Picnic in Provence by Elizabeth Bard

Picnic in Provence
A Memoir with Recipes
by Elizabeth Bard
narrated by author

Published: 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Genre: Memoir, France, Recipes
Hardback: 384
Rating: 5
Goodreads | Website

First sentence(s):
I don't, as a rule, introduce myself to cows.

Ten years ago, New Yorker Elizabeth Bard followed a handsome Frenchman up a spiral staircase to a love nest in the heart of Paris. Now, with a baby on the way and the world's flakiest croissant around the corner, Elizabeth is sure she's found her "forever place." But life has other plans.

On a last romantic jaunt before the baby arrives, the couple take a trip to the tiny Provencal village of Céreste. A chance encounter leads them to the wartime home of a famous poet, a tale of a buried manuscript and a garden full of heirloom roses. Under the spell of the house and its unique history, in less time than it takes to flip a crepe, Elizabeth and Gwendal decide to move-lock, stock and Le Creuset-to the French countryside.

When the couple and their newborn son arrive in Provence, they discover a land of blue skies, lavender fields and peaches that taste like sunshine. Seduced by the local ingredients, they begin a new adventure as culinary entrepreneurs, starting their own artisanal ice cream shop and experimenting with flavors like saffron, sheep's milk yogurt and fruity olive oil.

Filled with enticing recipes for stuffed zucchini flowers, fig tart and honey & thyme ice cream, Picnic in Provence is the story of everything that happens after the happily ever after: an American learning the tricks of French motherhood, a family finding a new professional passion, and a cook's initiation into classic Provencal cuisine. With wit, humor and scoop of wild strawberry sorbet, Bard reminds us that life-in and out of the kitchen-is a rendez-vous with the unexpected.

My two-bits:

This story tells the tale of the transition of big city Paris to small town Provence living. Also, the trials and tribulations of starting a small business, ice cream.

Peek into the french culture and family essence are captured well.

Loved the food focus with its descriptions, bit of history and recipes.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Paris in July (here)

From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke

From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
by Tembi Locke

Published: 2019
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Memoir, Recipes, Sicily
Hardback: 352
Rating: 5
Goodreads
Website

First sentence(s):
In Sicily, every story begins with a marriage or a death.

It was love at first sight when Tembi met professional chef, Saro, on a street in Florence. There was just one problem: Saro’s traditional Sicilian family did not approve of him marrying a black American woman, an actress no less. However, the couple, heartbroken but undeterred, forges on. They build a happy life in Los Angeles, with fulfilling careers, deep friendships and the love of their lives: a baby girl they adopt at birth. Eventually, they reconcile with Saro’s family just as he faces a formidable cancer that will consume all their dreams.

From Scratch chronicles three summers Tembi spends in Sicily with her daughter, Zoela, as she begins to piece together a life without her husband in his tiny hometown hamlet of farmers. Where once Tembi was estranged from Saro’s family and his origins, now she finds solace and nourishment—literally and spiritually—at her mother in law’s table. In the Sicilian countryside, she discovers the healing gifts of simple fresh food, the embrace of a close knit community, and timeless traditions and wisdom that light a path forward. All along the way she reflects on her and Saro’s incredible romance—an indelible love story that leaps off the pages.

My two-bits:

Inspiring and comforting read with much love, laughter and food despite sadness.

Yummy recipes included.

PeekAbook: Sicilian Pesto recipe



~*~
* part of Reese's Book Club 2019 (here)

Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard

Lunch in Paris
A Love Story, with Recipes
by Elizabeth Bard
narrated by Ann Marie Lee

Find out more about this book and author:
Goodreads
Website
Instagram

Published: 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Genre: Memoir, Romance, Travel, France, Paris
Hardback: 336
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
I slept with my French husband halfway through our first date.

In Paris for a weekend visit, Elizabeth Bard sat down to lunch with a handsome Frenchman--and never went home again. Was it love at first sight? Or was it the way her knife slid effortlessly through her pave au poivre, the steak's pink juices puddling into the buttery pepper sauce?

Lunch In Paris is a memoir about a young American woman caught up in two passionate love affairs--one with her new beau, Gwendal, the other with French cuisine. Packing her bags for a new life in the world's most romantic city, Elizabeth is plunged into a world of bustling open-air markets, hipster bistros, and size 2 femmes fatales. She learns to gut her first fish (with a little help from Jane Austen), soothe pangs of homesickness (with the rise of a chocolate souffle) and develops a crush on her local butcher (who bears a striking resemblance to Matt Dillon). Elizabeth finds that the deeper she immerses herself in the world of French cuisine, the more Paris itself begins to translate. French culture, she discovers, is not unlike a well-ripened cheese-there may be a crusty exterior, until you cut through to the melting, piquant heart. Peppered with mouth-watering recipes for summer ratatouille, swordfish tartare and molten chocolate cakes, Lunch in Paris is a story of falling in love, redefining success and discovering what it truly means to be at home. In the delicious tradition of memoirs like A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun, this book is the perfect treat for anyone who has dreamed that lunch in Paris could change their life.

