Around this time of year, I have certain tasks I like to complete and these include cleaning out the photo file on my computer.

Inevitably, I find myself looking at the pictures I’ve taken over the last year and marvelling at what I did (and didn’t) make. Naturally I think about what I liked best and what I didn’t end up liking very much at all. Some pictures make me proud and some make me laugh because I know I was just rushing to get through the picture-taking so I could just eat.

But of all the pictures I took in 2010, the one above is my favourite.

It was taken on Sunday September 5th in Rocca Monte Calvo, Italy, which is the town that my father’s family is from in Le Marche.

Sometimes I think that to call Rocca Monte Calvo a town is to perhaps overstate it. The fact is that at its busiest, when the town was still inhabited by families that had been there for generations, I doubt it would have numbered more than even 1,000 inhabitants.

Like many of Italy’s hill towns, La Rocca (that’s what we call it) was impacted dramatically by industrialization and by war. By the time the second world war was over, more and more people were leaving the town to move to nearby cities, other parts of Italy or as in the case of my father, to Canada.

For many, many years now, the town stands almost empty as virtually no one lives there on a permanent basis any longer.

In the summer, however, the warm winds breathe life into La Rocca as many of the old-timers return to their shuttered houses to escape the heat of the city. Along with them they’ll bring their grandchildren who are sent up into the hills to spend summers with nonno and nonna while parents are busy working in the city.

In recent years, though, there have been some additional people returning to La Rocca and I count among them. We’re the children of La Rocca’s immigrants: all those folks who left home and sailed to other countries to build a new life. We’re the ones that go back to a place we weren’t born in, but yet somehow feels like home.

We return to our ancestral homes that have been renovated or are in the process of being renovated and we literally step into the embrace of a town of people who wait for us.

It’s the most beautiful thing.

This past summer, myself and another family that’s from Montreal, decided that we would say grazie (thank you) by throwing a party for the whole town.

On Sunday August 5, 2010, we invited all the summer inhabitants of the town, along with their families and with any other La Rocca descendents that we could get a hold of, to come and celebrate.

Our day started early in the morning when we gathered in front of the town church. A blessing was said and we then embarked on a 7 kilometre walk that took us up to the town of San Gregorio.

On our way, we stopped for a sosta (a break) amongst the chestnut trees that provide all the chestnuts the families of La Rocca enjoy during the holiday season (my family owns chestnut trees, too!).

After reaching San Gregorio, we stopped for water and then made our way back down to La Rocca where we all quickly went home to shower and change.

And then the party started with the centrepiece being a beautiful porchetta (roast suckling pig).

There was lots of wine, lots of sweets and a lot of love.

Some of my aunts and uncles were very emotional that day because they said it had been a long time since there had been any festivities in the small piazza in front of our house. They said it reminded them of when my grandfather was alive and the doors of our house were open to everyone.

Of all the nice things that ever been said to me, this was one of the nicest. It has warmed me from the inside out and made me so proud to know that a simple gesture of thanks has made my family and so many others so happy.

There is nothing that money can buy that could possibly have made me as happy as those simple words made me.

And that picture at the top of this post makes me almost as happy. It’s a photo of a group of people enjoying a communal meal. It was a day of simple bliss as everyone shared and enjoyed together.

On this New Year’s Eve, this moment is what I’m thinking about. I hope that 2011 brings us all more moments like this.

Buona fine e buon principio! (Have a happy ending and a happy beginning!)

Ciao!

Focus.

I know. It’s hard to look at a stack of pancakes without just thinking, “Ooooooh…pancaaaaaaaaakes.” It’s made even more difficult in this case because the picture of the stack of pancakes isn’t particularly good.

That’s because I couldn’t focus.

But I want you to really try and focus. Avoid the pancakes. Look at the sea of liquid the pancakes are swimming in. You probably think it’s maple syrup and you’re half right.

It is maple syrup … maple syrup with butter.

Let me explain. While I have never visited the Clinton St. Baking Company, I’ve certainly heard of it so when I noticed that DeDe Lahman and Neil Kleinberg had a book out, I snapped it up if only for the precious biscuit recipe.

Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook: Breakfast, Brunch & Beyond from New York’s Favorite Neighborhood Restaurant is wonderful. What’s even more wonderful (besides the legendary biscuit recipe) is the pancake recipe.

