Sunday, November 6, 2016

Reading the History: Drawn to Yellowstone

Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and dozens of other artists braved difficult conditions to capture the splendors of Yellowstone in many media, from delicate watercolors and pen-and-ink sketches to powerful oils and popular lithographs.

Peter H. Hassrick traces the artistic history of the park from its earliest explorers to the present day in this new edition of Drawn to Yellowstone, a richly illustrated account of the artists who traveled to and were inspired by Yellowstone.

Artists in America's First National Park
by  Peter H. Hassrick
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, 2016

Artwork: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone by Thomas Moran
Out of the Past
Book List
History and American West Titles

Monday, October 17, 2016

A New Guide To... Amphibians and Reptiles.

Known for its natural beauty, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is the largest inland peninsula in the United States. Consisting of 170,000 acres of forested and protected public land between Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River) and Lake Barkley (Cumberland River), this scenic sanctuary is visited by more than 1.4 million nature lovers annually and encompasses many diverse habitats, each supporting a particular community of plants and animals.

This is your guide to some of the often-overlooked residents of this unique ecosystem. The authors offer detailed descriptions and stunning color photographs of the salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes found in the region. Each entry includes the species' scientific and common names as well as information on its distribution, habitat, and natural history. An extensive glossary assists readers in identifying the animals.

by  David H. Snyder, A. Floyd Scott, Edmund J. Zimmerer and David Frymire
University Press of Kentucky, 2016

The Nature Pages
Guidebooks and How-to Titles
Book List

Sunday, October 16, 2016

A New Guide To... Frugality.

From Socrates to Thoreau, most philosophers, moralists, and religious leaders have seen frugality as a virtue and have associated simple living with wisdom, integrity, and happiness. But why? And are they right?

The Wisdom of Frugality explores what simplicity means, why it's supposed to make us better and happier, and why, despite its benefits, it has always been such a hard sell. The book looks not only at the arguments in favor of living frugally and simply, but also at the case that can be made for luxury and extravagance, including the idea that modern economies require lots of getting and spending.

Why Less Is More - More or Less
by  Emrys Westacott
Princeton University Press, 2016

The Book Stall
Guidebooks and How-to Titles
Book List

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Reading the History: The Baker Massacre

On the morning of January 23, 1870, troops of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry attacked a Piegan Indian village on the Marias River in Montana Territory, killing many more than the army’s count of 173, most of them women, children, and old men. The village was afflicted with smallpox. Worse, it was the wrong encampment. Intended as a retaliation against Mountain Chief’s renegade band, the massacre sparked public outrage when news sources revealed that the battalion had attacked Heavy Runner’s innocent village—and that guides had told its inebriated commander, Major Eugene Baker, he was on the wrong trail, but he struck anyway. Remembered as one of the most heinous incidents of the Indian Wars, the Baker Massacre has often been overshadowed by the better-known Battle of the Little Bighorn and has never received full treatment until now.

Author Paul R. Wylie plumbs the history of Euro-American involvement with the Piegans, who were members of the Blackfeet Confederacy. His research shows the tribe was trading furs for whiskey with the Hudson’s Bay Company before Meriwether Lewis encountered them in 1806. As American fur traders and trappers moved into the region, the U.S. government soon followed, making treaties it did not honor.

The Baker Massacre
by Paul R. Wylie
University of Oklahoma Press, 2016

Out of the Past
Book List
History and American West Titles

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

A New Guide To... Fermentation & Home Brewing.

People everywhere are rejecting industrial food to produce their own—and fermentation is at the zenith of this movement. It is slow food at its slowest; optimizes nutritional health; and confers unique flavors and textures.

This mouthwatering survey presents a world of recipes for fermented foods and beverages to make at home, from bread and beer to ketchup, kombucha, and kimchi. Featuring tantalizing photography and tips from the pros, this book is the ultimate resource for everyone from the newbie to the seasoned fermentation enthusiast.

Fermentation & Home Brewing
by Jessica Childs and Eric Childs
Sterling Epicure, 2016

The Book Stall
Guidebooks and How-to Titles
Farm Kitchen

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Now Serving... More Kentucky Bourbon Cocktails

Ninety-five percent of the world's bourbon whiskey is produced in Kentucky, and the drink is as distinctive to the state as Thoroughbred horses and Bluegrass music. As America's native spirit enjoys booming popularity worldwide, award-winning bartender Joy Perrine and celebrated restaurant critic and drinks writer Susan Reigler return to offer new recipes that will delight both the cocktail novice and the seasoned connoisseur.

Following up on their best-selling The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book, the duo returns with more reasons to appreciate bourbon whiskey. This mouthwatering volume features more than fifty delicious new concoctions―including variations on classics such as the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan―and even adds a splash of Kentucky flavor to mojitos, sangria, lemonade, and coffee. It also serves up recipes from leading bartenders, prizewinning drinks from cocktail competitions, and a bourbon-inspired buffet featuring edibles that will be a feast for aficionados.

by Joy Perrine and Susan Reigler
University Press of Kentucky, 2016
Good Spirits Online
Beverage Supplies
Bourbon
The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book

Monday, July 11, 2016

Now Cooking with Bourbon Desserts

The flavor of bourbon adds flair and sophistication to every occasion. Celebrations in the Bluegrass State―or any state, for that matter―are never complete without the unique richness of this signature drink. Every holiday party is made warmer with bourbon balls and velvety bourbon eggnog, and no respectable Kentucky Derby party is complete without ice-cold mint juleps. 

Bourbon Desserts features more than seventy-five decadent desserts using America's native spirit. Celebrated food writer and home chef Lynn Marie Hulsman brings together a collection of confections highlighting the complex flavor notes of Kentucky bourbon, which are sure to delight the senses. Organized by category and beautifully presented, the delectable recipes include Bourbon Crème Brulee, Watermelon Julep Pops, Drunken Hot-Fudge Pudding Cake, Derby Morning Maple-Bourbon Hotcake Syrup, and Grandma Rose's Big Race Pie. Giving readers the confidence to prepare these easy-to-execute desserts, this cookbook also features fun facts about bourbon and its origins as well as tips and tricks for working in the kitchen. 

by Lynn Marie Hulsman
University Press of Kentucky, 2016