November 2018 Cookbook Review

Are there any cookbooks to be excited about after October’s onslaught? The answer to that is a resounding yes! November delivers some beautiful books including a few EYBD titles. For more information on EYBDigital see our EYBD Page.

But before I get to our cookbook summary, a few housekeeping reminders for new members:

  • Please note as mentioned above – we have a new EYBD Page which has been updated to include many holiday incentive orders as well as new pre-order titles.
  • My 2018 Gift Guide was published earlier this month and my Best Cookbooks of 2018 can be found here.
  • Have you entered all our giveaways. If you have any trouble entering the contests, see our step-by-step help post. Just a reminder – you do not need to be a paid member to enter our contests. 
  • Have you joined our cookbook clubs? Read our latest summaries and come have fun with us while we cook and bake from new selections each month. We offer blast-from-the-past favorites and online recipe options so that everyone can participate.
  • Have you been enjoying our and ? Find out more information on this new exciting feature here and be sure to look for these buttons throughout our posts.
  • If an author has events on our calendar, please look for “Events” linkat the end of each blurb.
  • Lastly, each Sunday, I compile a listing of Kindle cookbook deals and I update that post throughout the week when additions are made and/or deletions.

Now let’s talk about this month. Check the blog frequently as promotions are planned for many titles and be sure to follow us on social media (buttons on right lower side bar on the home page – photo right) and don’t forget about Google+ too. If you would like to order any of these titles, using our affiliate links (right beneath the social media buttons) or the button on the book details page, will help to support EYB and our indexing efforts (as well as help us to include worldwide options in some promotions). Most of our titles are released in multiple regions and worldwide sellers such as Book Depository make more of these titles available to more members.

I have been tagging books as EYB Picks: USA Pick, UK Pick, Canada Pick, Australia Pick, and New Zealand Pick. These search links will direct you to books that are favorites. I will continue to add these designations as I come across beloved titles or new additions to the library.

US

Cooking in Iran: Regional Recipes and Kitchen Secrets by Najmieh Batmanglij is absolute brilliance packed into 700 pages that share 400 stunning photographs and 250 recipes. Najmieh’s books should be on everyone’s radar and especially her latest as she brings to the reader her ten thousand mile, five year journey through Iran. During that trip, she cooked with locals, visited workshops, and developed recipes. The result is an astounding authoritative exploration of a cuisine whose cultural roots are among the deepest of any in the world. This is a book to lose yourself in while you travel those miles with this gifted storyteller. After spending time wrapped up in the author’s love of Iran, soaking in the history and learning about the people, only then take to the kitchen to recreate these dishes. 

Holiday and Celebration Bread in Five Minutes a Day: Sweet and Decadent Baking for Every Occasion by Jeff Hertzberg M.D. and Zoë François is divine and a gift that is perfect for any baker. Filled with baking tips, recipe variations, step-by-step photography to guide the reader through braiding and techniques, it is a dream of a book. I love that there are so many bakes from around the world including a Greek cross-topped bread, Swedish tea rings and Romanian Easter braid with ricotta custard. We will be bringing you a promotion on this title coupled with a Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker for all your dough mixing needs.

Fantastical Cakes: Incredible Cakes for the Baker in Anyone by Gesine Bullock-Prado shares the baking star’s step-by-step instructions for baking, piping, and making decorations. Gesine makes each task more manageable, whether it’s baking layers ahead of time and freezing, or taking the time to crank out a slew of gorgeous frosting flowers that hold beautifully in the freezer until you need them. No step is skipped or left unexplained. Every one of Gesine’s books are must-haves and this one has blown me away.

Extra Helping: Recipes for Building Community One Dish at a Time by Janet Elsbach is a part of our EYBDigital Program, buy the book before Februrary 16th, 2019 and you will receive digital access to the full book on EYB. For more information on EYBDigital see our EYBD Page. For more details on this title, please see our promotion and enter our giveaway. Events.

Bourke Street Bakery: All Things Sweet: Unbeatable Recipes from the Iconic Bakery by Paul Allam and David McGuinness is a part of our EYBDigital Program, buy the book before Februrary 4th, 2019 and you will receive digital access to the full book on EYB. For more information on EYBDigital see our EYBD Page and for more information on this title see our promotion post and be sure to enter our giveaway.

Kindness & Salt: Recipes for the Care and Feeding of Your Friends and Neighbors by Ryan Angulo and Doug Crowell shares more than 100 recipes for the dishes and drinks that draw passionate fans from around the corner and around the globe to their Brooklyn restaurants.

SUQAR: Desserts & Sweets from the Modern Middle East by Greg and Lucy Malouf shares the secrets to more than 100 sweet treats from the Modern Middle East – ranging from puddings and pastries, to ice creams, cookies and cakes, candied fruit, and nuts. It is absolutely stunning and one of our upcoming main selections in the Eat Your Books Cookbook Club. The Maloufs’ titles are very special and their books will always have a place in my collection. This title is being published in the US, UK and AU. 

