The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Bookin’ and Cookin’ shares holiday treats
Holiday plates from small appetizers to side dishes and dessert were shared and discussed between members of Avon Lake Public Library’s cookbook club during their monthly Bookin’ and Cookin’ get together.
The library held its holiday session Dec. 20 in the building’s McMahan Room to share recipes made by all members and discuss why they chose their holiday dish.
After discussing how special some of the dishes were to each other and sharing its history that may have belonged in their families, the group dove in to what was offered.
Dishes such as meatballs, corn casseroles and holiday decorated cakes and cookies filled the table at the club session.
Nadge Herceg, information desk associate at the Avon Lake Public Library, was a substitute leader at the session and said she enjoys tasting and learning about new dishes she may have not had before.
Herceg added she enjoys trying dishes she has had before, especially when others can offer their own taste to them.
Each month, participants will select recipes from the library’s cookbook collection and will meet the following month to sample their culinary creations and chat about cooking, the library said.
Plates, silverware and beverages also are provided.
Normally, there are two members on the library staff who facilitate the group and they choose a theme for each get together or session that is relevant to that time of the year, Herceg said.
With this month’s theme, it was geared toward Christmas memories and traditions, she said.
The two staff members who usually lead ask people to find recipes from cookbooks at the library, but especially during the holiday season, they have expanded from that and want guests of the club to do favorite recipes of their own or enjoy as well, Herceg said.
Members gather and share recipes and ideas ahead of time so they are aware of what everyone is bringing, she said.
During ‘Bookin’ and Cookin’ club meetings, Herceg said there always is food involved to discuss
and share ideas with one another before eating.
Many of these meals she said could be small dishes like soup or appetizers and desserts to main dishes.
“We are combining the literary factor with cookbooks and it helps increase circulation of them, too, because they take them out,” Herceg said. “It highlights a part of our collection.”
Getting groups involved in the community to share different recipes and learn different ways to challenge themselves when cooking is why they get together.
She said she has seen many of the same faces attend, but enjoys meeting new faces as well.
Kate Carbaugh, a new Avon Lake resident from Seattle, attended her first Bookin’ and Cookin’ club meeting Dec. 20 and said it was everything she was hoping for.
“I was looking for many different opportunities to meet people because we (her family) don’t know many people yet,” Carbaugh said. “I found this group and it just looked so interesting and fun.
“I want to learn and share different ideas when cooking so that it will be helpful to not only me, but my family.”
Carbaugh said she has enjoyed cooking and baking for years and loves trying new things for her young children.
She added one of her children has food allergies and the other doesn’t like vegetables, so, she believed that attending a meeting where she can meet new people and learn new ideas could work.
Carbaugh said she wants new ideas to be more creative with healthy and reasonable meal planning for her husband and children.
After attending her first meeting, she said she feels confident she can do that with the help of the cookbook group.
Online: Edible gifts that you spend time making can be tasty way to go Online: Lorain County JVS Bakery and Pastry Arts Program culminates holiday cookie fundraiser with “tray-up day” photos Online: Lorain Library holds Christmas cookie decoration workshop for adults