Library Loot

As I'm trying to take in the summer, I took a  little time out to go on a hike with one of my awesome work friends and her kids.  Let me just say that I thought I was going to DIE along the first half of that trail.  It made me so mad that I struggled so hard with that stinking trail!  (Evidence again that I need to shed some pounds, ASAP!)  Once we all got warmed up though, we made it up to the top of the trail and the lake that is up there.  Of course, it was really pretty and so nice and temperate up that high.  It was just a really nice afternoon to spend with great friends in a beautiful place.  Why don't I take advantage of these mountains more often?

I also stopped by the library this week and just spent some time looking around.  A lot of the time I zip in and zip out, having put everything on hold through my online account.  This time, I spent some time and ended up in the cookbook section.  I love that we can check out cookbooks, especially since my own cookbook shelves are completely full and I have no more room to buy more.  Yea, I'll have to figure out a way to make more room--eventually. 

Needless to say, I've had some nice "endish" of summer outings and can feel work screaming down my neck.  I've actually worked a lot this summer and am even in the process of putting things together.  I'll never be completely ready, but ready or not, it's coming.

Here's what I picked up on my outing to the library:

 

As a Janeite, I had to check this one out.  It's a pretty cerebral book, with essay-like chapters about Jane Austen and her influence, so we'll see what the book has to share!

 

This one might be a problem.  I reserved this months ago, thinking I'd finish the first book.  Nope.  It didn't happen.  Now I better get reading so I don't have to return this!  (Knowing me, that's not going to happen.)

 

I've actually checked this cookbook out before.  Tana Ramsay is the famous Chef Ramsay's wife, so I was curious about what she could cook.  This cookbook ended up being really fabulous, with great recipes that feel pretty accessible.  Plus, she has a great recipe for Eton Mess, which I've been looking for after eating it in England back in June.  I checked her cookbook out again so I can decide if I should bite the bullet and buy my own copy or at least use it for my own try at Eton Mess!

 

I actually thought this was a slow cooker cookbook.  Yes, I know it says "pressure cooker" in large orange letters on the cover, but I didn't really register that.  All I know is that the recipes inside were really diverse and caught my attention.  Maybe I'll have to dig out my small pressure cooker and give these a try.

 

I really can not say enough about this little gem.  When I picked it up, I thought it was just too heavy.  It's not a great book for actually cooking from, since it's so small in size yet thick.  You couldn't possibly prop this open to cook from, but I have to say that the recipes and pictures are AMAZING.  There are variations of types of desserts, which is intriguing.  Overall though, I had to bring this one home because it was so pretty!

As you can see, I'll probably be doing a bit of cooking.  That's always good, right?

*Library Loot is a meme hosted by Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader and Claire from The Captive Reader.  Join us, and share what you've picked up from one of our many great libraries!