The Cookbook Junkies

While browsing through Amazon – In Her Kitchen Stories and Recipes from Grandmas Around the World by Gabriele Calimberti tugged at my heart strings.  I posted immediately in The Cookbook Junkies, my group of cookbook lovers, that I had to have it. 

Gabriele set off around the world to take photographs of grandmothers in their kitchens (for the most part there are occasional photographs of grandmothers in their living or dining rooms) along with a recipe to honor their heritage.

I love the photographs and stories of these wonderful strong women who have continued traditions with food to nourish and love their families.

There are many recipes that interest me (double cooked pork with vegetables, short ribs, spatzle, chocolate toffee trifle, tiramisu, apple and chocolate pizza) and a few that don’t (primarily caterpillars in tomato sauce) – but this book isn’t about the recipes – it’s about the grandmothers and their love of cooking and food. 

I love this book and will turn to again and again to connect with grandmothers from around the world.

Thank you Blogging for Books for this review copy. 

For many years, I was fearful of canning or even making small batch jam to eat on the spot.  As profound a baker and cook as I am, I was positive that I would surely kill someone or land them in the hospital.   Jennifer Perillo’s postings on Facebook of her jams and marmalades finally pushed me to pull out all my jam related cookbooks and give it a go.

In 2010, Rachel Saunders published her first book The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook, a stunning book jam packed (pun intended) with jams, jellies, marmalades and more and I had to have it.  370 plus pages of gorgeous photos and recipes.  Rachel owns The Blue Chair Fruit in San Francisco — she named it blue chair to represent an old timely kitchen feel – a trip back in time when our grandmothers and mothers made preserves and canned.  This has become one of my favorite go to jam books.

Rachel’s recipes combine unique flavors such as pear-lemon marmalade with cardamom, which happens to be one of my favorite spices and meyer lemon marmalade with mandarin and lavender.  You could make a different recipe a week for two years and not have a repeat — so many wonderful ideas.

I did make the pear-lemon marmalade with cardamom right after I got the book and it was delicious.   At that time I wasn’t taking so many photos of everything I made — it was tangy, sweet and had a warmth from the cardamom.  I had given a jar to a neighbor and the jar was returned in hopes for a refill.

In October, I was thrilled to learn that Rachel recently published Blue Chair Cooks with Jams and Marmalade

Nigel Slater — Britian’s foremost food writer (actually I think Nigella should have that title because …Nigella!) threw together this little book of 600 meal ideas to get food on the table fast. 

I’m not a fan of fast food — or books with “easy” in the title – but I have to admit like anyone else – some days you just want to put food on the table.  When those days come around, this book will give you plenty of ammunition. 

I have to admit nothing in the book overwhelmed me as innovative — chorizo burgers, bagel sandwiches, crab mac and cheese, stir fried chicken with cashews and broccoli are some samples.  A friend stated that gingersnaps for banana cheesecake was genius – then I’m a genius because I’ve been doing that for decades.  🙂 

I didn’t try any dishes yet because nothing screamed make me.  When I do, I’ll edit this post with photos. 

It’s a great book if you are just getting started and want some ideas for fast meals…a nice gift for a college student, new bride, someone new to cooking or a mom returning to the work force and needs a boost.

Thanks Blogging for Books for this opportunity.