By P.L. Stiles
Rowan Public Library

The holiday feast brings together families and friends who have different lifestyles, ages, means and tastes. At every gathering, there is always that one person who breaks out in hives when eating nuts, the one who is on a spiritual mission to eat only vegetables and the one who is trying to age gracefully by eating only green foods. Then, there is one who only wants the traditional meal grandmother used to make. The stress of what to serve, bring or offer can bring out the cantankerous dinosaur in everyone.

Whatever dinner dilemma your gathering brings, a secret weapon is just a library card away. Rowan Public Library (RPL) has resources to help navigate all sorts of nutritional needs, food allergies and culinary preferences with ease. Some are just a click away on a smart phone. Here are six recommendations:

“Allergy-Friendly Food for Families: 120 Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Egg-Free, and Soy-Free Recipes Everyone Will Enjoy” by Editors of Kiwi Magazine. This eBook covers five common allergies in kids and is available online anytime with a smart device and internet connection.

“Vegan for the Holidays: Celebration Feasts for Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day” by Zel Allen. This eBook will help make festive traditional holiday vegan dishes to satisfy even the non-vegans. Color photos and recipes for holiday dishes from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, Allen offers such recipes as “Savory Sourdough and Wild Rice Stuffing” to “Williamsburg ‘Pumpkin’ Pie” using tofu.

“The Noom Kitchen: 100 Healthy, Delicious, Flexible Recipes for Every Day” by Noom delves into the psychology of food with color-coded health-conscious recipes. Recipes are designed with fresh ingredients for all skill levels. This colorful title is available as an eBook and as a physical book for check out at RPL, as well.

Rowan Public Library also has a good collection of low-sodium, heart-healthy or condition specific books and eBooks available to help nourish those with compromised health, including “The cancer-fighting kitchen: nourishing big-flavor recipes for cancer treatment and recovery” by Rebecca Katz. Katz offers 100 recipes designed to give loved ones the nutritional and appetite lift they need.

For the traditionalist, try “Southern Living 2022 Annual Recipes” by Editors of Southern Living with such recipes as “Ham for the Holidays” with several glazes, and simple collards to “Smokey Creamed Greens” recipes. Another recommendation for old-school recipes is “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks,” by Crystal Wilkinson. This read is worth it for the “Easy Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls!” These titles are available as both a physical book and an eBook.

Books may be picked up at any branch and can be checked out with a Rowan Public Library card. eBooks may be found at RPL’s NC Digital Library collection anytime. They are available from the comfort of the kitchen and can be checked out to a smart device with a Rowan Public Library card and 4-digit pin. Call 980-432-8670 for assistance.

Whatever your family feast requires, count on Rowan Public Library resources to take the stress out of the season. For more information, go to www.RowanPublicLibrary.org, call 980-432-8670, or visit your nearest RPL branch.