Cookbook Bargain Trio (K)

I was looking thru the cookbooks tonight and ran across a few interesting ones. I also noticed that the Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler, which I love, has a $10 off coupon (click the button to clip it, to the right of the product picture, before adding to the cart), for those that might be interested. Our first one lasted over 10 years, before the plates wore out; it was cheaper to get a second one than add plates, since I found it on sale at Amazon one day. This has won a coveted spot next to the stove and stays out all the time. It gets used several times a week and it's not unusual to get used twice a day, for steaks, chicken, paninis, etc. The new one has pancake plates on the flip side of the regular griddler plates (also used regularly) and I've been considering getting the Waffle Plates (currently on sale), even though I have a perfectly good waffle iron -- not only is this appliance already out, that would let me run two waffles at once.

If you are a paper cookbook person, be sure to check out the "Black Friday" cookbook sale, which is still going on. Looks to be better than half-price on some interesting titles, including Sweet Vegan: A Collection of All Vegan, some Gluten-Free, and a Few Raw Desserts (under $9).

One Dish at a Time: Delicious Recipes and Stories from My Italian-American Childhood and Beyond ($4.99 Kindle), by Valerie Bertinelli. It's apparently higher for Canadians, but the same $4.99 on Google, for those there or with nooks. For those with iPads, there is an Audio/Video Edition, but it's nearly $15.

Book Description
More than 100 recipes for the Italian dishes of the much-beloved celeb’s childhood, presented with tips and hints for enjoying them without overindulging.

As a member of a large, food-loving Italian family, Valerie Bertinelli has always equated food with good times and togetherness. But at one point her love of food threatened not only her health, but her livelihood as an actress, when personal demons drove her to overeat and make poor food choices that caused her weight to balloon by 50 pounds. Now happily svelte, remarried, and riding a new career high, Valerie has made peace with food, giving it a central—yet considered—place in her home and family celebrations.

One Dish at a Time offers an intimate look into the beloved actress’s kitchen, where she prepares a collection of treasured recipes from her Italian heritage. Along the way, she shares her insights into the portion control and mindful indulgence she has come to practice on her journey to enjoying the pleasures of the table again.

Filled with gorgeous photos including the actress in her kitchen, nutrition information accompanying each recipe, and Valerie’s tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, One Dish at a Time is designed to please baby boomer fans and home cooks alike.

The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time ($4.99 Kindle), by Laurie David and Kirstin Uhrenholdt

Book Description
The producer of An Inconvenient Truth, Laurie David's new mission is to help America's overwhelmed families sit down to a Family Dinner, and she provides all the reasons, recipes and fun tools to do so.

Laurie David speaks from her own experience confronting the challenges of raising two teenage girls. Today's parents have lots to deal with and technology is making their job harder than ever. Research has proven that everything we worry about as parents--from drugs to alcohol, promiscuity, to obesity, academic achievement and just good old nutrition--can all be improved by the simple act of eating and talking together around the table.

Laurie has written a practical, inspirational, fun (and, of course, green) guide to the most important hour in any parent's day. Chock-full chapters include: Over seventy-five kid approved fantastic recipes; tips on teaching green values; conversation starters; games to play to help even the shyest family member become engaged; ways to express gratitude; the family dinner after divorce (hint: keep eating together) and much more. Filled with moving memories and advice from the country's experts and teachers, this book will get everyone away from electronic screens and back to the dinner table.

The Olive and the Caper: Adventures in Greek Cooking ($2.51 Kindle), by Susanna Hoffman

Book Description
This is the year "It's Greek to me" becomes the happy answer to what's for dinner. My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the upcoming epic Troy, the 2004 Summer Olympics returning to Athens--and now, yet another reason to embrace all things Greek: The Olive and the Caper, Susanna Hoffman's 700-plus-page serendipity of recipes and adventure.

In Corfu, Ms. Hoffman and a taverna owner cook shrimp fresh from the trap--and for us she offers the boldly-flavored Shrimp with Fennel, Green Olives, Red Onion, and White Wine. She gathers wild greens and herbs with neighbors, inspiring Big Beans with Thyme and Parsley, and Field Greens and Ouzo Pie. She learns the secret to chewy country bread from the baker on Santorini and translates it for American kitchens. Including 325 recipes developed in collaboration with Victoria Wise (her co-author on The Well-Filled Tortilla Cookbook, with over 258,000 copies in print), The Olive and the Caper celebrates all things Greek: Chicken Neo-Avgolemeno. Fall-off-the-bone Lamb Shanks seasoned with garlic, thyme, cinnamon and coriander. Siren-like sweets, from world-renowned Baklava to uniquely Greek preserves: Rose Petal, Cherry and Grappa, Apricot and Metaxa.

In addition, it opens with a sixteen-page full-color section and has dozens of lively essays throughout the book--about the origins of Greek food, about village life, history, language, customs--making this a lively adventure in reading as well as cooking.