Cooking

Thanksgiving 101

/ Mary / Leave a comment

It’s approaching. The holiday where we have to cook for large groups of people. People moreover, to whom we are related. Talk about nerve-racking! (At least it’s nerve-racking to a non-cooking introvert like myself!)

So all you other non-cooking introverts, take a moment and give thanks for the library, which has all the recipes, tips, tricks and  expertise to get us all through the Big Dinner.

 

thanksgiving-101Thanksgiving 101 : celebrate America’s Favorite Holiday with America’s Thanksgiving Expert / Rick Rodgers.
This book asks the important question: When was the last time most of us made dinner for such a big crowd?  Exactly! But whether you’re looking for new ways to cook turkey; traditional trimmings, chutneys, or chowders; a vegetarian entrée; or fresh ideas for regional classics, including Cajun-or Italian-inspired tastes, Thanksgiving 101 serves up a delicious education for novice and experienced cooks alike.

 

jacket-aspxFine Cooking Thanksgiving Cookbook : Recipes for Turkey and All the Trimmings / from the editors of Fine Cooking Magazine
The holidays are a time for family and friends.  Thanksgiving can also be a time of stress, anxiety, and slaving over a hot stove.  No kidding! The editors of Fine Cooking magazine know all about the problems and pitfalls of preparing a full-course holiday meal…and they are here to help! This cooking survival guide presents all the reader needs to know to make things go smoothly, look great, and taste delicious. Phew!

 

jacket-aspxThanksgiving : How to Cook it Well / Sam Sifton
From the planning of the meal to the washing of the last plate, Sam Sifton says Thanksgiving poses more—and more vexing—problems for the home cook than any other holiday. (Let’s hear it for truth in cookbooks!) In this smartly written, beautifully illustrated, recipe-filled book, Sam Sifton, the New York Times’s former restaurant critic and resident Thanksgiving expert, delivers a message of great comfort and solace: There is no need for fear. You can cook a great meal on Thanksgiving. You can have a great time.

 

jacket-aspx2Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving / Michael McLaughlin
Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving offers easy-to-follow recipes, making it a fave on my list. In these pages, you’ll find inspiring first courses and a tempting variety of side dishes and desserts as well as some new ideas for the main course. This vividly photographed, full-color recipe collection will become an essential addition to your kitchen bookshelf.

 

jacket-aspxThanksgiving : Recipes for a Holiday Meal / Lou Seibert Pappas
This  book offers dozens of favorite traditional and contemporary holiday dishes including a variety of vegetarian options, organizing entries by course while sharing tips for staying organized, carving a turkey, and using leftovers. Any cookbook that tackles leftovers is a winner!

 

pioneerThe Pioneer Woman Cooks : A Year of Holidays : 140 step-by-step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations / Ree Drummond
Ree’s recipes are accompanied by fun instructions and hundreds of her signature step-by-step photos. Filled with creative and flavorful ideas for intimate dinners, group gatherings, and family meals this cookbook includes dozens of mouthwatering dishes (with nineteen recipes for Thanksgiving alone!)

 

chewThe Chew, a Year of Celebrations : Festive and Delicious Recipes for Every Occasion / edited by Ashley Archer and Jessica Dorfman Jones
This cookbook will guide you through the planning, cooking of the year’s most celebrated events. With a complete spread for each celebration, including drinks, appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts, the guesswork is taken out of menu creation; all that’s left to do is prepare and enjoy the fantastic food. And Carla Hall’s Pumpkin Pecan Pie will finally eliminate the toughest Thanksgiving decision: classic pumpkin or classic pecan?

 

bettyBetty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook : All You Need to Cook a Foolproof Dinner
Kudos to Betty Crocker who admits, “Thanksgiving can be the most challenging meal to prepare-even for the most experienced cooks.” Truth! However, whether you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time or have hosted this celebration for years, Betty comes to the rescue with this complete do-it-yourself guide to making Thanksgiving delicious. Here are the treasured recipes with all the trimmings that you grew up with, plus plenty of great new twists on the traditional.

Cookbooks that Caught My Eye, But I Know I Will Never Try

/ Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Sometimes when we catalog or check in or out library materials a book catches our eye and requires some serious perusal. More often than not this means setting it aside to check out and bring home.

Cookbooks with insanely creative or intricate recipes and decorating ideas regularly catch me. I love to bake and cook but do not have the time or energy to necessarily get fancy. I tend to worry first about taste and if I can get my family to eat it.

