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Category: Cooking, Food, Wine

Review: Gudrun’s Kitchen

[ 1 ] February 3, 2012
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Reviewed by Jenna Arthur

What do home cooks look for in a cookbook? Delicious food, easy to follow recipes and crowd pleasers of course! Gudrun’s Kitchen is one part cookbook – full of delicious recipes of soups, stews, candies and puddings – and another an exploration of a family’s story and culture through food. The family history part of the book starts off with a woman named Gudrun, whose home was always filled with love, laughter and children.

Gudrun’s children pulled a collection of their mother’s recipes, handed down through generations, for this outstanding cookbook. Each recipe offers a Norwegian flavor that will leave Norwegians and Americans alike with a warm belly and a taste of home. The recipes are easy to follow and never leave you guessing on where to go next.

The main dish recipes range from a succulent fried chicken to a more spicy and tongue tantalizing curry with rice and lentils. Sweet dishes do not disappoint either. Try the applesauce cake – it is delicious! I have always loved ethnic food, and this beautifully bound cookbook did not disappoint. I give the authors four out of five stars on taste, story, and presentation. Join Gudrun in her kitchen every night and leave your family with a happy belly and a taste of home!

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Jenna lives in the bustling city of Pittsburgh, PA with her fiance and her two beautiful cats. Along with her passion for reading and the literary world, she is also an artist, writer, environmental activist, creative coordinator and aspiring culinary genius. She believes there is nothing better to her then a good book, and lives one cover to the next.

Review copies were provided free of any obligation by Wisconsin Historical Society Press. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Your Time to Bake by Robert Blakeslee

[ 4 ] January 30, 2012
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Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)

Reviewed by Jen Kulman

No exaggeration, Your Time to Bake by Robert Blakeslee is the perfect book for someone who is interested in learning to bake. Not only do you get to see photos of each finished product, but there are also columns of in-progress photos for each recipe. Exactly what a beginner needs to feel confident as they move along – visual proof they are on the right track. You know you found a great guide when page three is “How to Read the Recipes.” with a sample illustration page. Blakeslee is not taking any chances – Your Time to Bake is written with the assumption that the reader may be using the oven for sweater storage. I think that’s a fantastic approach!

The first three chapters are incredibly important for a person who is new to baking. It is here that basic ingredients are explained, and introductions to kitchen equipment are made. I love how there is an illustration for every single kitchen gadget, from oven mitt to pastry dough blender. This section also contains a thorough index of baking terms with easy, concise definitions. Possibly the most useful is the section that explains and illustrates commonly used techniques. You can actually see and compare the differences between whipping and folding, learn how to grease and flour a pan, trim a pie crust, and more.

As for the actual recipes, I think Blakeslee does a great job of offering a wide selection of baked goods. He includes the expected chapters on cookies, pies, breads, and cakes, but also devotes an entire chapter to cheesecakes and one to puff pastry. New York Strawberry Cheesecake looks super impressive, but the illustrated steps make it seem like a snap to throw together. Actually, all the dishes seem manageable thanks to his clear directions and step-by-step photos. Even treats that can be a bit involved, like Rugelach and Biscotti, seem very approachable. Your Time to Bake really does a fantastic job of making the kitchen accessible to every person, no matter how little baking experience they may have.

It is also worth mentioning that this is also a pretty humorous cookbook. I think the puns and wordplay are meant to help you remember that baking doesn’t have to be serious business. You can still make accurate measurements a priority, while ensuring that your time in the kitchen is enjoyable. During the introduction, Blakeslee mentions that his mother “was an absolutely amazing cook, but she couldn’t bake her way out of a paper bag.” This book can save you from that fate.

Blakeslee previously wrote Your Time to Cook (see our review), an equally useful guide for learning how to cook. Check out yourtimetocook.com for sample recipes from both books.

