May Cookbook Picks with a Garden Focus |
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Written by foodie pam
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Friday, 13 May 2011 |
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 The general theme for this month's cookbook picks is vegetables and vegetable gardens. The idea was spurred not only by the planting of my home garden, but also by my eagerness to soon celebrate summer's bounty in my own kitchen. And if these books inspire you to plant something new in your garden this year, all the better! (I also tossed in a few other selections just to spice things up just a tad.) Read on for this month's picks from recently published cookbooks, each accompanied by featured recipes to try.
Fresh from the Garden: Food to Share with Family and Friends by Sarah Raven (Universe, 2011) This is Sarah Raven's latest from-garden-to-table cookbook. The book is arranged by season and packed with plenty of recipes to make the most of seasonal produce. The author's previous book, "In Season", remains on my most-used bookshelf, with many spattered and well-worn pages to show for it. I suspect "Fresh from the Garden" will reside right next to it, and endure it's own workout in the coming months.Recipes to try: 3 viewable recipes from "Fresh from the Garden: Food to Share with Family and Friends". The One-Block Feast: An Adventure in Food from Yard to Table by Margo True (Ten Speed Press, 2011) If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, chances are you have visited Sunset magazine's headquarters and experienced firsthand their commitment to eating locally. Within the sprawling campus that personifies the best of West, Sunset maintains an idyllic garden that produces vegetables throughout the year. "The One-Block Feast" explains how this pint-sized farm came to be; shares how-to details for those interested in creating their own little patch of paradise; and features a goodly number of user-friendly recipes for your garden's bounty. Characteristically, Sunset leaves no stone unturned and ventures far beyond gardening with information on related tasks like raising chickens, beekeeping and cheese-making. In essence, this is an all-in-one dream book for any do-it-yourselfer, gardener, or locavore. Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "The One-Block Feast: An Adventure in Food from Yard to Table". Fresh & Fast Vegetarian by Marie Simmons (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011) If the name sounds familiar, it's because Marie Simmons is a veteran cookbook author and James Beard award-winner for "The Good Egg". "Fresh & Fast" features streamlined recipes for mouth-watering vegetarian meals that showcase the freshest ingredients. It must be added here that "flair" is another major component of these recipes. No trite vegetarian staples here; instead, Marie explores exciting international flavors while managing to keep each recipe simple. Simply delicious, that is. Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "Fresh & Fast Vegetarian". Tart and Sweet: 101 Canning and Pickling Recipes for the Modern Kitchen by Kelly Geary, Jessie Knadler (Rodale Books, 2011) While summer may seem like prime time for canning, those who have been bitten by the canning bug 'put-up' all year round. And that's exactly what Kelly and Jessie do in this book filled with canning recipes for every season. These are not your grandma's plain-Jane recipes, though. These are exciting diversions like Pickled Fiddleheads for spring and Peach-Lavender jam for the summer. In addition to providing innovative recipes, the authors deliver practical applications. For example, they explain that Peach-Lavender Jam is "perfect for baking and makes a delicious filling for layer cakes"—and then offer a brown sugar cake recipe to do just that. The range of recipes in "Tart & Sweet" makes it a source of inspiration for experienced canners, while the descriptive primer and conundrum sections provide a solid guide for those just starting out.Recipes to try: 4 viewable recipes from "Tart and Sweet: 101 Canning and Pickling Recipes for the Modern Kitchen". Homemade: Irresistible Homemade Recipes for Every Occasion by Clodagh McKenna (Kyle Cathie, 2011) If you're looking for unique recipes to serve at brunches, lunches, picnics, dinner parties and other special occasions, you should definitely take a look at this book. But even if you're just looking to up your game for family meals, there is plenty here to tweak your appetite. The recurring theme throughout is homemade, relatively simple, and tasty. The recipes run the gamut from spicy pita chips with homemade dips, to classic mains like a luscious lasagna, and decadent desserts, including make-at-home candies.Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "Homemade: Irresistible Homemade Recipes for Every Occasion". A Spoonful of Ginger: Irrestistible, Health-Giving Recipes from Asian Kitchens by Nina Simonds (Knopf, 2011) Here's another familiar name, but in this case perhaps it's because this is the paperback edition of a book published in 1999. It's a new title to me though; and I found the healthful focus of the recipes intriguing. To be completely honest, when I want a 'healthful' meal I nearly always cook from one of my Asian cookbooks—even though I have plenty of Western 'healthy focus' cookbooks on hand. "A Spoonful of Ginger" promotes the healthful aspects of Asian cuisine while providing recipes filled with flavor. You'll learn some health-related Asian folklore, enjoy some fabulous meals, and perhaps even enjoy a shot of 'healthy' at the same time.Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "A Spoonful of Ginger". The Scandinavian Kitchen by Camilla Plum (Kyle Cathie, 2011) Looking for something new? Scandinavian cuisine keeps popping up lately—perhaps it's a heritage thing, or, more likely, it's just because the food tastes so good! This is a collection of Scandinavian recipes that will feed your curiosity as well as your family. Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "The Scandinavian Kitchen".
