Anyone for Jell-O?

Melissa Barlow and Jennifer Adams, authors of 101 Things to Do with Gelatin are being featured in today's issue of The Deseret News. The great article also highlights four delicious recipes from the cookbook. I can't wait to try out that Key Lime Pie! Check out the article here.

And I just couldn't resist posting this great masterpiece of Photoshop (sorry ladies!) that ran with the feature. (credit: Deseret News)

Havana Before Castro author invited to book festival

As the great reviews continue pouring in, Peter Moruzzi, author of Havana Before Castro, received a coveted invitation to speak at the Miami International Book Festival in November. While in Florida, the author is planning several slide show/lectures and signings throughout the area. For updated information, log on to http://www.havanabeforecastro.com/

Speaking of reviews, here are a few worth noting:

“A jaunty, poignant portrait of the city in its pre-revolutionary heyday as a Caribbean playground. [The book] goes a long way toward filling in the mental picture of a city that has been enticingly evoked by movies such as "Our Man in Havana" (1959) and "The Godfather: Part II" (1974).”

– The Wall Street Journal

“If you’re looking for images, “Havana Before Castro” has them in bulk. Peter Moruzzi’s infatuation with Cuba is illustrated in grand and grandiose style. It’s a pop-culture potpourri.”

– Newsday

“[The book] really put me there: It made me feel like I was staying in towering modernist hotels, ogling dancing girls at nightclubs like the Montmartre, swilling mojitos with Graham Greene and Meyer Lansky, and tapping my toes to the Orquestra Aragón.”

– Los Angeles Times

“The glamour of Old Cuba with its music, nightlife, culture and tropical beauty is perfectly expressed in these pages.”

– Desi Arnaz Jr.

“…[includes] scores of photos that feature mid-century modern architecture – still the best, if you ask my opinion.”

– Tampa Tribune

“A beautiful book that is a wonderful visual complement to 'Havana Nocturne.' It's easy to picture Havana in the 1950s because so much remains unchanged -- the cars, the clothes, the casinos waiting for a new government.”

– The Oregonian

Fall into Cooking with Food Festivals of Italy

Chef Leonardo Curti's recipe for Totelloni di Zucca(Handcrafted tortelloni filled with pumpkin) from the beautiful book Food Festivals of Italy is now being featured on Amazon.com's "Fall into Cooking" feature. Check it out here.

What a perfect recipe for the crisp autumn evenings and a fantastic way to use up those pumpkins growing in the garden patch.

Dinner Co-ops soothe stress during tough economic times

Co-author of Dinner at Your Door, Alex Davis, explains how starting a dinner co-op can soothe stress during an economic downswing

Living it up in tough times

"Since food is typically one of the largest expenses in a household, conventional wisdom tells us we should all be huddled in the kitchen eating PB and J’s for dinner while we glumly sip our water. But we in dinner co-ops are quietly thumbing our noses at the financial meltdown. At least when it comes to dinner.

"When we launched our dinner co-ops, we gave up takeout during the week, along with hurried, unsatisfying restaurant meals that never seem worth the money. We also stopped buying those lame supermarket ingredients you keep around for when you have no better idea. We transferred these funds into a virtual purse we can spend at the gourmet store, farmers market, butcher and baker on a single menu for the week. When you focus most of your weekly shopping on a single exciting menu—shopping is quicker, easier, and a lot more fun. Last week I found myself buying wild mushrooms and phyllo dough, ripe peaches to grill with basil—and for the first time, TRUFFLE OIL. Sound expensive? It was a fraction of what we would’ve paid to eat out. Don’t let Wall Street get you down. Get together with your favorite cooks and let the good times roll." - Alex Davis, co-author of Dinner at Your Door.

Consider creating your own dinner co-op with Dinner at Your Door, by Alex Davis, Diana Ellis and Andy Remeis.

For more information or to order, visit our Web site:

Gibbs Smith, Publisher Authors Finalists for New Mexico Book Awards!

Each year, the New Mexico Book Awards Program honors special New Mexico authors/publishers for their special contributions to New Mexico's book community. In 2008, the New Mexico Book Awards will present Friends of New Mexico Books Awards to Denise Chavez (Las Cruces) and David Morrell (Santa Fe) and the Friends of New Mexico Authors Award to Ruthe Francis for their support of local New Mexico books. In 2007, Tony Hillerman (Los Ranchos) and Rudolfo Anaya (Albuquerque) were honored with the Friends of New Mexico Books Awards.

Gibbs Smith, Publisher authors nominated as finalists include:

Cookbook
Cooking with Johnny Vee — Vollertsen, John

History Book
Walks in Literary Santa Fe — Harrelson, Barbara

Reference Book
Japanese Style — Lim, Sunamita
Stone Design— Morris, John T.
Vastu— Silverman, Sherri

First Book
Historic New Mexico Churches— Lux, Annie

Great Chefs Cook Vegan author Linda Long interviews with Chef and Radio Host Mark Tafoya of ReMARKable Chef

ReMARKable Palate #161: Great Chefs Cook Vegan

"This week, I speak with Linda Long, writer, food photographer, and long time vegan, who has recently published a gorgeous cookbook entitled Great Chefs Cook Vegan, in which she features vegan recipes created by 25 of the most well known chefs in the USA, along with some beautiful photography. This book shows us just how beautiful vegan dishes can be, and how easy it can be to create beautiful vegan dishes at home." - Mark Tafoya

Wedding expert and author launches Tablescapes: Setting the Table with Style

Kimberly Schlegel Whitman knows firsthand what it takes to set the stage just right for that special occasion. As the previous president of a high-end events company, Ms. Whitman's new book contains all the ingredients to create the perfect table setting for any occassion! Whether it's a sit-down dinner for a few guests or a buffet for many, a bridal or baby shower, a holiday dinner with the family or an al fresco party at the beach, Tablescapes: Setting the Table with Style, contains dozens of ideas to inspire hostesses of all ages, from experienced party-givers to style-setters of a new generation!

Kimberly at a recent book signing at Neimen Marcus in Plano, Texas.
Read a recent article with a reference about Kimberly Schlegel Whitman's previous title, The Wedding Workbook, in the New York Times.