Celebrate the South Asian Cultural Festival with Us!

February 3, 2016January 28, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Throughout the months of February and March the library will be hosting a number of events celebrating the cultures and traditions of Southern Asia. Here’s peek at some of the scheduled events:

Bhangra Dance Lesson and Performance on February 13th at 2:00 PM
Enjoy a short performance followed by a fun hour-long lesson in the vibrant, high-energy style of Bhangra, a traditional folk dance performed in the Punjab region of South Asia with modern influences from modern pop and hip-hop styles. Performance and lesson provided by Yale’s Jashan Bhangra dance troupe.Kathputli Puppet Making (takes place at Artsplace, ) on February 16th at 4:00 pm
Puppets are an ancient and popular form of folk entertainment in India. In this workshop, children will make kathputli, a type of puppet originating from Rajasthan.

Explore the Art of Henna on February 27th at 2:00 PM
Tweens and teens–interested in the art of henna? Learn the cultural roots and the different styles of henna from Jamilah Zebarth, of Jamilah Henna Creations, who will also demonstrate the art on you! (Henna is a plant based dye that safely stains the skin for 1-2 weeks.)

Zokkomon Movie on March 16th at 4:00 PM
Please join us for the first live-action film from Disney Studios India designed to give Indian kids their first superhero. [Abandoned by his heartless uncle (Anupam Kher) and aided by a street artist (Manjari Fadnis), an orphan (Darsheel Safary) discovers his inner hero. Rated PG.] Following the film we’ll have snacks and a lively discussion with Cheshire resident Hetal Radia!

India Travelogue: Sharing the Spirit of India on March 16th at 6:30
Visit with John McClain for an adventure through India. Come experience the sights and sounds of this beautiful and complex country- see India through an authentic and vivid lens, to which no travel book can compare!

Stan Scott and the Rangila Ensemble: Classical, Folk, and Devotional Music of North India on March 19th at 2:00 PM
This concert will feature a broad range of styles, including the enchanting melodies and rhythms of Indian classical music, folk songs celebrating love, work, social life and worship in Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and devotional songs of the great medieval Hindi poets. The lively rhythms of Indian folk songs provide a complementary contrast to the contemplative mood of Hindustani classical music. Sponsored by the Connecticut Humanities Council.

Indian Cooking Demonstration on March 23 at 6:00 PM
Madhu Gupta will introduce Indian cooking techniques, highlighting the regional differences in regards to spicing, flavors and recipes. Born in India, Madhu’s father’s career allowed the family to visit and experience the unique regions of India. She will introduce Indian cooking techniques to make simple salads, appetizers and a variety of curries and will demonstrate that Indian cooking is not always hot and spicy but that the flavor is determined by balancing the ingredients.

A Celebration of Holi and Rangoli Craft on March 24th at 4:00 PM. Participate in an Artsplace workshop at the library making traditional rangoli patterns. Then celebrate the colorful festival Holi with Cheshire resident Hetal Radia.

For more information on any of the programs, or to register for a program please visit our events calendar. If you would like to research some of the recipes, art, or other culture wonders that we will be sharing check out these great resources: Mehndi: the Timeless Art of Henna Painting by Loretta Roome, Recipe and Craft Guide to India by Khadija Ejaz, At Home with Madhur Jaffrey: Simple, Delectable Dishes from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, & Sri Lanka by Madhur Jaffrey, Mangoes & Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels Through the Great Subcontinent by Jeffrey Aldford & Naomi Duguid, The Kids’ Multicultural Cookbook: Food & Fun Around the World by Deanna F. Cook, and East & Southeast Asia by Steven A. Leibo among others.

Solving the Meal or Snacktime Blues

January 21, 2016January 14, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

If you are anything like me, you spent the start of the school year determined to pack healthy lunches and have healthier snack options available for the kids, and most likely yourself. Even if you do not have kids, at some point you have had the urge to jazz up your own meals, make cooler appetizers for some function, or just eat better. Maybe you want to sneak some extra vegetables into dinner, or even dessert, or new dietary restrictions have you trying new combinations and ways to make everything taste great while still being reasonably good for you. snack

I started off the school year with fresh baked muffins (with pureed vegetables hidden inside), plenty of fruit and whole grains in the snazzy bento box style containers for each of my kiddos. I had a snack box in the refrigerator and one in the pantry with pre portioned healthy snacks to fulfill requests. And now? Well, lets just say that the lunches are not nearly as well planned and motivation to keep everything healthy and organized is waning.

