Decadent Shakes, Milkshakes with More, Reviewed

It's been said that you can't judge a book by its cover. Boy, is that wrong. I mean, take a look at the cover of this book. You know you want it, right? This is a book that you need to have in your cookbook library, and if you don't as yet have a cookbook library, then it's time to start.

I am all about the garnish. Flashy, showy, that's what it's all about. You eat first with your eyes, and if there is something that dazzles your visual senses, you know you're going to enjoy it. This book, Decadent Shakes, Milkshakes with More, by Matthew, Sarah, and Brandon Aouad, is a fabulous cookbook loaded with not only delicious shakes, but also incredibly inspired garnishes.

This book has turned making milkshakes into an art form. It provides a wonderful guide on how to do just that, including how to make every garnish shown in the book, and there are lots of them. Here you'll find garnishes featuring candy bars, cookies, pretzels, peanut butter, waffles, ice cream cones, and many other tasty goodies. If it's sweet and delicious, the authors have figured out a way to put it on top of a thick and frosty shake. Everyone, I think, appreciates being the recipient of a carefully crafted dessert. Here you can learn how to become an expert.

 

The recipes are easy to make and absolutely delicious. The first one I tried was Mocha Madness because of my love of the coffee-and-chocolate combination. Wonderful! I trimmed my jar with melted chocolate, and then embedded finely ground coffee beans into it. It made a striking presentation. The authors suggest topping this particular shake with M&Ms, and I did that, along with a few chocolate-covered espresso beans. Swoon!

 Both young and the young at heart are going to love the Jenga shake, topped with crisscrossed Kit Kat bars. How cute is this? With the holidays coming up, another must try is a dazzling dessert called the TVC Tree. The presentation consists of an inverted waffle cone piped with green icing and embedded with red, crispy M&M "ornaments." Wouldn't this make a fabulous holiday dessert?

And speaking of the holidays, in early October I start to think about holiday shopping. Let me suggest this cookbook. It's fabulous, makes a great gift for male or female, young and old, and will be one that is greatly appreciated, not to mention a cookbook that is actually used instead of gathering dust on the shelf. Who doesn't like delicious drinks and shakes, and a wonderful presentation to make the recipient feel so special?

I cannot recommend this book enough. Pick up a copy and have great fun with it. Use the recipes in the book, but also use them as a springboard to create some wonderfully delicious, artistic, milkshake concoctions of your own.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from The Anderson Group in exchange for an honest review.