Weekend Cooking: Books in My January Kitchen

Hi friends. Sorry I've been so absent lately, but we've been trying to set in place our 2021 goals and changes, and they have pretty much taken over most of my energy this month. Nothing bad going on at all, just shaking it up a bit. I'll try to write a catch-up post in February to clue you in, but for now, social media is not at the top of my mind.

Enough with the vague explanations . . . today I have a mishmash of thoughts on cookbooks and food-related reading that came my way in January. I'm going to start with my favorite.

Ina Garten's latest cookbook is Modern Comfort Food (it came out last October from Clarkson Potter). I love Ina Garten and this book doesn't disappoint. Our favorite recipe so far is the Crispy Chicken with Lemon Orzo (shown here), which was super quick to put together and really delicious. The recipe can be found over on Food 52. Also good was the Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Orange Butter. I went ahead and made the entire composed butter recipe, using a full stick of butter, and popped the leftovers in the freezer for the next time I roast sweet potatoes. If you're an Ina Garten fan, you'll want to pick up a copy of the cookbook or at least check it out of the library. Vegetarians and vegans will definitely want to borrow before buying.

Next up is a book I was curious about because, as you know, I jumped on the meal-planning bandwagon several years ago. I've found planning to be been especially important during COVID, when it's just not worth running to the store to pick up random ingredients whenever the mood hits. Instead, we've been very consciously ordering curbside pickup or delivery and limiting our in-store shopping. I thought I could pick up a few tips in 100 Days of Real Food Meal Planner by Lisa Leake (William Morrow, Dec. 2020). If you are completely new to meal planning or are having trouble getting in the groove, then this and other books by Leake will probably be a big help. Note that this planner is mostly a workbook. It contains some good tips (though not everyone is in a position to eat mostly locally produced foods) and a few one-pot recipes. The bulk of the book consists of 52 perforated pages with space to plan your dinners and create shopping lists for an entire year. Many people will find this a godsend and to be very useful. I, however, have already found my rhythm, so I plan to give my copy to a friend who asked me for some organizational help.

I don't generally review diet or fitness books in this space for many reasons, but I was curious about two books that came out this month. The first is Fast This Way by Dave Asprey (Harper Wave, Jan. 19). Dave Asprey, if you don't know, is the name behind the Bulletproof brand of diet and nutrition supplements, bulletproof coffee, and gadgets. Note that I don't really know much about Asprey, have never used his products, and have never tasted bulletproof coffee. Nevertheless, I downloaded a review copy of Fast This Way because I wanted to know more about intermittent fasting, which has, in fact, gotten some positive reactions from the medical community. Unfortunately, the first pages of the book included a description of a spiritual quest, which made me (don't hate me) immediately put the book down. Perhaps there is good, solid medical and scientific data in this book, but I was turned off from reading more. Your mileage may vary . . . if you give this book a try, let me know what you thought.

The final book I looked through (meaning I didn't read every single word) is Abby Langer's Good Food, Bad Diet (Simon & Schuster, Jan. 5). Langer, a registered dietitian working in Toronto, is not out to tell you to ban carbs, eat all the fats, go low fat, become a vegan, or do anything else. Her hope is to dispel the ideas that the only good woman is a thin woman and that only the ultra skinny are healthy and happy. Her goal is to change people's (sadly, mostly women) negative relationship with food and the scale. Thus she encourages readers to work toward good physical and mental health, even while enjoying a few chocolate cookies when the mood strikes. That said, she does encourage people to obtain a healthy weight. Is this contradictory? Perhaps. But her principal focus is to move her readers past the diet culture and change their relationship with food. Langer believes this is the only way people can reach their own individual set weight--balancing a full range of food choices with a good medical checkup. Although there are no earth-shattering revelations here, if you have issues around food and eating or have struggled with dieting, you might want to give this one a try.