My two-bits:

I found this to be a delightful arm-chair travel read with an American female perspective of living in Paris.

Loved the food focus and recipes that are sprinkled nicely throughout the book.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Paris in July (here)

Comfort Food by Julia Chen

Comfort Food
by Julia Chen

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon | BookExcerpt

Just released: February 13, 2018
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Genre: Cookbook, Recipes
Paperback: 122
Rating: 4

There's nothing quite like Comfort Food to put a smile on your face and a feeling of contentment in your stomach.

Chef Julia Bettelheim is passionate about feeding people; from the students in her university kitchen to guests and family at home.

From recipes that are as simple as a sandwich to as technical as a fruit cake, she knows the importance of creating delicious meals that are full of flavour and which always have budget in mind.

Her recipes include easy to make classics and mouth-watering family favourites, using easy to find products that are fresh and economical.

Fun, fast, indulgent and nurturing, there's a time and a place for Comfort Food in every kitchen.

My two-bits:

As the title suggests, this cookbook is filled with comfort food recipes which were collected while the author lived in both Melbourne and London. There are recipes for soups, light and main meals, tray bakes and desserts. There is also a section with recipes specifically from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Not all recipes have pictures, but each starts out with a short personal note.

While standard Nana's Old Fashioned Casserole, Meat Loaf and Roast Vegetable Lasagne are listed, there were several unfamiliar dishes to my taste buds including Vegetable Cottage Pie, Victory Fish Pie and Parsnip and Maple Syrup Cake.

This is a book that brings about a hygge moment in the kitchen with hearty meals and plenty of sweet treats.

PeekAbook:

I tried the Chicken Stir Fry with Cashew Nuts without the red pepper which turned out yummy (recipe is here). This was an easy and quick fix.

~*~
* review copy courtesy of book tour

Happy Cozy

The covers for this set called to me with its cute whimsical look and unusual eye-catching word - hygge (pronounced hooga).

Hygge is the Scandinavian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment. Over recent years, hygge became a defining characteristic of Danish culture. -per Wikipedia

With that definition I decided to pick up a stack of books from the library to read up on what is hygge during this winter season. I will post impressions on this post along the way.

The Little Book of Hygge:
The Danish Way to Live Well
by Meik Wiking Amazon | Goodreads
My two bits:
Research related information with warm colorful illustrations give a good sense of hygge in this book. There are also interesting tips on how to incorporate hygge in your life. Candles is quick way to create a hygge aura.

The Little Book of Lykke:
The Danish Search for the World's Happiest People
by Meik Wiking Amazon | Goodreads
My two bits: coming...

Making Winter:
A Hygge-Inspired Guide to Surviving the Winter Months
by Emma Mitchell Amazon | Goodreads
My two bits:
This photo filled books includes winter related arts, crafts and recipes to get in that cozy mood. It includes step-by-step guides for a Crochet Lace Necklace and Fennel Cowl as well as recipes for Five-Minute Molten Chocolate Cake in a Mug and Blackberry and Almond Streusel Cake.

How to Hygge:
The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life
by Signe Johansen Amazon | Goodreads
My two bits: DNF

The Book of Hygge:
The Danish Art of Contentment, Comfort, and Connection
by Louisa Thomsen Brits Amazon | Goodreads
My two bits: This one gets into more examples of Danish living and lifestyle with some home related photos interspersed.

Excerpt: Comfort Food by Julia Chen

Comfort Food
by Julia Chen
-Food, Recipes
Release date: February 13, 2018
Amazon
There's nothing quite like Comfort Food to put a smile on your face and a feeling of contentment in your stomach.

Chef Julia Chen is passionate about feeding people; from the students in her university kitchen to guests and family at home.

From recipes that are as simple as a sandwich to as technical as a fruit cake, she knows the importance of creating delicious meals that are full of flavour and which always have budget in mind.

Her recipes include easy to make classics and mouth-watering family favourites, using easy to find products that are fresh and economical.

Fun, fast, indulgent and nurturing, there's a time and a place for Comfort Food in every kitchen.


Excerpt:

Chicken Stir Fry with Cashew Nuts
I got this idea simply from seeing an advert of children asking their father for a takeaway dinner. Instead the father cooks up a dish similar to this recipe but pretends it’s takeaway food by slamming the front door and presenting it in take away containers. The children are fooled, saying: “Thanks for the takeaways, Dad.” But he tells them, “Actually I cooked it myself.” This is simple, quick, delicious and cheap to make.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breast fillets
150g button mushrooms
150g young corn
100g sugar snap peas
1 red pepper
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
½ cup roasted cashews
Serves 4 to 6.

