Review: Everyday Bakes to Showstopper Cakes by Mich Turner

Title: Everyday Bakes to Showstopper Cakes
Author: Mich Turner
Format: eARC
Pub. Date: March 10th
Source: Netgalley / White Lion Publishing


Book Description:

In Everyday Bakes to Showstopper Cakes, celebrity baker Mich Turner brings together a collection of recipes to take you all the way from the delicious everyday through to the spectacular. Starting out with simple cakes, biscuits and cupcakes, once you have mastered this first level, Mich provides you with a few extra steps to turn these into fabulous creations. If you’re looking for more of a challenge or to elevate a favourite, these bakes are easily adapted to create a true showstopper cake. Covering a full range of bakery goods as well as perfect flavours, whether you are a novice baker or already know your rum baba from your roulade, you can be easily guided through these delicious bakes and simple but spectacular decoration techniques that make the most of wonderful flavours and perfect crumb.

Review:

★★★★

What can I say? I'm a sucker for the Great British Bake Off and I was drawn into a book that promised me Showstopper Cakes.

What I really like about this book is that the recipes are divided into the two title categories: either an everyday bake or a showstopper cake. It's good for those who are more beginner who might want to start simple. Or conversely, for more experienced bakers who are looking to challenge themselves a little bit more.

This book is divided by types of bakes including: Cupcakes, Loafcakes Traybakes and Meringues, Layer Cakes, and Celebration Cakes.

There's conversions here which are helpful, given the British-ness off the book. Because of that, take note that some ingredients will need to be swapped as this book includes things harder to find in America, like Maltesers.

Each recipe has helpful hints and tips, and the instructions are written really well. I wish that some of the more complicated bakes would have included step-by-step photos. I know this book is beginner to more advanced, but I assume the audience is still home bakers. The extra help for some of them would have gone a long way!

I really like that some of the recipes are just sort of kicked up a notch, so to speak. That is, there will be a cupcake version and a cake version, or a cake version and a wedding cake version. It's nice to see the varieties of the same thing in different challenge modes.

There are a lot of photos, which I really appreciate, especially in a book like this about flashy bakes. Plus, the photos that are included are fantastic. They look like stellar cakes and so the title is accurate for sure.

There's templates included in the back for some of the design work, which is helpful. There's also a few random cookie recipes in the back which are a bit weird and out of place but, hey, I like cookies as much as the next baker.

Some of the recipes that sounded the most delicious to me include: Venetian Easter Eggs, Lemon and Elderberry Layer Cake, and The Althorp Chocolate and Salted Caramel Layer Cake.

This would be welcome on any home baker's shelf, and would make a great gift for that baker in your life who you beg to bring treats to your parties.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: Kitchen without Borders by The Eat Offbeat Chefs

Title: Kitchen without Borders: Recipes from Refugee and Immigrant Chefs and Stories of the Journey to Make a New Home
Authors: The Eat Offbeat Chefs
Format: eARC
Pub. Date: February 18th 2020
Source: Netgalley / Workman Publishing Company


Book Description:

A cookbook with wide-ranging roots and a very deep heart: 80 authentic, off-the-beaten-path recipes for delicious dishes from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Eritrea, Venezuela, and other countries are shared by chefs who arrived in the US as refugees and found work at the Eat Offbeat catering kitchen.

Review:

★★★★

What a charming, wholesome cookbook! This book is half recipes, and half stories from the chefs. They're stories of immigration, of refugees, of family and traditions, and the importance of food as a way of bringing people together and sharing with one another. There's little bio chapters for the chefs with their personal stories as well as why they included the recipes that they did and things like personal/family photos. It was touching and I really loved they way that all these chefs from radically different walks of life come together over their love of nourishing others with their home cooking. These recipes are exotic and from a wide variety of countries, including Sri Lanka, Eritrea, Iran, Algeria, Afghanistan, and way more than listed here.

The cookbook is divided into sections by course: Appetizers and Dips, Salads and Soups, Rice and Grains, Vegetarian Dishes, Meat Dishes, and Desserts and Drinks. There's also a section in the beginning that talks about ingredients and potential substitutions, as a lot of the spices and ingredients here may be difficult for your average reader to find locally. Helpfully, there are websites included in this book, should you wish to chase these harder-to-find ingredients down for yourself.

The steps are written well and are easy to follow, and there are a lot of pictures included in this book. That's a good thing for me, since I haven't eaten- let alone made- most of these dishes. It's nice to have a reference to see if what I'm doing looks even a little bit right.

Some of the recipes that sounded the best to me include zeytoon parvardeh (olive, pom, walnut tapenade), narges kebabs (almost like a scotch egg), and fesenjan (stewed chicken).

If you're looking for bolder recipes or to become a more well-rounded home cook, or if you just want to spice things up, this is a great cookbook to add to your collection.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: The Magick of Food by Gwion Raven

Title: The Magick of Food: Rituals, Offerings & Why We Eat Together
Author: Gwion Raven
Format: eARC
Pub. Date:January 8th 2020
Source: Netgalley / Llewellyn Publications


Book Description:

Delight Your Senses and Your Soul with a Feast of Recipes, Rituals, and Spells

Discover a magickal collection of lore, recipes, and practices from modern and ancient cultures of the world. The Magick of Food reveals how to transform the mundane task of fueling your body into an opportunity for deep nourishment and connection to loved ones and the divine. This powerful book provides detailed information on food magick and rituals, from edible aphrodisiacs to feasts for the gods.

Whether you're preparing boar tacos for Bacchus or a vegetable frittata to celebrate the equinox, this book helps you find community through food and build your kitchen witch skills. Using history, magick, and more than forty delicious recipes, you'll breathe new life into your devotional practice while you connect with ancestors and deities.

Review:

★★★★★

This book was absolutely what I needed.

I love to cook. And I love to bake. And I love to feed people. It is one thing I am good at and it is something that helps me express how much I care about someone else. Food comes from the heart, and this book is a complete celebration of that for a kitchen witch.

There are a wide variety of topics covered in this book, such as history, mythology, recipes, and rituals. I found the sections on history fascinating. It's interesting to read about how similar our traditions are in the 21st century (such as feasts like Thanksgiving) and also how very differently we enjoy the same things (like feasting when DoorDash delivers to us).

I appreciated how this book made me think of common things I do just a little bit differently. The biggest of these was a glaring example of cooking with intention that I'd never thought about before: chicken soup for those who are sick, and how we make it for them with the intention of them to drink it and feel better. It made complete sense, but I'd never framed it that way before.

It's also clear that the author did a fair amount of research for this book. It's littered with footnotes, references, and samples of texts by other writers. But as much as there were references cited, it never felt like it was a textbook. The author tells such heartfelt personal stories that it feels as though he was writing this paper just for me, friend to friend. I really liked that sense of comfort and familiarity. (And also he talks about how he goes to witch camp. I wanna go to witch camp!).

