, and they grow in your food.”

Fun cookbooks based on Children’s Books:

The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz

The Winnie-the-Pooh Cookbook by Virginia H. Ellison

The Nancy Drew Cookbook by Carolyn Keene

See you next week, unless you frequent Centrale on the Miracle Mile in which case you will probably see me sooner.