Living well gluten-free

      There is a growing public awareness of individual sensitivity to certain types of food, and gluten is high on the list of culprits. However, recognizing symptoms of gluten-intolerance is not always straightforward. Also, once diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, how to avoid an ingredient which is so commonly used?

‘The living gluten-free answerbook’ by Suzanne Bowland answers many of the most pressing questions, such as the difference between food-allergies and food-intolerance, how to decipher food-labels, and how to negotiate eating out.

For practical recipe advice, the following book is highly recommended by one of our Hurunui library borrowers:

‘Everyday gluten-free cooking: living well without wheat’ by Bette Hagman

It tells you how to make your own gluten-free pasta, muesli, muffins, pies and even hot-cross buns from ingredients readily available in most supermarkets.

Sylvia

Inspiring artist

   ‘How to make a watercolor paint itself’

                                  by Nita Engle

Nita Engle’s striking landscape paintings seem to radiate light and vibrancy, yet the techniques she uses are relatively simple. In this book she encourages others to have a go and in particular to discard any inhibitions and simply play with the paint, including squirting, pouring, throwing, finger painting, stamping. The results are remarkable!

Nita Engle is an award-winning American artist who originally trained in commercial design and illustration and worked in advertising for many years. After experimenting with a plethora of different media, watercolours became her passion and she developed a unique style of painting dramatic and atmospheric landscapes which still retain a large amount of realism. Her most important source of inspiration is the ever decreasing wilderness.

This book is a must-read for both experienced and budding watercolour painters as well as for anyone with an interest in the visual arts.

Sylvia

“Laying the ghost” by Judy Astley

  “Laying the ghost” by Judy Astley

Have you ever wondered what your ex was up to?  When Nell was a student, she and Patrick were a serious item. But then Alex came along…the safer, more restful alternative, and she opted for him instead. Now nothing is going right. Alex has left her to live in New York with a younger, blonder woman. Returning from a recuperative holiday in the Caribbean, Nell is mugged at Gatwick and her bag is stolen. It’s crisis time - and she makes two decisions: First - she will take lessons in self-defence. Second - she will try to find Patrick again.

Meanwhile daughter Mimi is doing her best to cope with her newly-single mother while making the most of being fifteen. She has her own first-love decisions to deal with and feels that her mother does not need to know about these…

This is a funny, warm, and realistic look at the life of a recently separated wife and mother.  It is a light afternoon’s read, with the added bonus of a number of useful self-defence tips.  It will go on display in the District Library on May 1^st.

 

Alison

Gallipoli diary

   To commemorate Anzac-Day, the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre has published the diary of Major Edward P. Cox, which he kept between October 1914 and August 1915 when he was wounded during the Battle of Chunuk Bair.  Keeping a personal diary was against Army regulations; however the ‘official’ tone of Cox’s writing suggests he perhaps considered it a regimental diary.

Cox was evecuated from Gallipoli and returned to New Zealand because of his injuries; he donated his diary to the Dominion Museum (now part of Te Papa Tongarewa). The diary provides a first-hand account of the Gallipoli campaign and life on the front line.

The complete text of the diary can be read online at:

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-CoxDiar.html

 More information about the diary is available at Te Papa Tongarewa:

http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/ObjectDetails.aspx?oid=247211

Sylvia

Famous ghost stories

    ‘Dust’n'bones’ by Chris Mould

Most children love ghost stories and I remember wanting to be read the same creepy stories over and over even though it would keep me awake at night! In this book, Chris Mould retels 5 classic spooky tales (including ‘The legend of Sleepy Hollow’ by Washington Irving and ‘The tell-tale heart’ by Edgar Allan Poe) as well as 5 original stories. He stays faithful to the basic storylines, but they are adapted to be suitable for younger children.

The lavish illustrations (both colour and black and white) are terrific: ghostly without being too gruesome. Chris Mould has degrees in graphic design and illustration and is an award-winning children’s writer. This book is highly recommended for the young and the young at heart!

Sylvia

Rough diamonds & real gems

 “Rough diamonds & real gems” by R.M Winn

This is what English schoolboys used to call ‘a cracking good yarn’, but it is all about Australia, mainly Queensland. Each chapter is complete in itself but written in the same clear, racy style by the one author. Both my wife and I enjoyed it very much and learnt quite a lot about cattle raising in Northern Australia. Try it, you’ll enjoy it. E.H.W.

Environmentally friendly houses

“Sticks, stones, mud homes: natural living” by Nigel Noyes

“Sticks, stones, mud homes: natural living” describes alternative methods of house design and construction using the principles of minimal environmental impact and sustainable practice.  Each chapter illustrates a particular building technique with photographs and text referring to actual “lived-in” homes.  Some techniques (rammed earth, mud brick) use materials which are low in “embodied energy” (the amount of energy needed to create a product), while others focus on “waste” products such as straw bales, or recycling of salvaged materials like stone and wood.  The interesting final chapter explores the eco-potential in modern mass-produced materials like corrugated iron and fibre-cement sheeting.

This is an introductory and inspirational book rather than an instruction manual.  The many beautiful colour photographs show that ecological homes can be stylish, comfortable, and economical.  Helpful references for specific building techniques and environmental living in general are provided in the list of recommended reading, while the glossary explains technical terms and describes certain proprietary products.  The author has also included references to internet searching and some relevant websites.

Alison 

Cooking, kitchen gardens and children: an inspired combination

 ‘Stephanie Alexander:

                                  kitchen garden cooking with kids’

Stephanie Alexander is a highly acclaimed Australian chef and food writer and is involved with the Kitchen Garden Foundation, set up to encourage life-long healthy eating habits by engaging primary school children in the production and preparation of food.

This book tells the inspiring story of the first kitchen garden project at Collingwood College, including the planning of the garden and kitchen facilities and the first years of growing, harvesting and cooking. Because it goes into a lot of detail (e.g. planting lists, permaculture principles), the book is a great resource for anyone thinking about planting their own kitchen garden.

The book also includes 120 mouthwatering recipes, such as ‘Sweetcorn fritters with crisp sage leaves and herb yoghurt’ and ‘Roasted winter vegetables with rosemary and garlic’. In 2007 the recipe book won  Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Award for best children’s cookbook.

Stephanie Alexander was the feature guest at Nine to Noon on Thursday 14 February; the audio of the interview is available on the National Radio web site (for a limited time), click on the following link:

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/20080214

Sylvia

Love walked in

         ‘Love walked in’ by Marisa de los Santo

This first novel uses language in the most interesting way - almost like a monologue. The plot is simple, but the choice of words makes each incident a special happening.

Very much a ‘lying on the couch and reading until finished’ kind of book!

Recommended,

Pat

A comfy read

        ‘Divas don’t knit’ by Gil McNeil

This is a comfy sofa read! The story covers a year in the life of Jo McKenzie after the death of her husband. The book covers just about everything in the nicest possible manner of writing: relocation, relationships and romance all get an airing…

Recommended!

Pat