Wrap up of our 2nd meeting

 This past Thursday we had the second meeting of our new Cookbook Club.  Thirteen people feasted on recipes from Food Gift Love by Maggie Battista.  Maggie was there and told her amazing story of how she got started with food writing and cooking. She is the founder of Eat Boutique and plans to open a large permanent Eat Boutique space in Allston.  And we hope to charter a bus to Allston when this food market opens!

We had a delicious lunch and great conversation about what went well and what was challenging during the preparation of our recipes.  Click here for a list of dishes we sampled.  

We look forward to seeing everyone again on Thursday, December 1st for Nantucket Holiday Table by Susan Simon. 

Registration for the December 1 meeting starts on Thursday, November 17th. Copies of the book will be available starting on Nov. 17 also. Click this link to see which recipes have already been claimed.   And click here to report which recipe you've selected.

Check out the Cookbook Club blog for all the details.  Do you have questions about Cookbook Club?  Just click here for Frequently Asked Questions.

You can also subscribe to the blog via email...so don't miss new posts and comments in between our meetings.  I'll be posting about our newly arrived cookbooks and other cooking/food related topics throughout the month. (see the Follow by email section in the right hand column). 

**If you would like to write food/cooking-related posts on the Cookbook club blog, just let me know and I'll add you as a guest contributor.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm and participation in this new club! --Nathalie

Another batch of new cookbooks!

 There is something for everyone in this newest batch.  I can't wait to read Ruth Reichl's My Kitchen Year.    Come and get them!

Brand new book for bakers!

We just unpacked and cataloged Marbled, Swirled, and Layered by Irvin Lin: 150 Recipes and Variations for Artful Bars, Cookies, Pies, Cakes, and More by Irvin Lin. Check out Irvin's food blog.

This book arrived at the perfect time for the holiday baking season!  It includes some very interesting cheesecake recipes.   Come and get it! --Nathalie

New Ina Garten book!

We just received our copy of Ina Garten's newest cookbook, Cooking for Jeffrey!  Jeffrey is Ina's husband.  The recipes in this book are the for dishes that Jeffrey and their friends request most often.

It includes everything from cocktails to soups to dessert. And, of course, it's loaded with stunning photographs. Can somebody make me the Filet Mignon with Mustard and Mushrooms?!

This book is too new to do for Cookbook Club. Once the hype dies down a bit (maybe in six months or so), we can consider it for a meeting.  In the meantime, if you'd like to take a peak at it,  click here to place a hold on a library copy. You can also read the Atlantic magazines review of the book here.

Happy cooking,

Nathalie

Discovering Ruth Reichl

I've recently discovered books by cook and food writer, Ruth Reichl (former editor of Gourmet magazine).

I just finished listening to the audio version of Garlic and Sapphires, a memoir of her time as the New York Times restaurant critic.  This book was very well written but also funny and touching at the same time.  I fell in love with Ruth's young son Nick, who completely embraced his mother's lifestyle of eating out in disguise.

Now, I'm listening to Comfort Me with Apples. This is Reichl's second memoir and describes how she landed her first job as a restaurant critic for a magazine in Berkeley, California. This author is a wonderful storyteller and there are great recipes throughout her memoirs.  I can't wait to try her cheesecake recipe from Garlic & Sapphires (with lemon zest....yummy!).

I wonder if Ruth would be willing to visit Ipswich?!

Our first meeting was supper yummy!

Thanks to the 10 "charter members" of our new Cookbook Club!

We had a delicious lunch and great conversation about what went well and what was challenging during the preparation of our recipes.   We all agreed that we love Ina Garten's cookbooks.  Wish we could get her to visit Ipswich someday!

Look forward to seeing everyone again in November for "Food Gift Love" by Maggie Battista.  The best part: Maggie will be with us and will discuss her career as a cook and author! So, bring your questions for her!  Registration for the November 3 meeting starts on Thursday, October 20th. Copies of the book will be available starting on Oct. 20 also.

Kudos to Kathy Moore for taking and sharing the photos!

Caesar Salad with Blue Cheese & Bacon

Spinach & Ricotta Noodle Pudding, Tri-Berry Crumble, Peas with Prosciutto

Tomatoes & Burrata

Registration is now open!

Our first meeting is only two weeks away!  You can now register to attend the October 6 meeting, pick up a copy of the book, and pick a recipe.

All the tabs/links above will help you get started.

I can't wait to sample all the different dishes.  Maybe I'll skip breakfast that day!