The All-American Cookie Book
Author: Nancy Baggett
For this trailblazing collection of America's favorite cookies, Nancy Baggett crisscrossed the nation, visiting small-town bakeries, chic urban cookie boutiques, rural inns, bed-and-breakfasts, farmers' markets, and the homes of locally renowned cooks. She combed through community cookbooks and searched out long-lost heirloom recipes, sure-handedly reworking every recipe in her own kitchen.
THE ALL-AMERICAN COOKIE BOOK celebrates regional gems from every corner of the country: Pennsylvania Dutch Soft Sugar Cookies, New York Black and Whites, New Mexican Biscochitos, Key Lime Frosties from Florida, and Mocha Espresso Wafers from Seattle. A sophisticated hazelnut chocolate sandwich cookie that was the closely guarded secret of an Oregon hostess is here, and so is a delightfully crisp (and easy to roll out) old-fashioned gingerbread cookie recreated from a handwritten 1880 notebook.
Homespun classics abound: Chocolate Whoopie Pies, Caramel Apple Crumb Bars, Chocolate Chunk Brownies, and Caramel-Frosted Brown Sugar Drops. The collection also features devastatingly delicious contemporary creations like Chewy Chocolate Chunk Monster Cookies and Cranberry-Cherry Icebox Ribbons. For children and adults alike, one of the most exciting chapters will be the lavishly illustrated "Cookie Decorating and Crafts," which includes everything from simple projects like Christmas cookies and Chocolate Gingerbread Bears to an elaborate gingerbread house. As Nancy Baggett tells the story of America's heritage, she slips in fascinating bits of history, showing the evolution of our homegrown baking traditions.
Publishers Weekly
Baggett (International Cookie Cookbook) has spent the last few years searching this country for great cookie recipes, and enthusiasm over the results (such as Fudge Brownies Supreme) characterizes every page of Baggett's wonderful new cookie compendium. Her first chapter covers the basics, though other useful how-to's emerge throughout the book, such as shaping cookie dough in a loaf pan for Cranberry-Cherry Icebox Ribbons. The next nine chapters, mostly divided into flavors (chocolate, fruit, spices, etc.), reveal America's wide-ranging cookie bounty, from Vermont's Maple Sugar cut-outs and Kentucky's Bourbon Fruitcake Cookies to Coffee-Pecan Crunch Bars from Texas and Hazelnut-Chocolate Chip Cookies from Oregon. Enlivened by quotes from old cookbooks, each straightforward recipe tells the story of its heritage, whether it's a simple Mrs. Porter's Improved Jumbles from the 1800s or a contemporary "Chubby" weighing in with one pound of chocolate. (Oct.) Forecast: As a selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club, these cookies will reach the hands of many an American. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
A talented baker and cooking teacher, Baggett (International Cookie Cookbook) estimates that she made close to 30,000 cookies while working on this book. When she wasn't baking, she was traveling all over the country or poring over antique cookbooks in search of unusual regional recipes, ethnic specialties, almost-forgotten "heirlooms," prized creations from home bakers, and enduring classics. The result is this collection of more than 150 "best of the best" recipes, including Butterscotch Crunch Cookies, Fantastic Fudgewiches, Brown Sugar-Pecan Sticky Bars, and Almond Sweethearts; there's also a separate chapter on cookie decorating and crafts (e.g., Painted Cookie Jigsaw Puzzles). In addition, Baggett's research into early cookbooks will make this of interest to any culinary historian. For all baking collections. [Main Selection of The Good Cook.] Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
Adult/High School-The author's search took her from treasured family recipes to rare book rooms all over the United States. After a brief introduction about the American cookie, Baggett explains "How to make great cookies every single time." Experienced bakers as well as novices can benefit from this section. Estimating that she baked about 30,000 cookies while researching this book, the author states that every recipe has been tested at least three times. She offers clear, easy-to-follow directions for every step, followed by eight chapters divided by the kind of treat: cookies and shortbreads, chocolate and white chocolate chip cookies, nut and peanut cookies, etc. The mouthwatering color photographs add the finishing touch. The last chapter covers cookie decorating and crafts. Dispersed among the recipes is trivia, information about changes in techniques and ingredients, instructions on how to store and freeze, and even quotes from vintage cookbooks. Most of the ingredients are readily available. This is a great book for students in home economics and culinary classes as well as experienced and novice bakers.-Carol Clark, formerly at Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
New interesting book: Izakaya or Pops
Notably Nashville: A Medley of Tastes and Traditions
Author: Inc The Junior League of Nashvill
Distinctly southern at its roots, Notably Nashville creates a medley of flavors, traditions, legends, and history that blends seamlessly into a cookbook that sings. More than just a cookbook, it combines Nashville's penchant for food, music, history, family, art, and sports.
No comments:
Post a Comment