Cookbooks come in every size and subject possible; their authors range from country music superstars to downhome Southern restaurant chefs.  They cover everything from brownies to barbecue to chicken to smoothies.  So if you are a little bored with your everyday recipes, you might want to check out some of the library’s newest cookbooks for inspiration.

 

Trisha Yearwood is best known for her vocals, but she has carved out a career as the star of a Food Network show that emphasizes her Southern roots.  Her latest cookbook, “Trisha’s Table,” follows her culinary philosophy, “80 percent of the time I make good choices; 20 percent of the time I let myself splurge a little.”  And the recipes, many accompanied by color photographs, reflect that attitude.  From Angel Hair Pasta with Avocado Pesto to Vegetarian Smashed Sweet Pea Burgers to Billie’s Houdini Chicken Salad, some recipes lean to the more healthy side, but then there are recipes for Slow Cooker Georgia Pulled-Pork Barbecue and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls for the other.  As Trisha shows it all depends on moderation. 

 

Southern Living continues their “Off the Eaten Path” series that visits the foods and characters from the South’s back roads and byways.  The latest volume is simply called “On the Road Again” as its author Morgan Murphy travels to restaurants all over the South including West Virginia.  Our state is represented by Thrasher Taco from the food truck, Hash Browns & New Grounds, in Morgantown along with Kiwi-Mango Salsa and Sesame Aioli as well as Kathy’s Barbecue from Jim’s Drive In in Lewisburg.

 

Other tempting recipes are: Chocolate Chip Donut Bread Pudding from Kentucky, Summer Succotash from Georgia, Willi Mae’s Butter Beans from Louisiana, Crunchy French Toast from Oklahoma, and Tomato Okra Stew from Virginia.  The book has travel hints and bright, colorful photographs to make reading it more fun.

 

Other new cookbooks are: “The Barbecue Lover’s Big Book of BBQ Sauces,” “Bread & Butter,” “A Bird in the Hand,” “Extreme Brownies,” “Smoothie-Licious,” and “Grill It, Braise it, Broil It.”