Summer Reading List 2013

*  Summer Reading List  *

*  2013  *

Welcome girls and boys to another list of books to read during your summer break!

But look how pretty the day is?

It's June 23, and you may have started your summer vacations. Mine must be lost in the mail! Have y'all been lying under the sun, getting sand in all your shoes and clothes, jumping into swimming pools or the sea, eating watermelon and pop sickles? Made you believe we had nothing up our sleeves huh? Oh, you thought you were free from this year's homework, didn't you? Liberated this year from your summer assignments since you didn't receive it in the mail 2 weeks ago, huh? Well too bad! We are just not an efficient school mailer. We got caught up in paperwork and a general lack of free time, but you have it now!

Damn I envy you all. I mean, I may have always looked forward to the reading assignments summer would bring, but that was mostly because I loved reading in between the fun moments of sunshine! I've been in England, where it feels like early spring in NY. All clouds, wind, awkward rain, and always needing a sweater! Come on weather Gods, what gives?! I didn't move to the Bay area! I'm not hunting for glittering bastards up in the pacific northwest! I miss the heat, the sunshine, the coconut oil! Even the stench of Manhattan in Mid July!

    

The Summer of Experimenting! 

Since the weather is driving me indoors most of the time, and my paint-by-numbers habit costs money, I needed something to do that will entertain without breaking the bank. I really want to broadening my recipe horizons. Last year, one of the books required some pretty pricey tools. And even though I borrowed most of 'em, I will never get another 'parts sold separately' toy again. I searched for new volumes that had minimal fancy tools, cheap/healthy ingredients and could all be created in a minuscule kitchen like mine. Seriously, Harry Potter's under the stairs bedroom was roomier!

"I have to get up, someone's keeping my past relevant"

The tricky factor was the ingredients. I have to read all the labels meticulously, not just for calorie obsession or salt intake. Did you know all those 'heart healthy' cheerios are actually high in sodium? I have some dietary limitations now (new food allergies replacing old ones and food sensitivities) and strong vigilance over what passes my lips is ever more vital. Nothing like being a trypanophobic who carries an Epi-pen to make you remember to be careful! Stocking my pantry with all safe yet delicious ingredients my body wont try to kill on sight is a start. But not all of the recipes I have now exclude those now deadly, or gaseous, fixings."Replace them then, Ashley! Just switch that ingredient for something you can eat." Well, thanks but sometimes that means the recipe wont taste the same or something will go wrong. Looking for recipes without alternations needed has been my task!

1. The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying & Start Making by Alana Chernila 
This book was mentioned to me a few times over the course of my perusals. I love making things from scratch, and I'd rather earn my tasty unhealthy treats. A book promising to have a healthier recipe than the store bought original, sounded way too good to be true. It has some great ideologies: make it yourself and you'll know what is in it, and a shoestring budget never has to sacrifice delicious food and fun times. Alana, our culinary guide, is a woman who has done just that. She discusses the theories her cover advertises, the gadgets she uses throughout the pages, and how to properly use your freezer! Now, my freezer can hold about 1 ice cub tray and some frozen meat/fish. This section might not help me until I can upgrade to a bigger kitchen.

2. The Smitten Kitchen by Deb Perelman
Any time I need some kitchen inspiration on the quick, I always jump to The Smitten Kitchen online. Every recipe from the website I have tried has been amaz-balls! Hopefully, this book will not just be a compilation of the website directory. I am sure that Deb won't let me down. This beautiful, witty, travel obsessed lady is someone I would love to meet in person - to give her the biggest hug in the world! She is one of my cooking idols, a woman who travels the world, cooks, and makes a living by her wit and talents! If you cannot tell, I find her amazing. Not only have these recipes caught my eye, but I am hoping to add this book to my permanent collections.

3. Honestly Healthy: Eat with your body in mind, the alkaline way by Natasha Corrett
As previously stated, I need me some Star Veggie dishes. And where else would I find these amazing recipes, but among the Vegetarians and Vegans? I respect the veg heads who are dedicated to the cause out of true need or belief, not the 'occasional' veggie. I tried going V once and it turned into a family joke how I lasted two weeks before I realised I needed some fish. But I truly don't know how to make a main meal out of 'em unless it is a salad, a stir fry, a curry, or stick nibbles. Honestly Healthy seems like a good place to start.   

4. The Green Kitchen: Delicious and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes for Every Day by David Frenkiel
I have heard nothing but amazing things about this book. Apparently, veg heads and carnivores alike would love these unique and delicious plates. There are even desserts in this one! I love finding out how to make new soups and stews, but vegan chocolate truffles will be a new adventure entirely. This 'cooking with the seasons' theme might make the table a little less leafy green come winter, but some root veg mains will be an amazing addition to stew season!

5. Vegetable Literacy: Cooking and Gardening with Twelve Families from the Edible Plant Kingdom, with Over 300 Deliciously Simple Recipes by Deborah Madison
Veggies are always needed in your meals, or so I have been told. Don't like 'em? Well, sorry, but we are not little kids anymore. Brussels sprouts are always gonna get the yuck face from me. I will never force veggies down, but why not make them delicious? Make them the main attraction and not the side salad? All these vegetarians have something I like, veggie recipes. I like meat but ever since my sad day of rabbit stew murder fest '13 I could stay on a break from critters for a while. Well, maybe not chicken breast or tuna in cans, but no faces for awhile!!! 

6. Healthy Breakfast Recipes by Alissa Carter
I am hoping for this breakfast encyclopedia to help me. Almost all the foods I cannot have are first meal orientated. I mean, come on! The most important meal of the day, especially for weight loss, and it is trying to kill me from the inside. Mutiny on your own time breakfast foods. . . like when I'm 90 and begging for jello! Basically, I need to find foods for that meal. So far when people see me munch on a tomato like an apple on the early morning transport, I get a lot of advice on eating regular meals. From strangers! IN LONDON!?! Really odd reactions, trust me, for not being in the states. SOS food Gods, a meal is missing. May this red checkered bible show me the word of . . . BREAKFAST!

But sometimes I will just grab that toast and say:



 

Enjoy your summer of reading and adventure!!

Bye For Now X