I’m partial to buttermilk pancakes but I was more than pleasantly suprised by the recipe in the book. These pancakes are buttermilk-free but are set apart by the fact that whipped egg whites are beaten into the batter just before cooking. It makes for a light, moist pancake.

But the part that put the pancakes over the top was what we put on top: maple butter.

Basically, you take warm maple syrup and slowly beat in cold butter until you have a thick syrup.

Unbelievable.

It got so we were looking for things to pour it on. To be honest I could have poured it on cardboard and would have happily eaten it.

The ratio of syrup to butter is two to one. The key is that you the butter is cold and that you cut it into small pieces and then take your time beating it into the maple syrup (which should be in a pan over low heat).

Oh, by the way. The rest of the cookbook is really good, too.

Ciao!

Every year, at about this time, I always ask, “Where in the world did this year go?”

2010 is no different.

While I continue to marvel at how time passes by, I also find myself looking back and wondering at the year that was and the year that will be.

For Magazine Mondays, 2010 was a great year.

While I didn’t post as many MM’s as I would have liked, I sent the event on the road with great results. Look for MM to be on the road more in 2011. If you’re interested in hosting, let me know!

My entry for this final MM of the year is what I consider to be one of the best recipes I tried this year: Homemade Yogurt from the April/May 2010 issue of ReadyMade. Unfortunately, I’m not able to find the article on-line so I can’t link to it and even worse … I can’t find the magazine. Yikes! Basically, though, it’s just milk with a bit of yogurt added to get it started (make sure the yogurt you use has active cultures).

The yogurt was so easy and delicious. While it was a bit more liquidy than I’m used to (I like thick yogurt), I found that if I drained it overnight in a colander lined with cheesecloth (you could also use paper towels), it was so nice and thick. It had a lovely tang to it and it really was easy!

I adore yogurt. In fact not only will I often have it for breakfast, I’ll sometimes have a big serving of yogurt with granola and fruit at lunch!

If you’re interested, there’s a great site called How to Make Yogurt, which walks you through the process.

Here’s who joined me for the last MM of 2010:

Tia of Buttercream Barbie made White Chocolate Reese’s Peanut Blossoms from Cook’s Country magazine.

Mary of Caramels, Bonbons et Chocolats.com made Crisp Maple Shortbread Cookies from the November 2010 issue of Chatelaine.

Nina from Prêt à Gourmet made Grasshopper Squares from the December 2005 issue of Gourmet.

Ranjani from Four Seasons of Food made Sweet Potato and Black Bean Empanadas from the December 2010 issue of Cooking Light.

Lynn of I’ll Have What She’s Having made Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti from the December 2010 issue of Food & Wine and Pear & Cranberry Hand Pies also from Food & Wine.

Margaret of Tea and Scones made Tacoritos from the February/March 2010 issue of Taste of Home.

Remember that Magazine Mondays is about taming that pile of clipped magazine recipes. You can send me a link to a magazine recipe you’ve posted and I’ll link to it in my round-up.

Have a great week, everyone! And Happy New Year!

Ciao!

I know, I know. After all the sweet indulgences over the past weeks you’re probably thinking … more sugar?

The answer is yes!

Don’t forget that I’m hosting SHF #72 and the theme is trifle.

The deadline for entries is December 31st so if you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party or a New Year’s Day get-together, consider making a trifle for dessert!

Here’s some inspiration for you:

Black Forest Trifle
White Chocolate Tiramisu Trifle with Spiced Pears
Caramelized Pumpkin Trifle
Decadent Trifle
Zuppa Inglese

The round-up will go up on January 1st.

Ciao!

From Cream Puff and family, we wish you the most beautiful of days!

Merry Christmas! Buon Natale!

Ciao!

One more sleep to Santa!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!

I have been up since 5:00 with Mamma Cream Puff and we’ve been busily cooking away.

Actually, to be completely accurate, she’s been cooking away and I’ve been watching in awe.

Seriously. My mother is a tank. She’s knocking things off like it’s nothing while it’s taken me almost three hours to wash two heads of lettuce.

When I grow up I want to be just like her!

Right now she’s working on those lovely ravioli you see above. They are filled with a chestnut paste and are the most delicious bits of heavinliness ever. Soon they will be fried and then sprinkled with sugar and then they will be mine. All mine.

This being Christmas Eve, we only eat fish and seafood and here’s what the menu features:

We’ve got oysters on their way.

