Cookbook Review Day

Today I want to talk about some new cookbooks that I recently received.  I have become very particular about the cookbooks that grace my shelves these days, and that is for one reason really, room.  My coobook shelves are literally bursting, I have filled all the shelf space and have now started stacking them on top of the shelves. So when I really want a new cookbook, I really need to think about it and think about whether or not it is worthy of my precious space. I decided that both of these books today are worthy of my space, and I actually got rid of one little used book to make room.

This first one is simply one of the most beautiful cookbooks I have ever seen.  Spain And The World Table is a compilation of Spanish recipes from the most highly respected Spanish chefs. From the Culinary Institute of America, this book takes recipes created by such greats as Jose Andres and Norman Van Aken and presents them in a way which they can be recreated by the home cook.  Martha Rose Shulman, whose work I am very familiar with, provides the writing and commentary all throughout the book.  Yet it’s not just a cookbook. This is also a reference book.  Anything you ever wanted to know about Spanish cuisine is in this book.  After a recipe Mission Figs stuffed with blue cheese is a reference page full of details about Spanish cheeses, after a recipe for Consomme with Saffron, we get a tutorial on saffron and when and where we should use it- and is it worth its hefty price tag?  There are bits about the different regions of Spain, and I have to say, there is a lot of information in this book, but it’s presented in such an accessible way.  The book itself is beautiful enough- with a picture for almost every single recipe, that if I had a coffee table, this would be on it.

The caveat is that I haven’t cooked out of it yet, so I can’t attest to the nature of the specific recipes. However, reading through several of them that caught my eye, they don’t seem particularly difficult or too avant garde to give them a whirl in my home kitchen.  Every once in a while a recipe will mention a lengthy reduction or there is one recipe specifically that uses a foam- where did I put that foam-making device anyway?  But overall, they really seem geared toward the home cook, and give us an opportunity to try at home the dishes that the world is talking about.  Spanish cuisine is hot right now- but there are so few cookbooks devoted to the cuisine that this is a very welcome addition to my world parade of cookbooks.  With recipes like Hazelnut Passion Fruit Ice Cream, Lamb and Roasted Pepper Ragout, Sea Scallops with Green Raisin Salsa, and Mango, Scotch Bonnet, and Sesame Mojo, this is a book I could read through several times over and not get bored with it.  I can’t wait to give some of these recipes a whirl.

The second book I wanted to mention today is more fun and less intensive than the Spanish tome, but an equally wonderful addition to my cookbook collection.  Grilled Pizzas and Piadianas brings the art of grilled pizza back home where it belongs.  It wasn’t that long ago that Andy and I figured out just how to make a grilled pizza in the first place.  A careful ballet of flipping crust and adding toppings at just the right time elevates pizza to a whole new level.  This book shows us exactly what we could be doing to make it easier, as well as gives us a virtual parade of pizza topping ideas.  As an example, The New Orlean pizza has blackened crawfish, Andouille sausage, fontina cheese, and a spicy apricot sauce as it’s toppings.  I would have never thought of those toppings for pizza- but now that I’ve seen it, it sounds and looks amazing. The Moroccan pizza is topped with curried chicken, roasted garlic and kalamata olives, The Millenium is topped with ground lamb, feta and cucumber!  There are dozens of new pizza ideas here, and every turn of the page gives me a new mouth-watering picture, and the desire to make pizza!

Then there’s the piadinas. What exactly is a piadina? Well, it’s like a flatbread sandwich.  It’s sort of like making a pizza dough and then rolling it around toppings like a wrap, and apparently, they are very popular in Italy. These also look amazing!  Piadina Firenze is stuffed with grilled eggplant and peppers, and is one I’ll be trying when the eggplant comes up in the garden. There’s also a special chapter here for my husband, who is always wanting to make a dessert on the grill.  We have an Apple Tart- a pizza crust topped with cinnamon glazed apples and almonds, a Grilled Banana Split, and something called The S’more, a pizza topped with chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows!  There are also tips on throwing the ultimate grilled pizza party as well as suggestions for beverages that accompany some of the pizzas.  I have to say, as much as I love this book, this would have made a fantastic Father’s Day gift for Andy, since he’s always wanting to make grilled pizzas.  We’ll be taking this book for a spin this weekend if the weather cooperates.