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Jen lives in Michigan with her husband and six year old son. She writes reviews of children’s books on her blog, FIRR-Kids and loves filling her own shelves with cookbooks.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Square One Publishers. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Ciao Italia Family Classics by Mary Ann Esposito

[ 12 ] January 14, 2012
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Reviewed by Colleen Turner

I am a huge fan of Italian cooking. There is just something about the sauces, cheeses and various pastas and vegetables that draws me in almost every time. This being so, I was so excited to review Ciao Italia Family Classics by Mary Ann Esposito. The pamphlet that came for review, however, only included three recipes and given its limited scope, was a disappointment.

First off, two of the three recipes included were incomplete. The recipe for Fudgy Chocolate Cake with Walnuts and Cream Sauce tells you to slowly add cream while never telling you how much cream you need. The recipe for Lasagne Bologna Style listed four ingredients, three of which are separate recipes that are supposed to be included somewhere in the completed book (homemade béchamel sauce, ragu sauce and spinach pasta) but were not included in the pamphlet. So, my review can actually be based only on the one complete recipe, Sicilian Meatballs in Sweet-and-Sour Sauce.

Now, I did find this recipe to be tasty although I was disappointed that it called for prepared tomato sauce instead of giving me a new recipe for a homemade one. The real difference between this recipe and any other one was the meatballs. This recipe called for veal and grated cheese which I found delicious. Using veal makes for a little pricier meatball than my typical hamburger/pork recipe but it gives a new twist when wanting to try something different. The recipe also calls for you to fry or bake the meatballs in the oven (I usually cook them right in the sauce) and I found that frying gave them a nice, crispy coating. I was not impressed with the sauce at all, which simply had you adding vinegar and sugar to any old tomato sauce you have in your cupboard. Being that these are supposed to be treasured recipes, this was a surprise.

The pamphlet has a number of illustrations of other recipes included in the final book that look absolutely delectable (a photo of what I assume is Eggplant Rollatini makes my mouth water) and I wish that whoever created the pamphlet would have taken better care when selecting the recipes to include and making sure the recipes provided were complete. Based on this one recipe I would not purchase this cookbook. However, seeing additional recipes might change my mind.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 

Colleen lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband, son, their dog Oliver and their fish Finn. When not working or taking care of her family she has her nose stuck in a book (and, let’s face it, often when she is working or taking care of her family as well). Nothing excites her more than discovering a new author to obsess over or a hidden jewel of a book to worship.

This book was provided free of any obligation by St. Martin’s Press. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Scandilicious by Signe Johansen

[ 2 ] January 3, 2012
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Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

Reviewed by Jen Kulman

What dishes come to mind when you think of Scandinavian food? I immediately think of meatballs, fish, and cookies. Signe Johansen’s mission with Scandilicious is to help us discover there is so much more than that. Her food is a marriage of traditional and modern dishes that are bursting with flavor. She has taken some of the traditional recipes that her Norwegian grandmother cooked, and adapted them to fit our modern lives.

The first thing I noticed with this cookbook were the beautiful photos. Just flipping through the book is an enjoyable experience. The vanilla-infused honey immediately stands out, with a photo so clear that you can see the tiny specks of vanilla bean clustered in the thick amber liquid. I think that would make a perfect hostess gift, unique with a handmade touch. Her recipe for Banana and Cinnamon Crispbread is equally eye catching – utterly simple with just a handful of ingredients, but the end result is so much more. What a lovely breakfast that would make, and so easy to throw together.

The biggest negative is that this book is printed for the United Kingdom, meaning all measurements are provided in the metric system, with no conversion amounts. I wish it weren’t true, but I simply lack the patience to convert recipes. In addition to that, a few of the ingredients are not well known, nor readily available here in the States, such as spelt flour, blueberry juice, Marmite and cardamom pods. I dislike making negative comments about such a lovely, unique cookbook, but those details make it difficult for me to even consider some of the dishes.

The recipes are organized in the order of the day: breakfast, brunch, lunch, etc. I love that she devoted an entire chapter to Afternoon Cake, which includes hot drinks, muffins, and cookies, as well as some terrific looking cakes. Blueberries are bursting off the Finnish Blueberry Tart and I believe the Hot Chocolate Shot would be the perfect treat on a winter afternoon. Her dinner selections are a bit off the beaten path, including a Swedish Anchovy and Potato Gratin, Pickled Herring, and Crayfish Soup. She also includes some more traditional dishes, like the expected Norwegian Meatballs and one heck of an amazing Macaroni and Cheese baked with five different cheeses.