Another thing that I really appreciated is that Gwion Raven addressed the fact that not everyone has access to supplies, let alone groceries. He discussed food deserts, and how things can be substituted or adapted based on what you do have. So many magick publications just assume you have access to every single herb and ingredient on the planet and that you have endless space and equipment and it's not true for so, so many people. It was nice to see it addressed by someone.

The recipes included here are also pretty varied. I wish there had been a bit more of them, but there's still a pretty good number. They include things like ancient recipes, recipes for the sabbats, cocktail recipes, every day recipes, and even a section on aphrodisiacs.

Some of the recipes that I'm the most eager to try include: Kykeon (Ancient Greek horchata of sorts), Boar Tacos with Spicy Berry Salsa, Roasted Goat Leg with Grape Molasses, and Samhain Pot Roast for one.

I think that this is a great book for those who partake in magick and who also love food. It's a good mix of history, ritual, and recipe book that make it easy to read, and easy to bookmark for later reference.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: The Ultimate Ice Cream Cake Book by Kelly Mikolich

Title: The Ultimate Ice Cream Cake Book: 50 Fun Recipes to Satisfy Any Sweet Tooth
Author: Kelly Mikolich
Format: eARC
Pub. Date: February 4th 2020
Source: Netgalley / Rockridge Press


Book Description:

Master the art of ice cream cakes--the how-to guide to homemade desserts

Nothing says celebration like a slice of heavenly homemade ice cream cake! You don't need store-bought ice cream or boxed cake mix to make this fluffy and frosty treat from scratch. Whether you've dabbled in ice cream-making or whipped up a few cakes, The Ultimate Ice Cream Cake Book shows you how to handcraft delectable ice cream cakes in the comforts of your own kitchen.

Get the scoop on the essential tools and equipment you'll need with a handy introduction to cake-baking and ice cream-making. Then, find the perfect ice cream cake for any occasion with 50 tasty step-by-step recipes for classic and creative ice cream cakes, as well as plenty of tips and tricks so you'll taste sweet success in every bite.

The Ultimate Ice Cream Cake Book includes:

A la mode--An ice cream cake 101 introduces you to the delicious history of ice cream cakes and covers the various types of cakes and ice cream bases you'll be working with.

Piece of cake--These easy-to-follow recipes take you through every step of baking perfect cake and freezing flawless ice cream, including simple and fun steps for assembly and decoration.

Flavor of love--From beautiful boozy cakes to dreamy cheesecakes, wow your loved ones and satisfy your inner child with uniquely yummy flavor combinations.
Ace the art of ice cream cakes with The Ultimate Ice Cream Cake Book.

Review:

★★★

Ice cream cake is one of life's most underrated pleasures. What's not to like? Ice cream is delicious. Cake is delicious. That said.... I've never really considered making one. I have no reason for it, other than it hasn't quite occurred to me before. This book is dedicated only to the art of the ice cream cake, which is pretty cool.

The book is divided by type: Cake 101, Chocolate, Fruity, Cheesecake, Boozy, Artisanal, and a section of other important stuff like conversions and decorations. I really appreciated the way that this book is divvied up, because I'm not the biggest chocolate fan on the planet so I can jump right along to the fruity bits.

The instructions are well-written and easy to follow, so even beginners will have a breezy time trying to keep up. I also appreciate that the author recommends equipment but also teaches you how to do it without the gear. There's adaptations for no-churn recipes, for example if you don't have a proper ice cream maker (or if you're like me, room in your freezer).

There's also a surprisingly good variety here. You'd think it'd get old, since it's a cookbook dedicated to just one dish. But, there's recipes included here for other ice cream accessories, including donuts, pancakes, and cupcakes.

The one major drawback that this book has is its lack of photos. Ice cream is meant to be fun! This book is full of bright, fun flavors and varied combinations of cakes and ice creams. That should lead to lots of pictures, showing off how great these different color patterns/combos look! But there's maybe one photo or two per chapter, which was super disappointing to me.

Some of the recipes from this book that sounded the most delicious to me include: An Apple a Day Ice Cream Cake, You're a Peach Bundt Ice Cream Cake, and Don't Be Blue Blueberry Donut Ice Cream Sandwiches.

It's not a book I'd run out and buy, but it's one that I'll toy around with since I already have it.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thanks!

Review: 30-Minute Meals 2 by Rachael Ray

Title: 30-Minute Meals 2
Author: Rachael Ray
Format: Paperback, 192 pages
Pub. Date: May 22nd 2003
Source: Little Library


Book Description:

Rachael pulls out all the stops in this best-selling collection of recipes. You'll find menus complete with mains, sides, and desserts, tailored for any occasion. Sections include: Make Your Own Take-Out, Monday Thru Friday Dinner Specials, Family-Style Suppers, Double-Duty Dinners, Passport Meals, Big Nights: Very Special Dinners, and Healthy Hunger Busters. Eating Healthy? Try a meat-free meal featuring Ravioli Vegetable Lasagna, Romaine Hearts with Lemon Chive Vinaigrette, and Fresh Oranges with Lime Sorbet. Have hard-to-please kids? We promise you they'll eat Meatball and Macaroni Soup, Grilled 4-Cheese Sandwiches and Chocolate-Dipped Bananas. Over 1.5 million sold!

Review:

★★


I don't know what I expected from this cookbook, but what I got certainly wasn't it. I understand that the whole point of this "cookbook" is that it's stuff you can do in less than 30 minutes. But some of the "recipes" are literally just store bought products. How do you make an Italian cookie plate for a party? Well you buy 2 pounds of Italian cookies and put them on a plate. You know what's a good drink you can make? Store bought root beer and store bought ice cream for a root beer float. Or, store bought lemon curd on top of a store bought pound cake. I don't need a book to tell me to go buy a cake. I know that. I have been to stores, I know they sell cake?

The book is divided into sections: . It's a perfectly fine way of organizing recipes, and makes things easier to navigate.

There's a lot of recipes but virtually no pictures. I like having pictures. Although, I've bought cookies before so I guess I mostly know what to expect.

This book wasn't totally useless to me, and there were a few things in here that sounded like they could be good.

This is maybe a good jumping off point for people who are super busy or who are suuuuper new to cooking. But if you've been around the kitchen a time or two, I don't know that you'll find much use for this book.

Review: Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Title: Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook: Over 200 Recipes for Carry-In Favorites with Tips for Making the Most of the Occasion
Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter
Format: Spiral-bound, 224 pages
Pub. Date: June 1st 2019
Source: Goodreads First Reads


Book Description:

New Compilation of the Recipes that Bring the Amish Together

Brand new, from New York Times bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter, is a collection of over 200 recipes that are great for taking along and sharing where people meet to worship, work, and play. Included are tips for traveling with and serving food as well as personal stories of how gatherings are at the heart of the Amish community. The well-organized book boasts contributions from Amish and Mennonites from across the United States. Categories include Beverages, Snacks, Breads and Rolls, Salads, Side Dishes, Main Dishes, Desserts, and Feeding a Crowd. Encased in a lay-flat binding and presented in full color, home cooks from all backgrounds will want to add this cookbook to their collection. Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook is sure to become a treasured resource.

