Cookbooks Galore + Win a Cookbook!

As you know, I love a cookbook and here I review a few more that I have recently received.  Don't forget to read to the bottom - there's a giveaway of one of these cookbooks to be had!

The Food Lovers Guide to Europe

by Cara Frost-Sharratt

From the publisher:An informative guide to the tastiest destinations in Europe, The Food-Lover's Guide to Europe blends practical travel information with hand-picked selections of the finest culinary treats that Europe has to offer. Appealing to both food obsessed travellers and travel obsessed foodies, The Food-Lover's Guide to Europe presents an outline of the cuisines of 25 European countries, before focusing in on their most exciting gourmet destinations. Picking out local specialties, the most highly-rated farmers' markets, and a selection of the best restaurants for all budgets, The Food-Lover's Guide to Europe showcases national dishes and regional delights, with recipes to try when you get back home.The Food-Lover's Guide to Europe presents a range of things to do in each destination, from food festivals and events to foodie sights and attractions there are a host of delicious new discoveries to be made, from San Sebastian to Salzburg and from Cornwall to Croatia.

 

Strictly speaking, The Food Lovers Guide is not cookbook, it is what it says it is - a guide.  Covering 25 European countries this is an outline guide to the specialties and local produce of the region, things you should not miss, the markets and shops and of course where to eat.  The guide also features one or two local recipes for each country.

The places covered in the guide weren't places that would immediately spring to mind for me and I liked that it gave me different ideas for trips.  I quite fancy the Seville Tapas Walking Tour in Andalucia or fancy going Truffle Hunting in Tuscany? I do!   There is of course a section for the UK, reminding me that we have great events here like the Ludlow Food Festival and the Arbroath Sea Fest. I sometimes forget what great local produce we knock up in this country!

The guide is perfect for people who like to travel and who like food!

The Food Lover’s Guide to Europe is published by New Holland Publishers, price £14.99.
Enter the discount code athome to get 25% discount plus free P&P
when ordering the book through our website.
(Offer valid until 30^th September 2011 to UK residents.
Discount cannot be used in conjunction with other offers!)

 

Special Cupcakes 

by Wendy Sweetser

From the publisher: Cupcakes are little treasures, mini cakes that bring joy to adults and children alike. The passion for cupcakes shows no sign of diminishing as people seek out more sophisticated designs and fantastic flavours. Cupcakes have moved on from being just a treat for children and it is not unusual to see wedding cupcakes and boxes of cupcakes sent as gifts whether to celebrate a new baby or as a Mother's Day gift. This gorgeous new book contains over 50 recipes for exciting, new and special cupcakes. There are cupcakes for festive celebrations such as Christmas, parties, Valentine's Day, Weddings and Baby Showers as well as recipes for cupcakes using interesting ingredients and unusual flavours. There is also a chapter on not-so-guilty treats such as carrot, orange and cinnamon cupcakes and beetroot and bitter chocolate cupcakes. 

I know, I know, yet another book on cupcakes. I must admit I own more than most I should imagine! This delightful book from food writer Wendy Sweetser has some interesting cupcake ideas.  The book starts off with an introduction to the equipment and basics of cupcake-making, including a basic recipe and some hints and tips before launching into the recipes.

With 50 recipes in the book there is something for everyone, from ideas for kids cupcakes to elegant tastes like pistachio, rosewater & grenadine or lavender & lemon.  There are some more extravagant options like tiramisu & mascarpone or chocca-mocca & peppermint or you could try one of the more interesting suggestions of gooseberry struesel or sweet potato & orange.

The recipes are clear and concise and the photography is good, with a large, clear picture of each cake so you at least have some small idea of what it should look like when you're done!  My personal favourites that are going on my "to try" list are the rocky road, festive spice with brandy cream, pina colada and peach melba.

Yes, it's another cupcake book but it's a good one with some interesting new ideas.

Special Cupcakes is published by New Holland Publishers, price £12.99.
Enter the discount code athome to get 25% discount plus free P&P
when ordering the book through our website.
(Offer valid until 30^th September 2011 to UK residents.
Discount cannot be used in conjunction with other offers!)

 

 One More Slice
by Leila Lindholm

From the publisher: Following on from the huge success of her book A Piece of Cake, Leila has now brought together another fabulous collection of delicious recipes. The focus in this book is on wood fired pizza, pasta, bread, pancakes and waffles, as well as sweet desserts like ice cream, cheesecake and sweet pies. Although there is an Italian feel to many of the recipes, Leila has taken inspiration from all over, from American apple pie to French pastries to Belgian waffles. Filled with over 150 delicious recipes and over 200 beautiful photographs, One More Slice will inspire and delight.

This is the second book from the Swedish TV chef Leila Lindholm, you can read my review of the first book here.  Like her first book, this is an extremely well-presented, good quality book with great lifestyle photography.

The book is divided into the following sections: Pizza Amore, Say Cheesecake, Pancakes & Waffles, Ciao Tortano, Brownies & Blondies, I Scream Ice Cream, Boulangerie, American Pie and Pasta Pronto.

Similar to the first book, Leila takes a basic idea and gives you several variations to work with. For instance there is a recipe for New York cheesecake followed by seven different adaptations or five variations on classic waffles. I like this idea as it means once you've got something nailed, you should be able to work it into something different quite easily.

There are a few things I might like to try from the book, however the ice cream bombe with raspberry meringue definitely stands out to me!

One More Slice is published by New Holland Publishers, price £19.99.
Enter the discount code athome to get 25% discount plus free P&P
when ordering the book through our website.
(Offer valid until 30^th September 2011 to UK residents.
Discount cannot be used in conjunction with other offers!)

And now here is your chance to win. I have a brand new copy of "One More Slice" by Leila Lindholm to giveaway to one lucky reader! If you would like to win this book, all you need to do is leave a comment below telling me what your favourite flavour of cupcake is.

Please can you also send a quick email to me at athomewithmrsm@btinternet.com so that I am able to contact the winner.  After the giveaway has ended, your email address will be deleted and will not be used for any other purpose.  The giveaway is one entry per person and is open to UK residents only, sorry!

The giveaway will close on Friday 10th June 2011 at 5.00pm and the winner will be chose at random (using the Random Number Generator).

Good luck, and thank you to New Holland Publishers for sending me the books to review.

love & kisses
Mrs M x