The Cookbook Junkies

I love the idea of food swaps, progressive dinners and cookbook clubs. Sharing the love of good food with friends and community is fun and beneficial: we are able to try new recipes and ideas with the bonus of meeting new people and possibly lifelong friends. The whole idea of The Cookbook Junkies was to share – ideas, recipes, cookbook thoughts and support each other’s “habit” as well as a sense of community for me when my son, Andrew was a toddler with autism. It was incredibly lonely during those first years and truthfully, continues to be.

Emily Paster, who I met through my group, is the author of the blog, West of the Loop, and co-founder of the Chicago Food Swap. Her debut cookbook, Food Swap, is devoted to sharing her secrets to starting a swap community as well as her specialty recipes for bartering, sharing and giving. Bonus: the book includes the world’s best salted caramel sauce (photo below) which I am making today and can be downloaded here: Caramel Sauce.

 

While reading Emily’s book, I was inspired to post a notice in my community’s Facebook group to see if my neighbors would be interested in starting a swap. I’ll update you with my progress.

Roughly, the first portion of the book is devoted to her vast experience in developing a swap, using social media and the press to spread the word, finding a swap locally as well as throwing themed swaps – harvest, holiday and more. It truly is a wealth of information with the plus of being a great read. Often times guides can be stuffy and academic in nature, Emily’s narrative is as if a friend is across the table giving us advice.

The second half contains recipes (including packaging and shelf life information), ideas, and gorgeous photos to boot. Sweets, breads, a variety of vinegars and condiments, soups, spice blends and so many more delicious recipes are shared. Even if you aren’t planning to start a swap or attend an established event, the recipes are great for your own consumption and are perfect for gift giving. The book ends with recipe swap cards and cute labels for our use!

Random Number Generator chose #20 – Laura Benson and #41 Joni Ducey. Congratulations!

GIVEAWAY:  Thanks to Emily and Storey Publishing, I have two copies of Food Swap to give away to two readers! If time permits, I may throw a bonus in with the books for the winners – either one of the finished recipe – or some recipe cards of my own. It will be a surprise. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents. To enter, leave a comment telling me if you’ve ever attended a food swap. For a second entry, please share this post making sure to leave a second comment. You may return once a day to leave any comment you like until the giveaway expires. On June 12th two winners will be chosen. Good luck.

Links to Amazon are affiliate links and help to support this page. Also, by shopping at Amazon (link here and on the right side bar) you help to continue to support this page and future giveaways.

If you would like to keep up with The Cookbook Junkies – all giveaways are posted on the Fan page here.

Bruce and Mark are to the cookbook world as James Patterson is to the thriller genre. This is not to say that Bruce and Mark’s books aren’t thrilling – they are – especially to those of us who love creating food and have a fondness for (addiction to) cookbooks. Their latest title, À La Mode –  120 Recipes in 60 Pairings: Pies, Tarts, Cakes, Crisps, and More Topped with Ice Cream, Gelato, Frozen Custard, and More will be hitting the shelves in time for summer entertaining.

 

How does Peanut Brittle Tart with Frozen Popcorn Custard, Sour Cherry Cobbler with Cannoli Cream Ice Cream, Pear Brown Betty and Grape-Nuts and Turbinado Frozen Custard and Chocolate Chip-Hazelnut Scones with Chocolate Semifreddo grab you? These tempting dessert pairings and more await us in À La Mode! No more plain vanilla ice cream to accompany our desserts this summer. Beautiful photographs, detailed instructions and little tidbits about the recipes themselves fill this book.

Courtesy of St. Martin’s Press and Bruce and Mark, you can try the delicious combination of Blueberry-Ginger Slump and Frozen Bavarian Cream by downloading the recipe at this link. I have it on good authority that the Bavarian Cream is to die for.

GIVEAWAY: St. Martin’s Press along with Bruce and Mark are feeling generous – two of will receive an autographed copy of this fantastic book. But that is not all, accompanying each book will be an antique ice cream scoop that was used in the photography in the cookbook (oh I wish I could enter!). Talk about a perfect pairing.

To enter: Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite flavor of ice cream. You may leave one comment per day until a winner is chosen. Sharing the post is appreciated and you may leave one extra comment when you do. The contest is open to U.S. addresses only. Two winners will be chosen on June 3rd. Good luck! While you are here – be sure to enter the other giveaways still open.

Random Number Generator picked #66 Laurel and #100 Connie M. – congratulations! Please send your addresses to icywit@gmail.com.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s who provided me a copy of this book for review. The Amazon links are affiliate links and help to support this website. By making your Amazon purchases using the Amazon prime link on the right side bar, you help keep The Cookbook Junkies running. Thank you.

It is no secret – I gravitate toward cookbooks that focus on any type of international fare, especially Asian cuisine. Since we’ve moved to Colorado, I am cooking more Asian-inspired dishes because sadly the offerings here leave everything to be desired: it is hard to find good Asian food and when you do it is more pricey than the restaurants in New York which most people would find surprising.

ăn: to eat Recipes and Stories from a Vietnamese Family Kitchen by Helene An, Executive Chef of Crustacean Beverly Hills and Jacqueline An, her daughter, was released this month.  “An” means “to eat” in Vietnamese thus, it is no revelation that the An family has built an award-winning restaurant dynasty.

This beautiful book shares not only tempting recipes but personal stories of the An family including details sprinkled in of Vietnamese history. Everything one needs to know about ingredients as well as the tools necessary to create the recipes (including how to properly season a wok) is included. Techniques are outlined with details of their favorite ingredients are given before we dive into the actual recipes. The bonus of this title is that An’s vast expertise is reflected on every page of this cookbook.

From the first recipe, Mama’s Beef Phở to the last recipe for Tamarind juice – we are transported to the exotic cuisine of Vietnam. Caramelized Black Cod, Filet Mignon Shaken Beef and Spicy Chicken and Shrimp Ramen in Cognac XO Sauce are standouts in the first chapter alone. Gorgeous full page photos accompany most recipes and inspire us to dust off the wok and jump into creating the dishes.

The chef also delivers recipes from her restaurants (modified for the home kitchen) which fuse Vietnamese, French and California cuisine and dishes for special occasions are included. Recipes from this chapter are show stoppers – French Onion Phở with Beef Ravioli, Grilled Turmeric Calamari and Kobe Beef Meatballs on Sugar Cane.

I want to make everything in this book! I made the Mongolian Fried Chicken along with some chive waffles. The instructions in the book are spot on and the chicken and sauce are fantastic.

Running Press has graciously allowed me to share a recipe that is on my radar to create very soon – Balsamic Chicken Pot Stickers (can be downloaded at the link). 

Trust me, you want this title in your collection. Now for the giveaway!

Random Number Generator picked #4 Janis and #178 Elizabeth S. -emails sent to winners. Congratulations.

GIVEAWAY: Thanks to Running Press’ generosity – we have two copies of this book up for grabs. Two winners! To enter this giveaway – leave a comment on this post telling  me which dish sounds best to you from those mentioned above. For a second entry, please share this post on your social media platform being sure to leave a second, separate comment. Come back tomorrow and every day following to leave an additional comment telling me you would like the book.

So, two entries possible the first time and every day following – one entry possible per day.

The giveaway is open to US addresses only. Two random winners will be chosen on May 31st! Good luck.

Running Press provided me with a review copy of this title – but all opinions are my own.