blog postings for book

The most adorable book just landed on my desk, and surprise, surprise, it has nothing to do with food. It’s called Thank You (a Book for Teachers) by Sandy Gingras. It’s a tiny little book with adorable child-like illustrations of all the things we should thank teachers for. As it happens, my son Sam has a crazy, zany, fabulous fourth grade teacher this year, named Mrs. King. She’s a scientist and bucks the rules and makes them count ants and watch storms out the window and dress up. When the kids are talking she gives them a make-believe karate kick with her shoe that she’s painted eyes on.  She also doesn’t really believe in homework--and oddly enough Sam has learned more this year than he did last year when he had the hardest, most demanding teacher in the school. Everyone who has a teacher they’re thankful for, should get this book.

If you’re an NPR junkie like I am, you’ll love the new book All Cakes Considered. All Things Considered producer, Melissa Gray started baking cakes to bring in the office every Monday. She discovered, (as we all know), that coworkers will eat anything, even crappy-boxed cake. But coming from a line of bakers (and Southern ones at that) Melissa knew she could do better, so she challenged herself to bring in a different cake every Monday—no box mixes, no margarine, no faux sugar and no repeats. The result of many “cake Mondays’ is this delightful book, with all the personality, wit, charm and smarts of NPR. Every recipe has a story, and the recipes come from just about anywhere—from her Grandma Gray, to professional baker Dorie Greenspan to Martha Washington (George’s wife). Melissa describes her exploits along the way in such fun, it makes you want to bake or read more. Here’s her Man-Catcher Cake….” I call this cake the Man Catcher, because really, no man can resist it. Oh, he might be able to resist YOU, but not this cake. “ Hysterical and sassy, I’ll keep this book just for the stories…and maybe for a few recipes too—like the Salty Oatmeal Cookies, which I plan to make this week.