I have one young picky eater in the house, and a husband that dislikes casseroles, crock pot cooking, and vegetables in general. It is easy to fall into a rut of making the same the few meals over and over, and picking meals that seem to be the easiest to make even when there are better options. I have found that I regularly need motivation, ideas, and more to keep things healthy and tasty- as well as eaten by the whole crew. Getting everyone involved in the meal planning, shopping, or cooking is a big help. If they get to pick the food, or help in preparing it, they are all much more likely to eat, or at least try, what is on their plate.

Here are some books that I have recently found (some just moved into the Parenting section in the children’s room) to help inspire and re motivate myself and anyone else struggling with healthy meals, healthy snacks, and fun foods that are tasty and healthy.

Stealth Health Lunches Kids Love: Irresistible and Nutritious Gluten-Free Sandwiches, Wraps and Other Easy Eats by Tracy Griffith

So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week by Ellie Krieger

Best Lunch Box Ever: Ideas and Recipes for School Lunches Kids Will Love by Katie Sullivan Morford

Weelicious Lunches: Think Outside the Lunchbox with More than 160 Happier Meals by Catherine McCord

ChopChop: the Kids’ Guide to Cooking Real Food with your Family by Sally Sampson

The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals by Missy Chase Lapine

Regular readers know by now that I can never stop with just a few recommended books. So, if those listed above are already checked out or you are looking for more you might want to try: Beating the Lunch Box Blues: Fresh Ideas for Lunches on the Go! by J. M. Hirsch, Insanewiches: 101 Ways to Think Outside the Lunchbox by Adrian Fiorino,Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get your Kids Eating Good Food by Jessica Seinfeld, The Cleaner Plate Club by Beth Bader & Ali Benjamin, Double Delicious! : Good, Simple Food for Busy, Complicated Lives by Jessica Seinfeld, and The Dinnertime Survival Cookbook: Delicious, Inspiring Meals for Busy Families by Debra Ponzek.

January is National Soup Month

January 7, 2016January 28, 2016 / Linda / Leave a comment

national soup

How fitting that January – the coldest month of year – is National Soup Month! Great time of year to experiment and enjoy some home-made soup!

Love Soup – 160 all new vegetarian recipes features black bean and squash soup in the fall, smoky eggplant soup in midsummer, rib-sticking chowder, or seductively perfumed wild mushroom soup for Christmas. Love Soup also provides recipes for breads, hummus, pesto, salads, and homey desserts–and simple menus that put soup at the heart of the meal.

Soup offers more than 40 easy-to-follow recipes, including both classic favorites and fresh new ideas. In these pages, you’ll find inspiring soups designed to fit any occasion at any time of year—from a quick and simple meal to an enjoyable lunch in the garden.

Saved by Soup: more than 100 low-fat soup recipes to eat and enjoy everyday. Author Judith Barrett lost pounds and inches using these mouthwatering recipes, each of which contains less than three grams of fat per serving. And cutting the fat posed no bar to creating soups with incredible flavor and only one gram of fat.

Soup of the Day. This tantalizing collection of 365 recipes offers a soup for each day of the year. From January to December, you’ll find daily inspiration and a seasonal soup that will satisfy any craving or fit any occasion.

The New England Soup Factory Cookbook contains more than 100 mouth-watering recipes. It also includes anecdotes and inspiring stories that provide insight into Marjorie Drucker’s creative process and her passion for all things soup related.

Soup Makes the Meal is divided into 50 menus, each including a soup, a salad, and a bread recipe. Best of all, the soups don’t require homemade stock, many (but not all) of the breads are quick breads, and the salads range from light to hearty.

