Archive for the ‘Book News’ Category
Raspberry Delights: A Summery, Flavorful Twist to Beloved Old Recipes and New Favorites
Karen Jean Matsko Hood has done it again: another amazing entry in her popular Cookbook Delight Series that is sure to tempt the tastebuds and lure even reluctant cooks into the kitchen to try out these delicious recipes. Raspberry Delights is a treasure trove of unique ways to use this sweet berry to the fullest. I was particularly impressed by the creative use of raspberries in soups, entrees, and side dishes to create unexpected bright, appealing flavors, and the sheer variety of breads and desserts is tantalizing.
As with all of Hood’s cookbooks, it is the extra touches that really make Raspberry Delights stand out. The recipes alone are worth the price of admission, so to speak, but there is so much more: information on different types of raspberry, medicinal uses of the plant, even tips on growing your own raspberries. I was planning to start a small garden in my backyard this year, and was pleasantly surprised to see this information. The preserving section not only provides wonderful recipes for raspberry jams and jellies, but actual instructions for canning, freezing, and dehydrating the berries as well. I have never seen such thorough, detail-oriented information in a cookbook before.
Since raspberries are not currently in season, I used frozen berries for all of the recipes I tried out. Many of the recipes call for fresh raspberries, but I was not disappointed in how any of them turned out and can only imagine how much more flavorful they will taste with fresh fruit. I am a sucker for a good potato salad and am always looking for new variants, so of course I had to try the Raspberry Potato Salad. The recipe was very simple and the results were nothing short of amazing. This potato salad blows my old favorite away, and I can’t wait to take it to the family barbeque on Independence Day this year–it will knock my in-laws flat! I also tried out the Raspberry Balsamic Glazed Chicken, which turned out very tender and moist with a wonderful tangy glaze. The Raspberry Cornbread was a wonderful twist on the conventional recipe, and it was a bit difficult restraining myself to just one piece. Hood’s recipes continue to be a big hit with my family, most of whom are notoriously picky eaters, and I am very glad that I discovered her Cookbook Delights series.
Order your copy of Raspberry Delights today!
Chocolate Delights: Decadence Beyond Dessert
Chocolate Delights Volume I may very well be the most incredible cookbook I have ever seen. Every single recipe is enticing and decadent, and many provide new ways to use chocolate or unique flavor combinations that are very exciting. My mother is a chocoholic and owned numerous chocolate cookbooks that I have perused extensively, but I have never seen anything like Karen Hood‘s Chocolate Delights. At over 300 pages, this collection of recipes covers far more than just desserts and sweet treats: there are also appetizers, main dishes, soups, even jams and jellies with chocolate in them–an idea that frankly knocked me off my feet–and much more.
As with other books in the Cookbook Delights series, recipes are laid out in a simple, consistent manner that is easy to understand, and there is a glossary of cooking terms and a measurement chart in the back to aid less experienced cooks. Added to this is a wealth of fascinating history, folklore, and helpful information. Find out the truth about white chocolate, learn about the chocolate festival celebrated by the ancient Mayans, and more. I found these sections very valuable, especially the information about the different types of chocolate. I was not aware how significant of an impact the different types have on the outcome of any recipe, both in taste and nutritional value. Now I have a good reference that will help me select the right kind of chocolate for any cooking situation.
All of the recipes that I read were clear and easy to follow, and the three recipes that I tried out with my family were alot of fun as well. We made the Mexican Coffee, Savory Chili with Pasta, and Orange Oatmeal Cookies. The chili was very quick and easy, and it was praised even by the picky eaters in my family. The cookies were our favorite recipe–simply amazing, crammed with delicious ingredients that I had never thought to put in oatmeal cookies before. The coffee was an excellent after-dinner treat for my husband and I, and we’ll definitely make it often. My entire family is really excited about trying out the rest of the recipes, and we are already eagerly anticipating the second volume of Chocolate Delights.
Order your copy of Chocolate Delights today!
| Bindings |
Christmas Delights: Delicious New Traditions Your Family will Love
Christmas Delights is not your average modern cookbook, a baker’s dozen recipes alongside full page photographs–pretty, but with little substance. No, this is your mother or grandmother’s cookbook, a weighty and serious volume with more than 200 scrumptious recipes divided into comprehensive sections that make it quick and easy to find exactly what you are looking for. The recipes are laid out in a clear and consistent manner, easy to follow and understand for even a kitchen novice. At the same time, more experienced cooks will not find themselves bored by the recipes, which offer many unique ideas and flavor combinations that are sure to tantalize the tastebuds.
Christmas Delights is packed with extras including the history of Christmas traditions around the world, the meaning of familiar Christmas symbols, even tips on how to care for your poinsettia. There are also several Christmas-themed poems by Karen Hood, and these have her usual simple yet elegant style, ensuring that this section of the book will be read and enjoyed time and time again. Further facts about Christmas are sprinkled throughout the cookbook, livening up the recipes with fun tidbits of trivia. There is also a US and Metric Measurement Chart in the back, an invaluable assistance for conversions and measuring ingredients; a glossary of cooking terms that will help even an inexperienced cook feel comfortable in the kitchen; and an alphabetized index of recipes.
