Cookbook Review: The Balthazar Cookbook by Keith McNally, Riad Nasr & Lee Hanson

May 25, 2011 – 10:29 am

My rating: 4 stars

Balthazar is my favourite restaurant in NYC and I had to buy the cookbook on my last visit (also available online).

Tags Balthazar, Balthazar cookbook, Balthazar cookbook review, braised short ribs, Keith McNally | Category *4 Star Books The Balthazar Cookbook by Keith McNally The Balthazar Cookbook by Keith McNally Uncategorized | Permalink | Comment (1)

Cookbook Review: Making Whoopies: The Official Whoopie Pie Book

March 14, 2011 – 12:40 pm

My rating: 2 1/2 stars for the book 4 stars for the actual pie!

I’ve heard lots of noise about Whoopie pies. Hey they were even on The View and have been billed as the next big thing since cupcakes by the NY Times. So what are these “pies”? Well, they aren’t the tarts that Americans traditionally label as “pies”. Rather they are muffin tops sandwiched together by some kind of nuclear white cream.

Tags baking, banana choc-chip whoopie pie, cookbook, Making Whoopies: The Official Whoopie Pie Book, Nancy Griffin, recipe review, whoopie pie, whoopie pie review | Category *2 1/2 Star Books Making Whoopies: The Official Whoopie Pie Book Making Whoopies: The Official Whoopie Pie Book Making Whoopies: The Official Whoopie Pie Book Uncategorized | Permalink | Comments Off

Cookbook Review: Paula Deen’s Kitchen Classics by Paula Deen

March 9, 2011 – 2:07 pm

My rating 3 1/2 stars

I have just fallen in love with beef short ribs.

I had some at the La Brasserie in Melbourne and inhaled the melt in the mouth fatty beef like oxygen. So now, along with my chocolate cake search, I’m trying to find the perfect short ribs recipe. First stop is the American South. Lets check out the Queen of Savannah – Paula Deen.

I love Paula Deen, she has silver fluffy hair and says y’all, y’all. She is also hilarious and down to earth – she whipped out chicken fillet bra fillers on The View! How can you not love this woman!

Tags American cooking, asado, barbeque short ribs, braised short ribs, cookbook review, Paula Deen, Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics, short ribs | Category *3 1/2 Star Books Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics by Paula Deen Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics by Paula Deen Uncategorized | Permalink | Comments Off

Cookbook Review: Nigella Kitchen by Nigella Lawson

February 27, 2011 – 6:21 pm

My rating 4 stars

by Cookie McBookie

Nigella is the perfect foodie – crumbs fall off her lips and ricochet off her massive bossoms back into her plummy mouth.

Tags baking, chocolate, chocolate recipe, cookbook, cookbook review, Kitchen, Nigella, recipe, Sweet Salty Crunch Nut bars | Category *4 Star Books *British Nigella Kitchen by Nigella Lawson Nigella Kitchen by Nigella Lawson Uncategorized | Permalink | Comments (5)

Cookbook Review: The Barefoot Contessa – Best Chocolate Cake Ever?

February 8, 2011 – 11:25 pm

Review: The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

My rating: 4 stars

Fark I lurve Ina Garten. (Yes I speak English).

She is the human version of Martha Stewart. I “HEART” INA. Ahhh Ina.

Tags baking, Barefoot Contessa, best chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, Chocolate cake, cooking, Ina Garten, old fashioned chocolate cake, recipe | Category *4 Star Books The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten Uncategorized | Permalink | Comments (12)

Cookbook Review Vintage: The Margaret Fulton Cookbook 1968 (reprint 1977)

January 29, 2011 – 9:37 pm

Dear Margaret Fulton – I’M NOT WORTHY!!! I’M NOT WORTHY!!

I have failed you oh great sage, Yoda lookalike with a splash of ET. Stab me with a carving knife oh great one!

Tags 1970s cookbook, baking, cookbook review vintage cookbooks, cooking, lactose free, Margaret Fulton, Margaret Fulton Cookbook, non-dairy dessert, recipe, Swiss Roll | Category The Margaret Fulton Cookbook 1968 (reprint 1977) The Margaret Fulton Cookbook 1968 (reprint 1977) Uncategorized | Permalink | Comments (7)

Cookbook Review Vintage: What Was Your First Cookbook?

January 24, 2011 – 2:17 pm

What was your first cookbook?

Mine was: The Good Housekeeping Step-by-Step CookBook (1977, special imprint 1984) edited by Gill Edden.

My rating: 4 1/2 stars

Any child (to later develop a weight problem) would have to stop and caress the cover of The Good Housekeeping Step-by-Step Cookbook…..My mum bought this for me from a discount bookstore – the kind Greg Evans did commercials for in the 80s. Its one of the best cookbooks I’ve ever owned and produced the best baked cheesecake I’ve ever tasted (see below).