No comments about Whoopie Pies (Cookery).

5 comments about Tea and Crumpets.

1. My mouth was watering just flipping through these recipes. They brought back wonderful memories of having high tea in London. Can't wait to try a few of these recipes and then plan a tea party with friends.



2. "Tea and Crumpets" is a delightful review of tea shops, tea history, and recipies for all manor of items to be served at High Tea. I purchased four copies - one for me, one for my sister, one for my daughter, and one for my BFF. Brew a cup of tea and sit down and read "Tea and Crumpets" all the way through.



3. "Tea & Crumpets: Recipes & Rituals from European Tearooms & Cafes" is an elegantly beautiful, bound tea cookbook that contains tasteful reductions of the history of tea in addition to a selection of classic tea recipes and suggestions for savories, scones, and sweets, plus a sampling of various Western European tea customs as well as a traveler's guide to European tearooms. All of this is studded with beautiful photographs of delectable tea treats, tea serving accessories and china, and famous teashops throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. It is accessible to American readers particularly because the recipes are adapted to standard American measuring utensils. There is also a handy list of resources at the end that lists sources for many of the teatime special ingredients as well as descriptions of the treats and ingredients. Finally, a Table of Equivalents lists easy conversion amounts for readers who want to convert other tea recipes from one system to another. "Tea & Crumpets" will appeal not just to Anglophiles and Francophiles, but to anyone who has ever learned to appreciate a wonderful cup of tea.



4. If you only have room for one cookbook on your shelf about tea and the foods that go with it, then this is the one! Quite like taking a tour through the great tea houses of America, Britain & France, I couldn't put this down. It is very nearly a travel book - making one dream of going to London simply to ignore everything else and frequent all the locations mentioned within.



5. I bought this book for a gift and my friend is very happy to have it.

5 comments about 125 Best Cupcake Recipes.

1. I purchased this book in order to hold a gift certificate for my wife to a cupcake cooking class. So, I wasn't really worried about how good the cookbook was since it wasn't the main gift. We had a great time at the class, but my wife has been cooking cupcakes from this book for the last couple of months. We haven't had a bad one yet and she keeps finding recipes she wants to try. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to try some some fun and tasty cupcake recipes.



2. Bought this book when I first learned to bake. Easy to follow instructions and so far, none of the recipes failed me yet.



3. These recipes are written for smaller batches of cupcakes and are pretty easy! Most of them work how they say they will. Some turn out more cupcakes than stated but that's o.k.!



4. You can't make a bad cupcake if you follow the directions in this book. Every page has a picture of the cupcake you'll be making plus helpful hints and a receipe for the icing to top your creation.



5. I've tried two cupcake recipes and three frosting recipes from this book. The frosting recipes were only OK after I added milk - they wouldn't come together, and certainly wouldn't have spread otherwise. Both cupcake recipes were terrible. They just didn't taste like cake. The flavor and the texture were just off for both of them. I really don't trust any of the recipes in this book.

5 comments about The Williams-Sonoma Collection: Dessert.

1. Excellent book for anyone interested in desserts. I can't cook, but for some reason I can make excellent desserts. The berry fool is very easy to make and you can change it up a bit and put it in individual graham cracker pie plates. This book is loads of fun. Read the whole thing first though.



2. I really love this book! The pictures are great and the recipes are what I was looking for! I highly recommend it!



3. When you sensibly order this deal of a book, don't be surprised to find yourself promising to make EVERY SINGLE RECIPE as you flip through. The pictures are delectable, and the recipes easy to follow. They also include sidebars with both general information and that which is specific to the dessert at hand. I also enjoy their suggestions for alternate flavor additions. There are 6 sections of recipes: The Classics, Simple Desserts, Summer Fruit Desserts, Holiday Desserts, Special Occasions, and Chocolate Decadence. There are 7 recipes per section, and the book ends with basic dessert tips, glossary, and index.
   Note that they use chocolate rather than cocoa in the chocolate-based desserts. I have a double boiler, but still generally prefer to use a metal bowl sitting atop a saucepan with gently boiling water. The bonus is that you can then use that as the main mixing bowl for zero chocolate loss.



