January Cookbook Challenge

[J]

YAY! It's a new year and I think it is a good year to try new food.

Let me start this mini challenge by saying I LOVE FOOD. So my plan for the new year is a Cookbook Category Challenge. Each month you can read a cookbook based on the month's theme. Try a new recipe from that cookbook and share it here, with all our 52 Book Pick Up buddies!

The theme for January is Ethnic foods - the library has a great collection of cookbooks that represent different cultures around the world. Pick one up and share the recipes you find amazing.

I have already picked up three interesting looking cookbooks for this challenge they are:



I am super excited to try a recipe from India: The Cookbook so that I might make a yummy dish to share with my best friend, whose husband comes from Nepal.

Have fun everyone - I seriously look forward to loads of cookbook recommendations. Happy reading and happy eating!

[Ann]

Cool idea. I've got loads of cookbooks, and was thinking that I should use them more (or donate them and use the shelf space for other books). I can't wait to start. :)

[Ingrid]

Funny! I just read two of Ree Drummands cookbooks, but they can't count. I love to cook so I will enjoy this challenge. Asian might be a good one for me to try. I love Asian food, but haven't ventured past fried rice & egg drop soup.

[J]

Welcome Ann and Ingrid - I'm glad you are looking forward to the challenge.

Ann, I have loads of cookbooks on my shelf too - I am a collector of cookbooks and recipes - and yet I hardly ever cook anything from them. This year shall be different!

Ingrid, I can't get fried rice right... I have tried but it never turns out the same - I have yet to try egg drop soup. My daughter loves it so maybe I should pick up a book with an egg drop soup recipe in it.

[Mildred]

Think I will do this!! Sounds very interesting!!

[J]

Welcome Mildred! I look forward to seeing what you are reading and cooking.

[Julie]

I got a new cook book for Christmas, guess I'll have to pull from that in addition to my others!

[J]

Welcome Julie, what exciting news to have been given a new cookbook for Christmas! I'm looking forward to seeing what you pull from that as well as from other cookbooks you have on the home shelf.

Don't forget that we have a lovely selection of cookbooks here at the Chesapeake Public Library - stop by and see us.

I can't wait to post the recipes I try from my challenge for everyone to see! Please feel free to post your pictures of recipes created for the challenge here as well.
See how to do it here

[J]

Food for thought:

According to Dictionary.com, the definition of Ethnic is - pertaining to or characteristic of a people, especially a group (ethnic group) sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.

Not sure what to read for our January Cookbook Category Challenge? Click a link and check out our shelves -

African Cooking

Caribbean Cooking

Chinese Cooking

French Cooking

German Cooking

Greek Cooking

Indian Cooking

Irish Cooking

Italian Cooking

Japanese Cooking

Latin American Cooking

Mediterranean Cooking

Mexican Cooking

Middle Eastern Cooking

Thai Cooking

[J]

While I'm enjoying Cracking the Coconut it doesn't have many pictures. I find it essential for a cookbook to have pictures. So I may have to move onto a new one - with pictures that pique my interest in the recipes.

What about you? Do you look for cookbooks with pictures or are the recipes enough to entice you to try a new dish?

[Ann]

My cookbook for the month is called One Pot, and has some lovely ethnic recipes: there are a variety of ethnic dishes. The recipe I want to try first is beef cooked in whole spices. The pictures are quite tempting.

[J]

That sounds like an interesting dish. Let us know how it turns out. I was able to make a Chinese dish this month and will post pictures soon!

[J]

So for some reason I was unable to find my pictures of the Chicken and Broccoli I made - but - I found the Chicken Taco filling picture. These are what my daughter calls my amazing Chicken Tacos. They are simple to create and delicious.



Pan fry about 1 - 1 and 1/2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken thighs and then shred them or cut them into chunks.

In the same pan saute diced onions and green bell pepper (1 small each) until almost tender.

Add 1 cup of frozen corn, cut up chicken, 1/2 a packet of Goya seasoning, and a little water. Stir it until the seasoning dissolves and simmer until the corn is tender.

Fill soft tacos with this yummy filling - add cheese, fold taco and place on a hot pan for a few seconds until the taco get warm and a little crisp. Flip the taco and do the same to the other side.

Tacos are then ready to eat.

I like to serve rice with these tacos and usually add the rest of the Goya Seasoning that I'm not going to use in the chicken filling to the water before the rice begins to bowl.

[J]

Please tell us how you have enjoyed your cookbook category challenge theme this month. Be on the look out for our next topic and thread coming soon.