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Archive for the ‘Book News’ Category
Make this Spring Unforgettable with Easter Delights
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Easter Delights is a cookbook that is destined to become a well-loved classic, filled with over 240 delicious recipes that will make planning for this holiday a breeze. Even at a glance, it is clear that author Karen Hood has chosen recipes that reflect the freshness and vibrance of Spring, using seasonal ingredients that bring dazzling flavors to life. Cooks of all experience and skill will be thrilled with this book, for it offers both traditional dishes and inspiring new recipes that are laid out in a consistent format that is easy to understand and follow. Whether you want to create an elegant brunch or a satisfying dinner, this cookbook provides everything you need to make your Easter meal a success.
While the garden freshness of many of the other appetizers appealed strongly to me, I simply couldn’t resist trying out the Empress Chicken Wings. These Asian style wings were amazing, very flavorful without being overly hot and spicy like most recipes I have tried in the past. The selection of light, fruity beverages were so tempting that I had trouble picking just one. The Springtime Freezy Punch was easy to make and got high marks from my entire family, and I can easily imagine how well it will compliment an Easter brunch. For dinner, we had Roast Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Cranberry Glaze, Garlic Bacon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes, and Sweet & Nutty Holiday Peas. All of the food was outstanding, the pork tender and the glaze delightful, the mashed potatoes so packed with flavor that I don’t think we’ll ever be able to go back to eating them plain. The peas were downright amazing. I must confess that I have never liked peas and was actually a bit nervous about how this side dish would be received at the dinner table. No one complained, and there wasn’t a single pea left, not even on my plate.
There are so many enticing recipes in Easter Delights that I will be cooking up a storm for some time to come. I am very impressed with the variety, elegance, and quality of Hood’s recipes–she has transformed me from a shy and inexperienced housewife into a first-class hostess always excited for the next family gathering! My husband’s large (and rather daunting) extended family will be coming to Easter at our house for the first time this year, and with Easter Delights in hand I have no worries about making a good impression. There are recipes for everything I could want, from delicious desserts and sweet treats to fancy quiches and salad dressings. Traditional Easter foods like hot cross buns, deviled eggs, and the classic Easter ham are just the beginning: there is also Bourbon Pecan Roast Chicken, Spiced Cherry Salad, Greek Lemon Chicken Soup, and much more. Now the only trouble is deciding which amazing recipes will make up my holiday menu…
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April is National Poetry Month!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
In 1996, the Academy of American Poets instituted the nation-wide recognition of American poetry. Now, 15 years later, National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world, bringing poets, librarians, teachers, booksellers, and ordinary citizens together. We in the Hood family enjoy reading poetry very much, and Karen herself is a talented poet with several volumes of poetry in print. We hope that you will join us in celebrating American poetry during the month of April.
According to the National Poetry Month website, the goals of this celebration are to:
- Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
- Introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry
- Bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways
- Make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum
- Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
- Encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books
- Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry
There are literally hundreds of things you can do to participate in National Poetry Month, including attending a poetry reading or organizing one of your own, memorizing a poem, or attend a writing workshop. There are also local events being organized around the country, like the Copper Canyon Press Poetry Reading that will be held on April 5 in Seattle. Check with colleges and bookstores in your area to find out what special events you can attend. If you will be in New York at the end of the month, check out the 9th annual Poetry & the Creative Mind benefit that helps raise funding for the Academy of American Poets. Some of America’s leading artists, scholars, and public figures will participate in this extraordinary evening celebrating the role of contemporary poetry in American culture. Past guest readers at the benefit have included Meryl Streep, Senator Edward Kennedy, Dan Rather, Lauren Bacall, and Alan Alda.
For more ways to participate in NPM, click here! In the meantime, check out this review of Karen Hood’s first volume of poetry, Frost of Spring Green. Whether you are a poetry lover already or someone looking into this art form for the first time, you will be delighted by this book. It’s a great way to kick off the celebration!
Purchase Frost of Spring Green today!
| Copyright Year and Binding |
Mother’s Day Delights: Bringing a Special Touch to the Holiday
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Whether you are looking for a special gift for Mother’s Day or would like to dazzle your mother with a delicious meal, Mother’s Day Delights is the perfect choice. Packed with recipes, insightful poetry, and information about the holiday, this cookbook is a treasure trove of inspiration. Even mothers who don’t do much cooking are sure to enjoy this book, for the recipes are quick and easy with clear instructions, and the results are always fabulous. On the other hand, if your mother is a kitchen whiz, she will be impressed by the quality and variety of recipes that range from appetizers to desserts, jams and jellies to soups, main dishes to side dishes and everything in between. Amaze your mother with a breakfast of Swedish Pancakes and a souffle, or serve her Baked Beef Burgundy and a tantalizing Confetti Chopped Salad for dinner–no matter what meal you choose to honor her with, she will be delighted. Many of the recipes are easy enough that the kids can help Dad out in the kitchen to make a special breakfast in bed, and some are even suitable for older children to make on their own.
My family tried out the Buttermilk Cloverleaf Rolls, the Steak with Sweet Onions, the Baked Potatoes with Stuffing, and the Chocolate Velvet Cake. The rolls were both aesthetically impressive and delicious, very light and buttery. The steak was incredible, as flavorful and tender as any steak we would find at an expensive restaurant. My husband may insist that it become a Father’s Day dinner too! We were pleasantly surprised at the way our kids devoured the potatoes despite the tofu in the stuffing, and thought that it was a great way to add protein to this normally starchy side dish. The cake was best of all–and not just because I’m a chocoholic: it was very moist and rich, truly velvety. Karen Hood has come up with a unique way to add a special touch to the traditional chocolate cake recipe, and I continue to be impressed by her cooking experience and the quality of her Cookbook Delights series.
Order your copy of Mother’s Day Delights today!
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