Karen Jean Matsko Hood has a great deal of experience in the kitchen, and it definitely shows. I tried out several of the recipes: Ham Casserole Supreme, Artichoke Green Chile Dip, and Butternut Ball Cookies. The ham casserole made a wonderful dinner that my entire family loved, a very flavorful and unique twist on the old favorite macaroni and cheese. The dip was very quick and easy to make, and again provided an unexpected and delightful twist on the usual artichoke dip that I am familiar with. The cookies also made a big hit, and were alot of fun to make. I have looked through many of the other recipes in the book and am very excited about trying them out. There are many fun ideas that any parent or grandparent will love to make with their little ones. The Cookie Casserole in particular looks like it will be a blast for children, and every recipe I turn to sounds delicious. This is definitely a cookbook my family will enjoy not just at the holidays, but all year long.
Order your copy of Christmas Delights today!
Trends in Young Adult Fiction
Over the past few years, the Young Adult fiction market has exploded. The number of YA books published saw a 25% increase between 1999 and 2005, and the market continues to grow. The quality of the writing has increased dramatically as well, becoming both more literary in style and more complex in terms of plot and character. This is good news for teen literacy, which continues to be a struggle across the country.
Here is a breakdown in current trends for teen fiction:
Fantasy
Many of today’s teens grew up during the Harry Potter craze, which served as an introduction not only to reading in general, but reading fantasy in particular. The fact that the Harry Potter series evolved from book to book, growing darker and more complex, helped readers remain interested as they grew older. The fantasy genre has a long history in children’s and young adult fiction, and today it is flourishing more than ever.
Dark Fantasy/Paranormal
This is perhaps the first trend that comes to mind when many people think of YA fiction today. Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series is inescapable these days, and it is at the forefront of a lengthy and growing list of books about brooding supernatural creatures. Many of these, including Twilight, concentrate heavily on the damsel-in-distress and romance motifs, although the genre has begun to move toward stronger female characters. Regardless, the genre’s appeal to teens seems here to stay.
Post-Apocalyptic
Often an off-shoot of the science fiction or historical genres, post-apocalyptic YA novels have been coming into wider popularity over the last few years. These books frequently feature teens who have the ability, intelligence, and drive to save or renew societies that are failing because of the mistakes of the adult populace–and keeping in mind the perennial generation clash of teens and their elders, it is easy to see the powerful appeal such stories would have for YA readers.
Manga/Graphic Novels
The modern world is inundated with visual stimulus–TV, movies, video and computer games, smart phones–so it should be no surprise that stories told in a visual format have finally come into their own. The first comic book was printed in the US in 1932, and the genre has had its following ever since. But never before has it enjoyed such widespread popularity–these days, the manga/graphic novel section of a bookstore can easily take up several rows. The range of topics and quality of the writing is equally as diverse as traditional YA fiction, ranging from bubblegum boy-meets-girl-with-hilarity-ensuing to gritty, complex stories about vampires, the challenges of everyday life, and everything in between.
Chick Lit
Every girl wants to be beautiful, popular, and in fashion. Every girl wants to snag the hot guy of her dreams. Chick lit is all about that, and it’s easy to see the appeal. Humorous series like The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson feature main characters who find themselves in one socially disastrous (but entertaining) situation after another. The teen years are rife with social awkwardness, and books like this provide a way for girls to identify with the character, laugh at her pratfalls, and navigate through their own social interactions with greater deftness. On the other end of the genre are series like Gossip Girl, which concentrate on the lives of wealthy young socialites. These books are more serious in nature, often dealing with mature and sometimes racy subjects, and they have wide appeal in today’s celebrity-obsessed culture.
Realist
While books like Twilight are on the low end of the quality spectrum, there are many YA novels that are extremely well-written and deal with weighty, realistic themes. The books in this genre are very sophisticated and literary, and comprise the majority of award-winning fiction for young adults.
Trends in fiction, both young adult and otherwise, can be subject to swift, dramatic changes. It is easier to identify current trends than it is to predict what may be popular in the future. Regardless of which genres are popular in the upcoming years, the overall trend toward an increasingly literate teen populace is an encouraging and exciting thing, and one that seems destined to continue for the time to come.
RWA Membership
Karen Jean Matsko Hood is now a member of the Romance Writers of America! RWA is dedicated to helping romance authors advance their careers and offers many opportunities to connect with likeminded writers through workshops, conferences, and local chapter meetings. With 10,000 members and 145 chapters, RWA is one of the largest writing associations in the country and works hard to promote the romance genre as well as providing romance writers with the knowledge and opportunity to succeed. The organization also sponsors the romance publishing industry’s prestigious awards for published and unpublished romance writers — the RITA Awards and the Golden Heart Awards.
Karen is currently working on her first romance novel, Jasmine, which will be published by Whispering Pines Press in June 2011. Jasmine is the story of Jasmine Butler, who moves to the small town of Bear River, Montana hoping to escape her past. She is surprised to discover her attraction to Arnold Talbot, her surly but handsome boss who has demons of his own. Just as Jasmine is beginning to feel comfortable in her new life, surrounded by people she cares about in Bear River, she is faced with a rival for Arnold’s affection: a beautiful and sophisticated woman from his past. But even that pales in comparison to the danger that has followed her to Bear River, a danger that could claim her very life. Will life and love triumph over dark secrets and a tragic past? To find out more about this suspenseful romance or to pre-order the book, please visit Karen’s Bookstore or Whispering Pines Press.
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