We all have our weaknesses, some a little more challenging than others. If you read my article on addictions to cookbooks and food magazines, you will know about my publicly admitted weakness. I can’t seem to show restraint yet, as I’ve recently added to my growing collection of addictions. I have recently come across some really fantastic cookbooks and entertaining books; some are hardcover, some are paperback, not that this makes a difference, but because of my own ever-growing ‘ever-growing library’ craze that I’ve divided up by sharing my findings with you on Part Deux, hardcover and Part Trois, softcover. This is getting completely out of control; I now have a three-part cookbook saga in progress!

Let’s start with the most endearing, Junior Leagues, In the Kitchen with Kids Everyday Recipes & Activities. As you may recall from the first article, I am a former ‘active’ member of the Boca Raton Youth League Youth League who with hundreds of other women played an important role in the making of Savor the Moment, Entertainment without Reservations, which eventually became in James Beard Award Winning Book. Most of the Youth League cookbooks have a reputation for being exemplary. And they are (I have quite a collection of JL too, maybe it’s Part Quatre!) Due to the time, effort and enthusiasm that goes into each ‘project’ nothing less than ‘fabulous’ is produced. Difficult to understand this? Join the Junior League and you will understand.

Okay, soap box! Makeshift platform! I’m out. So with that being said, it stands to reason that it hails “In the kitchen with kids, recipes and everyday activities” as it really is a great book for children and their parents. First, what makes this book so great is that there are pictures on every page that show the children making the recipe and what the finished item looks like. There are numbered blocks for each 1-2-3 recipe, which describe the preparation steps in order for the child. This is a fantastic systematic approach to detailing how to get your child to cook without being overwhelming. For each recipe, there is a cookware section that lists the hardware items needed for your child to prepare the dish and most recipes offer a sidebar suggestion. This book makes cooking with kids fun. It is engaging and easy for both you and your child. This book is a great resource for finding quality time activities to do with children.

It’s been unusually cold in South Florida this winter and, frankly, nothing keeps you warm like soup; It doesn’t matter where you live, it doesn’t matter how cold you are. I discovered the New England Soup Factory cookbook. I am originally from New England and I know something about cold weather and soup. I’ve had this book for two weeks now, I’ve made five recipes, and I’m here to tell you that each one is better than the last. Okay, that’s not a surprise because the author is Marjorie Druker, executive chef and co-owner of the New England Soup Factory. Marjorie continues with her recipes. I am a soup person, hot and cold. The soup fills you up. Did they hurry? harassed? running here and there? Just have a gulp of soup, you don’t even have to chew and voila! you’ve had your nutrition on the go (some people take being busy to the extreme!) The photos are beautiful, the recipes are easy to follow, the ingredients can be easily obtained from your grocery store and with each recipe Marjorie gives you a note from the sidebar for tips and useful information. Just a soup cookbook? Yes, and every home cook should have one. I finally have mine.

In South Florida we have a vibrant Latino community, so it’s no wonder there are strong Latino culinary influences here as well. When something is different and new it comes with disappointing impressions, Latin cuisine and its respective ingredients are no different. There is much more to Latin American cuisine than chicken, beans, rice, and salsa. Daisy Martinez the Food Network star of Viva Daisy! It presents you with a world full of flavor of spices and ingredients and styles of cooking and preparing food that frankly opens doors you didn’t know existed. Daisy’s new book, Daisy: Morning, Noon and Night, exemplifies the ease of Latin American cuisine.

Daisy has removed the mystery and apprehension of preparing Latin dishes. Daisy teaches you through her book that simple and wonderful is amazing and different and exotic will add a bit of ‘zip’ to your life without zipper! I have this book because I am the biggest fan of Grilled Chicken Paillard, Black Beans and Rice, I knew there was a world of Latin American tastes, flavors and styles that I had to find. Daisy shows you how easy it is to make Empanadas and real chimichurri (a garlic parsley sauce for steak), which by the way, mine came out fabulous! But the great thing about this book is the introduction that Daisy explains how the book came about. It’s always about the stories and how they are told that makes them so compelling. I’m not going to tell you about ‘the trips’, what I’m going to tell you is go buy the book and explore like Daisy did, you won’t be disappointed, Tomorrow, Noon or Night!

In my first article I wrote about Betty Crocker. Just starting out, you must have your basic Betty. Start at the beginning, learn your basics, and grow from there. Well, I have discovered a new beginning. I didn’t think any book could really do what Betty’s books have done for beginning cooks until I found Your Time to Cook, a first cookbook for honeymooners, couples, and lovers. You don’t have to be a newlywed, partner, or lover to reap the benefits of this book. Pictures, explanations, instructions, substitutions, everything is there and more. This book is super fantastic! If I say move Betty there’s a new game in town, I’d feel like I just crashed the mothership into an iceberg and I just can’t do that. The bookshelves are big enough for two true beginner cookbooks.

Now let’s entertain. Cooking is one thing and having fun is another. Put them together and you will have a party! The kind and talented Rosanna Bowles has put together a seasonal guide to creating family traditions titled Coming Home (a seasonal guide to creating family traditions). Rosanna takes you down memory lane with her book of family pictures, stories and triggers memories of your own childhood memories. Do you remember the May Day breakfasts? Remember when your mom made you lunch for school? How about warm and calm summer afternoons, just lying on the grass with your friends? Rosanna makes you think, helps you create an environment, and helps you find your lost traditions. This is a great reading book. I sat on my patio last Sunday and read it cover to cover with a few glasses of wine. It was the perfect thing to do on Sunday and when I finished with the book, I called my mom and talked about the May Day Breakfasts and Christmas Cookies. Well done Rosanna! you’ve done so much more than writing an entertaining book, you’ve given the world a little shake of what has been lost.

So let my addiction continue, it really isn’t that bad after all.