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Martha does America in classic style Martha Stewart and her extraordinary lifestyle conglomerate continue to influence the way we cook, entertain, garden, decorate and get married. In Martha’s American Food (Clarkson Potter, $40, 432 pages, ISBN 9780307405081), the indomitable Ms. Stewart offers her classic
take, tweaked in Martha-esque style, on the American classics that define our cuisine as a whole and that celebrate our regional diversity. She’s selected 190 recipes for satisfying All-American stalwarts and local favorites from five distinct parts of the country. Almost every
dish, from Philadelphia Cheesesteak to Louisiana Bread Pudding, has its own fascinating foodie backstory. It’s a treat to have all these American pleasures in one colorful, carefully crafted collection.
Divine desserts Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts (Artisan, $25.95, 288 pages, ISBN 9781579653989), the title of Alice Medrich’s latest serenade to sweets, is definitely not an oxymoron. To prove that desserts can be delicious, sophisticated, luxurious, even decadent, without being complicated, she offers an array of forgiving, flexible, fabulously flavorful recipes, doable when time is short and skills are not professionally honed. With her unique blend of thoroughness, know-how and charm, Alice shows you how to dress up purchased ice cream, turn all manner of fruits into beguiling sweet endings and make
creamy-dreamy puddings. Using her crumb crusts and melted butter press-in dough will avoid “pastry panic,” and her one-bowl and food processor approach to cakes will make you a better, stress-free baker.
Top Pick in Cookbooks Ree Drummond, the “accidental country girl” who traded her black heels for tractor wheels and found love, family and fame as a blogger, Food Network star and best-selling author, is back in the saddle again with The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food From My Frontier. This fabulous follow-up to her first cookbook is brimming with gorgeous, supersupportive step-by-step photographs and more than 100 recipes for soups, starters, sides and sweets, plus great ideas for breakfast, lunch and supper. Ree’s breezy, easy style informs these simple-but-scrumptious dishes, like her tried-and-true Cowboy Quiche (yes, real men DO eat quiche), light, lively Gazpa-
A harrowing tale of romantic suspense from
Natalie Jones is the survivor of an elusive killer who preys on young women. Since her ordeal, she’s remained paralyzed by fear and her failing vision. Special Agent Liam McKenzie has scars of his own. He’s desperate to ignore his growing attraction to Natalie, but he needs her help to catch a predator. Soon, they forge a fragile alliance— charged with desire.
Available in stores now.
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cho topped with grilled shrimp, Spicy Dr Pepper Pulled Pork, WhiskeyGlazed Carrots and an outstanding Tres Leches Cake. Most of us can’t move to a cattle ranch in Oklahoma and marry the “Marlboro Man,” but at least we can cook his favorites for our own favorite partners and reap the frontier benefits.
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from my frontier By Ree Drummond
Morrow $29.99, 304 pages ISBN 9780061997181 eBook available
FAMILY COOKING