Are you looking for a new hobby, but don’t know where to start? Or do you want to cook something new for dinner, but you want a recipe you know will actually be delicious? Look no further!

KCPL staff members sent in their recommendations for books they have used themselves, and some even shared photos of their beautiful creations! Without further ado, tried and true recommendations from your library workers.

Crafting

Dawn from the Independence Branch used 30-minute Watercolor Animals by Kiley Busko to try out a new watercolor set. She says, “I like that they're small and quick/easy to paint without getting a lot of supplies out.”

Ann from Administration used Watercolor Is for Everyone by Kateri Ewing to paint a bookmark. She recommends this title because, “This book helps you let go of a sense that you are not good at art or not doing it correctly. These exercises are a good antidote to perfectionism and too much striving for realism.”

Ann also recommends “Words Inform Images: 31 Prompts Using Writing as Inspiration for Art,” an art class from Creativebug, which is an online library of art & craft video classes available to KCPL cardholders.

Jessica from the Independence Branch has tried many embroidery books from the library, two of which she wants to highlight: Tiny Stitches by Irem Yazici, “because they’re small, easy to accomplish projects that also have some practical uses,” and How to Embroider Texture and Pattern by Melissa Galbraith, “because, as it says, it gives you different stitches for adding new dimension to embroider patterns.”

Cooking and Baking

Ellie from the Covington Branch recommends Half Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy by Tieghan Gerard. She says: “I made these garlic butter steak bites with bang bang sauce and it was delicious... I also made the chicken and dumplings recipe from the same book recently!”

And if these look good, you might like Tieghan Gerard’s other Half Baked Harvest cookbooks – check the KCPL catalog!

Kelly from Administration also made a chicken and dumplings recipe, this one from Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts by Crystal Wilkinson. She says, “I’ve made [this] recipe a few times and it is always so good!”

She also recommends the chocolate cake recipe found in Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, by Samin Nosrat: “We'd never made a cake from scratch before, but it turned out really well!”

Janice from Administration tried a recipe from American Cake, by Anne Byrn:

“I made the American Gingerbread recipe from the book American Cake. It's the first listed recipe and was taken from the first American cookbook published in 1796. I substituted maple syrup for molasses so mine is lighter in color. It's delicious and toddler approved!”

Jessy G. from the Independence Branch says she is “so obsessed with Snacking Cakes and its sequel, Snaking Bakes,” by Yossy Arefi. Jessy G. adds, “Everything I’ve made has been delicious, easy, and gotten a lot of compliments!”

We encourage you to try these out yourself and explore what the library has to offer! What will you make?

List created by KCPL_Kelly

As tried by KCPL Staff!

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