Cookology
An Antidote to Holiday Cookies
The Nature’s Yucky! three-book childrens non-fiction series features animals doing what we humans perceive as gross behaviors. My co-author Karen Shragg and I then describe how these yucky actions help the animals survive. Karen likes to cook and does a lot of experimenting, whipping meals together. Since she likes cooking so much, we include a kid-friendly recipe in
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Reading my books, you could be excused for thinking I’m a foodie. I’m not — I just like to eat! And so do my characters, apparently. Food and recipes play a role in many of my stories, including all three Pumpkin Falls mysteries.
Honey Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls
Author Gennifer Choldenko contributes this recipe, which is just right for autumn, Halloween, or curling up with a good book. Have you read her Orphan Eleven yet? It’s nummy, too. Honey Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls ½ cup honey 3 T peanut butter 2 T water 4 T butter 12 cups popcorn 1 cup salted mixed nuts Toasted Sesame seeds (optional) 1. Melt honey, peanut
Fried Rice and Ohana
Imagine a cluster of smiling keikis, (kids), sitting around a calabash filled with mouth-watering Hawaii local-style fried rice. Sharing delicious food from a calabash serving bowl is a Hawaii tradition. As it does everywhere around the world, not just in Hawaii, eating meals together creates common bonds for everyone, children and adults alike, solidifying the feeling of ohana, or
Cardamom Scones
I adore books that have food details. I like to know what the characters are eating. Even better, I like to know what they’re cooking and baking. And if there’s a food or feast that plays a prominent role in the plot, I’m hooked. Turns out, these are the sorts of books I enjoy writing, as well. My novel, Giant
For the Love of Pickles
Know some pickle crazy kids? I do! A favorite birthday dinner that my grandkids request is Pickle Pasta (recipe below) — not the cold pasta salad variety, mind you, but warm buttery noodles dotted with briny pickles. My daughter created this simple but oh-so-satisfying dish during her college days when the cupboards were sometimes nearly bare. I guarantee you will
Carrot Soup
Carrots are most often served raw in our home due to our sons’ preferences. But five years ago at the library we found the book Carrot Soup by John Segal.
An Autumn Salad from Karen Cushman
I must admit I’m more of a free-form cook. I don’t really follow recipes but adapt them to what I have on hand or what my creative juices are calling for. Usually. The following recipe I love so much that I make it as suggested except for the squash. I do love delicata. I don’t know where the recipe originally came from — I
Lucy’s Easy Vanilla Bean Rice Pudding
Reading Ahead recommends McDuff Moves In, a picture book about a rescue dog’s search for a new family, written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Susan Jeffers (The Gryphon Press, 2019). This recipe is included in the book and featured here with the permission of the publisher.
Cozy Reading Chili
We’ve been outside enjoying the summer and fall weather, but now it’s time to settle in for a winter’s worth of reading. Enjoy this yummy chili while you read.
Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding
Just Like Rube Goldberg author Sarah Aronson shares her recipe for a yummy, sugary treat, one that she believes Rube Goldberg would have loved because he was a fan of Cool Whip.
Pumpkin Muffins
Author Melanie Heuiser Hill believes that Gram, from her book Giant Pumpkin Suite, would be baking these pumpkin muffins this month.
Squashed Fly Cookies
My British mom was fond of making these for us as children. It is a cookie (or “biscuit” if you live in the UK!) she knows from her own childhood. The moniker may suggest an unusual, rather disagreeable ingredient, but in reality, no insects were sacrificed for the dough!
No Trout Tomato Soup for Two
Enjoy this recipe for tomato soup from Creekfinding’s author, Jacqueline Briggs Martin.
Potato Latkes
One of the traditional foods served at Hannukah celebrations, this recipe for Potato Latkes will have your nose twitching and your mouth watering! Happy Hannukah!