In a wok or a deep fry pan place about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Dice the chicken into small cubes or strips, thinly slice the mushrooms and also slice the pepper into thin strips. Heat the oil and add the chicken. Cook the chicken until it is a golden colour. Then add the mushrooms and the peppers. Add the sauces. Then stir in together until the mushrooms are cooked and the pepper is al dente. Then add the sugar snap peas and the corn and stir until they are warmed through but still retain their colour. Finally add the cashews just before serving.
Serve with steamed rice.


Caramel Cookies
I am a devil for punishment when it comes to caramel-flavoured things. So when I came across the idea of caramel-flavoured cookies I went weak at the knees. These cookies are just delicious and one is just not enough in a sitting.

Ingredients:

4oz butter
4oz sugar
1 dessertspoon golden syrup
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
8oz plain flour
½ cup sultanas or raisins
Pinch salt
½ teaspoon vanilla essence

Melt the butter over a low heat, with sugar, syrup and milk. Once butter has melted and sugar dissolved, add the soda. Do not boil but allow to fizz.
In a bowl place the flour, fruit, salt and vanilla, and add to cooled wet mixture.
Place in small teaspoonfuls on a tray on top of baking paper. Press lightly with a fork and bake in a moderate oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden.
Allow to cool on a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container.

About the author:

Growing up in Wellington, New Zealand, British born Julia Bettelheim enjoyed an early start in the catering industry and as a teenager took lessons from a private chef. Her family then moved to Melbourne, Australia where she lived for the next twenty-two years and worked as a tupperware sales representative travelling the city providing cookery demonstrations and sharing recipes that were suitable for storing. After her divorce in 2008, Julia moved back to England where she now lives in Chatham, Kent and works as a chef in the kitchen of the cafe at UCL in London.

~*~
* courtesy of book tour

Happy Release: Comfort Food by Julia Chen

Comfort Food
by Julia Chen
-Food, Recipes
Release date: February 13, 2018
Amazon
There's nothing quite like Comfort Food to put a smile on your face and a feeling of contentment in your stomach.

Chef Julia Chen is passionate about feeding people; from the students in her university kitchen to guests and family at home.

From recipes that are as simple as a sandwich to as technical as a fruit cake, she knows the importance of creating delicious meals that are full of flavour and which always have budget in mind.

Her recipes include easy to make classics and mouth-watering family favourites, using easy to find products that are fresh and economical.

Fun, fast, indulgent and nurturing, there's a time and a place for Comfort Food in every kitchen.

Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge

Jane of Austin:
A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility
by Hillary Manton Lodge
narrated by Kate Handford

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt | Website
Facebook | Instagram
Pinterest | Twitter

Just released: June 13, 2017
Publisher: WaterBrook
Genre: Romance, Jane Austen theme, Retelling, Recipes, California, Texas
Paperback: 320
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
San Francisco, CA 2009
"Well, girls," our father began, "it's been a good run. And I'm not saying it won't be again, but we're going to have to… economize."

“Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience - or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.”
― Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

Just a few years after their father’s business scandal shatters their lives, Jane and Celia Woodward find themselves forced out of their San Francisco tea shop. The last thing Jane wants is to leave their beloved shop on Valencia Street, but when Celia insists on a move to Austin, Texas, the sisters pack up their kid sister Margot and Jane’s tea plants, determined to start over yet again.

But life in Austin isn’t all sweet tea and breakfast tacos. Their unusual living situation is challenging and unspoken words begin to fester between Jane and Celia. When Jane meets and falls for up-and-coming musician Sean Willis, the chasm grows deeper.

While Sean seems to charm everyone in his path, one person is immune – retired Marine Captain Callum Beckett. Callum never meant to leave the military, but the twin losses of his father and his left leg have returned him to the place he least expected—Texas.

In this modern spin on the Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility, the Woodward sisters must contend with new ingredients in unfamiliar kitchens, a dash of heartbreak, and the fragile hope that maybe home isn't so far away.

My two-bits:

This definitely captures S&S in a modern setting with lovely characters and gentle romance dramas.

The story starts off in San Francisco (one of my favorite places in the world) and incorporates lots of tea (another favorite). Delicious sweet and savory recipes are interspersed within the story which makes me want to get the print copy to experience the yummy-ness.

Loved learning about Austin, Texas and it's culture including the SXSW scene.

~*~
* check out Hillary's Jane Austen week celebration, July 16-21, 2017 (here)

* part of Foodies Read Challenge (here)

* Listened to audiobook version.

Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

Delicious!
by Ruth Reichl
narrated by Julia Whelan

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Published: 2014
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Coming of Age, Food, Mystery
Hardback: 400 pages
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
"You should have used fresh ginger!"