4. Written with passion not only for baking desserts, but teaching foundational principles of cooking well. Tips taught specifically for any given recipe can transform how you perceive cooking in general. You really get the impression that Chuck Williams wants to impart knowledge and complete understanding of cooking, and the recipes are the lessons. So simple, so delicious. And if you're as lucky as me, you'll get the whole series for Christmas.



5. i love cook books that actually have full color pics of the recipes youre cooking! helpful pics and wording, my boyfriend wants me to make every recipe in the book!

5 comments about The Vegan Scoop: 150 Recipes for Dairy-Free Ice Cream that Tastes Better Than the "Real" Thing.

1. First let me say the I did learn two things from this book -- saving it from a one-star rating. Those things were:
   
   Arrowroot powder is a nice additive for better texture
   Soy creamer can be used for a creamier texture
   
   I have made soy-based ice cream for years now, but have never used either of these ingredients. I would merely take a regular ice cream recipe and substitute soy milk for real milk. These concoctions were good, but lacked a bit in the texture department. Now I have a solution!
   
   As for the rest of this recipe book, it is a single base recipe for the majority with a single ingredient added to make a unique flavor. So, for Espresso ice cream, add 1/4 c espresso to the base recipe. For "Earl Grey", steep the soy milk in 8 bags of Earl Grey -- same base recipe otherwise! Are we to believe that adding a single simple ingredient will transform this recipe into the perfect balance of new flavors? No additional sugar or slightly less sugar would be better? And does every recipe really benefit from EXACTLY 1 Tbls of vanilla extract?
   
   Also, I tried one of the "novelty" flavors -- Chocolate Martini. Next to the recipe is a picture of thick, creamy, dark chocolate ice cream with a frozen black olive on the side. Wow! Amazing that you can get such a wonderful looking ice cream from sugar water and a total of 6 teaspooons of various liquors. Well, you can't! The mix looks like dirty water and the finished product looks like a dirty slushy -- and tastes about the same.
   
   I am going to buy "Lick It!" which is recommended by another reviewer. Sounds more promising. I'll also be experimenting with my own recipes by adding various quantities of soy creamer and arrowroot powder.



2. I love this book! I've tried numerous recipes from this book and they've all been delicious! It's also been an inspiration for me in making up my own ice cream flavors and being creative. I love making dairy free treats and this book is all about doing it well!



3. I am not vegan yet (although it may not be long), but what brought me to buy this book was the simple fact that I am allergic to milk and I wanted to find some ice cream I could make myself. I am also allergic to soy and get a similar reaction.... which leads to my problem. I should have done more research because the main ingredient in most of these recipes is soy, so I was quite disappointed. I have not tried any recipes yet, but each one looks delish and I cannot wait to experiment (which is why I did give it 3 stars due to the variety and layout of the book). I just wish the author would have given more recipes without the soy... or suggested more alternatives. I know the author says to substitute rice milk or almond milk, etc., but what about a good substitute for the soy creamer for richness? I like the book, but maybe Lick It! should have been my choice since most of their recipes seem to be coconut based... or Vice Cream which appears nut based. I just wish the covers of these cute ice cream books would say... WE USE MOSTLY COCONUT, or WE USE MOSTLY NUTS, or WE USE MOSTLY SOY. It would be helpful since those looking at these books may not necessarily be vegan, and even if they are, they may have allergies like a good majority of the public!
   
   That being said, I think I will still enjoy this book and will just have to experiment more. Hopefully, this will help others looking for books like this due to allergies. God bless those who don't have any...



4. This was a awesome book, I used it in a Vegan gift basket for a 2nd wedding... I added a bunch of vegan ice cream toppings and these adorable waffle bowls and ice cream spoons. With 3 kids and a reluctant "vegan" husband, I know an ice cream transition will let the whole family enjoy the lifestyle. They loved it...



