More Where That Came From
The Soupie Cookbook 2005 (self-published, $10): Soup Peddler David Ansel and his army of generous customers (aka the soupies) have done it again. They’ve put together another charming handmade recipe collection to raise money for Mobile Loaves & Fishes and a similar organization in South Africa called Paballo Ya Batho. Recipes, editing, and printing were all donated, and BookPeople isn’t taking a cut on the sales. Do your part and buy a few for Austintatious-flavored presents.Eat.Shop.Austin (Carbazon Press, $12.95): This very hip guide to eating out and chic shopping in River City comes from a Portland, Ore., specialty publisher. However, the bulk of the research and some of the writing was done by locals Marianne and Joe Malina, and the local insider knowledge certainly shows. This handy-sized, informative volume would be the appropriate gift for friends or family members planning a visit here for SXSW, ACL, UT games, or anything else.
Cookie Stories (Falling Star Press, $14.95): Many Austinites know Penny McConnell as the creative force behind Penny’s Pastries, the custom-decorated cookie business she sold last year. For this book, McConnell and her friend and co-author, Kathy Sutton, spent two years collecting stories that honor cookies as the comforting memory-makers they truly are. This slim volume celebrates cookies in stories, recipes, and line drawings. Perhaps it’s the right selection for the cookie lover on your list.
Tea Treasures & More (self-published, $19.95) For those who might be interested in catching the wave of the current tea trend, Tea Embassy (900 Rio Grande, 330-9991) owner Carol Sims has written a book detailing the culture, etiquette, and preparation of tea. She has also included a collection of time-tested Southern family recipes suitable for successful everyday home cooking. Pick up a copy while sipping tea and browsing in her beautifully decorated downtown shop.
Presidential Cookies (Presidential Publishing, $23.95) and the Presidential Dessert Calendar 2006 (Presidential Publishing, $9.95): If there’s a baker or dessert maker on your list with a taste for both food history and politics, the folks at the LBJ Museum Store (2313 Red River, 721-1026, www.lbjstore.com) have two uniquely perfect choices available. The cookie book reflects 200 years of recipes and trends in American entertaining, while the illustrated calendar offers everything from Lady Bird Johnson’s Hill Country Peach Ice Cream to Mamie Eisenhower’s famous Fudge. They’re delicious and bipartisan.
This article appears in December 16 • 2005.