Disclosure: Review copies of books discussed in this post may have been provided to Project Foodie by publicists and/or publishers.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 May 2011 )
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Admit it, we're all addicted to cookbooks… |
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Written by foodie pam
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Monday, 09 May 2011 |
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Ok, my turn. Hi, my name is Pam and I love cookbooks. No, the truth is I'm addicted to cookbooks. And I'm willing to bet that if you're reading this you probably are too.  Just one of my many cookbook stashes For me, it all started innocently enough. I moved out of my parents house, got an apartment and my mom bought me my first cookbook-"The Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook" (Yeah, that's it, we'll blame this all on mom!). It had the recipes I grew up on. But since I was on my own I wanted to try *new* recipes. I subscribed to a magazine. The next year I subscribed to more and by the time I got married my husband and I were eagerly trying new recipes all the time. Life was good. We'd get a few magazines a month, pick out recipes to try and cook them. Over time the magazine pile grew, the recipes to try grew and we couldn't possibly cook them all. I'm not one for chaos. That's why I started Project Foodie - I kept losing track of the recipes in all those magazines.
For a short time life was good again. Chaos was limited. Then one day, a package arrived by UPS. I hesitantly opened this unexpected package finding a cookbook. I honestly don't remember which one; but I am sure that when that book arrived I owned less than 10 cookbooks. I was a cookbook novice. I'd heard stories of people who owned hundreds of cookbooks, but couldn't imagine why. Until I sat down and read the cookbook. That was the day my addiction started. Today, my cookbook collection spans several rooms. I've lost count how many I have. I frequently enter a room and 'find' some cookbooks in a corner. And lest you think I'm the only addict in my house my husband has his own piles of cookbooks. Chaos again entered my life. But not in the way you might think. This time my problem was finding new cookbooks to feed my addiction. Search the web for cookbook reviews and book sellers pop-up. Sure you'll find some reviews but, I at least, find it difficult to find lots of reviews in one place. That was the seed for CookBookKarma. Finding cookbooks. Then one day while browsing tastespotting, or was it foodgawker, I'm not sure which, it hit me. Wouldn't it be cool if we could get a visual on the cookbook reviews? BINGO - cookbook reviews + fabulous food photos; CookBookKarma was born. And life is good again. CookBookKarma feeds my cookbook lovin' soul. If you love cookbooks check it and I bet it will feed yours as well… Disclosure: Samples of products discussed in this post may have been provided to Project Foodie by publicists and/or manufacturers.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 June 2011 )
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A Few of My Favorite Nominated Cookbooks |
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Written by foodie pam
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Monday, 25 April 2011 |
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 Each year the James Beard Society and the International Association of Culinary Professional (IACP) nominate cookbooks for their annual awards. And each year, Project Foodie assembles a guide, with recipes to try from each group's nominated books (here and here). In years past, we've made our own picks as to which books we think should win; sometimes we've selected the same books as the organizations, but just as often our picks differed. No surprise - which cookbooks one likes is highly subjective.
