Marshmallows: Homemade Gourmet Treats
Eileen Talanian (Gibbs Smith, 176 pages)
Leave the s’mores by the campfire. Eileen Talanian’s Marshmallows: Homemade Gourmet Treats is loaded with sophisticated twists on one of summer’s favorite sweets. In her latest, the noted Philly-area cookbook author and cookie guru whips up unique marshmallow concoctions flavored with grown-up ingredients like Sauvignon blanc and long pepper, honey and lavender, chocolate and ancho chilies, and raspberries and crème cassis. And for the kids, there are chocolate cupcake snowballs and “fluff”-filled ice cream cones.
Waiting for the Black Drop
Darren Keith (Self-released)
You may have heard snippets of Darren Keith playing at Starbucks. Now’s your chance to sample the local singer/songwriter’s debut album. Self-released in 2007, it offers an eclectic mix of relaxed ballads and offbeat rockers reminiscent of Tom Waits. A local favorite, Keith performs frequently around the area, everywhere from Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville to Burlap and Bean in Newtown Square. Aug 2, he’ll return to Puck in Doylestown. Available at cdbaby.com and itunes.com.
Vulture Culture: Dirty Deals, Unpaid Claims, and the Coming Collapse of the Insurance Industry
Eric D. Gerst (AMACOM, 232 pages)
Newtown Square’s Eric D. Gerst offers an insightful look into the seemingly imminent implosion of the insurance industry, while exploring its paradoxical risks. At once a chronicle of the industry and an examination of how to avoid a disastrous future, the well-researched study details the crisis and goes so far as to provide a two-step fix. A sharp read for anyone struggling to get a grip on the complexities surrounding this crucial facet of the American economy.
