So today E and I got out and enjoyed the beautiful weather. After a vegan panini (smoked tofu, sundried tomatoes and pesto) on ciabatta bread, followed by a vegan cupcake, we headed to the Union Square Barnes & Noble. This is my favorite bookstore in the city (probably), although the Strand has its own charms (half-priced reviewers' copies, often available before they've hit the shelves in other stores). The Union Square B&N has multiple levels and the most extensive cookbook section I've seen. They have a children's floor, but the secluded bench in the cookbook section is actually better for nursing.

I was a little alarmed because the woman who used the bathroom stall before me seemed to have the croup. She kept blowing her nose and it was bright red. WHY DON'T SICK PEOPLE STAY HOME? Anyway, after using the stall after her, I rolled my sleeves up and soaped my hands vigorously. A non-sick woman, after seeing me do this, did the same. Maybe she figured I knew something she didn't. Or maybe she saw the red-nosed girl too.

I bought 3 cookbooks (Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World - I haven't baked in a long time, but maybe I'll make these for a birthday party or holiday or something; Eat Drink and Be Vegan; and Quick-Fix Vegetarian). I also looked at The PDQ (Pretty Darn Quick) Cookbook but it quickly became apparent that by "quick," they meant "using almost all frozen ingredients." By "quick," I mean a recipe that involves some chopping and sauteeing and/or oven time, preferably in the 30-minute range. So that was not the cookbook for me. I like fresh ingredients.

We stopped at the Children's Place afterward. I've noticed that 12- and 18-month clothing often slips through the cracks. It's somewhere in the limbo between baby and full-blown toddler. But I do what I can. It's a little scary; E is not quite 10 months old, but he fit into a pair of 18-to-24-month pants (a gift from D's cousin's wife) this morning. They were a little long, but the waist fit perfectly.

And finally, I am reading two books at once - Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty (part of the Jessica Darling series) and The Best of Animals by Lauren Grodstein (a short story collection). I like them both, though they are very different. The series is getting a little bit old, but still enjoyable. The Grodstein collection is fun and surprising. They both have new books coming out soon.

Comments

This suzy said…
I love big bookstores. It always feels like a sanctuary to me.
Anonymous said…
you really should consider a subscription to Vegetarian Times.

My favorite cookbooks are the ones that have lots of beautiful pictures. I got a wonderful one in Galway, Ireland called The Essential Baking Cookbook (Murdoch Books). Sometimes I thumb through it just to drool over the pics.
Bearette said…
I probably should. I subscribed to them years ago...
Caro said…
That sounds like a perfect day to me.

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