Review:

★★★★

What a charming little book. It puts me very much in mind of the types of cookbooks that I seek out at things like estate sales and thrift stores. The ones that were made by a book club or Girl Scout Troop or 4th grade class in ring binding with little plops of stains on pages that show they're well loved recipes.

This book is exactly as the tagline describes; over two hundred recipes designed for gatherings of families and friends. The book is divided more or less by course: Beverages, Snacks, Bread & Rolls, Salads, Side Dishes, Main Dishes, Desserts, and Feeding a Crowd. There's also the usually present indexes in the back of the book. In between each of these categories of recipes, there's nice little stories that highlight something about Amish life, like going to church or the work ethics. They're interesting insights into the community that complement the book well, and are informative.

This book has full color, glossy photographs sprinkled throughout. There are not photos for each and every single recipe, but, there's at least one per page generally. I appreciate this, because I like knowing what I should be expecting when I make something.

In the same vein as the Girl Scout cookbooks that I mentioned above, each recipe is listed with the name and location of the person who has submitted/created the recipe, giving it a more loved vibe, because each and every recipe was hand selected to share with others. I love that.

That said, there weren't a ton of recipes in here that I bookmarked. A lot of them were pretty standard to me- cheese balls, punch, dips, sheet cakes. That's not to say they're not useful, but they're not something I'm in need of. Or, recipes that start with things like already made tubes of biscuits, instant cake mix or tinned fruits.

Some of the recipes that I did bookmark include: Potluck Potatoes (page 75), Chicken Gumbo Casserole (page 91, mostly because I'm intrigued.... How is Velveeta, Miracle whip, and cream of mushroom soup gumbo?), Frogmore Stew (page 94), and Church Sugar Cookies (page 136).

I think this will have something for everyone, but if you're the sort who makes hot dishes, casseroles, and gelatin based salads and desserts, I think this book will be right up your alley.

I received a copy from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: My Drunk Kitchen by Hannah Hart

Title: My Drunk Kitchen: A Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Going with Your Gut
Author: Hannah Hart
Format: Hardcover, 225 pages
Pub. Date: August 12th 2014
Source: Goodwill


Book Description:

One day, lonely cubicle dweller and otherwise bored New York City transplant Hannah Hart decided to make a fake cooking show for a friend back home in California. She opened her laptop, pulled out some bread and cheese, and then, as one does, started drinking. The video was called "Butter Yo Sh*t" and online sensation My Drunk Kitchen was born.

My Drunk Kitchen (the book!) includes recipes, stories, color photographs, and tips and tricks to inspire your own adventures in tipsy cooking. Hannah offers cocktail recommendations, culinary advice (like, remember to turn off the oven when you go to bed), and shares never-before-seen recipes such as:


The Hartwich (Knowledge is ingenuity! Learn from the past!) Can Bake (Inventing things is hard! You don't have to start from scratch!) Latke Shotkes (Plan ahead to avoid a night of dread!) Tiny Sandwiches (Size doesn't matter! Aim to satisfy.) Saltine Nachos (It's not about resources! It's about being resourceful.)
In the end, My Drunk Kitchen may not be your go-to guide for your next dinner party . . . but it will make you laugh and drink . . . I mean think . . . about life.

Review:

★★★

I really like Hannah Hart. I used to watch a lot of her My Drunk Kitchen videos in college. I appreciate her quirky sense of humor, her optimism, and (although fairly unrelated to the book at hand) her openness about being LGBT. I was so happy when she got a Food Network show, and I was bummed that it didn't work out for very long.

Unfortunately, I don't think this book is a good representative of her. Or at least, she doesn't translate well into book form.

Calling this a "cookbook" would be very generous. There are technically recipes, yes, but they exist in a weird plane of existence where they are broad concepts as opposed to actual recipes. There's no real rules or measurements or technical help. It's sort of like a choose your own adventure recipe guide.

There's a lot of good advice and quotes and stories about being young. I appreciated those. There's good take aways from this, like being yourself, adulting is hard for everyone, and that it's okay to think outside of the box. But other times, it's sort of just slapped together and hard to follow. Random brainwaves on YouTube certainly work better than on paper, because it's weird to skip thoughts suddenly as you're reading. But Hannah Hart is a funny person, and there's a few laughs tucked away in here.

This book has a strong emphasis on alcohol and drink pairings and stuff like that, but I don't know why that would be surprising given the name of the book and the nature of her YouTube career.

It has nice glossy pages and really nice photos. It's a good quality book, from a publication standpoint.

All in all it was worth a flip through, but I don't imagine it's anything I'll actually reference in my kitchen. It's not quite cookbook, not quite memoir, in a weird mix mash of a book that I'm not really sure what I am meant to make of it. I feel like I might have really adored this book when I was in college, but it seems a bit removed for me now.

If you're a fan of reading YouTuber books, a fan of Hannah Hart's channel, or are a college student who is trying to figure out what adult life means and how the hell you're supposed to cook things now, then you might appreciate this book. If you're looking for like... An actual cookbook with usable recipes, or if you're unfamiliar with Hannah Hart's other works, then I think this won't be the book for you. There are better out there.

Mini Review: Rutabaga the Adventure Chef by Eric Colossal!

Title: Rutabaga the Adventure Chef
Series: Adventure Chef #1
Author: Eric Colossal
Format: ARC
Pub. Date: March 31st 2015
Source: Won


Book Description:

A fantasy graphic novel series follows an "adventure chef" named Rutabaga, who travels to a fantasy land to find bizarre ingredients to cook in his enchanted cauldron. The books will include pages straight out of Rutabaga's cookbooks, with recipes that readers can make at home.

Review:

★★★★★

This is the cutest book. I was intrigued by it because I love stories to do with cooking and food. My dad was a chef and I grew up in the kitchen, so it's a nice relatable bit of nostalgia for me.

The artwork is adorable. It's fun for kids with good details and even better facial expressions. I could very easily see this as a fun anime-styled cartoon on the Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon, or even PBS Kids. It's a high adventure mixed with a lot of humor. Reading it made me smile even as an adult, and I think that says a lot for a book aimed at younger folks. My ARC was not a full color copy, though the finalized version is in full color I'm told. I think the color would certainly make it more fun, but even in black and white it was well received.

I think it's cool that there's little recipes and cooking steps throughout the book. Some of them are for fantastical ingredients that the chef finds on his culinary adventures, but others are things that kids can try to make at home.

It's a silly, funny quest that I think elementary school kids will love. Like a Baby Einstein's version of the show No Reservations. I'd definitely pick up the second book in this series.

Review: Sweet Revenge by Heather Kim

Title: Sweet Revenge: Passive-Aggressive Desserts for Your Exes & Enemies
Author: Heather Kim
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: January 1st 2018
Source: Netgalley


Book Description:

50+ killer cakes, cookies, and candies for your exes and enemies. Dumped by your beefcake boyfriend? BFF steal your one-and-only? Lab partner a more-than-periodic no-show? Don't take these battles online. (Seriously, don't do that, okay?). Get out your heaviest rolling pins, sharpest cleavers, and most blistering torches, and kill your enemies and exes . . . with kindness. That's right - bake that loser ex a pan of Go Fudge Yourself. Gift your former friend a You're the Devil Cake. And give that annoying admirer a Donut Call Me Again. Let them taste your over-them happiness and see what comes next . . . Pastry chef and tattoo artist Heather Kim serves up sinfully delicious recipes and bittersweet advice.

