Wednesday, April 30, 2008

BEING SOMETHING OF AN OBSESSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO COOKBOOKS HERE ARE BRIEF COMMENTS ON SOME OF MY RECENT ACQUSITIONS IN THIS FIELD
WINTER FOOD
Jill Norman – Kyle Cathie – NZ$24.95

This book was originally around the $55 mark but overstocks by the publisher mean that one can now find it around in bookshops at less than half price. And at that price it is a real bargain.
Over the weekend I made the “Bean, pumpkin & sausage casserole” and it was a huge success. Delicious and quite spicy. I used choritzo sausage and spices included smoked paprika, ground mace and ground allspice. Warmly recommend this recipe and this book. And last night I used her recipe for “Tuna steaks with a balsamic glaze and that went down a treat as well.

During my Penguin Books days Jill Norman was Penguin’s cookery books editor and when meeting her on my trips to London I recall her great enthusiasm for that wonderful stable of authors she looked after, including of course the great Elizabeth David. Later Jill went on to become a publisher and an author in her own right and is Elizabeth David’s literary trustee.

TREE TO TABLE
Cooking with Australian Olive Oil
Patrice Newell – Lantern - $65

Hats off to Lantern (an imprint of Penguin Books Australia) for their ongoing commitment to publishing beautifully designed hardcover books. Everything I have seen of theirs has been a treasure.
This new, most handsome of hardback books, filled with wonderful colour photos by Simon Griffiths, is by organic farmer and olive grower Patrice Newell. She and her partner Phillip Adams, both former journalists, farm in NSW and produce biodynamic olive oil and beef.
In the first part of the book the author teaches us how to identify good oil, how to identify and avoid rancidity, and introduces us to the basics: marinades, dressings, infusions and much more.
The second part of the book is largely given over to recipes with 20 of Australia’s best known chefs and cooks contributing their favourites.
Warning – pick this sumptuous, earthy book up and you will not be able to leave the bookshop without buying it!

THE HANDMADE LOAF
Contemporary European Recipes for the Home Baker
Dan Lepard – Mitchell Beazley - $40

Dan Lepard is one of Britain’s leading, and most talked about bakers. Check him out on http://www.danlepard.com/
This totally mouth-watering book is a collection of stories and photographs that capture the bread and home bakers of Europe. Lepard wrote the book and took the superb photographs (you can almost smell the hot bread).
I have always fancied trying my hand at bread making but have never quite got around to actually doing it, perhaps this book might prove to be the inspiration.


EVERYDAY HEALTHY FOOD
Over 100 recipes from Healthy Food magazine
Healthy Foods Media Ltd., - $19.90

This book is a bargain. Over 100 recipes, all illustrated in full colour, all delicious, simple and made with easily available ingredients. All have been tried and tested by the team at Healthy Food magazine and given their seal of approval. From starters to mains and through to desserts they are all here in this easy to follow cookbook. Great housewarming gift.

And in May I have a birthday, here are the two cookbooks I am hoping someone might give me, otherwise I’ll be off to one of my favourite independent bookshops to buy them myself:
AT MY FRENCH TABLE Jane Webster, Penguin $65 and
THE RIVER COTTAGE FISH BOOK , Hugh Fernley-Whittingsall & Nick Fisher, Bloomsbury $99

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