Fun Reads: 1001 Foods You Must Taste Before You Die

 Ackee Fruit (photo from the internet)

I love stumbling across great culinary reads. This huge book, 1001 Foods You Must Taste Before You Die is a fun book. It is sectioned into fruits, veggies, meats, baked goods, dairy, and herbs. There are tons of photos and descriptions of interesting edibles from around the world. My favorite was the fruit and veggie section. I feel prepared now to head off to an ethnic market and experiment with new veggies and fruits - now I know what they are called! :)

Sapodilla (photo from the internet)

Some new things on my list (so let me know if you have seen these in the Portland area.)
Fruits
Miracle Berry: It makes sour things taste super sweet!
Jamun: A little black berry from in the tropics.
Sapodilla: Described as tasting like brown sugar and root beer, what could be bad. :)
Finger Lime: A cool looking red lime with little beads of juice.

Petai beans (photo from internet)

Veggies
Petai Bean: We saw these hanging up in Thai markets. I wish we had tried them. Described as being nutty and slightly garlicy.
Ackee: looks and apparently tastes like scrambled eggs. Sounds crazy and looks so cool.
Bitter Melon: We had these pickled in China. I want to try the melon here at home. Here are some recipes.

Have you had any of these? What did you think? What is the most interesting fruit or veggie you have never eaten?

 Finger Limes (photos from the internet)

I did feel proud that I have tried so many of the foods listed in this book. (I think eating everything when I am traveling has helped.)  I highly recommend picking it up and checking it out.

PS. One thing I will never eat is Casu Marzu cheese. Cheese filled with live maggots. I will eat pretty much anything once. But not that. Can't do that. (That sorta sounds like a Meatloaf song!)

Quick Book Recommendation

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Bun in my oven. Sorry for the lack of posts, but cooking hasn't been a priority. (But eating other people's cooking has been! :-) )

I checked the book out from the library and think it is absolutely fabulous and interesting. If you are looking for a coffee table book which is actually a great read, this is it. It peaks into the lives of 80 people around the world and their diet for a day. The people range from nomadic people of different  African countries, sumo wrestlers in Japan, and assorted Americans.

Check it out!

What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets

Exciting News!

I am still feeling quite under the weather and I am not cooking anything these days. But, I did get a little news to lift my spirits.

My recipe for fennel and pear salad was published in the Obama's White House Garden Cookbook!!!














I am beyond thrilled to see my name in print. The cookbook is filled with lots of kid friendly, garden veggie using recipes, as well as White House stories.

Do You Devour Books Too?

I love to read and when I am not devouring edibles I am devouring books. I manage to read at least a book a week if not more. I sneak time in whenever I can, especially before I fall asleep. I don't know how many times Justin has found me conked out with a book on my face and the lights still on.  I am 99% sure I learned this skill from my mom, the person who reads more then I do and is always passing along fabulous books to read!

There are very few books I don't like. (Well, except anything scary or mysteries that begin with women getting tortured then murdered. I don't TV or movies like that either.)

There are many, many books which I have adored and felt a little bit of a loss when the last sentence had been read. I do have a special place in my heart for books about food. I feel like when food and life intertwine some of the best stories are created.

Yesterday, I finished reading A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table, by Molly Wizenberg, who also writes a beautiful blog called Orangette. I cried at almost every chapter, either because the topic was sad or so sweet. I spent the week teaching poetry to some of my students and we have been talking about that poetry is writing that causes an emotional reaction by choosing perfect words to express a feeling. I feel like the prose of A Homemade Life is like poetry. And the recipes look pretty darned good too!

Here are a few more titles of foodie books I have loved: (Check them out on Amazon or through your local library!)

The School of Essential Ingredients: A cute book about how a cooking school brings together lost souls.

 

 

 

 

 

 Must Have Been Something I Ate: Great stories and recipes! Mr. Steingarten is a hilarious writer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Lost Recipe for Happiness: Romance novel with cooking :) 

Language of Baklava: Food memoir from Diana Abu-Jaber a Portland writer. Fabulous read and recipes!

 

 

 

 

 

Tender at the Bone, Comfort Me with Apples, and Garlic and Sapphires: by my personal food writing hero, Ruth Riechl. I adored all of these books!

 

 

 

 

 

Daughter of Heaven: Chinese Food memoir. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gastronomical Me: M.K. Fischer one of the first women to write about food and life. If you like Julia Childs you will love this one!

 

I am experimenting with the new Blogger linking and images. Kinda fun! Sorry if it is obnoxious, but they are all good books, I promise.
Do you have any food or other book titles to pass along? What have you read lately that has thrilled you?