Review:

★★★★★

This is one of the best books I read in 2017. No, not just cookbooks. One of the best books full stop. It's delicious, snarky, and hilarious, and is right up my alley. I'd keep this in my kitchen for sure.

The recipes are divided into sections by type, including an introduction, Bite Sized Treats, Cakes and Cupcakes, Breads and Pastries, Candy Creams and More.

The tone of this book is hilarious. It's snarky and funny- like if one of your girlfriends was psyching you up after a bad break up and helping you get your bullshit together. It gives it a familiar, friendly tone, which makes the book even better.

This book is great for beginners. Some of the ingredients that are used are home-baker friendly, such as jarred jams. There's cute little tinder bios to help explain what different types of sugar are for. The steps are super helpful and are written in layman's terms; "Plop the dough down" and "crank that oven up" are examples that immediately come to mind. This book is definitely accessible.


Some of the dishes that sounded the most delicious include You've Got a Latte Balls (PSL balls), Suck It Up and Grow a Pear (cheesecake), and When I Think of You I Scream (flamin hot ice cream sammiches).

This book is a great cookbook, whether you're baking away thoughts of your terrible ex, or if you're just hungry. It's well written both in tone and instruction, and I think it'd be a great gift.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN Review: Lidia's Celebrate Like an Italian by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich & Tanya Bastianich Manuali

Title: Lidia's Celebrate Like an Italian: 220 Foolproof Recipes That Make Every Meal a Party
Authors: Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Tanya Bastianich Manuali
Format: Hardcover, signed
Pub. Date: October 17th 2017
Source: Eataly


Book Description:

The beloved TV chef offers the only cookbook you'll need to give any gathering--from a dinner for two to a wedding--a delectable, welcoming Italian flavor.

No one throws a party like Lidia Bastianich! And now, in this delightful new cookbook, she gives us 220 fantastic recipes for entertaining with that distinctly Bastianich flare. From Pear Bellinis to Carrot and Chickpea Dip, from Campanelle with Fennel and Shrimp to Berry Tiramisu--these are dishes your guests will love, no matter the occasion. Here, too, are Lidia's suggestions for hosting a BBQ, making pizza for a group, choosing the perfect wine, setting an inviting table, and much more. Beautifully illustrated throughout with full-color photographs and filled with her trademark warmth and enthusiasm, this is Lidia's most festive book. Whether you're planning a romantic picnic for two, a child's birthday party, a holiday gathering, or a simple weeknight family dinner, Lidia's flavorful, easy-to-follow recipes and advice will have you calling to your guests: "Tutti a tavola a mangiare!"

Review:

★★★★★

I was so excited to get my hands on this. I got the chance to go to a book signing at Eataly here in Chicago. Lidia is super sweet, and gave us chocolates.

Onto the book. As the title (and author) suggests, this is an Italian cookbook. The tagline is: "220 Foolproof Recipes That Make Every Meal a Party". I'm not Italian. I didn't grow up in a lovely family and learn to cook and my grandmother's hip. But also- I freakin' love Italian food and pasta. This book was meant for me; it's ways to cook classic Italian but from an approachable, novice standpoint.

The book is divided by course type: Aperitivi, Appetizers, Salads, Soups, Vegetables and Sides, Polenta Risotto and Pasta, Fish and Seafood, Poultry and Meat, and Desserts. This is a pretty foolproof way to find whatever you're in the mood for. Sprinkled throughout the book, there's also ideas for how to plan menus for different parties and events- like sports games or brunch.

Each recipe has the name in English followed by Italian, with a little paragraph about it- why it's included, how to adapt it, where it came from, etc. It's a nice touch that makes it feel like Lidia is exchanging recipe secrets with you. The steps can get kind of long and aren't numbered, but they're written simply in a way that's easy to understand.

The only nit I have to pick is the photography. I understand that having a photo for every one of the 220 recipes would turn it into a massive publication. But, I like having photos to go from. There's some, but not as many as I would have liked. The ones that are included are very delicious looking and professional.

This book is vegetarian friendly. There's lots of meatless dishes, and I think that some of the ones with meat are easily adaptable.

Some of the dishes that I look forward to making the most include: Roman-Style Semolina Gnocchi, Stuffed Calamari, Layered Casserole with Beef, Cabbage, and Potatoes, and Chocolate Sponge Cake with Sour Cherries and Chocolate Zabaglione Mousse Filling.

I think this is a good book for beginners and beyond, as well as those who host dinners or parties. There's a wide variety of recipes, and it includes desserts and cocktails. It's one I'm sure I'll keep in my kitchen for a long time.

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN Review: Christmas Recipes From Five of Your Favorite Authors by Sharon Kleve, Jennifer Conner, Angela Ford, Jennifer Chambers & Elle Medler

Title: Christmas Recipes From Five of Your Favorite Authors
Authors: Sharon Kleve, Jennifer Conner, Angela Ford, Jennifer Chambers & Elle Medler
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 2nd 2017
Source: Author


Book Description:

5 Incredible Authors — 50 Amazing Recipes

What's better than sharing some favorite recipes for the holiday season? It brings together family traditions and love.

There is a recipe for everyone. Including: vegetarian, vegan, main courses, side dishes, drinks, and of course luscious desserts.

Review:

★★★★

What I like best about this book is that it's normal recipes for normal people. And what I mean by that, is that it's all approachable with easy to find ingredients and equipment that most of us have in our homes already. I like that.

It very much feels like it's a book of recipes handed over personally by these authors. It reminds me of the ring-bound books that you can buy used from like, Girl Scouts troops or book clubs. I feel like these recipes are well loved and it makes me more excited to try them.

There's a lot of variety in the recipes here. There's everything from entrees and desserts to sides, and even how to make your own pickles. There's also some drink recipes that, if your family is like mine, will be well used during the holidays. If you have some dietary restrictions, these lovely ladies have you covered. There are vegetarian and vegan options, as well as gluten free recipes.

The steps are short and to the point, and easy to follow.

There are photos of every dish, which I appreciate. Some photos are better than others, but I appreciate them regardless.

Some of the recipes that sounded the most delicious to me include Whiskey Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Snowdrift Bliss, and Tutti Fruitti Real Fruit Cheesecake.

