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Last Updated:June 23. 2009 9:45PM
Published: June 24. 2009 3:30AM

From My Mama’s Kitchen: Food for the soul, recipes for living
Author: Johnny Tan

Publisher: THC Investments, LLC

Price: $13.95 paperback

Length: 137 pages

Though the title may make you think of this as a cookbook, “From My Mama’s Kitchen” is more about the lessons learned while preparing food than the actual act of cooking. Johnny Tan was born in Malaysia and learned to cook while watching his mother prepare the family’s daily meals. He later moved to the United States to attend college and work. It was here that he adopted eight women as “other mothers.” These women all taught him the food of their regions and about life in general. It is the life lessons that Tan shares in this book, which is a heartwarming tribute to all of his nine mothers, that is special. Of course, each mother shares a recipe or two at the end of the book.


Cuisines of the Axis of Evil and Other Irritating States: A dinner party approach to international relations
Author: Chris Fair

Publisher: The Globe Pequot Press

Price: $28.95

Length: 313 pages

Sure, George W. Bush, who coined the “axis of evil” phrase, is no longer in office, and we’ve entered a different administration. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t try to understand our enemies (and other irritating states). Author Chris Fair suggests understanding can best be done with friends at the dinner table. Fair’s book is divided into four parts — each part contains countries grouped together by degree of nastiness. She offers a short history lesson about the country and its politics to start the discussion, and then follows with several menu suggestions from appetizers to dessert, including side dishes and beverages. And though the recipes have exotic names, most include ingredients that are readily available. In most cases, Fair includes substitution suggestions for the hard-to-find items.


Let’s Get Together: Simple recipes for gatherings with friends
Authors: DeeDee Stovel and Pam Wakefield

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Price: $14.95

Length: 279 pages

If exploring evildoers is not your idea of a fun dinner party, then DeeDee Stoval and Pam Wakefield have compiled yummy recipes that will make your guests praise your genius. And, unlike some entertaining cookbooks, the recipes in this book are something just about anyone could pull off. The book has chapters dedicated to specific entertaining venues, such as breakfasts and brunches, and also by food type, from starters and small plates to soups, salads, entrees and desserts. Whether you want to be extravagant with a several-course meal, or simple with a one-dish entree, authors Stoval and Wakefield have a suggestion for you.


The Science of Good Food
Authors: David Joachim and Andrew Schloss with A. Philip Handel, Ph.D.

Publisher: Robert Rose Inc.

Price: $37.95

Length: 624 pages

Ever wonder how cooking works? Why you boil this and bake that? What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder? Then this is the book for you. Organized alphabetically, the authors explain everything from abalone to zucchini. Each entry explains what it is, what it does and how it works. They also pepper their information with fast facts, quick read information boxes and kitchen wisdom. For example, if a recipe calls for a certain-sized pan that you don’t have, there is a chart that gives the volume of different-sized pans so you can see if a pan you have will work instead. Ever wonder why what we call bacon in the United States is different from bacon in Great Britain? There is an explanatory box for that as well. You won’t get many recipes out of this book, although there are a few, but what you will get is a full understanding of the science behind cooking and even a few tricks for substituting ingredients in a pinch.