Deprecated: Function WP_Dependencies->add_data() was called with an argument that is deprecated since version 6.9.0! IE conditional comments are ignored by all supported browsers. in /home1/tummytre/public_html/blog/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131

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.

397,615 thoughts on “Cookbook Review Day

  1. Hibernia Bar has the best Irish atmosphere in town! I love spending time there.
    I’m so happy to have discovered Hibernia Bar, my go-to Irish bar near me.
    If you’re looking for an Irish bar in New York, Hibernia Bar is the place to be Irish-themed bar New York

  2. Nicee blog here! Additionally your website a lot up very
    fast! What wweb host aare yyou the usage of? Can I get your associate hyperlink for your host?
    I want my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
    ??? ?????? (Latashia)

  3. Having read this I believed it was extremely enlightening.
    I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put
    this informative article together. I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting.
    But so what, it was still worth it!

  4. My brother recommended I might like this web site. He was entirely right.
    This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply
    how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  5. I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else experiencing issues with your website.
    It appears as though some of the written text on your
    content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and
    let me know if this is happening to them too? This may
    be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen previously.

    Cheers

  6. Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with
    hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work
    due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to stop hackers?

  7. ???? ????evidentlyconcerned with a thought that always occupied her: “Now you see if Iwere to be severe with her and to forbid it … goodness knows what theymight be up to on the sly ?(she meant that they would be kissing),

  8. I have learn some excellent stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking
    for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you put
    to make any such magnificent informative web site.

  9. Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while
    you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog website?
    The account helped me a applicable deal. I have been tiny bit acquainted of
    this your broadcast offered brilliant clear idea

  10. Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article!
    It’s the little changes that produce the biggest changes.

    Thanks a lot for sharing!

  11. Hey there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website with us so I
    came to check it out. I’m definitely loving
    the information. I’m bookmarking and will be
    tweeting this to my followers! Excellent blog and superb style
    and design.

    Also visit my site; Air dunnage bag

  12. Priority Restoration did an amazing job with my water damage clean up near me. Highly recommend their services!
    I had a fantastic experience with Priority Restoration Philadelphia Water Damage Clean Up Near Me

  13. ???? ????For a time I would feel Ibelonged still to a world of straightforward fact but the feelingwould not last long.Something would turn up to scare it away.

Comments are closed.