Ruth Reichl is a born storyteller. Through her restaurant reviews, where she celebrated the pleasures of a well-made meal, and her bestselling memoirs that address our universal feelings of love and loss, Reichl has achieved a special place in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers. Now, with this magical debut novel, she has created a sumptuous, wholly realized world that will enchant you.

Billie Breslin has traveled far from her home in California to take a job at Delicious!, New York’s most iconic food magazine. Away from her family, particularly her older sister, Genie, Billie feels like a fish out of water—until she is welcomed by the magazine’s colorful staff. She is also seduced by the vibrant downtown food scene, especially by Fontanari’s, the famous Italian food shop where she works on weekends. Then Delicious! is abruptly shut down, but Billie agrees to stay on in the empty office, maintaining the hotline for reader complaints in order to pay her bills.

To Billie’s surprise, the lonely job becomes the portal to a miraculous discovery. In a hidden room in the magazine’s library, Billie finds a cache of letters written during World War II by Lulu Swan, a plucky twelve-year-old, to the legendary chef James Beard. Lulu’s letters provide Billie with a richer understanding of history, and a feeling of deep connection to the young writer whose courage in the face of hardship inspires Billie to comes to terms with her fears, her big sister and her ability to open her heart to love.

My two-bits:

Experiences at a New York food magazine and in a food shop pulled me into this coming of age and mystery rolled into this foodie themed book.

Some epistolary parts with descriptions of life during World War II and cooking.

And a touch of romance plays a part as well.

Cake recipe included.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Foodies Read Challenge (here)

Waiting on Wednesday - 12.14.16

Waiting on Wednesday
sponsored by Jill at Breaking the Spine (details)
~*~
I'm waiting for...

Cocktails with Jane:
Cocktails of a Different Persuasion Served with a Splash of Jane Austen
by Alison Maloney
-Recipes, Jane Austen
Release date: August 1, 2017
Amazon | Goodreads
The Bath Gin Company want to show us that gin is a fun drink and, as Jane Austen is so closely associated with Bath, she is like an ideal character on which to base their own, slightly less demure, "Gin Austen." Gin is an ideal base for a whole range of cocktails that have been created for Bath Gin’s Canary Gin Bar. The cocktails, of course, all have Jane Austen associations in their names and in their character. The Darcy has great taste and an aloof charm. The Lizzy B is sparkling and zestful. The Pemberley is elegant and refined. With more than 40 different cocktail recipes concocted by drinks expert Susy Atkins and the Canary Gin Bar’s finest award-winning mixologists, Cocktails with Jane is fun, refreshing, and slightly tipsy! Includes dual measures.

=====> I would love to see the concoction matchups created for the various characters in this popular Jane Austen novel.

~*~
Mr. Darcy would like to know...

What is your favorite party beverage?

~*~
* part of Pemberley... a party (schedule)

Go Clean, Sexy You by Lisa Consiglio Ryan (with giveaway)

Go Clean, Sexy You
by Lisa Consiglio Ryan

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Blog
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter @LisaConsiglioR

Just released: November 17, 2015
Publisher: SparkPress
Genre: Cookbook, Health, Detox, Recipes
Paperback: 120 pages
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
Well, hello there! Welcome to Go Clean, Sexy You... and join the revolution.
Yes. Revolution.

Go Clean, Sexy You not only serves up a collection of delicious recipes, but offers a holistic approach on how to live a healthier life―putting whole foods into your body, detoxing every season to regularly cleanse your system, associating with those who fuel you not bring you down, and managing stress with activities that bring you back to balance.

A certified health and nutrition coach, author Lisa Consiglio Ryan provides straightforward guidance on how to overcome the obstacles that keep you from losing those last ten pounds, make you feel exhausted every afternoon, and compel you to indulge in unhealthy habits. Spending years struggling with a growing arsenal of health-destroying conditions that ranged from fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, candida and rosacea to cystitis and tons of allergies, Lisa decided to turn to nutrition and lifestyle to reclaim her health. Then pursuing her education with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she turned her personal quest into her vocation with the launch of Whole Health Designs.

As a nationally acclaimed wellness expert, Lisa has worked with thousands in her detox programs. Her approach incorporates easy-to-adopt eating habits, free from counting calories and fat grams. As you navigate through the seasons with Lisa’s whole food–based detox plans, you’ll be tapping into your body’s wisdom, forming sustainable habits, and developing loving, respectful relationship with your body. Not only will you feel better, you’ll look better too!

My two-bits:

I love that this book includes a seasonal guide as one can match the food and mood with the time of year.

Gearing up to do a 10-day commitment can be daunting. The explanation of a detox and the pre-cleanse segments were helpful in getting into the mode of this book. The rest of the book is easy to follow.