We’ve got an amazing octopus salad.

We’ve got olives stuffed with a fish paste and then breaded and fried.

We’ve got salt cod waiting to be stewed with potatoes.

We’ve got more salt cod (that’s baccala’ to us Italians) waiting to be cooked with tomatoes, hot peppers, green onions and olives.

We’ve got a whole variety of other fish waiting to take a skinny dip in the deep fryer.

We’ve got artichokes. Oh, my. Artichokes dipped in batter and fried. Next to the ravioli di castagne these are probably my favourite.

We’ve got enough rapini to feed Canada.

We’ve got cactus pears and persimmons and fennel and chestnuts and dried figs.

And we’ve got a croquembouche. From here.

In between tracking Santa and “taste-testing”, I’m just trying to not lose my mind thinking about all the goodies.

I love Christmas!

Ciao!

As the year winds down, I’ve been taking some time to actually sit and read the blogs I really enjoy. One of these is Sheena’s blog the little red house.

Sheena’s site is like a breath of fresh air. It’s sweet and peaceful and funny and always such a joy.

Sheena recently put up a post called 11 Things. The post is about how a site called Reverb 10 has inspired her to reflect about 2010 … and 2011. On Reverb 10, on December 11th, the prompt was put out to consider 11 things you don’t need in 2011.

I was so inspired by Sheena’s list that I decided to make up a list of my own.

Here are 11 things I don’t need in 2011:

11. Television. While I don’t think I will ever completely give up watching television, I’ve come to realize that I spend a lot of time watching television simply because I’m bored. I won’t be able to give up watching certain things like hockey or Nigella Lawson food shows, but I can give up a lot of other time-sucking television programs. So that’s what I’m going to do!

10. Gossip. I like to think of myself as a good person but I’m human and I’m guilty of gossip. As I get older, I find that I feel worse and worse when I spend time talking about others because let’s face it, gossip is never positive. The time I spend gossiping I could be spending doing so many things that are more fulfilling. Gossip just makes you feel empty. If I don’t have anything positive to say, I’m going to try my best to not say anything at all.

9. Paper. My house is full of paper. Unopened envelopes. Recipe clippings. Magazines. Wrapping paper. Enough. I’m going to resolve to make 2011 a year of less paper.

8. Saying no. I say no a lot. It’s not a problem if you’re saying no to bad things but I say no to a lot of good things because sometimes I get nervous or scared of change. I’m starting to wonder if I’ve missed some really good opportunities because of the word “no”. I don’t want to look back and say that I lived a life of fear. In 2011, less no and more yes.

7. Store-bought cookies. Here’s my dirty little secret: as much as I like to bake, I haven’t baked nearly as much as I would have liked in 2010. Because cookies are my most favourite, I’ve been buying them an awful lot. Have you ever looked at the ingredients list on a package of cookies? Not pretty. I don’t need to put that stuff in my body. Less store-bought cookies. More homemade goodies.

6. Wasting food. Lately I’ve noticed is that we waste a lot of food. At the grocery store, we seem to have the best of intentions. That cauliflower was supposed to turn into the most delicious gratin and that romanesque … well … I don’t remember what I was going to do with it. And the same goes for the sardines packed in salt and the specialty mustard that cost … well … lets not talk about how much it cost. The fact is that almost all of this stuff ends up in the food bin. What a terrible, terrible waste! No more. In 2011, I’m going to try to be more realistic at the grocery store.

5. Food magazines. I think I could probably start my own magazine stand. Seriously. Do I really need all these magazines? What’s the point of buying them if I’m just going to toss them out a year later never having even read them? This is just more wastefulness on my part. It’s going to be tough, I’m not going to lie. But in 2011 I don’t need to buy all these magazines!

4. Being embarrased by the Leafs. I am a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. End of story. I can’t change that and no matter how bad they are I don’t want to change that. I’m an old-school kind of girl. I’m loyal to the end. So you know what … go ahead and make fun. Laugh. Crack all the Leafs’ jokes you want. They’re my team and I’m not embarrassed to say that. In fact, I am liberating myself from embarrassment. My name is Cream Puff and I love the Leafs! There!