If you're a fan of any of these authors, or are looking for something new to cook this season, this is a good place to start. I bookmarked quite a few dishes to try out this season, and I think you'd find some you like too.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN Review: Opa! The Healthy Greek Cookbook by Theo Stephan & Christina Xenos

Title: Opa! The Healthy Greek Cookbook: Modern Mediterranean Recipes for Living the Good Life
Authors: Theo Stephan & Christina Xenos
Format: Paperback: 262 pages
Pub. Date: November 7th 2017
Source: Callisto Media Inc


Book Description:

Discover how rich a healthy lifestyle can taste with Opa! The Healthy Greek Cookbook

When you don’t have a Mediterranean breeze behind you, finding local ingredients for complex recipes can make it difficult to integrate Greek food into your lifestyle. With Opa! The Healthy Greek Cookbook you can spare yourself the odyssey of traveling just to eat fresh and flavorful food. Featuring easy-to-find ingredients for simple recipes, plus a regional overview of Greek food, Opa! The Healthy Greek Cookbook leads you on a culinary journey towards an appetizing and healthy lifestyle.

Opa! The Healthy Greek Cookbook contains:

90 Recipes for popular Greek dishes made with easy-to-find ingredients Greek Kitchen Tips including how to stock your pantry and kitchen with the right ingredients and equipment, plus cooking techniques A Regional Overview explaining Greek food from ancient times to modern day
Recipes in this Greek cookbook include: Kalamata Olive Spread, Greek Potato Salad, Spinach Rice, Vegetable Moussaka, Shrimp Santorini, Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Greek Yogurt Brandy Cake, and much more!

Join Greek chefs Theodora Stephan and Christina Xenos as they share their favorite recipes for you to feast on with Mediterranean flare in Opa! The Healthy Greek Cookbook.

Review:

★★★★

Greek food is right up there in my list of favorite cuisines, perhaps only rivaled by Japanese food. Because of that, I'm always open to learning new recipes. I don't have any charming little old grandmothers to inherit Greek recipes from on account of being Polish- I count on cookbooks like this one! Overall, this book has a lot of really tasty things for a lot of different diets.

The book is divided by course type, including the sections: Understanding Greek Cuisine, In the Greek Kitchen, Mezzethes, Salads & Soups, Beans Rice & Pasta, Vegetable Mains, Seafood Mains, Meat Mains, Desserts, and a few finishing sections like a glossary and a menu planner for events and holidays. This is an easy way to find anything you need in the ook.

"Understanding Greek Cuisine" is a section that's a nice little 101 section on Greece and their food. It covers some basic culture information and history, information about the various regions and islands of Greece, common flavor schemes, and some of the natural health benefits. It's a good pocket of information to have if you've never had to cook Greek food before. It's written in a charming tone filled with stories from the two authors, so it's full of a lot of facts, but it's easy to get through.

The "In the Greek Kitchen" gives a nice little run down of common ingredients (and what they are), equipment used, and brief definitions of different cooking techniques. This section makes it clear that this book is approachable to even the beginner cook.

And then of course, are the recipes themselves. I found them to be incredibly well written. Each recipe gives the name of the dish in Greek, as well as in English, which I think is a nice touch. There's a little paragraph that tells a little about the recipe or a little anecdote about why it's included. Some were sweet, some were funny, and some were just plain interesting. In addition, each recipe has vital diet information; it's labeled as being vegetarian, nut-free, gluten-free, etc. This is super nice for people with diet restrictions, because you know just by looking at it if you can have it. There's also caloric/nutrition information, storage tips, and good advice on how you can substitute ingredients throughout.

The steps are numbered and short and sweet, making them easy to follow.

I also appreciated that the recipes might call for something a bit harder to find, like say kefalotiri cheese. Instead of just assuming that everyone has access to that, it suggests other, more common cheeses that will work, like Romano cheese in this instance. As someone who doesn't have a wide variety of grocer options, it's appreciated.

When a more complicated technique is used (like for wrapping grape leaves), there's little step by step drawn illustrations to help you out.

What disappointed me about this book is the lack of photos. There are some, yes, and the ones that are included look delicious. However, I've never made 90% of these dishes before. It'd be nice to have a reference to see if what I'm doing actually looks like what it's supposed to. I'm way more of a visual person than a literary one, so in that regard I think this book is lacking.

Anyway, back to the positives. There are so many amazing sounding dishes in this cookbook that it's hard to pare it down to just a few to highlight here, but I'll try my best. Some of the dishes I most look forward to include: Savory Baklava Rolls, Octopus with Figs and Peaches, Feta Crab Cakes, and Olive Oil Ice Cream with Feta, Cinnamon, and Basil.

All in all, I'm really happy with this book. If you've got food allergies, or are vegan or vegetarian, there are quite a few recipes in here for you, and more than are pretty easily adaptable. It's approachable with realistic ingredients, and full of plenty of recipes for those looking to lighten up their diet or simply try more Greek recipes.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN Review: Sally's Cookie Addiction by Sally McKenney

Title: Sally's Cookie Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cookie Bars, Shortbread, and More from the Creator of Sally's Baking Addiction
Author: Sally McKenney
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: September 19th 2017
Source: Race Point Publishing


Book Description:

Bake exquisite cookies, bars, and doughs perfectly every time with Sally's Cookie Addiction. A world of baking wonder awaits you and all the lucky people you’ll share them with.

Are you ready to sink your teeth into Brown Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies? How about Peanut Butter Nutella Swirl Cookies or Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies? Featuring a mouthwatering selection of cookies, cookie bars, cookie dough dips, slice-and-bakes, no-bakes, and more, Sally's Cookie Addiction features dozens of exciting flavors, including chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter, sugar, coconut, lemon, s’more, and oatmeal, oh my!

The best part? Sally's Cookie Addiction, Sally will tell you how to make each and every cookie in the book ahead of time. So, if you want to start preparing for the holidays, or if you just like keeping cookie dough in your freezer for those critical cookie emergencies!

Complete with tips on how to bake the perfect cookie and gorgeous photography, Sally's Cookie Addiction is the only cookie book you need on your shelf. Get ready for your kitchen to be the most popular room in the house while the smells of Warm Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookies, Lemon Crème Sandwich Cookies, and Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie Bars emanate from the oven!

Review:

★★★★

I love baking. And, I especially love baking cookies. They're my ace in the hole, my first go-to. I'm constantly on the lookout for new recipes to add into my repertoire. Plus, the holidays are coming up, when my need to bake goes into overdrive. All in all, this is a solid book that's chock full of cookies.

The book is divided into chapters that are mostly flavor or ingredient based including: introduction/tips, Family Favorites, All About Oats, Happy Holidays, Shortbread and Slice and Bakes Galore, The Sprinkle Chapter, Nuts About Nuts, Serious Chocolate Cravings, and Find Your Flavor.

Ultimately, this is a bit of a clunky, unorganized way to sort cookie recipes. "Find Your Flavor", "Happy Holidays" and "Family Favorites" are all pretty vague, wide categories. The rest of them make sense, but those listed are a bit disjointed from the rest.

The tone also gets a little condescending at times. There's a big push about how substitutions are usually why people's cookies don't turn out, and recipes are there for a reason. Pretty opposing to most cookbooks, which encourage creativity and adapting. There's also the use of the phrase "it's a no no". This is a cookbook that isn't specifically geared towards kids- really? No no?

After these discouraging bits, the book goes along a lot more smoothly.

There's a lot of helpful hints as you go. There's advice on how to make your cookies softer, and how to decorate better, and things like that. It's much appreciated and helpful for sure, especially for beginner or seasonal bakers.

