Author Archives: Tasha

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl by Ree Drummond

Cover of The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond

If you know us personally, you already know about “The Pioneer Woman”:http://thepioneerwoman.com/ because you’ve either gotten a link from us to something wonderful or funny she’s posted about, or because we talk about our imaginary internet friends all the time (note: unlike some of our imaginary internet friends, Pioneer Woman does not actually know us in any way, shape or form – she just has a lot to say that’s worth sharing beyond her blog).

I don’t know how long Bill has been reading PW, but I’ve been reading it for a little over a year now. If I recall correctly (and I may not), at the time I started reading, she just had the “Confessions” and “Cooking” sections up. Now she’s got five sections, and I read them all, daily.… Continue reading →

Eating Well Serves Two by the Editors of Eating Well Magazine

Cover of Eating Well Serves Two

This book, unlike the previously posted book, was a blatant cookbook grab on my part just before the challenge started (the challenge stated we’d buy no more cookbooks after 1 June 2010, and this one was purchased 30 May 2010). Mostly because I’d heard good things about it and I am always looking for a cookbook that is scaled down.

I haven’t, I have to admit, purchased a large number of “cooking for two” cookbooks, though I’ve thought about it. As is quite obvious, it’s not because I don’t like cookbooks or because I hesitate to buy them. It’s because most of them look dull or simplistic. In the case of this one, I bought it because it came extremely highly recommended by a person on one of my internet haunts.… Continue reading →

How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, by Mark Bittman

Cover of How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, by Mark Bittman

Oddly, I don’t have a great deal to say about this book. I purchased it for our household fairly close to the beginning of this challenge. This challenge wasn’t the driver for the purchase, but I’ll admit I wanted to get this cookbook before the rules kicked in (there’s a couple of those lurking about this house).

The main driver for this book, however, was that I would like Bill and I to be eating more vegetarian meals. I think Bill doesn’t care one way or the other about whether or not our meals contain meat. He loves meat, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not nearly as meat-fixated as I am. I think, thus, he doesn’t worry about how to incorporate more vegetarian eating into our lives.… Continue reading →

Big City Cooking by Matthew Kenny and Joan Schwartz

Cover of Big City Cooking by Matthew Kenny and Joan Schwartz

New bookstores are fabulous. Used bookstores are fantastic. The places that combine both are amazing. The place that is an “entire city block”:http://www.powells.com/locations/powells-city-of-books/ is beyond words. At least, that’s how I felt being there. I think that while we were in Portland, OR we visited Powell’s City of Books and/or “Powell’s Technical Books”:http://www.powells.com/locations/powells-technical-books/ at least twice. We were only in Portland for about three days, so that should give you an indication of how much we enjoyed the place.

In truth, I think I like used bookstores better than new bookstores. I truly love all bookstores, and new bookstores show me what’s just come out or what’s on the horizon. But used bookstores offer up old-time gems that you might never otherwise encounter at a library or in a friend’s home, which is just lovely.… Continue reading →

[20] Penne with Beets, Beet Greens and Goat Cheese

Cover of Simply Organic, by Jesse Ziff Cool

This recipe came to light just before our third CSA delivery. We’d gotten an e-mail a couple of days beforehand with a “sneak peak” of what was going to be in our box, beets being on the list.

Well, as interested as I am in local foods, I have to admit that I don’t know much about when many types of produce are available when. Thus, that sneak peak seemed like a total life-saver, as it allowed me to plan a menu in advance of the CSA arriving, and do the supplemental grocery shopping done prior to the delivery.

“Seemed?”, I hear you ask. Well, unfortunately, yes. There were no beets for us in that particular box. Furthermore, as yet, we’re very much enjoying a number of salads, but most of the other vegetable produce has been rather skimpy.… Continue reading →