However, looking at the wonderful ideas and execution in these books sometimes inspires me to get more creative, and cookingsometimes just makes me wonder how anyone can eat something that obviously took some serious time and effort to make look so good. Here are some of the more recent cookbooks that have made me stop and look at their deliciously beautiful covers.

Cake My Day by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson

The New England Soup Factory Cookbook by Marjorie Druker and Clara Silverstein

What’s New, Cupcake?: Ingeniously Simple Designs for Every Occasion by Karen Tack

The Hot Bread Kitchen Cookbook: Artisanal Baking from Around the World by Jessamyn Waldman Rodriguez and the Bakers of Hot Bread Kitchen with Julia Turshen

Cupcakes, Cookies, and Pie, Oh, My! by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson

Seriously Delish: 150 Recipes for People Who Totally Love Food by Jessica Merchant

Great Balls of Cheese by Michelle Buffardi

The Confetti Cakes Cookbook: Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City’s Famed Bakery by Elisa Strauss with Christie Matheson

For some of us more realistic, or pessimistic, chefs I offer:
The Can’t Cook Book : 100+ Recipes for the Absolutely Terrified! by Jessica Seinfeld

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in October

/ cheshirelib / Leave a comment

From Phantom to Scavenger Hunt to Halloween Fun, our programs have something for everyone this month!

screen-shot-2011-09-14-at-3-16-10-pmPhantom of the Opera

Saturday Oct 1, 2016, 1:00  –  4:00 PM

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first performance of Phantom of the Opera, the longest running musical on Broadway.  Watch a performance of Phantom filmed on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London and starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess. No registration required.
Meet the Phantom!
Pose for pictures with the Phantom before and after the show!
Refreshments will be served.

41lfm8nymqlBreaking Bread: Is Gluten-Free For You?

Monday Oct 3, 2016, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

You’ve heard all this talk about the gluten-free diet. But what is it? And how do you know if you are one of the 30% of the population who should be on it? Heather Jacobsen, author of GOING GLUTEN-FREE: 7 Surprising Facts You Should Know if You Want to Achieve Dietary Success, will discuss just what the gluten-free diet is all about, and whether or not you might benefit from it. If you suffer from chronic symptoms of one kind or another, you might find some answers in her discussion. Registration required.

live_wellLearn How to Self-Manage Your Health

Wednesdays Oct 5, 12, 19, 26,  Nov 2, 9, 2016, 12:30  –  3:00 PM

Attend a FREE 6-week Live Well workshop and learn skills to understand and take control of your ongoing health condition.  Learn better ways of dealing with pain, fatigue, difficult emotions, anxiety and stress.  Learn easy exercises to help improve or maintain strength and energy.  Learn ways to improve your nutrition, appropriate use of medications, and more. Sponsored by the Western CT Area Agency on Aging, the State of CT Department of Aging, and the CT Department of Public Health. Please register for each workshop online.

lgsznxpcn1agybr5xprspoyzInternet Safety Seminar

2 sessions:

  • Wednesday Oct 5, 2016, 1:30  –  3:00 PM, or
  • Thursday Oct 6, 2016, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

Staff from Apex Technology Group will give a presentation on Internet safety, specifically the following topics:

  • Phishing
  • Ransomare
  • Malware
  • Passwords
  • Email safety
  • Good browsing habits

There will be an open forum for Q&A after the session, along with handouts with additional helpful information. Please register online.

tumblr_odiqnpwryl1rmidh1o1_540Town-Wide Instagram Scavenger Hunt

Saturday Oct 8, 2016,  9:30 AM  –  2:00 PM

Grab your family, friends, and mobile device for the second annual Town-Wide Scavenger Hunt! Form a team and assemble at the Library in the morning, then go all around Cheshire snapping photos of clues and posting them to Instagram. Later, meet back at the library for a party and prizes. Learn a little local history and have a lot of fun! Children and adults of all ages are welcome to participate. Teams must provide their own transportation and smartphone/tablet with data service and Instagram app. Registration required. (Registration opens September 1 and ends Friday, October 7.)