There are a lot of recipes in this book, and also a LOT of photos. I love when a cookbook has a photo of every recipe, and this book does just that.

The recipes are written in an approachable style, with simple language and short, easy to follow steps.

There's a really wide variety of cookies here, from the super sweet, to the spicy, to even cookies that your dog will enjoy.

Some of the cookies that sound the best to me include Autumn Spice Oatmeal Cookies, Chai Tea Spice Shortbread, and Cherry Almond Coconut Macaroons.

This is a great book for cookie lovers and for the holidays. Once you get past a few speed bumps, it's easy to follow and full of new recipes to try.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN Review: The Artful Baker by Cenk Sonmezsoy

Title: The Artful Baker: Extraordinary Desserts From an Obsessive Home Baker
Author: Cenk Sonmezsoy
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 17th 2017
Source: Harry N. Abrams


Book Description:

A collection of more than 100 extraordinary desserts—all with photos and meticulous instructions—by Cenk Sönmezsoy, creator of the internationally acclaimed blog Cafe Fernando.

Written, styled, photographed, and designed by Cenk Sönmezsoy, The Artful Baker shares the inspiring story of a passionate home baker, beginning with his years after graduate school in San Francisco and showcasing the fruits of a baking obsession he cultivated after returning home to Istanbul. Sönmezsoy’s stories and uniquely styled images, together with his original creations and fresh take on traditional recipes, offer a thoughtful and emotional window into the life of this luminary artist.

The Artful Baker is comprised of almost entirely new content, with a few updated versions of readers’ favorites from his blog, such as Brownie Wears Lace, his signature brownies topped with blond chocolate ganache and bittersweet chocolate lace (originally commissioned by Dolce & Gabbana and awarded “Best Original Baking and Desserts Recipe” by Saveur magazine); Raspberry Jewel Pluot Galette, a recipe inspired by Chez Panisse’s 40th year anniversary celebrations; and Devil Wears Chocolate, his magnificent devil’s food cake that graces the cover of the book.

Each chapter highlights a variety of indulgences, from cookies to cakes and tarts to ice creams, including recipes like Pistachio and Matcha Sablés; Tahini and Leblebi (double-roasted chickpeas) Swirl Brownies; Sakura Madeleines; Sourdough Simit, the beloved ring-shaped Turkish bread beaded with sesame seeds; Isabella Grape and Kefir Ice Cream; Pomegranate Jam; and Blanche, a berry tart named after the Golden Girl Blanche Devereaux.

Every recipe in The Artful Baker has gone through a meticulous development phase, tested by an army of home bakers having varying levels of skill, equipment, and access to ingredients, and revised to ensure that they will work flawlessly in any kitchen. Measurements of ingredients are provided in both volume and weight (grams). Where a volume measurement isn’t useful, weight measurements are provided in both ounces and grams.

Review:

★★★★★

This is one of the most beautiful cookbooks that I have read in 2017. The photographs are stunning, the recipes are delicious, and it really is like looking through an art book.

The book is divided into types of dish, including: Cookies, Brownies, Cakes Muffins Cheesecakes and Meringues, Tarts Galettes Pie Quiche Cobbler and Crumble, Bread and Pastries, Ice Cream Frozen Yogurt and Sorbets, Confections and Drinks, Jams and Jellies, Base Recipes, and Ingredients, Equipment and Conversions.

There's a lot of personal stories and name dropping in this book, making it clear that the author has a level of not just passion, but pride in what they do. You learn why they included the recipes and ingredients they did, and what makes them the best.

In addition to the recipes, there's also a TON of extra tips and techniques in this book. There are step by step photos of how to deal with vanilla beans, there's a whole section on perfecting macarons, there's a guide to tempering chocolate. It's clear the author wants to help you succeed with their recipes! There's also a lot of storage advice, which is appreciated.

As I mentioned, the photos are beautiful. A lot of the things look too beautiful to eat (I mean, not that that'd really stop me, but you know what I mean). There's an abundance of photos too, at least one per recipe though there's often more.

One of the downsides is that some of the ingredients are relatively hard to find, like sakura flavored white tea leaves. You'd need to plan well in advance for some of these recipes, they don't all lend themselves to spur of the moment baking.

Some of the recipes that sound the best to me include Sour Cherry and White Chocolate Macarons, Sakura Madeleines, and Isabella Grape and Kefir Ice Cream.

This book is fantastic, and any home bakers looking to up their game or to more finely hone their baking techniques would find something to benefit from in this book.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Review: Kombucha, Kefir, and Beyond by Alex Lewin

Title: Kombucha, Kefir, and Beyond: A Fun and Flavorful Guide to Fermenting Your Own Probiotic Beverages at Home
Author: Alex Lewin
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: February 15th 2017
Source: Fair Winds Press


Book Description:

Saying "Cheers!" Never Felt Better

Fermented foods have taken the world by storm, largely due to their health and real food benefits. They help improve digestion, enable us to better assimilate vitamins and minerals, and strengthen the immune system.

Of all fermented foods, drinks are some of the most versatile--and tasty! Think kombucha, kefir, and real ginger ale. Many of these items you can buy in the store, but making them at home is simple, economical, and even better for you. With just a few ingredients and materials, you can start brewing your own delicious beverages for your family. Ferment Your Drinks is packed with innovative drink recipes, from healthy homemade sodas to traditional kvass and cider, that you can make in your home kitchen and enjoy all year long!

Inside, you'll learn:
--Why to ferment your drinks
--The history of fermentation and the value of traditional foods
--The benefits of fermented drinks to your health
--All the basics: the process, the tools, and how to get started
--Five-minute recipes for lassis, fermented lemonade, and more
--How to use starters to make kombucha, kefir, root beer, wine, and others again and again
--Age-old recipes for kvass, switchel, vinegar, and mead
--Everything you need to know about why the recipes work, why they are safe, what to do if they go wrong, and how to modify them to suit your taste

Raise a glass to good health with Ferment Your Drinks!

Review:

★★

Oh dear. I do so very much hate giving bad reviews. Let's get this over with quick, okay?

There's a long history about fermented drinks and some soapbox-y type stuff about health benefits and American obesity and how these drinks are the answer. There's long, complicated, boring sections on this as well as in chemistry and beverage science. I'm not going to say I don't care, because I understand the importance of food science and knowing how your actions produce the food/drink you're making. But this was the majority of the book, which is not what I expected (or wanted).

The title has "flavorful" right in the name. But unfortunately, the few recipes that were included were either very basic, or not appetizing to me personally in the least. I wasn't inspired by any new tastes. There's also some that have pretty hard to find (at least, if you're not using the internet) ingredients, like worm salt.

The "resource" guide included Craigslist and Reddit.

