columns A venerable vegetarian Mollie Katzen is not only the High Priestess of plant-based cuisine, she’s also an early pioneer, proud proponent, practitioner and author of a dozen cookbooks that provide appealing alternatives to traditional meat and potatoes, including her trailblazing, mind-changing Moosewood Cookbook (1977). Her latest, The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation (Rux Martin/HMH, $34.99, 464 pages, ISBN 9780547571591), is a latterday Moosewood, livelier and lighter, sharper and spicier, showcasing her expanded repertoire and simplified approach. In addition to the usual course categories, there’s a brilliant array of “burgers,” like crunchy Mushroom-Barley-Cashew Burgers, and savory “cozy mashes”—think
beets, celery root, peas and more— that can stand alone or ornament other creations. Try custardy Mushroom Popover Pie for a weekday dinner, or Curried Cauliflower Stew with crisp Onion Pakoras for a party. Every recipe is introduced with Mollie’s infectious enthusiasm and followed by “Optional Enhancements” that offer intriguing improv options.
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Pasta—the real deal
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There’s never been a shortage of cookbooks claiming to unlock the secrets of real Italian cooking. Most don’t, and anyone who’s savored a plate of pasta in Italy knows that what we make here, in restaurants and at home, just doesn’t taste as good. With the publication of Sauces & Shapes: Pasta the Italian Way (Norton, $35, 400 pages, ISBN 9780393082432) that sad state of affairs has been remedied. Oretta Zanini De Vita, a renowned Italian food historian and pasta authority, and Maureen B. Fant, an American who’s lived and cooked in Rome for more than 30 years, have teamed up to give us 150 recipes written by and for Italians but adapted for American expectations (more measurements, more detailed instructions). There’s a glorious selection of
THE author enabler
cooking
b y s y b i l P RATT
sauces and soups with suggestions for the pasta shapes— some familiar, some not—that go best with them, recipes for making pasta from scratch and, most importantly, advice on approaching pasta as Italians approach this most-loved food that is “synonymous with family, hearth and home.”
Top pick in cookbooks Ottolenghi: The Cookbook is gorgeous, fabulous and filled with recipes that will make even the most jaded cook jump for culinary joy. Acclaimed London restaurateurs Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s Jerusalem won this year’s coveted IACP award for Cookbook of the Year, causing an outbreak of “Jerusalem fever”—people compulsively, and happily, cooking dish after dish and throwing lots of Jerusalem dinners. So I predict that Ottolenghi —actually their first book, never before published in the U.S.—will stir up another rapturous feeding frenzy. Ottolenghi and Tamimi’s unique realm of flavor is sunny, colorful, zesty and bold, appreciably Middle Eastern, with Mediterranean and Californian influences and universal appeal. They keep prep unfussy and simple. They want you to have fun with their food and, most of all, they want you to say “wow!” And it’s hard not to when you taste something as simple and exciting as Grilled Broccoli with Chile and Garlic, as satisfying as Beef and Lamb Meatballs Baked in Tahini, as heady as Harissa-Marinated Chicken with Red Grapefruit Salad, as decadently rich as Khalid’s Chocolate and Chestnut Bars. “Wow!” is the best description of the whole book.
Ottolenghi By Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi
Ten Speed $35, 304 pages ISBN 9781607744184 eBook available
MIDDLE EASTERN
by Sam Barry
Practical advice on writing & publishing for aspiring authors
Self-Publishing Options Dear Author Enabler, What is your opinion of selfpublishing through Amazon.com? I have heard good things about it and really nothing bad, but few things in life are all good. What do you think? I have never written or published a book before, but I am ready to give it a try. Joyce Panucci Charleston, West Virginia Self-publishing is somewhat complicated. There are several models, and the one you choose depends on your goals for the book, your energy and your finances. One upside to Amazon’s selfpublishing program, CreateSpace, is that books are printed only when they are ordered; this is called print on demand (POD), and it means you are not required to buy a truckload of books up front that might wind up filling your garage. Keep in mind, though, that CreateSpace is a subsidy press, which means that they will take a cut. There are other choices, of course. Lightning Source is one that many experienced self-publishers use, and a newer entry is IngramSpark. Both are reputable and produce quality books. There are similarities and differences between them, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. Don’t jump on the CreateSpace bandwagon until you have taken the time to compare at least these three choices side by side. You might also consider going the traditional route—which means first getting an agent (a task in itself) who will find a publisher for your book, or approaching a publisher directly with your work. It is no small feat to successfully publish your own book. Much of the hardest work comes after the book is written, designed and printed (or available as an eBook): including marketing, publicity, distribution and sales. It’s a ton of work, and you need to think about whether self-publishing is the best way to go. Publishers have systems in place and experienced professionals for all of these tasks. And although publishing with Amazon would mean that you are with the biggest book retailer out there, millions of books are currently available
on Amazon— with more added every day. What will make yours stand out? And how will your book get into bookstores or other retailers who may not be very fond of Amazon? I strongly recommend doing a significant amount of research before settling on a plan. Good luck.
The Second Step Dear Author Enabler, I have a question about publishing a book. I wrote a novel, but I have no clue of what to do next. Please, I need help. Mila Soucy Mayfield, New York Congratulations on your manuscript! Take yourself to dinner! In Paris! Or closer to home. I don’t think that you should immediately start submitting your work to agents, though; you and your novel are not ready for that step. The best thing you can do is to find a writing colleague or get into a writing group with some other aspiring writers who will give you positive, truthful feedback. Another option is to attend a creative writing class and share your work there. A first draft is just that—it needs shaping and editing, which should be your next step.
NaNoWriMo Get ready because November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, in which thousands of people will produce a novel in one month’s time. Some people will band together and write with other NaNoWriMo participants. Some will write alone. But everyone will write their brains out, and there will be a fabulous online community offering support along the way. The goal is to write at least 50,000 words of fiction by midnight, November 30. Participants can upload their novel for official verification, get added to the NaNoWriMo Winner’s Page and receive a certificate. But the main thing is to have participated in a wild and zany creative adventure—and to have completed a novel. Visit nanowrimo.org to learn more. Send your questions about writing and publishing to authorenablers@gmail.com.