Shared with Weekend Cooking, hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader (and Baker)

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Weekend Cooking: The Instant Pot Bible: The Next Generation by BruceWeinstein and Mark Scarbrough

I had every intention to write and post this review last week. But after all the events that happened at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, I really just didn't have it in me to post a cookbook review.

No worries, though, because Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough's Instant Pot Bible: The Next Generation (thanks to Voracious Books and the Voracious Ambassador Program for the review copy) can be used all year round.

Let me start with a little background. I've been a pressure cooker fan since the 1990s, relying on my stove top model until about--what?--10 years ago when the electric versions became readily available and readily affordable. I'm still a fan, and have two electrics and my original stove-top pot. I cook under pressure at least once a week.

I was really excited to see a new Instant Pot cookbook from Weinstein and Scarbrough. They've written many cookbooks, have been nominated for James Beard Awards, and have won an IACP award. They know what they're talking about.

The Instant Pot Bible: The Next Generation has (as the cover says, 350 new recipes, ranging from breakfasts and snacks to main dishes, sides, and desserts. The recipes are extremely family friendly, appealing to a wide variety of tastes. For each recipe, the authors have indicated whether it is appropriate for a vegetarian, gluten-free, or vegan diet.

Things I like about the recipes: easy to find ingredients, clear step-by-step instructions, tips and notes to help you succeed, and directions for the full range of Instant Pot (electric pressure cooker) sizes. I appreciate the "Beyond" boxes, which contain variations, serving tips, and/or ways to use leftovers.

In addition, Weinstein and Scarbrough include recipes to help you learn new techniques, like pot-in-pot cooking, baking, poaching, and stacked cooking. They also help you learn to use models that include an air-fryer lid.

Things I need to point out: The cookbook contains very few photographs of the finished dishes, and these are all found in a single color insert section. Some of the recipes would be just as easy and maybe even quicker if made on the stove top in a conventional pot or saucepan. This is a personal issue for me. I love my pressure cookers, but I don't use them for every possible dish. On the other hand, I can imagine several situations in which being able to cook almost everything in a single electric small appliance could be a bonus (RV camping, studio apartment, for example).

Finally, for a couple of the recipes I tried (not all), I cut the time at pressure by a couple of minutes to get the results that suit our tastes. How did I know to do this? Experience. If you cook something in your pressure cooker and the veggies are too soft, then next time cut the time by a minute or two and see if you're happier. As with all new techniques and skills, there is a learning curve.

I cooked quite a bit out of Weinstein and Scarbrough's The Instant Pot Bible: The Next Generation. Usually I followed the directions exactly, but in some cases, I used their recipes as inspiration. I made the Lemon, Baby Kale, and Goat Cheese Risotto (except we used Parmesan cheese instead), Balsamic Beef Stew (a winner, with no tweaks), Millennial-Friendly Pasta e Fagioli Soup, Grandmother-Friendly Potato Soup (with the called-for cabbage), and Ground Beef and Lentil Soup. I'm curious about making some of the desserts and the casseroles.

Recommendation: I recommend The Instant Pot Bible: The Next Generation by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough for anyone looking for easy and doable recipes for their electric pressure cooker, and especially those who may be totally new to the Instant Pot. It's also a good resource for experienced users wishing to learn new tricks for their beloved appliance.

The recipe I'm sharing today is for Spiced Poached Pears, which I picked because it's vegan and gluten-free and could easily be adapted to conventional cooking if you don't have a pressure cooker. I'm giving the directions for 5- to 8-quart Instant Pots. The authors suggest a bold red wine or even a sweet Riesling if you don't have cider on hand. Weinstein and Scarbrough serve the pears and syrup over ice cream.

Note: I haven't yet made this recipe. Thanks to Voracious and the Voracious Ambassador Program for the review copy. The scans and recipe are used in the context of a review; all rights remain with the original copyright holders.

