Blog | Cookbookmaniac

Hope and Greenwood – Life is Sweet

Cookbook Reviews By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

In this jolly little gem of a book, Miss Hope and Mr Greenwood offer 50 of their most delectable sweet recipes delights such as toffee and fudge, coconut ice, gums, jellies, nougat and perfect hand-made chocolates. Like the confectionery they sell in their shops, everything in the book will recommend the use of the best ingredients, including fresh cream, butter and natural vanilla, and never use artificial flavours. You will also be treated to a delicious array of sweet stories, historical anecdotes and scandal which are guaranteed to make you chuckle. Exquisitely designed and lavishly photographed, Life is Sweet will tap into the current nostalgia for the confectionery we remember from our childhood and allow us to indulge our sweet tooth to the full. The writing style - deliberately jolly hockey sticks with a huge dollop of innuendo actually made me laugh. Guiltily because I thought for a moment that…

Pho Bo – Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup

Asian Recipes By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

There is a grace that permeates through every nook and cranny of my home when this pot is brewing in the kitchen. It is the thing that gives my body a sense of safety and nurture. It is the meal that I call home, and whenever I catch a whiff of the precious spices simmering along with the marrow bones, my neck instantly arches up and my nose points up into the air. "Yes, a fresh pot is brewing". An engaged and knowing smile crosses my heart and I know I must give in to the temptation to what Vietnamese call Phở. There must be some magical formula that causes the hard-working people of Vietnam to participate in the ritual of eating this morning, noon and night. It is too good to save for one time of the day, and if your cravings dictate when you eat, you too may…

Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon & Chives – Curtis Stone

Australian Recipes By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

In honour of Australia Day celebrations, here is a blog post about a wonderful Australian chef, Curtis Stone. Enjoy! Like many people who choose a voluptuous life in the food industry Curtis started his career studying for a degree in business. However, his hunger for food called louder than graphs and numbers, so, he packed his bags and jetted off to London. He made a name for himself in restaurants throughout Europe, Australia and England and his big break came when he was featured in the book London on a Plate. Curtis has appeared in many television programs. He appeared in two successful seasons of Surfing the Menu, along with fellow chef Ben O'Donoghue. He was also the host of the first series of My Restaurant Rules before being replaced by Ian "Dicko" Dickson. He has made several guest appearances on NBC's Today show and most recently appeared on Martha Strewart's show.…