I do love quirky history books and Sweet Land of Liberty: a History of America in 11 Pies, by Rossi Anastopoulo did not disappoint. It starts with apple pie, nothing is more American than that, right? Except that most, if not all, the ingredients are NOT native to this country! There are pies where there are two versions, one baked for the plantation owners, the other for the slaves. There are pies with no fruit, in fact made with crackers (it's on the Ritz box to this day). With each pie there is a well written (great notes at the back) if often sobering, explanation, of our history, much of what we did not learn in history class. And, the final chapter, is back to the apple pie and how it became so strongly associated with the U.S., how the lingo and slang and references all developed to make it the American symbol it is.

Here's a topic that is decidedly foreign for me ... cooking! I am a terrible cook, and don't really enjoy spending time in the kitchen ... but I quite enjoyed Home Cooking: a Writer in the Kitchen, by Laurie Colwin! It's true, there are recipes,(which I ignored), but there are also delightful essays on cooking and what can happen (everyone has a failure at some point), on meals that were total flops (sometimes with guests), and surprising twists on favorites. Unexpectedly enjoyable. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog