Little House, Big Bellies

A young Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder had way more heart than Nellie Oleson, more spunk in her pigtail braids than her sister Mary had in her whole body (sorry, Mary) and far more chores than any modern-day child -- living out on the prairie was hard work! Even still, fans of Little House on the Prairie know that those simple times sure looked like fun, and now, we can have a taste of that old-style life, thanks to Gilbert's My Prairie Cookbook: Memories and Frontier Food from My Little House to Yours. This assemblage of 80 recipes meant to evoke that special time are accompanied by Gilbert's memories and photos of the wholesome, beloved show. At 7 p.m. Gilbert visits the Maryville University Auditorium (650 Maryville University Drive) to meet her fans, chat about her cookbook and sign copies. Admission to this special event costs $30 for one person and includes a copy of the book (for $35, you get admission for two, a copy of the book and a $5 credit toward another book); to purchase tickets, visit melissagilbert.brownpapertickets.com, and for more information, check out www.left-bank.com.
Fri., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., 2014