Sunday, June 24, 2012

Still Enjoying the "Savory Sweet Life"

If you haven't bought your very own copy of Alice Currah's Savory Sweet Life, I think you should. It is an excellent cookbook. Every time I look through it, I find more and more recipes that I want to try. When I finally got the opportunity to do some baking this weekend, I pulled out this cookbook and found two recipes to try. So far, I've only tried the sweet side of Currah's life, but the savory side has got to be good, too.

Monday, June 18, 2012

King Arthur Flour Project: Basic Whole Grain Cookies

Basic Whole Grain Cookies

I'm trying to cover all of my bases with this whole grain baking project that I've been doing using products from King Arthur Flour. I thought that baking cookies using whole grains such as white whole wheat flour and oatmeal would be a good starting point. These cookies could have been made with or without chips, but I just had to add some milk chocolate chips to mine.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Bread from "Savory Sweet Life" by Alice Currah

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
from Savory Sweet Life

Earlier this week, I received my copy of Savory Sweet Life by Alice Currah. I ordered it from Amazon after checking out the "look inside" feature. It was an impressive sneak peek and an even more impressive cookbook.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Cookbook Review: "Baking with Kids"

by Camilla Perez and Lisa Flodin
Skyhorse Publishing


Are you trying to teach your children to bake? And, do you not only want them to bake but want them to bake with whole grains? Then, this may be the cookbook for you.

Friday, June 15, 2012

BBQ Sauce and "An Irresistible History of Southern Food"

Pork ribs with South Carolina/Georgia Golden-Style Mustard Sauce

I know that I've mentioned it before in the past, but I'll say it again. I'm Southern. I'm from Georgia and that's how I cook and eat - like a Southerner. I know what I like, but never questioned my culinary history. In Rick McDaniel's An Irresistible History of Southern Food, I learned where I came from and why.

"Hazan Family Favorites": Recipe and Review

Hazan Family Favorites
by Giuliano Hazan
Stewart, Tabori and Chang

By the time I got home from work one day, my husband had opened the mail and found a copy of Giuliano Hazan's Hazan Family Favorites. He was already eyeing the cover with its platter of Tagliata with Garlic and Parsley. Of course, he would naturally be drawn to the thinly sliced rib-eye steaks, cooked rare and piled high. It's the man in him.

Cookbook Review: "Grace's Sweet Life"

by Grace Massa Langlois
Ulysses Press

Are you a fan of rich and luscious Italian desserts? Would you love to be able to recreate those desserts in your very own home? If the answers are yes, then you may be ready for a taste of Grace's Sweet Life, written by Grace Massa Langlois and published by Ulysses Press.

Grace's Sweet Life is a user-friendly cookbook filled with beautiful and tempting full-color photos of classic Italian desserts. I say it's user-friendly because Langlois has exhausted every effort to write the most detailed instructions to assure that your desserts turn out perfectly. You will feel like she is right beside you in the kitchen giving you a gentle nudge in the right direction.

And, with so many recipes to choose from, I'm sure you'll be able to find one that appeals to you and is on your skill level. As you can see, Langlois starts with the basics - creams and pastry doughs - and takes you through a selection of desserts that range from rich and creamy to light and fruity.  
  • Basics - Pastry Cream, Chantilly Cream, Meringue, and Sweet Pastry Doughs
  • Cakes and Cheesecakes - Orange Cake, Puff Pastry Cake with Dark and White Chocolate Pastry Cream, Chiffon Cake with Orange Chantilly Cream and Orange Cream, and Tiramisu
  • Mini Desserts - Mini Chocolate and Vanilla Bavarian Cakes and Mini Lemon Mousse Cakes with Limoncello-Lemon Jelly
  • Cookies and Confections - Italian Waffle Cookies, Italian Peach Cookies, and Chocolate Salami
  • Pies and Tarts - Chocolate Truffle Tart with Chocolate Glaze and Tartlets with Pastry Cream and Mixed Berries
  • Pastries and Fried Desserts - Sicilian Cannoli, Italian Honey Balls, and Chocolate Eclairs with Pastry Cream
  • Creams, Custards, Mousses, and Souffles - Panna Cotta with Raspberry Jelly, Butterscotch Cream with Hazelnut Pralines, and Nutella Souffle
  • Frozen and Fruit Desserts - Assorted Sorbets (raspberry, lemon, and orange), Peaches in Red Wine, and Vanilla Poached Pears
This cookbook is a treat for your cookbook collection. Sometimes, you just have to invest in a speciality dessert cookbook, especially if you're a fan of Italian cuisine. These desserts will turn any ordinary occasion into a special one.

To learn more, visit Grace's Sweet Life.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided me with a copy of the cookbook, but the opinion expressed here is my own.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Recipes and Review: "Whatever Happened to Sunday Dinner?" by Lisa Caponigri


by Lisa Caponigri
Sterling Epicure Publishing

If you're stuck in a rut and trying to figure out a new and different menu to feed your family, you may be ready for Lisa Caponigri's Whatever Happened to Sunday Dinner?. The cookbook holds 52 menus, each menu contains an appetizer, main dish, side dish, and dessert course for a total of 250 recipes "that celebrate family."

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Desserts are Better with COOL WHIP Whipped Topping


Thank you COOL WHIP for sponsoring this post. Join us on Facebook for inspiration and recipes for everyday treats. What you add makes it. #coolwhipmoms
To me, warm weather means cool desserts. And, whenever I think of cool desserts, I always think of COOL WHIP Whipped Topping. Using COOL WHIP in my desserts turns ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary taste sensation.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

King Arthur Flour Project: French Herb Bread

French Herb Bread

For the next installment of the King Arthur Flour project, I chose this recipe for French Herb Bread. The herb in this recipe is herbs de Provence. And, I just happened to have a jar of the herbs sitting in my cabinet waiting to be used. 

Sunday, June 3, 2012

King Arthur Flour Project: Honey-Oatmeal Sandwich Bread


The third installment in my King Arthur Baking Project features this Honey-Oatmeal Sandwich Bread. I loved the idea of adding even more whole grains by choosing a recipe that included rolled oats. Oh, and the honey made this bread even more appealing.