The chill has set in. The deciduous trees are bare or nearly there. Daylight is short, but the path to longer days approaches. Warm twinkle lights, candles, toasty drinks and holiday festivities abound.
December is a great time to cook comfort food and fall into the flavors of the season, spend time with loved ones and your community, and grab a good book or join in on some winter programming with the library.
Winter flavors: Cookbooks for making the most of winter vegetables
“Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables” by Joshua McFadden has a myriad of recipes to treat those winter root vegetables.
“Ottolenghi Flavor” by Yotam Ottolenghi shows tips, process tricks, pairing suggestions and recipes for elevating your vegetables.
“Recipes from the Root Cellar: 250 Fresh Ways to Enjoy Winter Vegetables” by Andrea Chesman invites you to explore the world of freshly harvested or store bought autumn and winter roots, like celery root and winter squash.
“Wild Fermentation” by Sandor Ellix Katz explores the world of fermenting all kinds of things, including vegetables, to enhance digestibility and make use of perishable foods year-round.
Winter vibes: Chilly, snowy, or cozy wintertime books from the library shelves
“Winter Town” by Stephen Emond follows Evan upon his return home from college and his excitement of meeting up with his childhood friend Lucy, only to find how incredibly different she has become. A funny and romantic opposites-attract story. (young adult)
“Arsenic and Adobo” by Mia P. Manansala is the first of a new cozy mystery series (Tita Rosie’s “Kitchen Mystery”) involving food, murder and a bit of romance. Follow Lila as she works to solve the mystery of the death at her family’s restaurant. (adult, mystery)
“Beartown” is a novel by Fredrik Backman of “A Man Called Ove” and “Anxious People.” The first of a series, “Beartown” follows a junior ice hockey team to the national semifinals. The story, set in a small forest town, explores hope, the impact of small actions, and what it means to break out of expectation. (young adult)
“Ten Ways to Hear Snow” by Cathy Camper follows Lina as she walks to her grandmother’s house, she listens to the world around her — the crunching of her feet along the icy sidewalks — allowing her to explore the world in engaging new ways. (picture book)
For more
Visit nols.org/nols-events to learn about all of the cozy happenings at NOLS in December. From virtual book discussions to take and make craft programs, there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy with your library this winter.
Stop by the Sequim Library at 630 N. Sequim Ave. to find your next great read. For more information, visit nols.org, call 360-683-1161 or email to discover@nols.org.
Charlotte McGrew is a librarian with the North Olympic Library System.