Spiced Poached Pears
Serves 4

• 3 1/2 cups unsweetened apple cider
• 2 cups granulated white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 8 whole cloves
• 1 small orange
• One 3-inch cinnamon stick
• 4 firm, ripe bosc or Anjou pears, stemmed, peeled, cored, and halved from top to bottom

Stir the cider, sugar, and vanilla extract in the insert until the sugar dissolves. Push the "stem" ends of the cloves into the orange and drop it into the pot. Add the cinnamon stick too. Nestle the pear halves into this liquid and lock the lid on the pot. Set the pot to pressure cook on high (with the valve closed) for 4 minutes with the keep warm setting off. Hit start.

When the pot has finished cooking, turn it off and let the pressure return to normal naturally, about 25 minutes. Unlatch the pot and open the cooker. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pear halves to a heat-safe storage bowl (do not use plastic). Remove and discard the orange, any cloves that have fallen out, and the cinnamon stick.

Press saute, set on high. Stir constantly as the sauce comes to a simmer. Continue cooking, stirring almost constantly until the sauce has reduced to a thick syrup, about half the volume it was after you removed the pears, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and pour the hot syrup over the pears. Cool to room temperature, cover, and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Shared with Weekend Cooking, hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader (and Baker)

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What I Read Last Week

Hello, all. Here is another of my periodic "what have I read lately" posts. I skipped a December roundup, but my thoughts on everything I read in 2020 are available on GoodReads, where I'm BethFishReads.

One of Our Own by Jane Haddam (Minotaur: Nov. 2020; Dreamscape: 9 hr, 6 min). This is the end of a long series featuring an ex-FBI agent, his wife, and the members of his Philadelphia Armenian American neighborhood. Haddam finished this book just before she died. Note: because I was the copyeditor for the first several entries in this series, the Demarkian books have always held a special place in my heart.

Although this isn't the strongest Demarkian book, Haddam did a fine job concluding the series. Most of the story arcs reached a satisfying ending, though (rightly so) not everything was tied up in a neat bow. I'm sorry to say goodbye to the returning characters whose stories I've followed since the first book was published.

As in most of the Demarkian books, Haddam addresses contemporary sociocultural/sociopolitical issues. In this case, she looks at inner city housing and a real estate magnate, immigration and ICE, foster care, culture clashes, and the changing nature of city neighborhoods. The mystery and side stories are well constructed, complex, and engrossing.

You'll want to start this series from the beginning so you can understand the dynamics between the main characters. For my thoughts on the audiobook, read by David Colacci, see AudioFile Magazine.

The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin (Delacorte: Jan. 12; Random House Audio: 11 hr, 25 min). This is a well-researched, though fictionalized, account of the great 1888 blizzard, often referred to as the Children's Blizzard because it struck just when most schools in the upper Midwest were closing for the day. The majority of those schoolchildren failed to made it home or to a safe haven before the blinding snow engulfed them.

The focus of the novel is on two sisters who are schoolteachers in different towns. The women make very different choices for how to tend to the children in their care. We also meet a newspaper man who is forced to think about his role in enticing the unprepared to stake claims on the prairie, and a young girl who was sold by her mother to a childless couple and makes decisions based on her unique situation.

The storm came up so suddenly that people were simply caught unaware and unprepared on the open prairie, where they became lost in the blinding snow, eventually freezing to death. The novel conveys the horrors of the blizzard, why even seasoned settlers were surprised by the snow, and how the storm had lasting effects.

Cassandra Campbell performs the audiobook, adding to the drama and bringing the characters to life. Thanks to the publishers and Libro.fm for review copies in audio and digital media.

Under the Alaskan Ice by Karen Harper (Mira: Dec. 2020; Harlequin Audio: 9 hr, 9 min). I was attracted to this book because of the premise of the mysterious unmarked private plane that crashes into a frozen Alaskan lake. What I didn't realize, though, was that this mystery had a heavy romance factor. That in and of itself would have been okay, but ultimately I had problems with the writing/style and put the book aside fairly early on.