Shopping lists included items easy to find. And, recipes included are easy to prep and do. Alternate modifications are allowed, so it is not mandatory to follow the plan to the exact. Also, extra recipes and a post-cleanse segment are treats at the end.

About the author:

Lisa Consiglio Ryan is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and founder of Whole Health Designs. Spending years struggling with a growing arsenal of health-destroying conditions that ranged from fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, candida and rosacea to cystitis and tons of allergies, she decided to turn to nutrition and lifestyle to reclaim her health. Then pursuing her education with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she turned her personal quest into her vocation with the launch of Whole Health Designs.

Lisa provides seasonal detox programs, meal planning and private coaching for those who desire to embrace “clean living. “ She also provides juice cleanses to local clients and leads wellness retreats in Costa Rica.

As a nationally acclaimed wellness expert, Lisa has worked with thousands in her Renewal 10 Day Detox programs. Her work has been featured in Fox45 News, Fitness Magazine, TinyBuddha, Elephant Journal, Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Life , Good Life Project, The Daily Meal, and Mind Body Green. She is also the author of Renewal Anytime 10 Day Detox and her new book, Go Clean, Sexy You: Your Seasonal Detox and Clean Eating Guide will be available late 2015.

Lisa is also a mom, triathlete, yoga lover and green juice drinker.

~*~
* review copy courtesy of book tour sponsored by BookSparks @booksparks

* SIGNUP to win a copy (here).

Spotlight & Giveaway: Go Clean, Sexy You by Lisa Consiglio Ryan

Go Clean, Sexy You
by Lisa Consiglio Ryan
Release date: November 17, 2015
Amazon | Goodreads

Go Clean, Sexy You not only serves up a collection of delicious recipes, but offers a holistic approach on how to live a healthier life—putting whole foods into your body, detoxing every season to regularly cleanse your system, associating with those who fuel you not bring you down, and managing stress with activities that bring you back to balance.

A certified health and nutrition coach, author Lisa Consiglio Ryan provides straightforward guidance on how to overcome the obstacles that keep you from losing those last ten pounds, make you feel exhausted every afternoon, and compel you to indulge in unhealthy habits. Spending years struggling with a growing arsenal of health-destroying conditions that ranged from fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, candida and rosacea to cystitis and tons of allergies, Lisa decided to turn to nutrition and lifestyle to reclaim her health. Then pursuing her education with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she turned her personal quest into her vocation with the launch of Whole Health Designs.

As a nationally acclaimed wellness expert, Lisa has worked with thousands in her detox programs. Her approach incorporates easy-to-adopt eating habits, free from counting calories and fat grams. As you navigate through the seasons with Lisa’s whole food–based detox plans, you’ll be tapping into your body’s wisdom, forming sustainable habits, and developing loving, respectful relationship with your body. Not only will you feel better, you’ll look better too!


--~ Blog Tour Giveaway ~--
WIN a copy of this book!

Open to US only.

Offer ends: November 30, 2015

TO DO: (2-parts)

1. ADD this book to your Want To Read list on Goodreads (here).

2. LEAVE a comment.

AND, leave your email.

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Contest has ended - (winner is here)

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A Feast of Ice and Fire by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel

A Feast of Ice and Fire:
The Official Game of Thrones
Companion Cookbook
by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel, Sariann Lehrer, George R.R. Martin (Foreword)

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt & Recipes
Blog

Published: 2012
Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Cookbook, TV
Hardback: 240 pages
Rating: 5

Ever wonder what it’s like to attend a feast at Winterfell? Wish you could split a lemon cake with Sansa Stark, scarf down a pork pie with the Night’s Watch, or indulge in honeyfingers with Daenerys Targaryen? George R. R. Martin’s bestselling saga A Song of Ice and Fire and the runaway hit HBO series Game of Thrones are renowned for bringing Westeros’s sights and sounds to vivid life. But one important ingredient has always been missing: the mouthwatering dishes that form the backdrop of this extraordinary world. Now, fresh out of the series that redefined fantasy, comes the cookbook that may just redefine dinner . . . and lunch, and breakfast.

A passion project from superfans and amateur chefs Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer—and endorsed by George R. R. Martin himself—A Feast of Ice and Fire lovingly replicates a stunning range of cuisines from across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. From the sumptuous delicacies enjoyed in the halls of power at King’s Landing, to the warm and smoky comfort foods of the frozen North, to the rich, exotic fare of the mysterious lands east of Westeros, there’s a flavor for every palate, and a treat for every chef.

These easy-to-follow recipes have been refined for modern cooking techniques, but adventurous eaters can also attempt the authentic medieval meals that inspired them. The authors have also suggested substitutions for some of the more fantastical ingredients, so you won’t have to stock your kitchen with camel, live doves, or dragon eggs to create meals fit for a king (or a khaleesi). In all, A Feast of Ice and Fire contains more than 100 recipes, divided by region.

