Book Review: Flour + Water = Pasta

An elevated guide to the craft of pasta-making by rising star chef Thomas McNaughton of San Francisco's hottest Italian restaurant, flour + water. 

From San Francisco’s wildly popular Italian restaurant, flour + water, comes this complete primer on the craft of pasta making. Chef Thomas McNaughton shares his time-tested secrets to creating simple, delicious, and beautiful artisan pasta—from the best fresh doughs to shaping and cooking every type of pasta.  A true celebration of Italy’s pasta traditions, flour + water includes fifty seasonally influenced recipes for home cooks of every skill level. The recipes cover the flavor spectrum from well-loved classics to inventive combinations, such as Tagliatelle Bolognese; Pumpkin Tortelloni with Sage  and Pumpkin Seeds; Tomato Farfalle with Chicken Polpettine, Roasted Peppers, and Basil; and  Asparagus Caramelle with Brown Butter. With guidance from McNaughton and the secrets of flour + water’s dough room, anyone can learn to make amazing pasta at home.

*My Review*

While I'm all about cooking(and eating haha) I am not impresed with this book. I used to help my grandparents make pasta as a child, so the only thing this book really did for me was bring back the amazing childhood memories. I honestly can't say that I will ever use this book, but if I ever decide to make my own pasta...then I will already have this book! It's not one I would have gone out and spent money on.

*disclaimer*

I received this book free of charge from Bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own

Book Review: Let Us All Eat Cake: Gluten-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Cakes

A delightful collection of gluten-free takes on your favorite cake recipes, from everyday coffee cakes, layered cakes, and cupcakes to show-stopping special occasion masterpieces.

Celebrate your favorite holidays and special occasions from birthdays to bake sales, Halloween to Christmas—and even the everyday—with delectable gluten-free cakes. In this delightful collection, Catherine Ruehle, a pastry chef and cake artist turned wellness foods chef, shares sixty classic cake recipes that are every bit as indulgent as the gluten-heavy ones we adore, but gluten-free, all-natural, and with alternatives given for vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free renditions. A few of the luscious cakes that await: Pink Velvet Strawberry Cake made electrifyingly pink with strawberries instead of food dye, Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes that children of all ages will be thrilled to find in their lunchboxes, and a dramatic White and Dark Chocolate Checkerboard Cake that’s a cinch to prepare in advance. With positivity and careful guidance, Ruehle provides basic and advanced decorating, piping, and plating techniques to take your cakes from pretty to breathtaking. So go ahead: lick the frosting off the beaters, cut yourself a nice big slice, and let us all eat cake!

My Review:

When i requested this book from blogging for books, I had my wife in mind. She has a gluten allergy. The book hooks you from the first cover...and then I looked inside of the book! The pictures in the book are amazing. There are several cakes that my wife and I am already planning to make! The back cover is amazing as well. We were both left craving cake. It's nice to see that there are gluten free cake cookbooks.

*Disclaimer*

I received this book free of charge from BloggingForBooks.Org

Book Review: Tacolicious: Festive Recipes for Tacos, Snacks, Cocktails, and More

A collection of recipes for fun, accessible taqueria fare--including colorful salsas, tasty snacks, irresistible cocktails, and of course tacos galore--from the wildly popular San Francisco restaurants and acclaimed Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market food stand, Tacolicious. 

Tacos may be the most universally loved, happy-making food on earth. After all, who can say no to a juicy, spicy Chile verde taco; a decadently deep-fried Baja-style fish taco; or a gloriously porky Carnitas taco? At Tacolicious, the San Francisco Bay Area’s most popular Mexican restaurant, tacos are a way of life. And now, in this hotly anticipated cookbook, co-owner Sara Deseran shares all of the restaurant’s tortilla-wrapped secrets. Whether you’re seeking quick and easy weeknight meals or inspiration for a fabulous fiesta,Tacolicious has you covered. With recipes for showstopping salsas, crave-worthy snacks, cocktails and mocktails, and, of course, tacos galore, this festive collection is chock-full of real Mexican flavor—with a delicious California twist. 

*My Review*

I absolutely LOVE food...I especially love tacos. So, when I saw this Tacolicious book I knew I HAD to get it. I'm gad I did! It has much more than just tacos in it. They have salsas,pickles & More, Sides & snacks, cocktails, & "G-rated" drinks. I do believe this book will be used very often. 

*Disclaimer*
I received this book from blogging for books in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Sweet: Our best cupcakes, cookies, candy and more

TAKE ALL THE GUESSWORK OUT OF DESSERT! Food Network Magazine editors have picked their all-time favorite treats and put them into one amazing book. In Sweet, you’ll find over-the-top brownies, super fun cupcakes, show-off layer cakes, one-of-a-kind cookies and so much more. 

This great collection includes recipes for any occasion, with step-by-step instructions and full-page color photographs to help you along. You don’t need to be an experienced baker to get started. Every dessert in this book is easy to follow—and totally foolproof. Each recipe has been triple-tested, so you know it’ll come out just right. Flip through and you’ll find some fun surprises, too: a bowl made of chocolate, a spectrum of frosting colors and a cake that looks like a giant caramel apple. Check out what’s inside!


I honestly wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! It's a great book that will be used. I cannot wait to try ALL of the recipes! This is a definite must read. It has amazing cakes in there that I have only dreamed of making.

*Disclaimer*

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

{{Book Review}} Fried & True by Lee Brian Schrager, with Adeena Sussman.

Whether you prefer it cold out of the fridge or hot and crispy on a buttery biscuit, you will find your new favorite fried chicken recipe in Fried & True, serving up more than 50 recipes for America’s most decadently delicious food.

Lee Schrager has left no stone unturned in his quest to find America’s best fried chicken. From four-star restaurants to roadside fry shacks, you’ll learn how to brine your bird, give it a buttermilk bath, batter or even double batter it, season with loads of spices, and fry it up to golden perfection. Recipes to savor include:

--Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
--Yotam Ottolenghi’s Seeded Chicken Schnitzel with Parsley-Caper Mayonnaise
--Marcus Samuelsson’s Coconut Fried Chicken with Collards and Gravy
--Jacques-Imo’s Fried Chicken and Smothered Cabbage
--The Loveless Café’s Fried Chicken and Hash Brown Casserole
--Blackberry Farm’s Sweet Tea–Brined Fried Chicken
--Charles Phan’s Hard Water Fried Chicken
--Thomas Keller’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken
--Wylie Dufresne’s Popeyes-Style Chicken Tenders and Biscuits

Sink your teeth into Fried & True, the source of your next great fried chicken masterpiece and a tribute to America’s most beloved culinary treasure.

*My Review*

There is no surprise that I love to eat! Being from the south I especially love (buttermilk) fried chicken! This is a really great book, & I enjoyed reading it...and cooking from it. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to cook(and eat)

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."