My primary issue was the number of times the author asks the questions that should be left up to the engaged reader. For example, Harper has one of the characters think through a long list of questions about the plane: Why did it crash? Why now? Why here? and so on. The plotting should have made me ask those questions, without the prompting. This happens more than once. In addition, the young child was little too precocious for my tastes.

I'm a mystery fan and love an Alaskan setting, but this book just didn't click with me. Thanks to the publishers for audio and digital review copies.

Summerwater by Sarah Moss (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: Jan. 12 Macmillan Audio: 4 hr, 27 min). Written almost as linked short stories or vignettes, this slim novel, told over the course of one day, follows about a dozen people who are vacationing in a remote area of Scotland.

At the beginning of the day, which opens with a young mother taking a dawn run, each family is insular, hunkering down in their own cabins or following their own amusements. As we see the day progress through the eyes of different characters, we begin to view the temporary community of strangers as unique individuals, understanding their behavior from a variety of perspectives. By the end of the day, several groups have crossed paths, quarreled, or bonded . . .

The novel is beautifully written. Moss creates an uneasy atmosphere, building a sense of dread beneath what should be a relaxing summer day for the vacationers. This isn't an uplifting story, and some threads are left open-ended. But life isn't always bright and we can't predict how people are going to face their challenges.

The audiobook is read by Morven Christie, who does an excellent job conveying the author's style, building the tension, and subtly distinguishing between the characters. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and libro.fm for the audio review copy.

The Effort by Claire Holroyde (Grand Central: Jan. 12; Hachette Audio: 10 hr, 38 min). What happens when a comet is destined to hit Earth? A secret international team is quickly cobbled together to try to figure out a way to deflect the comet's path. Meanwhile, a team of scientists is heading to the North Pole, with a poet and photographer in tow, to try to record the last vestiges of Arctic wildlife and the icy landscape before climate change finally wins.

We follow the individuals from these two groups as the countdown to either the comet's impact or the comet's destruction occurs. We also see what happens afterward.

I liked the premise and the different ways people reacted to the news of the impending death of the world as we know it. This isn't an action-packed story but more a slow burn as individuals rise to the occasion or crumple under hopelessness. In addition, this isn't a feel-good story, but it does give us lots to think about.

This will not be the best book I'll read this year, but I'm glad I read it. This would be a good book club pick because readers will likely have differing opinions about the characters' actions. Worth your while.

The audiobook was read by Jay Ben Markson, whose sense of pacing was good match for this book. Thanks to the publishers for the digital and audio copies of this book.

The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage (Back Bay: 2001; Hachette Audio: 8 hr, 15 min). This is a re-issue of a book originally published in 1967 and my first time reading it. It is soon to be a movie.

Set in the 1920s in Montana, this is the story of two brothers, aged 38 and 40. The older, Phil, has always been thought of as the smarter, tougher, more sociable of the two. George is stocky and quiet. The brothers run a successful cattle ranch, living together in their childhood home, which their parents left them when they moved to Salt Lake City.

Strict routines are kept until George suddenly, and without telling Phil, marries Rose, a widow from town, bringing her out to the ranch to make a new home for her and her son. Teenage Peter is bookish, somewhat effeminate, and has trouble connecting with others, but George hopes to be a good stepfather. Phil concocts myriad reasons for disliking and distrusting Rose and Peter and is determined to break up the marriage so life can get back to normal.

Savage writes with power and insight. He provides just enough of the characters' history, through minimal backflashes and memories, to give foundation to the events that unfold after George brings Rose into their home. Chilling and moving. In a way, Savage reminds me of Mishima: through sparse prose, a full and lush story is told. The Power of the Dog will likely be on my best of 2021 list.

This is my first Savage book, but now I must read the rest of his work.

The unabridged audiobook was brilliantly read by Chad Michael Collins. This is my first experience with him, and I was taken in by his pacing, his delivery style, and his ability to build a mood. The afterword (do not miss this!) is read by Annie Proulx, who provides context and thoughts gleaned from several close readings.

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the audio review copy.

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