5. The Vegan Scoop--by Wheeler DelTorro, founder of the Boston-based vegan ice-cream microbrewery that bears his (first) name--is downright delicious in every way. Pick up this book, as it is impossible to give it justice in a review: it must be seen, tested, and tasted to be fully experienced. Scoop provides 150 (count `em!) recipes, and that's just the beginning. Milks: soy, almond, cashew, coconut, and rice. More? Del Torro's "second string" of legumes, nuts, and seeds throws 15 more flavors into the mix; spices, herbs, and flowers another 22. Seven chapters categorize his innovations, from Classic (Rocky Road) to Asian (Wasabi) to Aphrodisiacal (Mojito Sorbet). Scoop is a giant banana split that you will have trouble finishing, but you must try.

5 comments about Paris Sweets: Great Desserts From the City's Best Pastry Shops.

1. Being a big fan of Dorie Greenspan, I bought the book with great expectations. Dorie managed to tell great stories of these Parisian pastry creations at the same time tell her readers how to recreate those experiences.
   
   As usual, the recipes are very detailed with step by step instructions, with pointers following each recipe to make it more unique. I tried many of them, and I'm definitely happy with the end results.
   
   I only wish that there are pictures in the book, helping readers to envision how the end results would be. It'll also help giving pointers on judging whether the results are favorable. I mean, if I had not tasted a Madeleine in my entire life, how can I tell the difference between the real ones with a hump, and those flat ones from Starbucks?



2. This book was such an addictingly delightful read that I couldn't put it down! I read it from cover to cover within an evening. As other reviewers mentioned, this is an unusual cookbook in that it doesn't have photographs at all! In addition, interspersed within the recipes are anecdotes of the author's experience when she explored the various Parisian patisseries. The recipes are sumptuous and as you can imagine of any authentic Parisian pastries, a tad involved. Nevertheless, there are also the relatively simple and delicious ones, such as irresistible Madeleines and crunchy little cookies (Croques).
   
   My favorite part of the book is the little tidbits about how Dorie Greenspan managed to get the different patissiers to part with some of their signature recipes. I also like the hand illustrations of Paris and the patisseries. The drawings are reminiscent of the illustrations by Quentin Blake for Roald Dahl's books. This book will also double as a Parisian guide for gourmands and dessert enthusiasts! Overall, this is an enjoyable, delightful read!



3. Fantastic book...not tried the receipes yet but tons of interesting thing...can follow the paris trail!



4. This is an amazing book... if you're french or miss the pastries and desserts from your last trip to Paris.. invest in this book... ! You can recreate the eclairs and financiers that you've been missing and dreaming about!!!



5. Book arrived in NEW condition.
   Items presented in book are clear and traditional with good detail.
   
   I really like the book.
   I especially enjoy the stories relating the collection process of the recipies and history of the places they came from.

5 comments about Cupcakes: Luscious bakeshop favorites from your home kitchen.

1. This is a very lovely book, with great recipes and beautiful pictures. I am very happy that I bought this book.



2. I've been looking for some new cupcake recipes and these look fabulous. This was a Christmas gift and I'm already planning on trying the Mocha, Crumbcake, Tangerine, Lime Meringue, Hazelnut-Brown Butter and Black Forest cupcakes in the very near future. In addition to great looking recipes, there are also some nice decorating techniques for professional and pretty looking cupcakes. I can't wait to start baking!



3. The variety of recipes in this book made me choose it over some other cupcake cookbooks -- and I'm glad I made that decision. So far I've made four cupcakes and three of the frostings and I'm happy with the results. The cupcakes all turned out so moist and delicious. And the frostings were the perfect match.
   
   The buttercream is a meringue style and I've had the best results with it of any of the similar buttercream recipes I've tried. I think my husband would love it if I just used the Gooey Chocolate Glaze on every cupcake I made, but there are too many others to try still.
   
   I can definitely see using this as my go-to cupcake cookbook!



4. I received this book as a gift. I have tried 3 recipes so far and am not terribly impressed. The frosting is VERY good. The cupcakes themselves, however, just don't quite measure up. All of the cupcakes I've made have been a little too dense and not the soft texture that one usually likes in a cake. I'd say they're a touch on the dry side, though not terribly so; just a little too dense and heavy. The flavors, however, have been quite good. I am not a beginner baker, and have made lots of great cake recipes from other books, and since it's the same problem each time, I have to fault the book. If it weren't for the fact that I bake a lot and have therefore made a lot of superior cakes, I would probably be satisfied with this book due to it's many good points, but the recipes just don't measure up as written.