3. Lattes from that famous coffee shop … you know the one. A few weeks ago, in the middle of the afternoon, I went out to the local famous coffee shop and bought a latte with a double shot of espresso. You know how much it cost? $4.04. Do you have any idea how much milk I can buy with $4.04?! I’m not cheap and like everyone I like the occasional treat, but really … $4.04?! I’m starting to realize that if I ever want to achieve certain goals in life, like my very own AGA, I’m going to have to start being a bit more financially prudent. And lattes that cost $4.04 a pop do not fall into that category. I think in 2011 I’m going to focus on becoming the best home barista possible and forego the purchased lattes!

2. Bad doughnuts. Where have all the good doughnuts gone? Now that I have this book, I don’t have to worry about it anymore. I’ll just make them myself (Based on the photo at the top of the post you thought I was going to say I didn’t need more doughnuts … ha … fooled ya!).

1. Cookbooks. It was pretty hard for me to write that. Cookbooks. I love cookbooks. This year, however, a suspicion that I’ve had for a long time has begun to transform into more of a certainty. While I buy some cookbooks because I genuinely want them and will use them, I also buy an awful lot of cookbooks just to make myself feel better and I don’t think that’s good. I think I should be getting to the source of the issue and resolving that, rather than buying something to gloss over whatever the problem is. Sometimes it’s something as basic as a stressful day at work. But sometimes it’s other things and I end up with piles and piles of cookbooks everywhere. The fact is while I may have had a moment of pleasure when I purchased those books, those piles aren’t making me happy at all. In 2011, less cookbook buying and more figuring out what’s bothering me when I get the urge to buy a cookbook to make myself feel better.

Take some time and consider the 11 things you don’t need in your life in 2011. Time to make a clean start. Go for it!

Ciao!

Before Santa arrives, there is still time to buy cookbooks, people! Do not fear!!!

Here’s another one that you might be interested in: Fat Witch Brownies: Brownies, Blondies, and Bars from New York’s Legendary Fat Witch Bakery.

Check out my review over at The Daring Kitchen.

Ciao!

I love Nigella.

Like I really really love her. I love her food and her attitude and her eyebrows.

I love her eyebrows.

I wish she would publish a new cookbook every week because I would totally buy it. And I wish she would be on television more, not less. More.

Just sayin’.

Naturally I scooped up her new cookbook, Nigella Kitchen: Recipes from the Heart of the Home.

I kept giving her cookbook adoring looks but hadn’t tried anything until I received the November 2010 issue of Food & Wine and saw the recipe for Caramel-Croissant Pudding.

Hello!

Immediately my incredible spidey cookbook senses started tingling as I realized I’d seen this recipe before. Ah, my sweet Nigella!

So technically I am doing away with two birds by using only one croissant (I don’t believe in throwing stones at birds). I am both telling you about Nigella’s book and giving you my submission for this week’s edition of Magazine Mondays.

This pudding was extravagant and amazing. While it’s best eaten warm, I brought it to work the day after making it and it was still delicious. Trust me, though. The first time you make it dig into it while it’s warm. It’s like a crispy, caramelly trip to heaven.

It could only have been better if my eyebrows looked like Nigella’s. But I digress.

It being the holiday season I’m guessing that folks are pretty busy because I only have one MM submission this week. That’s okay. But remember, anyone can take part. All you have to do is send along a link to a magazine recipe that you’ve posted. This week I’m joined by:

Melissa of Baking Makes Things Better made Christmas Cookies from Issue 24 of Donna Hay. She also made a Roast Tomato and Broad Bean Salad with Haloumi from Issue 56 of Foodtown Magazine.

Have a great week, everyone!

Ciao!

I really enjoyed my 12 Days of Cookbooks series! Having said that, I could have easily done the 31 Days of Cookbooks because there have been a lot of really great cookbooks published this year.

While I’ve mentioned some of them already, there are quite a few that I haven’t mentioned and I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge them.

If you’re looking for some last minute gifts, do not forget these books!

The Geometry of Pasta by Caz Hildebrand and Jacob Kenedy

What a quirky book! I love it! The cover alone (which transforms into a poster featuring the varuios pasta shapes) makes the book worth it. If that isn’t enough, the meticulously researched information about every pasta shape known to man plus all the recipes makes this perfect for the carb lover in your life!

D.I.Y. Delicious: Recipes and Ideas for Simple Food from Scratch by Vanessa Barrington

Such a fabulous cookbook! For those of you out there that are passionate about making food from scratch, buy this book. It’s fun with lots of great recipes and pictures.