If you are accustomed to using the metric system, or are based in the U.K., most definitely consider Scandilicious. This appears to be a wonderful cookbook, but not suited to me for the above reasons.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Jen lives in Michigan with her husband and six year old son. She writes reviews of children’s books on her blog, FIRR-Kids and loves filling her own shelves with cookbooks.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Hodder & Stoughton. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Cooking en Cocotte by Jose Marechal

[ 5 ] December 29, 2011
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Reviewed by Kathie Smith

Cooking en Cocotte is a cookbook dedicated to dishes prepared in individual-sized pots called mini cocottes. The book offers over 30 full recipes, simple variations of the more common recipes, and tips unique to this type of French cooking.

Each recipe includes preparation and cooking time, serving size, and measurements that are conveniently listed in both metric and US standard. The directions are clear and easy to follow and each recipe is accompanied by a full-color photo for visual guidance on preparation and plating.

Individual chapters include eggs, cheese, vegetables, pastas, desserts and several types of meats. A section is also devoted to preparation tips designed specifically for cooking in mini cocottes.

With a wide variety of both comfort foods and more sophisticated recipes, Cooking en Cocotte offers something to satisfy any palate. The compilation of recipes and information included in this cookbook make it a must-have for those interested in mini cocotte cooking.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Kathie is a writer, wife, mother and volunteer living in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Her passion for the written word is fulfilled by creating her own fictional work, freelancing, acting as an adviser to another author, and reading with her six year old daughter.

Review copies were provided free of any obligation by Simon & Schuster UK. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Recipes for Life by Linda Evans

[ 3 ] November 23, 2011
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Reviewed by Poppy Johnson

Recipes for Life, by Linda Evans (former star of The Big Valley and Dynasty) offers plenty of memories as well as the actresses’ favorite recipes.

Recipes for Life includes information about Evans’ life, her career and has color photos of her time as a famous actress. The book moves through each stage of her life and the food that is associated with that particular stage. When she talks about getting married to her husband in Mexico, for example, she follows up the story with photos and then adds recipes for her favorite Mexican food. She gives similar treatment to other events in her personal life and her divorces, always including foods that gave her comfort at every stage.

I liked Evans’ stories within a story, such as when she had an eye-opening experience with a coyote, and realized that what she thought she hated she could later begin to love and express true compassion for. I had read much about Evans’ life over the years in the media, but never knew about all of her milestones and successes.

The recipes she offered were tried and true family favorites. They were fun and interesting meals to try at any time, and most people will have the needed ingredients right in their pantry. I personally tried Evans’ Stand-Up Buttermilk Pancakes recipe. The ingredients made the pancakes taste delicious and I added fruit to make them my own.

Rating: 4/5

After a decade of working in several NYC law departments and teaching, Poppy decided she enjoyed writing full-time. She currently works as a freelance writing consultant, and lives with her husband and sons on the East Coast.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by FSB Associates. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese

[ 8 ] November 14, 2011
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Reviewed by Jen Kulman

A few years ago, Jennifer Reese wrote an article that analyzed the cost effectiveness of making six different pantry staples versus buying them. I loved that she tried her hand at making cream cheese and wrote an honest account, thereby saving me the trouble. I thought her comparison idea was a really great one, and so thrilled to find that she expounded on that idea and wrote an entire book devoted to the premise. Which foods should you cook from scratch, and which are you better off buying? Thanks to this exhaustive research project – we can make our own informed decisions with fewer headaches.