5. I have made the vanilla and chocolate cupcakes from this book, and both were outstanding! The recipes are very precise and turn out beautifully. (I completely disagree with the reviewers who called the cupcakes dry.) I can't wait to try some of the other varieties, like chai & honey cupcakes. This book is loaded with sophisticated ideas and flavors, plus loads of gorgeous photographs. Highly recommended.

5 comments about The Ultimate Smoothie Book: 130 Delicious Recipes for Blender Drinks, Frozen Desserts, Shakes, and More!.

1. Some interesting recipes in there. Best suited for someone who is health conscious and watching watch they eat.
   
   To be honest you can't beat the standard recipe of apple juice, pineapple sherbet, ice and whatever fresh fruit you fancy (I go with pineapple, strawberry and banana).



2. I got this book because I just purchased a new Vita Mix blender and have been looking for ways to use it. This was beneficial to me in that it gave me a lot of ideas on how to change things I have already been making. This book is really beyond smoothies, with ideas for desserts and more. Some are more healthy than others. Lots of options for people with various tastes and way more than the standard "tropical drink" options. It was very helpful to me.



3. This is way more than smoothie recipes. It delivers so much important information
   on what foods are good for you and what foods are beneficial to specific parts of the body.
   Many, many different smoothie recipes re: energy, sleep, immune booster, etc. Great book!



4. In an effort to add more fruits and vegetables into our diet, I've been looking at smoothie recipes. My chiropractors really recommend them as an energizing breakfast, packed with nutrition. I think this can be true if the smoothie recipe focuses on healthy ingredients without added sweeteners.
   
   The Ultimate Smoothie Book contains a lot of great information regarding the best ingredients to use in smoothies and what nutritional benefits each food adds. It is well-organized with informational sections before you actually get to the smoothie recipes. The smoothie recipes are also organized into categories which makes it easy to find the type of smoothie you are looking for. I love that each smoothie recipe also has a nutritional breakdown per serving.
   
   I was a bit thrown off by the book beginning with a section on juicing. I wasn't looking for a book on juicing - I was looking for smoothies! Calbom puts a great emphasis on using fresh fruit and vegetable juices in her recipes, which would unfortunately necessitate another piece of kitchen equipment which I am not interested in purchasing at this time. Calbom also uses ice frequently in her smoothie recipes and claims that a regular blender will be able to handle this. Maybe some blenders can handle ice well enough to make a truly smooth smoothie but I know mine cannot.
   
   The majority of the recipes included in The Ultimate Smoothie Book look really tasty. Unfortunately, I've decided that I'm going to need to wait until I have a better blender and warmer weather to actually try them out. Smoothies in the middle of winter just don't sound very appealing!



5. I suppose that this book is for people who are already into whole foods. To people who aren't accustomed to such foods might read ingredients like Lecithin granules, Asorbic Acid, Sprilla and go "What the heck is that?" But, I'm weird, and I already have all that stuff. :)
   It's also for people who have a good blender (obviously) and preferably a juicer, though store bought juices are fine. You just get more health benefits from fresh juices. And I'm glad the Author does understand that not everyone has a juicer.
   
   That being said though, I've always enjoyed making healthful and delicious juices and smoothies. But the few other books I have, mainly the juice books, the recipes are a bit too fancy for me. Not to mention expensive. Great for entertaining guests I suppose, but just for me? Nah. Smoothies, for the most part I've just made up on my own. But realizing how many calories I was consuming with them woke me up a bit. I LOVE that this book has not only very yummy smoothies, but nutritional info for each one! I also love that they are all designed for specific health needs. Losing weight, Working out, Pregnancy, Boosting Immunity, etc. It also has a section for kids. What a wonderful way to get more healthy foods in my son's belly without his knowing it because they taste so damn awesome!
   
