Cooking Recent Picks
July 2009
The title-underlined links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.
Great British Pub Food by Gordon Ramsay and Mark Sargeant
“In his outstanding new cookbook, Gordon Ramsay teams up with Mark Sargeant to showcase the best of British cooking. Packed full of sumptuous and hearty traditional recipes, Gordon Ramsay's Great British Pub Food is perfect for relaxed, homely and comforting cooking. Pubs were once a place where you could always guarantee good, simple, cheap food and a great Sunday roast, but when the steak houses and fast food chains arrived the good home cooking from the pub kitchens was replaced with tasteless, defrosted meals. Then came the gastropubs, which weren't much better, serving mediocre food at restaurant prices. That's why when Gordon Ramsay and Mark Sargeant set up the Gordon Ramsay pubs in London they wanted to produce the sort of simple but delicious British classics that warm the cockles of your heart and to serve them at affordable pub prices. Dishes like rich, hearty Chicken and Smoked Bacon Pie, mouth-watering Gloucestershire Sausages with Grainy Mustard Mash and Red Onion Marmalade and indulgent Treacle Tart - classics that have stood the test of time. Now Gordon has gathered his favourite British recipes into one sumptuous collection so you can invite your friends round, serve some good, English ale and cook the best in traditional pub food classics in your own home.” (Amazon)
One Perfect Ingredient by Marcus Wareing
“Learn how to make amazing dishes from everyday ingredients with celebrity chef, Marcus Wareing. Marcus Wareing guides you through 150 recipes to make tasty, enticing, imaginative food from basic ingredients that can be found in any kitchen. Transform a beef joint into barbecued Rib Eye with Port Wine Shallots or a Pot-Roasted Silverside following simple step-by-step recipes. Take a good helping of cheddar and make Cheese Straws, Ham and Pickle Pasties or a mouth-watering Frittata with Spinach; or turn a humble banana into Baked Pudding, a luxurious Caramel Bavarois or Caramelised Bananas. With recipes for creating whole meals or just a satisfying snack. One Perfect Ingredient……is one ideal cookbook.” (Global Books)
The Cookbook by Michael Mina
“Mina knows that cooks like to master one recipe but then try different flavors with the main ingredient. MICHAEL MINA reveals how to recreate his trio concept, where a master recipe is followed by three flavor variations, each with its own variations and accompanied by side dishes created just for that version. A crispy loin of pork can be served with an orange/carrot, apple/sage, or tomato/corn combination of accompaniments. Although the flavor combinations create a sense of complexity, the recipes themselves are simple.
Accompanying the trios are Mina's classic and most-requested recipes from his acclaimed restaurants, including Whole Fried Chicken with Truffled Macaroni and Cheese, and Root Beer Float with Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies. This book is a must-have for any cook with an adventurous palate.” (Amazon)
The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook : Budget-Friendly Meals Your Whole Family Will Love by Devin Alexander
" In The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook, New York Times best-selling author Devin Alexander shows families that eating on a budget can be easy, nutritious—and delicious! With more than 125 recipes that will satisfy every member of the family, Chef Alexander provides complete, affordable options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with mix-and-match side dishes, healthy snacks, and desserts. From Broccoli & Cheddar Frittatas to Steak Fajita Quesadillas, Family Sized Meatball Parmesan to Peanut Butter Fudge Sundaes, these wholesome, satisfying dishes will become an essential part of every family cook’s repertoire. In addition to an overview of the Biggest Loser eating plan and Chef Alexander’s recipes, readers will find helpful cooking and cost-saving tips from favorite Biggest Loser contestants and online club members. They will also find simple ways to get kids involved in the kitchen and fun ideas for family mealtimes. Designed to make healthy eating accessible for everyone, The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook will help pad wallets—not waistlines.” (Amazon)
I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia melucci
“From failure to fusilli, this deliciously hilarious read tells the story of Melucci's fizzled romances and the mouthwatering recipes she used to seduce her men, smooth over the lumps, and console herself when the relationships flamed out.”
“A scrumptious, hilarious, and poignant memoir about sauce gone right and love gone wrong…The recipes are amazing, as is Giulia’s razor-sharp ability to put romance in perspective.” (Global Books)
Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights: Guilt-Free Eating With Abandon by Sophie Dahl
“This book is broken down into four sections - Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer, further divided into Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and each section starts with a few pages of Ms. Dahl's lovely stories, starting as a youth in the US and UK, cooking with her mom and grandmother, along through her days modeling, and learning to find balance and harmony in her diet, up until present day. Peppered throughout are Ms. Dahl's sweet line drawings.” (Amazon)
Beets, Leaves And Limes : Great Salads And Sides by Fiona Smith
“An irresistible collection of simply delicious recipes for salads, salsas, dips and more – perfect for everyday eating and entertaining.” (Book Jacket)
Seasonal Italian Favourites by Stefano Manfred
“Following the success of his first book Seasonal, restaurateur, Herald columnist, author and chef Steve Manfredi returns with a collection of the best modern and classic Italian meals. There are delicious recipes for perfect roast potatoes, calamari with braised spinach and chilli, homemade pasta and sugar plum crumble. Four seasonal chapters include recipes for starters, mains and desserts. Each spread has three recipes, a history of the ingredient as well as serving suggestions.” (Amazon)
Chef School by Joanna Farrow
“Chef School" takes you through all the culinary processes you need to be a great cook, teaching you everything from the fundamental to the flamboyant. Whether you want to brush up on your existing skills or learn entirely new techniques, the clear instructions and step-by-step photography ensure that you'll soon find preparing lobster as easy as skinning a tomato. With over 250 skills and techniques covered, you'll be able to transform your food from ordinary to restaurant-quality and become a masterchef!” (Amazon)
The Birthday Cake Book : 75 Recipes For Candle-Worthy Creations by Dede Wilson
“Dede Wilson's latest book has something for everyone special in your life. Her delicious recipes and meticulous instructions will entice even the novice baker. This is the perfect book to help create a memorable birthday treat, whether the recipient is turning one or 101 "--Elisa Strauss, author of The Confetti Cakes Cookbook and Confetti Cakes for Kids." (Global Books)
Indian Food Made Easy by Anjum Anand
“Anjum Anand presents 70 mouthwatering Indian recipes, using fresh, local and seasonal produce with all ingredients readily available in supermarkets. Throughout the book there are tips and techniques as well as expert secrets from top Indian chefs.” (Global Books)
Marlborough Wine : Stories From New Zealand's Premier Wine Region / photographs by Frank Gasteiger
Wild Sourdough : The Natural Way to Bake by Yoke Mardewi
The Clatter Of Forks And Spoons by Richard Corrigan with Sheila Keating
The $ Smart Cook by The Australian Women’s Weekly
Cupcakes : Luscious Bakeshop Favorites From Your Home Kitchen by Shelly Kaldunski
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