On the Bookshelf - Confessions of a Hungry Woman

Despite not having finished reading it yet, I just had to share my latest cookbook purchase because I am enjoying it so much. I'm having a tell someone, well tell everyone, moment. Introducing Confessions of a Hungry Woman

My nose is firmly in this book

I happened to have the privilege of meeting Sam Woulidge last year after winning a bloggers and foodie dinner invite to the One&Only. We got the chatting about our shared love of "trashy" tv, I will not expose us by naming the said Brit reality tv show. I can attest that Sam is as warm, friendly and funny in person as she sounds in her book and on her blog.

Confessions of a Hungry Woman is (based on the 60 odd pages I've read) a compilation of stories and recipes by Sam's friends including Kamini Pather, Reuben Riffel and Karen Dudley (of A Week in the Kitchen and The Kitchen in Cpt see review here). I love that it's not just a cookbook it's pages of insights into Sam's life. I feel like I'm peeping through a window watching a friend busying in the kitchen in anticipation of my arrival. It's honest, humorous and sometimes heart wrenching and tear jerking (read the prayer of the passion fruit).

It's a book that I will be gifting in abundance, starting with my friend Thithi (of teeteeiswithme) who will appreciate this style of cookbook. Reading it makes me crave travelling and savouring new flavours. Thank you Sam!

I know that Confessions of a Hungry Woman is available at Exclusive Books and online at Yuppiechef. Happy reading!

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On the Bookshelf - Cooked in Africa

A couple of weeks ago I was part of the blogger judges that were invited to judge the Jo'burg auditions of Ultimate Braai Master. It was a great morning tasting the good, the bad and the phenomen giblets & chicken feet. As a thanks we received a goodie bag which included Justin Bonello's Cooked in Africa

Cooked in Africa is a chronicle of Justin's cooking journey through Southern Africa. It offers a blend of traditional South African dishes and continental cuisine. I am keen to try Justin's take on some of the traditional dishes I serve at home like the crab curry. But living in an apartment in Jozi means I won't be making a pit oven, but there are still recipes for  those in the comforts of their own home like the Tom Yum Goong Risotto.

On the Bookshelf: Savour

Courtesy: Yummy Thymes blog

I'm in the process of discovering the bond between food and language in Savour. Savour is a collaboration between Marc Hirschowitz (Events extraordinaire), Karen Alsfine (Creative writer come creative cook), and Estelle Sacharowitz (Cuisine concocter). Each chapter is named a descriptive word that is meant to yield a emotional feeling associated with the recipes in that chapter. Wakey Wakey covers breakfast items, I immediately imagine a soft boiled egg with toast soldiers dipped in. Sip, oh yeah sippy sippy enough said, it covers drinks.

Savour offers recipes that cover almost every occasion. It's great for a first time cook looking for clear direction  with progression from homemade burgers to crepe suzette. Equally useful for a foodie like myself looking for an inspiration directory.

Image courtesy of YummyThymesBlog

The chapter that captured me at first perusal is the STORE chapter. The items are "reserved for future use" like jams, pickles, cordials, mustards and marinated mushrooms. I guess this chapter speaks to me because I'd love to be forever young & preserved in a sweet, sour, salty solution. (I know morbid much)

Oh and it looks absolutely smashing on a coffee table. Happy reading!

On the bookshelf: Paletas

Just received a recipe book as a gift it has recipes on Mexican summer treats called Paletas: Authentic recipes for Mexican Ice Pops,Shaved Ice & Aguas Frescas by Fany Gerson. Perfect timing for summer treat fun.

I've perused the book and first on my must try list are the Paletas de Fresa. Strawberry paletas, which I will be making as ice cubes. The ice cubes will be perfect in a Moscow Mule. Can't wait! Here's the recipe for the strawberry paletas http://www.cravebyrandomhouse.ca/2012/07/04/paletas-de-fresa-strawberry-ice-pops/ The book also has interesting combinations like Spicy Mango Paletas and Avocado paletas, I love guac so this is like the frozen version without nachos right?!

I may have to get the Zoku pop maker too!

Courtesy:  http://www.zokuhome.com/pages/products-quickpop-maker 

On the bookshelf: A week in The Kitchen

I'm loving the store display at Exclusive Books in The Zone Rosebank this week, it's gone all foodie.

It was there that I picked up Karen Dudley's A week in The Kitchen.The book gives the reader a look into, as titled, a week at the Kitchen. The Kitchen being a Eatery in Woodstock Cape Town.

Picture courtesy of fogartysbookshop.co.za

From a quick flip through the pages it looks like it's filled with wonderful recipes, but will let you know for sure once I've read, tried and tested.

Happy Reading!