Cibi: Simple Japanese-Inspired Meals to Share With Family and Friends by Meg Tanaka and Zenta Tanaka is a book on home-style Japanese cooking inspired by the eponymous Melbourne café and design space created by the authors. It contains 80 seasonally relevant recipes across vegetables, fish and seafood, meat, grains and noodles, and sweets, plus small features on elements of Japanese cooking and food culture, accompanied by beautiful photography and illustrations. This title is being published in AU, UK and US. 

Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse: Another Cookbook of Sorts by David McMillan, Frédéric Morin and Meredith Erickson is being released both in the US (Knopf) and Canada (Appetite) and is just as spectacular as their first title. Recipes include an Onion soup toast, Duck stroganoff, and a “Beauty’s special” Saint Honoré that will blow your mind. Events

Searing Inspiration: Fast, Adaptable Entrées and Fresh Pan Sauces by Susan Volland shares more than 60 enticing recipes for seafood, poultry, meats, vegetables, tofu, and eggs. This title gives cooks the confidence to invent their own dishes. Susan’s Mastering Sauces is the perfect companion to this new title. Promotion coming soon coupled with Swiss Diamond cookware. Events.

I Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cook by Nicole Ponseca and Miguel Trinidad is the first title by the restaurant owners of Jeepney and Marharlika in New York. It is a love letter to Filipino food packed with information, vibrant photography and so many inspiring recipes. Pickled beef with chiles, Fresh spring rolls with rice noodles and peanuts, and Wok-fried crispy pork belly are a few examples. This book gets high marks in a year filled with stellar cookbooks. Events

The Community Table: Recipes for an Ecological Future by The Ecology Center is a comprehensive guide to regenerative eating, inspired by a year-long sustainable dinner series in Southern California. Designed as a tool-kit for an abundant future, Community Table, features inspiring storytelling, delicious recipes, beautiful imagery, tangible step-by-step how-tos for making change, and intimate access to celebrated farmers and chefs. Topics covered include: growing, sourcing, consumption, husbandry, community, and action, themed around our ten formative principles. Each chapter in turn offers an explanation of the theme, real-life applications, in-depth conversations with the farmer and chef, and a collection of recipes from their dinner.

French Pastry 101: Beautiful Baking Classics That Take One Hour or Less by Betty Hung, founder of the blog Yummy Workshop and co-owner of Beaucoup Bakery, makes the classic art of French baking more approachable than ever. Most of her recipes only take an hour, which makes it much less daunting for beginners. Learn basics like pastry cream and pate sucree, and create favorites like Madeleines, Crème brûlée, and Eclairs. Readers will be able to take shortcuts like using ready-made puff pastry, or, for the more adventurous baker, Betty demonstrates how to make it from scratch. In no time at all you’ll be putting out pastry, like a seasoned GBBO contestant.

As Country as Cornbread: A Collection of Cornbread Recipes and Recipes we Love to Serve with Cornbread is a special e-book designed to help victims of the flooding in North Carolina. For more information on this title please see Darcie’s post. 

German Meals at Oma’s: Traditional Dishes for the Home Cook by Gerhild Fulson, founder of the blog Just Like Oma, shares this collection that covers well-known dishes from Berlin to Hamburg – and everywhere in between for today’s modern cook.   

Plant-Based Meats: Hearty, High-Protein Recipes for Vegetarians, Flexitarians, and Curious Carnivores by Robin Asbell delivers all the meaty satisfaction of your favorite comfort foods but using plant proteins.  With a handy guide to ingredients, cooking methods, and the basic flavor profiles behind what makes “meat” so tasty, this book is for meat lovers who still want an option that mimics the real thing, and vegetarians who don’t want all the additives you get with processed, store-bought mock meats. 

Untraditional Desserts: Classic Treats with a Twist by Allison Miller shares fun twists on traditional treats and innovative indulgences that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Each delectable recipe approaches old favorites in brand-new ways that are sure to surprise and delight.  

The Book of Lost Recipes: The Best Signature Dishes From Historic Restaurants Rediscovered by Jaya Saxena shares amazing signature recipes lost to time from the most fashionable hotels and restaurants of bygone times. This title was originally published in 2016. 

Authentic Portuguese Cooking: More Than 185 Classic Mediterranean-Style Recipes of the Azores, Madeira and Continental Portugal by Ana Patuleia Ortins is an collection of Portuguese recipes that was originally published in 2015.

How to Bake: Complete Guide to Perfect Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Tarts, Breads, Pizzas, Muffins by Nick Malgieri is being reissued this month by Dover Publications. We have an author interview and giveaway that includes Anolon bakeware coming soon.  Dover is offering our members 25% off of their cookbook collection using this link and the code: WRBY.

