Don’t know what’s cooking?

In a predicament about what to cook for parties, friendly get-togethers, holidays, or even everyday meals? Come to the Framingham Public Library and browse our large collection of cookbooks.

A good cookbook can inspire you with tips and ideas for creating interesting , healthy and tasty meals or dishes. Here is a sampling of some the newest additions to the collection:

Just married & cooking : 200 recipes for living, eating, and entertaining together / Brooke Parkhurst & James Briscione.
Includes lists for pantry essentials, meal planning tips and recipes for a host of holidays and events, and everyday advice for how to keep the magic alive in the kitchen.

Italian, my way : more than 150 simple and inspired recipes that breathe new life into Italian classics / by Jonathan Waxman
The all-star chef’s simple, seasonal dishes inject fresh perspective into classic dishes.

Eat greens : seasonal recipes to enjoy in abundance / by Barbara Scott-Goodman & Liz Trovato
For those who prefer their vegetables fresh the authors cover all the basics, from how to purchase and prepare a variety of vegetables to a brief overview on growing your own greens Also included are charts denoting each vegetable’s nutritional value.

If it makes you healthy : more than 100 delicious recipes inspired by the seasons / with Sheryl Crow and Chuck White
More personal and more enlightening than the typical celebrity cookbook, this health-focused collection from Sheryl Crow and her personal chef is a refreshing addition to an increasingly crowded field.

Plenty : vibrant vegetable recipes from London's Ottolenghi / by Yotam Ottolenghi
Ottolenghi offers a vibrant and versatile collection of mouth-watering dishes that elevate vegetables from paltry side-dish status to superstar prominence.

My father's daughter : delicious, easy recipes celebrating family and togetherness / Gwyneth Paltrow
Paltrow showcases a wealth of dishes, from soups to pastas to main courses and more. A helpful pantry section includes recipes for basics such as slow-roasted tomatoes and numerous types of stocks. While many recipes are vegetarian, Paltrow does include meat dishes.

Hungry girl 300 under 300 : 300 breakfasts, lunches & dinners under 300 calories / Lisa Lillien
Lillien’s goal is to make guilt-free cooking easy for anyone to enjoy. Each recipe has no-sweat instructions and features readily found ingredients (the most exotic is soy milk), which make this cookbook very appealing. The tips scattered throughout further guide readers to healthier eating.

No whine with dinner : 150 healthy, kid-tested recipes from The meal makeover moms / Liz Weiss, Janice Newell Bissex
No Whine with Dinner turns mealtime whines into "wows" with nutritious and delicious recipes kids and parents will love.

Kindle E-Books now available through Minuteman!

You can now borrow Kindle E-books from the Minuteman Library Network website

(http://www.mln.lib.ma.us), and, with the click of a button, have them delivered to your Kindle device or mobile Kindle reading app.

Instructions:

1. Visit the Minuteman Library Network Website.
2. Click on the link for “Overdrive”
3. Review the Quick- Start guide here
4. Search for an e-book – go to “Advanced Search” and change format to “Kindle Book”
5. Check out a Kindle book (library card required).
6. Click on "Get for Kindle." You will then be directed to Amazon.com to redeem your public library loan. You may be required to login to your Amazon.com account -- or create a new account -- if you're not already logged in.
7. Choose to read the book on your Kindle device, mobile Kindle reading app, or Kindle Cloud Reader.

Notes:

1.  You have to create a digital media account for yourself with your library card number and PIN. Do that here.
2. You will need to have an active Amazon.com account in order to use this service.  It is suggested that you set one up first on your computer.
3. Public library books require an active Wi-Fi connection for wireless delivery to a Kindle device. Library books will not be delivered via your Kindle's 3G connection. If trying to send to a Kindle device and do not have an active Wi-Fi connection, you may instead choose to load your library book via USB. Both Mac and Windows users can manage Kindle content through a USB connection.

For more information and assistance, look here:

Overdrive Kindle help

Amazon’s Library Kindle help

Recycling every day items

Doing fall cleaning? Replacing old appliances? Here are some ways to recycle everyday items.
Appliances like microwaves, toasters, and refrigerators that still work and are less than 8 years old may be used by Habitat for Humanity in their ReStores. See http://www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore.aspx and click on Massachusetts to find a ReStore. For nonworking appliances, go to Recycle-Steel.org to find a nearby steel recycling center. Older air conditioners or a second refrigerator that still work can be recycled through Mass Save at http://www.masssave.com/. Look under lighting and appliances for instructions on recycling your second refrigerator. Once your fridge is picked up, they will send you a check for $50.00!

Do you have old eye glass that you no longer need? New Eyes for the Needy will gladly accept them including old sunglasses. Go to NewEyesfortheneedy.org. You can also contact the Lions Club to find a local drop off box for used eye glasses. There is a box in the Pearl St. lobby of the library.
People are constantly upgrading their electronics. The chain store Best Buy allows you to drop off old electronics for recycling no matter where you purchased them from. You can also log onto DigitalTips.org to find other places to recycle your digital goods. If you want to recycle your old cell phone log onto CellPhonesforSoldiers.com to print a free shipping label to send the phones to the recycler. The recycler will use the proceeds to purchase and send calling cards to troops stationed far away. For other recyclers of cell phones go to GoWirelessGogreen.org.

You can recycle your printer cartridges instead of tossing them into the trash. Those can be dropped off at Best Buy and Staples stores. Staples will give you $2.00 credit towards a new cartridge!
Did you know that you can recycle pantyhose, knee highs, and tights? The No Nonsense company melts them down and they are turned into plastic items like playground equipment and plastic chairs. Go to NoNonsense.com to print out a shipping label, box up your old hose and send them away.