Frequently, I buy a convenience food or pantry staple, and think to myself “It would be so much cheaper and healthier if I would just make this at home.” Exactly how much cheaper would it really be and how much work and time will that entail? Reese lays out the answers so neatly. The header of each recipe addresses three important points. A make or buy it determination, the amount of hassle involved, and a cost comparison of the two. I love how you can tell with just a glance how each item stacks up. Definitely make your own caramel corn, guacamole, cornbread, lemonade, and whipped cream, as the improved taste is well worth your efforts and you’ll save money to boot. Try your hand at making your own onion rings, doughnuts, bacon, and eggnog if you are a person who enjoys a challenge and cleaning up the kitchen. Buy goat’s milk, duck prosciutto, pot stickers, and honey, as the hassle-ometer is off the charts.

The variety of foods she tries her hand at is staggering. Reese does some amazing things, such as buying live turkeys for roasting, keeping bees for honey, and buying a chunk of raw fish to make her own sashimi. Certainly her initial idea was interesting, but it is her follow-through, presentation and writing that elevates the book to fabulous! Some of the recipes contain a simple paragraph outlining her experiences, while the more involved (such as killing chickens or making your own hot dogs) take up a few pages. Several of the stories had me laughing out loud. Hands down, the funniest, most entertaining cookbook I own.

Reese made foods at home that I would never dream of replicating, but she also provides recipes that are definitely in my future. I adore her chapter on cheeses and will absolutely take a stab at making my own Marscapone, and possibly the Burrata. You will never convince me that a homemade pickle can touch a Claussen, but I believe in granola fresh from the oven and homemade apple pies are worth every peel. Even if you know in your heart you will never whip up your own mayonnaise or snatch a warm egg from a chicken, it sure is fun to read about another person’s wild kitchen experiments, particularly when the stories are told as humorously as these.

Read an interview with Jennifer Reese about writing Make the Bread, Buy the Butter, or check out her blog The Tipsy Baker, summarized as “One woman cooks through her collection of 1000 cookbooks and feeds the results to her family.”

Rating: 5/5

Jen lives in Michigan with her husband and six year old son. She writes reviews of children’s books on her blog, FIRR-Kids and loves filling her own shelves with cookbooks.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Get Red PR. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Maman’s Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan

[ 122 ] October 23, 2011
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Please join Donia Bijan, author of Maman’s Homesick Pie, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours!

Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova

As a child growing up in pre-revolution Iran, Donia Bijan did not realize that the lavish lifestyle of her parents and her progressive education at an international school were not necessarily the norm. Her father, Dr. Bijan, and her mother, a midwife and nurse trained in Europe, owned a labor and delivery hospital and threw elaborate parties in their spare time. Down the road, children not afforded the same luxuries attended prayers with their parents and studied the Koran, creating fertile ground for the coming religious revolution.

While on vacation in Spain in the 1970s, the Bijans got the word that Ayatollah Khomeini’s followers were rising up against the Shah and bombing establishments they believed to represent the evil Western influence. The Bijans’ home was seized and their assets frozen; they were now refugees unable to return to their homeland. With her older sisters already in college in the U.S., 16-year-old Donia is sent to a Michigan boarding school, and eventually the entire family tries to rebuild their lives in San Francisco.

Maman’s Homesick Pie is Donia’s chronicle of her life in Iran and the U.S., her studies at the Cordon Bleu in Paris and her work as a chef in San Francisco. In some ways, it is also an ode to her parents, whom she regretted leaving in Spain, and especially her mother, who had always inspired Donia with her cooking and her hospitality.

The memoir is peppered with Persian inspired recipes such as as the Purple Plum Skillet Tart and Roast Duck Legs with Dates. My personal favorite, and the only recipes I’ve had the chance to make so far, is the Saffron Yogurt Rice with Chicken and Eggplant – quite delicious!

Maman’s Homesick Pie is a joy to read – and cook from – and will especially appeal to readers who enjoy learning about historical events and foreign cultures. The hilarious descriptions of the differences between Persian and American definitions of hospitality alone make this book worth reading.

Rating: 4.5/5

Giveaway:
I have 3 copies of Maman’s Homesick Pie to give away!

Mandatory entry: Please comment here and include your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
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This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on November 10, 2011.

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Algonquin Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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