Posts Categorized: The Pantry

Local Farms Adapt

We are so thankful to live in an area with great local farmers who provide all sorts of fresh produce, meat, dairy, and baked goods. With Covid-19, you might be wondering how to take advantage of the locally grown food. Farmers have adapted and are striving to make their produce available and safe for you… Read more »

Comfort Food Ideas

We all have favorite comfort foods or snack ideas that we rely on. They might be family recipes that date back a generation or two or they might be new concoctions of our own making. I asked the staff of Topsham Public Library to share some of their go-to favorite comfort foods. Below you will… Read more »

Cooking and Science

I enjoy it when patrons let me in on what they’re reading. Sometimes the book comes with a glowing recommendation, and other times it’s obvious the reader is not too keen on what they’ve read. As often as staff are asked for suggestions, many times the best suggestions come from the patrons. This “cook book”… Read more »

Sweet Confections

Peanut brittle. I confess it’s not my favorite, but there are members of my household who would be tempted to sell their soul for that delight. I decided I would try to make this craved for sweet, so I scoured the Minerva catalog for candy making cookbooks. Some I will return to like Hand-Crafted Candy… Read more »

Do You Like to Throw Parties?

Not only are the holidays are upon us, but then there’s New Year’s Eve, the Superbowl, and random “I’m tired of winter so let’s have people over to keep the doldrums at bay” parties.  Well, Delish by Joanna Saltz and the Editors of Delish is a must have for any “raising a ruckus” party menu…. Read more »

I Love My Crock Pot

I use my crock pot year round, but there’s something about fall that draws me to use it much more often. Most of the time, I use my crock pot to make soups, stews, chowders, etc, but I tried The Whole30 Slow Cooker by Melissa Hartwig (it has some recipes for the Instant Pot, too!)… Read more »

The Blueberry Cookbook

I love to pick strawberries. Every summer you’ll find me at a local farm picking those big, plump, juicy berries. I have a little raspberry patch in my yard, and I love picking berries for muffins or jam. But when it comes to blueberries, I confess, I just buy them. The local farmer’s markets sell… Read more »

It’s Grilling Season!

You know her as the Barefoot Contessa. She has a series of cookbooks, and I had heard of her, but I had never tried one of her recipes and the way Dave talks about her, I knew it should be sooner rather than later. Garten, not only has written numerous cookbooks, but also hosts cooking… Read more »

Orcs and Dragons and Elves Need to Eat, Too!

This month’s cookbook review is by Lynne Morgan. Lynne is the Circulation Manager at Topsham Public Library and enjoys all things food.  ORCS AND DRAGONS AND ELVES: OH MY!! So who would have thought when my son was battling orcs, elves, dragons and mages online that it would lead to cooking!!  Well, that’s exactly why… Read more »