Join Cookbook Club for a culinary adventure, at your library
The somewhat-new Cookbook Club is still cooking at the Abilene Public Library's Mockingbird Branch. The meetings have been a great time of making new friends, trying new recipes and discovering great cookbooks. Participants have stretched their skills by making soups, cakes, cookies, and pasta dishes, among many other recipes.
Previous club themes include "Appetizers," "European Food," "Comfort Food" and "East Asia." Some upcoming themes are "Something You Eat with a Spoon" and "Chocolate," as well as "Bread & Cheese." Recipes must come from a library cookbook, either physical or e-cookbooks. However, a new library database will be expanding their recipe world.
The databases "AtoZ Food America" and "AtoZ World Food" are brand new and will be a wonderful addition to any foodie’s cooking world. They include recipes, culture and regional cooking information as well as videos.
"AtoZ Food America" covers six regions, all 50 states and 33 ethnic cuisines. You can create a culinary road trip by cooking recipes from around the country. Make a traditional Hawaiian dessert called Haupia or a bowl of Manhattan Clam Chowder (different from a New England Clam Chowder) which sounds great for a cold winter’s day.
The more adventurous might try the "AtoZ World Food" database as a resource. With recipes from over 170 countries represented, you can cook and bake your way around the world. Plan a dinner with a recipe from Argentina and a dessert from Japan.
Resources in the database include information on spices, beer, historical timeline of food, sauces and measurement conversions. Try out Kuay Namuan from Cambodia or if you are extra adventurous try Cow Foot Soup from Belize. Yes, that has exactly what you think it has in it.
The databases are easy to use and move around while searching for a new recipe. Colorful pictures and maps provide a visually appealing site. You can see what the recipe should look like and where the different countries are located. You are also able to print the recipes as well.
To get to the databases go to the Abilene Public Library website, select Digital Services at the top, then E-Resources. Databases are arranged by subject so look for Food and Travel to find these exciting new databases. You will need an Abilene Public Library card to gain access.
To sign up for upcoming Cookbook Club events, go to the Library Events & Calendar site. Cookbook Club meets monthly at the Mockingbird Library and is for adults 18 and up. Registration is required to attend. Even if you are not able to attend Cookbook Club you can create your own culinary adventures with these wonderful new databases. To find out more, contact Amy.Watterman@abilenetx.gov.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Join Cookbook Club for a culinary adventure, at your library
