Add the perfect deck and enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of your own home! Featuring 30 complete deck plans that are created and provided by the industry’s leading master deck builders, this comprehensive, easy-to-read guide will walk you through the entire process of designing and building a deck from start to finish. With step-by-step instructions for accomplishing all the included deck designs, coordinating photography, material lists, and expert advice, build the deck of your dreams whether you do it yourself or hire a contractor.

Russia and the newly independent states of Central Asia are struggling to reassert or create national identities and are receiving fresh attention from the West. After decades of oblivion, the vast Eurasian continent is once again divulging its intense cultural heritage and foodways to the international community. The diversity of food cultures within the former Soviet Union, with more than 100 distinct nationalities, is overwhelming, but this book brilliantly distills the main elements of contemporary cuisine and food-related customs for students and foodies. Vibrant descriptions of the legacy of the Silk Road; the classic foods such as kasha, pirogi, non (flatbread), pickles, and shashlyk (shish kebab); the over-the-top Moscow theme restaurants; and meals at the dacha and tea time are just some of the highlights. Russia and the newly independent states of Central Asia are struggling to reassert or create national identities and are receiving fresh attention from the West. After decades of oblivion, the vast Eurasian continent is once again divulging its intense cultural heritage and foodways to the international community. The diversity of food cultures within the former Soviet Union, with more than 100 distinct nationalities, is overwhelming, but Food Culture in Russia and Central Asia brilliantly distills the main elements of contemporary cuisine and food-related customs for students and foodies. Vibrant descriptions of the legacy of the Silk Road; the classic foods such as kasha, pirogi, non (flatbread), pickles, and shashlyk (shish kebab); the over-the-top Moscow theme restaurants; and meals at the dacha and tea time are just some of the highlights. After centuries of contact and conflict among peoples of Eurasia, Russian and Central Asian cuisines and culinary cultures have much in common. To understand one, the other must be considered as well. Russia and Central Asia cuisines share many ingredients, dishes, and customs. This volume strives to emphasize the evolving and multifaceted nature of the food cultures. Readers will be able to appreciate the ingredients, cooking methods, and traditions that make up the Eurasian foodways.

FROM THE BESTSELLING CHEESEMONGER-HISTORIAN A Cheesemonger's Compendium is a fully-illustrated standalone guide to the artisanal and farmhouse cheeses of the British Isles. A must-have for cheese lovers everywhere, it also serves as a handy pocket or shopping bag-sized companion to A Cheesemonger's History of The British Isles. Containing 168 deliciously readable flavour profiles, a morsel of history and a dash of folklore, there's sure to be something to take your fancy in here. This is the ultimate guide for expert fromagers and enthusiastic novices alike.

Discover the joys and health-giving benefits of nurturing a garden We have long been aware of the positive effects of spending time in nature and how it can be a powerful antidote to the stresses of modern life. Science now tells us that cultivating a green space of our own can be restorative and even transformative for our physical and mental well-being, with a proven ability to reduce depression and anxiety, boost our happiness levels and provide a feeling of balance and calm. Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul will help you: - Explore which plants release scents to help uplift and soothe. - Discover the ways gardening can boost physical and mental well-being, and promote feelings of balance and calm. - Learn about birdsong and how it can boost happiness and creativity. - Experience the wonders of growing plants from seeds, and how it teaches us to slow down and appreciate the simple things.