A little bookshelf roulette drew me to a red spine and then a cover bursting with spring vegetables. So a friend and I set out to make dinner from a new cookbook. A souvenir from a recent trip - Sicily: The Cookbook Recipes Rooted in Tradition by Melissa Muller was the choice. It turns our that this was perfect for a summer evening. To fuel our cooking with had a simple apero board featuring fresh figs and an aged Sicilian balsamic vinegar.

Feeling at a loss on how to endure current world events, I’ve decided to do some cooking as a form of protest. I found this cookbook, Sirocco, at the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) in New York City. The author, Sabrina Ghayour, is an award-winning British-Iranian chef. She specializes in Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine.

I made three recipes - to a varying degree of success. However, all three dishes have tremendous flavor.

The Sprouted Kitchen: A Tastier Take on Whole Foods is the cookbook of the food blogger Sara Forte--whose site is also called The Sprouted Kitchen. She has compiled recipes featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables. From sides and salads to drinks and desserts Sara covers simplistic recipes that she wishes she could come over and show you herself!