RECIPES INCLUDE:

• The Wall: Rack of Lamb and Herbs; Pork Pie; Mutton in Onion-Ale Broth; Mulled Wine; Pease Porridge

• The North: Beef and Bacon Pie; Honeyed Chicken; Aurochs with Roasted Leeks; Baked Apples

• The South: Cream Swans; Trout Wrapped in Bacon; Stewed Rabbit; Sister’s Stew; Blueberry Tarts

• King’s Landing: Lemon Cakes; Quails Drowned in Butter; Almond Crusted Trout; Bowls of Brown; Iced Milk with Honey

• Dorne: Stuffed Grape Leaves; Duck with Lemons; Chickpea Paste

• Across the Narrow Sea: Biscuits and Bacon; Tyroshi Honeyfingers; Wintercakes; Honey-Spiced Locusts

There’s even a guide to dining and entertaining in the style of the Seven Kingdoms. Exhaustively researched and reverently detailed, accompanied by passages from all five books in the series and full-color photographs guaranteed to whet your appetite, this is the companion to the blockbuster phenomenon that millions of stomachs have been growling for. And remember, winter is coming—so don’t be afraid to put on a few pounds.

Includes a Foreword by George R. R. Martin

My two-bits:
Something for each season.

Love this theme of medieval fare. Some ingredients substitutes are offered for certain recipes so that they can be recreated and sampled.

Mostly comfort foods are offered with plenty of pictures to help decide whether or not you want to give it a go - usually a major factor for me.

Each recipe starts with a quote from the book series.

Based on tv show: Game of Thrones

The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook by Judy Gelman

The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook:
Inside the Kitchens, Bars, and
Restaurants of Mad Men
by Judy Gelman, Peter Zheutlin

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt
Website
Blog (includes some recipes)
i.food.tv
Facebook

Published: 2011
Publisher: Smart Pop
Genre: Cookbook, TV
Paperback: 288 pages
Rating: 5

Dine like Draper and Drink like Sterling with More Than 70 Recipes from the Kitchens, Bars, and Restaurants Seen on Mad Men

Ever wish you could mix an Old Fashioned just the way Don Draper likes it? Or prepare Oysters Rockefeller and a martini the way they did fifty years ago at one of Roger Sterling’s favorite haunts, The Grand Central Oyster Bar? Ever wonder how Joan Harris manages to prepare a perfect crown roast in her tiny apartment kitchen? Or about the connection between Jackie Kennedy’s 1962 White House tour and Betty Draper’s Valentine’s Day room service order?

The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook serves up more than 70 recipes to satisfy a Mad Men appetite! From the tables of Manhattan’s most legendary restaurants and bars to the Drapers’ Around the World dinner, this book is your entrée to the culinary world of Man Men-era New York.

Packed with period detail, The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook provides invaluable historical and cultural context for the food and drink featured in the show, tips on throwing a successful ’60s cocktail party, and even a guide to favored Mad Men hangouts. Every recipe inside is authentic to the time.

Whether you’re planning a Mad Men-themed dinner party, need to mix up some authentic Mad Men cocktails, or just can’t get enough of the show itself, this is your essential resource, a guide to all foods and drinks Mad Men. So hang up your coat, pour yourself a cocktail, and get ready to dine like Draper and drink like Sterling with The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook.

Includes a color photo insert of 16 dishes, plus additional black and white photos and other images of bars, restaurants, and food advertisements from the 1960s.

RECIPES INCLUDE:

* Playboy Whiskey Sour
* Sardi’s Steak Tartar
* Connie’s Waldorf Salad
* Sal’s Spaghetti and Meatballs
* Pat Nixon’s Date Nut Bread
* Lindy’s Cherry Cheesecake

My two-bits:

I liked the history, anecdotes and trivia related to the food and cocktails of the 1960s in this book. Certain recipes included references to Mad Men episodes which made me want to re-watch some.

Black and White pictures of New York bars and restaurants and random 1960s images sprinkled throughout the book. Color pictures of a handful of recipes appear in the center of the book.

Growing up during this period and being familiar with a lot of the dishes, I found the recipes to be in my comfort food zone.

Interesting to note that most of the recipes are pulled from popular cookbooks of the time period.

Based on tv show: Mad Men

The Snacking Dead by D.B. Walker

The Snacking Dead:
A Parody in a Cookbook
by D.B. Walker

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt
Website

Published: 2013
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Genre: Cookbook, TV
Hardback: 160 pages
Rating: 5

For fans of AMC's The Walking Dead, Max Brooks, and all things zombies, the clever creators of Fifty Shades of Chicken hack a new parody cookbook filled with snacks for every occasion, tips for cooking under duress, and a love story that will send ripples down your spine--all accompanied by food photography that will ignite your palate.

