The Cookbook Junkies

Mimi Thorisson’s beautiful life and gorgeous food are chronicled in A Kitchen in France. 

A jealous me wants to hate her gorgeousness — but as I stroll through the pages, I find myself being a little envious but also marveling at how simple and stunning her life and food seems to be. 

The photographs are gorgeous and taken by her husband.  I’m more of a let’s see the photos of food and not so many of the stunning family and author — but if you got it, flaunt it.

The recipes run the gamut of simple French fare and will be easy to recreate here in the middle of the United States. 

The book is organized down by seasons and the recipes that intrigued me the most were the onion tart, roast chicken with crème fraiche and herbs, bugnes with orange flower water, sugar almond tart, mustard roasted poussins, Lyonnaise sausage roll, her Lyonnaise potatoes and pork cheek ravioli with cepes.

The garden cake looks gorgeous — as well as the Caneles de Bordeux and Kouign Amann. 

Truthfully, this is one stunning book that can keep us cooking as if we too lived in a small French town.  

Update: The author’s second book is coming the Fall of 2016 French Country Cooking: Meals and Moments from a Village in the Vineyards. If it is half as beautiful, it will be a must have.

 

Rose Levy Beranbaum is a baking rock star.  I believe I have all of her books.  Her newest book, The Baking Bible, launches October 28th, and will also be available soon in fine kitchen shops and bookstores nationwide. 

This book is not only 560 plus pages of beauty — the measurements are in weights and volumes and the attention to detail is wonderful.  I’m an accomplished baker and this book makes me excited to get into the kitchen and start baking — but a novice can pick up this book and use Rose’s details and instructions to create baking masterpieces. 

I’m partnering with Rose’s publisher HMH as well as Harold Import Co. to celebrate the launch of The Baking Bible and to share my experience making Mud Turtle Pie from the book and using Rose’s Perfect Pie Plate. 

Harold Import Co. is the company that makes Rose Levy Beranbaum’s specialty baking tools which are available in kitchen shops nationwide, and on line.  Rose’s Perfect Pie Plate is a beautiful and quality piece that comes in this adorable pie/hat box — perfect for gift giving (if you order the one with the recipe booklet).  I love the red one — but I’m thinking another color would be great at Christmas hint, hint…wheat or sage, please.

I made the pie crust for the Mud Turtle Pie and while it was resting in the fridge, I  threw together the ingredients for the pecan filling.  As usual, Rose’s instructions and details are impeccable.



The pecan filling came together quickly and smelled incredible baking.  The chocolate ganache is a blending of different chocolates and is rich and creamy.

Rose gave instructions for a chocolate turtle but I made a pie crust turtle.  I thought it looked cute – I hope it looks like a turtle.  Someone tell me it looks like a turtle. 

Andrew could not wait for me to cut this pie.  We all had a taste and it was delicious — the crust is amazing and the pecan filling and ganache – so good.  It will be better once the ganache sets but someone couldn’t wait!  Rose’s crust recipe is on line here. 

The recipe for the Mud Turtle Pie can be found here.

For more about Rose’s nationwide book signing tour, go here.

For more about Rose Levy Beranbaum’s specialty baking tools made by Harold Import Co., go here.

Now for the giveaway details:

Thanks to Harold Imports Co. and HMH — for offering my readers a chance to win an autographed copy of The Baking Bible as well as one of Rose’s Perfect Pie Plates.  Please leave a comment on this post and Random Number Generator will pick a winner on November 14th.  The giveaway is for US addresses only. 

Good luck and thanks for reading. I’d appreciate your sharing this post and giveaway with your friends. 

I have to go wash chocolate off a little boy’s face now.

Thanks again to HMH and Harold Imports for this amazing opportunity as well as Donna Currie, author of Make Ahead Breads.

*****************More giveaways —-

Cookistry has A Baking Bible and a Silicone Bowl giveaway here.
Cindy’s Writings and Recipes has A Baking Bible and pie plate giveaway here.
Food Hunter’s Guide has A Baking Bible and Silicone Bowl giveaway here.