Sunday Soup: a year’s worth of mouthwatering easy-to-make recipes features 60 recipes, one for each Sunday of the year and then some. With recipes like Gulf Coast Shrimp Gumbo, Dreamy Creamy Artichoke Soup, and Icy Cucumber Soup with Smoked Salmon and Dill you can enjoy soup in every season.

The Soup Club Cookbook: feed your friends, feed your family, feed yourself. Four busy moms and neighbors who started making and sharing soup dinners once a month provide recipes for filling soups and sides, as well as storage tips and instructions for starting a neighborhood soup club.

Soup & Stew includes more than 40 easy-to-follow recipes, including both classic preparations and innovative ideas for the busy cook. In these pages, you’ll find tempting options for every occasion, from first-course soups and light puréees to meaty braises and comforting stews.

Food Made Fast. Soup is about delicious food, simply prepared, with easy-to-follow recipes and tips. Each book emphasizes keeping a well-stocked pantry, planning ahead, and using fresh ingredients as the keys to cooking delicious meals with a minimum of time and effort.

For all things soup – click here.

Seriously Simple Holiday Dinners

December 16, 2015November 23, 2015 / Mary / Leave a comment

I don’t know about anyone else, but I normally have no time to cook dinner during a regular work week never mind a holiday week. The thought of preparing an elaborate holiday meal, in addition to all the shopping, gift wrapping, entertaining, cleaning –(Oh, my God, every obscure relative will be descending on me to critique my housekeeping!)–makes my brain shrivel and my knees buckle.

Fortunately, others have traveled this path before me and left a road map for breezing through the holidays:

Seriously Simple Holidays : Recipes and Ideas to Celebrate the Season by Diane Rossen Worthington.
Gift ideas, wine and cheese pairings, menus, Diane Worthington has it all covered from Rosh Hashanah to Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

The Ultimate Appetizers Book : More than 450 No-fuss Nibbles and Drinks, Plus Simple Party Planning Tips by Better Homes and Gardens. From super quick dips and snack mixes to elegant pastries and bite-size sweets, these no-fuss recipes will please any crowd.

Cocktails for the Holidays : Festive Drinks to Celebrate the Season by the Editors of Imbibe Magazine. Mix holiday drinks like a pro with the help of this book. It includes favorite seasonal recipes from bartenders around the world for every festive occasion.

Fix-it and Forget-it Christmas Cookbook : 600 Slow Cooker Holiday Recipes by Phyllis Pellman Good. If cooking holiday dinners wears you out, this book is the answer. Let your slow cooker do all the work. Prep it, forget it, and go join the party instead of slaving away in the kitchen.

Easy Entertaining : Over 250 Stress-free Recipes and Sensational Styling Ideas by Darina Allen. Short-cuts, tips, hints and general good advice for making your holiday easier. “Keep it Simple” is the motto of this book that will help you pull off a holiday party simply but in style.

Desserts 1-2-3 : Deliciously Simple Three-ingredient Recipes by Rozanne Gold. Three ingredients that yield fabulous desserts? Yes, indeed! The results are delicious and look like they took a lot more labor than they did. It’s a holiday miracle.

What’s Better Than Pizza and Cookies?

October 7, 2015September 16, 2015 / Linda / Leave a comment

Enjoying them in October! Fantastic weather, beautiful foliage, and it’s National Pizza month and National Cookie month! Feeling a little down? Go outside with a handful of your favorite cookies. Find a picnic table and munch on hot pizza pie! Soak up the beautiful weather and add some tasty food. Want to be creative and make your own cookies and pizza? The Cheshire Library has books to inspire and tantalize!

PIZZA

Pizza: grill it, bake it, love it!

Pizza: a slice of heaven

Cool Pizza to Make and Bake

Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day

Revolutionary Pizza

American Pie: my search for the perfect pizza

COOKIES

Martha Stewart’s Cookies

Crazy About Cookies

Slice and Bake Cookies

Gluten-Free Cookies

Simply Sensational Cookies

The Gourmet Cookie Book

There are many more books to choose from. Click on the headings Pizza and Cookies and our catalog will come up so you can browse to your heart’s content.