Weekend Bits: What I'm Reading

I spent the entire weekend hiding out in my apartment because of an unfortunate Friday accident during which I tripped, fell, and proceeded to chip a tooth. I guess I still haven't grown out of my teenage "clumsy" phase. Sigh. Of course, my dentist wasn't around until this morning, so I had an excuse to loll around the apartment, read, take in lots of Friday Night Lights episodes, and cook. It actually ended up being a nice break from...well...everything. Plus it gave me a chance to really get caught up on the growing pile of cookbooks I've been meaning to sink my teeth into (no pun intended).

I highly recommend all of the books pictured above (picture by Mark Iantosca). From top to bottom:

1. Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes, by Harold McGee, $35, at barnesandnoble.com
2. Canal House Cooking, Volume No. 5, by Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton, $19.95, at canalhousecooking.com
3. A Bird in the Oven and Then Some, by Mindy Fox, $24.95, at amazon.com
4. Pretty Delicious: Lean and Lovely Recipes for a Healthy, Happy New You, by Candice Kumai, $30, at barnesandnoble.com
5. Barefoot Contessa: How Easy is That?, by Ina Garten, $35, at barnesandnoble.com