At the heart of this cookbook is Pam Beaumont, who must fight the dead and feed the living. The apocalypse is no picnic, but she survives on quick bites—and on her love for Daryl, a backwoods badass with a crossbow who reminds her that she has more than one appetite. From brain food to finger food, and from sticky sweets to killer cocktails, the 50 recipes in this cookbook parody are guaranteed to grab you.

The zombies have their snack plan—do you have yours?

SNACKS include:

Sweetish Fleshballs
Nachos of the Living Dead
Elbows Casserole
Crabby Prepper Puffs
Survivalist Hero
Dire Ham Biscuits
Cold-Blooded Ice Cream Sandwiches
Gratuitous Violence Jello Mold
and more.

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:

I was totally tickled reading this cook book. And yes, actually read this all the way through unlike how one usually skims through cook books to find interesting recipes to try.

Most of the snack/appetizer recipes included color pictures. Also, zombie survival tip related to food or food preparation.

But the special treat of this book is that between the recipes is a mini-zombie story that incorporates Daryl (character from the tv show, The Walking Dead).

Based on tv show: The Walking Dead

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* Are you watching the show? If so, how are you liking the second half of this season?

Downton Abbey: Downstairs

The servants of Downton Abbey also enjoy their tea although with not so quite a fancy selection of treats.

OH, but take a look there on the side table. A new cookbook to consider for Downton Abbey related fare.

GET this ebook for the sale price of $4.00 at the author's site here - offer ends January 5, 2014. Enter discount code: DowntonHolidays

SEE list of recipes here.

EXCERPT with recipe to Abbey Cooks Magic Scones pdf here.

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Abbey Cooks Entertain:
220 recipes with photos to help you entertain the Downton way
by Pamela Foster
just released: December 2013
Downton Abbey Fan Delight. Featured/Mentioned in national papers including Washington Post, Boston Globe, Globe and Mail, Business Insider, Canadian Press. Interviews on CBC radio, Canada AM and upcoming interview with America's Test Kitchen.
This is a cookbook for all of those cooks who wish to bring a touch of English tradition to their own Abbey. Inspired by the fine cuisine served at the fictional Downton Abbey and other grand English country houses at the turn of the century, this book combines food, history and healthy eating.

Great food has a history. Imagine food from a historical perspective; from an era where food held special meaning, denoting wealth and influence. Dine on dishes from the Titanic and remember the lives affected by the tragedy. Imagine entertaining guests in your own Abbey with a little more class and elegance. There are recipes for famous Downton dishes such as apple charlotte, raspberry meringue, crepe suzette, and Season 3 favorites like charlotte russe.

There are 220 recipes and color photos which provide suggestions for entertaining at brunch, afternoon tea, cocktails, and dinner upstairs and down. In addition, there is a selection of recipes to host a traditional garden party, and to celebrate English holidays throughout the year. Finally, taking a page from the country house cooks of the era, there is a section which provides a number of base recipes to help stock your larder.


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* image source: servants tea

~~- TEA at Downton Abbey schedule -~~

Downton Abbey: The Kitchen

Downton Abbey
The Kitchen
There is a quiet moment in the kitchen as the staff takes a bit of a break before preparing the evening meal.

Let us return to the tea party.

Lady Cora selected the savory recipe below for one of the items on the tea menu.

Give it a try...

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Herring Balls
(makes 24)

During the Edwardian era, Herring Balls were a very popular dish among both classes of Englanders. For the lower caste, they were made with either a picked or creamed herring. For the aristocrats, it was a salted herring. Herring at the abbeys were brought in fresh and the cook would do the salting (preserving) him/herself.

When Herring Balls were requested by either the lord or lady of the abbey, the procedure of preparation began 24 hours before the dish was to be served. The salted herring had to soak overnight in cold water. Due to the fact refrigeration was not used at the abbeys, a member of the kitchen staff had to change the water every hour.

Chances are very strong that today's cook does not salt their own herring. You can buy salted herring at most Jewish markets or kosher delicatessens. You can also prepare this dish using fresh, pickled, or creamed herring, with no other alteration of the recipe. If, per chance, you can't find salted herring, you may use salted cod fillets.
-chapter High Tea at the Abbey, page 34

Ingredients:

2 salted herring fillets
1 cup cold mashed potatoes
1/2 pound ground beef or lamb
1 Tbs flour
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup cream
1/4 cup butter

If using salted herring, fill a large bowl with cold water, add the salted herring and let soak overnight in the refrigerator.

Remove the fish from the water and pat dry. Discard the soaking water.

Remove any bones that might be in the fish and discard. Finely chop the fish.

