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If you are trying to get "back to basics," the first place to start is in the kitchen. Helping to remind readers of home and a more simple time, "Mamas House Oh' So Good Home Cooking" (published by AuthorHouse) has recipes to thrill the family cook who wants the kitchen to feel like home.

Author Brenda Kay (Gee) Fink has compiled some of her favorite recipes to show the reader "good old fashioned, simple and easy everyday dishes you can have on the table fast with perfection." These recipes have stood the test of time -- and most importantly the taste buds -- of her children and husband of 45 years.

With staples like "Good Old Flour Biscuits" and "My Mama's Missouri Cornbread," Kay brings the reader home to "Mamas House Oh' So Good Home Cooking." Then she adds her own twist on the recipes. She grew up with the home cooking to make any cook want to become "an old fashioned cook."

For the working mom who still wants her children to enjoy a home-cooked meal or the single cook who is tired of the "microwave" lifestyle... "Mamas House Oh' So Good Home Cooking" is full of recipes that have fed generations and a perfect addition to any novice or experienced cook's collection.

Brenda Kay (Gee) Fink was born in the small town of Sanger, Calif., and has lived there her entire life. She is the mother of two daughters and was married to a wonderful man for 45 years. She is the grandmother of seven.

She lives on a farm outside of Sanger with all her cattle and horses. She is currently working on her second cookbook.  SOURCE AuthorHouse

Taste of Home, the #1 cooking magazine in the country, introduces The Comfort Food Diet Cookbook, featuring America's favorite comfort recipes with only a fraction of the fat and calories.

The Comfort Food Diet Cookbook, on shelves December 31, 2009, is a sensible approach to eating, cooking, and living that helps readers shed pounds without feeling deprived. Enjoy pizza, lasagna, mac-n-cheese, pulled pork and even cheesecake while loosing weight. The perfect diet for those who love hearty, satisfying foods, the cookbook is packed with low-calorie versions of the mouthwatering staples that families enjoy most. Each recipe has been tested by a registered dietician to ensure the nutritional value fits into a healthy lifestyle. The new Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook features tips for a balanced diet, portion-size chart, six-week meal plan, 80 "free foods" and worksheets to plan meals ahead. To motivate and inspire a healthier lifestyle, real success stories of individuals who have dropped weight with the Comfort Food Diet are included. With 433 recipes of the foods most craved, the Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook is the diet that doesn't feel like a diet.

"There is an overwhelming number of diets that are extremes of what people should be eating," says Peggy Woodward, a Taste of Home Food Editor and Registered Dietitian. "These diets are unsuccessful because of all the restrictions that leave dieters feeling deprived. The Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook offers an alternative to extreme diets and incorporates lighter versions of favorite foods for long-term success."

To ensure weight loss success, The Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook has tips on exercise, portion control, ordering healthy when dining out, and a removable clip-and-keep calorie guide for the person the go. Also included is access to exclusive web content at www.ComfortFoodDietCookbook.com, the online community featuring additional recipes, success stories, and helpful tools. As a special bonus, a dietitian is available online to provide support, answer questions, and offer suggestions. The Comfort Food Diet Cookbook takes the guesswork out of losing weight and helps you keep it off.

"Taste of Home has always provided easy-to-make, budget-friendly recipes that use everyday ingredients," said Catherine Cassidy, Editor-in-Chief of Taste of Home. "The Comfort Food Diet Cookbook is another way that Taste of Home is meeting the needs of today's families, by offering healthy meals that are as satisfying as they are good for you."

The Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook focuses on what people can eat, not what they have to give up. Each recipe is reviewed by a registered dietician and tested by the Taste of Home Test Kitchen to ensure it is healthy, affordable and successful each time it's prepared. Taste of Home reflects the caring and sharing that home cooks across America serve up every day. This new cookbook is a guide to healthy eating that teaches simple changes for weight loss success and maintaining your goal weight.  

SOURCE Taste of Home

The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) announces the launch of PARK AVENUE POTLUCK CELEBRATIONS (ISBN: 978-0-8478-3344-3; $35.00; OCTOBER 2009), the highly anticipated sequel to its best selling cookbook, PARK AVENUE POTLUCK. Created and authored by members of The Society, the cookbook is released nationwide by Rizzoli on October 20, 2009 and offers advice on how to celebrate in style with a compilation of 80 sensational recipes, entertaining ideas, party-planning tips, and personal anecdotes, with 150 color photographs shot in the homes of Society members. Award-winning food writer and contributing New York Times columnist, Florence Fabricant edits as well as contributes to the book.

"We are so grateful for the success of our cookbooks," said Heather Leeds, President of The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering. "They provide invaluable funding for The Society's programs for patients and their families who come to the Center from all over the world. CELEBRATIONS is another labor of love by members of The Society and sends a message of hope to our readers everywhere."

