Meal Rescue: Siouxland Edition

Published on November 19, 2024

By Alice S. 

For me, most of the time, routine is great.  Essential, even.  But often I get in a meal rut.  I do the same 10-14 dishes every couple weeks.  My family and I both get tired of the same things over and over, as tasty as they may be.  Sound familiar?  Usually when this happens, I resign myself to take-out or pizza.

But wait—there is another way!

Did you know the library has cookbooks? Like, A LOT of cookbooks. Shelves and shelves full.  There are books for: one-pan meals, slow cooker meals, toddler-friendly meals, and desserts.  The library has books catered (pun intended) to certain cuisines, too!  Need a book for vegetarians? Food that's gluten-free? Indigenous food for Native American Heritage Month? Italian? Mexican?  Indian? There are cookbooks for each of these, and just about any other cuisine you might be craving.

When my littles were younger, I had a hard time imagining what would be easiest for them to try as first foods. It’s a period I don’t exactly recall from my own life. And the library saved me then, too. I found books for all stages:

Perhaps you even want to introduce your kiddos to learning some recipes they can begin making!  Siouxland Libraries also has cookbooks for kids. It can be a fun way for them to get autonomy and work on those measuring skills.

Some people prefer the physical book to have open and reference when cooking.  Others would rather save their biceps in carrying them home and check out the items on a tablet through Libby.  You can also try digital magazines on Libby.   With the library, the possibilities are endless.

You still have time to practice a new dish before you bring it to your next family gathering or Friendsgiving. Happy cooking and, most importantly, happy eating!