122008201420ct20farm20table20final20copyAuthor Talk: Tracey Medeiros

Wednesday Oct 12, 2016, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

Join cookbook author Tracey Medeiros for a discussion of her book, The Connecticut Farm Table Cookbook, along with a cooking demo. The Connecticut Farm Table Cookbook  brings home cooks a stellar collection of 150 delicious recipes from the Nutmeg State’s celebrated chefs and the dedicated farmers, fishers, ranchers, foragers, and cheese makers they partner with to create dynamic New American and New England fare.  Ms. Medeiros will sign copies of her book at the end of the program.  Purchase copies of her book in advance at your local bookstore or online. Registration required.

smylb9Tea and Food Pairings

Thursday Oct 13, 2016, 6:00 PM

Step out of the cold and enjoy some hot tea with Unionville’s own Culteavo! Owner Viviana Pinhasi will take you into the complex and fascinating world of teas, focusing on what foods pair best with different types of tea. Culteavo Tea Shop in Unionville is a local gourmet tea shop offering over 100 kinds of loose-leaf tea, including black, green, oolong and white teas, as well as herbal infusions and tea blends. Space is limited for this adult only program, please register early.

zumba-for-kids-2Zumba® for Kids

Friday Oct 14, 2016, 10:00  –  11:00 AM

Join us for an  hour filled with energy and exercise routines created to the latest music, like hip-hop, reggaeton and cumbia. Zumba® also increases focus and self-confidence, boosts metabolism, and improves coordination and balance. For all ages. [Parents and/or caregivers are welcome to participate with their children.] No Registration Required.

k16061577Halloween Donuts with Grownups

Saturday Oct 15, 2016, 11:00 AM  –  12:00 PM

Enjoy this Halloween-themed Donuts with Grownups.  Dress up to get in the spirit! Donuts with Grownups Storytime is designed especially for working families with children ages 2 and up who can’t make it to our weekday storytimes. Enjoy crafts, activities, music, stories, and of course Donuts as a family!  Each session will also have a literacy building station to help young ones start building necessary pre-literacy skills or enhance those skills for older children.  Dads are highly encouraged to attend! No registration required.

screen-shot-2016-09-19-at-4-54-24-pmDocumentary Screening of Dark Side of the Full Moon

Monday Oct 17, 2016, 6:00 PM

Documentary Screening of Dark Side of the Full Moon (75 min), followed by Q&A Panel.  This film about postpartum mood disorders is both informative and a call to action.  If you are someone interested or concerned about the well-being of mothers, babies and families, please come. Light Refreshments Available. Please register online.

halloween-storytimeHalloween Read Aloud with FEA

Wednesday Oct 19, 2016, 3:30  –  4:15 PM

Come and read with the Future Educators of America (FEA) from Dodd Middle School! Dress up to get in the spirit. There will be stories, crafts, and a snack. For ages 3-6. Please register online.

 maxresdefaultConcert: Belle of the Fall

Saturday Oct 22, 2016, 2:00 PM

Belle of the Fall, an indie-rock vocal duo, will perform at 2:00 pm Saturday October 22 as part of the Cheshire Library’s week-long celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week (Oct. 16-22, 2016). Join us for a family-friendly concert and refreshments!  Belle of the Fall is a male/female vocal duo featuring upright bass and guitar. Think Simon and Garfunkel if Art Garfunkel were female! Lots of harmonies and storytelling can be expected. Free and open to the public, No registration required.

1e9wrmAnime Club Halloween Cosplay Extravaganza

Friday Oct 28, 2016, 3:00  –  4:30 PM

Dress up and act like your favorite character: anime or otherwise! Prizes will be awarded and Japanese refreshments will be provided—this is one event you won’t want to miss!! For grades 7—12, No registration required.

5a1cae8afea21eeba2114615013541fbMonster Mayhem Storytime

Saturday Oct 29, 2016, 11:00 AM  –  12:00 PM

Bring your favorite little monsters to our Monster Maheym Storytime and “let the wild rumpus start!” We will read some monster stories (not too scary) and enjoy some fun activities that will be sure to make you roar.  Get ready to show your claws, gnash your teeth and stomp your feet! Costumes are welcome! Best suited for ages 2-6. Registration required.

 halloweenparty-300x209Halloween Family Fun

Monday Oct 31, 2016, 4:00 PM

Come celebrate Halloween with activities that are fun the whole family. We will have games, spooky science experiments, and treats from 4-5pm, followed by a family dance party. Wear your costume and bring a friend! Best suited for ages 3 and up. Registration required.

Save

Save

September 7th is National Beer Lovers Day!

/ Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Many of us are in denial about the fact that Summer is coming to a close. Soon barbecues and outdoor parties will be a little cooler, and likely a little less frequent. This makes it a perfect time to celebrate a staple to many picnics (for the adults anyway) beer and other adult beverages. September 7th is National Beer Lovers Day, and a great day to explore all things beer related.