 

Other titles of interest: 

Canada

Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse: Another Cookbook of Sorts by David McMillan, Frédéric Morin and Meredith Erickson is being released both in the US (Knopf) and Canada (Appetite) and is just as spectacular as their first title. Recipes include an Onion soup toast, Duck stroganoff, and a “Beauty’s special” Saint Honoré that will blow your mind. Events

The Complete Indian Instant Pot Cookbook: 130 Traditional and Modern Recipes by Chandra Ram shares 130 recipes from all over India, specifically designed for the Instant Pot®, that meld Indian ingredients and American sensibilities for novices and experts alike. Recipes range from traditional to modern and go beyond the greatest hits that you see in Indian restaurants. You’ll find tons of familiar favorites, including Butter chicken and Chana Masala; less well-known regional dishes like dosas, biryanis and dals or lentil stews; and contemporary twists on Indian flavors such as Orange cumin salmon and Chocolate chai pudding.

United Kingdom

Black Sea: Dispatches and Recipes, Through Darkness and Light by Caroline Eden follows the author’s successful debut book, Samarkand: Recipes & Stories from Central Asia & The Caucasus (see my interview and review on this title). This book is being released in the UK this month and will be published in the US in May 2019. The US release will be a part of our EYBD program. I had to order this book from the UK as I am a fan of the author and I just received it today. Packed with rich photography and sumptuous food, this biography of a region, its people and its recipes is truly impressive. I’m looking forward to spending more time with this title.

Completely Perfect: 120 Essential Recipes for Every Cook by Felicity Cloake takes tried and tested recipes from all the greats – from Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith to Nigel Slater and Simon Hopkinson – and creates the perfect version of hundreds of classic dishes.

Pastry School: 101 Step-by-Step Recipes by Le Cordon Bleu shares 100 illustrated recipes, explained step-by-step with 1400 photographs and presented in 6 chapters: Pastries, cakes and desserts; Individual cakes and plated desserts; Pies and tarts; Outstanding and festive desserts; Biscuits and cupcakes; Candies and delicacies, and finally the basics of pastry. At the end of the book there is a presentation of all the utensils and ingredients needed for baking and also a glossary explaining the specific culinary terms. I should have this book soon and will tell you more in our promotion.

Jamie’s Friday Night Feast Cookbook: Epic Weekend Recipes for Friends & Family  by Jamie Oliver is packed with show-stopping dishes for the weekend and special occasions – this is the ultimate in indulgent food. Learn and master the dishes made in the famous caff on Southend pier by Jamie and his star-studded guests. From Party-time Mexican tacos with zingy salsa and sticky BBQ British ribs, to Steak & Stilton pie and the Ultimate veggie lasagne made with smoky aubergine, we’re talking about big-hitting, crowd-pleasing recipes that everyone will love.

Pollen Street: The Cookbook by Jason Atherton is a stunning book that showcases the very best recipes from the acclaimed award-winning London restaurant. I’m asking Santa to bring me this book for Christmas. 

 

Australia

The Food of Argentina: Asado, Empanadas, Dulce de Leche and More by Ross Dobson and Rachel Fuller is a rich and visual celebration of Argentinean food filled with beautiful location and food photography that takes the reader on a gastronomic journey into a little-known cuisine that is tipped to become the next global food trend for food lovers everywhere.

Christmas: Feasts and Treats by Donna Hay makes Christmas cooking and entertaining so easy. This is a must-have collection of over 200 easy, delicious, reliable and totally fabulous Christmas recipes to make, enjoy and give over the festive season.

Cibi: Simple Japanese-Inspired Meals to Share With Family and Friends by Meg Tanaka and Zenta Tanaka is a book on home-style Japanese cooking inspired by the eponymous Melbourne café and design space created by the authors. It contains 80 seasonally relevant recipes across vegetables, fish and seafood, meat, grains and noodles, and sweets, plus small features on elements of Japanese cooking and food culture, accompanied by beautiful photography and illustrations.

SUQAR: Desserts & Sweets from the Modern Middle East by Greg Malouf and Lucy Malouf shares the secrets to a more than 100 sweet treats from the Modern Middle East – ranging from puddings and pastries, to ice creams, cookies and cakes, candied fruit, and nuts. It is absolutely stunning and one of our upcoming main selections in the Eat Your Books Cookbook Club. The Maloufs’ titles are very special and their books will always have a place in my collection.

New Zealand

The Cuba Street Project: Place, Food, People by Beth Brash delivers the local food scene of Cuba Street. The author and her photographer sister, Alice Lloyd, spent a summer capturing the essence of this area, visiting all the eateries and off-beat shops, with Alice taking the photographs and Beth researching, interviewing and gathering recipes.

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