Black History Month: A. Fillmore's Cookbook

The featured book today  is by  A. Fillmore. This is a picture of Chef Fillmore.  We'd love to have a peak inside his cookbook, but alas that would require a trip to TX.  The Lone Star Cook Book and Meat Special (From the Slaughter Pen to the Dining Room Table). What a title, right? He created his dishes at the Hotel Lubbock, 1929. Click on his name in blue to be directed to the article. It talks about a librarian who is a collector of cookbooks and in her vast 1600 books she has Mr. Fillmore cookbook of culinary cuisine for butchering and serving fresh meat. His Great great grandaughter left a comment and says the family has a copy as well. I thought it was so neat she would leave a comment, unfortunately she didn't get a response...I'd respond in a heart beat.

You will be utterly surprised at what the Book is really about go here. I'm intrigued because, this is the year that I work on eating less meat...and fulfilling a desire to eat vegetarian at least work up to 85% This year.  Below is an exert by A. Fillmore...

How to Make Candy Books: Hard Candy, Chocolate Candy and Non-Cook Candies

Sweets, for the Sweetie with a Sweet Tooth the size of Manhattan!

Don't be scared of the photo, you will be pleasantly surprised at the candy recipes in this book. Who doesn't like quick and easy...I can safely say you'll be enjoying your treats in no time. With the silicone explosion to the cooks kitchen, you can bring the magic and the fun in minutes.

I love a book for beginners...no fuss, basic and fun!

Oh Fudge

 

If I could have one candy wish...eating one of these everyday and not get cavities or adverse effects to my physical self...this book would fit the bill to explore all those fudge dreams...!!

This is the book of which I found the inspiration for my Sweet Life Candy Hearts! Perfect for Holiday Candy and Confections.

Black History Month: Harlem

How much do you want to Know? How far do you want to travel back...to understand a culture, in tiny spot in the world. Before The Settlers, Before Slavery Trades here in the US...There were millions of Natives living in Americas but for the sake of this post we're talking about Harlem, N.Y. Africans and Indians have a long intertwining relationship in this country. It is curious to me that Harlem became a mecca, in a future time where a whole culture of Native Tribes were forced to live and left to themselves until it was deemed...well, takable!
This link Here takes you to the pages about Haarlem/Harlem and the history of How it came to be Harlem.
Then We fast forward Jumper Style, to after World War I and  Learn more about 
what the Renainnassance Period and who were some of the Key Players of the time.

Do you recall that Sesame Street segment of the song that went "You gotta go where you want to go and
Be who you want to be. Believe in Yourself"
The rebirth or renaissance for African Americans during 
the time makes me think of that song.

Before we moved to Harlem...3 yrs. ago, my Husband would talk about Harlem. People of all walks of life but they dress here, like nowhere else. Good people here. There is a news paper just about what goes on in Harlem. In the summer especially good weather the streets are filled with vendors selling their wares and music I grew up with and always makes you feel welcome even if you are from Baltimore. Maybe that's another reason people come by bus loads to see Harlem!  So we were having a daily discussion about where we wanted to live, because there are five boroughs in NYC and each one being different from the next an even having different culture vibes within a single borough depending on where you live. Harlem, he always would say I like Harlem. If you find this book in the library or in a book store. Stop a min. or two and go through it Once for the Art again for the poetry. It is Poetic Harlem.

I didn't find this book on Good Reads. It exist because I have it! Maybe I'm off my search game
today. Either way the Poetry of Walter Dean Myers pulls out all the feeling of a culture in the
Middle of Manhattan. "Where a note is handed down from Marcus and Malcolm to a brother too
bad and too cool to give his name." If you find this book Sit down and take a trip
to Harlem.

I can walk to the Apollo in 20 min. There is 

more to the Apollo that meets the eye or ear.

go there and find out what I mean.

Apollo

A Jackie Robinson park Resident... enjoying the scenery. 