Maybe you'll have better luck with this book than I did. For me, I didn't take anything away from this. The second star is because I appreciated the effort of the science and history parts, even if it's not what I wanted from this book.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cookbook Review: Munchies by J.J. Goode & Helen Hollyman

Title: Munchies: Late-Night Meals from the World's Best Chefs
Authors: J.J. Goode & Helen Hollyman
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 24th 2017
Source: Ten Speed Press


Book Description:

This cookbook, based on the game-changing web series Chef's Night Out, features stories of the world's best chefs' debauched nights on the town, and recipes for the food they cook to soak up the booze afterwards.

MUNCHIES brings the hugely popular show Chef's Night Out (on VICE Media's food website, MUNCHIES) to the page with snapshots of food culture in cities around the world, plus tall tales and fuzzy recollections from 65 of the world's top chefs, including Anthony Bourdain, Dominique Crenn, David Chang, Danny Bowien, Wylie Dufresne, Inaki Aizpitarte, and Enrique Olvera, among others. Then there are the recipes: dishes these chefs cook when they're done feeding customers, and ready to feed their friends instead. With chapters like "Drinks" (i.e., how to get your night started), "Things with Tortillas," "Hardcore" (which includes pizzas, nachos, poutines, and more), and "Morning After" (classy and trashy dishes for the bleary-eyed next day), MUNCHIES features more than 65 recipes to satisfy any late-night craving and plenty of drinks to keep the party going.

Review:

★★★★

Hangover food and top chefs, what can be better?

This cookbook is divided by the type of meal including: Drinks, Sandwiches, Things with Tortillas, Hardcore, Noodles Rice and Grains, Meat and Seafood, Dessert, and The Morning After. I appreciate this type of organization, because I have told my girlfriend on more than one occasion that require "something with a tortilla". This book gets me.

I appreciate that there is a photo to go with every recipe. I find these helpful even on a normal day, but if I'm making middle of the night munchie food, I'm going to need those photos even more. Plus, they looked delicious.

The steps aren't numbered and can get pretty long. But that being said, they're in layman terms and are pretty easy to follow.

I think the book is a bit too long. There's a lot of stories, which are relatively interesting, but they dragged on a little too much and took up a bit too much of the story. When reading a cookbook, I want the bulk of it to be recipes with complementary stories, not the other way around.

The actual recipes were hit and miss for me. The ones that sounded good sounded AMAZING. But there were a bunch that just seemed kind of boring, especially when you're looking for something that's next-level delicious after a long night out.

Some of the recipes that sounded the best to me include Fried Shrimp and Bacon Grilled Cheese, Smoked Bologna and Raclette Sandwich, and Goat Poutine with Redeye Gravy.

Overall, this book is worth a look through and it's something I'd like to have on hand, even though I might not have the ingredients when I want them. It's a good gift for the foodie and/or stoner in your group.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cookbook Review: State Bird Provisions by Stuart Brioza, Nicole Krasinski, J.J. Goode

Title: State Bird Provisions: A Cookbook
Authors: Stuart Brioza, Nicole Krasinski, J.J. Goode
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 17th 2017
Source: Ten Speed Press


Book Description:

The debut cookbook from one of the country's most celebrated and pioneering restaurants, Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions in San Francisco.

Few restaurants have taken the nation by storm in the way that State Bird Provisions has. Inspired by their years catering parties, chefs Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski use dim sum style carts to offer guests small but finely crafted dishes ranging from Potato Chips with Crème Fraiche and Cured Trout Roe, to Black Butter-Balsamic Figs with Wagon Wheel Cheese Fondue, to their famous savory pancakes (such as Chanterelle Pancakes with Lardo and Maple Vinegar), along with a menu of more substantial dishes such as their signature fried quail with stewed onions.

Their singular and original approach to cooking, which expertly blends seemingly disparate influences, flavors, and textures, is a style that has influenced other restaurants throughout the country and is beloved by diners, chefs, and critics alike. In the debut cookbook from this acclaimed restaurant, Brioza and Krasinski share recipes for their most popular dishes along with stunning photography, and inspire readers to craft an unforgettable meal of textures, temperatures, aromas, and colors that excite all of the senses.

Review:

★★★★

This is a really multi-faceted book. There's a ton of variety when it comes to the recipes. There's full dishes, but also drinks, and even more basic staples like butter and jam. I really enjoyed just how much you could learn to make on your own from this book.

The book is divided into sections by broad categories, with smaller recipe breakdowns within each sections. The sections include an introduction, The Savory Larder, The Savory Recipes, The Dessert Larder, and The Sweet Recipes.

Each recipe is prefaced with a nice informational paragraph, explaining why the recipe is included, how it's relevant to State Bird Provisions, and how the cooks are connected to this food. It sets a nice tone that's both full of useful tips, but also reflects how much the chefs care about their recipes. There's a lot of personal stories about the chefs and what led them to cook the way they do, which I thought was nice, though a bit too long at times.

The recipes have short, un-numbered steps that are pretty straight to the point. There are a lot of photos, which I also really appreciated. The photographs that are included look great.

This book really has something for everyone. At the beginning, there's a lot of basic recipes for kitchen staples that most people just buy, including pickles, jams, and even butter. As the book goes on, the recipes get more complicated and have more steps and more ingredients.

Also, this book is crazy long, and has a TON of recipes.

Some of the recipes that I'm most interested in include Spiced Guinea Hen Dumplings with Garlic Chives and Aromatic Broth, Sweet Corn Tres Leches Cake with Cloud Cream and Blueberry Compote, and Carrot Mochi with Pickled Carrots, Carrot Vinaigrette, and Pistachio Dukkah.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cookbook Review: Valerie's Home Cooking by Valerie Bertinelli

Title: Valerie's Home Cooking: More than 100 Delicious Recipes to Share with Friends and Family
Author: Valerie Bertinelli
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 10th 2017
Source: Publisher


Book Description:

As the current star of her Food Network show, Valerie's Home Cooking, and co-host of the network's Kids Baking Championship, as well as having spent years acting on television, Valerie Bertinelli has made a name for herself in households across America. But to really know Valerie, is to spend time in her kitchen.

Inspired by her family's cooking legacy, Valerie specializes in showing fans how to make dishes their own families will love that are for the heart and soul. As she often says, there's a story behind every recipe and Valerie shares them in this gorgeous cookbook, where home cooks will find more than 100 recipes that are easy to make and innovative--they're just as fresh, vibrant and down to earth as Valerie herself. Many of these classic comforting recipes have an original twist like Bloody Mary Tea Sandwiches, Lobster BLTs, Quick Rotisserie Chicken Gumbo, and S'mores Popcorn. These mouthwatering dishes will become your go-tos, whether you're having breakfast or lunch on your own, friends are joining for last-minute cocktails and small bites, or the whole family is coming together for a hearty dinner and dessert.

Review:

★★★★

Honestly, my interest in this book stems from seeing Valerie Bertinelli on various shows on the Food Network channel. Overall, I think this is a pretty good cookbook that's bound to have a recipe for everyone to enjoy.

The recipes in this book are organized by meal/course, making it pretty easy to navigate. The chapters include Rise and Shine, Getting Through the Day, Happy Hour, Around the Table, A Side Note, and Finishing Sweet.

