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

163,929 thoughts on “Cookbook Review Day”

  4. ???? ?????? 1x bet ?? ???????????,
    ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????????
    ? ??????? ????????????, ??? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????? ???????.

  11. Selamat datang di global30 Official, tempat terbaik untuk menikmati pengalaman permainan game slot yang seru dan menguntungkan. Dengan berbagai pilihan mesin slot
    yang menarik, global30 Official memberikan hiburan tanpa batas
    dengan konsep yang beragam, mulai dari klasik hingga video slot dengan hadiah menarik yang pastinya membuat ketagihan.
    Bergabung sekarang di global30 Official dan nikmati pengalaman bermain yang
    menyenangkan. Dapatkan kesempatan besar untuk menang di berbagai game slot dengan RTP tinggi, memberi Anda peluang lebih besar untuk
    mendapatkan jackpot. Semua game di global30 dijamin aman dengan proteksi data yang canggih,
    memastikan privasi dan transaksi Anda terlindungi dengan baik.

    Jangan lewatkan berbagai pilihan permainan slot terbaik di global30.
    Pilih game favorit Anda dan menangkan jackpot besar.
    [https://heylink.me/global30.com](https://heylink.me/global30.com)

  18. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your blog?
    Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people
    could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two pictures.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

  22. Can I simply say what a relief to find a person that genuinely knows what they’re talking about online.
    You actually understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important.

    More people really need to read this and understand this side of the story.
    It’s surprising you’re not more popular because you surely possess the gift.

  25. Spot on with this write-up, I seriously believe this site needs a great
    deal more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more,
    thanks for the info!

  27. Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog.
    Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I
    can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m
    not sure where to start. Do you have any points
    or suggestions? With thanks

  29. Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web
    site, how can i subscribe for a blog website?
    The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea

  30. It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of information. I’m happy that
    you just shared this useful information with us.
    Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  31. Undeniably imagine that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared
    to be on thee internet the simplest factor to
    remember of. I say too you, I certainly geet annoyd whilst other folkss think about worries that they plainly don’t realize about.

    You managed to hit the nail upon thhe highest annd defined out the whole
    thing without having side-effects , people could take a signal.
    Will likely bee back to get more. Thank you
    ??? ???

  40. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However
    I am going through problems with your RSS. I don’t understand why I am unable
    to subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting similar RSS issues?
    Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond?
    Thanx!!

  49. Looking ahead potentially increasing horizons gaining knowledge of untapped potentials unlocking unlimited options waiting for exploration fostering development amidst challenges encountered on a daily basis throughout the time of lives lived totally Dentist in Rock Hill

Leave a Reply

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