Black History Month: 32 Authors

I'm kicking off Black History Month with Alicia Keys entry into the Writer club with her new book. I've always appreciated Alicia Keys since the very first time she appeared with her crystal clear voice and infused her classical training to her music! Classical training always lifts everything you do up to a higher level. I believe it is partly why she's a class act and well rounded entertainer...which she exibits by an app that is the prelude to her book Blue Moon!

Alicia Keys and her Son Egypt

Go visit this article about her book and 31 Black Celebs Authors of Children's books of books featuring several of my favorite authors such as LeVar Burton and books we've read the past year as well as some I look forward to reading.

At the top of my list...

Kim Wayans "Amy Hodgpodge"
Ziggy Marly "I love you too"
Bob Marly "ONe Love"
Tay Diggs "Chocolate Me"

Good Manner's Makes it Work

Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work by Tim Gunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok first I have to say I appreciate good manners above, good looks, fancy clothes and most everything. So I really appreciate Tim Gunn because he's got it all. I've never met him but on several occasions my husband has met him commuting around NYC. He always says...Tim Gunn is a really down to earth person and he asked how's the family, when he saw my husband last time. Well reading his book confirmed everything I'd already thought about him, honest, kind and very proficient in his work. I laughed out loud and was touched by so much of what he wrote. I really hated putting the book down and I will read it again. I kept hoping I'd run into him like my husband, so he could sign my book and I could thank him for everything he shared. Thanks Tim Gunn!

View all my reviews

The Borrowers

Already I'm really missing Summer...after just one day of Real Feel  of 3 degree winter weather! Reading aloud chapter books is a summer tradition I started with my children partly to introduce them to the love of reading, voice acting and power of words and ideas. The tradition continues with the youngest of my 8 children.
With That said our first read aloud book over the past summer we read, The Borrowers is a story about tiny people who have to hide from the human beans, barrow what they need, while being virtually invisible and living out their simple lives underneath an elderly lady, her grandson and two caretakers.
Every family has their dilemmas ... what would life be without them, right?  Momma and Poppa are doing their best to keep food on the table and make life pleasant for Arietty but boredom, curiosity and getting seen create a shift that changes everything for them and the whole household. It may be good to read the book before you see the movie by Hayo Miyazaki.




Bud not Buddy....

This is a very touching book. A child's mother dies. He discovers her and is placed into foster care. He only know of his father from the limited clues his mother told him. All his worldly goods are kept in his one suit case. Go on a journey with Bud..find out why his name is not Buddy,  experience  the rights of passage of his age and be touched my how wonderful it is to realize one's dreams by just not giving up on it. What strikes me in the story that he never really had to face the audacity of anyone telling him that he is hoping in something that he has no evidence that it's real...only within himself. Or that it is only his imagination. Inside of him he can be left to come to realize his hopes in reality.Just on faith alone... Beautifully told by Christopher Paul Curtis, of the failed foster care system ... even 50 yrs. ago! Sure there are wonderful people out there in the massive tom foolery and mockery of charity we call foster care. Even as dangerous as the world was with bigotry running rapid in the time this book is depicting...I couldn't help but applaud Bud for escaping with as simple a plan as he had.  Read it for yourself to your children. You won't regret it.

Cookie Books for any time..Even Holidays

Do you read cook books like Novels! I do. Books were my first friends, after my cousins of course. Cook books and Baking Books are my closest of friends! We have so much fun together...sorry if this is sounding sorta wacky, but I know I'm not the only one who loves Baking Books like I do...you know who you are, I'm giving you permission to admit it...at least to yourself.
Below is my list of  Cookie Books that I borrowed from the library and didn't want to ever take them back...but I did because that's wrong! Anyway take a look see on Amazon or Good Reads at the reviews...for my 25c. Both of these books have easy to a bit more challenging( more than 5 ingredients) recipes. My favorites in "Mom's Big Book of Cookies" are the refrigerator or (hidden in) the freezer cookies.


  Cookies to try the snicker doodles, freezer cookies, and a cookie from Rainy/Snowy day..or when you have barely any ingredients!


The ideas are endless...Where is the Great Cookies?
Right in this book! Go for it!