The cold, short days of winter naturally lure us inside to our warm, cozy kitchens. And with recipes from Simply in Season (Herald Press), you’ll find motivation and inspiration to grab your apron, fire up the stove and enjoy some quality time in the hub and hearth of your home.
Turn on the stove, as well as your taste buds, with Simply in Season.
Photo Credit: Dan Hemmelgarn
Cook up the fun with your kids…and the Simply in Season Children’s Cookbook.
Photo Credit: Dan Hemmelgarn
As a card-carrying kitchen gardener and nutritionist, I keep Simply in Season within easy reach. And here’s why: Sweet Potato Crescent Rolls, Apple Spice Waffles, Maple-Glazed Parsnips and Black Walnut Cake.
Need I say more?
These are just a few of the mouthwatering recipes included under the “Winter” section in this 352-page seasonal cookbook commissioned by the Mennonite Central Committee. But there are many more!
Authors Mary Beth Lind, a registered dietitian and farmers’ market gardener from West Virginia, and Cathleen Hockman-Wert, a journalist and avid farmers’ market shopper from Oregon, help readers appreciate – and celebrate – simple, delicious, garden-fresh food one season at a time.
In the book, the authors explain how “each food purchase we make is like a vote for the way we want food to be produced – and for the world in which we want to live.”
However, make no mistake – Simply in Season is practical, not preachy. Its down-to-earth recipes and colorful illustrations are useful to everyone, regardless of faith…or cooking skills.
For example, starting with an A-to-Z fruit and vegetable guide, the book gives us sound advice on selecting, storing and preparing produce to deliver the most nutrients and best taste possible.
Say you’re clueless about rutabagas. No worries. The guide describes the taste of this root vegetable (sweeter than turnips but not as peppery), as well as how to select them (choose ones that are firm, smooth-skinned and heavy for their size). Preparation options include boiling, microwaving and roasting – the latter especially if you want the sweetest flavor. Nutritional content is provided, too (each rutabaga serving delivers vitamin C, plus potassium and fiber).
The recipes in this wonderful book are divided into sections by season, with an “All Seasons” chapter covering meats, dairy, beans and whole grains. There’s even a short guide to using fresh herbs, with references to specific recipes, too.
As if all this weren’t enough, the authors also provide suggestions for improving personal eating habits and building a sense of community around food. Ideas include trying one new food each week; starting a local supper club; and eating mindfully, with gratitude. They believe that eating in rhythm with the seasons rejuvenates the body and spirit, and it connects us with the earth.
But adults aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this type of book. When it comes to the younger set, cooking is one of the most important skills we can teach our children! It helps foster independence and promote lifelong health. And with the Simply in Season Children’s Cookbook by Mark Beach and Julie Kauffman (Herald Press), we can show our kids that learning to cook is easy and fun!
Targeted for kids between the ages of 6 and 12, this fantastic cookbook walks children through the seasons, highlighting fresh foods that are naturally available during those months. For example, featured recipes for winter include ones for root crops (like potatoes, beets and carrots), as well as apples and preserved dried fruits. Then come spring, you and your kids will be cooking with spinach, asparagus, peas and strawberries.
There’s a section on planning an herb or vegetable garden, and a terrific primer on fresh fruits and vegetables, including plenty of pictures and interesting trivia. (For example, did you know that an average ear of sweet corn has about 800 kernels in 16 rows? Or that finding a peapod with only one pea inside is a symbol of good fortune?)
If you want to bring good times and good fortune to your kitchen, invite your children and their friends to connect and cook with garden-fresh food. The Simply in Season Children’s Cookbook can show you how!
