Yummy Reads

Every so often, when we tire of recipe after recipe and start to feel like we're the only ones who ever cook, it's nice to relax with a good book.
But being foodies, you and I both know that we can't seperate ourselves from food entirely. Therefore, I have researched, found and read my fair share of FOOD NOVELS. Whether the lead character is a quirky chef, the plot revolves around a meatloaf murder mystery or the verbage is littered with culinary terms, I find that these books revive my love of cooking in a way few cookbooks can do.
We start to feel empathetic towards the characters and the only time we set the book down is to recreate some of the featured recipes they make.

I have gathered a list of my personal favorite Food Novels, in no particular order:

* Julie and Julia
A quirky, lightheartedly novel about a young, married woman in a small apartment who decides to spend a whole year cooking every recipe in Julia Childs first cookbook, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". On a side note, if you've never read Julia Childs memoir, "My Life in France", stop reading this blog, go to the bookstore and buy it. A personal hero of mine, you won't be disappointed in this woman's drive, determination and downright love of bringing longtime culinary mysteries to the average American housewife!

* The Goldy Culinary Mystery Series
Diane Mott Davidson has spent two decades perfecting the character of Goldy Schultz and the pickles she gets herself into! (No pun intended.) But instead of the cheesy, overdramatic culinary mysteries one usually sees on the bookshelves, this is a character to relate to. Goldy runs a catering business out of Aspen Meadow, Colorado and her food-laced fiascos cover topics from murder to burglery, romance to souffles. Even my husband enjoys listening to the audiobooks on long trips in the car!

* Bone in the Throat
If Ms. Davidson isn't quite your style... kick it up a bit with Anthony Bourdain's first fiction novel. (Yes, he's that crazy writer/chef who travels the world in search of true cultural cuisine). Take a young Italian guy, the Mob, the FBI and some delicious homemade Italian cooking and you're hooked!

* Chocolat
Before you skip over this book, just note that it is very very different from the film. While Johnny Depp certainly added a little something to the movie... it lost a bit of its charm in the process. I won't give anything away, just trust me.

* The Chocolate Touch
We all remember this book as a child. Written in 1952, the story of a young chocolate-obsessed boy has traversed through the generations. Who could forget when John Midas was given the chocolate "touch" and even his toothpaste turned to chocolate? Yum...

Jenna's Sweet Treat for the Summer Bride

I, like most brides, want to be fresh and fabulous for the big day. I know that it is difficult to 'be good' all the time when it comes to food. Trust me, I'm around food and plan menus all day long! It is never easy! I say, give in - just don't go overboard. Every day, usually after lunch, I head over the the "chocolate drawer" - yes we have a chocolate drawer here at Katherine's Catering. It used to be an actual drawer, but the chocolate currently has a home in a lovely shoe box wrapped in purple paper on Annette's desk (a fellow Event Planner here at Katherine's). Anyway, back to the point. INDULGE! By having that piece of chocolate every day, whether it is a piece of Dove or a Hershey's Bliss, I am less likely to OVER indulge later. Good luck to all you blushing brides out there - or for those of you just wanting to look fresh and fabulous - just because!

Another sweet tip is to melt dark chocolate and lightly drizzle over your favorite fruits (strawberries, apple slices, banana slices, mango, peach wedges, etc...) You'll feel like you're cheating, but it's actually oh-so-good for you!

Intern Katie's Spring Salad

Intern Katie's Spring Salad!

Spring has finally sprung here in Michigan! yay! so to celebrate I want to share my favorite salad with you all! this is a delicious easy salad to bring to a pot lock or to make a special dinner at home a little more chic. All the measurements depend on how hungry you are or how many mouths you have to feed. Start out with fresh spinach leaves (organic or not), and you can mix in a nice spring mix for more variation or just the spinach, then add dried cherries, pistachios, and feta cheese. Top the salad with a raspberry vinaigrette and enjoy!!



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Katie Couyoumjian is a soon to be graduate of Greenhills High School in Ann Arbor and our fabulous intern here at Katherine’s Catering. After spending a couple weeks getting her hands dirty in the glamorous world of catering, she’ll be ready to face her next challenge at Dennison University near Columbus, Ohio. Katie loves spending time with her family and friends, playing sports and cooking. Her Spring Spinach Salad is a fresh, flavorful recipe for any May lunch!