How about some history of beer, and Connecticut beer specifically:
Connecticut Beer: a History of Nutmeg State Brewing by Will Siss
The Craft Beer Revolution: How a Band of Microbrewers is Transforming the World’s Favorite Drink by Steve Hindy
A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
Microbrewed Adventures: a Lupulin-filled Journey to the Heart and Flavor of the World’s Great Craft Beers by Charlie Papazian
The War on Alcohol: Prohibition and the Rise of the American State by Lisa McGirr

Or maybe you want to cook with beer or try your hand at home brewing:
Beer-Can Chicken: and 74 Other Offbeat Recipes for the Grill by Steven Raichlen
The Craft Beer Cookbook: From IPAs and Bocks to Lagers and Porters, 100 Artisanal Recipes for Cooking with Beer by Jacquelyn Dodd
Mastering Homebrew: The Complete Guide to Brewing Delicious Beer by Randy Mosher
How to Brew: Ingredients, Methods, Recipes, and Equipment for Brewing Beer at Home by John J. Palmer

Save

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in September

/ cheshirelib / Leave a comment

The kids are back to school, so this month let’s explore some of our programming for adults!

Movie Matinees

imageTuesdays,  Sep 6, 13, 20, 27 at 1:00 PM

“Back-to-school” is our theme for this month’s movies:

fbe25c05-5ed3-4656-a444-6decea206c9dHand Painted Tissue Paper Collage

Wednesday Sep 7, 2016,  6:30  –  8:15 PM

Artist Carol Ganick will present an educational program about hand painted tissue paper collage, featuring watercolors and abstracted designs. Presented by the Cheshire Art League.

Microsoft-Word-2013-Logo-WebIntroduction to Microsoft Word

A 3-part program:

Mondays Sep 12, 19, 23, 2:30 PM  –  4:00 PM  

This introduction to Microsoft Word is divided into three sessions. You will learn basic navigation skills to effectively use the Microsoft Word program; create a simple document; edit text; check spelling errors; format the document; adjust the page layout; preview; print; save; open flies; insert a picture; change font formatting and much more. Registration is required.

lunch-box-inspriation-ideas-750x420Cookbook Club – What’s for Lunch?

Wednesday Sep 14, 2016,  6:30  –  8:00 PM

Our newest (and most delicious) book club! Here’s how it works (register online):

  1. Check out a cookbook related to our September theme: “What’s For Lunch: Mid-Day Meals Your Kids (and Grownups) Will Eat”. (Visit our Cookbook Club display near the catalog computers in the lobby for cookbook suggestions.)  Let’s get out of that PB&J rut and get creative!
  2. Try one or more recipes at home.
  3. Come to Cookbook Club. Wednesday, September 14 at 6:30pm. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Ages 18 and up only.  By registering for this program, you acknowledge that you may choose to consume food that has not been prepared in a commercial kitchen.
  4. Share your thoughts (and dishes). Join Library Director Ramona Burkey and other CPL staffers to discuss your cookbook reviews and “all things culinary.”  Bring your cookbook, copies of your recipe, a prepared dish to share with the group, and (very important) some take-home containers for leftovers.  Bon Appetit!

11140269_574342509385891_2126848489443040348_n-e1446648369259Adult Knitting Night

Wednesdays, Sep 14 and 28, 6:30 PM

Adult knitters meet at CPL the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Come socialize, learn, and share your techniques with other knitters.  Experience the relaxing and calming effect of knitting.  Advanced adult knitters welcome, no supplies or instruction will be given.  Please bring your own supplies and talent.  This adult program has a required registration.

6z29ldDrop-in Tech Help

Monday Sep 12, 2016,  12:00  –  2:00 PM

Do you have questions about your computer, smartphone, or iPad? Do you need help navigating Facebook or downloading an ebook? Let our tech staff help! NOTE: Please be sure your device is fully charged beforehand. In the event your question or issue is more involved, we may ask you to schedule an appointment and come back for one-on-one help.

1postcard_12Remembering G. Fox & Co. in the 1950s

Saturday Sep 24, 2016,  2:00 PM

In the 1950s, just about every major city had a landmark department store. In Connecticut, it was G. Fox & Co. in Hartford! This presentation will bring you back in time to Fox’s heyday, as we go from floor to floor and recall the various departments. Please register online.

line-of-kids

Of course, we still have a full roster of children’s programs in September, including our new Little Lambs baby program, Wigglers & Crawlers for pre-walkers, Toddler Time for ages 1-3, Slime Time Storytime for ages 5-7, and  Afternoons of Awesome for older kids (8-12). There’s lots more on our Event calendar, check it out!