Hungry Times Two

One of my favorite pastimes is to visit the library & peruse new and old cookbooks. I think this is probably most definitely violating copyright law, but when I check out cookbooks and find recipes that I like, I'll copy them and file them in my almighty 3-ring green food binder. This binder holds recipes torn from magazines and newspapers, family recipes emailed and handwritten, takeout menus, and paper menus from restaurants we've visited and enjoyed. It's my big book of food awesomeness, and I'm always in search of items to keep it growing. When a friend mentioned the Food52 Cookbook Club on Facebook, I figured it would be a fun way to experiment with foods I might not normally cook, and to expand my horizons beyond the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library stacks.

Bored with what's in your cupboard or on your grocery list? Or hopelessly devoted to your local neighborhood market? It's easy to get into a food rut, buying and cooking the same food and dishes due to time constraints or just plain OCD-esque habits. But friends, I'm here to tell you there's another way. Shop around. 

On the first day of 2018, the scene is set.  The fireplace is blazing. Our dog Loretta is curled up on the love seat next to me. Candles on the mantle are flickering. My small-ish second glass of red wine blooms warmly with each sip. There's no Netflix on the TV.  No radio blaring the latest news.   Quiet. Gentle. Cozy.  I'll have a second and third helping of this in 2018, please and thank you.