GSP Cookbooks Win World Gourmand Awards

Food Festivals of Italy by James Fraioli and Leonardo Curti has been named the Best Italian Cuisine Cookbook in the American division of the 2008 World Gourmand Awards.



Great Chefs Cook Vegan by Linda Long has been named the Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the American division of the 2008 World Gourmand Awards.


These books will now compete for the Best in the World competition in their categories, the winner of which will be announced in May.

Havana Before Castro featured on PRI's The World broadcast

Peter Moruzzi reads and excerpt and shares his insights into Cuba while being interviewed on his book Havana Before Castro on PRI's The World radio broadcast. (Click on the link below to hear the program)

PRI's The World Global Perspectives for an American Audience

Posted using ShareThis

Tasty Thursday

Oh what fun! Now you and your kids can make cute cakes for any occasion! Since Christmas is only two weeks away, I thought it would be fun to highlight a recipe from Easy Cut-Up Cakes for Kids by Melissa Barlow. This great cake is the perfect way to spread holiday cheer!

Christmas Tree

Pans: 1 (9 x 13-inch) pan

Serves: 8 to 10

1 chocolate cake mix

Green frosting

1 King-Size Snickers or Milky Way candy bar

White frosting

Red candies, like M&Ms, striped peppermints, or Red Hots

1. Make cake mix according to package directions. Bake cake as directed on box for a 9 x 13-inch pan. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, and then invert and cool completely on a wire rack.

2. Cut the cake according to the diagram below. Position the two smaller triangle pieces together to create one large triangle and frost the top green. Place the other large triangle on top and frost entire cake green. Cut candy bar in half and then stack at the bottom of the tree to make the trunk.

3. Using a decorator's bag with a star tip, frost a white garland diagonally across the tree. Decorate your tree with candy as desired.

Variation: Frost the tree with green mint frosting or sprinkle on shredded coconut that has been tinted green to look like pine needles.

The true, inspirational Christmas story

Share the true meaning of Christmas with neighbors and friends with Candy Chand's true, inspirational story, Christmas Love.

Originally featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul and on the Internet, Christmas Love is the miraculous story of finding the sacred meaning of Christmas amid the chaos and commercialization of the holiday. Since 1999, this true story, about a touching reminder suddenly appearing during a school's holiday pageant, has captured the hearts of readers around the world. Now with tender watercolor illustrations, Chrsitmas Love is a beautiful, inspirational story for anyone who wishes to honor the real meaning of Christmas.

To Order, click on the book cover.

Barry Dixon Has Fans in High Places!

Brian Coleman, author of the book Barry Dixon Interiors with photography by Edward Addeo, sent us this image. The lady on the left is First Lady Laura Bush, and the lady on the right is Karyn Frist, wife of US Senator Bill Frist. Mrs. Frist presented Mrs. Bush with a copy of Barry Dixon Interiors during a recent visit to the White House.

Tasty Thursday

It's time to start making all those luscious treats that get us all excited for Christmas! Today's recipe is taken from the New York Times Best-Seller, 101 Things to do With a Cake Mix by Stephanie Ashcraft. This is the perfect dessert to make and enjoy with your family this holiday season. 


Christmas-Rainbow Poke Cake

1 white cake mix

1 small box strawberry gelatin

1 small box lime gelatin

2 cups boiling water, divided

1/2 cup cold water, divided

1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Prepare cake mix as directed on box. Pour batter into two 8- or 9-inch round pans and bake as directed; cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool cakes completely and clean the pans.

Place cake layers, top sides up, back into the two clean pans. With a fork, poke holes at 1-inch intervals through both cakes.

Dissolve strawberry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Mix 1/4 cup cold water into gelatin. Spoon over one layer of cake in pan. Repeat with lime gelatin. Refrigerate 3–4 hours or overnight.

Dip one pan with cake into warm water for 10 seconds: invert cake onto a serving plate. Cover the cake with part of the whipped topping. Invert second layer of cake on top and then frost with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

An interview with the man who lives in 140 Square Feet

Author Gregory Johnson of Put Your Life on a Diet: Lessons Learned from Living in 140 Square Feet, was recently interviewed for "Writers Voices," on KRUU FM in Iowa.

Writers’ Voices with Monica and Caroline warmly welcomed author Gregory Paul Johnson, as well as guest host Steve Cooperman, last Friday, Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. Steve Cooperman is a former journalist and a KRUU show host who is currently involved in numerous community projects. Steve put his own life on a diet about a year ago when he moved into a 500 sq ft cottage with a wood stove, close to the town square, greatly reducing driving miles.

Click here to listen.

Click here for the article.