Uncategorized - by Erika

117,800 thoughts on “Cookbook Review Day”

  5. at web, except I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading thes pleasant posts.|Fantastic post. I will also be handling some of these problems.|Hello, I think this is a great blog. I happened onto it;) I have bookmarked it and will check it out again. The best way to change is via wealth and independence. May you prosper and never stop mentoring others.|I was overjoyed to find this website. I must express my gratitude for your time because this was an amazing read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I’ve bookmarked your blog so I can check out fresh content in the future.|Hi there! If I shared your blog with my Facebook group, would that be okay? I believe there are a lot of people who would truly value your article.|????? ????. ??????? ?? ??? ???|

  6. ????????? ?????777 — ??? ?????????????? ??????-????????? , ??????? ????? ????? ????????????? ????????????? ??????????? ??? ???????? ??????????? . ?????? ?????? ?????? ? ???????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????????. ? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????????? ?????777 ??????? .

    ??? ????? ??????? ?????777 ?
    ?????????????? ?????? ?????777 — ??? ?????? ?????? ?????????, ??????? ???????????? ????????????? ???????????? ??????? ???? ? ?????? ?????. ??????? ??????? ????? ????????? , ????? ?????????? ????????????? ?????? ??? ???? ???????????.

    ???? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????777?
    ???????? ????????? ??????? ????????? ?????777 ????? ?????? . ????? ??? ??????? ????????????? ???????????? ????????? ?????? :

    ??????????? ???? ?????777 . ? ??????????? ??????? ???????????? ????????? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ? ??????? ???????? .

    ?????? ????????? ?????777 ? ???????????? . ? ??? ????????? ????????? ???????? ????????? .

    ??????????? ????????? ?????? ?????777 . ?? ?????? ?????????? ? ??????-???, ????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ??????? .

    ?????? ????? ???????????? ??????? ?????777 ?
    ???????? ????????????? ? ??????????????? ????? ?????777 ???? ????????? ?????? :

    ?????????? ??????????? ? ????? ???? ? ?????? ??????????? .

    ??? ??????? ???????? ??????? .

    ???????????? ?????? ?????????? .

    ???????? ??????? ? ?????? .

    ?????
    ?????777 ??????? — ??? ?????? ?????????? ??? ??????? ???????????? , ??????? ????? ???????? ? ??????? ?????????? . ??????????? ????? ?????? , ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ? ?????? ??????.

  9. I’ve been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and
    bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.

  19. Normally I do not read article on blogs, however I wish to say
    that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at and do it!
    Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, quite nice article.

  21. When some one searches for his essential thing, therefore he/she wants to be
    available that in detail, thus that thing is maintained over here.

  33. It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the long run and
    it’s time to be happy. I have learn this put up and if I may I wish to counsel you few interesting issues or advice.
    Perhaps you could write subsequent articles relating to this article.
    I want to read more things about it!

  34. It’s amazing how porcelain veneers can boost confidence by improving one’s smile. I’ve seen before and after photos that are truly inspiring! What should I consider before getting them? Any advice would be appreciated Emergency Dentist

  37. Hi there, I found your blog by means of Google at the same time as looking
    for a similar matter, your site got here up, it seems to be great.
    I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

    Hi there, simply was aware of your blog via Google, and located that it is truly informative.

    I am going to be careful for brussels. I’ll be grateful in case
    you proceed this in future. Numerous folks can be benefited from your writing.
    Cheers!

  40. Appreciating the hard work you put into your website and detailed information you provide.
    It’s good to come across a blog every once
    in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Excellent
    read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  42. Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask.
    Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa?
    My blog discusses a lot of the same topics as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other.
    If you happen to be interested feel free to shoot me
    an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by
    the way!

  43. I have been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet I
    never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me.

    In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be
    much more useful than ever before.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *