Tea Room Fare Via Mountain Mary’s Tea Room
by Mary Graber
(Family Cookbook Project, 2007, soft cover, $15.
See www.mountainmary.com for more.)

This tasty collection of recipes derives from Mary Graber (aka Mountain Mary) and her tea room in Eagle River, Alaska. The book is small, well organized and spiral bound, thus making it simple to find—and use—any recipe you need to consult. In fact, one of the most encouraging aspects of these recipes is that they are short, easy to read and easy to prepare. There is nothing overly fussy here—and yet, a glance through the pages reveals how a few simple ingredients can be combined to create healthy meals that are unusual, delicious and aesthetically pleasing.

The book begins with Soups: from Thai Coconut Chicken Soup and Apricot White Bean to African Peanut and Irish Potato Leek. The next section, Salads and Dressings, includes some more creative twists on basic favorites: Spinach Bacon and Cranberry Salad to Minted Wild Rice Salad. The section on Sandwiches, Wraps and Rolls is heavy on imaginative ideas for fillings—from Nutty Carrot to Curry Almond Chicken to Ham and Basil. Tea Time Treats look at breads, rolls, tea cakes and scones. And Desserts feature double chocolate cherry brownies, cheesecake cookie bars and Amish friendship cake. There are also plenty of recipes for afternoon teas, fruit coolers and smoothies. In addition, many pages offer helpful kitchen information on equivalents and substitutions, as well as guides to spices and teas.

Whether you are a cook or just like to eat, this is a wonderful little addition to your kitchen or a special gift for others.

One Woman’s Journey: Life’s Teaching through the Spirit of the Sword
by Dawn Kelly
(Free Spirit Creations, 2007, hard cover with black and white photos, $20.
See www.onewomansjourneybydawnkelly.com for more.)

When Alaskan author Dawn Kelly made a conscious decision to begin “a serious journey of healing,” her aim was to plunge past the superficial labels of who she was as defined by society—wife, mother, woman, real estate investor, friend—in order to find the answer to the much deeper question: Who am I really?

Kelly soon encountered several individuals in Anchorage who began to spark ideas and changes within her. Through rebirthing, a growing familiarity with tools of energy healing, and the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kelly met a local Tai Chi master and teacher who further sparked her adventures in self-discovery. This led to a deeper appreciation and exploration of Taoism, massage, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and the world of martial arts—especially the movement of the sword. Kelly writes that she was impressed by the Chinese Masters who use the sword as part of a harmonious flow of movement, but also metaphorically—the proverbial double edged sword, a source of destruction as well as a keeper of peace.