Home cooking in America is a huge topic - and two HUGE cookbooks have recently been published in time for holiday gift-giving.
These two "coffee-table books" are oversize collections of regional American cooking: "American Food: A Celebration" (Collins, $50), and "Better Homes and Gardens Heritage of America Cookbook" (Meredith Books/Better Homes and Gardens Books, $39.95).Regional histories of various recipes are contained in both voluminous collections. Naomi Kaufman Price of the Portland Oregonian says, "They (the books) are enormous, about 10 by 14 inches, and heavy. That's too big and cumbersome for the average kitchen counter. They also are too big to fit in a book holder. If that's an issue for you, you won't be happy cooking from these books."
However, if BIG cookbooks are a must for you, ask Santa for one or both of these.
Not too many of you - Rudolph might have a reindeer-hernia.
GOOD STUFF
In Watsonville, Calif., the S. Martinelli Co. is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
Martinelli products, first made in 1868, have won more than 50 gold medals for excellence - its Gold Medal Apple Juice being tops in its field.
Gold Medal Sparkling Cider is a nonalcoholic, effervescent juice that is becoming more popular as adults consciously limit alcohol consumption.
Try this festive holiday drink:
Peppermint-Apple Soda
2 cups Martinelli's Apple Juice
1 pint strawberry sherbet
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 bottle (12 ounces) seltzer
4 sticks peppermint-stick candy
In large pitcher, combine apple juice, 1 cup strawberry sherbet and the peppermint extract; mix until sherbet is melted.
Pour apple juice mixture into four 12-ounce glasses, dividing evenly. Top each with 1 scoop strawberry sherbet. Put about 1/4 cup seltzer into each glass, stir with peppermint stick candy. Serves 4.
NOO YAWK TAWK
The New York Times Magazine recently featured some actual selections from menus and "special boards" found in Manhattan restaurants and delis:
- Anti pasta . . . $3.49
- Cream cheese and ox . . . $3.50
- Lady's finger, sauteed and cooked with tomato and onion . . . $4.75
- Everything dog . . . $1
- Live wourst . . . $2.59
- Chocolate mouse tort . . . $5.50
- Special big leg with rice . . . $3.25
- Grilled fresh tuna served with soap . . . $7.95
"Start spreadin' the news . . . I'm leavin' today. . . .