“Earth to Table“: If foraging in your neighbor’s yard for dandelion greens is your thing–then this is the book for you! Check it out but don’t let the farmer’s market chickens see the front cover! Food at it’s freshest and recipes to use throughout the year as the seasons pass by.

“Cooking in the Moment” by Andrea Reusing.  Recently reviewed in “Newsweek” magazine, Ms Reusing is a winner of the prestigious James Beard award.  This book is full of straight forward recipes and luscious photographs.

“Plenty : Good, Uncomplicated Food for the Sustainable Kitchen ” revives the lost art of home economics-making the most of what you have and combining it with today’s desire for a sustainable table.  Diana Henry shares recipes that show modern cooks that there is “plenty” of food for us to eat and enjoy without depleting our bank accounts and the planet’s resources.

“The Omnivore’s Dilemma : a Natural History of Four Meals“: Pollan asks the seemingly straightforward question of what we should have for dinner.  But it’s more complicated than that! As omnivores, the most unselective of eaters, humanity is faced with a wide variety of food choices, resulting in a dilemma.  What’s for supper?

And lastly, film star Gwyneth Paltrow, has recently published a cookbook entitled: “My Father’s Daughter : Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family and Togetherness“.   Written partly as an homage to her father, who taught her to cook, and also as a celebration of local, fresh and healthy cookery.  By publishing this cookbook Gwyneth helps answer the universal question we all want to know: What do movie stars  REALLY eat at home?

So stop by the library to “get fresh” and try a new recipe or two!  See you at the library ~ or the farmer’s market!

(Flavor, percent preferring) 1. Vanilla, 29% 2. Chocolate, 8.9% 3. Butter pecan, 5.3% 4. Strawberry, 5.3% 5. Neapolitan, 4.2% 6. Chocolate chip, 3.9% 7. French vanilla, 3.8% 8. Cookies and cream, 3.6% 9. Vanilla fudge ripple, 2.6% 10. Praline pecan, 1.7% 11. Cherry, 1.6% 12. Chocolate almond, 1.6% 13. Coffee, 1.6% 14. Rocky road, 1.5% 15. Chocolate marshmallow, 1.3% All others, 23.7% Source: International Ice Cream Association

So don’t feel guilty about enjoying ice cream this month. If you’re feeling really ambitious you could try making your own ice cream–and we’ve got some nice cookbooks you could use. First “The Perfect Scoop” by David Lebovitz. This book is chock full with new and interesting recipes and this instructions are easy to follow. The pictures are wonderul and calorie free! The second cook book is “Ice Cream” by Joanna Farrow. This book tries some new and interesting flavor combinations and also covers other cold options like ices, sherberts, granitas, bombes, tortes and sorbets. If you have super self control and prefer to celebrate with a movie, check out the 1931 Laurel & Hardy ice cream comedy,  “Come Clean.”  So remember to observe this month ”with appropriate ceremonies and activities” by indulging in your favorite flavor.  The only difficult choice will be: sprinkles or jimmies?

Are there other salad related Holidays in May?  Yes!

• National Caesar Salad Day
• May 19-25-National Vegetarian week
• The second Monday in May is National Etiquette Week
• the second full week of May is National Herb Week.
• National Egg Salad Week (see egg salad recipes)