Cinnamon, Spice, & Warm Apple Pie: Comforting Baked Fruit Desserts for Chilly Days from Ryland, Peters & Small

As if you needed another reason to stay home and make apple pie during the cold-weather months, this book will make you want to stay close to the oven. And it’s not just about apple pie. It’s a beautiful book that will make a lovely gift for the baker you know.

My Sweet Mexico: Recipes for Authentic Pastries, Breads, Candies, Beverages, and Frozen Treats by Fany Gerson

A comprehensive look at the sweet treats of Mexico, this book is delightful. It’s worth it just to read about the vibrant and complex sweets that are part of Mexican culture. The picture of churros being fried is mouth-watering.

Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way by Shauna Niequist

A thoughtful look at life lessons with a bit of food thrown in, this is a beautiful, touching book. I was honoured to be given the opportunity to read Shauna’s book. Hope you’ll take a look at it for yourself!

Sweet Magic: Easy Recipes for Delectable Desserts by Michel Richard

What a cute book! I hate to overuse the word “cute” but really … it’s so cute! And you can never have too many dessert cookbooks. I started to earmark recipes and realized I was earmarking all of them. So worth it!

Crazy About Cookies: 300 Scrumptious Recipes for Every Occasion & Craving by Krystina Castella

I got such a sweet e-mail from the very talented Krystina Castella introducing herself and her beautiful sites. She very kindly arranged for me to get a copy of this book and also A World of Cake. I cannot tell you what a fan I have become. Her sites alone are brilliant but her books are the icing on the cake (pardon the pun). If you’re a cookie baker (as I am) you cannot go wrong with literally hundreds of recipes to choose from. While I haven’t been able to try any cookies (yet), I’m looking forward to giving a few recipe a whirl in the kitchen. In the meantime, you check out both books!

So many cookbooks! So little time! Hope you get to check out all of these and add a few to your shopping list.

Happy shopping!

Ciao!

Jenn and Jill have challenged The Daring Cooks to learn to perfect the technique of poaching an egg. They chosean Eggs Benedict recipe from Alton Brown, Oeufs en Meurette from Cooking with Wine by Anne Willan, and Homemade Sundried Tomato & Pine Nut Seitan Sausages (poached) courtesy of Trudy of Veggie num num.

Confession time.

I’m not a big fan of the egg.

This may sound strange coming from a passionate home baker, but it’s true. I have no issues with using eggs in baking.

But put a plate of scrambled eggs in front of me and the reaction will not be pretty.

I grew up eating “uovo fritto” or fried egg. It was a childhood staple. I remember my grandmother frying up eggs for us as a snack. She’d generously salt them before serving them to us with bread so we could soak up the lovely yolk.

I’m not sure when, but at some point my stomach revolted.

While I had never liked scrambled eggs (blech!), something about the sight of runny yolk just didn’t sit well.

For the most part, I’ve managed to make it through my adult life avoiding the egg (outside of in baking). But with this particular Daring Cooks challenge, I was stumped.

I have ALWAYS wanted to learn how to poach eggs.

After some soul-searching, I decided it was time to be a big girl and at least try to put my egg issue behind me.

To be on the safe side, I decided to also self-medicate with generous portions of bacon on the side.

You know what? It wasn’t that bad! Poaching the egg was pure fun. It’s like watching a magic trick as the raw egg slowly cooks and the white solidifies.

The egg itself tasted light and the yolk was almost buttery (maybe it was all the butter on my toast?).

While I can’t say I’m going to start consuming eggs every morning for breakfast, I’m committed to giving them a try more often.

Thanks to Jenn and Jill for a great challenge!

Ciao!

Hello all! I have to apologize for the unexpected delay in completing the 12 Days of Cookbooks series. My site was down over the weekend but all has been rectified and we are back in business!

I had planned a Magazine Mondays post today, however, that takes a back seat to the 12 Days of Cookbooks!

My Day 11 choice was none other than the brilliant Alice Medrich’s Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies. Cookies are my very favourite thing in the world to bake so she pretty much had me at cookies.

However, if that isn’t enough to entice you, then pick up the book and you’ll understand why you should buy it.

I love when I come across people in life who are doing what they were born to do and that is Alice Medrich. Her cookbooks do more than just present recipes, they teach on a deep, deep level in the way that natural born teachers are able to do.

What I also love about Alice’s recipes is that they always have a slight little twist. A little something to just give each recipe a bit of a twinkle.

