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

102,500 thoughts on “Cookbook Review Day”

  9. Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring on other sites?

    I have a blog centered on the same information you discuss and would love to have you
    share some stories/information. I know my visitors would
    value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.

  11. Hey There. I found your weblog the use of msn. This is a really neatly written article.
    I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thank you for the post.
    I’ll certainly comeback.

  15. Planowanie uk?adów elektrycznych w budynkach mieszkalnych jest dzia?aniem który wymaga dok?adnej analizy wymaga? instalacyjnych i zachowania
    standardów bezpiecze?stwa. Podstawowym elementem procesu projektowania by? ochrona
    bezpiecze?stwa u?ytkowników i wydajno?ci instalacji.

    Na pocz?tku nale?y przeprowadzi? rzeteln? ocen? wymaga? technicznych oraz zdefiniowa?
    parametry eksploatacyjne i odpowiednie metody zabezpiecze? przed pora?eniem pr?dem.
    Nast?pnie jest sporz?dzeniu pe?nej specyfikacji systemu, w której zawarte s? plany uk?adu kabli i opis
    u?ytych materia?ów.

    Istotnym aspektem planowania jest wybór trwa?ych urz?dze?, które powinny zgadza?
    si? z aktualne standardy. Warto podkre?li?, ?eby ka?dy element ma
    wp?yw na bezpiecze?stwo systemu. Ponadto
    konieczne jest utrzymanie ?atwej modernizacji i elastyczno?ci systemu w przysz?o?ci.

    Reasumuj?c, regu?y tworzenia systemów elektrycznych s? oparte na starannym planowaniu i realizacji aktualnych standardów.
    Przemy?lane realizacja projektu umo?liwia bezpieczne funkcjonowanie instalacji oraz ogranicza niebezpiecze?stwa
    u?ytkowania. Dlatego te? ka?dy projekt musi by? zgodny z obowi?zuj?cymi normami,
    które umo?liwia efektywno?ci i optymalnego wykorzystania
    energii.

  28. Hello there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading through
    your posts. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects?

    Appreciate it!

  29. I’ll immediately snatch your rss as I can not to find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.
    Do you have any? Kindly allow me recognize in order that
    I may subscribe. Thanks.

  30. The Injury Recovery Center has been a lifesaver for my back pain!
    I can’t believe the difference a chiropractor makes at the Injury Recovery Center!
    Looking for a chiropractor near me led me to the amazing team at Injury Recovery Center Lakewood spine care

  44. Excellent insights on the significance of top quality repairs! It’s critical to locate a respected auto body shop that utilizes high-quality products. For anybody searching for dependable solution, visit tesla body shop !

  45. Hey t?ere! I know this ?s s?mewhat off topic ?ut ? was wondering if you ?new where I c?uld locate a captcha plugin f?r my comm?nt form?
    I’m using the same blog platform as ?ou?s and I’m having pr?blems finding ?ne?
    Thanks a ?ot!

    Al?o visit m? blog: Jackpot bet

Leave a Reply

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