There is no shortage of books about the incomparable Molly Ivins on our shelves, a fact culinary journalist Ellen Sweets was well aware of when she set out to write her new book, Stirring It Up with Molly Ivins: A Memoir with Recipes. In an early chapter of the book Sweets admits she almost didn’t write the book at all, but when it occurred to her that she might be able to offer a fresh perspective on her very public dear friend by presenting a unique version of a Molly Ivins cookbook, she went ahead with the project. We’re glad she did.
Stirring It Up with Molly Ivins is indeed an Ivins book like no other. It approaches this famous Texan through her relationship to food (complete with pictures of her eating at such Austin favorites as Magnolia Cafe – the South location – and Threadgills) and offers anecdotes about Molly in the kitchen, her chili parties, grocery shopping (there’s a great story about Ellen and Ivins heading out for Dijon mustard and coming home with a dozen other varieties and a whole new menu designed to taste them), and more from dozens of friends with whom she shared her love of food. Sweets also includes many recipes in the book, one of which is Ivins’ recipe for chili (published right alongside Sweets’ own recipe, which she explains Ivins ruled could not fairly be put in competition with her own because it contained beans and – as if that wasn’t enough – Sweets dared to serve it over macaroni.)
The book is delightful. Molly Ivins was a lot of things to a lot of people (another fascinating aspect of her character which Sweets explores in the book), and from Sweets’ telling, she was perhaps never more herself than when she was cooking and enjoying food.
We’re fortunate to welcome Ellen Sweets to BookPeople tomorrow night, Friday, November 4th, 7p, in partnership with our friends at edible Austin magainze, to speak about and sign this book. In Molly’s honor, we’ll enjoy chili, jalapeno cornbread, and, of course, beer (courtesy of Saint Arnold Brewing Company), which no Ivins-inspired chili party would be complete without. It promises to be a wonderful evening of good stories and good food. We hope you can join us.
BookPeople 