I plan on trying a few more recipes before the holidays but the first one I tried was the recipe for Snicker Doodles. I have never made Snicker Doodles before.

I’m not sure why because one would think that anything covered in cinnamon and sugar would be right up my alley but this is the first time that I ventured into Snicker Doodle territory and boy am I glad I went there.

If you know or love (or both) a baker, please buy them this book. Buy one for yourself while you’re at it!

And finally, for the twelfth book in the 12 Days of Cookbooks series I give you Tonia George’s Things on Toast.

A few days ago at work, I was having a discussion with some colleagues about foods that we couldn’t give up. People threw around a lot of foods like chocolate and eggs, but I immediately said bread.

I could not live without bread. Sorry. No can do.

Things on Toast struck a chord as soon as I picked it up. You might think it’s strange to buy a book about all the things you can put on toast but then you start looking at the pictures and reading the recipes (why have I never put lemon curd on toast before???) and it makes perfect sense.

I took the simple route and slathered my toast with a mixture of butter, cinnamon and Demerara sugar. So. Good.

This one is for all the toast lovers. Cheers to them!

Thank you so much for following my 12 Days of Cookbooks series! I have a few honourable mentions, which I’ll discuss a bit later this month. We’ll do it again next year!

Ciao!

As part of my ongoing desire to have more bread baking in my life, I’m delighted to bring you my choice for Day 10. That’s Elinor Klivans’ Fast Breads: 50 Recipes for Easy, Delicious Bread.

Elinor Klivans is an accomplished baker and cookbook author. I’m happy to say I own many of her cookbooks and this one is another winner.

Fast Breads is about getting delicious bread and other treats onto your table quickly without sacrificing flavour.

I just really like this book. It has everything from breakfast breads to sandwich breads. All the recipes are clear and concise so even an inexperienced baker can handle them.

It’s not a biggie, but it’s a goodie.

I have to give credit to Mamma Cream Puff for helping me out with this one. She made the scrumptious “Lots of Cheese Bread” you see pictured above. It was easy, definitely had a lot of cheese and it was delicious!

Hope you put this under the tree for someone!

Ciao!

Don’t be afraid.

What you see at the top of this post is not a science experiement gone wrong. Trust me.

It is the beginning of what I hope will become a beautiful loaf of bread.

If you have ever dreamt of baking delicious bread at home, join me.

I give you Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson and Eric Wolfanger.

While I wouldn’t say I’m a novice when it comes to baking bread, I certainly have very little experience compared to other types of baking. Like seemingly everyone else in the civilized word I became a fan of the No-Knead bread phenomenon.

As a huge fan of the Tartine pastry book, I could not resist picking up a copy of the bread book.

Wow.

Impressive and ambitious, the book is about making your own bread with your own natural starter.

And that’s what you see up top.

I’m only just starting my bread journey with this book so I will keep you posted on how Sherwood (that’s what I named my starter … will explain at a later date) and I are doing.

In the meantime, if you are a bread baker, bread eater, bread lover or if you just spend your day dreaming of bread, please pick up this book!

Ciao!

Let me just say this: if you wanted to fill up my Christmas stocking with these Sage Biscuits, I would not object. Whatsoever.

They come from Amanda Hesser’s incredibly satisfying and enthralling The Essential New York Times Cookbook: Classic Recipes for a New Century.

I cannot believe the amount of work and effort that must have gone into this cookbook!

It features some of the most famous recipes published in The New York Times. It’s jaw-dropping. And it makes your tummy rumble.

Again, if I had the time, I would have tried so many more recipes but The 12 Days of Cookbooks wait for no one so I tried the Sage Biscuits because our lovely sage plant is still (can you believe it!) thriving, even in the cold the late Canadian fall.

These are some of the best biscuits I’ve ever made.

This book will definitely not fit into a stocking, however, it will look lovely with a big red bow on it. Give it to the cook you love!

Ciao!

Of all the months in the year, December is the one with the most parties. Sometimes it’s a relief when Christmas finally arrives because it means we can settle down to some beautiful meals and then … relax!

Don’t get me wrong. I love the parties! I especially love the planning of the parties and the planning of the food and I think that’s why I fell in love with Jennifer Joyce’s Meals in Heels.