Most of the recipes have photos with them, which is helpful. Some of them could have been a little better quality, but that's nitpicking a bit. This book seems really good for a beginner. The steps are numbered, and the language is very conversational like "hey, see this carrot, cut it" which makes it easy to follow. Part of the home cook appeal to this book, at least to me, is that some stuff is not scratch made. That is, things like caramel sauce in a jar, frozen blueberries, jarred giardiniera and other "normal people" ingredients are used throughout. It's easier and more likely that I'll cook with this little cheats included.

I appreciate the little personal stories, and that there's photos of Valerie cooking some of these dishes throughout the course of the book.

Some of the dishes that sound the best to me include Bloody Mary Tea Sandwiches, Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Shrimp with Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce, and Savory Horseradish Panna Cotta.

All in all, I think this is a really approachable cookbook that has a lot of yummy sounding dishes in it. The instructions are clear, the photos are pretty good, and there's a good amount of variety.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN! Review: The Geeky Chef Strikes Back by Cassandra Reeder

Title: The Geeky Chef Strikes Back: Even More Unofficial Recipes from Minecraft, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Twin Peaks, and More!
Authors: Cassandra Reeder
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: September 15th 2017
Source: Publisher


Book Description:

The Geeky Chef is back with even more delicious, real-life recipes from your favorite sci-fi and fantasy books, movies, TV shows, and video games. Discover the foods you've always wanted to taste from realms like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter to The Legend of Zelda, Firefly, Minecraft, Final Fantasy, and more.

In the Geeky Chef Strikes Back, author Cassandra Reeder has imagined the delicious foods in these faraway worlds and created recipes that are sure to transport you to galaxies far, far way. So if you've found yourself craving Pumpkin Juice from Harry Potter, Lingonberry Pancakes from The Big Lebowski, Norma's Cherry Pie from Twin Peaks, Wife Soup from Firefly, or the White Dragon Noodles from Blade Runner, then look no further. With easy step-by-step instructions and fun theme photos, these creative recipes are perfect for your next big viewing party or your standing reservation for a party of one. Fantasy foods are fantasy no longer!

Review:

★★★★

Cooking? Awesome. Fandom cooking? Even better. I'm really grateful I got to read this.

The book is divided into sections based on type including an introduction, non-alcoholic drinks, alcoholic drinks, appetizers snacks and sides, soups and stews, main courses, cakes and cupcakes, pies and tarts, and other desserts. It makes it easy to navigate, based on what sort of food you're in the mood for.

Let's talk about the good first. I really like that under each recipe title, it tells you whatever video game or show that the recipe came from. Beneath that, for every recipe there's a little paragraph that explains the context such as what episode in what season, or why the food is relevant to the plot, things like that. The recipes are in short, concise, numbered steps and for almost all the recipes there's a color photograph of the finished project. They're themed to the show/fandom, which is pretty cute. There's also adorable little doodles in the empty white spaces that fill the book out a bit more and make it seem a bit more whimsical. There's a mix of recipes from video games, television, and film.

I also really appreciated that when a recipe called for meat or animal product, the author offered up substitutions on how to make it vegetarian friendly. There's also a bunch of tips sprinkled throughout the recipes.

It's really a good book for beginners. First, you have the numbered, easy steps and all the photos. But quite a few of the recipes are also a bit of a "cheat", like using canned cherries or Cocoa Puffs.

At times this book kind of had a weird tone at times (I know it's a cookbook, hear me out!). There's a recipe from Doctor Who, in which the author explains in a way that makes it sound like she's annoyed, how many fans ask her for a Jammie Dodger or Jelly Babies recipe. Like, THESE THINGS ALREADY EXIST! ...So? So do a few of the other recipes in the book (Pumpkin Juice, for example). That doesn't mean you can't make your own version; my Pinterest feed is filled with "homemade" versions of Oreos and Poptarts. It just seemed a weird thing to put in there. It was also a little weird when she talked about My Little Pony and how a show for little girls turned into a show for adults... But then she only really talks about bronies. I mean... Little boys watch it, and so do adult women. Just weird.

Anywho, back to the good. Some of the recipes that I'm most excited to make include Ambrosia (The Sims), Herring and Pumpkin Pot Pie (Kiki's Delivery Service), and Dauntless Chocolate Cake (Divergent).

Other than the weird nitpicks that I've mentioned, this is a pretty good cookbook. For me personally, it was a bit video game heavy, but it's impossible to nail everyone's fandoms exactly. From Breaking Bad to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there's recipes here you're bound to get the reference to, and that you'll want to eat. It's approachable for any cooking level. It's great if you host viewing parties, or a theme party, or even Halloween (which is why this is included in my Halloween countdown!). It's a book for the nerd cook in your life, and it's one that I'd use in my kitchen.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cookbook Review: Sweet by by Yotam Ottolenghi & Helen Goh

Title: Sweet
Authors: Yotam Ottolenghi & Helen Goh
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 3rd 2017
Source: Publisher


Book Description:

A collection of over 110 recipes for sweets, baked goods, and confections from superstar chef Yotam Ottolenghi.

Yotam Ottolenghi is widely beloved in the food world for his beautiful, inspirational, and award-winning cookbooks, as well as his London delis and fine dining restaurant. And while he's known for his savory and vegetarian dishes, he actually started out his cooking career as a pastry chef. Sweet is entirely filled with delicious baked goods, desserts, and confections starring Ottolenghi's signature flavor profiles and ingredients including fig, rose petal, saffron, orange blossom, star anise, pistachio, almond, cardamom, and cinnamon. A baker's dream, Sweet features simple treats such as Chocolate, Banana, and Pecan cookies and Rosemary Olive Oil Orange Cake, alongside recipes for showstopping confections such as Cinnamon Pavlova with Praline Cream and Fresh Figs and Flourless Chocolate Layer Cake with Coffee, Walnut, and Rosewater.

Review:

★★★★ ★

This book is gorgeous from cover to cover. I bake a lot more than I cook, so I'm always looking for new baking books to add to my shelf. I wasn't disappointed in Sweet even a little bit.

The book is divided into chapters by the type of dessert, making recipes easier to find. The chapters include: Cookies, Mini Cakes, Cakes, Cheesecakes, Tarts and Piers, Desserts, and Confectionery. There's also a list of ingredients and their descriptions, as well as a glossary.


There's a nice variety of recipes here, both in terms of skill and of taste. Some recipes seem really simple, and others are really complex with lots of ingredients and components. The steps are numbered, but long. Like, full paragraphs long. Seems like they could have just added more numbers and broken it down a bit more, but that's nitpicking. There's also a bunch of hints and tips in the sidebars of the recipe pages.

There are pictures of almost every recipe, and the photos that are included are really high quality. It's a bit intimidating, but definitely makes you want to bake.

Some of the recipes that I most want to try include Pistachio and Rosewater Semolina Cake, Neapolitan Pound Cake, and Passion Fruit Cheesecakes with Spiced Pineapple.

This book is sure to make any baker happy, and has something for everyone. It's a bit intimidating when you first look at it, but the steps are well explained and often are less complicated than the gorgeous looking pastries make it seem.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.