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This summer, it seems that I cook more than I can reasonably eat and write about.
But this matter fact has shown me something: food and cooking hold a major place in my life.
I can't spend a day without:
1) cooking
2) thinking of interesting food / combination / recipe
3) buying things related to food (read: cookbooks, plates, placemats...)

However something quite strange is happening. I am literally bored of cookbooks. It seems I can't find one that really stands out.
For example, I love the design of Apples for Jam, but do I really need another recipe for beef pasta? I know I'll end buying this book because Tessa Kiros is such a great writer and inspiration, but what a strange feeling!
I tend to lean towards pastry chef cookbooks – such as my new favourite PH10.

Though, when I cook for myself I like to keep it simple and fresh. I love clean Asian flavours: lemongrass, soy sauce, coriander are high among my everyday favourites.
This was the simple comfort dish that I made at least once - if not twice - a week during the last few weeks.
It's pretty straightforward (as most of Bill Granger's recipes) but has that wow-factor that makes everyone sited at the table go wild.
I like to replace the linguine by egg-noodles, which adds a nice touch.

Anyway, I'd love to hear how you feel about recent cookbooks? What are your favourites and why?
Just a little parenthèse [parenthesis]: I'd like to buy some vintage cookbooks but I don't know where to start. So any suggestions would be appreciated!

Labels: cookbooks, favourites, make a meal of it, random sweetness

Labels: chocolate, cookbooks, favourites, macarons, pierre hermé

I hope i will be able to make all these soon.








food - Nigella Lawson - How to be a domestic goddess - coconut macaroons - recipe

Labels: bites of sweetness, cookbooks, recipe inside

Above are some delicious blueberry and raspberry jam muffins. The recipe will be in my book. This will not be the picture though because i really have to improve my photography and this blog is a good way to do so

Due to the popular demand, i feel obliged to tell you a little bit more about my book and when i say "my book" i mean the book i'm writting.

I first decided to write a book around Christmas this year. I thought it would be a great idea to write down all my favourites recipes just to keep them in mind. So i started to collect all the recipe i wanted to included. I had divided my book in 6 chapters; each one being an occasion that usually brings me to cook. But since i am a student and that the book contained over 300 recipes, i give up everything. It was too much work. And the summer holidays arrived. I did some shoots for my book...

Then i decided i had to do a book that is easy to handle and i'm used to think that a book with too much recipes is a book that stays on the shelf. I wanted a book i could use myself. So i chose to write a single book on each of the previous book's chapters.

At the moment i'm writting a book about breakfast, it will be an anthology of almost 100 recipes with a picture for each. Indeed i think that pictures are one of the things that help me to choose between two cookbooks. I also want the recipe to be clear. I do love Nigella Lawson, but i think that her recipes are a bit too long (on the paper).

Even if i reckon that this book is the good one i can't help thinking to my old cookbook, which was pretty good too: it gave menus for lunch and dinner...

So please tell me what you think because as you can see i'm still not sure about what to do.

Labels: cookbooks

Cook 1.0 - Heidi Swanson

When i saw that Heidi from 101 cookbooks had written a cookbook i just could'nt resist. And after looking at the customers rewiews i was amazed : this cookbook is not our usual cookbook, it is "the new generation cookbook"; so you'll understand why i had to buy it.

First reading impression : the cover is beautiful, each chapter title is well chosen : we all need some great recipes for breakfast, lunchbox, one-dish dinners, sides, spreads and sauces, sweets and drinks. As you can see this book has no lack. Every important theme is well explored, i love the pictures (as usual Heidi takes wonderful photos) and the charts are very easy to use. You can check everything you need in one quick glance. For me that always forget to buy something or to do something it's great. Though the book is said to be for beginners but i'm sure it would be perfect even for experimented cooks. The recipes are simple but who cares; you don't have to be a beginner to enjoy delicious and no-fuss recipes.

The food i love - Neil Perry

I remember the first time i saw this book on the shelf at BORDERS in Kingston, UK. I instantly loved the white on white look and the whole layout of the book. I liked Neil's writting too, not too much (like Nigella), nor too little (he explains every technics...).

But the book cost 30£. So i left it on the shelf (usually i would have bought it but as i had already bought 7 cookbooks in 4 days i tried to restrain myself a little and the price was a good excuse).

And now it's only 18£ so i jumped for it...

Labels: cookbooks