Tag Archives: Cookbook

Mostly Meatless Cookbook?

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

In an effort to have some sort of social life during the COVID shut down I joined a cookbook club*. Helmed by new pal Kim Foster, each month or so we all work from a new cookbook and share our findings, our faves, and what we are loving or not loving about the book. This is more than a “book club” it’s a community of food lovers and cookbook lovers. In fact, in my Gift Guide 2020 my first book with this group was in the guide along with where to buy a great wok at a great price.

A Cookbook Club Like No Other

With this cookbook club, I have made my own ramen noodles, tackled cochinita pibil from scratch, learned how to season a wok and cook correctly in it, made my own Chinese dumplings (including the pasta wrapper), and so much more. I have made friends…yes, adults can make new friends. I have explored new territories in food, both in cuisines and in ethics. Additionally, I revisited some long forgotten skills.

Omnivore goes Pescatarian…at home

Well, hold on to your hats people! If you have been following along for any length of time, you know I am a dyed in the wool omnivore. If you read my last post, you also know I have been thinking A LOT about waste and how I personally can reduce the amount I am contributing to the overall waste problem. Our book this month is Dinner in One by Melissa Clark (you can buy it here, or at your own local bookstore). Unlike using a cookbook purely for the recipes, I actually read the prose. I find it helps me get familiar with the author’s style and it helps me get a feel for their voice. So, here I am reading away and getting into the new cookbook and in the intro, the author states that nearly half the meals are meatless. WHAT?!!! I don’t DO meatless! Frankly, I began to panic just a little bit. Did I just waste money on a book that I am not going to use? Do I really want to cook from this book? Will there be enough to interest me and my tastebuds?

Mostly Meatless Mondays

Dinner in One by Melissa Clark - Please Send Noodles Cookbook Club selection
Our current cookbook club selection

For a brief moment in time, I tried to do “Mostly Meatless Mondays”, but I fell out of the habit. I am not sure why exactly, maybe it was convenience and relying on tried and true recipes and dishes that I could whip up without thinking. Maybe it is because we eat out at events, pop-ups, and just because we feel like going out in an effort to support our local culinary community, and then we are eating leftovers. Of course, I still cook most days, but now I am thinking – always dangerous – “What if I cook meatless/pescatarian at home and save my carnivore dining for when we choose to go out for dinner?” As I flipped through the pages of the book, I found there were a lot of meatless recipes that I was willing to give a try. What’s even better? Each recipe in this book is designed to be cooked in one pan, pot, or casserole dish.

Use the Cookbook Dammit!

What is the point of joining a cookbook club if you aren’t going to COOK from the book? I am diving into this book like I have the others from the club’s selections. In addition to trying something new (pescatarian at home), perhaps I will hone some vegetarian skills and be ready if a veg head ever comes to eat dinner at my home. In thinking about this, it may help me get back on track to lose my COVID weight. It may also force me to look critically at what I am consuming, wasting, and how much of it. A win – win – win? We shall see.

The first dish from the cookbook was a rousing success at a recent weekly family dinner. The Offspring weighed in on the dish as well and it was a family affair of recipe critique. So far, I am four dishes into this cookbook and there hasn’t been a dog in the bunch! All of them were meatless, but I did add shrimp to the Kimchi Fried Rice (pg 90). The Lemony Baked Rice (pg 158) made for a light meal for The Hubs and I; the leftovers served as a great side dish with baked sockeye salmon and roasted broccoli for family dinner. We shall see how this progresses.

If you don’t know where to follow me, I am Good for Spooning, find me here – Instagram – Facebook – YouTube. While you are there, like posts, share posts, follow me on the Gram and FB. Did you know you can subscribe to my YouTube channel as well as this blog? Well you can. And you should so you don’t miss anything.

*You can too – on Facebook look for Please Send Noodles!!! (with the three !!!). A lot of online content, convo, Q&A, and other food related stuff. We mostly meet online through Zoom. Now that everyone is more comfortable being in public spaces, we have begun meeting in person again.

Tommy Bahama Cookbook Giveaway!

