Cookbook Review: The Great Australian Cookbook

My review: 5 stars
The Great Australian Cookbook

This is a book I wish I’d been able to produce.  The editors have gone on a nationwide journey and asked 100 of Australia’s top cooks, chefs and foodies for their favourite home recipes.  This book has so many stars and unsung heroes in it you will find something that suits your abilities and your palate.

eg Maggie Beer – makes something with quince (or vino cotto); Margaret Fulton – makes something with a sponge cake; Zumbo – makes something really difficult.

ANZAC recipe
ANZAC recipe

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Cookbook Review: Homemade TAKEAWAY by Julie Goodwin

My Review: 5 stars

I made a promise to myself to only write positive reviews about books I really love.  This is THE BEST COOKBOOK I HAVE READ IN 12 MONTHS.

It makes THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE I have ever baked.

Yes folks its that good.

Julie Goodwin Chocolate Slab Cake

choc cake 1
Julie Goodwin Chocolate Slab Cake

more after the jump

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Cookbook Review: Jamie’s Food Tube: The Cake Book by Cupcake Jemma

My Review: 5 stars

This is a super slim but information rich book written by Oliver protege “Cupcake Jemma”.   I really like this book.  It’s small, simple, but delicious.  The chocolate cupcakes were divine. More after the jump!

Cupcake Jemma Chocolate Cupcakes
Cupcake Jemma Chocolate Cupcakes

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Cookbook Review: The Complete Asian Cookbook by Charmaine Solomon

Easy to make, authentic cuisines adapted for the average kitchen.  This curry was AMAZING.  

4.5 stars

Kari Ayam Kelapa and Nasi Kunit
Kari Ayam Kelapa and Nasi Kunit

But how does this book cook? I made the Kari Ayam Kelapa (Chicken Curry with Roasted Coconut) and the Nasi Kunit (glutinous tumeric rice).

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Cookbook Review: Flavours of Melbourne by Jonette George & Ethan Jenkins

My rating: 5 stars

Flavours of Melbourne
Flavours of Melbourne

A must have book for mother’s day

The Flavours of Melbourne is the most amazing book I’ve seen all year.  It’s both a love letter to a great city, an epic photography collection and a cookbook.  It’s beautiful, charming, informative and a pleasure to read.  More after the jump!

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WIN!! RIPE Cookbooks by Angela Redfern

WIN a copy of RIPE cookbook or RIPE (A Fresh Batch) by Angela Redfern 

RIPE and RIPE - A Fresh Batch by Angela Redfern
RIPE and RIPE – A Fresh Batch by Angela Redfern

 

 

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Cookbook Review: The Pocket Bakery by Rose Prince

My rating: 5 stars

The Pocket Bakery Rose Prince

 

 

Lemon Tart by Rose Prince

 

The best baking book for beginners

This book is the best beginners’ baking book I’ve seen in a long time.  It really is a B.A.S.I.C baking book for complete duffers.  The instructions are so detailed I got carpel tunnel from re-typing the recipes.  The benefit to the reader is recipes that seem to work! Fillings that fit the tin! Recipes that give the tin size needed!  NO SOGGY BOTTOMS WHEN FOLLOWING THE REALISTIC INSTRUCTIONS!!! (i.e. no stupid instructions saying “blind bake for 5 min” that is bu11 sh*t).  All things that experienced bakers take for granted but novice bakers need to know.  It also assumes no stand mixers nor machines so you can use this book without making serious financial investment.

More after the jump

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Cookbook Review: Luke and Scott Clean Living (A 3 Week Healthy Lifestyle Plan to Help You Change Your Life)

My rating: 4 stars
Clean Living: A 3-week Healthy Lifestyle Plan to Help You Change Your Life

An accessible food and body workout ‘Paleo-Style’
Luke and Scott were the Bondi loving personal trainers from 2013’s series of My Kitchen Rules.

 

Much like the authors, this is a slim, beautiful book about paleolithic eating and functional training.  As a cronut fan I was naturally very suspicious.  Fortunately, the recipe section of the book is exciting, fresh and uses superfoods in a very appealing way.  50% of the book is about exercise and has lots of detailed instructions and pictures on how to work out right.  I wish though, that the boys had put up some you tube videos on how these exercises are done.  I enjoyed looking at the pictures of people exercising while I sat on my couch.

Luke and Scott Clean Living Exercises
Luke and Scott Clean Living Exercises

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Cronut wars: Zumbo’s Zonut vs Tivoli’s Dossant

Comparing Cronuts: At Left, Tivoli Bakery's Do-ssant vs At Right, Zumbo's Zo-nut
Comparing Cronuts: LEFT Tivoli Bakery’s Do-ssant vs RIGHT Zumbo’s Zo-nut

I had always sworn to keep my blog purely about cookbooks.  However, sometimes an epic change in the culinary landscape occurs and all the rules shatter.

The tectonic plates of the carbohydrate universe have changed with the introduction of the Cronut.

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WIN! – Chicken & Eggs (River Cottage Handbook No.11)

As you know I’m a big fan of Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and the River Cottage Publications (see here).  River Cottage Handbook No. 11 by Mark Diacono has been released and is yours to win thanks to Bloomsbury books!

The first half details “how to” raise chickens and farm eggs.  The second half is all chicken and egg recipes.  Its a charming and curious book.

You can win your own copy of this book by re-tweeting, FB posting, or by subscribing to this website! Please let me know via comments how you’ve entered.

Entries close 14 October 2013.

River Cottage Chicken & Eggs by Mark Diacono

River Cottage Chicken & Eggs by Mark Diacono