Sunday, November 18, 2012

Hot Chocolate Mini Donuts or Why Can't I Stop Baking with this Cookbook?

Hot Chocolate Mini Donut
from Mini Donuts by Jessica Segarra

I've already baked ten recipes out of this cookbook and I can't seem to put it away. Every time I pick it up to put it in my bookcase, I flip through it and find another recipe or two that I want to try. I have one mini donut pan that I use to bake these donuts. Two pans would be nice but I'm getting by with one. I don't know how many pans that Jessica Segarra from the Novice Chef Blog has, but I think it's safe to say that it's more than one.

A Guest Post from Author Cynthia Kallile of "The Meatloaf Bakery Cookbook"


The Meatloaf Bakery Cookbook: Comfort Food with a Twist
by Cynthia Kallile
F+W Media

Meatloaf.

I can't think of a more perfect comfort food than meatloaf served with mashed potatoes and green beans. That's my favorite combination with extra ketchup for slathering over the meatloaf.

And, now there's a cookbook dedicated to that comfort icon, The Meatloaf Bakery Cookbook: Comfort Food with a Twist by Cynthia Kallile. Cynthia owns the Meatloaf Bakery in Chicago that is serving up meatloaf in every imaginable way possible. In the cookbook, Cynthia shares recipes from meatloaf classics and meatloaves with a twist to meatless loaves and seasonal specialities. You'll also find various recipes for mashed potatoes (what would a meat loaf be without those?) and the crowning touch, the "sassy sauces".  

If you're a fan of meatloaf, you'll love the creative ways that Cynthia cooks meatloaf from baking in muffin tins to grilling in the from of a "loafer" kabob. Fall is the perfect season to change up your cooking routine and try a new way to cook and old family favorite, the meatloaf.

I'm excited to present the following guest post by the author herself, Cynthia Kallile. For more information on the The Meatloaf Bakery, visit the web site at www.themeatloafbakery.com. You can check out a sneak peek of the book here at: http://www.themeatloafbakery.com/cookbook/.

Cynthia Kallile, Chief Meatloaf Maker, Owner – The Meatloaf Bakery, author of The MeatloafBakery Cookbook: Comfort Food with a Twist (F+W Media, November 2012)

Every time someone new walks into The Meatloaf Bakery, I’m asked, “How did you ever come
up with this idea?” And every time, I look around, chuckle a bit and say just about the same
thing. My mother was a wonderful cook, and she always made meatloaf (as well as countless
other delicious meals).


She loved to cook and entertain, and definitely knew how to please people with her culinary
talents. To me, going to Bischoff’s (our local grocery store), or the Lebanese markets in my
hometown, Toledo, Ohio, was a treat, not a chore.


Growing up, both my sister and I helped my mom in the kitchen. We picked, peeled, mixed,
tossed, and of course washed dishes. Because she was such an exceptional cook with high
standards, we had to do it “just right!” (I’ve highlighted many of these experiences and tips in
the cookbook.)


Fortunately, I inherited that same love for cooking and everything that it entails. So after 25
plus years as a hobby cook, I took the plunge in 2008, and created a business around meatloaf.
Quirky? Indeed! Delicious? You bet!


But back to the original question. Why meatloaf, and why do they look like cupcakes, pies, and
cakes? The recipe possibilities are endless; meatloaf is a favorite comfort food, and everyone
loves a good cupcake.


So I married the two, and created many variations on this theme, using all types of meats,
poultry, fish, vegetables, herbs, and spices. Each of my savory meatloaf cupcakes is topped with
a complementary side dish.


One of my favorites is Loaf-A-Roma®, which is crowned with angel hair pasta swirled in fresh
marinara. And of course, we have The Mother Loaf®, the cornerstone of our meatloaf buffet, in
honor of my mom and where it all began!


Now I’m excited to share my inspiration and recipes with everyone through The Meatloaf
Bakery Cookbook: Comfort Food with a Twist
(F+W Media, November 2012)


#MeatloafBakeryBook

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

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Mini Cake Doughnuts from "Real Snacks"

Real-Snacks-Lara-Ferroni
by Lara Ferroni
Sasquatch Books

If you're like me, you love to bake from scratch. And, even though I do bake a lot of desserts, I still find myself buying snacks, too. My younger son loves nothing more than snacking on a Little Debbie cake. But, I love the idea of being able to prepare any snack or dessert that I want from scratch right here in my very own kitchen. I've found the perfect cookbook for that, Real Snacks by Lara Ferroni. 

Blackberry Chicken

Blackberry Chicken

I've really enjoyed the cookbook, Too Hot in the Kitchen by Holly Clegg. There are so many recipes that I want to try. All of the recipes can be pulled together rather quickly so they're perfect for weeknight cooking.  The cookbook is filled with over 200 recipes and I'm planning to cook my way through most of then. I can't wait!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

"Bake it in a Cupcake": The Review

Bake It in a Cupcake: 50 Treats with a Surprise Inside

Bake it in a Cupcake
by Megan Seling
Andrews McMeel Publishing

The first thing that Megan Seling ever baked in a cupcake was a creme egg. From that point on, she was hooked on baking sweet treats inside of cupcakes. She loved the idea so much that she started a highly successful blog, bakeitinacake.com. And, the blog lead to this cookbook, Bake it in a Cupcake. Then, the cookbook lead me to open my mind to the endless possibilities of filling cupcakes with sweet surprises.

Cook it Forward: "My Year in Meals" by Rachael Ray


My Year in Meals
My Year in Meals
by Rachael Ray
Atria Books

Rachael's Ray latest cookbook is My Year in Meals. The cookbook is written in the form of a diary with a recipe for each day of the year. Recipes cover every course including appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, sides, and desserts.

Friday, November 2, 2012

"The Brown Betty Cookbook": Review, Recipe, Giveaway

The Brown Betty Cookbook
by Linda Hinton Brown and Norrinda Brown Hayat
Wiley & Sons

I've always emphasized the importance that food and family play in my life, how my family and childhood memories influence my cooking. The Brown Betty Cookbook: Modern Vintage Desserts and Stories from Philadelphia's Best Bakery by Linda Hinton Brown and Norrinda Brown Hayat, a mother and daughter duo and owners of the Brown Betty Dessert Boutique in Philadelphia, PA, give new meaning to family-inspired recipes.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

"Cooking with Trader Joe's Cookbook: Easy Lunch Boxes": Review and Recipe


Cooking with Trader Joe's Cookbook: Easy Lunch Boxes
Cooking with Trader Joe's Cookbook: Easy Lunch Boxes
by Kelly Lester
Brown Bag Publishers

Until recently, I had never been to a Trader Joe's. Unfortunately, we don't have one in my area. But, on a recent trip to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, I insisted that we visit the store. I wanted to know what it was all above. After all, there are cookbooks dedicated to the store so it must be something special. Trader Joe's was quite the store filled with unique prepared foods and groceries. My husband was just as intrigued as I was and threw a few things into the basket himself. I bought a cinnamon and sugar grinder that I've grown quite fond of and wish I would have bought in bulk.