Eat these words

Save the date for April 22, when four of Minnesota's most locally focused cookbook authors appear together for a panel discussion called Minnesota Cooks! It's at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Edina's Galleria, at 69th Street and France Avenue S. (Remember, the store has moved into the lower level.) The 1 p.m. discussion will feature moderator Beth Dooley, author of "Minnesota's Bounty: The Farmers Market Cookbook" and "In Winter's Kitchen," talking with Tricia Cornell, who wrote "Minnesota Farmers Market Cookbook," Teresa Marrone, author of "Dishing Up Minnesota," and Beatrice Ojakangas, who's written 29 cookbooks and now has a memoir, "Homemade: Finnish Rye, Feed Sack Fashion, and Other Simple Ingredients From My Life in Food." The conversation is sure to be satisfying. Bet they'll autograph some books, too.

Anderson and Ostman do parties

There's nothing like a fabulous themed party where the decor and food seamlessly meld. Now Soile Anderson and Eleanor Ostman, two Finnish cooks and local food personalities, have published "Celebrations to Remember" ($18.95). Finnish-born Anderson founded the popular Deco Catering, the Taste of Scandinavia Bakeries and the Finnish Bistro restaurants. Her vision of a Scandinavian midsummer party was featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine. Ostman, from Hibbing, was a longtime food writer at the St. Paul Pioneer Press whose column resulted in two cookbooks, "Always on Sunday" and "Always on Sunday Revisited." This new cookbook offers key recipes and decor suggestions (illustrated with lots of color photos) for several dozen parties, from Valentine's Day to an Evening in Africa. Wedding ideas? Look here. The American Swedish Institute is hosting a launch party April 12 from 6:30-8 p.m., and workshops on table decor (April 15) and how to make gravlax (April 26). Advance registration recommended. Call 612-871-4907 or visit asimn.org.

Kosher at your fingertips

If you've ever gone nuts trying to find that particular kugel recipe, digging through all of your cookbooks, magazines and newspaper clippings, kosher.com may be for you. Kosher.com bills itself as "the go-to source for anything and everything kosher." Recipes can be filtered by ingredient, dietary needs, type of cuisine, chef, holiday, and even by level of difficulty. The recipes come from respected kosher cooks as well as Passover cookbooks, the Kosher Cook-Off, Artscroll cookbooks, Joy of Kosher, KosherScoop.com and more.

Lowertown Pop returns April 15

The popular Lowertown Pop Minnesota Makers' market returns to Union Depot in downtown St. Paul for its second year on April 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the depot's Waiting Room. The event will feature local artisans and craftspeople including brewers, bakers, distillers, musicians and visual artists, plus live demos. Fifty percent of ticket sales is donated to River's Edge Academy, and 50 percent to one of the Minnesota Makers. Advance tickets are $10, with free admission for ages 5 and under. Tickets are $15 at the door. Visit lowertownpop.com.

KIM ODE