This year, rather than list our favorite for any specific category or award, we've simply selected some of our favorite books from all the cookbooks nominated by either the James Beard Society or the IACP. These are the books we have on our bookshelves or in our kitchens; ones that we frequently cook from, reference, and enjoy. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do… Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Everything I've made from Dorie's latest book has not only tasted wonderful, but came out exactly like Dorie said it would. She is a true master cookbook author so it should be no surprise how well she has captivated me with this book on French cuisine. General Cookbooks
Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge by Grace Young, (Simon & Schuster). I view this as my mid-week-quick-dinner meets healthy-eating cookbook. Not that stir-frying is always healthy, but many of the recipes in this book are. I also like that many are not the standard stir-fry you've seen a hundred times before, but unique variations that keep me coming back to try even more.Radically Simple by Rozanne Gold, (Rodale Books, 2010). Talk about simplifying recipes, Rozanne Gold has it cornered. She was a minimalist before it became one of the hot new trends, and in her latest book she provides a modern twist to simplicity that will have you reaching for her book time and time again.Ham by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, (Steward Tabori & Chang, 2010). These guys are simply amazing. If you haven't read a Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough book you absolutely must. You will laugh, you will cry and you will enjoy every minute of it. Oh, and in this particular book you'll also get some amazing recipes for ham, while learning exactly what ham is.Baking Cookbooks
I'm amazed that only one baking book can be selected as a winner each year. If it were up to me I'd have several categories devoted to baking…. In the make-it-a-bit healthier-while-still-getting-your-sugar-fix category is Good to the Grain by Kim Boyce and Amy Scattergood, (Stewart, Tabori & Chang). Kim presents baked goods using grains other than white flour, and she does it with such grace that after the first few pages of recipes you're hooked into trying them. In the international baking category is My Sweet Mexico by Fany Gerson, (Ten Speed Press, 2010). If you are familiar with Mexican desserts then you will find these authentic recipes a treasure for reproducing the flavors you already know. And if you've never had Mexican desserts then you absolutely have to check out this book, as Fany will teach you all about Mexican desserts while you bake some amazing dishes. In the amazingly good category is Sarabeth's Bakery by Sarabeth Levine, (Rizzoli, 2010). Sarabeth Levine's twitter handle is goddessobakedom; and after baking from her book you'll not only understand why she's the goddess o' bakedom, but you'll also be sharing the treasures you've made from her book with everyone you know. And Just Plain Fun
And lastly, I also have to point out The Frankies Spuntino Kitchen Companion & Cooking Manual by Frank Castronovo, Frank Falcinelli, and Peter Meehan, (Artisan, 2010). While I haven't cooked from this book yet, the voice in the Frankies is a mix between honest, comic and chef that makes it an interesting read and has earned a place on my shelf with several recipes selected to try.
Disclosure: Review copies of books discussed in this post may have been provided to Project Foodie by publicists and/or publishers.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 May 2011 )
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What's Cooking, April 2011 |
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Written by foodie pam
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Thursday, 07 April 2011 |
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 This month's cookbook picks are really some of my favorites yet this year. Of course with topics like grilled cheese, luscious Italian food, and even more cheese it's easy to see why. But not everything is comfort food, we've also picked an interesting tale on raising your own chickens, with recipes for both chicken and eggs. And lastly, to balance things out we've picked some lean (but lovely) recipes for healthy living. Read on for details on our picks from recently published cookbooks, each accompanied by recipes to try.
And for those of you looking for even more recipes we've included a gallery of the most recent cooking magazine recipes available. Grilled Cheese, Please! 50 Scrumptiously Cheesy Recipes by Laura Werlin (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2011) This little gem is packed with elegant comfort food in the form of sandwiches—grilled cheese sandwiches to be precise. While you'll find the standard grilled cheese sandwich variations you'd expect in a book on grilled cheese, you'll also find some great interesting variations to explore the finer nuances of the art that is grilled cheese… Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "Grilled Cheese, Please!: 50 Scrumptiously Cheesy Recipes". Chicken and Egg: A Memoir of Suburban Homesteading with 125 Recipes by Janice Cole (Chronicle Books, 2011) What happens when you decide to raise your own chickens? Janice Cole shares her experiences in the memoir that is also packed with great recipes to enjoy the fruits of your labors—eggs and, yes, chicken too. Whether or not you ever intend on raising your own chickens, Janice's adventures are likely to get you thinking more about what you eat. Plus, after a year of chickens she's come up with some great recipes to share. Recipes to try: 5 viewable recipes from "Chicken and Egg: A Memoir of Suburban Homesteading with 125 Recipes". Pretty Delicious: Lean and Lovely Recipes for a Healthy, Happy New You by Candice Kumai (Rodale Books, 2011) Candice Kumai is a former model turned chef, yes I know, but wait don't roll your eyes. Consider this from one of her helpful lists of tips "Stay away from the middle of the grocery store". Think about it, that's where all the processed, high calorie, and in many cases cost ineffective food is, whereas the periphery of grocery stores has fresh fruit, meat and the bakery. While I hadn't thought about it, Candice is completly right - stay away from the middle and you'll be at least one (if not many more) steps closer to staying slim. Combine those great tips with thoughtful recipes that don't skip on either flavor or your favorites (like eggs, pasta and cheese) and Candice has a winning combination.Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "Pretty Delicious: Lean and Lovely Recipes for a Healthy, Happy New You". Williams-Sonoma Cheese by Georgeanne Brennan (Weldon Owen Inc., 2011) I was pretty sure I'd like this book-- cheese, Georgeanne Brennan and Williams-Sonoma. What's not to like? The recipes range from appetizers to desserts and use a wide range of cheese selections. Looking for simple cheese ideas? The first chapter is devoted to the cheese course. This book may be for you if you like cooking with cheese and want some more great recipes. Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "Williams-Sonoma Cheese". Italian Cooking at Home with The Culinary Institute of America by The Culinary Institute of America, Gianni Scappin, Alberto Vanoli and Steven Kolpan (Wiley, 2011) While you may think of the Culinary Institute of America as a place to get professional Chef training, they've also been using their talents to help home cooks with the "At Home" series of books. The latest focuses on Italian cooking with recipes from several regions covering the entire range of meals from snacks to desserts. Whether you're simply looking for a few great pasta recipes or if you want to learn more about making focaccia and risotto this CIA book provides recipes to get you cooking Italian at home. Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "Italian Cooking at Home with The Culinary Institute of America". Latest Cooking Magazines
Disclosure: Review copies of books discussed in this post may have been provided to Project Foodie by publicists and/or publishers.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 May 2011 )
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IACP 2011 Cookbook Award Finalists: Nomination Guide |
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Written by foodie pam
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Monday, 07 March 2011 |
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Update - the winners have been announced...  Our favorite season is here—Cookbook Award Season!
The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) 2011 cookbook award finalists have been announced. The awards are broken into seventeen categories each listing three finalists. To help you figure out which books you might enjoy we've assembled the third annual Project Foodie guide to the IACP cookbook award finalists (Interested in prior years? Check them out: 2010 and 2009). Our IACP Cookbook Awards Guide provides information about the nominees including links to reviews on the books and, for your cooking (and eating) pleasure, recipes to try from the books. We'll continue to updated the guide from now until the IACP awards ceremony on Thursday, June 2nd. The updates will include more recipes to try, more reviews and a few surprises. And, of course, the winners after they are announced! Now, sit back and check out the Project Foodie guide to the IACP nominations. Project Foodie IACP 2011 Cookbook Nominations Guide
American | Baking: Savory or Sweet | Chefs and Restaurants | Children, Youth and Family | Compilations | Culinary History | First Book: The Julia Child Award | Food Matters | Food Photography and Styling | Food and Beverage Reference/Technical | General | Health and Special Diet | International | Literary Food Writing | Professional Kitchens | Single Subject | Wine, Beer or Spirits American Baking: Savory or Sweet Chefs and Restaurants Children, Youth and Family First Book: The Julia Child Award General Health and Special Diet International Single Subject Food Matters Food Photography and Styling | WINNER
Noma: Time and Place in Nordic Cuisine by Rene Redzepi, photography by Ditte Isager, (Phaidon Press). Reviews: The Kitchn | The Gaurdian | Saveur | Boston Globe | Houston Chronicle | eater | | Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan, photograpy by Alan Richardson, stylist Karen Tack (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Reviews: New York Journal of Books | SF Gate | New York Times Magazine | Utah Daily Herald | Project Foodie Recipes to try: 6 viewable recipes from "Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes From My Home to Yours". | | Flying Pans Two Chefs, One World by Bernard Guillas, Ron Oliver, photography by Gregory Bertolini, stylists Cindy Epstein, Bernard Guillas, Ron Oliver (Cabin Fever Press). Reviews: Food Channel | SD Jewish World | SD Entertainer Recipes to try: 2 viewable recipes from "Flying Pans:Two Chefs, One World". | Compilations Culinary History Food and Beverage Reference/Technical Literary Food Writing Professional Kitchens Wine, Beer or Spirits Did we miss a review? If you have links to more reviews on these books let us know (
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) and we'll add them to the list. Disclosure: Review copies of books discussed in this post may have been provided to Project Foodie by publicists and/or publishers.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 June 2011 )
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