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Last week I received the newest Tommy Bahama cookbook – Flavors of the Southern Coast and I am delighted to announce my first giveaway ever! Read on for details on how you can WIN the Tommy Bahama Cookbook Giveaway!

Flavors of The Southern Coast: Cooking with Tommy Bahama

The second cookbook in a series celebrating regional culture and cuisine

 

Love to cook? Hate to cook? Either way this is a great book! Keep it for yourself or use it to cross someone off your Holiday gift list. You can bet on fab flavors and interesting cocktails to keep you busy in the kitchen. 

Info from Tommy Bahama about the book:

Tommy Bahama, the iconic lifestyle brand, is pleased to announce the release of its latest cookbook, Flavors of the Southern Coast: Cooking with Tommy Bahama.  This edition follows the wildly popular debut of Flavors of Aloha: Cooking with Tommy Bahama, the first in the series of culinary adventures that explore different cultural destinations in a tribute to the unique dishes of each locale. In keeping with Tommy Bahama’s distinguished tastes, Flavors of the Southern Coast compliments the incredible foods and artisan cocktails served in its 16 Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar locations found throughout the world. Offering stunning pictorials and wonderful recipes that are interwoven with storied character this modern cookbook epitomizes the brand’s relaxed lifestyle. To the delight of Tommy Bahama enthusiasts that have come to admire the art of graceful entertaining, Flavors of the Southern Coast captures the essence of the Gulf Coast.

Flavors of the Southern Coast features over 100 recipes and serves up an abundance of simply delicious soups, salads, seafood, poultry, desserts, cocktails and so much more.  Many creations are Tommy Bahama Restaurants and Bars specialties and guest favorites that continue to stir the palette including its Seafood Avocado Cocktail, Crab Bisque, Baby Back Ribs with Blackberry Brandy Sauce, Quinoa Succotash, and of course, its signature Key Lime Pie. The cookbook’s mouthwatering menu proudly honors elements from both land and sea incorporating dynamic ingredients, farm fresh produce and locally sourced livestock from the versatile bounty of the Gulf Coast states. Spicy chilies, fragrant citrus fruits, succulent shrimp, and market greens, all Southern staples, make for meaningful meals infused with interesting and colorful profiles. The Tommy Bahama food and drink story would not be complete without the inclusion of original, hand-crafted, cocktails designed by superb mixologists divining inspiration from the playful, warm atmospheres synonymous with the Southern Coast. [this info and  copy courtesy of Tommy Bahama, used with their permission]

There are three steps to enter the Tommy Bahama Cookbook Giveaway:

  1. Subscribe to the email newsletter. You will get email once a week on Tuesday evening with links to all posts from the previous week. Read at your leisure and never miss a post! To subscribe, enter your email and hit the black “sign me up” button on the top right of this page. NO, I do not share your info with anyone. Already a subscriber? GREAT – you’re one step ahead!
  2. Like my Facebook page Good for Spooning. Here you will get recipe ideas, cooking humor, food facts and photos of what I am eating and drinking. Already following? Awesome – step two completed!
  3. Share THIS POST from my Facebook page! All entries will be tracked from that page.

 

  • Note – you MUST be a subscriber and follow my page to win. All current subscribers and followers will be automatically entered once they share the post from the Facebook page. See below for rules and restrictions.

    WIN this brand new Tommy Bahama Cookbook in Good for Spooning's first ever giveaway!

    WIN this brand new Tommy Bahama Cookbook in Good for Spooning’s first ever giveaway!

 

Giveaway rules:

Contest open to residents of USA and Canada.

One prize will be awarded.

This contest is open for one week. (November 1st to November 8th 2016. Closing at midnight on November 8th, 2016 PT)

You must be 18 years of age and a subscriber and follower of Good for Spooning.

This blog posting must be shared from the Facebook page for tracking purposes.

Winner will be announced on Good for Spooning’s Facebook page on November 9th, 2016 and here on www.goodforspooning.com

Winner will be contacted by Good for Spooning for delivery instructions.

Retail value of prize is $40US. There will be no substitutions.

If you live in the Las Vegas area, delivery can be made in person. If you do not, cookbook will be sent via media mail USPS (or similar delivery option for Canada).