Tell us about No Fret Cooking

A cookbook that blends simple, healthy, yummy recipes accompanied by music to cook and dine by. The book includes short, helpful, easy to understand informational chapters on Why Organic, Seasonal Eating,, Alternative Flours, Grains and Legumes, Herbs and Spices, New and Old Alternatives, Nuts and Seeds, Recommended sources for products, food and music quotes, cute stories and fun names geared to make one smile and the No Fret Philosophy to eat for health, enjoyment, leaves room for creativity and best of all, no worries. The book pairs food and music to take one on a culinary adventure to nurture, tantalize, and stimulate the body, mind, and spirit while preparing and enjoying your food.

What kind of readers – or rather, cooks –  will it appeal to?
Just about everyone as book has something for everyone: Those that are gluten free or not sure if they are there is a short info chapter.. Recipes range from dairy free, raw, vegetarian . New cooks, seasoned cooks, anyone wanting to change their cooking and eating habits, musicians, families.

What is your favourite recipe from the book?
Although I have many favorite recipes in the book, my favorite is Madagascar Stew with Coconut Rice because my husband who is not a cook made it Mother’s Day for me and our daughter who was a recent new mom at the time.

How long did the book take to write? 
Once I committed to the project, it was about 2 years start to finish. The music took one year.

Music? Tell us about this idea of pairing a cookbook with music. Is it just a gimmick? Has it been done before?
The idea of pairing a cookbook with music for me is a very natural one. My husband has been playing music for me while I cook ever since we married, 44 years ago! When preparing food listening to music a connection is made between you, the food, and the music that takes one on a culinary adventure to nurture, tantalize, and stimulate the body, mind, and spirit, and before you know it your meal is ready to enjoy. So it was no surprise that when I was about halfway through the book I realized what, no music, we need to have music with the book. So I asked my husband to make a CD for music to cook by that would interface with some of the recipes in the book. Before he finished the first CD, I said, Oh my, we need to have a second CD to go with the book so everyone can enjoy your music while they dine, hence Music to Cook By and Music to Dine By emerged. As far as we know, the only thing similar is a series of books that combines music and menus, but that just compiles classical pieces; for example, a book with Italian recipes and selected classical pieces by Italian composers. We believe that No Fret Cooking is the only cookbook that includes music expressly written to go with the recipes.

Tell us a bit about the music. What kind of music is it?

No Fret Cooking

Steve: Of the 22 songs, 16 were composed to go with specific recipes, such as “Madagascar Stew” (the others are pieces that have a theme related to cooking or food, such as “Comfort Food”). For the songs that go with recipes, the style of the music was inspired by the recipe, and I include a blurb about the song on the recipe page. For example:

Song: Fra Diavolo – Disc 1 – Song #4 – African – Medium-slow Tempo

“Fra Diavolo” is Italian for “Brother Devil.” In this song I tried to capture the smoldering smokiness of the sauce. I used an Afro-Cuban drumbeat, featuring marimba and flute to suggest the smoldering fire, with the guitar and flute adding spiciness.

Because I’m a jazz musician, all of the music has a jazz flavor, but there the songs cover many styles: African, Beguine, Funk Shuffle, Funk, Jazz Waltz, Mexican, Rock Ballad, Rock, Samba, Swing.

You can find the music here: Music to cook by, Music to dine by.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’ve been cooking and working in the medical field since the age of 15. I was given the idea for the book from the universe after completing a rotation diet for health issues and food sensitivities. For more than 10 years I have been a holistic health practitioner, teacher, and an environmental awareness guide at Many Paths for Health.

Have you got a blog where readers can keep up with your work?
Yes. www.nofretcooking.com.

Where can people buy your book?
From our publisher, Infinity, Also Amazon (US, UK), Barnes & Noble, Barker & Taylor, local bookstores i.e. RiverRun in Portsmouth, NH, Book Ends, Winchester, MA, Bestsellers Bookstore & Cafe, Medford, MA, Country Booksellers, Wolfeboro, NH, Midtown Scholar, Harrisburg, PA.

What’s next?
Continue to do book signings and events at bookstores, libraries, cooking schools  private parties, restaurants and other venues. At some point will do a second edition.