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

121,509 thoughts on “Cookbook Review Day”

  6. Hi just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly.
    I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers
    and both show the same outcome.

    Here is my website: site

  9. What i don’t realize is actually how you are not really
    a lot more well-appreciated than you might be right now.
    You are so intelligent. You understand thus considerably when it comes
    to this topic, made me for my part consider it from a
    lot of varied angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be involved except it’s something to do with Girl gaga!
    Your individual stuffs excellent. Always take care of it up!

  10. I think this is one of the most important info for me.
    And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The site style is ideal, the articles is
    really great : D. Good job, cheers

  12. Hello, Neat post. There is a problem together with your website in web explorer,
    may check this? IE still is the market leader and a huge portion of people will omit your great writing due to this
    problem.

  13. Xnxx
    Good way of telling, and nice paragraph to get facts concerning my
    presentation subject matter, which i am going to deliver
    in university.

  14. Great post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I’m inspired!
    Very useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much.
    I was looking for this certain information for a very lengthy time.
    Thank you and good luck.

  29. you are in reality a good webmaster. The website
    loading speed is amazing. It kind of feels that you are
    doing any distinctive trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork.
    you’ve done a excellent activity on this matter!

  30. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could
    add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
    I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe
    you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and
    I look forward to your new updates.

    Here is my blog: site

  36. You’re so interesting! I do not think I’ve read something
    like that before. So good to find someone with genuine thoughts on this subject matter.

    Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something
    that is needed on the web, someone with some originality!

  37. I really love your site.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you make this amazing site yourself?
    Please reply back as I’m attempting to create my very own blog and would love to know where you got this from or just
    what the theme is called. Cheers!

  39. To konieczne, aby mie? rozeznanie w bie??cych kodeksie podatkowym i preferencjach podatkowych.

    Wielu osób ignoruje nieoczywiste przewidziane ulgi ze wzgl?du na to, ?e nie maj? poj?cia przys?uguj?cych ulgach ksi?gowo??

  40. To konieczne, aby mie? rozeznanie w bie??cych kodeksie podatkowym i preferencjach podatkowych.

    Wielu osób ignoruje nieoczywiste przewidziane ulgi ze wzgl?du na to, ?e nie maj? poj?cia przys?uguj?cych ulgach ksi?gowo??

  44. Porn
    It’s amazing to visit this web page and reading the views of all colleagues concerning
    this post, while I am also keen of getting familiarity.

Leave a Reply

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