Spoonbread & Strawberry Wine: Recipes and Reminiscences of a Family
Spanning over a century of African-American life  and culture, this classic oral history celebrates  one remarkable family’s heritage as told through  photos, reminiscences, and recipes–now back in  print after six years.

B & W  photographs throughout

Customer Review: spoonbread and strawberry wine
I purchased this paperback version at Fisk University in August 1978 and it has been with with me since then. I love the recipes in this book and the stories behind them. I have my original paperback copy @$2.75 a copy. I cooked several recipes from this book, although I knew how to cook from my mother. I am sharing this book with my young co-workers in my office as the bible for Southern cooking and sharing a family story. I love the recipe for the potatoe salad and am preparing it for my company’s picnic this week.

Thanks for sharing,
Loren

Customer Review: Great even just for reading!
This is as interesting as a “reading” book as it is as a cookbook. The recipes are very creative, too. A lot of “homestyle” cookbooks just seem to be “1,001 things to do with canned soup” but this one isn’t like that at all–the recipes are genuinely interesting and are varied, from ice cream to homemade wine to Sunday dinner.

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Wine by Design (Interior Angles)
There is a revolution currently underway in the world of wine. Established and new vintners are discovering the dual marketing advantage of coupling exquisite, name-brand designer architecture with the winery tour.  Internationally renowned architects, such as Frank Gehry, Herzog & de Meuron, and Santiago Calatrava, have all designed wineries that focus on the experience of wine production for the visitor while providing brand recognition in the form of architecture. 

Celebrating the new alignment that the wine industry is making with design, Wine by Design highlights the most exciting new designs for wineries and spaces of wine from throughout the world including Australia, Chile, USA, Canada and the established vineyards of Europe.

It also emphasises the way design is making headway into wine retail and wine bars, as well as the trend for conspicuously displayed spaces for the storage and consumption of wine.

Customer Review: A great pairing of Wine & Architecture
I bought this as a Christmas gift for one of my many wine loving friends and just had to get one for myself. It tackles a unique subject – winery architecture – and gives you a good but not too in depth description of the wine making region, the wine facilities, and the wines themselves. It is full of great colour photography, site plans, and a broad selection of wineries around the world. The architecture featured is modern and not what you expect of typical wineries…the Gehry sketches alone are worth the price of the book! Want to impress your friends? Leave this book out on your coffee table. Better yet, pull this book out and enjoy while you sip on a Rioja red.

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Telegraph.co.uk

Taliban "poised to retake Afghanistan" after NATO pullout Reuters By Rob Taylor and Amie Ferris-Rotman | KABUL (Reuters) – A secret US military report says that the Taliban, backed by Pakistan, are set to retake control over Afghanistan after NATO-led forces withdraw from the country, The Times newspaper reported on … Report: Classified US document says Taliban ready to take power in Afghanistan …Fox News Pakistan security helping Taliban: NATO reportTimes of India Pakistan helping Taliban: secret NATO reportAFP The Associated Press  -Washington Post all 648 news articles »

New Foods for Healing: Capture The Powerful Cures Of More Than 100 Common Foods, From Apricots And Bananas To Wine And Yogurt
Customer Review: Very comprehensive
This book is a good reference. I like its organization. Very handy to have about on the coffee table for an occasional reference.

Customer Review: Buy this book for everyone you know
I am a book lover, but this is the single MOST USEFUL book I ever bought. This book has quick and interesting information on foods and how they can help you with common problems like diarrhea, muscle spasms, fungal infections, fibroids and lowering your risk of getting cancer. The research is stated and summarized in an interesting and easy to read format. And the food cures work! I frequently use the information from this book to “heal” myself and others. This book can save you from taking OTC and prescribed medication and damaging you liver and kidneys.

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Spanish Wine: A Pocket Guide
Here is a quick, fun and easy guide to the world of Spanish Wine. Written by an author who has immersed himself in Spanish culture and its wine over the past fifteen years, this book will give anyone interested in the subject an enjoyable introduction to this fascinating member of the wine world. Important features include: Brief history. Easy-to-follow rundown on Spanish Wine. Basics on understanding Spanish Wine. Wine regions listed by wine types (reds, whites, sparkling wine, sherry). Fun descriptive introduction to each region. Map of each region. Overview of all major wine regions (D.O.) and many minor ones (V.T.). Up-to-date rating of D.O. vintages. Winery-by-winery listings: includes wines, price range, personal recommendations and website addresses. Local gastronomy – insights into the foods of each region. Local anecdotes – fun and interesting facts about this wonderful country and its wine. Glossary of terms. Alphabetical listing of all wines mentioned.

Customer Review: Spanish wine
I have been to Spain a couple of times and this book is pretty informative and accurate from my experience.

Customer Review: A Spanish Wine Travelogue
It appears the author published this guide himself, which might have been necessary due to the folksy conversdational style in which it was written. An uninformed reader would likely lack confidence in the superficial evaluations of the recognized wine regions and the numerous producers. However, Murdock’s solidly positive comments on those wines I have actually sampled so far match my own opinions, which leads me to believe his evaluations are really quite sound. The book is easy to use and should allow me to discover additional wines I might enjoy, which is the main reason why one buys this kind of guide. There can be no doubt that Spanish wines represent great value and provide interesting taste and style variances from the better publicized California, French, Italian, and Australian varietals. On the whole, this guide is a very goof value.

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First Big Crush: The Down and Dirty on Making Great Wine Down Under
The story behind the bottle, First Big Crush is Eric Arnold’s wild account of his year immersing himself in all things wine…and somehow not winding up in rehab.

Never having held a meaningful job for very long (and getting fired from most of them), Eric Arnold heads to New Zealand — to Allan Scott Wines — seeking adventure and hoping to learn a little bit about wine. What could be better than working outside in the fresh air and drinking wine all day? Before he knows it, he is dirty, wet, cold, and at the mercy of a tank of wine that just might explode and take him with it. So begin Eric’s adventures in the world of wine. He gets sunburned, sore, and drunk — and then does it all over again the next day.

First Big Crush is a story that is as outrageous as it is compelling. Here are tales of first pressings, pruning, and tasting competitions. There are also rowdy nights at the local pub, girls, meat pies, girls, rugby, and tales of hunting wild pig. Along the way, each step of the winemaking process is explained in a way that humans can actually understand. Almost against his will, Eric becomes an expert.

Customer Review: A fraternity boy’s drunken rant
Trash. I cannot believe how such a great topic was ruined by Eric Arnold’s immature writing and drinking. I was so looking forward to a wonderful informative book on NZ winemaking, but I couldn’t get past Eric’s being drunk all the time and talking like a freshman frat boy! Grow up.

Customer Review: Read the “dirty” in more than one sense
Eric Arnold spent a year in New Zealand’s Marlborough winemaking region. Years earlier he spent a day touring the area: “And from my very first sip of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at ten-thirty or so on that morning, I knew it, too — I was tasting something special. My mouth zipped and zinged, and though I couldn’t describe the flavors I was tasting, I was sure of only one thing: I wanted more. I was hammered by noon, with five wineries still to go. At one point I stole the tour guide’s microphone in the van and started singing karaoke — “The Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson — even though I didn’t know the words. I might’ve taken off my shirt, too, but I don’t remember. From winery to winery and sip to sip, the wines just got better and better. From the time I got back home to Brooklyn, whenever I was in a wine shop I either bought wine from New Zealand or asked for something similar. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was my new Hogue.”

The memory of that firts Sauvignon Blanc sticks in Arnold’s memory:

“For a few years after that trip I was still guzzling whatever New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc I could find at night, and spending my daylight hours working the copy desk at a small business magazine. It was better than working for the Nazi devil woman at PBS, but the same could probably be said for cleaning up monkey shit at the zoo (which, I imagine, is very similar to working at PBS). So out of a desire to drink more, work less, and maybe satisfy a little curiosity, up sprang the idea of just throwing myself into the lifestyle: getting a job at a winery and writing a book about it.”

Arnold initially knows nothing about winery work, but you have to admire his cheerful attitude, no matter what reality throws at him. He learns about rugby, pig hunting, and hard working rural New Zealanders. He finds two particularly difficult areas: the finer points of pitchforking and pruning winter vines in the cold fields. He concludes:

“Vineyard work sucks…I have no idea why, but many people who drink wine think that making it is some sort of relaxed, cushy lifestyle. And I don’t understand it , because I’ve never eaten a juicy steak and imagined how romantic and luxurious a life I’d have if I started raising cattle in Wyoming. Similarly, I’ve never met anyone who got a massage and moved to Sweden or shot heroin and moved to Afghanistan.”

Arnold is excellent at describing the difficulties and joys of working in a vineyard and in a winery. His language may be a bit racy for some readers, his humor a little too broad. Overall, I found the substance worth a few “Oh, grow up” moments.

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Newsday

California wine country getaways for two Newsday News Newsday > News Content Preview Newsday 7 day/Optimum Online ® subscribers click here for full access Not a Newsday or Optimum Online ® subscriber? Click here California wine country getaways for two Published: January 26, 2012 12:38 PM By The … and more »

The Art and Science of Wine

How wine is made, from field to cellar to bottle.

Great wine is a complex blend of nature, art and science. In this updated new edition of a classic book, the “how and why” of a wine’s creation are examined in detail.

Acclaimed wine writers James Halliday and Hugh Johnson analyze the art and science behind the winemaking process. They start with the fundamental role of terroir the complex combination of characteristics that give a wine its personality. The latest developments in pruning and irrigation are then covered, along with the recent emergence of vineyards in cooler regions and the rise of organic wines.

Wine production in the cellar is detailed for nine specific styles, from light-bodied whites to full-bodied reds, along with sweet, sparkling and fortified varieties. The authors present the choices facing vintners at every step. The science of maturation is discussed, along with the industry’s raging debate over the merits of natural cork, plastic cork and screw cap seals. The book also covers:

• A year in the vineyard
• Quantity vs. quality
• National attitudes and regional characteristics
• Mechanization
• The chemistry and analysis of wine.

The Art and Science of Wine is filled with full color photographs and illustrations. With text that reflects the latest winemaking technology and discoveries, this lively book is both accessible and highly informative.

Customer Review: Beautiful, a steal
This is a beautiful, steal of a book (some independent sellers are offering <30% of the price Barnes and Noble wanted when I originally bought it the first time!). If you're like me and really want to know the intricacies of wine production (not just tasting notes, etc.--which this book also contains), this is a handy and educating book to have. Yes, it is paperback, but the front cover is a thick, glossy card stock and the pages inside are glossy as well. Nice for a coffee table or a bookshelf, but even better for your brain!

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The Grapes of Wrath

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Telegraph.co.uk

Tarmac exchange gets tongues wagging STLtoday.com PHOENIX • President Barack Obama's encounter with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer this week on an airport tarmac in Phoenix sidetracked the administration's effort to keep the focus on the president's message during his cross-country trip. Obama exchange with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer reveals his testy sideWashington Post Obama-Brewer friction on display on tarmac tiffAlbany Times Union Arizona governor gives her side of Obama encounterThe Seattle Times Chicago Sun-Times -New York Times -New York Daily News all 1,143 news articles »

On a Tour Cut Short, Monitors in Syria See Little – New York Times

New York Times

On a Tour Cut Short, Monitors in Syria See Little New York Times HARASTA, Syria — On a tour by Arab League observers through the restless suburbs of Damascus, the stops on Thursday were anxious, brief and few. In Irbeen, less than 10 miles from the capital, the observers hopped out of their heavily guarded convoy to … Security Council meets on Syria; revolt nears DamascusReuters Africa Syrian revolt edges closer to Damascuseuronews Crisis takes toll on Syria economyLos Angeles Times Wall Street Journal -BBC News all 3,330 news articles »

Fruits and vegetables under glass: apples, apricots, cherries, figs, grapes, melons, peaches and nectarines, pears, pinapples, plums, strawberries; asparagus, … radishes, rhubarb, sea kale, tomatoes
Originally published [c1912]: Access to the digital version of this title and other related titles can be found on CHLA (Core Historic Literature of Agriculture) at http://chla.library.cornell.edu, an electronic collection of core historical materials on US agriculture and rural life published from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. A full list of Cornell University Library’s digital collections can be found at http://www.library.cornell.edu.

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2. Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains
3. Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains

Joanne Weir’s More Cooking in the Wine Country: 100 New Recipes for Living and Entertaining
“In this sun-drenched valley, everything grows, something is always in season, and the habits of living are relaxed and celebratory.” That’s why Joanne Weir–the celebrated food writer, cooking teacher, chef, and popular television cooking show host–names California’s wine country as the place where the things that matter most to her about cooking happen. “It’s easy to live the rich life here: eating fresh foods right out of the garden and orchard, savoring artisanal cheeses and breads, drinking vintage wines. When I’m here, I feel as though I’m living in a state of grace,” she writes. Joanne Weir’s More Cooking in the Wine Country gives readers all the recipes, advice, and inspiration to bring that state of grace into their own kitchens–no matter where they live.

Just as she did in her celebrated first book on this topic, Weir Cooking: Recipes from the Wine Country, Weir relies heavily on the lusty and vivid flavors and simple cooking methods of the countries of the Mediterranean. The more than 150 recipes in this volume celebrate the bounty of the wine country. From Crostini with Smoked Trout and Lemon Zest to Caramelized Coconut Budino, Weir provides recipes for every course that are at once interesting in their inventiveness and comforting in their familiarity.

In keeping with the “California cuisine” mantra of using fresh, seasonal, and locally grown ingredients, Weir celebrates the seasons with ever-changing offerings. Autumn inspires a salad of Endive with Gorgonzola, Caramelized Onions, and Fig Jam that expertly balances bitter, salty, sour, and sweet. A sprightly Spring Soup of Favas, Sugar Snap Peas, and Asparagus is bright with the crisp, new flavors of spring. Stone Fruit Summer Salad highlights the most succulent produce of the season. And Beef Braised with Zinfandel and Winter Vegetables makes the most of the root vegetables and hearty herbs available this time of year.

The wine-pairing suggestions that accompany each recipe are extremely helpful, tips for how to handle such challenges as peeling fava beans or making perfect risotto are welcome, and the luscious photographs of many of the dishes are inspiring. –Robin Donovan

Customer Review: Outstanding chef
I thoroughly enjoy all of Joanne Weir’s books. She is very knowledgeable about Meditterrean cooking. Her recipes are original, come together very well and many of instructions for making in advance. I place her right up there with Patricia WElls.

Customer Review: Sounds good, but who knows.
I enjoyed watching the cooking show with Joanne Weir, and was very glad to find a used copy of her book. But…. if you live in an area of the country where gourmet items or fresh herbs and other ingredients are scarce you may never be able to duplicate many of the recipes without substitutions. This is a disappointment, and of course not the fault of the book.

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Rabobank Report: Dramatic Growth in Bulk Wine Exports Has Shifted $1.4 Billion … MarketWatch (press release) Rabobank says in the report that the democratization, commoditization, innovation, and oversupply of wine, along with currency rates and changing trade flows, have changed both the conventional supply chain model and the distribution of value along … and more »

Starbucks Moves Forward With Extended Boozy Menu Hitting More Locations – The Consumerist

The Consumerist

Starbucks Moves Forward With Extended Boozy Menu Hitting More Locations The Consumerist Offering wine and beer (what, no double tequila shots?) and hot items like flatbreads and other savory snacks, a few cafes in Atlanta and Southern California will see the extended menus by the end of this year, says Reuters. Currently the menu is only … and more »

Wines and Wineries of California’s Central Coast: A Complete Guide from Monterey to Santa Barbara
In comparative tastings, wines from California’s Central Coast rival those from such renowned regions as Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Napa, yet they also offer superb value. This is the first comprehensive guide to one of the world’s most dynamic and beautiful wine regions-and the setting for the award-winning movie Sideways. An excellent, one-stop resource for touring and tasting at convenient wineries located from Monterey to Santa Barbara, the guide is organized into county-by-county alphabetical listings for this up-and-coming region.

Wines and Wineries of California’s Central Coast includes:
* Profiles of nearly 300 wineries personally visited by the author
* Profiles of individual vintners
* 5 maps
* Winery ratings, plus author and winemaker recommendations
* Visitors’ and contact information for each winery
* Discussions of regional wine history and terroir
* Descriptions of designated American Viticultural Areas and grape varietals

Customer Review: Good overview of Central Coast wines
Let me start by saying that I am a little biased toward this book because the photograph on the cover is the view from my parents’ living room. I did not take the picture but the oak tree and the grapevines in that picture have been a familiar sight for many years. This is a good overview of the wines and wineries of the Central Coast. It is a good place to start to build your own “Sideways” trip. I have my favorites as I am sure others have theirs. The Central Coast is often overlooked by many as a serious wine country but those who actually know what they are talking about know this region as the real wine country in California, not our Napa neighbors up north.

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