The Joy of Cooking

It has been a busy week, grading papers, holding traditional events (can you say MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST!) and getting the semester to end on a high note.  So a real departure in the traditional readings and on to a new type of book, well kind of, The Joy of Cooking!  Two of this year’s new RAs chose this one.  I enjoyed learning how to set a table, eating a well balanced meal, knowing how to cook, and knowing what pans to use.  All great how-to’s in preparing a dinner, breakfast, brunch, or lunch!  Wow, hope my wife and kids don’t have high expectations for me.  In terms of meals, well this book has literally thousands of menus for favorite and of course obscure items for your meals.  Bacon stuffing for your fish?  Pat-in-the-pan cheddar dough, how about “turtles” for desert?  Pickled ginger for your favorite meal accoutrement?  Of course you can learn how to make jams, jellies, or preserves.  Which wine should go with that lamb dinner?  When your partner is ill, how about making chicken soup?  Appetizers?  How about a beer cheese dip in a bread bowl?  Getting hungry?  How to use grains in your meals, prepare a great turkey stuffing?  Need a better icing for that Passover sponge cake?  Vegetables always important and salads, you’d be amazed at the selection.  This book is crazy….955 pages of how to make a side, main meal, or desert item.  My mind is spinning, as will yours.  Every kitchen should have this as a staple ingredient!  Buy it as a holiday present and surprise someone.  Hmmm, maybe I’ll do the same.  Fun read!