Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Pomodoro!

Pomodoro!
A History of the Tomato in Italy
by David Gentilcore
Columbia University Press, 2010

From its introduction from the New World in the mid-sixteenth century to its prominence in Italian cuisine 300 years later, the tomato as a culinary staple in southern Europe has long and viny history. This book recounts how changes in social values, beliefs and economic condition allowed the fruit to become accepted and eventually dominate Italian cookery.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christmas Wishes

Nostalgic Christmas Fireplace

For modern suburban dwellings that did not come with the nostalgia of built-in fireplaces, cardboard replicas were available to provide the suitable hearthside touch. The fake fireplace made a handy place to hang stockings and provided a mantel to decorate, and it usually even came with a bulb and tinfoil reflector to give the impression of a flickering fire. But unlike the real thing, rather than having to keep it clean, when Christmas was over, it could be folded flat into its storage carton and packed away in the attic or garage for the next eleven months.

from Christmas Wishes: A Catalog of Vintage Holiday Treats
by Tim Hollis

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Eggs and Health Promotion

Eggs and Health Promotion
edited by Ronald R. Watson
Iowa State Press, 2002.

Recent research on eggs and their nutritional properties is beginning to correct decades of damning accusations by scientists and the popular media. Maligned as a cause of high serum cholesterol and heart disease, egg consumption has been effectively discouraged.

The studies and reports collected in this volume not only call into question the charges against eggs, but even suggest that substantial dietary benefits have been overlooked. H.L. "Sam" Queen of the Health Realities Institute in Colorado even hypothesizes a "magic bullet" effect for eggs in some people, whereby eating whole eggs can prevent heart disease and, perhaps, even reverse its damage.

"It seems logical, given the evidence, that whole eggs offer the perfect magic bullet not only for unclogging arteries and handling the infgections that often associate with arterial lesions but also for removing heavy metals from the brain and nervous system, for reducing the risk for Alzheimer's disease, and for reducing smooth muscle spasms in people with angina and high blood pressure," Queen explains.

The 18 papers in this book respond to the myths and misconceptions about eggs and highlight new evidence that for the majority of people, eggs have little effect on heart disease one way or another. Most are focused on the role cholesterol, oxidized lipids and fats in the health of egg consumers.

Other articles suggest new ways of looking at and utilizing eggs, such as the use of "designer eggs" to deliver special nutrients and immune products to people through egg consumption by altering the feed given to laying hens.

"Consumers have begun to take control of their own health," note Hoon H. Sunwoo and Jeone S. Sim of Dr. Sim's Canadian Designer Eggs in 'Designer Eggs: Nutritional and Functional Significance.'

"They are driving the market for a new category of food with potential health benefits well beyond those traditionally recognized."

For those interested in eggs as producers or as consumers, this book provides the resources and the scientific findings to effectively respond to questions about both the benefits and the problems with eggs as a food source.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Now in Review: Ah-Choo!

Ah-Choo!
The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold
by Jennifer Ackerman
Twelve, 2010

In Ah-Choo!, Jennifer Ackerman explains what, exactly, a cold is, how it works, and whether it's really possible to "fight one off." Scientists
call this the Golden Age of the Common Cold because Americans suffer up to a billion colds each year, resulting in 40 million days of missed work and school and 100 million doctor visits. They've also learned over the past decade much more about what cold viruses are, what they do to the human
body, and how symptoms can be addressed.

Ah-Choo!
Book Search
Science Writing

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Now available in Tractor Books: Legendary Farm Tractors

This book contains more color photographs of more types of farm tractors than any other on the market. More than 640 photographs of tractors from the USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan-models from the 1880s to today are presented along with detailed captions.

The extensive variety of material and the distinguished photographs by photographer Andrew Morland make this an exceptionally value-rich package that will appeal to tractor buffs.

Legendary Farm Tractors
Tractor Books

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Now in Review: Christmas Wishes

Christmas Wishes
A Catalog of Vintage Holiday Treats
by Tim Hollis
Stackpole Books, 2010

From plastic nativity scenes to aluminium trees, Christmas became a major marketing extravaganza in America in the mid-twentieth century.

This book recalls the holiday between 1940 and 1970, courtesy of department stores, five and tens, toy manufacturers, publishing houses, and record companies. Boomers and Gen-Xers will relive memories of special holiday toys and treats, Christmas children's books by Little Golden and Wonder, holiday music released by Peter Pan and Disneyland records, and merchandising characters such as Frosty the Snowman and Montgomery Ward's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Christmas Wishes
Guidebooks
Reviews Archive

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders
101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks!
by Judith Durant
Storey Publishing, 2010

What can you do with a single skein of yarn besides make a pair of socks? Quite a lot, according to knitting specialist Judith Durant, who proves her case with 101 patterns for hats, gloves, fingerless mitts, scarves,small shawls, kids, doll clothes, bags, and numerous small accessories.

The patterns in this book come from 75 separate designers who have found creative uses for sock yarn. Each pattern is accompanied by at least one color photograph, yarn and needle suggestions, and supply lists.

Charts are included for the more detailed patterns, but most require little more than basic knitting skills.

Each pattern contains a legend for the symbols used. A back-of-the-book glossary explains how to do some of the increases, decreases, and crossed stitches.