In a medium bowl combine all the ingredients, except the butter, and mix well.

Pinch off walnut-size pieces of the fish mixture and roll into balls. Set them aside 10 minutes to rest.

In a medium saute pan or skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the herring glass and brown on all sides.

Remove the herring balls with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain of any excess oil.

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Excerpt and recipe from:

Edwardian Cooking
80 recipes inspired by Downton Abbey's elegant meals
by Larry Edwards

View more photos of recipes from the book here.

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* image source: kitchen scene, herring balls

* i wish there was a Downton Abbey-style restaurant nearby where I could delight in these concoctions

~~- TEA at Downton Abbey schedule -~~

Sybil Ginger Nut Biscuits

A bit about Lady Sybil Branson:

Lady Sybil was the youngest child of the aristocratic and wealthy Crawley family. She was the family rebel - a very politically conscious woman who considered the lives and feelings of the underprivileged. Her aristocratic heritage was less important to her than finding love and a place in the world - as the youngest daughter she would have inherited very little, anyway. When her parents made her choose between her life of privilege and her marriage to the family chauffeur Tom Branson, Lady Sybil chose love. She was tutored in French by a governess, although she had little regard for it. -per wikia

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Tea at Downton Abbey
Served between 3 and 5pm, "afternoon tea" was more of an elegant snack than an actual meal. Nonetheless, afternoon tea was not nearly as low key as it sounds—at least not for the cook! The menu usually consisted of several kinds of tea, finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, fruitcakes, and perhaps a more elaborate layer cake served as the grand finale...

Here's a treat for you to try from the table...

Yields 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup golden syrup
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 heaping teaspoon kosher salt
ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.

Thoroughly grease a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Slowly mix in vanilla extract and golden syrup.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, ground ginger, and baking soda. Slowly add to wet ingredients and thoroughly mix together.

Roll sought into small balls, then place balls on greased baking sheet.

With the back of a spoon, gently press balls down.

Bake biscuits in preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack to room temperature, then store in an airtight container.

Times Gone By
What the British call biscuits American know as cookies or crackers. Other than Sybil's Ginger Nut Biscuits, other famous biscuits that date back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras include the Chocolate Digestive Biscuits and Classic Custard Creams (other recipes mentioned in book). All of these were inventented as a means to have delicious snacks that could last during long voyages or for long periods of time.

Tea intro, recipe and Times Gone By note excerpts from:

The Unofficial Downton Abbey cookbook
from Lady Mary's crab canapés to Mrs. Patmore's Christmas pudding
with more than 150 recipes from upstairs and downstairs
by Emily Ansara Baines

Download an excerpt from Goodreads here for more recipes. If you do, tell me in comments which one you would be inclined to try.

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* image source: Sybil, ginger nut biscuits

~~- TEA at Downton Abbey schedule -~~

Mr. Darcy Tea

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Tonight's special tea blend was made especially for our host, Mr. Darcy courtesy of Bingley's Teas Limited.

Description:

Like the man himself, this elegant, dark tea, grown in rich soil, with a bold beginning yet a smooth finish has a complexity of character that will leave you wishing to know more.

Distinctive notes of leather, chestnut and plum in this well respected Da Hong Pao Oolong. Each steeping introduces you to more of it's character. Good for 6 steepings Gong Fu style or 3 British style.

Are you adventurous enough to try it?

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Contest has ended - winner is here

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image source: Mr. Darcy Tea

~~- TEA at Pemberley schedule -~~

Rout Cakes

During the Regency evening parties were much the rage. The word rout, synonymous with large unruly gatherings, soon came to mean a fashionable assembly, or large evening party... Just as Afternoon Tea had it’s own rituals and recipes, Routs could be counted on to supply a few favorites. Rout Cake, a kind of rich sweet cake flavored with fruit, was created especially for the occasion. -per Jane Austen uk

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WHY not try your hand at making a batch...

Rout Cakes (Makes 16-20)

1¼ cup all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
4 Tbsp butter, softened
1/3 cup caster (superfine) sugar
1 small egg
½ tsp orange juice
½ tsp rose-water
1 tsp sweet white wine or sherry
1 tsp brandy
¼ cup currants

Set the oven to heat to 350.

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl.

Work in the butter to make a crumbly mixture, then add the sugar.

In a small bowl, beat the egg until liquid.

Add the juice, rosewater, wine or sherry, and brandy. Stir well.

Then mix the liquids by degrees into the dry goods, to obtain a smooth dough.

Lastly mix in the fruit.

Put the cake mixture in small, neat heaps (3/4″ across) on a lightly greased baking-sheet.

Bake in the oven for 16-18 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.


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image source: Rout cakes and recipe

~~- TEA at Pemberley schedule -~~