Organized by season, CELEBRATIONS serves-up a year's worth of 14 special occasions including Valentine's Day dinner, Easter and Mother's Day brunch, July 4th potluck, Kentucky Derby parties, summer beach parties, family holiday dinners, tree-lighting cocktails, and much more! Released just in time for the Holiday season, the book will be this year's ultimate guide to elegant and affordable entertaining.

More than a cookbook, The Society's illustrious hostesses include an indispensable Source Guide featuring over 100 national listings and go-to resources for readers to easily recreate each recipe and celebration in their own homes.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of CELEBRATIONS will provide funding for The Society's patient care, research and education programs at MSKCC. Founded in 1946 by a group of pioneering women, The Society works to bring comfort and care to improve the quality of life of patients treated at the Center. For more information, visit www.parkavenuepotluck.com

SOURCE The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

It doesn't take a special gift to add a delicious twist to spring and summer gatherings - just a new take on some affordable party classics.

Meatballs, for instance, can be great for delicious meals or for any kind of gathering. These tasty, bite-sized appetizers are always a party favorite and are a great entertaining value. They even make a delicious mini-meal or snack for someone looking for a quick dish on the go. But many people forget about this convenient, popular party staple when the weather turns warm.

Hosts and hostesses will be happy to know that there are a variety of recipes and menus that can make meatballs the hit of every spring party. Simply adding a few great ingredients to high quality, authentic meatballs can create the platter that needs to be restocked most often during any festivity! And, they help make meal-time and entertaining on a budget easier.

Casa Di Bertacchi Italian-style meatballs are available in Sam's Clubs nationwide. Farm Rich meatballs are available in two varieties, Original and Italian-style, and are sold in major grocery chains across the country. Both made using an authentic family recipe, seasoned with high quality ingredients, then seared and steamed in the traditional, multi-generational Italian way. The meatballs are fully cooked. Simply heat and serve for fast, easy, and enjoyable dining solutions!

The Cookbook is Here!

Casa Di Bertacchi and Farm Rich are excited to announce the culmination of a collaborative effort with New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Ashcraft: the publication of her newest recipe book, 101 Things To Do with Meatballs.

In her new book, Ashcraft features meatballs in a variety of recipes, from light soups, salads, and appetizers to pasta and rice dishes. She includes so many quick and easy recipe ideas that no one will ever again wonder what to make with meatballs!

"I wrote this book of 101 new, delicious meatball recipes because meatballs are one of the favorite foods of my childhood," said Ashcraft. "Meatball dishes remind me of wonderful social gatherings when everyone is in the kitchen cooking and enjoying quality time together. To me, they're a great comfort food that I love serving as a meal or appetizer. I hope these simple, delicious and nutritious recipes help others to rekindle memories of those precious times with family and friends that we cherished as children. And with so many recipes, there is something for everyone and every occasion."

Some of the recipes in the book include Mini Meatball Hamburgers, Meatball Bruschetta, Caesar Meatball Kabobs, and Yummy Stuffed Pitas. There's even an Enchilada Meatballs recipe that's perfect for a Mexican fiesta!

101 Things To Do with Meatballs is now available in select bookstores nationwide, and is also available for purchase online at www.gibbs-smith.com and at www.amazon.com. Also, many of the recipes can be viewed on Casa Di Bertacchi's new website, www.CasaMeatballs.com. The website, which is a showcase of all things special about authentic Italian meatballs, also provides an outstanding collection of delicious and innovative recipes. It truly offers something for people of all ages!

Whether hosting a shower or graduation celebration, try this meatball recipe with an elegant warm weather twist, courtesy of Ashcraft and the 101 Cookbook. For more information and great recipes, visit www.CasaMeatballs.com or FarmRichFun.com. Additional ideas are also available on the popular website, Clubentertaining.com.

Feta Meatballs with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 26 (1 lb) frozen, fully cooked meatballs, either Casa Di Bertacchi or Farm Rich
• 1 container (4 ounces) crumbled tomato basil feta cheese

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce:

• 1-1/2 cups nonfat, plain yogurt
• 4 ounces low-fat cream cheese
• 1/2 cup diced, seedless cucumber
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried dill seasoning
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place frozen meatballs in the bottom of an 8 x 8- inch pan with 1/2 inch of water and bake 40 minutes. While the meatballs cook, place all yogurt sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the sauce in a bowl for dipping and refrigerate until ready to serve. Place baked meatballs on a serving platter and sprinkle with cheese.

Serve immediately with toothpicks and the yogurt sauce on the side.

SOURCE Casa Di Bertacchi