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Home, Garden, and DIYSeptember 2014
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"Grilling is inherently seasonal, celebratory, and social. We should be so fortunate as to interpret the rest our lives in the same way." ~ from Barton Seaver's Where There's Smoke
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New and Recently Released!
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| The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden by Rick Darke and Doug TallamyIn The Living Landscape, landscape designer Rick Darke and ecologist Doug Tallamy break down big topics like biodiversity and sustainability into useful advice for the average home gardener. Using lush, full-color photographs to illustrate their ideas, the authors show readers how to cultivate a beautiful, biodiverse garden ecosystem by integrating native species (of both flora and fauna) and by selecting plants for function. For North American readers, there are even tables that match plants to specific regions and describe their uses, such as screening, fragrance, and nest sites. Both lovely and practical, The Living Landscape is "essential for gardeners and nature lovers interested in sustainability" (Booklist). |
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| Defending Your Castle: Build Catapults, Crossbows, Moats, Bulletproof Shields... by William GurstelleIf you're looking for sensible, modern home security handbook, look elsewhere -- this entertaining guide to constructing an old-fashioned arsenal is pure fun. Using history as the backdrop for DIY defenses, author and engineer William Gurstelle provides context for various notable military figures (such as Attila, Alexander, and Genghis Khan) before showing you which weapons you could build to defend yourself against them. Each project is accompanied by diagrams, photos, and step-by-step instructions. For further combinations of physics, weaponry, and hands-on history, be sure to check out Gurstelle's previous books, especially Backyard Ballistics. |
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| Hellstrip Gardening: Create a Paradise Between the Sidewalk and the Curb by Evelyn J. Hadden; photographs by Joshua McCulloughThe "hellstrip" -- that pesky stretch of grass between the sidewalk and the street -- gets a horticultural renovation in this empowering new book. Though it's geared toward urban and suburban gardeners, the information is relevant for anyone dealing with a small, awkwardly-placed patch of earth. Here you'll find advice for improving poor soil quality, as well as tips for figuring out what sort of plants are both viable and desirable for your particular environment: Do you want something colorful? Edible? Animal-friendly? What about permission -- do you need to consult a Home Owners Associations or local government? Whatever your situation, Hellstrip Gardening can steer you toward smart choices and attractive results. |
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| One-Hour Cheese: Ricotta, Mozzarella, Chèvre, Paneer--Even Burrata... by Claudia LuceroKnown for her DIY cheese kits, Claudia Lucero has found a new way to bring cheesemaking into home kitchens: an easy-to-use cookbook filled with cheese recipes that can be made -- without any fancy equipment -- in 60 minutes or less. Grouped by type of cheese (Creamy and Spreadables, Firm and Chewy, Melty and Gooey), the recipes include suggestions for variations, presentation, and coordinating snacks and drinks, all related in a tone so friendly that it's hardly a surprise when Lucero invites you to email her for "curd support." With stellar guidance and photographic instructions, you'll be whipping up your own meyer lemon ricotta, brown butter burrata, or curried paneer in a flash. |
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| Fried & True: More than 50 Recipes for America's Best Fried Chicken and Sides by Lee Schrager with Adeena SussmanEven the most seasoned cooks can learn something new from this mouthwatering, cross-country course in preparing an American favorite: fried chicken. As chef Lee Brian Schrager travels to tiny dives, high class eateries, and everything in between, he shares an eye-opening array of variations on this deep-fried, crispy treat. Some folks like a spicy batter loaded with hot sauce; some bathe the chicken in buttermilk or brine it in Coca-Cola; others prefer to double-fry for extra crunch. Sides aren't neglected, either: you'll find recipes for biscuits, gravy, and hash brown casserole. Looking for more food that gets tastier after a dip in some sizzling oil? Try Southern Fried by James Villas. |
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| The Japanese Grill: From Classic Yakitori to Steak, Seafood, and Vegetables by Tadashi Ono and Harris SalatAdd some variety to grilling with yakitori, Japanese grilled kabobs (of pretty much anything) coated in a traditional saki-soy-brown sugar sauce and grilled to savory-sweet perfection. Foodies who loved the co-authors' previous Japanese Hot Pots for cold-weather comfort food will love this for summer fare. Those new to Japanese cooking need not shy away: the instructions are easy to follow and most recipes take only three to five readily available ingredients (online sources for specialty ingredients are provided too). The impeccable fusion of Japanese and American flavors make this a must-have for Asian cooking enthusiasts and grill-meisters alike. |
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| Where There's Smoke: Simple, Sustainable, Delicious Grilling by Barton SeaverThose who believe that grilling is an art will relish this unconventional book, which focuses on using wood-seasoned charcoal fire to create complex aromas and extraordinary flavor. Unlike a lot of meat-centric grilling books, Where There's Smoke presents tons of flavorful veggie options such as Catalan grilled Ratatouille, Pickled Smoked Peaches, Smoky Deviled Eggs, and Wood-Grilled Snap Peas with Smoky Aioli. Meat and seafood are still well represented (there's a grilled meatloaf recipe that takes two days to cook!), as are beverages (including wine recommendations, cocktail instructions, and a recipe for smoky lemonade). Creative yet beginner-friendly, these sophisticated dishes "will please high-end backyard barbecue enthusiasts" (Library Journal). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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