   I love this book. And even though, as a few have complained, there are no pictures (I always look for cook books with beautiful photos) - this is the only Smoothie Book I need.
   
   A side note about the cost of smoothies and juicing - I think this book saves you money. It has you making ice cubes from strong teas or fresh juices to add into future smoothies. So in my freezer, I have it stocked with labeled freezer bags of Beet Juice, Watermelon Carrot Juice, Coconut Milk. Today I planned on making up some Chai Tea Ice Cubes for the Chai Smoothie later. Juicing yourself in small amounts and freezing them really cuts down on the cost of produce. You use less, and your produce doesn't spoil before you get a chance to use it all.
   Even still, if I see an apple looking a little sad. I just juice it instead of throwing it away.
   Apples are also a good cheap filler for juicing. Any produce on the expensive side, I juice with apples to use less of the more expensive produce. The taste isn't changed much, and it adds fiber and other nutrients.

1 comments about Cupcakes: Truly Delectable Creations for Every Day, for Special Occasions and for Sharing With Friends.

1. This book ir really fantastic. I've been buying some books about cupcakes and this is one of the most complete. It has really easy recipies an the way to decorate them is beautifull. If you want to taste new recipies this is the book for you.

5 comments about Brownie Mix Bliss: More Than 175 Very Chocolate Recipes for Brownies, Bars, Cookies and Other Decadent Desserts Made with Boxed Brownie Mix.

1. I received this book about 5 months ago and since have made about 15 of the recipes in the book. I don't normally write reviews, but I love this book so much I had to go back 5 months later and leave a review. The recipes all start with a box of brownie mix and add extras to create delicious, sinfully decadent desserts that look like they were made from scratch. No one would ever believe that these desserts started with brownie mix, and I'm not going to tell them! Some of my favorites- chocolate-covered cherry brownies, mint frosted brownies, cappuchino brownies, brownie truffles, brownie-bottom fudge cheesecake and so many others. I have actually used the recipe for Almond Fudge Brownies 4 times due to popular demand: several of my coworkers were so impressed they commissioned me to make them for their children's birthday parties! Every recipe is easy to follow and would be useful for anyone from expert baker to people that have only baked using box cake and brownie mixes. In just 5 months my book is well creased and stained with chocolate smudges because it is my go-to book whenever I need to make something for a special occasion. Besides great brownie recipes, it includes many, many recipes for desserts that you would never think of using brownie mix to make (ex: chocolate, chocolate, chocolate-chip cheesecake bars). It is definitely a multi-purpose book and I couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. It is worth every penny for all the smiles it has brought to my family and coworkers. :)



2. Get this cookbook for the Almond Fudge Brownies recipe! I brought a batch to work and a couple of the guys ate 5 or 6 EACH. Three weeks later they're still talking about them. Camilla makes you look like a genius baker and the recipes are so simple. Can't believe how many variations the author came up with. Can't wait to try more. I hit a homerun with my first selection.



3. This is a wonderful book with all sorts of good ideas for doctoring up a brownie box mix. My favorites thus far are the Cookies-n-cream brownies, Jim & Anna's Dark Rum Brownies, White Chocolate Brown Sugar Meringue Bars. I had never even heard of browned butter when I tried the Browned Butter Cashew Brownies. These are divine. The first time I made them I followed the recipe exactly. The second time I made them I used raw, then roasted cashews and salted butter, and the flavor was so much better. I can't wait to try all the other recipes. Aside from the recipes, the print is easily readable, the ingredient listed in bold text make them stand out, and the book was printed in North America. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a chocolate sweet tooth.



4. Super easy recipes, showing how to spice up a standard boxed brownie mix. saves time and ingredients but doesn't skimp on taste!



5. I think this book is a good book, I tried a recipe from it and it turned out good. Im looking forward to trying more recipes. I gave it four stars because there is no pictures what so ever in this book. I love having pictures in my cookbooks to get an idea of what im doing. Even though these recipes are simple I would still love to have pictures in it to look at. Im not asking for a picture for every recipe, but at least some pictures throughout the book. Also, I dont like the type of paper used in this book, as it is a cookbook not just any book.