Rivky Kleiman’s cookbook is so beautiful and literally feels so good in your hands that you want to just start flipping pages. Roasted olives, honey mustard salmon with pretzel crumb topping and cranberry chicken sheet pan dinner all look so good and, hey, look pretty doable. Then I notice the title, “Simply Gourmet,” is a play on words. These dishes are simple to create. Then I noticed this is a “complete culinary collection for your kosher kitchen.” To all good Southeast Texas cooks: You got this. Just look below at how the book’s lamb chops, which photograph beautifully, come together:

Simply Savory Lamb Chops

8 lamb chops, 2 per serving

Marinade:

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 shallot, finely sliced

1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (leaves only)

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1/2 to 1 teaspoon black pepper

1. Prepare the marinade: combine all marinade ingredients in a large resealable bag. Shake well to combine.
2. Rinse and dry lamb chops. Add to marinade; seal bag. Marinate for 20-30 minutes at room temperature.
3. Pan sear, broil or grill lamb chops for 2-3 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Serve warm.

Readers, here are some other new books dealing with getting your self better all the time:

“Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda” is a little book with the secret sauce she developed too late. Maintaining a better marriage could be easy as pie — well, pie is kind of hard, so maybe PB&J — is what Jennifer Hurvitz writes. If you’re in a trap of complaining because you don’t see what good is being done, and you finally get some help around the house but the dish towels are folded the “wrong” way, then it’s time to sit at the Peace Table and discuss.

See all the food references I’ve already worked in to her book, subtitled “A divorce coach’s guide to staying married.” She says she had an amicable divorce, but asks people to really think of the specific hurts and ordeals that could follow (your kids spending holidays away from you) and try to work on solutions for better communication. Does it all come down to silly arguments on housework? Maybe sometimes that blow up represents deeper issues. This author has a bit of a potty mouth, but she’s funny and genuine and has truly good advice. Talk less, listen more.

Take yourself to dinner. Heal. Use voicemail ministry, where toxic people go straight to voicemail, so you can answer calmly. You may have a family you want to throw mashed potatoes at, but you can give yourself a “new name,” take responsibility, let go of what has hurt in the past and tell others you are not angry any more. Note I picked up on food references in “The Death of the Angry Black Woman” by Jameliah Young-Mitchell. Her self-help book is in “digestible” short chapters, so read a few when you’re treating yourself to dinner. This 2019 is half over. Start your journey toward a better you, so next time you’re ringing in a new year with black-eyed peas, you’ll be making more of your resolutions.

Got goals? Write them down, refine them and get to them with help from Craig C. Stroda in “The Ultimate Manual.” This work book is for note taking and evaluation and can help steer you toward better relationships, better work goals and even your diet and health.

A chapter called “Time, or Empowering Yourself” reminds us that time is a non-renewable resource. The reader records how much time is typically spent on grooming, breakfast, relationships, etc. and helps us put it all into perspective. The morning routine is important, because it can help prepare us to feel ready for what’s to come. Investing in yourself can reap benefits for your family, too.

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who enjoys a good meal and a good read. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com