The Cookbook Junkies

Melanie Underwood is a cooking and baking instructor in New York City and has worked as a pastry chef in Washington D.C. and Manhattan. In her new title, Making Artisan Cheesecake, she shares everything we need to know to turn out show stopping desserts.

Melanie starts with over a dozen different types of crusts and that does not include the variations she offers for those recipes. Streusel Crumb Crust, Brownie Crust and even a Vegan Coconut Crust are a few examples. Helpful decorative techniques are covered such as layering batters and swirling batters.

The cheesecakes in this book include more than your classic New York style cheesecake. Ricotta Honey, Japanese Souffle, Saffron with Sauteed Pineapple and Avocado Cheesecake with Almond Brittle are a few of the unique sweet variations. Savory selections are equally tempting with recipes for Blue Cheese with Candied Walnuts, Roasted Tomato with Parmesan and Spiced Butternut Squash Cheesecake. Presentations and Garnishes offer Fruit Sauces, Sides, Chocolate, Caramel, and Whipped Cream, Nuts and Seeds, Flavored Oil and Syrup accompaniments.

My favorite is the Pecan Praline Cheesecake which I plan on making very soon. Thanks to Melanie – you can make it as well by clicking the link on the recipe name.

Random Number Generator chose #84 – Laurel Eden – congratulations!

GIVEAWAY: Time for the giveaway – many thanks to Melanie Underwood for offering the following gift package to one lucky reader: A copy of Making Artisan Cheesecake, OXO products to help with preparing your cheesecake consisting of: a 2-cup angled measuring cup, a set of stainless steel measuring cups, a set of stainless steel measuring spoons and a medium spatula.  Thanks to Anolon for offering a 9 inch spring form pan. I love OXO and Anolon products – they are top quality and workhorses in the kitchen and if you love cheesecake, this cookbook will get a workout in the kitchen as well.

The giveaway is open to US Addresses. A random winner will be chosen on November 5th. Good luck!

There are four chances to win the prize package – you must leave a SEPARATE comment for each option.

#1 Leave a comment on this blog post telling me your favorite cheesecake flavor.

#2 Share this giveaway on Facebook.

#3 Visit Melanie Underwood’s Facebook Page – a like is not required, but appreciated.

#4 Visit Anolon’s Facebook Page – a like is not required, but appreciated.

 

 

Susan Volland’s Mastering Sauces is The Home Cook’s Guide to New Techniques for Fresh Flavors.

This is an encyclopedia dedicated to sauce:  Turning Water Into Sauce, Turning Whole Foods Into Sauce Without Thickeners, Sauce on the Side (Dressings, Cooling Condiments, Table Sauces, Barbecue Sauces, Chile Sauces), Updating the Classic French Mother Sauces, Syrups and Sweet Sauces and Pulling It All Together  – Making Sauces Like a Pro.

Sauces can make or break (no pun intended) a meal — and with this cookbook you will have everything you need to make your meals spectacular. Recipes for Relishes, Salsas, Butters, Mayo, Ketchup and Simple Syrups are also included. Arkansas Chocolate Gravy (oh my), Korean Pear Bulgogi Sauce and even a recipe for English Pouring Custard (Creme Anglaise) look wonderful. Mastering Sauces is the only book you’ll need for all things sauce or condiment related.

Particularly helpful are the pages devoted to sauces for various applications:  for example “A Few Excellent Sauces for Vegetables”, “A Few Excellent Sauces for Pork” and over a dozen pages devoted to “Remedies for Faltering Sauces”.

Susan has been so gracious to offer a copy to one of The Cookbook Junkies – and bonus she sent a bookplate for the giveaway copy!

 Random Number Generator picked comment #28 — Tamara Mitchell!

GIVEAWAY:  To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite sauce. This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only and a random winner will be chosen on October 21st. Good luck!

Special thanks to W.W. Norton and Susan Volland for their generosity.