Cooking for Mom

Mother's Day is on the horizon! With restaurants becoming more expensive, you might be thinking of treating mom at home with a special meal made with love. How about a Mother's Day breakfast? Or lunch? Brunch? Maybe even dinner?

I've been looking around for different recipes, either in print or online, to help you prepare a meal for mom that she'll always remember:

Cookbooks 

• Fix-It and Forget-It Slow Cooker Dump Dinners and Desserts by Hope Comerford (641.5884 COM)  If you're all thumbs in the kitchen, this is the perfect book. Find a recipe, dump all the ingredients in the crockpot, and switch it on. It can't get any easier. Still unsure? Then try the recipe for 6-Can Soup.
• Fast From-Scratch Meals by Betty Crocker (641.555 CRO)  Food made from scratch that can be made quickly? I'd say that's a winner! All the recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less, many with just a handful of ingredients.
• Amish Community Cookbook by Carole Roth Giagnocavo (641.566 GIA)  I probably don't have to sell you on Amish recipes--tasty, stick to your ribs, home cooking. There are all kinds of easy recipes, including one for Tuna Noodle Casserole my husband says is the best he's ever had.
• Afternoon Tea is the New Happy Hour by Gail Greco (BT 641.5 GRE)  Around the library I'm known as a tea snob, so if you're looking for tea drink variations and traditional/non-traditional munchies to go with them, this book is for you. I'm not sure about Pizza Cupcakes, though.

Websites

• Grits and Pinecones  The blogger of this website has been cooking for over 50 years and offers mouth-watering, Southern-style recipes. There are a number of make-ahead recipes for those who don't want to cook on the big day, including ones for grits, quiches, and salads.
• Laughing Spatula  This mother-daughter team have a section for Mother's Day recipes on their blog to tempt any tummy. I'm all set to try their Easy Crustless Quiche recipe, great for gluten-free, diabetic, or simply carb-conscious eaters. Their Blueberry Pie Bars also look scrumptious.
• The Pioneer Woman  Ree Drummond has 60 recipes for mom's big day. There are recipes for pasta, pizza, piccata, pesto, parmesan, pork, and potato dishes. And if you don't like foods that start with "P," there are plenty of those as well.
• Taste of Home  There are so many good recipes here, and some are even easy enough for kids to help make. The Ham and Swiss Sliders recipe is simple and sounds delicious. There are others for sandwiches, brunch items, and desserts that will surely please. Just take your pick!

Of course, there are many more websites and food blogs than the ones listed above. Furthermore, the library has plenty of cookbooks for all types of cuisines and digital cookbooks through our online collections. 

Do you have a favorite recipe for mom? Share with us!

Happy Mother's Day wishes from the perch.  

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Are you a plant parent or want to become one? I've recently become a plant parent again...after about 20 years! Not many people know that quite some time ago, plants were a part of my (almost) everyday life. As a kid, I would help my grandfathers take care of their vegetable gardens in the summer. I planted seeds, watered, and picked fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, peas, and corn. When I went to college and later to work, I didn't have the time or the desire to putter around with potting soil.

Fast forward to the present--I guess you can say the gardening bug has finally bitten me once more. This time around, however, I'm focusing more on indoor plants to bring a bit of nature and calm into my home (or at least my living room). I have a variety of plants--spider, pothos, rubber fig, aloe, snake, and Christmas cactus--to add interest and for their easy, low-maintenance care. I planted them in terra cotta pots, because as much as I like the ceramic pots, they're not as porous as terra cotta (I want proper drainage without root rot). Furthermore, terra cotta is a warm, inviting color in the home.

With April being National Gardening Month, I thought I'd share some resources on plants that I've found particularly useful:

• Indoor Edible Garden by Zia Allaway (635 ALL)  Maybe your idea of indoor plants is to produce something edible? If so, see see how you can grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits in your home.
• Gardening in the Pacific Northwest by Paul Bonine and Amy Campion (535 BON)  Offers useful tips on outdoor gardening specific to Washington, Oregon, and southern British Columbia.
• Epic Gardening  Has everything, and I mean everything, for gardeners of all types and skills.
• OurHouseplants.com  For those who want to concentrate on caring for indoor plants. Offers plant profiles, guides, tips, and other useful information for both novice and expert gardeners.
• Washington State University  Provides free and useful information pertaining to gardening in Washington State, including soil, fruits, flowers, lawns, and more.
• Forcing, Etc. by Katherine Whiteside (635.9 WHI)  A good resource for those who prefer gardening houseplants and other plants indoors.

Of course, the library has more books and electronic resources than the ones I listed above. Which plants are your favorites? Have any good gardening tips? Share with us!

Good naturedly yours from the perch.