Staff Picks: Stuck Inside? We Can Help!
by emjane
With early spring, you never know what you’re going to get! I usually dream of front porch swing weather, but more often than not, we’re stuck in second (or third) winter and I’m desperate for something engaging to do indoors. Luckily, we’ve got lots of books that can help spur some indoor fun.
The Perfect Cookie: Your Ultimate Guide to Foolproof Cookies, Brownies & Bars by America’s Test Kitchen| Request Now
Baking is an ideal indoor activity – it’s a fun process and as an added bonus, you end with delicious treats! America’s Test Kitchen is one of my go-to sources for recipes, especially baking. They do a great job of breaking down the steps that go into a recipe, so even if you’re not making something you’re familiar with, you have a high rate of success!
My very favorite cookie recipe is in this book on page 39: Brown Sugar Cookies. (You can also find a version of it that’s not behind a paywall here.) I love it because it’s made with only pantry standards, but has a more complex taste due to the browned butter!
Rotten Movies we Love: Cult Classics, Underrated Gems, and Films so bad They’re Good | Request Now
When the weather is crummy, a good-bad movie is often the cure to lifting your mood! The folks at Rotten Tomatoes have pulled together a collection of nearly 100 movies that may not have been appreciated by the critics, but have fan followings that justify their continued relevance. Flipping through the pages to some of the favorites in my household (The Wiz, Step Brothers, and Hot Rod to name a few) was a reminder that sometimes movies can just be campy fun and made me want to dig up my old DVDs to relax with a movie that may not teach me anything, but will definitely make me laugh!
Zero Proof Cocktails: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking by Elva Ramirez| Request Now
Sometimes you want the decadence of a fancy cocktail without the buzz that goes with it. Fortunately, we’re living in the age of mocktails, and Ramirez has sourced plenty for you in this book. These aren’t fuss-free recipes; they’re created by specialty bartenders around the country and for most, you’d need to pick up a juicer and source some specialty ingredients. But even if you aren’t ready to become a mixologist, the beautiful drink photography and shared history of the sober-curious movement make it worth picking up this book.
I tried making the “Mango Mango” mocktail, which is a mix of mango puree, lime juice, simple syrup, and chipotle salt. I was a little iffy about that last ingredient, but the little bit of spice ended up being the difference-maker that will make me make this drink again.
Do an AADL.org search for “Make Your Own” | See the Results
Okay, this isn’t highlighting just one item, but I don’t know what resources you’ve got at home or what your basic skill sets are! It’s amazing the variety of books ready to teach you how to make your own anything. Have a lot of kids toys laying around? Why not make your own LEGO animated movie or Chain Reaction Machine. Are you a hobby woodworker? Make your own Kitchen Tools! Already have a lot of essential oils? You could Make Your Own Artisan Soaps. Have nothing more than paper and pencil? You can make your own optical illusions, of course!
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