This is just a fun, fun book that makes you want to break out the party dresses (or buy a beautiful party dress), break out the stilettos (or buy those stilettos you’ve been eyeing) and polish those champagne flutes.

It’s just plain fun.

The recipes are all designed to be served for festive occasions (although you can most certainly serve them any night of the week to jazz up any family meal) and they all feature the wow factor. Kaffir Lime Leaf Chicken Skewers. Mini Beef Wellingtons. Persian Chicken with Walnut and Pomegranate Sauce. Profiteroles with Salted Caramel Sauce.

I had some eggplant in the fridge and some feta so I chose to try the Smoky Eggplant and Feta dip for my first go at the book. Simple, delicous and perfect for a party appetizer.

This is perfect for the person who loves to entertain. Don’t forget to pick up a copy for yourself!

Ciao!

Wow … we’re already at the halfway mark of the 12 Days of Cookbooks … hard to believe!

There is never a shortage of Italian-themed cookbooks, especially at this time of year. Unfortunately, I find that many of them often disappoint for various reasons.

Not so with Julia Della Croce’s Italian Home Cooking: 125 Recipes to Comfort Your Soul.

I swear as soon as I opened this book I could almost smell a pot of tomato sauce bubbling on the stove.

It’s lovely. In every way. It’s filled with recipes for so many comforting Italian dishes. It’s nothing complicated; the recipes in this book are very straightforward and are meant to make the preparing of meals as enjoyable as the result.

It’s just a nice, comfy book on Italian home cooking.

I wanted to try a number of recipes but so far have only time to make the warm and bright Orange-Almond Ring Cake with Orange Glaze. The cake batter is augmented with ground almonds and that gives the cake such a texture! It’s delicious!

If I hadn’t already bought a copy, I’d want one in my Christmas stocking!

Ciao!

While almost all of the cookbooks that you’ll see in my 12 Days of Cookbooks feature are books that are new to me in 2010, that is not the case with all of them.

Case-in-point: Stonewall Kitchen Favorites: Delicious Recipes to Share with Family and Friends Every Day.

This cookbook has been on my shelf for many years and is one of my favourites. On many a Friday night after a long week at work I have pulled this book off the shelf and let the comforting pictures and recipes relax and inspire me.

While it holds many recipes that I cherish, the one that is all splattered, dog-eared and covered in greasy fingerprints is the recipe for “Fruit and Nut Maple Granola”.

Much like pancake recipes and muffin recipes, I have yet to meet a granola recipe that I don’t want to try. I love granola.

But time and time again, it’s the Stonewall Kitchen recipe that I turn to because it’s so satisfying.

The recipe has the perfect balance between oats, nuts and a delicious maple flavour that’s hard to beat.

I prefer to eat fresh fruit with granola so I leave out dried fruit add-ins. I also love a cinnamon-flavoured granola so I have doubled the cinnamon punch from the original recipe.

Other than that, my version of the granola stays true to the original: oats, coconut, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, canola oil, vanilla extract and lots of natural maple syrup.

You know how good your house smells when you bake apple pie? Your house smells just as good when you make this granola.

But don’t think that’s the only reason to pick up this book. It has everything from salads to sandwiches to desserts for all occasions. And the recipes are very straightforward and will yield results that make you happy and that comfort you.

One of my all-time favourites!

Ciao!

While I’ve been to New York City several times, I have never been to Sarabeth’s.

I was enormously pleased to find out that Sarabeth Levine was coming out with a cookbook called Sarabeth’s Bakery: From My Hands to Yours.

I don’t know if it’s made things better or worse that I own this cookbook because after purchasing it and drooling all over it, I now really regret the fact that I’ve never had brunch at any of Sarabeth’s locations in New York.

This is a big, heavy gem of a baking book. It starts from the basics and covers all the major baking topics with well-laid out recipes and lots of nice pictures.

You basically just want to turn your oven on and keep it on and just bake and bake and bake.

Once again Mamma Cream Puff came to the rescue on this one. She tried the recipe for “Margaret’s Espresso Cake”. We served it at a family function and everyone immediately wanted the recipe. Delicious!

This one is most definitely for the baker in your life!

Ciao!

Ah, cookbooks! Where would we be without you?!

Today I bring you a cookbook that I was anticipating for more than a year: Rosetta Costantino’s My Calabria: Rustic Family Cooking from Italy’s Undiscovered South.

I first heard about Rosetta through her blog, Calabria From Scratch. My mother is a native of Calabria, born in the province of Reggio. Naturally, I found it so pleasing to read such a wonderful blog that highlighted the impressive food of Calabria.

When Rosetta’s book was finally published, I presented my mom with a copy and she loved it. It’s been very interesting to look through the book and recognize so many dishes that are a part of my family’s cooking tradition.

Rosetta’s book is a wonderful cookbook first, but it’s also a book that has much to say about the food culture of Calabria. It’s passionate and thorough, and the perfect gift for anyone of Calabrian descent or anyone who is interested in southern Italian cooking.

My mother, as it is her book, had the honour of trying the first recipe and she chose to make Insalata di Polipo (Octopus Salad). The octopus was tender and delicious - a simple recipe that yields a refreshing result.

My congratulations to Rosetta on a truly wonderful accomplishment!

Ciao!

Sometimes, if my day isn’t going so well or if I just need to relax a little, I’ll visit the big, shiny bookstore that is very close to my place of work. Or I’ll go here.

Both very dangerous places.

But what’s a Cream Puff to do? Sometimes I just need that thrill of walking to the cookbook section and browsing. Of course this can also be a bit of a disconcerting exercise especially when I realize that I own most of the cookbooks that I see.

Occasionally, though, I will come across a book that I haven’t heard of before and of course it will have to make its way home with me.

Such is the case with The Commonsense Kitchen: 500 Recipes Plus Lessons for a Hand-Crafted Lifeby Tom Hudgens.

First of all, this is a beautiful cookbook. Every recipe is an example of the purpose of this book: to encourage everyone to cook the foods they love from scratch.

In every way, the book is proof that what you make in your own kitchen with your own hands will be far more delicious than anything you can buy on a supermarket shelf. The book has more than 500 recipes so you can imagine that it covers everything from breakfast to dessert (my two favourite food groups!).

I’m probably not explaining it very well but I just adore the tone of the recipes. It’s a peaceful, calm cookbook that is meant to encourage and inspire, not intimidate.

I plan on trying many recipes but the one I had to try first was the “recipe” for Steel-Cut Oats. What drew me to the instructions for the preparation of this breakfast staple was the direction to toast the oats lightly in some melted butter. This made me think of risotto. When we cook risotto, we will cook the rice grains in olive oil for a minute or two to toast them. This seems to add a bit of a deeper almost nutty flavour to the dish and the same is true for the oatmeal (you can do this step with regular oats or steel-cut oats).

I really did feel like I was making a breakfast risotto. The oatmeal was so delicious!

I hope you pick this book up and look at it. It’s worth it.

Ciao!

It’s December 1st. For Cream Puff, that means Christmas is here.

Christmas in all its glory, all its baking, all its music, all its cheer and all its splendor!

I. LOVE. CHRISTMAS.

Last year, come December, I had so many cookbooks to tell people about that I decided to talk about twelve of them in twelve days and it was a tremendous success.

So this year, I’m doing it again. If you’re looking for the perfect gift to share with the cooking enthusiast in your life, stay tuned to the next twelve days!

On Day 1, I start with a book that has spent the past few months holding the place of honour on my night table: Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours.

The sweetness of her cookbooks is matched only by the sweetness of her person! I had the pleasure of meeting Dorie several years ago and I can tell you that she is a doll. Her latest cookbook is a warm and affectionate look at the delicious French dishes that grace her table.

I’m sure it’s been said many times before by many other people but Dorie’s cookbooks are impeccable and this one is no different.

While it may not exactly fit in a Christmas stocking, it should definitely make an appearance under the tree for the cook in your life!

When I first leafed through the book, the recipe that immediately caught my eye was a recipe for “Anne Leblanc’s Pistachio Avocado”. What caught my eye was the mention of the luxurious oils sold at Huilerie J. Leblanc. When I was in Paris in June, I spent a lovely hour in that story drooling over all the incredible oils. As luck would have it, I came home with a precious bottle of pistachio oil, which just happens to be the star of this dish.

Essentially this is half an avocado sprinkled with lemon juice and sea salt. What makes this dish superb, is the touch of avocado oil that nestles in the avocado cavity.

So simple and so unbelievabley glorious! I think I’ve made this about ten times since receiving the book.

The pistachio oil and the texture and taste of the avocado marry in a way that is sublime.

Try it!

See you tomorrow for Day 2 …

Ciao!