University of Minnesota Press, $22.95
Author and chef Beatrice Ojakangas reflects on life growing up in a big Finnish family in northern Minnesota, with this delightful memoir and cookbook. Ojakangas tell stories of cardamom and rye, growing up on venison, having a Finnish mail-order bride and chef for a grandmother, and how working hard led to an appearance with Julia Child and Martha Stewart. Homemade is chock-full of recipes, anecdotes and a kind humor that brings Finnish culture to life.—Breana Roy